[Josh/Luceal] Chapter 1: Final Stop

[Throndir]

《Character Sheets

》

《Chapter 1: Final Stop》

Play both songs below at the same time.
http://www.youtube.com/v/U1hS2UaAF-4?end=191
http://www.youtube.com/v/Q4m-Uko-9YU

Location: United States - New York City - Eastchester Dyre Ave 5 Train Station
Date: Year 2098 - December 14th - 9:31 PM

Inhale.

The sharpness of the air surged through you. It was cold, freezing even, as you felt keenly the cool air fill your lungs. You watched small clumps of snowflakes continue to fall from the night sky overhead, along with singular and beautifully symmetrical snowflakes mixed in with them. Those that landed on your jacket quickly melted, showcasing their ephemeral nature. It had been exceptionally colder in the last few days, but it looked like that it was tonight that the first bits of snow finally started to come. None of it was sticking, this was the first snows of the winter after all. But you suspected in another hour that it would start to cover the rest of the city with a thin layer of snow. Perhaps even after that, a thicker blanket would gently cover the city. The forecast today did say that tonight would be the start of a string of wintry weather.

Exhale.

Your clouded breaths filled the space in front of you. Warding off the cold, you bundled up well. So at the very least, standing in the chill air, waiting for the next train to arrive at the station was bearable. But more than the warmth from your clothing, it was the company that made this normally solo trip more enjoyable. Your friend, someone you had known for years, stood by next to you, their breathe as visible as yours in the cold nighttime air. You've met a couple times already during the course of a few years now. This time around just happened to be in the middle of winter, with the expected weather of that season. This time around too, you both had one particular goal.

The new expansion of Velothia Online, a VRMMO that the both of you played, one of the many games and activities that fostered the friendship between you two, was on its way of being released. The game was a popular VRMMO, one of the biggest in the last decade. In fact, it wouldn't be far off to say that this particular game reinvigorated the market for VRMMOs. Since tomorrow was the release date of the expansion, the two of you decided to get the special edition from downtown. This particular edition included some trinkets only obtainable from buying it through the physical store, along with some in-game items, was being sold at a special midnight release. And the two of you had made plans to buy it together.

Soon enough, the train appeared, heading towards your station. There weren't a lot of other travellers at this time of day heading back towards the city. For the most part, it was relatively peaceful, at least for the a city that never sleeps. As such, there was no one else waiting at your particular entry point to board the passenger car.

The train finally stopping, the doors slid open.

[Lucy]

It's cold...I hate the cold.

Standing at the train station, just as the first crystals of snow started to collect on her jacket. That thought stretched across the length of her mind. It was one she had muttered to herself countless times as they wait for the train. She hated the cold, but then again she wasn't fond of a lot of things. The inconvenience of it. Ah such a word, perfect to express how most people of the day and age thought of things. Inconveniences. This inconvenience was worth it though. Standing there, in the slowly accumulating snow, time ticking into the night. A shiver ran up her spine and she rubbed her arms, letting out a big exhale, before sinking back into her scarf. Even all bundled up, her slim build did not do well in the cold. There wasn't much of her to keep warm, but nothing really there to retain it either. Skinny jeans don't really act as the best barrier against the cold, either.

Ugh, I should have worn an outfit better suited for the weather.

Her eyes strayed from the empty tracks before them, over to her companion for the night. Josh. He was a good friend of hers, properly her best even. Standing out in the freezing cold with her, patiently waiting, probably thinking the same thing about the cold. If not, then probably lost in thought about the new Velothia Online expansion they were set out the buy tonight. That's what Lucy needed, a distraction. something to keep her mind off the cold. Small talk wasn't much of her thing though, even when in comfortable, familiar company. Plus, she just wanted to keep all the warm inside of her, instead of wasting it, exhausting it into the cold of winter. She let out another exhale into her scarf, the warmth of her breath catching in the fabric. The cold meeting it on the other side and catching the moister. It was unpleasant and she pulled the scarf away from her a bit and her ears caught a sound she had been waiting for. The sound of the bullet train smoothly pulling into the station.

