>>28316210

'How does it feel?' Elina is smiling, her eyes narrowed, as if this is almost pleasurable for her. You don't feel any pleasure. Well, okay, maybe a little spark, from winning the fight, from being on top. But Elina was right in the end. The switch flipped, and you went insane. You forced yourself to hold it back, because it was Elina.

But in the end, when you unleashed it all, you *still* knew it was Elina. The memory floods back, and makes your heart sink even more. You never managed to think she was Andrew, or Gerald, or anyone. It was always Elina you were hammering. Always. Just thinking that makes your eyes brim with tears, though with a wet face no one sees anything.

She's taught you something, your mind tells you over and over. A fearsome thing. And you don't like it at all.

> Get off her and mope.
> Hug Elina and apologise. Ask if she's okay.
> Get off her and check yourself. Let the callousness continue a little more.
> Other.

>>28316210
> Hug Elina and apologise. Ask if she's okay.

>>28316221

> Hug Elina and apologise. Ask if she's okay.

Let's go have ice cream or something to relax.

>>28316427
>>28316373

Despite your best efforts, as you reach to take Elina's hand off your nose, you begin to shudder visibly from the need to cry and let it out. Her hand feels little, almost frail, in yours. It's a marvel it could do so much damage. Elina sits up a little, and you shift back, resting on her lap, almost like the two of you are lovers who're really poor at choosing a canoodling spot.

'Hey. Stan. What's wrong?'

'I... I hit you. I really, really didn't want to do that, but then I snapped, and then everything went a bit red-tinged, and-'

'I know.' She touches your face with her bloodied hand. 'I told you. I'm not Andrew, I'm Elina. I wanted you to attack me...'

> cont'd.

>>28316603

Unable to hold yourself any longer, you pull Elina into a tight embrace, wrapping your arms around her chest and squeezing her against you. She's warm and small and you can feel her bones and muscles work and she holds still as you rub your cheek against hers, despite the pain such movement produces. She feels good, so very good.

'I'm sorry, Elina,' you whisper through sobs. 'I'm so sorry I hurt you.'

'Don't be silly. I hurt you a lot worse.' She's got her arms around you too, but she's not squeezing probably because of that. 'You can't apologise for what you do to them. Then they know you're still scared, and-'

'Shut up about that already, Elina!' you hiss, annoyed. 'I know, okay? I hate them normally anyway. But I don't hate you. I like you. I didn't want to hurt you at all, and then I did. So I must apologise.'

She remains silent after that for a long while, long enough for you to recover. You can feel her little breasts crushed up against you, and her heart is slow, very slow, gurgling and rumbling rather than beating. What is this person? 'So, uh... what do I say?'

For once she's the one without words! You chuckle in relief. 'Accept my apology.'

'Okay, accepted.'

'Then we go for ice cream?'

'You can go.' You echo her words as she says them, already knowing. 'I can't eat ice cream.'

> Ice cream time!
> Let's just walk around the park.
> You've had enough. Go home and hang out. (Give suggestions for what to do.)
> Maybe leave Elina alone and do something else.
> Other.

>>28316683
Lets just walk and talk with her

>>28316683
> Let's just walk around the park.
"So, aside from steak, what can you have? I think there's a bakery and a taco-shop near enough... Those might smell nice?"

>>28316792
>>28316743

In the end it's Elina who ends the hug, prising you off her and getting on her feet. The two of you both look *awful*, to be honest - and you feel awful too, now that the adrenaline's drained away. Okay, admittedly, Elina's done a lot more damage to you. Oww. Shit.

'Are you really okay?' She says.

'Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just walk round the Rear Pond.' You point towards the smallest of the Eccles Lakes, and also the one with the most forest and vegetation around it - just so fewer people would be walking in this weather and catch you guys. Maybe if you're in a secluded area, you might even...

Get that out of your mind, Stan, you can hardly walk. Elina senses that and makes a low, humming sound as she puts your arm around hers. Wait, she's... she's really done that.

'And I said you were badly hurt when I first saw you,' she says. 'Do they normally beat you up this badly?'

'Honestly? No.' You sigh, and the pain of sighing makes you wince. 'You hit *really* hard. Look, is there anything you can eat other than steak? I mean, I know there's a bakery, and a burrito place. And also this pizza place, just past the Rear Pond.'

'I-I'm okay. I'm not hungry.'

'You haven't eaten anything since... last night?' She gives you a slightly strange glance when you say that, and then shrugs. 'At least smell something.'

'Okay, fine. Let's do the burrito place, then.'

But for now, the forest - a lush green undergrowth, great lone trees stretching towards a sunless sky, rain pattering audibly. For some reason Elina looks a little nervous, glancing around and sniffing. But there's no one around. 'What do *you* like to eat, Stan? Is there anything you would never eat?'

> What do/say, Stanley?

>>28317051
"You mean aside from stuff that's not food, like rocks or paint, right? Nah, there's not really anything I wouldn't eat, but I'm more interested in cooking than eating. Most things I'm just, I dunno, indifferent to."

Rolled 18

>>28317102
Seconding >>28317051
Also ask if she's nervous about anything at the park.

>>28317133
Seconding

>>28317051
"Anything that can talk."

