Can't even shout. Can't even cry.

[hatesgoodbyes]

So this was it, the castle had one fucked up sense of humor. She should have seen this coming though really.. dinosaurs, Church was human while she was a dog, she was human and teenaged while he was a teenage ghost, so why wouldn’t it be that her turn at being fully human and her own would be the one time some freaky creature wanted to tear out hearts?

Sure she was mute and lacked armor and… dammit she felt useless. It didn’t matter that she had adjusted quickly. Well, ok quickly after Church started helping her. He had seemed amused at her tearing in to food but it tasted good. She could taste it, and everything felt like the most wonderful sensory overload possible. Hot and cold and spicy and sweet and tangy and.. chocolate! Dear god when he wished up some chocolate she nearly climbed over him to get more.

She’d sated herself with food and drink until the rumbling emptiness she now recognized as hunger subsided. She was human, she was real…she’d sat at the table and just stared at her hands, fingers flexed and some memory of the reverse flickered across her mind. She’d been shown the reality of Texas and Allison, she’d been made fully aware of who and what she really was and all of this was making that a painful memory.

But it was a memory and this was reality, but for how long? Her head jerked up when that thought struck her, if this was another temporary situation, and she had no reason to think otherwise, it meant two things. At least from her experience in the castle to present it meant she needed to embrace and enjoy this and it meant she was probably one of the ones being set up for something horrible to happen. Fucking castle.

Te- Allison shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, she couldn’t sleep. What if those things came for her? She couldn’t fight them like this. In her usual form it wouldn’t have even been a question but like this, unsure of her ability and overly aware of her fragility she was afraid. She fished around for something to write with and found a crayon and scrap of paper and began to write.

Coffee? Stims? I need to stay awake.

Comments

[originalcopy]

He couldn't help but be amused... it had only been a few months prior to her arrival that he had almost the same experience. Well, except that he had been an old man and the food in question had been bland and unpalatable. Ok so it wasn't all that similar, he hadn't been able to experience the full onslaught of sensation she was now. If it hadn't been for Delta smuggling in pizza and beer the whole thing would have been utterly disappointing.

Which was exactly why he was enjoying this so much. Helping her pick new things to try and watching her openly expressed reactions. And laughing despite his mechanized voice when she practically attacked him to get to the chocolate.

Of course the castle had to find a way to shit on things, they couldn't actually talk to each other and there were those things... Christ, what if they came after her? He'd always felt protective of her and this was just making it worse. There was no fucking way he would them get anywhere near her. Even if it meant barricading them in his room until it was over. Or taking her out to the Western Outpost. He'd think of something, he was going to protect her. This time he was going to succeed.

He pushed the thoughts from his mind as she handed him the note, avoiding falling into an obsession over her safety. All that mattered was that she needed his help and he was going to do everything he could to give it to her. He shook his head as he wrote back.

You have to sleep sometime

[hatesgoodbyes]

She could already feel the full belly she had wanting to make her lethargic and restful. Under other circumstances she would have enjoyed the sensation, but this time it worried her. She shook her head and wrote back on the paper.

Can't sleep. If those things come I need to be awake. Set a perimeter, watch the door. Can't sleep.

She didn't add 'or they'll get me' but the furrowing of her brow seemed to suggest it all the same. She was concerned about how she could block off her room, what weapons she could manage without enhanced strength and hyper attuned reflexes. She would need supplies if only to get through the nights,for once she couldn't do this on her own, she was going to need help.

[originalcopy]

I can watch the door. Even with stims eventually you'll just crash. Be worse then.

He slid the paper back to her and took her hand briefly, just to give her a quick encouraging squeeze. He had her back, he always had her back. She was on his team after all.

Of course it was more than that, but it wasn't like he could talk to her about it. Not just because of the voice thing, although that was a good safe excuse right now.

[hatesgoodbyes]

She stared at him, then her gaze moved to their joined hands and for a long time she just sat there, staring.

Eventually she wrote something back and slid the paper over to him, her eyes watching him carefully.

You'd do that for me?

[originalcopy]

He shrugged and nodded like it was no big deal. It really wasn't, he'd done the same for South the first night on the Event Horizon.

Hey, that's what teams are for

He tried to look casual, it was totally just out of duty to ones teammates... not that he was secretly (or not so secretly) still in love with her or anything.

[hatesgoodbyes]

And he wasn't asking for anything in return, no payment, no favor. He would just do it.