Just then, all the contained excitement with her rushed forth to the surface. She performed a little jump as if she was celebrating it's arrival. Turning to Josh and grabbing his hand as she walked backwards towards the train, tugging on his arm. "Come on, it's here!" she said pulling on his arm slightly, before letting go and twirling playfully towards the train, her scarf spinning around from her momentum, shaking some of the snow from it that had started to collect on the ends. She was excited, clearly. Excited to get out of the cold and excited to get just a little bit closer to her new adventures in Velothia Online. Stepping onto the train, with Josh surely following behind her. She could already feel the difference in temperature. Compared to outsides cold embraces, it was a welcome change. Quick to pick where she planned to sit among the open emptiness of the train, nice section away from the doors. Just so no drafts from outside would ruin her comfort, in the case of further passengers joining along the stops. She smiled and patted the seat beside her, as an expression for Josh to join her.

[Rei]

"Fuck it's almost as cold as Ragnarok Online's frozen tundra..." he would suddenly say after a long moment of silence.  Each puff of hot air and small complaint, was met with cold as as his breathe created a small cloud almost thick enough to cut with a knife. His voice trailed off as he didn't finish his comparison, realizing he was being a bit nerdy in public. He would glance over at his companion, his seemingly life-long friend whom stood beside him. He was slightly embarrassed but Lucy was just as big a nerd as he, hell... Maybe even bigger. He had met her years ago while playing other games, they had shared a mutual friend and eventually became acquainted. Over a length of time, they became good friends. They played games, whether VRMMOs or other games and eventually began to visit each other in real life from time to time. Mostly he came to visit her because she lived in New York and her job kept her quite busy most of the time. Of course being the country bumpkin type that he was, he had gotten lost at every corner if Lucy was not there to hold his hand or push him in the correct direction.

Today was the release of their new game and both of them had planned months in advance to make this day memorable and special. You couldn't plan weather in advance however. The day was already somewhat cold and only became more cold as the lonesome pair stood at the station and waited for the train that was supposed to arrive like clockwork. The wind blew somewhat strong that day, only adding to the chill factor. Josh had dressed a little warmer, though only so much as a sweater and no jacket. Foolishly he had planned for the warmth of the train but not the station waiting itself- yet another failed planning attempt in this large city that he was quite unfamiliar with.

If Lucy had been cold, she didn't verbalize it. It seemed apparent enough to Josh however, as her choice of skinny jeans provided little protection against the wind and snow. In their games, she was a powerful and reliable person. Just as reliable and powerful in the sense that she always won their arguments or jokes: physically, she was smaller and more cute. Being raised as a southern gentleman that he was, he had intentionally stood on the side of Lucy that the wind was blowing from, doing his best to casually protect her from the wind as they stood there in almost perfect silence. Most of the time, Lucy could be a quiet and reserved person. Josh himself was much the same way, he too didn't talk exceedingly much and both of them were quite content just to spend quiet company with the other.

Eventually he heard the sound of the train on the tracks and Lucy was clearly excited after their wait which seemed to take forever. He too was happy, though less visibly about it. He smiled to himself and gave a soft chuckle as Lucy did a jump for joy and then grabbed him by his hand as the train came to a stop and the door opened.  She let go then, just as he blushed and quickly stepped towards her dancing figure. Though they were friends, he was not used to a woman's touch. He did his best to avoid women back home, which always struck him as an oddity why Lucy was arguably his best and closest friend. "Slow down you game fiend! Velothia may be waiting for us to conquer it, but we have to arrive there safely first." he would say, somewhat teasing his friend as he stepped into the train's open doors.

