( Then he's gone, and she says a very impolite curse under her breath. She doesn't want to be alone, but man, she's not even feeling brave as she jerks her head around to look behind herself. Collette wheels back a half step, back firmly at the wall.
The footsteps overhead continue on their laborious walk, until they're directly overhead. Then they stop.
The silence feels deafening. )
If that mocking bird don't sing, papa's going to buy you a golden ring...
( She rubs at her arm, chanting "this isn't real, this isn't real" under her breath. It's in any of those siderooms that Gilbert will find either nothing -- or tattered frames opening and creaking, slamming against the wall or the broken tiny, high windows as he enters. A wet, dripping comes down from the walls, the floors slick with water, rotting wood, moss, and droppings.
Cats fare well in this city. So do rats, as it were.
He'll find himself plagued by light, childish laughter. )
Hide and seek! Hide and seek! Olly olly oxen-free!
( Collette's voice will trail in as a staged whisper, afraid to speak at volume for no reason she can name. )
Gilbert? Can we go now! I'm sorry, I'm not that into actual ghost haunts!
( The ceiling creaks above her head, and she swallows. )
no subject
( Then he's gone, and she says a very impolite curse under her breath. She doesn't want to be alone, but man, she's not even feeling brave as she jerks her head around to look behind herself. Collette wheels back a half step, back firmly at the wall.
The footsteps overhead continue on their laborious walk, until they're directly overhead. Then they stop.
The silence feels deafening. )
If that mocking bird don't sing, papa's going to buy you a golden ring...
( She rubs at her arm, chanting "this isn't real, this isn't real" under her breath. It's in any of those siderooms that Gilbert will find either nothing -- or tattered frames opening and creaking, slamming against the wall or the broken tiny, high windows as he enters. A wet, dripping comes down from the walls, the floors slick with water, rotting wood, moss, and droppings.
Cats fare well in this city. So do rats, as it were.
He'll find himself plagued by light, childish laughter. )
Hide and seek! Hide and seek! Olly olly oxen-free!
( Collette's voice will trail in as a staged whisper, afraid to speak at volume for no reason she can name. )
Gilbert? Can we go now! I'm sorry, I'm not that into actual ghost haunts!
( The ceiling creaks above her head, and she swallows. )