Take Two, Part I

[sixthiteration]

WHO: Take Two I participants
WHERE: Everywhere!
WHEN: February 26-March 4
OPEN TO: ONLY Take Two participants — Reactions to the disappearances should have their own posts.
WARNINGS: Please warn in your subject line as needed
NOTES: Plot Basics | Cheat Sheet & Other Details | Color Combos

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Morning, February 26. A message blinks across the devices of many in the village, sender unknown. Meet with a specified someone else, it says, dubious but not overtly sinister. Is this belated Valentine's matchmaking? An Observer attempt at forcing friendships?

Or could this perhaps be something that takes just a wee bit more effort?

Comments

[womanofvalue]

"I knew her quite well," Peggy admits, because Wanda had been a very good friend to her, and had managed to get her through several very difficult times that she'd rather not think too much about. Yet, she can also acknowledge how difficult it must be for Billy.

She's been there, as well, with someone that she thinks she knows, but doesn't know her the same or something her fundamentally changed.

"Let's keep at it," she insists. "There's no harm in going above and beyond. Besides, we could always begin making our way back. Perhaps the week includes the return and since we have no way of knowing how far we are until we hit a landmark, it could be days."

[demiurgency]

"You're right." It finally seems to click in his head: she's navy blue, which means she can find literal solutions to problems. "You can find the way to the villages, can't you? With your power, I mean. We could head that direction, and just collect as we go." Honestly, that sounds pretty great to him. Better than just wandering around in the woods for a week while Tommy's home alone.

[womanofvalue]

She nods, thinking that it's been a rather strange few months. For the longest time, she hadn't used her abilities for anything, but now she seems to be getting lost as if it's her job. She steadily focuses on wanting to return to the village and looks around until she sees the path.

"That way," she points, beginning to pick up their things. "We'll collect as we go." With a glance at Billy, she knows she ought to ask what he can do, but they're working together. "I'm not sure I like being anyone's errand woman," she remarks, "but I suppose we can at least try and avoid angering them."

[demiurgency]

Oh, he definitely relates. Honestly he hadn't used his own ability at all until he'd started training with Nida, and now it definitely came in handy. They could take turns activating their powers until they finished, or Billy was covered in enough bruises despite the extra resilience it offered. It seems like everything's ramped up the last few months, for sure.

"Sounds like a plan." And honestly, he feels better knowing they have one. A plan, no matter how simple, goes a long way. "I know what you mean. This whole teleporting us out in the middle of nowhere and giving us cryptic answers about why thing gets old really fast. But at least we're not on the top of a mountain surrounded by weird teleporting foxes, right?" There's at least a little bright side.

[womanofvalue]

"Yet," she feels compelled to point out, because that feels a little like tempting fate.

For a while, it really does seem like nothing is going to go wrong. They keep heading in the direction her power tells them to and nothing looms with the sort of dangerous threat that would get Peggy on her guard. At least, it doesn't for the first while.

She's in the middle of finding some more seeds when she hears movement nearby. "Billy," she whispers, eager to get his attention. "Come closer," she says, heart pounding at what sounds like something much larger than just a stray fox.

[demiurgency]

"...Yet," he echoes, and deflates just a little. Yeah, she's right. God knows what's gonna happen next. But that doesn't keep him from trying to stay positive. He can't fall back into old depressive habits, and he's not going to let her down, either.

The trip is fairly uneventful, aside from one very angry badger with superstrength they'd had the misfortune to run across early on; Billy's gotten almost comfortable with the rhythm they've fallen into, and between Peggy's power and his own knowledge of the woods (more comprehensive than he'd thought it was, honestly) they've got a pretty good chance of getting through this, he thinks.

That doesn't mean his pulse doesn't spike at that sound, anyway, and Peggy barely has to say anything before Billy's moving quietly towards her, staff in his hands held in a defensive position. He pauses before saying anything, listening intently to the sounds around them, eyes scanning for any sign of movement. "What is that?" he finally breathes a question, voice as low as it can be and still be heard. Whatever it is, it feels like it's listening for them, too, and the low light of the forest is playing tricks on his eyes.

[womanofvalue]

She shakes her head, adjusting what they've been searching for and making sure that it's safe. She finds the nearest tree and begins to move towards it to store their things carefully, tucking away the zoom seeds with it, because if they have to go back because they've lost them to some of the local fauna, then she's going to be terribly annoyed.

"I'm not sure," she admits, voice low. Squinting, it seems to be coming closer, though, and she reaches out to tug at his hand, trying very carefully to protect him without overtly looking like that's what she's doing. "Stay with me."

[demiurgency]

She might be trying to protect him, but honestly it's not necessary. And having both hands free is a smarter idea, but still--he can't deny that with the rush of adrenaline also comes a faint twinge of unease. The contact helps, and he keeps a hold of her hand, his staff ready in the other as his feet shift into a defensive stance, weight balanced on the balls of his feet. It feels natural, which is good; means some part of his training is paying off.

"I'm not going anywhere, he murmurs, frowning as he looks towards the source of the sound. The sounds get closer, and closer, and then suddenly--they're gone. Gone? No, that can't be right. He listens, but there's nothing. No birds, no insects, nothing. That can't be good. His grip tightens on Peggy's hand, and he starts to look towards her.

"We shou--look out!!" The sentence is interrupted by a black shape flying at them out of nowhere, lightning-fast, and Billy yanks Peggy out of the way, desperately calling on his powers to activate. He doesn't know what this thing is, but there's no way it means anything good for either of them.

[womanofvalue]

Peggy lets out a sound of alarm when something is suddenly coming at them. Her power doesn't have any defensive capabilities when she wants it to, but she's glad for Billy's quick thinking and his reflexes in this situation, allowing her not to worry about anything but bracing herself as she crashes to the ground.

She takes a knee down, but she manages to keep the bag from spilling and Billy doesn't seem too worse for the wear. "What," she snaps, glancing over her shoulder, "was that thing?" she needs to know, before she can form a strategy about what to do next.