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@gravedigger-duo
[[Intro Post]]
"Ah.. hello? I uh... Am not too sure how this site works! Aha.. I mean, I'm only here because my roommate told me I need to actually talk to people, but going outside is.. a chore. Whatever! We're just.. sharing an account since I also don't know how to do this.."
"Roommate here. Excuse her for being the most foolish dumbass you'll ever meet. Don't ask stupid questions."
[[OC info below the cut]]
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[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
No, no, it's okay. I've honestly been through worse.
[Ellie laughs quietly, rocking back on her heels.]
I'm just glad I haven't hit the tipping point where I have to feed the Fears yet. That must be awful.
"It is," Jamie says, forcing a laugh. Aspen doesn't seem amused. The room has fallen to a deafeningly awkward silence now. Well, except for the faint, persistent sound of shifting paper and rattling from the next room over.
[Ellie's gaze shifts to the doorway into the next room and her eyes narrow slightly.]
...Look, I know you two can hear that.
Aspen blinks twice before looking like he's resisting the urge to laugh. "Wait, that's what you're so bothered by? You're joking." Jamie also giggles a bit, but it sounds genuine for once. Aspen puts down their teacup and waves Ellie over. "Do you want to see? Or are you still scared?"
[Ellie picks at her sleeve, her face reddening a bit.]
... unidentified noises are scary when the Fears are involved... yes please.
Aspen saunters into the other room without another thought. Jamie nods at Ellie to come along as she also follows behind Aspen.
[Ellie trails after the two of them, cheeks still burning. Her fears felt justified in the moment, but she's suddenly feeling very foolish.]
Inside the room there are a few shelves, cupboards and a large, open window, and in the center of the room, there's..
A fairly large playpen with a large, round, brown and white rabbit running around in circles.
Jamie stands near the doorway while Aspen stands near the barrier of the playpen with his arms crossed.
[Ellie stares in silence for several moments before she finally sighs.]
Well. That's not what I was expecting. I'm sorry, I must look pretty dumb right now.
...do they have a name?
Aspen leans over the barrier with an awful amount of caution and scoops the critter into his arms.
"Her name is Nutmeg," he says, holding the rabbit much like one would hold an actual child. "And she's a nuisance. And technically not allowed in the apartment."
[Ellie finally cracks a smile.]
I won't tell.
"Oh, no, they already know," Jamie chimes in, idly picking at her nails. "Uh, it's a long story, but basically, during the first inspection that Aspen and I had Nutmeg around, the uh.. landlord[?]'s nephew showed up and he really likes Nutmeg, so we sorta got an exception." "For the record, said 'nephew' is Jamie's age," Aspen adds.
Oh, okay. That was nice of him.
[Ellie glances up and realizes another yellow door has appeared in the room.]
Well, that might be my cue. Sorry again for all the misunderstandings.
Jamie, maybe I'll see you at work?
"Huh.. oh, yeah, of course, at the Institute..!" Jamie confirms with a nod, but saying the name of the Institute alone leaves a slight bitter taste in her mouth. "Mmmhm. I hope for your sake that she doesn't talk your ears off the next time you meet them," Aspen mentions. "Aspen!" "Not sorry." Jamie shakes her head and looks back over at Ellie. "Ah.. um... bye for now! It was nice seeing you.."
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
No, no, it's okay. I've honestly been through worse.
[Ellie laughs quietly, rocking back on her heels.]
I'm just glad I haven't hit the tipping point where I have to feed the Fears yet. That must be awful.
"It is," Jamie says, forcing a laugh. Aspen doesn't seem amused. The room has fallen to a deafeningly awkward silence now. Well, except for the faint, persistent sound of shifting paper and rattling from the next room over.
[Ellie's gaze shifts to the doorway into the next room and her eyes narrow slightly.]
...Look, I know you two can hear that.
Aspen blinks twice before looking like he's resisting the urge to laugh. "Wait, that's what you're so bothered by? You're joking." Jamie also giggles a bit, but it sounds genuine for once. Aspen puts down their teacup and waves Ellie over. "Do you want to see? Or are you still scared?"
[Ellie picks at her sleeve, her face reddening a bit.]
