CJ?? Are You Alright?? Oh No This Is Such A Mess... Where Even Is This Place? -Neb

°The air is oppressive here, the colors muted to the point where one could barely make out what had looked like what. The signs read 'R!dge' and 'Ashwor+h', and right at the mouth of an ally way, the remains of a crash are present. It was hit from the side, the impact zone crunched like a punched aluminum can. The other car is nowhere to be seen. Actually, nothing is to be seen. There are no people here...°

°Except for one.°

°CJ doesn't know the exact moment that despite the air that feels like a punch to breath in that he starts running, he doesn't know when he touches the door why it seems to not quite feel like he's touching it, or why when he pulls it the door rips off like paper, like in a dream, and he doesn't know when he started cradling RJ like he's a small child who's only just fallen asleep, or how he got him out in the first place.°

°He doesn't know when the tears started, but he knows when they change. He knows why they change as his fingers still find a pulse benieth them.°

°His brother is alive. And he's going to keep him that way.°

°He needs to get out of here and to a doctor though, fast.°

*The wisp slaps him, causing the doll to stop chanting and start laughing.*

°CJ winces at the sting. He's had worse, but it still hurts. He fixes the doll with a burning glare, ashbowl. Anger felt a little better than panic, if he was honest.°

👁️🌟💛🔥🙃🌌🎇👀❤️🦕

(∆I don't understand-∆)

Your ten most recent emojis describe how the 2020s will go for you

Hey, Hey, Jims! Trans rights?

"Oh heck yeah!"

°CJ adjusts the camera and signs, spelling out a-b-s-o-f-k-i-n-g-l-u-t-e-l-y°

¶Not terrible, but I will be better once this coffee is done.¶

"I'm good! Just some researching to do. How are you?"

°I am alright, thank you. I don't think we have seen you around here though.°

"Oh yeah, are you new here? I'm Jim, these are my brothers Jim and Jim, it's nice to meet you"

"Hiya!"

°Oh- hello there!°

*RJ waves with a hand not occupied by a book.*

"Hi!"

*NJ gives a wave from the kitchen.*

*They start chanting an ancient language.*

°Oho no, he's seen enough horror movies and sat through RJ's teenage occult phase to know that magical ominous entities never use chants for anything good. He abandons one of his last reservations by attempting to bite one of the wisps, hopefully that does something-!°

This is why I don’t tell 99% people im bisexual

*they stood their legs and pawed at him to be picked up, purring at his legs*

°He tries to have a blank face, to resist the temptation to lift the tiny bean up. He breaks at the soft purrs, gently lifting them and setting them on his desk next to his computer. Suppose it's only fair if I'm going to ask you anything for you to be able look me in the eye, make no mistake my faith in you is not in full. Though I suppose you didn't do anything to us in our sleep, so thank you.°

°He switches the tab away from the forum and over to a video editing app. He picks up and connects the hand videocamera to the computer, pulling up the footage from the night before. I'm going to review this. Then, I have some questions. At worst, this is a bad idea. At neutral, this is me just signing to myself. At best, I get some answers. Make sense?°

*the kitten sits next to RJ and selpt. they seemed sad that he's still asleep. out of boredom, he smacked his paw on his cheek* mew?

*he doesn't stir, but you get the fleeting image of an ally way filled with Eyes, floating in every shadow and peering from every corner. The image is gone as quickly as it comes.*

*the kitten lays next to him, careful not to scare him. both are scared*

°CJ shudders slightly in his curled up position, but he recognises the kitten's shape next to him. His side hurts, but nothing is broken he doesn't think. Where are they? He needs to get back, Jim is hurt and-°

°You didn't run? Snow Ears, are we both trapped?°