>>28317102
>>28317133
>>28317157

'What will I never eat? Well... stones I guess. And paint, and glass. Oh, and rubber. Can't forget rubber.' Elina titters as you go on. 'Seriously, though, nothing much. But I'm a lot more into cooking than I am into eating.'

'Is cooking really fun?'

You're a little amazed she hasn't done it before, seeing as she's now parented by a mentally unstable rapist/possible murderer. Who, come think of it, is living downstairs of your place, where a single woman resides for maybe a few hours every day. Your family doesn't have much luck with serial killers, does it?

'Of course it's fun. You take a bunch of stuff that is raw and inedible. Then you cut it all up, or mix it together, or season it, and then add heat, and suddenly it's something wonderful and delicious. It's like magic, but then it also makes a lot of sense because it's just science.'

'That sounds really nice,' she sounds like she's commenting on aliens, or some other inexplicable thing. 'Are there cooking schools? Why don't you join those?'

'Oh man, I haven't got that skill...' you glance at Elina and move your hand to wipe a smear of blood from her cheek. She nods, but then sniffs the air and starts looking about again. 'Are you nervous about something? Something's wrong?'

> cont'd.

>>28317229


'Hmm? Oh, uh-' but then she is interrupted when you hear something in the distance, a repetitive, angry bout of barking. Elina's eyes widen as she glances back, stopping, scanning the distance. 'Oh man.'

'You're afraid of dogs?'

'A... a bit... oh shit.'

You turn to see what she's looking at, and blink. A dog - a collie - is charging down the leaf-strewn path at full speed, pausing every few moments to bark ferociously, baring all its teeth. There's no one around; it is bearing down on you. You feel Elina's arm tightening around yours. Wha- why the hell is it being so aggressive? And why at *you*?

'Fenton? Fenton! Oi, Fenton!'

Behind it is the owner. 'Uh, let's go Stan,' Elina murmurs and begins tugging at you, but you don't suppose you could outrun a border collie...

> Try to leave. It's angry at something else, must be.
> Face down the dog.
> Lead the dog away to its owner.
> Other.

>>28317243
>> Lead the dog away to its owner.

>>28317243
>Face down the dog.
Stare that dog down. We just "won" a fight for the first time, try out that manliness
Inb4 savaged by dog.

Rolled 8

>>28317229
Yell loudly at the dog and run away from Elina. If the dog follows us lead it back to its owner, otherwise keep yelling 'Fenton' at it and try to face it down. If the dog doesn't stop going for Elina, attack it.

>>28317279

We are already in extremely poor shape, it's not worth the risk.

>Pick up Elina and keep her out of the dog's reach.
We may not be able to outrun it and it's obviously not liking the person afraid of it, but we don't have to let her get attacked.

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>>28317314
>>28317279
>>28317261
>>28317353

Elina's about to run, but after that something snapped in you, you find yourself seeing things in different lights now, standing under that grey sky and the bright, deep green forest. Look, if you could stand down Elina, what could you not stand down? And that includes dogs, too, right?

So instead you unhook your arm from hers and turn around, walking towards the dog. Fenton, that's its name. You'll call it, and then distract it a little, and take it back to the idiot owner who's walking it without a leash. It's thirty paces away, closing fast.

'Fenton! Fenton!' You say, crouching a little. The dog continues to charge at you, or maybe at Elina behind you. 'Fenton!'

'FENTON! Oh Christ!' His owner seems to be trying his best to help, but the dog is completely oblivious. It's coming right at you, twenty paces, fifteen, ten, and as it closes you get a better glimpse of how enraged it truly seems to be - its mouth wide open, all its teeth showing, barrelling down at you... actually, maybe you should have caught *Elina* and gotten her out of the way instead.

But now it's too late. It's interception time. You know it will come for you and are ready, but instead, just three paces from you and still charging, Fenton then *swerves* - and in that moment you know it is headed straight for Elina. She's still behind you. This fucking dog - has it smelled terror or something?

> Roll d100 for reflexes!

Rolled 1

>>28317398

Rolled 77

>>28317398

>>28317428
Well shit.

Rolled 93

>>28317398
Bravado!

>>28317428
Do crits count in this thread?

>>28317428
shit

Rolled 94

>>28317398
rolling
>>28317428
Damn it dood!

> Well, fuck.
> Yes, unfortunately critfails override rolls. And we had two great ones too!

> Typing...

>>28317398

Well... sorry guys. Everybody else had really good rolls too.

>>28317456

> 1: Absolute disaster.
> But then it's the absolute disasters that makes for FUN, no?

It's probably the beating you got, or it's just the poor footing, but as you attempt to dive for the dog, your body simply overbalances - and lacks the ability to compensate. You only have the time to mutter a little curse before your arms come together, miles after the dog has already passed the spot, and you topple clumsily onto the path like the fuckwad you are.

Shit! Reflexes belatedly returning to you, you push yourself up and turn to look, watching the horror in Elina's face as she takes two steps back. 'No!' you gasp. Elina must have kept from running, thinking you'd catch the bloody dog, and now the dog, slavering and gaping, smoothly rears up and leaps the three or four feet between itself and her, as if aiming straight for her jugular.