... unidentified noises are scary when the Fears are involved... yes please.
Aspen saunters into the other room without another thought. Jamie nods at Ellie to come along as she also follows behind Aspen.
[Ellie trails after the two of them, cheeks still burning. Her fears felt justified in the moment, but she's suddenly feeling very foolish.]
Inside the room there are a few shelves, cupboards and a large, open window, and in the center of the room, there's..
A fairly large playpen with a large, round, brown and white rabbit running around in circles.
Jamie stands near the doorway while Aspen stands near the barrier of the playpen with his arms crossed.
[Ellie stares in silence for several moments before she finally sighs.]
Well. That's not what I was expecting. I'm sorry, I must look pretty dumb right now.
...do they have a name?
Aspen leans over the barrier with an awful amount of caution and scoops the critter into his arms.
"Her name is Nutmeg," he says, holding the rabbit much like one would hold an actual child. "And she's a nuisance. And technically not allowed in the apartment."
[Ellie finally cracks a smile.]
I won't tell.
"Oh, no, they already know," Jamie chimes in, idly picking at her nails. "Uh, it's a long story, but basically, during the first inspection that Aspen and I had Nutmeg around, the uh.. landlord[?]'s nephew showed up and he really likes Nutmeg, so we sorta got an exception." "For the record, said 'nephew' is Jamie's age," Aspen adds.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
No, no, it's okay. I've honestly been through worse.
[Ellie laughs quietly, rocking back on her heels.]
I'm just glad I haven't hit the tipping point where I have to feed the Fears yet. That must be awful.
"It is," Jamie says, forcing a laugh. Aspen doesn't seem amused. The room has fallen to a deafeningly awkward silence now. Well, except for the faint, persistent sound of shifting paper and rattling from the next room over.
[Ellie's gaze shifts to the doorway into the next room and her eyes narrow slightly.]
...Look, I know you two can hear that.
Aspen blinks twice before looking like he's resisting the urge to laugh. "Wait, that's what you're so bothered by? You're joking." Jamie also giggles a bit, but it sounds genuine for once. Aspen puts down their teacup and waves Ellie over. "Do you want to see? Or are you still scared?"
[Ellie picks at her sleeve, her face reddening a bit.]
... unidentified noises are scary when the Fears are involved... yes please.
Aspen saunters into the other room without another thought. Jamie nods at Ellie to come along as she also follows behind Aspen.
[Ellie trails after the two of them, cheeks still burning. Her fears felt justified in the moment, but she's suddenly feeling very foolish.]
Inside the room there are a few shelves, cupboards and a large, open window, and in the center of the room, there's..
A fairly large playpen with a large, round, brown and white rabbit running around in circles.
Jamie stands near the doorway while Aspen stands near the barrier of the playpen with his arms crossed.
[Ellie stares in silence for several moments before she finally sighs.]
Well. That's not what I was expecting. I'm sorry, I must look pretty dumb right now.
...do they have a name?
Aspen leans over the barrier with an awful amount of caution and scoops the critter into his arms.
"Her name is Nutmeg," he says, holding the rabbit much like one would hold an actual child. "And she's a nuisance. And technically not allowed in the apartment."
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
No, no, it's okay. I've honestly been through worse.
[Ellie laughs quietly, rocking back on her heels.]
I'm just glad I haven't hit the tipping point where I have to feed the Fears yet. That must be awful.
"It is," Jamie says, forcing a laugh. Aspen doesn't seem amused. The room has fallen to a deafeningly awkward silence now. Well, except for the faint, persistent sound of shifting paper and rattling from the next room over.
[Ellie's gaze shifts to the doorway into the next room and her eyes narrow slightly.]
...Look, I know you two can hear that.
Aspen blinks twice before looking like he's resisting the urge to laugh. "Wait, that's what you're so bothered by? You're joking." Jamie also giggles a bit, but it sounds genuine for once. Aspen puts down their teacup and waves Ellie over. "Do you want to see? Or are you still scared?"
[Ellie picks at her sleeve, her face reddening a bit.]
... unidentified noises are scary when the Fears are involved... yes please.
