[the worst museum ever]

[exuviiated]

[Aaron actually fits in to this place, if only in clothes. It is, without a doubt, the weirdest museum he has ever visited.

He wants to go home, but that won't be happening any time soon, so he'll settle for watching a small black spider (sorry, a Nox spider) scurry on the ceiling and window.]

Comments

aaron sounds like macklemore

[exuviiated]

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.]

[batdweeb]

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.]

[exuviiated]

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.]

[batdweeb]

[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.]

[exuviiated]

[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?

[batdweeb]

[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.]

[exuviiated]

[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?

[batdweeb]

[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.]

[exuviiated]

[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.

[batdweeb]

[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.

[exuviiated]

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?

Thread end?

[batdweeb]

[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.]