But that's not how it ends.

Watching as if in slow motion, you push yourself to your feet at the same time as gravity and momentum propel the collie right into Elina's chest, its mouth poised to snap at her neck. She stumbles, which saves her from getting a neck full of collie fang, but then as she falls backwards and the dog surges up, her hands seem to suddenly materialise before her - one grasping Fenton's snout, and the other one its lower jaw.

'Eli-' you manage to say, running towards her. You meant to say 'Elina, hang in there,' but then everything becomes irrelevant when you hear a sickening CRACK. Before your eyes, the dog's head twists suddenly into a shape it isn't built for, the eyes bulging crazily as its jaw is snapped from its hinges and then torn loose.

Elina lands on her back with a loud thud, and Fenton lands beside her with a dying whimper, blood bubbling from its throat and running over its fangs.

> cont'd.

>>28317523

'Eli...na,' you finally finish, by which time she is already on her feet, backing away from the newly made, twitching corpse of a collie. The footsteps behind you, meanwhile, grind to a halt, before starting up again. 'You...'

'FENTON! Oh my GOD, FENTON!' Elina grabs you, pulling you to her side as the man - a stocky man who thinks it's cool to wear business clothing to walk a dog on Friday - sprints up to his dog, sliding to his knees. There's no helping that collie; now there's also blood pouring from its nose, and you notice how deformed the snout is, bent one way, the nose seeming to bulge. She's not just torn its jaw away, she's crushed its skull in a burst of strength as well. 'What... what the FUCK? WHAT the FUCK were you doing!?'

The man, a full 6 foot 3, gets up from cradling Fenton's skull, and his hands are dripping with dog blood as he advances on you, berating. Elina and you pull each other back step by step, and you can feel her trembling beside you. 'IT was just being FRIENDLY! It wanted to - what the FUCK were you doing?! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?! You MURDERERS! I had Fenton for FOUR FUCKING YEARS! You BASTARDS! I'm- I'm-'

He's rolled up his sleeves now, and even through his ranting, you can hear Elina's whisper. 'Stan... what do we do...?'

'I'm going to call the police!' The man finally resolves, his hands quaking terribly as he tries to get his phone out. 'I'm going to lock you up. You're PAYING for this, you little bitch, you're PAYING-'

He fishes the phone out, but it drops and slides near your feet. He swears as he advances on you again.

> What do, Stan? Oh god, she's... she's killed that dog.

>>28317523
>Take three breaths and shout at him.
"Why the hell are letting your rabid dog run free without a leash! It attacked my friend! Look at her!"

He doesn't need to know we beat her up.

>>28317581

Tell the guy he was going for the jugular. He's lucky that the dog didn't kill her.

>>28317595
Seconding >>28317595

Also pick up the phone - if he doesn't stop threatening Elina threaten to call the police on him. (emergency calls aren't password locked are they?)

Rolled 57

>>28317581
Seconding these:
>>28317595
>>28317600
And step towards him, putting us between him and his phone. Threaten to sue for assault.

Change >>28317612 to >>28317622, it's a much better idea.

>>28317642
>>28317612
Let him call the police if he wants. what are they going to do - if anything it will look like he beat both of us up.

>>28317595
>>28317600
>>28317612
>>28317622
>>28317642

One- two- three breaths, by which time the man is almost within swinging range. Instead of backing off, however, you are no longer surprised and walk *up* instead. You can do this. You have to protect Elina, right? She was only defending herself, right?

'Stan-'

'What do you mean she's paying? Are you going to beat her up?' Your own voice, its strength, surprises you, and before you the huge man seems to shrink a little, become more like someone from school. Someone who likes to threaten. Someone you can hate, someone you can eventually beat. He stops dead in his tracks, and you step right up to the phone. 'You're the one with a fucking rabid dog without a leash!'

'Fenton is NOT rabid! How *dare* you, after you KILLED him-'

'If he's not rabid, then why did he charge at her?' You point at Elina, and after another step you are between man and phone. 'He was going to maul her! She's just defending herself!'

'Fenton would NEVER maul someone! Now give me my FUCKING phone-' You can see him more for what he really is now. His face is bright red with anger, his features twisted as he jabs at the phone, and then at your chest. 'Give me my phone, or I'll make *you* pay as well. You didn't stop her either, I'll have you-'

'Have me what? You beating us up, then?' Maybe that's what you look like too when you attacked Elina. You know what? That's a *funny* look. It's funny! I mean, look at it! Unwittingly, a grin spreads across your face, and that's what makes the man snap. You're just about to bend over and give him the phone, dare him to call the rozzers, when he backhands you and sends you sprawling onto the leaves.

'You little arrogant PRICK!'

'Stan!'

> cont'd.

>>28317676

As you hit the floor, the grin disappears momentarily, but then quickly returns again. No, no, this is *good*! If he backhands you, he knows it, he won't call the cops! He knows he's in the wrong now, and... you turn, still smiling, as the blue-shirted man crouches down right in front of you. He *smells*. Sweat and beer and wealth cloud the air around him. That's gross. And you know what, that's a bit funny too! It's a rich dick with a rabid dog, getting all worked up, because the dog's been crushed to death. How does Elina get that sort of strength? She's crazy...