Aspen saunters into the other room without another thought. Jamie nods at Ellie to come along as she also follows behind Aspen.
[Ellie trails after the two of them, cheeks still burning. Her fears felt justified in the moment, but she's suddenly feeling very foolish.]
Inside the room there are a few shelves, cupboards and a large, open window, and in the center of the room, there's..
A fairly large playpen with a large, round, brown and white rabbit running around in circles.
Jamie stands near the doorway while Aspen stands near the barrier of the playpen with his arms crossed.
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[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
No, no, it's okay. I've honestly been through worse.
[Ellie laughs quietly, rocking back on her heels.]
I'm just glad I haven't hit the tipping point where I have to feed the Fears yet. That must be awful.
"It is," Jamie says, forcing a laugh. Aspen doesn't seem amused. The room has fallen to a deafeningly awkward silence now. Well, except for the faint, persistent sound of shifting paper and rattling from the next room over.
[Ellie's gaze shifts to the doorway into the next room and her eyes narrow slightly.]
...Look, I know you two can hear that.
Aspen blinks twice before looking like he's resisting the urge to laugh. "Wait, that's what you're so bothered by? You're joking." Jamie also giggles a bit, but it sounds genuine for once. Aspen puts down their teacup and waves Ellie over. "Do you want to see? Or are you still scared?"
[Ellie picks at her sleeve, her face reddening a bit.]
... unidentified noises are scary when the Fears are involved... yes please.
Aspen saunters into the other room without another thought. Jamie nods at Ellie to come along as she also follows behind Aspen.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
No, no, it's okay. I've honestly been through worse.
[Ellie laughs quietly, rocking back on her heels.]
I'm just glad I haven't hit the tipping point where I have to feed the Fears yet. That must be awful.
"It is," Jamie says, forcing a laugh. Aspen doesn't seem amused. The room has fallen to a deafeningly awkward silence now. Well, except for the faint, persistent sound of shifting paper and rattling from the next room over.
[Ellie's gaze shifts to the doorway into the next room and her eyes narrow slightly.]
...Look, I know you two can hear that.
Aspen blinks twice before looking like he's resisting the urge to laugh. "Wait, that's what you're so bothered by? You're joking." Jamie also giggles a bit, but it sounds genuine for once. Aspen puts down their teacup and waves Ellie over. "Do you want to see? Or are you still scared?"
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
No, no, it's okay. I've honestly been through worse.
[Ellie laughs quietly, rocking back on her heels.]
I'm just glad I haven't hit the tipping point where I have to feed the Fears yet. That must be awful.
"It is," Jamie says, forcing a laugh. Aspen doesn't seem amused. The room has fallen to a deafeningly awkward silence now. Well, except for the faint, persistent sound of shifting paper and rattling from the next room over.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
No, I'm... I'm alright.
[Ellie takes a deep breath. The encounter with Jamie in the corridors was absolutely terrifying, but strangely... she isn't really scared anymore. Maybe it's just that she's already survived about the worst they have to offer, or seeing how bad Jamie feels about what happened, but the rising anxiety she's been trying to shove down since she first entered the apartment is basically gone.]
...Do you feel any better?
"... A tiny bit," Jamie admits unwillingly. "Um.. not the best at the whole.. feeding the Fear thing." They look quite ashamed of their erratic behaviour.
Aspen, meanwhile, steps forward and takes the pins with a quiet "thank you" before moving to lean against a wall and sip his tea. ".. And my apologies for Jamie, by the way. Sorry for her entire existence, really."
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Scooping all three pins into one hand, Ellie straightens and opens the door back into Jamie and Aspen's apartment.]
Um, excuse me? You dropped these.
Meanwhile, Jamie is sobbing on the floor while Aspen sips their cold tea calmly. It's a shocking contrast. They both look at Ellie at the same time. "You're back," Aspen says as though he were expecting her return. Jamie, meanwhile, immediately stands up straight. "Oh, thank the fates," she sniffles, wiping her tears on her sleeve. "I thought I killed youâ
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[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie needs to move, but she just stays crouched there, staring mutely at the pins. It feels like her thoughts are running at half speed, muddled by confusion and the fading adrenaline. ...Is Jamie going to want these back? Maybe she could hand them off to someone in Artefact Storage, ask them to make sure they get back into the right hands.]
