heyfreemagic | [the worst museum ever]

[The curators at the museum, much like the librarians from the Freesia Public Library, are not exactly talkative, but they at least let Bruce wander the place freely.]

[Despite being in another world, most of the art is recognizable, though some of it features not-quite-human looking individuals...]

[Bruce spots Aaron eventually, and silently approaches him. He glances from the young man to where Aaron's gazing.]

[When he does speak, it's teasing:]

An entire art museum, and it's a spider that grabs your attention.

[The unexpected speaking makes him jolt. Out of pure habit, he looks up at the ceiling first before swiveling his head around to search for where he thought the source of the voice was.]
[Bruce Wayne! Alright. Not an enemy, or a particularly friendly local, just... a potential ally.]
It came out of that. Is it just me, or are spiders creepy no matter what they look like?
[He points to the corner he's closest to, where instead of a spiderweb is a small, dark hole, mostly covered by a book.]
Besides, I've been here for a while.

[Bruce glances over at that hole and that... that really does not look good? At all?]

[But Aaron said he'd been there for a while...]

You sure that thing's safe?

[He follows Bruce's gaze, shrugging briefly.]
Looks a little bigger than it was an hour ago.
[He pushes the book to cover it fully. It probably wasn't going to work.]

[Bruce steps toward the hole and examines Aaron's handiwork. The rift might be covered now, but:]

If it's getting bigger on its own, I don't think we should be sticking around.

[He glances back in the direction of the Nox spider- and realizes he can't see it anymore.]

[Just because the rift is covered doesn't mean it's closed, and Aaron wholeheartedly agrees.]
So, hey, I think there's a farm or something near here that's an open space, if that's what you're thinking of.
[Because the spider is... not quite a spider now, and much larger to boot.]

[Bruce doesn't respond at first.]

[When he does, his voice is surprisingly calm.]

We need to go. Now.

[It might not be a spider now, but it's certainly skittering towards them like one. Bruce takes a slow step sideways, towards the next room.]

[Yes. Moving would be good! Unfortunately, Aaron's knees seem to be locked in place.]
[And when he speaks, it's breathy and scared.]
I--
[The book is being slowly nudged off of the hole, growing slightly faster now.]

[And of course, Aaron's frozen up.]

[It's usually easier to handle than random lashing out, but Bruce can't help a twinge of annoyance.]

[He reaches over and tightly grips Aaron's upper arm. Without a word, Bruce runs for the nearest exit, hopefully dragging Aaron with him.]

[Aaron is dragged after him, and a few seconds later his legs kick in and he's running alongside Bruce.]
[Why is the playboy so used to this, anyways?]
[They're a mere ten feet to the exit, and Aaron finds some miraculous spurt of energy to keep running.]

[Bruce lets go once Aaron's actually running himself, although he keeps within grabbing range of the younger man. Just in case.]

[It doesn't take them long to get to the exit, yes- but unfortunately, things aren't going to be as easy as fleeing out the door.]

[Bruce glances up, and spots another Nox spider- a big one- crawling on the ceiling just above the doorway, and hastily comes to a stop just as it jumps in front of their exit. A few steps more, and it could have landed on Bruce.]

[Aaron isn't so green as to scream-- besides, he's seen the Batman pull that trick many times. But usually, the Batman didn't look so murderous, and even when he did he didn't kill. This opponent makes no such promise.]
--other way?
[He twists around, and nope, there's another spider-- the size of a park bench, instead of a Cadillac. Both of them are advancing.]

[Bruce's eyes narrow, ever so slightly, at the appearance of the other spider.]

At least it's smaller.

[Bruce abruptly feints to the right of the smaller Nox. A spider leg jabs out at him, missing his leg by centimeters.]

[There will be a brief space to the left of the spider, if Aaron's quick to run that way...]

[He doesn't see the out that's just been made due to the larger Nox lunging at him.]
[Now, the thing about his backpack was that it was relatively large and had a big book in it. A hardback book, with sharp edges and everything. The Nox got all eight eyes full of it.]
Want to see if we can just bash through?
[Standing and fighting was really, really cliche, and he'd much rather run.]

Edited 2015-06-17 21:41 (UTC)

[A quick glance over his shoulder- Bruce thinks the bigger Nox looks more irritated than hurt. He steps behind Aaron, making them back-to-back.]

[Bruce doesn't have any of his gear, and he's with a civilian.]

[Doesn't stop him from throwing a punch at the smaller Nox, although he doesn't expect it to do more than slow it down.]

Alright. Alright, okay, so, magic?
[Healing magic might just make their opponents stronger, and Aaron has only been able to fix a splinter on himself with it before.]
Do you think we could try to blast them with it?
[He's never tried that before, but if pop culture is to be trusted it should work. Should.]