'You fucking prick,' he mutters at you, shoving you aside and getting his phone. 'And you, you bitch, you think I'm not going to make you pay for Fenton-'

Elina doesn't answer him, at least not in words. Instead you hear a little growl, and then suddenly she's on him, striding right over you on the way. *That* is a shock; you scramble to your knees and then feet, but by then Elina's already grabbed the man and shoved him away from you.

'Woah!' He yells as he stumbles back, falling on his fat arse and then backing away. Elina is crouching beside you, her fists clenching and then loosing. And then she moves.

> Roll d100.
> What do you try to do? Holy shit, Elina, you've wrecked it!

Rolled 68

>>28317721
Taker Elina by the arm and pull her back behind us.
"This will look really good to the cops, your dog attacking a little girl, and you beating the crap out of a school kid and a little girl!" Pick up his phone throw it to him.

"Call the cops! We'll see what happens!"
Keep hold of Elina!

Rolled 25

>>28317721
> Hand on Elina's wrist/shoulder.
"Not worth it."

Rolled 1

>>28317721
This >>28317739
Try to keep Elina away from the man at all costs.

Rolled 92

>>28317721

>>28317750

Oh for-

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>>28317750
Well, fuck.

I'm going to stop rolling now. The dice gods must hate me.

>>28317750
Never coming to this park again.

>>28317739
>>28317745
>>28317750
>>28317751

> Much like a farmer who's married to the village's traditional water source, WELL, FUCK.

Elina simply moves too fast for you to do anything. 'Elina! It's not worth it!' You yell, rushing to grab her, but when your fingers close, the shoulder they are trying to grip is no longer there.

Instead, Elina leaps, almost tiger like, on the man, getting on top of him; you rush up, just about to grab her, when the man lets out a bloodcurdling scream of agony. Oh *fuck* Elina, what did you just do?!

'Elina! STOP IT!' Grabbing her shoulder, you manage to pull her away, and the man finally is free, though he is still hollering and screaming. Elina goes a little limp in your arms, but what you do see horrifies you - his shirt is torn, there are claw marks on his own shoulders leaking blood into the cotton, and a deep bite mark, welling red onto his chest hair.

'We- we need to go-'

Elina grabs you and runs, and you can't do anything but follow, leaving behind the dead dog and the seriously wounded man. You don't stop running, through the forest, pointing her out to the back exit numbly, until you have ended up in a quiet street flanked with houses on the far side of the park.

No one's here. No dogs. You're safe... perhaps. Elina sighs and rubs her face, moaning softly.

> What do/say, Stan?

>>28317839
Hold her and ask "what the fuck was that?" We need to keep our cool, though. She's clearly upset.

>>28317839

> Also, it's dinner time. Satay, and I *can* eat that.
> Keep suggesting. I'll type once I'm back, and I'll be back quite soon.

>>28317839
We should take her home first, then talk about what happened.

>>28317839

Ask if she's injured.

>>28317839
"What. The. Fuck. I need a hot shower. And then, maybe, some answers, yea?"
Locate flop motel, get a room, have a hot shower for once. Then inquiries.

>>28317839
Right now we're very conspicuous, covered in blood, etc.
Find somewhere to wash the blood off our faces, preferably somewhere not very public. Look around for a hose if possible or tap on the side of the road. We shouldn't be going home covered in blood - how would we explain it to mom?

Then >>28317878

>>28317893
Might be a river/pond/stream. Also pick up some hair dye on the way to the hotel. Better safe than sorry.

Also, we'll need new clothes from somewhere. We should throw out the old ones in a public trash bin far away from the park.

>>28317868
>>28317869
>>28317878
>>28317893
>>28317903
>>28317908
>>28317858

You stare at her for a few moments, trying to gather your thoughts. Right. So she's just killed a dog, you both look like you've been through a battering machine, and then she's bitten a chunk of flesh out of some guy.

The confident Elina, inciting you to hate her just some time ago, now looks a little lost. 'What do we do now?' She mutters, just as ideas begin to come to you. Come on, Stan, you have to try and make a proper plan. This isn't too hard.

You drag her into a quiet corner, just outside the wall of some house, and think this through. You've got blood all over your clothes; that needs changing. The blood on your skin can be wiped away, seeing as you're both soaking wet-

'We'll need some sort of motel,' you say.

'Some what?'

'Motel. Like...' thankfully this is still a rather familiar part of town. You know there's a motel - a pretty notorious motel for your schoolmates, actually, they don't call it the F-Box for nothing - and maybe you'll be able to get yourself sorted out somewhat over there. 'Come, follow me.'

> Go and get new clothes first.
> Go to motel, get it for an hour.
> Get it for a few hours, fuck it. You need to be away.
> Other.

>>28318127
>> Go and get new clothes first.
How much money do we have on us? We may have to go to a goodwill.

>>28318127
>Go and get new clothes first.
How recognisable are we? Should we take other precautions?

>>28318127

> Get new clothes first.

So much stuff for the laundromat, man.