[...Maybe Ellie just needs to go already, before anything else happens.]
... Maybe. Just maybe. That is if Jamie shows up, of course.
The other pins are sort of mundane. One is a mug of coffee that has "my sleep aid" written on it, and the other is a red and gold IV bag with a black heart etched into the center. Huh.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie stumbles into a wall as the pressure lets up and leans against it for a moment to catch her breath and compose herself. Then she turns to cautiously approach the spot where Jamie was standing. It feels like she should have gotten a lot further than the short distance she has to cover to crouch and pick up one of the pins, but... reality isn't always reliable when the Fears are involved.]
What on earth...
[Where did Jamie go? Where could they have gone?]
The shiny pinâa round one with the aroace flag on itâfaintly reflects the fluctuating lights and colours of the Hallways. Logically, Jamie most likely went through the door, but the Fears aren't exactly the closest thing to logic.
Oh well.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie turns and runs, still gasping for air as the realization of what a huge mistake she's made begins to sink in. Will she have enough time to find another door? Certainly not to anywhere specificâ she just needs to get out, now.]
[She doesn't dare waste even a second to look behind herâ she doesn't know if Jamie is following her or not, but she doesn't think they need to.]
The suffocating pressure increases. It's like the Hallways are being vacuum-sealed. It's an unsteady push and pull between the expansive swirls of the Spiral and the crushing weight of the Buried.
It lasts for another twenty seconds onlyâalthough it feels like an eternityâbefore Jamie yelps, and all the influence of the Buried is suddenly gone.
It looks like she was never there, except for a few pins from their jacket lying on the floor of the Hallways, right in front of the door which leads to her and Aspen's apartment.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
[The pieces are falling together too fast for Ellie to consciously comprehend as she continues to back away, struggling to keep her breathing steady as the air seems to almost physically press in on her. For all the strange glances and unsettling comments in the apartment, Ellie may not have been in danger thereâ but she's certainly in danger now.]
I-I'm sorry, Jamie. I need to go.
Jamie doesn't move. But the Hallways certainly do. Even whilst twisting and turning and blooming into glorious fractals, the ceiling lowers. "I'm sorry," they repeat, staring down at their hands. They glance back at the door behind herâthe way back to her apartmentâbut they stay put.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie draws back instinctivelyâ she can't quite put her finger on what's different, but the change was so sudden and intense that it feels like her ears need to pop. Something has gone very wrong.]
W-what? I don't...
"I'm sorry," Jamie apologizes, but their words feel a little too forced. The rest, however spills out, like a dam breaking.
"I've tried and tried and tried and locked myself in rooms for days, and faked those 'accidents' in Artefact Storage, and drowned in this suffocating feeling until I break free in breathless panic, but it's not enough. It's never enough. I'm so sorry..."
She stops in her tracks, visibly holding themselves back.
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[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
[Ellie takes a cautious step towards Jamie. Sure, she hasn't seen very many people enter the hallways, but she's never seen anyone react like this.]
Are you alright?
"... I knew I should've kept the shovel ever since you walked in to our apartment."
Jamie takes a step forward herself, and the hallways feel.. a little smaller than usual. It's still just as winding and colourful as usual, though.
[Ellie steps into Jamie and Aspen's apartment through a door that.. definitely was not there before. She doesn't seem to be entirely paying attention to where she's going, but then she glances up and her eyes widen a bit.]
Oh. I am so sorry, this is not where I was trying to go.
Aspen and Jamie look at eachother with the most baffled expressions on their faces before turning to look at Ellie. Aspen puts down their teacup on the coffee table and shuts their book. They simply stare at the door.
"Oh, hello," Jamie greets awkwardly, sitting up on the couch and avoiding eye contact. "Ah, uh, who are you, and where are you trying to go..?"
I'm Ellie. Ellie Hayes. I was trying to get to the grocery store, but the corridors... have been finicky lately...
[She trails off as she glances over her shoulder. The door had vanished while she was distracted. She sighs.]
...right. Thanks for that.