Immediately he could feel the difference between the train's comfortable and warm environment compared to the world's chilly weather. This was like an adventure the two had gone on in many different worlds- ever reaching a step higher in their conquest of VRMMOs. The calm before the storm as it were, Lucy quickly spied a seat she favored and sat down, motioning with a pat for where he was invited to sit with her. Two steps behind the young woman, he found his seat and sat comfortably: his breathe, no longer visible in the air with the rush of warmth from the heaters on the train. Aside from the two of them, the train cart was empty except for a few articles of trash and forgotten clothing several seats away. Josh found it a little curious that on such an important day for gamers, that so few people would be here. The two of them had fully anticipated a mob of pale-skinned nerds to fight for supremacy over convenient seats. Either the mob had arrived before them, or the pair had beaten the plebeians to the prize. Hopefully the latter, but Josh had his suspicions that there were a few gamers crazy enough to camp outside the game store for their very own special edition. Just thinking about the special edition's in-game items... Josh began to drool a little as his mind wandered to the fantasies that surely awaited him and Lucy.

[Lucy]

As Josh sat beside her, Lucy had already begun knocking the small amount of snow off of her person. Starting with her buckled ankle boots and coat. Last thing she wanted was for it to melt and dampen her clothes too much. after all, they would have to stand outside, waiting for their special edition copies of the Velothia, 'Rise of the Metallum' expansion. With the snow only going to be getting worse throughout the night, the last thing they needed was to be cold and wet before even getting to the hard part of the trip. Once she felt like good enough was the most it would get she turned her attention to Josh. His extra layers consisting of just a sweater mostly, she signed slightly and quickly leaned over and tried to brush him off a little. "You're crazy. I can't believe you would just wear a sweater. I do believe I warned you about it being chilly here and to pack a jacket?" She had very little success with the warm air of the train, making the small bit of snow already melted, dampening his shoulders. Lucy gave up and sat back down, unzipping her coat a bit, to prepare for their little trip.

The sound of the doors sliding shut and the train gliding into motion out of the station marked the next phase of their journey. Nobody else got on with them, as standing alone at the station clearly made clear. However, it also seemed like nobody really got off either. Curiosity getting the better of her, she popped up from her seat. Grabbing a hold of the upper railing above, used for those who would have to stand normally and quickly and effortlessly making her way to the door that connects the two cars. The speed of the train barely seemed to affect her, a clear sign on just how long she's lived in the city by now. Looking through the little window into the other car, she could see just a few people sitting throughout it. Strange, as it was normal for even the very last train of the night to be packed with people. Certainly there were more cars ahead, therefore more passengers, but it still felt empty all the same. Backing away from the door, she headed back to her friend. "Seems like this place is a ghost town tonight. Guess either the weather scared the weaker adventurers off, or we're just really lucky." She joked as she sat back down. "That's fine by me though, as I would rather spend time with just one nerd, rather than a drove of them." She winked playfully at Josh, obviously referring to him as said nerd. Despite being a giant nerd herself, she enjoyed teasing him, even if it was just a little bit. It commonly sparked a bit of playful banter between them, that being friends for so long supported finely.

Lucy would remove her coat, so that the heat from the train wouldn't become too much and placed it in the seat next to hers. The warmth of the train felt nice, but they did have a decent little ride ahead of them and despite her poor choice of skinny jeans, she at least was wearing a loose cowl neck sweater under her coat. Flinging her long hair behind her, accidentally throwing some settled water from the melted snow at Josh. She caught this and instead of apologizing, she simply stuck the tip her tongue out slightly at him and got comfy, awaiting the soon accompanying response that fed into the banter she so thoroughly enjoyed. Lucy had a knack for arguing, fighting, being right, even when she was somehow wrong. Usually manipulating logic to her advantage. Getting in one last tease in before he could reply, she said with the same playful smirk on her face. "Come on country boy. If you're not drooling over me, what's cooking in that brain of yours that has you so distracted?"