>>28318146
>>28318150
>>28318156

You run several steps out into the quiet road, still thinking of all the things you'll need. If there's anything good about your miserable social position in school, it's that you're almost completely forgettable and unnoticeable - a crucial skill when you're trying to draw absolutely zero attention to yourself.

Of course, it doesn't work very perfectly in school. But here, it seems to do well. As you run, meanwhile, Elina seems to be regaining some of her senses as well; occasionally her hand squeezes yours, and you quickly move to hide behind a parked car or some brick fence, waiting until whoever it is that she's sensed walks past.

'How do you know they're there?' You whisper. Sure, it's a bad situation, but...

'I can hear them,' she says, simply.

Dodging and weaving this way, you find your way into a charity store; Elina gets an old, flowery dress, while you get another t-shirt and a holed pair of jeans. All for $5. After dumping your old clothes somewhere, you check your pockets, and then nothing but lint falls out. Typical. Just wonderful. The only day you think, maybe you won't need too much money, and then-

'Do you need money?' Elina taps your shoulder, then reaches into her new dress pocket and pulls out a wrinkled red piece of paper. You blink at the hundred dollar bill. 'Is this enough?'

... yes, Elina, yes it is. Certainly it's good enough for the guy at the motel, who glances at it and throws you the keys before muttering something about good business on the weekends. Room 412 is a dingy, dimly-lit hole, with a shower that's drooling water and caked with lime scale. The queen-sized bed looks all right, though. Well, if they can't upkeep anything else...

'We're safe,' you say.

'... yeah...' she doesn't look like she believes it.

> What do/say now, Stan?

>>28318237

Ask if she's injured, take shower. Then ask about her.

If she don't mind, we can shower together.

>>28318237
Take a hot shower.

>>28318279
seconded

>>28318237
First ask her if she's hurt, or has any wounds that might require a first aid kit.

Then take a shower. Try to make the shower as fast as possible - there's a lot to talk about.

Next, tell her you need to know everything that's going on - how was she able to rip apart the dog's head

>>28318294
>>28318284
>>28318282
>>28318279

Exhausted, you take the lead in going to the bed and sitting down. Elina watches you for a few moments before she follows, sitting beside you. You're trying to think. You're trying to even summon up that annoying voice that tells you you're shit, for a moment, because silence in the head is fucking scary. But between the fear and the confusion, nothing.

'Are you hurt, Elina?'

'No. I'm fine.' Come think of it, even the bruises that you gave her - which you definitely gave her - seem to have dissipated a little. But then that makes sense, you suppose. Getting up to your feet, you consider taking really quick showers in turns, but then a little thought comes into your mind, and though it seems quite rude, you take a deep breath and ask her.

'Would you like to shower... with me?'

> cont'd.

>>28318380

Just a few minutes later, and you're regretting that fucking question - and not because there's another slap mark or something on your face, either. It's your own body that's completely and utterly betrayed you; despite all your efforts to think of other things, despite your attempts to stare at the ceiling or the walls or the tiny, filthy wash basin just outside the shower where your clothes are, you are incapable of *not* having a painfully stiff erection right now.

Elina is standing, nude, on the other side of the shower from you, which still means she's only two feet away, maximum. Unlike you, she's just staring ahead, golden eyes watching your face. DON'T WATCH MY FACE, ELINA. WATCH SOMEWHERE ELSE OR I CAN'T STOP WATCHING YOU TOO. She doesn't get the hint.

'It's getting warm,' she says, and both of you reach to touch the water and end up brushing against each other. A pulse of blood makes your appendage twitch. She can see it. She *must* see it. Oh fucking hell. Ohhh fucking hell...

'Uh... yeah. I... look...' Fuck it! You stare at her eyes, trying to hold her gaze and not wander. There's a lot of questions to ask and you had to ask that one, Stan, you deprived, desperate little idiot...

'Do you like me, Stan?'

Does it fucking look like you- you resist the urge to facepalm. Her eyes only get wider, and despite the slight, rising mist (amazing there's hot water here), they seem brighter than ever.

> Attempt to ask a question. (Write-in, then roll d100).
> Answer in words.
> Answer in actions.
> Other.

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>>28318436

Answer in actions

>>28318436

... I can't actually think of a question

> Answer in words.

'Yeah. I guess so, yeah.'

Honeyed eyes......
Lots of vampire evidence.

Op this chick better not sparkle.

>>28318436
>Answer in words.

>Action! Just a simple kiss is all she needs.

> Looks like a tie.
> Roll to decide, or will any of you want to push forward or draw back?

> Also, I think a simple kiss is more than enough. The raging erection ought to clue her in, really...

>>28318539
I'll change my vote to action, then.

>>28318499
Let the Right One In. American version.

>>28318564
exactly what I was thinking

.....you people do realize she can SMELL it on us, right?

You... how are you supposed to answer this? Yes, of course. You do, you do - but the words choke in your mouth. 'I... uh...'

'Don't stop,' Elina says, and all thoughts fade away. Lifting your hands and clamping them on her shoulders, you step into the hot water and lean in until your lips find hers. For a moment there you wonder if she might maybe just touch you and draw back, or maybe she's simply-

-but then she puts her hands on your own shoulders and draws you close, and her tongue seeks yours out, pushing and pulling and exploring. It feels like an age has passed before she finally nudges you to withdraw, and obediently you stand there, hard as stone and getting doused on the head with warm water.