[Ellie would very much like to sink into the floor and disappear right about now.]
...It's nice to meet you two?
Aspen still just.. stares at the spot where the door used to be. It's kind of concerning.
"Okay, well.."
Jamie stands up and approaches Ellie, looking at her rather curiously.
"I'm.. Jamie! And this isâ"
"Aspen. I'm Aspen," Aspen hesitantly spoke. They couldn't help but shoot a glance at Jamie. ".. don't introduce me when I don't want to be introduced."
Well, it's nice to meet you, Jamie... Aspen.
[Ellie shifts uncomfortably.]
Sorry it isn't under less awkward circumstances. Hopefully I'll be able to find another door and be out of your hair in a few minutes, but... you know. Doors. How long have you two known each other?
Jamie's eyes seem to light up.
"Oh! Like, basically forever, haha!" She grins. She adjusts her jacket over shoulders. It seems a little too big for her.
".. She's exaggerating," Aspen adds, although his voice is basically a whisper. "Don't pay her any mind. She hardly knows people."
Jamie hides it fairly well, but there's a tinge of hurt that shows as her grin falters.
[Ellie shoots Aspen a slightly shocked glance.]
O-oh, that's alright! I mean, I haven't known any of my friends for all that long, but we're still close. Sometimes people just click, you know?
"Oh, yeah, just like Aspen and Iâ"
"No, nothing like us," Aspen interjects with a scoff. He finally stands up and begins to circle Ellie, their expression carefully neutral.
Aspen then suddenly yanks Jamie back and shoves them towards the sofa. "What was up with that door.. Ellie, was it?"
[Ellie takes an involuntary step back.]
Oh! I-I... The doors are just the easiest way for me to get around. I didn't mean to bother you, the corridors normally just lead wherever I need them to, but I've had a harder time navigating them recently.
[Aspen doesn't seem like an Eye avatar, so they shouldn't be able to Compel more information out of her than she wants to give, but the thought isn't as comforting as Ellie wants it to be. If this is going to be a problem, she really doesn't want to hand Aspen the tools to get to Michael, or... hopefully it won't be a problem.]
The doors aren't a threat, I swear.
Aspen doesn't seem deterred in the slightest. He steps closer. "And you expect us to just.. believe you?" With every sentence, they draw closer. "Is this the game we're playing now, hm? A bit of fun? A mere jest?" Jamie can't even get a word in. The second she opens their mouth, a single glance from Aspen makes her turn and step into the adjacent room. "I hope you're honest, for your sake," he states dryly, finally stopping right in front of their unusual visitor, only half a meter away.
[Ellie crosses her arms, trying and probably failing to look more confident than defensive. Aspen isn't that tall, but he still towers over her by a good four inches.]
...Do you have an alternate explanation? I don't know what else to tell youâ I took a wrong turn, that's all.
[She sends a quick glance after Jamieâ it probably wouldn't be reasonable to expect help from them, but she does seem at least a bit friendlier than Aspen.]
"... Fine. Whateverâ" Aspen shuts himself up when they hear the sound of metal being dragged across the hardwood flooring. They then look to see Jamie has returned with a shovel. "Aspen, I got the shovel," she laughs halfheartedly, and Aspen is.. well, it's kind of hard to tell from their facial expression alone, but his tone is mildly flabberghasted. "... Tea, Jamie. I nodded at the kitchen for you to get tea. How the fuck did you get 'shovel' out of that. Does she look dead to you???" "Uh, well.." ".... Jamie, please, you can't be serious."
[Ellie blinks several times, a shocked laugh escaping mostly against her will. Maybe her initial assessment of Aspen and Jamie's general dynamic was a bit off.]
.. That's a very nice... shovel?
[She doesn't think they're going to use it on her. Probably. As subtly as she can, she reaches behind her to feel for a doorknob. Still nothing.]
Any time now, Michael...
"Oh.. it is?" Jamie asks, lifting up the shovel about ten centimeters off the ground. "I mean, yeah, of course it is! It's Aspen's.." "Shut up, Jamie. And you, stop moving," Aspen huffs, glancing at Ellie out of the corner of his eye. It's pretty damn unsettling. "We're inviting you for tea after you showed up out of frickin' nowhere. The least you can do is be slightly polite and accept it." Poor Jamie, meanwhile, is already busy carrying the shovel out of the room. The sound of it being dragged is audible from two rooms over.