[Rei]

Snow was not something that Josh was too used to. Being as he lived in the middle of the American states, Tennessee was relatively warm all year around except for two months or so at the beginning of every year. Snow was seldom and even less to the point that it would change the scenery to that ideal christmas white. So in-depth with his thoughts about the new expansion to their favorite game, that he hardly had noticed Lucy dusting the loose snow from her garb. He did notice, but only after Lucy began to try and knock the snow from his sweater. She didn't really have to say much, for he could already feel the slight moisture seep through his shoulders as the heaters above quickly melted the white particles into droplets which his sweat soaked up eagerly. He didn't really have much of a reply to her remark about being ill-prepared. He had originally thought a sweater would be enough, but all good plans had their flaws. Evident enough when Lucy had met up with him wearing skinny jeans. Instead of verbally replying to her comment, he pulled the sweater off while still sitting and placed it over the top of the empty seat on the other side of him.

He was still not used to trains, so Josh remained seated for the time being as the cart began to move with the dull thrum of its wheels against the tracks. Lucy had jumped up and his eyes followed her out of curiosity yet he still remained silent- mostly thinking about Velothia's trailers about the Rise of Metallum. Soon, Lucy returned with news and an equally informative jab with her sense of humor. At being called a nerd, he would chuckle softly and give her one of those looks like "You calling me that of all people?" But no, he said, "More like the weak nerds heard about our little adventure and didn't have to heart to show and up. Nobody can compete with your level of nerdiness after all."

Still sitting in his seat, he remained stationary as Lucy returned to the seat beside him and removed her jacket. His sweater was drying beside him, but he wore a plain black t-shirt beneath. He had just began to think about reaching over to see how dry his sweater was when Lucy made another playful jeer at him.  He wiped the small drop of water her hair had flung at him, from his face and returned her playfulness by attempting to wipe his wet hand against the side of her face as his other hand would grab at the ends of her scarf to make sure she couldn't escape. "Drooling over you is just asking to get tortured! My resistance stat is higher than falling for that trap. I was actually thinking about what we should do first in the Rise of Metallum expansion." he would say, applying a little game stats to real life scenarios such as resisting her charms. Though both of them knew he was terrible at that sort of thing. She seemed to love taking advantages of his weaknesses and he didn't really mind all that much. This was a good way to pass the time until their train would arrive at their destination- of course that was assuming Lucy didn't up the ante after he had tried to wipe his wet hand across her face.

[Lucy]

The pull of her scarf caught her a little off guard from her comfy, relaxed state. She knew he would react, but she hadn't figured he would use her scarf against her. Cleaver boy... she thought as his hand reached for her, damp from the water she managed to get on his face. It was at this point that Lucy had three options. One, to just get completely bodied by the unpleasantness of his wet hand, two, to fight back and sink her unusually long and sharp canines into his hand, or.... As Josh's hand got closer to her face, she leaned in and licked suggestively up the palm of his hand. It was gross. She could taste the saltiness of his skin, combined with the cold water and sweat from his cold hands meeting the warmth of the train. It more or less defeated the purpose of avoid his hand completely. However, Lucy was aware of how Josh got around girls, avoiding them to a degree. She was the exception obviously, but she knew little acts like this tended to fluster him a bit, which is why teasing him was such an effective and fun little game for her. It reminded her of a conversation they had a while back. On one late night, just sitting around one of the many floating land marks of a VRMMO they played, looking over the vast plains of a virtual landscape.

"You know Josh, you need to find yourself a nice girl. A good guy like you can't sit around single forever now."

"Hmm, I don't know. None of the girls where I live really interest me. What about you, do you count as a nice girl?"

"What, me?! Nah you don't want a girl like me. I'm trouble. A thug. A busy city girl. Besides, I wouldn't survive in the country side. I'm too used to this urban setting."

"Ahh, you're not so bad. You're just too hard on yourself. Just try to relax and not be so harsh. Everyone has 'history' after all. The country life however, would probably bored you to death."

"Ha, funny. Though you're probably right, on such. Just don't get used to me telling you so."

"Are you kidding?! This is probably the first time I got you to actually admit it. This is going to go down in history! The first time Lucy admits Josh is right!"

"Ugh, you're such a dork. You're gonna make me regret admitting it."

"Hey, just think of it as my own little way of getting back at you, for all the teasing and abuse you put me through."