You have magic?

[Bruce is a little distracted ducking from one side to the other, trying to dodge the Nox's slashes. He tries to throw in a few punches, but even when they hit they don't seem to have much affect.]

Use it!

[It's not like they have many other options- and a well-timed strike from the Nox slices up Bruce's sleeve and his arm. Enjoy Bruce's hiss of pain, Aaron.]

Okay!
[And he thinks come on, please, work with me here, and he gets a faint white-pink glow gathering on his hands in reply.]
[Thankfully, it isn't as draining as when he was using it as a flashlight and pushing it to glow brighter-- instead, now he's pushing for it to heal.]
[He grabs one long, black leg, holding on as tightly as he could.]

[Bruce can't risk taking a look without getting caught by another of the Nox's swipes, but he can hear it screeching.]

[Hopefully, that means it's working-]

[The Nox in front of Bruce lunges, inky black fangs bared, and he kicks it as hard as he can. White sparks shoot out from where Bruce's foot collides with its face, and the Nox shrieks and scrambles back, flailing blindly in front of it. This time, Bruce takes a quick glance over his shoulder.]

Did you do that?

[His voice is loud and bewildered.]

[Aaron's been clinging on for dear life, praying that somehow roots grow from his soles and keep him on the ground-- as it is, he's being whipped around a bit.]
No! I'm kind of-- busy.
[Wow. Alright.]
[The leg he's holding onto comes off. He lets go and moves on to another, although he's now scared and surprised.]
Did you?

Edited 2015-06-21 05:04 (UTC)

[Bruce doesn't say anything- he notices Aaron being whipped around but can't do anything before the spider in front of him starts moving in again.]

[Since kicking worked last time, Bruce does it again, and again, glittery sparks shoot out of wherever his foot collides with the Nox. They rip through the Nox, scattering tiny holes all throughout the creature's body.]

[After a couple of kicks, it makes piteous cries and begins to retreat, weaving weakly to and fro and knocking into the benches and potted plants scattered about the hall. Half its eyes and body mass are missing after the pummeling Bruce gave it- he doesn't think it will be bothering them any time soon.]

[Bruce twists around, preparing himself to help Aaron somehow.]

[Aaron kept himself busy tearing off legs while Bruce dealt with the other Nox.]
[By the time Bruce turns to him, four legs are twitching on the ground and he's well on his way to dislodging a fifth while the Nox pitches, unbalanced by Aaron's weight without the extra legs for stabilization.]
[The poor museum has seen better days, some without goopy gooey Nox dripping all over. Aaron adds to it when the fifth leg comes off.]
[Aaron uses the opportunity to shove the spider's abdomen down to where he can attack it straight-on.]
Almost got it-- help?

[Aaron may be asking for help, but Bruce is actually a bit relieved when he sees the state Aaron's spider is in, pitched to the ground and down to only three legs to attack and move with.]

Looks like you've got the situation well in hand.

[Still, he makes at least a token effort to kick at it- no sparks this time, but the Nox flails at his leg, distracted now that it has two humans to contend with.]

[It may be a big spider, but its bark seems worse than its bite by that point.]

[It is a big spider. Aaron doesn't like big things.]

[In an ideal situation, Bruce would've kicked more of those super-effective sparks to melt the fat spider down to mush.]

[Nothing ever turns out ideally, and his healing magic helps to dislodge every last leg-- with some effort and avoiding razor-sharp mandibles, with varying degrees of success-- until the Nox is a big black ball that Aaron kicks down the hall.]

[Far away.]

[Never to return.]

...let's get out of here.

Edited 2015-06-28 06:47 (UTC)

[The legless Nox rolls impressively far down the hall, disappearing into the dim distance of the museum.]

[Was the museum that dark earlier?]

[Whatever. The exit's free, meaning Aaron can get to safety. He gives the younger man a quick nod.]

I don't think we'll be making any return visits any time soon.

I know that I won't.

[Aaron shakes his hands like he's trying to fling the lingering feeling off of them.]

[He doesn't waste any time heading to the exit, but turns to Bruce once he's at it.]

--are you coming?

[Bruce pauses to linger in the doorway and stare into the distance.]

[He looks... concerned, but snaps out of it when Aaron speaks up.]

Right, of course.

[And he'll follow Aaron out of the museum, although not without the occasional glance over his shoulder.]

[the worst museum ever]

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well this escalated quickly

paralyzed in terror is my aesthetic

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this does not bode well

Pffft they'll be fiiiine

I sincerely doubt that

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aaron sounds like macklemore

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Thread end?