[Ellie quickly retracts her hand from the wall.]
Right. Sorry. Tea... um, tea sounds nice. Thank you. And sorry again for barging in like this.
[The "thank you" for not hitting Ellie with the shovel is unspoken, but no less fervent.]
"Uhuh.. no problem. I'd be upset, but unfortunately Jamie has been bringing home much worse.. situations than this ever since her new job." Aspen proceeds to the kitchen and waves Ellie over to follow. Jamie also returns shortly after, although she proceeds silently now.
Oh, that's fair, I suppose.
[Ellie glances over her shoulder at Jamie as she follows Aspen into the kitchen.]
New job, huh? I've been there. How's it going?
"It's goingâ" "Terribly," Aspen interrupts with that constant deadpan expression. "It is not!" Jamie protests, although her words are weak and hollow. "Didn't you almost get two people crushed under falling shelves and tossed a third into some odd trapdoor?" "... I.. it's not my fault....."
I mean, my workplace got attacked by man-eating worms. That was a bit before I started there, but... You know. Stuff happens. You just gotta do your best to learn from mistakes, right?
[Ellie shrugs, hoping that anecdote was reassuring and not incredibly concerning.]
...I hope your coworkers are alright though. That's awful that that happened.
"They're..." Jamie looks at Aspen for a few seconds. ".. fine. They're fine. The worm thing honestly sounds worse." "Is it worse than the termites that started eating through the Library and part of the walls to Artefact Storage though?" Aspen questioned with mild sarcasm as they began to look through the cupboards. "I mean, you told me you needed to start borrowing my jackets because they devoured yours.." "Aspen! You're embarrassing me!" "Well you embarrass me on the daily by merely existing, I think this is fair payback."
Oh, yeah, Artefact Storage can be a realâ
[Ellie stops and her eyes widen as she realizes what she's saying.]
Wait. Do you work at the Institute too?
Jamie's eyes widen and she nods. Meanwhile, Aspen freezes with a clean teacup in one hand and an empty kettle in the other. He slowly turns to look at Jamie and Ellie. "Oh no. Not today. Having one Institute freak in the apartment is more than enough. Why have I been cursed with two of them now?!"
[Ellie resists the urge to laugh. She... can't exactly disagree with Aspen's reaction, but it's probably a good sign that he isn't sending Jamie after the shovel again.]
Sorry. I'll be sure to get out of your hair before you end up with another one.
[Her attention drifts back to Jamie.]
How are you holding up, though? The Institute isn't an easy place to work.
"It's.. um...."
Jamie hesitates, looking like she expects Aspen to interrupt again. When he doesn't, though, she continues.
".. horrible. Mr. BouchardâI, err, uh, I mean Elias, is weird.. and he's still debating between tossing me in the Archives or in Artefact Storage. I mean, Artefact Storage definitely is better for my.. circumstances... But it's so uncomfortable there! I mean, I guess that's the point, butâ"
"You're talking her ears off. Calm down," Aspen comments as they set the kettle on the stove. He crosses his arms and leans against the countertop.
Oh, no, you're alright!
[Ellie gave Aspen a quick look. Was there something he didn't want her to find out about, or was he just being rude to Jamie on purpose? They were so hard to read.]
But yeah, Elias is... he mostly ignores me, thankfully, but I've heard stories. Personally I'd suggest staying in Artefact Storage if you can... but if you end up in the Archives you'll be working with me. So at least you'll know someone.
Aspen locks eyes briefly with Ellie before he looks through the pantry. Jamie remains silent, unsure of what to say.
"... What kind of tea do you want?" He inquires, but their tone is uncomfortably flat. "We got a whole assortment after Jamie stole some from you guys' very own breakrooms." ".. aha.. right....."
Oh, so that's where they went.
[Ellie laughs a bit awkwardly, twisting her hands together underneath the table.]
Anything is fine, I'm not picky. Um, maybe if you've got a good green tea in there?