"What? Oh come on you like it. Can't even deny that. Plus you just make it too easy."

"Yeah, that's the problem. One of these days though, I'll get you back tenfold. Just you wait."

"Pfft, bring it on. I look forward to seeing what you can throw at me."

Both of them chuckled a bit, as they went back and forth for a while longer. Their playful banter being a consistent theme for them. Before long, Josh said his goodbyes for the night, leaving Lucy to remain for a while longer. She stared off into the plains below, thinking about their conversation. Standing up she gave the plains one more look over and thought, before logging off for the night. I doubt I'm the 'nice girl' you'll deserve though...

The fun little memory seemed to flash past in an instant, but it wasn't the here, or the now. So with that she turned her head from his hand, tongue hanging out a bit to express her disgust with the taste. "Blek! Have you tried washing that hand of yours?!" Though a bit dramatic, it was the best way she knew to express it, plus it was a good distraction to sweep her back into the reality of the situation, which was probably going to be a face full of wet hand that was now covered in her spit, on top of any remaining water. After all, every action causes a reaction and there was no way Josh would let her get away with her latest shenanigans. After all, they were best friends and he knew her about as well as she knew him, and she knew he would be aware of what she was trying to do to tease him.

[Rei]

The tug on her scarf, the wet hand- it was all going according to plan. Too well and that suddenly concerned him- yet he committed himself to getting this little "revenge" against her. Of course his suspicions were correct when he saw that mischievous glint in Lucy's eyes as she turned her head towards his intrusive hand instead of away from it! Oh no. Nonono was his immediate thought as she stuck her tongue out once more, this time licking his extended palm. Slightly suggestive but also playful, Josh wanted to retract his hand to not cause a weird scene... Especially being as they were the only two in the cart. Yet he knew Lucy and that she was jabbing at his inexperience and insecurities again. That subconscious knowledge helped him "push forward" so to speak. The result being that though she had a complaint to the taste, she was going to get a water and spittle taste all over her lips as she had turned her head when he originally intended to wipe his hand on the side of her face. He'd rub his hand around slightly while speaking in a playfully diminutive manner. "Taste the lint from my pockets!" he would say as he smeared the liquid on her mouth and then retracted his hand, wiping his palm against his jeans and laughing out loud, more than a chuckle this time. To an outsider, their interaction could easily be mistaken as a smitten couple, there was underlying gaps between the two best friends. Lucy was the ideal girl, but Josh figured he didn't have a chance with her. It was better to be her best friend than ruin something so important by trying to get more.

It was fun, he hardly ever got one over on Lucy and she was sure to make his anxiety suffer a little even for doing it... Yet he knew that payback was worse. When it came to Lucy and her playful side, she knew almost every weak point he had. No resistance stat would save him if she became serious. Even as he finished wiping his hand, he was thinking of ways to avoid the payback. Maybe he should jump up and sit across the other side of the cart. No... If he did that, she would see that as him running and probably chase after him. If his only option was to run, then maybe it would be best if he jumped up to the door to the next cart and shut it behind him and held the handle? That seemed more like a better solution- still.. Even then, only temporary. He decided he would do that. At that moment was when he felt a minor vibration at his feet, a subtle indicator that signified the end and beginning. The ending to this "slice of life" the two best friends knew. The beginning of an adventure the two would undertake in a whole new world, both figuratively and literally. That moment had not yet arrived and Josh had decided to enact his little plan of "escape" With one side-step from his seated position, his body would lurch in the direction away from Lucy's grasp as he ran for the cart door.

[Lucy]

Well, he got her. It had been a long time coming, but Josh finally got some good solid payback on Lucy. Her face now slightly damp with water and spit, with her taste-buds screaming in protest. It wasn't the worst flavor, in all reality, but it still wasn't exactly desired either. She used the loose cowl part of her sweater to gently dry her face. Not exactly cute, but her jacket was wet so she had limit options. As she dried her face off, she was already seeking to plan her revenge. Though while distracted, Josh being a step ahead due to knowing her well enough, already knew what would be coming his way. He had already planned out some form of escape route and made a break for the door. She wouldn't be able to stop him, but gave chase anyway. Darting up after him, she followed suit. Lucky for him though, he had managed to get through the doorway, shutting the door to the car behind him, just as Lucy managed to reach him. Holding it shut, as to keep her at bay for the time being.