She turned and nodded her thanks, she could sleep and he'd make sure she didn't end up dead in the morning. Well that was that.

Yeah, no. She turned in her seat her hands grabbed his face and pulled him to her. She had the memory import of kissing, but the real thing was a faltering attempt at first but after a few seconds she settled into something that felt pretty damned nice.

[originalcopy]

Her kiss catches him by surprise and for a few seconds he's too startled to respond. She's kissing him... holy shit she's kissing him.

It doesn't take him long to respond, cupping her face in his hand and returning her kiss earnestly.

[hatesgoodbyes]

And the kissing back? That was a hell of a lot better! She kept at it until her chest began to ache and she felt a sudden panic rise in her. Then she realized it was the need to breathe, silly human things that she had forgotten about. She pulled back panting a little with rapid breaths and looked at Church with a new sense of him.

So, awkward moment now and she hesitantly turned back around and gulped down the rest of the water and reached for the next thing on the table. A golden amber filled bottle, chilled and smelling strongly of something. She tipped the bottle to look at the label and then smiled. Beer, memories from someone else had pleasant recall of the brew.

She tipped it back and drank deep.

[originalcopy]

Awkward was definitely one way to describe it. One extremely valid way. He turned and looked away as she did, running a hand through his hair and trying to ignore the flush of desire that the kiss had brought with it. Ignoring how hot she looked panting and wide eyed.

God he wished he could drink right now.

[hatesgoodbyes]

That's ok Church, she's pretty much drinking enough for both of you. She's already finishing the first and reaching for the second beer.

But then again she had a lot to think about, she also had no established alcohol tolerance in this body. so three or four deep swigs into the second she paused wondering at the fuzzy headed feeling she was getting.

[originalcopy]

Well, considering the first thing he did when he was human (and not old) was get black out drunk on a hotel mini-bar... he's not really in a moral position to give advice. Not that he won't anyway.

Slow down. I don't want to drag your drunk ass back to the room.

[hatesgoodbyes]

She gave him a look, and belatedly remembered she could emote with a face now! She stuck out her tongue at him and made a face before she went back to her second beer, and finished it. She eyed the rest of the pack and did a quick, though slower than her artificial body could have, mental calculation. The first beer was hitting her and making her fuzzy, that meant the second would hit her soon..what went when you became intoxicated? Reflexes, motor skills, slurred speech..nothing to worry about there, what else? Oh, right decision making and logic.

Fine then, I'll take the rest back to the room with me. The room, not her's and not his..it was just assumed they would be sharing somewhere along the way when he volunteered night watch duty over her.

[originalcopy]

Good plan He smirked and made a face back at her.

Wherever they stayed, it would need work to make it more secure. A bathroom would have to be added at the least. He'd never bothered to add one to his room and he was pretty sure Tex wouldn't have bothered either. Why add a room you don't need and can't use?

What about the dog?

[hatesgoodbyes]

Oh crap! Mason! Her eyes went wide and she slapped herself in the forehead with her palm..which was surprisingly painful and made her silently curse.

We'll get him, walk him and bring him back to the room. The way she was feeling after the beer she scrawled a hasty addition to the note. We better get moving.

[originalcopy]

He nodded and quickly filled a wished up bag with some food for later. What the kitchen had wasn't elegant but it was better and in the long run safer than wished up food.

The dog would have to put with not being walked as often, it wasn't safe with those things out there. They'd walk it quick and get somewhere secure. Who knows, maybe it would be useful in keeping watch or something. Isn't that what dogs were supposed to do back in ancient times before security systems.

[hatesgoodbyes]

She should have thought of that herself, she always used to. This human brain was too easily overwhelmed by the situation, thankfully Church was helping. He really was, he didn't have to but he was. Stupid jerk, now she was going to owe him.

Allison stood and slipped her hand into his without even thinking about it. When he was ready they headed up and to her room, it was a short walk and they couldn't really talk to pass the time but they were both on alert which made the time pass faster.

Up the final steps and into her room, Mason lifted his head from her unused bed and wagged his tail before jumping down to run over to them. He sat in front of Allison and raised a paw to shake. She chuckled soundlessly and shook before she ruffled his fur and hooked the leash into his collar. A short walk, she looked at a window toward the reddish sky..sunset was coming fast. Ok, a really short walk.

[originalcopy]

His hand closed around hers and together they made their way to her room. Trying to focus more on what was going on around them than their hands and what it meant.