'Okay,' is all Elina says. 'Okay.'

'I...' you know what, Stan, if she puts her tongue in your mouth, you don't really need to ask the reciprocal question. But wait.

'Would you still like me,' she speaks again, so soft it barely carries over the noise of the water, 'would you still like me, if I was really bad?'

> What do/say, Stanley?

>>28318625
Yes.

>>28318564

Oh come on, not the fucking American version. Have some faith in my taste.

>>28318625

Yes. But what did you do?

>>28318625
I watched you kill a dog with your bare hands and maul a man, and I'm still here.

>>28318625
Yes.

<just yes, that's all we need ... and just this once we don't fucking hesitate>

>>28318625
You're my friend. More than my friend. And everyone can be bad sometimes. Look at what I did to you....

>>28318681
>>28318631
>>28318725
>>28318727
>>28318730

The way she says it makes it pretty clear that it's not a hypothetical question. You're about to think of what evil she could possibly do, when the image of Elina grabbing the dog's head - her hands twisting with a subtle, but almost otherworldly strength - and the dog's life being snuffed out in that twist, in a brutal instant - float back into your mind. All of that took half the blink of an eye, but your eyes were open when it happened.

No, Elina can do evil. Even though you knew the collie was attacking her, there was no other way of seeing it. She *has* done evil. But then - the smell of that man, his sweat-soaked shirt, his insane, arrogant panic when he saw that his dog had died...

'Yes,' you say, softly, then lean in to give her another kiss. But her hands keep you at a distance, and there's no pushing against them.

'Really?'

'Yes. Yes.'

Advancing is impossible, so you retreat, pulling Elina into the stream of water as you back against the wall. She gives a little gasp as the water sluices over her, and then her shoulders quiver a little with laughter. 'Ahh,' Elina murmurs.

'I watched you kill a dog. I watched you maul a man. Fuck, you kicked the shit out of me.' You smile, and then wince when those words bring back all the nagging pains your body forgot in its terror. 'But I'm still here.'

'Okay,' she murmurs again. 'I'm in the water. Ask me a question.'

> cont'd.

>>28318742

You grip her shoulders tightly. Now that you admitted it, now that you've shown her you desire her, and her skinny frame and her bony shoulders and her small breasts and everything, you somehow feel freer. The steam billows. Surely Elina knows the question you're going to ask.

'So how... were you bad?'

'Kelvin,' Elina says. 'I've... I've helped Kelvin before.'

Oh god. Oh god. You blink at her, and for a moment it almost feels like you're holding Cath in the shower, also naked, blonde instead, staring at you in... hostility? Possessiveness, maybe even lust. But you bang your head backwards against the tiles to move her away. 'Helped?'

'Helped... to drag someone back. Helped to... to hold them down...' Elina looks down and the hair falls over her face like a curly curtain, raining droplets. 'Yeah. I've... I've done horrible things. It's partly why we moved downstairs. Running. We're always running.'

> Probe more.
> Ask another question (write-in).
> Push her out of the water. Reciprocate.
> Other.

>>28318758
Ask why. Maybe she has a good reason?

>>28318758
" No more running. From now on we stand together."

>>28318758
>Probe more.

Don't push too hard though, more morbid curiosity than accusation.

>>28318758
We should keep our voice gentle no matter what. She should know we're on her side.

Simple, open-ended question time
>>28318758
Why?

>>28318791
>>28318770
>>28318765
>>28318813
>>28318832

You have to know about this, even if you don't. Perhaps if you pull her closer and held her while asking, she might feel more assured about your probing. But she refuses to budge when you tug at her.

So, instead, you simply use your weakest, nicest voice to ask. 'Elina... why? I'm... just curious. Did he... did he force you?'

'Stan, it was a need for him. If not someone else, then...' This trips your alarms for far too much information, and you grip her shoulders and tell her it's okay, but she continues. 'Sometimes she makes me wear that nightgown. And then I sit there, and he touches me.'

'Elina-'

'He's never done that to me. But... he's touched me. He protects me, Kelvin. The world hunts him, and it hunts me too. So we run, and run. And sometimes I think... maybe if I didn't need to run... but it's impossible.'

'It's not impossible, Elina,' you murmur. 'Look. Let's not run anymore. I... I could stand with you, right?'

Her eyes, when they look up at you through her hair, are hauntingly sad. But under them is a weak smile. 'Maybe. Yes.' With that she pulls you into the water, and parts her hair again. 'So... what are you going to do in school now? Now that you know how to fight.'

Oh man. You're not sure the fighting is something you want to keep doing. What do you want? A normal life in school, perhaps? You've always dreamt of that, right? Or were you using that as a disguise, and you wanted the same thing as Gerald and the rest? Power. The weight in your words. The air moving when you walk. You want to *exist*, irrefutably, don't you?

> What is your reply, Stan?

>>28318919

I want to have revenge on them - first physically, and then mentally. So I'll beat them. But I also want to ruin them, somehow.

Does this mean we'll need to make friends with others? Maybe, just to use them...