Standing across from him, yet separated by the door, with only the window there to see through, she watched him. So close, yet so far away. With all the commotion, you think the rowdy pair would merit some form of attention, yet their antics remained ignored. The sound of the train, or just people being lost in their selves and phones, causing their actions to go completely unnoticed by any possible onlookers. Lucy pulled at the door handle, trying to budge the door, but Josh did have more strength and body mass than her little frame possessed. In all honesty, she hadn't even thought of a fitting way to get him back yet. She stopped pulling on the door handle and thought for a moment, figuring he wouldn't come out and he was just in a t-shirt now. The dividers to the train cars were sealed, but colder than he cars themselves. Though not as cold as outside, she figured he would eventually get cold and she was enough of a deterrent at the moment to keep him holding that door shut. Even escaping into the other car wasn't much of an option, because she would just catch up to him anyway and pounce on the fleeting prey that was her friend. So with just an innocent, yet still obviously misleading smile, she remained at the door. Arms crossed, she waited, starring at Josh. Waiting for him to realize that he was stuck. However, with what was to occur next, he probably wouldn't be able to and they wouldn't be able to finish this little game of cat and mouse.

[Throndir]

The cold wind was stinging outside the safety of the passenger car. Although no clumps of snow managed to make their way in between the space of the two passenger cars, it was still fairly cold. With the rushing of wind sneaking pass the sides of the passenger car, the bitter chill air was even more apparent. The sounds of the train travelling along the tracks and zipping through the city only added to the sensations. The rhythmic tap each time the train would go over a new piece of the track would coincide with a slight rumble and bump on the train.

As the both of you looked at each other through the glass door, teasing each other, it was then that you noticed something absolutely strange up in the skies from the corner of your vision.

Spoiler

The winter night sky over New York city seemed to have bright glowing lines spreading across it. The glowing fissures didn't look like any celestial body you were familiar with. In fact, it looked like what a windshield would look like if one were to attempt to break it rather than any heavenly body. However, instead of the cracks being on a pane of glass, these cracks were spread across the skies themselves.

The fissures continued to spread and widen then. The glowing lines started to reach out. Within a few seconds, more and more of them started to appear.

[close]

Perception roll requested. Using pre-New World stats:

Rei: 1d20+4
Lucy: 1d20+3

[Lucy]

Rolled 1d20+3 : 9 + 3, total 12

[Rei]

Rolled 1d20+4 : 2 + 4, total 6

[Throndir]

Rei's Perception: 6
From your vantage point, you could tell that the cracks spread across the skies, but there wasn't much more that you could see from it. The places where the sky seemed to fall was pitch darkness, and if the city seemed to react to what you were seeing, it didn't show it. The train continued to roll on by, though you did note that a couple of passengers in the next car over had begun to point towards their window, with some of them frantically texting away either on their phones, or their watches.

Lucy's Perception: 12
When you looked towards the cracks in the sky, you saw something you didn't expect to see. The sight of the cracks in the sky was already something completely out there, but it was the large pink-hued metallic protrusion that came from the pitch darkness that caught your attention the most. You realized then, that each of the cracks in the skies had the same metallic protrusions from it.

It was also at that moment that you realized whatever those metallic things were, they began to fall.

[Rei]

Josh always thought himself quick-witted. Clear decisive action always favored the bold. Improvising was always on the list of options when a plan turned sideways: these were thought-processes from his time in the military. Even in a civilian lifestyle such as this, small factors like these motivated his daily life and outlook on situations. It was also these ideals that were deeply ingrained into him that quickly allowed him to realize when he had made a blunder. He had successfully taken a step ahead of Lucy in executing his child-like escape, only to realize that after the chilly wind that soaked into his bones... and Lucy's smug smile from through the warm glass... That he had made such a blunder.  Ooof! She used my escape route as a trap! he thought to himself, realizing that she was giving him the "cold treatment" so to speak. Eventually, he would have to break and accept her wrath. Judge. Jury. Executioner.