"Uhuh... I do actually have some.." Aspen mumbles, shutting the pantry door. "It's one of the few teas that I bought myself."
Jamie fidgets with the pins on her jacket for a bit before moving to the refrigerator.
"Ah, um, do you want any cream, or sugar cubes, or something in your tea? Aha...."
[Ellie nods.]
Both, please. And, um, thank you both. For having me for tea.
"You're welcome," they both reply, oddly in-sync.
Jamie brings over some sugar cubes, a teaspoon and a jug of cream. She sits next to Ellie and rests their forearms on the table.
"It's no problem," they reply, although her fingernails dig into the palms of her hands slightly. "Would you like anything else?"
Oh, um, that's alright. No thank you.
[Ellie stirs a bit of cream and sugar into her tea, not really paying that much attention to making sure it's the way she likes it. She's pretty sure Jamie and Aspen aren't a threat, but they're both so difficult to read. Maybe she's making a huge mistake by not running as far and as fast as she can, but then again... maybe it really is just tea. She did intrude on them, after all. Anyone would be a bit wary in this situation, wouldn't they?]
[The silence has gone on way too long, Ellie realizes. She needs to say something.]
...Any fun plans for the weekend?
".. I have some studying to do," Aspen answers slowly, finally taking a seat at the table as well. "And Jamie, well.." They trail off, a small, knowing smile on his face. "Go on, Jamie. What do you have fun to do on the weekend?" Jamie is silent for a good while before her expression softens. She sighs almost dreamily, "... I could study with you..." ".. No. Go out with your friendsâor, well, your lack thereof."
[Ellie nearly chokes on her teaâ every time she thinks she's starting to somewhat understand these two, they throw her another curveball.]
Mm, gotta love studying. I was in uni for a bit, but I ah... dropped out, a bit before I started in the Archives. I'd love to go back, but I can't say I miss all the homework.
Aspen lets the slightest amusement show as they look at Ellie. The new information is honestly starting the feel less like curveballs and more like carefully guided missiles by the minute, although it's impossible to tell where said hypothetical missiles are being guided. "I mean, I'm not sure why I'm even bothering with university, in all honesty," they drawl, stretching their arms out much like a cat would. "I mean, I doubt I'd last to finish it. But I'd definitely last longer than Jamie, either way." "I'd last as long as you would, Aspen," Jamie murmurs. It's clear she's trying and failing not to take offence.
I mean, they say the time it would take to get your degree passes either way, right? May as well just go for it...
[Ellie laughs uncomfortably. She's starting to get the feeling that she's being toyed with, and is unsure what to make of that realization.]
Jamie's fingers curl in a little tighter. The air feels a lot more tense than before. Aspen shrugs. "Maybe," he says simply, rocking back in their chair. ".. how's the tea, by the way? It's boiling hot, you know."
Oh, um, it's fine, thank you. The cream did a lot to cool it down.
[In all honesty, the tea is still too hot to drink comfortably, but Ellie hardly noticed until Aspen pointed it out. Staying connected to physical sensations is already difficult for her on the best of days. She decides to smooth the moment over by turning it into a joke, hoping the attempt won't fall flat.]
Why, is it poisoned or something?
Jamie laughs quietly, but Aspen doesn't give much of a reaction.
"No, I can just see there's steam still coming from the cup, that's all," he states.
"Is there anything else you'd like?" Jamie speaks up, their voice a bit.. strained. "Snacks, or, more tea...?"
When she finishes speaking, there's the distant sound of a cage rattling in the adjacent roomâthe same room Jamie had dragged the shovel through earlier.
[Ellie had already started to shake her head again as Jamie made the offer, but her gaze drifts to the general direction the rattling is coming from, her face paling slightly.]
No, that's alright, thank you... um. What was that?
"What was what?" Aspen asks. He tilts his head to the side and feigns ignoranceâand they're damn good at it. Jamie, on the other hand.. not so much. Her leg is now bouncing rapidly and it shakes the entire table a bit. The cage rattles again.
[Ellie stares into her cup, her heartbeat getting louder in her ears as she tries to decide what to do. She should leave. She should definitely leave. But... what if there's someone else here, someone who might need help?]