>>28318984

> Right. A few more posts, depending on response, and then I should be done for today.
> Big lunch going on tomorrow, so I may or may not run. But certainly on Sunday evening. Check Twitter.
> Thanks very much for playing!

All those things floating in your head are long term goals, you realise - and who knows what might happen in the long term? So there's no point thinking so much about those things right now. What Elina's asking - you'll think about what comes first.

You meant to say that you want them off your back, but as you open your mouth it becomes clear that won't be enough. It would never be done, either, given the way those people function. They go by long memories; they go by knowing what people have done to them. There's no such thing as 'calling it quits' for them. There's no point aiming for that.

'I want revenge,' you mutter, shaking her a little. 'I want revenge on them. For what they did to me. It's like that guy said, just now, with the dog. I want them to pay.'

'Can you do that with a beating?'

'No, I don't think so... I want them to be isolated, too. Not sure how to do that, though.' Can those people be isolated? Why is it that people flock to those that you hate, and who hate you? 'I want to... make friends in school. Maybe with that I can make them pay more.'

Elina keeps quiet at this stage. You go on talking about how you want to make them alone, how you want to make them fear you, but she remains silent all this while, looking up at your face, and then down - at your other organ, or the floor, you don't know.

A familiar fear rises in the pit of your stomach, something that hasn't plagued you all afternoon. Have you said something to offend her, maybe? Is she... does she dislike you now?

> Move her into the shower to ask a question.
> Get out of the shower, you're beginning to look quite wrinkly now.
> Other.

>>28319091
Ask her if she's ok, and what she thinks we should do.

>>28319091
> Move her into the shower to ask a question.

>>28319168

This, and then ask >>28319118.

>>28319193
Seconding this. Maybe propose to wash her back after?

>>28319193
>>28319168
>>28319118
>>28319209

Elina's silence perturbs you enough that you move slowly this time, backing up against the wall and pulling her, making sure she is willingly being nudged into the water. To your great relief, she does not resist.

In a sense, this is a nice thing... you can't force her to do things. Let's just hope Elina doesn't force you, soon. 'Hmmm?' She purrs.

'So... what should we do now? Are you feeling okay?'

'I'm fine, yeah,' she nods. 'But... I don't think I can stay with Kelvin anymore.'

What that means sounds rather clear to you... but if she's asking quietly to stay at yours, you're a bit less sure about that. Mom might go crazy. Besides, you don't really have space in your own apartment, and you don't want Elina to sleep on the couch - that seems a bit poor. 'So...'

'I was actually wondering. How about... school?'

'School?' School's- wait. 'What do you mean, school?'

'Take me to school, Stan.'

'I can't do that. That'd be-'

'Not when people are there,' she continues. 'Maybe at night. When no one's there.'

'But why?'

'I... I don't know. It's just... you said it didn't you? It'd be nice if I was also at school.' Elina smiles innocently. 'I think, maybe you're right.'

'I meant that,' you say. And if it means you have to sneak her in... but how that would solve her accommodation problem you don't know.

> cont'd.

>>28319264

You're going to need to get out of the shower soon, both of you, before you become prunes. But as you say you'll think about it, Elina acquiesces to being turned around, and you begin washing her back. Her skin is smooth, wonderfully smooth, and there's barely any fat between it and the structures of her body. She wriggles a little as you rub her shoulderblades, and the small of her back, and then...

Slowly, cautiously, you wash her posterior as well. 'You're scared of me, aren't you?' She says, twisting around.

'No, I'm just...' you don't finish that before she turns *you* around and washes your back, just as gently. Finally both of you come out and towel yourself down.

Just as you think today might be coming to some conclusion, though, you pick up your phone to see a message from Mom. The tension in your back, rubbed into oblivion by Elina's deft fingers, floats back into sensation again.

'Hey Stan. Dad says, go visit for weekend. I said okay. Got train tickets! Mom.'

Dad. He, and his career, had been what kept the family afloat all these years; he's the reason why you have a pretty nice childhood, all things considered. But once Cath was murdered, somehow it was as though his commitment to the family was also destroyed. He always favoured Cath, and when she was taken so brutally, he too became... brutal, perhaps.

It's only been half a year since he got back in touch. His career's doing well, and he lives an hour away by train - a pleasant place, all things considered. But... but you're never sure about meeting him. Some weekends have been good. Some...

Most importantly, if you're away all weekend, then... 'Something's wrong,' Elina says, plonking down beside you while towelling her hair. It isn't a question.

> What do/say?

>>28319302
Perfect. Bring Elina to Da's and get her away from Kelvin. No need to tell Mum or Da in advance, that'll just give them the chance to say no.

>>28319377
But right now continue pursuing questions, how was Elina able to do that to the dog and why is she so strong for someone so small. Ask her to tell us everything.

>>28319389
seconding

>>28319389
>>28319400
Yeah, i mean sure plans for revenge / going to our father's are all well and good but SHE JUST CRUSHED A DOG'S SKULL WITH HER BARE HANDS AND TORE STRIPS OF A DUDE'S CHEST!