While she got the dog taken care of he helped himself to one of her pistols. Sure he was shit with a gun but something about having one on hand was a relief. He motioned for her to hurry up, they'd have to walk the dog quick to avoid being out after dark.

[hatesgoodbyes]

She made an expression that conveyed she understood the time issue and stood to tug on the leash. Fortunately the dog was eager to go out and took off at a run, dragging her along with him. Her body had none of the weight or traction she was used to so she had to stumbled to keep up.

She looked back hoping Church could keep up with them with luck this would only take a short while and they could find a safe place and wait out the night. It would be like a mission, sure if she thought of it like that it was almost not even terrifying.

[originalcopy]

He had to jog a bit to catch up, but he's determined not to let her out of his sight. Now he wished he hadn't left his armor back in Stark Tower. Since York and Delta had shown him how to actually use it, he would have like to have the motion tracker. That would have to be something he fixed later.

He scowled at the dog, god damn how long did it take to pick a place to pee? Just find a tree an piss already does it really need to sniff every single one?

[hatesgoodbyes]

She rolled her eyes and tried to wordlessly encourage the dog to get busy so she could get back somewhere safe. It was going to be getting dark soon and she did not want to be outside or anywhere that wasn't behind closed doors when that happened.

Allison began looking around in quick searching sweeps, some of her training retained by her brain and acting out on instinct. Finally it seemed Mason found a tree that was suitable and lifted a leg to pee.

Not much longer now before they would be on their way back inside.

[originalcopy]

Thank you! It's about time you stupid mutt. He didn't like being this far from shelter and so close to the woods. It seemed like something that would be on the list of "do not do this" for a horror movie.

He looked out toward the woods, did he just hear something stepping on a branch?

[hatesgoodbyes]

She was gesturing as if that might speed up the process, South hadn't told her the dog had a slow bladder or that it could hold 80 gallons. Her attention was focused on the dog while he wrapped things up and she looked up sharply with a sound.

So fucking hard to triangulate with human ears, she couldn't tell where it had come from other than a all too vague and general direction of the wide swath of tress to their side.

She gave the leash a hard pull and stepped up close to Church, eyes never stopped searching the growing dusk or those worrying shadows that were creeping ever closer.

[originalcopy]

Church couldn't tell the exact distance, but he knew it or they were getting closer. He pulled out the pistol and motioned for Tex and Mason to get behind him.

All they had to do was turn and make a break for the castle, it wasn't that far away. He started backing them up, getting ready to turn and run.

[hatesgoodbyes]

As Tex she'd never really been used to being the one who needed to take cover or have someone offer cover for her unless she was going on to do something even more dangerous. This was unaccustomed for her, as was the fear that made her grip Church's hand tight and drag Mason back by the leash. Screw it, if the dog peed in the castle she'd fucking mop it up the next day.

She followed Church's lead and tried to watch their six to be sure they weren't out flanked.

[originalcopy]

Straitjacketed humanoids with disturbingly featureless faces and inhuman loping motions took shape out of the shadows.

Church gripped Tex's hand tight and looked at her. It was time to get the hell out of there...

[hatesgoodbyes]

What the Hell were those things? She felt a surge of panic rise in her…she couldn’t deal with these things, she wasn’t equipped, not like this. Tex has faced worse situations in her own body, she could handle that and mop the floor with these assholes but now, fuck!

Church took her hand and the firmness of his grip shacked her back into reality. They had to move, she nodded and yanked on Mason’s leash. Her fingers closed tighter on his hand despite the slippery sweat of fear that tried to make her grip falter. She was not going out like this! No fucking way! She started to run.

[originalcopy]

He turned and ran with her, not wanting to let go of her hand but wanting to keep between her and those creepy fucking things. At this point he strangely calm, almost beyond panic... all he could think about was keeping her safe.

The fuckers were surprisingly swift despite their awkward movements. Church fired a 'warning shot', not expecting to hit anything but hoping that it would make them think twice about following.

[hatesgoodbyes]

How had they gotten so far from the castle? She had tried to keep them close but now it was entirely too far away. She hauled the leash to pull Mason back from his sudden stance and growl at the oncoming lunatics.

The dog pulled back and made her stumble, she didn't fall but it slowed her and jerked her hand out of Church's. Goddammned dog! Tex hooked her hand under the dog's collar and lurched back into motion, unfortunately she didn't see the silent creep slipping out of the shadows that lined the walk leading to the castle's main door.