[And, of course, no matter how hard she tries to shove it down or rationalize it, there is that little part of her that's part of the Archives. Always demanding that she keep looking, keep probing, keep searching for answersâ even when what she finds might get her killed.]
Right, of course, I must have been hearing things. O-oh, would you look at the time. I'll let you two be now, thanks again for the hospitality. I'm sure I'll be able to find another door by now, let me just...
[As Ellie is speaking, she stands up from her chair and slowly backs towards the door, fully intending to make a break for it and find whatever is making that noise as soon as she's out of sight.]
Aspen slowly stands up too. "Where are you going?" He asks, head still slightly tilted as he strides towards Ellie. Jamie also quickly rises, following behind Aspen. "Aren't you going to finish your tea?" she queries, her steps almost perfectly matching Aspen's. Even though she's fairly small, she looks like she can definitely keep a good pace for a short while if Ellie starts running.
Oh, um, that's alright. I really need to go...
[As soon as Ellie is within arms reach of the kitchen door, her hand shoots out to grasp the doorknobâ closing the door behind her will only buy her a couple seconds, but it's certainly better than nothing. And maybe, if she's extra lucky, the corridors will decide that now is a good time to let her in and she can just get out of here.]
Jamie grabs Aspen's arm and pulls him back. She works at the Institute, after all. She knows to be wary of.. doors. And hallways. The two of them stop and stare.
Aspen is still itching to take another step. He silently mouths out "I'd like to see you try".
[Ellie feels the doorknob change somehow under her grip and quickly steps backward through the doorway, closing the door behind her and leaning on it heavily. How did her life get to the point that she's actually relieved to see the Distortion's corridors?]
[Although... what now? Should she try to sneak back into the flat to see what that sound was? Continue to her original destination like nothing happened? Just go back to the Archives? Of course, there's always the chance that the corridors will just do whatever they want and dump her somewhere completely random anyway.]
[...can Aspen and Jamie follow her into the corridors?]
There's the faint sound of arguing from the other side of the door, with Jamie and Aspen's voices steadily rising in volume as they talk over eachother. This went on for all of thirty seconds. "This is your fault!" ".. To hell with you Jamie.... How is this my fault?!" "Well, um, I don't know, but it's definitely you!" "I'd like to see you try to justify that, girl." "You don't listen to me! You're so um.. off-putting...." There's a heavy footstep. "And um... uh....." ".... Jamie, don't even try it. Go get her." "What?! But she.. that's the Spiral's work! I know enough about this from working at the Instituteâ" "And it's you who craved to make fertilizer out of our guest because you don't handle your requirements right. If you know so much about this, then you know enough to get in. So.. go get her." "WhaâASPEN!" The door swings open and Jamie is seemingly shoved into the corridors, landing a few meters behind Ellie.
[Ellie freezes. If she runs, she can probably outmaneuver Jamie in here pretty easilyâ but the corridors almost certainly wouldn't be as kind to them as they are to Ellie. If Jamie gets lost...]
[When Ellie finally speaks, her voice comes out strangely echoey and distorted.]
...You should leave.
Jamie winces as she sits upright, squinting her eyes. These endless corridors of limitless shifting hues and shapes hurt their eyes. Upon hearing Ellie's odd, distorted voice, she freezes in.. well, Fear.
"I.. uh..... Oh god.."
Her gaze darts around and her entire frame shakes. The Hallways are.. disorienting, to say the least.
Look, I'm going to go. I... I don't think you want to follow me in here, alright?
[Ellie gestures back towards the door they just came out of.]
That door should still go back to your place. You can just tell Aspen you couldn't catch me.
[Would it be incredibly stupid to try and find her way back into the apartment now? Probably. Maybe she should just go, and not look the gift horse in the mouth.]
[...assuming Jamie is going to let her leave.]
Jamie continues trembling. She literally can't stand right now. Their eyes are dark and she looks.. pathetic, for the lack of a better word.
".. can't... Move.."
She takes a few deep breaths as their fear begins to shift into something closer to desperation. Their eyes finally focus on Ellie, even though it hurts like hell.