>>28319377
>>28319389
>>28319400
>>28319417

'Oh, it's... it's not something *wrong*, just that there's been some plans.' Not even *your* plans, mind. Well done, Mom - inserting your appointments into other people's business since 1993. 'Mom just texted me, saying that my Da wants me to spend a weekend at his place.'

'Where's his place?' When you tell her, she blinks. 'Oh... that's a bit far, isn't it?'

'Far? Not really. An hour by train.'

Now that you're calmer, both clothed, and not distracted, the frustration of those plans starts bringing more probing questions to mind which you didn't think to raise earlier in the shower. But if that was the time for asking questions, then... or maybe it was such that Elina wanted you to be flustered and aroused and distracted? Would she do that?

'Elina?'

'Hmm.'

'I was just thinking about, just now, you know with the dog.' The words almost drop back into your lungs and dissolve when you face the look Elina suddenly gives you, part surprise, and a little bit of what you suspect is anger. And another bit of... of hurt, perhaps. It's hard to figure which is worse. 'And also the man. I mean, he was pretty big-sized, and you-'

'Just ask,' she says, and the voice again feels like ice water poured on your arm.

'I... how are you so strong? I mean... what... how?'

'Is it all right if I tell you later? Why are you asking me this?' She shifts away from you and then turns to face you. The dress does fit her well, you realise, but that's quite beside the point. 'You *are* afraid of me after all, aren't you?'

'Look, I mean, I like you. But it's not... it's not normal to crush a dog's skull, and to-'

'I thought you said, you didn't mind if I was a freak. You didn't believe me when I said I was a freak. And now you do, and it scares you, doesn't it?' Elina is smiling, faintly, but her eyes look as if you've done worse than even slap her repeatedly.

> cont'd.

>>28319567
Of course it scares me ... that doesn't mean I care for you any less

>>28319567

> Oh yeah, I forgot to mention - this is the last post for today. Thanks for playing!
> Questions, opinions, suggestions, loud praise etc. welcome.

You can't think of any reply to her, even though it seemed like a reasonable question to ask. Dude, it's a dog's *skull*. Who can wrench a dog's skull apart like that who isn't some sort of special forces maniac with 20 years of combat training or whatever? And what Elina did to the guy - he just toppled over and began screaming, when he was double her size.

And yet- you can't deny you did say what you said. And you did mean it - even when you already kind of knew she was a bit weird. Someone who doesn't eat cake? Someone who eats raw steak with her hands? Who can clamber up a window ledge (and she probably did so to put that note on your windowsill)? Stan, you dumb shit, you knew what you were getting into all along, didn't you?

In the awkward silence, Elina stands up and reaches into her pocket, placing two hundred-dollar notes on the bed. You glance at them, then at her. She's not crying, but her eyes are shimmering, and she gives you a look of - despair is one word that comes to mind.

'Elina, I'm sorry. Look, I meant to ask if you'd go to Da's with me. I'll admit it, okay? I'm scared. But I still like you. I didn't run away screaming, did I?'

'Perhaps... maybe you ought to,' Elina whispers. 'I'm sorry too. I thought maybe if you got used to what I am, bit by bit, I could show you everything. I went too fast.'

'Elina- fuck's sake, wait!'

'Don't get in trouble, okay? Remember to pay them.'

The door slams, and when you open it again, just a moment later, she's gone.

> cont'd.

>>28319654

Nothing for it. You take the two bills and go downstairs to the receptionist, and as he rings up the charge - it's just 70 bucks - you ask if she's seen Elina. 'Small sized, quite skinny. Black hair. Wearing a floral dress.'

'Yeah, yeah, I know, your pale little girlfriend,' he says, taking a drag. 'I remember these things, man. Pimps and police always have questions. Didn't see her.'

'What?'

'You didn't bloody murder her in the room, did you? Because I'll remember you now,' he says. Then he laughs, but it's not funny. It really isn't.

The bus back home, in the rain under a rapidly darkening sky, water splotching on the window panes in trails of tiny droplets. People getting on and off. Some of them might even be cute. You see them, and it registers with your brain, but you can't think of a motivation for a second glance. Legs... tits... whatever.

Back home you take another shower, this one cold as usual and alone as usual, and then go to sit at the couch. At one point there is a *tonk!* at your room window, and you run for it like a madman, only to catch a glimpse of a fleeing magpie spooked by your appearance. Fuck's sake. What the fuck does it want?

You lie down, exhausted and hurt all over, and even sleep refuses to come pick you up.

> What are you thinking about right now, Stan?
> What do you intend to do at Dad's? Are you going to try and play along, or hole up in his (very nice) house? Will you attempt to be sociable?

>>28319724

Let's try to play nice with dad, I guess.

Does he have any bad habits, is that why we don't like him?

Also, maybe if we're away, we can get something for Elina. Do we have a phone number or something so we can contact?

>>28319877
>>28319724
Aww hell no, if you think we're letting Elina go that easily you are sorely mistaken. Fuck dad and his arbitrary schedule, we're not going up there on our own.

>>28319997

but maybe a little cooling off will be good?

>>28319997

Agreed. We need to find her.

>>28320666

Or she could leave and we never see her again. She can't stay with Kelvin anymore and the way she left gave me the impression of a final goodbye.