[MINGLE] Worried/Sick 2: Snake Expedition & Recovery!

[sixthiteration]

WHERE: Anywhere; multiple locations
WHEN: Apx. 19-27 November
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE
WARNINGS: Serious illness and reactions to such, snakes, hallucinations

IMPORTANT NOTES: This is the second of two mingles. Please see the timing and general event details here.

Not putting any mod top-levels in this one — Just make sure you label your own top-level clearly as to whether it's Expedition or Recovery, and as always, whether it is OTA or not!

Please keep in mind the established plot details, but creative license is welcome and encouraged as long as it doesn't step on toes.

Comments

[tothefly]

"You and me both." It's discomforting, somewhere in her mind, somewhere below the warmth and softness, but the feeling is a good one, too good to give up, and so she lingers, looking at the bird, which gives another bright, clarion chirp that makes the laughter bubble up inside her yet again.

"I'm pretty sure it's the birds," she says, all smiles as she looks briefly to Wanda, holding out a hand. "We should go, though. Don't want to find out what else they can do, or why they're doing this, if it's intentional. Maybe the plan is to keep us too happy to fight back while they eat us." Listen, someone's gotta be thinking it.

[minus1twin]

Wanda found it difficult to turn away from the happy birds. What if she took one? What if she could feel like this forever? It was a day dream and a stupid passing thought but it made her hesitate before turning back towards Natasha.

"Yeah," She didn't sound convinced, even through the smile, but Wanda was moving back towards came. "We should catalog them some how." She didn't know but she might ask Steve if he was interested in going around drawing plants and birds so that they had a record of these strange effects.

There were a lot of animals that were unique to this island.

[tothefly]

It is hard to turn away. She can see exactly how a feeling like this could end up being addictive, how easy it would be to just sit and listen and not have to worry about what comes next or what this place is, whether or not they ever get home. It's why they need to go, to keep moving. And yet, she lingers, waiting for Wanda.

"You're right." They should have a catalog, a record just in case. Lifting her wrist, Natasha hits the record button on her bracelet, aiming the camera towards the nearest bird, trying to get a good angle on it. "I wonder if a recording will have the same effect as hearing it in person."

[minus1twin]

The birds tune changed and Wanda felt something in her chest drop. Her steps slowed and she felt moisture gather at the corner of her eyes. "Natasha?" Her voice was thin and weak. Wanda didn't know what happened or what changed, only that the weight she'd been holding back, the looses, the guilt and the pain all rushed forward at once.

"Don't record this." Her voice was very soft, as if she struggled to keep it under control.

If this bird could do this to her... "Natasha." Wanda felt the tears fall despite her attempts to hold them back. She didn't cry and she knew that it was the bird or something else effecting her.

[tothefly]

The change in song hits Natasha like a punch to the gut, like a fall from a very high ledge, the bottom dropping out of her stomach and her breath stolen away in the blink of an eye. Maybe it's worse, after the euphoric high of a moment ago, or maybe it would be this bad, anyway. She can't think for that first second, just fights the drop until she can't anymore, until she lets go and acclimates to the intense wave of emotion.

Her hand drops to her side, recorder still blessedly off. "No," she murmurs, and her voice breaks on the vowel. "No, I won't." There is moisture in her eyes, and she doesn't want to cry, has no reason to. She clings to that thought, as she reaches out for Wanda's hand. Something solid to hold on to, something to stop the freefall. "It's just the bird," she says, and her voice is almost a whisper. "We should go." But she gets the feeling that if she tries to move, she's going to collapse sobbing, and the thought is a terrifying one.

[minus1twin]

Wanda's fingers curl around Natasha's as the hopeless crushing pain weighed upon her. Every pain, heartache and frustration that she'd been trying to avoid came crashing against her senses. Clint was gone, her family gone or dead and she felt utterly alone. Not just alone but helpless. She had no way of controlling what happened on this island, no way of fighting back. Her usual determination, her reasons for living and that steel inside of her felt like it was all shattering.

"Yeah." She whispered as tears freely flowed down her pretty pale cheeks.

It wasn't just the bird.

"But I've felt like this before." Wanda closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. "Every day and night. I haven't been sleeping." It's been difficult and now she couldn't hold back those feelings.

The only blessing was that she was used to this feeling. She took Natasha's hand and attempted to guide her away from the bird. It was hard but it wasn't impossible, Wanda was used to mental games.