keep on whispering in my ear

[lexiconning]

Date & Time: October 5th-13th
Location: VR room/hallways
Characters: Syllona, voices, and YOU
Summary: Syll's book can talk! It's a miracle! (except for the part where it's not)
Warnings: creepy book voices with Opinions



A: (5th-8th) VR room
[ Maybe you were waiting on this particular VR room to clear out for you're own needs, maybe you just happened to be passing by, either way that was most definitely an explosion and the girl rushing out of that smoking room is most definitely accompanied by multiple hissing laughs.

Syllona doesn't look in a laughing mood though, and the grip on the thick tome in her hands is vice-like. She groans, slumping down against the wall and grumbles into her chest.]

I hate you.


B: (9th-13th)Hallways
[ So here Syllona trudges along, book tuck away in her satchel, head hung low. Getting rid of this thing isn't working out, and it and everything else is wearing on her. She can't sleep either, but that isn't entirely connected.

Occasionally she speaks under her breath, agitated and nonplussed. Even quieter than her own voice are many others, all of them different; some are deep and harsh to the ear, others higher and almost whistles in the air. They chatter on, questioning and arguing until footsteps come into earshot. Then there's a final, hurried warning before the sound ends abruptly.

Shhhh! Sh! (Quiet!) ]

Comments

[lexiconning]

[ The smell now is just ash and chalk, and the floor is still warm from the earlier mishap, but otherwise its all fairly normal. As normal as magical circles get, anyway. ]

What I meant to do... [ And she hesitates, visibly shrinking inward just a tick, eyes away, chewing her lip. Is this right to tell her secret? Would this be dangerous? She wants someone else to know, in case things go any further out of her control (like they seem to be), but there are so many unknowns that--

One hissing voice picks up, agitated and louder now. Upset. ] Who are you talking to? [ a second, softer pitch, more calm.] Who? Speak up.

[eyecontact]

[Jericho's head jerks back, eyes wide. the voice startled him, especially since it wasn't coming from directly behind, back by the door.

his head swivels around anyway, a dreadful feeling mixing in with his surprise when he sees that he's right – that there's nobody at the door.

huh...?]

[lexiconning]

[ Syllona is frozen to the spot, holding her breath. She's still not used to these things talking when they please, but she hardly thought they'd do so in front of someone else. In front of Jericho!

She throws a hand out in front of her, like she means to do...something. Anything. Reassure him; reassure ONE of them. ] Its okay! Its okay! This was...this was the reason I was in here. I-its--

Hello? [ --And that's several in unison. All of them different and expecting, its a hard count for sure but its more than two this time. ]

[eyecontact]

[his head swivels back to Syllona once she starts speaking, his face contorted, baffled as he tries to follow along, but –

huh?! he startles again, stomach turning. he puts his hands up to his ears, frowning and trying find the source, looking back at Syllona for guidance. she's the one saying it's okay, after all.]

[lexiconning]

[ She really doesn't know if anything is going to be okay. But, that doesn't stop her from shifting the arm holding the book to draw attention to it, then giving a pointed tap at the spine, all the while frowning at the thing. Then a deep breath later and she looks back at him, speaking as calmly as she can. ] The book. Its the book talking. Its just started doing that.

[ Three voices: ] 'Started'? Ph, right.
Are you talking to yourself? Are you playing games?! No, no. Do not forget the footsteps.

[eyecontact]

[the...book.

he stares at the book. his eyebrows shoot up behind his bangs when they start snarking again.

his stare...slowly lifts back up to Syllona.

he blinks slowly, lifting a finger and pointing at it.]

[lexiconning]

[ SHE NODS, and slowly lifts it up with her own unhappy expression. There's a shrug. No idea why! Which...isn't exactly true.

But when she lowers it back down she's looking thoughtful, glancing back down at the mess still on the floor. ] You know... maybe he doesn't want to talk to you?

...What?

[eyecontact]

[his head cocks to one side, eyes gluing back onto the book.

so weird. even with all the weird things going on lately...but maybe he oughtn't be surprised?

he leans a little, peering, as if trying to find tiny eyes or mouths along the spine and binding.]

[lexiconning]

Just that. It's like I do, either. [ She holds it out as she answers, giving a pointed nod over to her bag back near the door. The thing is old looking, and embellished with light winding spell circles all over it's surface, but nothing blatantly terrifying. Maybe mouths would be better than this.

You can cover mouths.

From the voices there's some mumbling, like a council debating before deciding a vote. They pick carefully this time, no growling undertone from the one that pipes up. ] An-- apology. We only seek companionship.

[eyecontact]

[he looks back and forth between the bag in question and Syllona before he starts to lean back and move for it. that's what she wants, isn't it? but...man, the book is talking. and, and not with just one voice. it's weird! are they different personalities, or...?

Jericho manages one backstep before the apology. he stops, blinking, staring at the book, then up at Syllona, questioning.

slowly, his hand lifts, pointing over his shoulder. should I still...?]

[lexiconning]

[ Syllona makes a short noise in her throat, eyes squinting with just the barest hint of a glare at the book. But her voice is dull, with no hesitation like there is in so much else. ]

Who's that lie for?

[ Miraculously, there's no answer.

She waits a couple beats, but finally let's out a breath she'd been holding and looks back to Jericho with one firm shake of her head. go ahead. ]

[eyecontact]

[so weird.

he nods quickly, just as quickly moving toward the door and picking the bag up. his eyes are immediately back on the book as he holds it out for her, lid drooping open.]