He had thought about it, smiling awkwardly through the glass to Lucy's folded-arm stance. He loved playing these little games with her, even if she did typically get the better of him at his own expense. A couple of chilling minutes passed as his manly pride wouldn't allow him to give in so easily. His last trumph card was to wait so long that he would be so cold and finally give up- that Lucy would pity him. That was his plan: however, things wouldn't turn out that way at all. From his position between the metal carts, all he could see of the night sky was the white cracks in the sky. At first he assumed it was maybe snow flying passed at extreme speed from the train. The people in the next cart however also seemed to react to the phenomenon, albeit more frantically. This was quite unexpected and bizarre. It was not that late in the evening and the grand opening of the new expansion wasn't yet released. There was still time in the evening. His instincts screamed danger however and that overridden the harmless game he and Lucy had been playing. As Lucy's arms were folded and not barring his entry, Josh would quickly re-enter their cart and hover close to Lucy. He didn't know what was going on, nor could he see as much as Lucy did.. All he knew was that he felt like he needed to protect the slender woman he called friend. Maybe irrational, given how little he knew of what was happening.. but cracks in the sky couldn't be good. Right? "Lucy-" he would begin to say as he'd hover close to her, though he didn't really have any substantial words to say in explanation for the ill-boding feeling that crept up his chest as a chilling sensation.

[Lucy]

Large, completely unknown and foreign cracks in the night sky, well, mark that for the strangest things she has ever seen. Lucy at first didn't notice such a strange phenomenon. It fact, it was only after she looked past Josh, and saw everyone else acting strangely in the next car. It was then that she looked away from him and saw out the window what was unfolding. It was like nothing they have even seen prior, even when it came to their VRMMOs. This was no video game however, this was really happening. She got closer to the window a bit, to get a better view. The cracks where...changing, no...spreading. They grew in size, over taking large areas of the sky. It wasn't like a weather formation though, but like it was a part of the sky itself, or more so that the sky had physical form similar to a pane of glass. By this point Josh had returned into the car and stood with her. He must have seen it too, though honestly who wouldn't? It was a giant replicating phenomenon in the sky after all. However, it wasn't the cracks in the sky that started to bother her. The longer she watched on and studied the branching cracks, the more she realized that it was not all that she was seeing. her eyes widened, as if filled with even more disbelief and fear. It seemed that something strange was emerging from the cracks. Some sort of metallic protrusion. There was no explain it. She started to get uneasy, though wasn't sure why. Lucy was not the type of girl to get scared simply because she didn't understand something. She actually looked forward to experiencing new things and studying them. Did mean she wouldn't be careful, but with this feeling, careful would be something they would be skipping.

She backed up away from the window, into Josh. Gently grabbing his arm, as if some means to both feel safe, and warn him. It seemed that though he could see what was happening, he wasn't experiencing the same thing she was. maybe it was different per person? Either way, a feeling of dread washed over her. A feeling she had felt before. It was like it became difficult to breath, so much so that she couldn't even make out words. Her mouth opened, but nothing came out. Was this fear stopping her? No breathing, no movement, no sound. Almost like the bony fingers of death itself were wrapping around her throat and trying to squeeze the life out of her. After a pause that felt like an eternity, she finally swallowed, and could breath again. Just one thought stuck in her head. Run. Her eyes finally seemed like they could see again, still clouded by fear, but at least conscious enough in thought to register something other than just this overwhelming instinctual reaction to what they were experiencing. She could see the cracking sky rifts, still as bewildering as before. However, the metallic protrusion seemed to emerge further from the rifts. They seemed to now...fall from them. She turned to Josh, her grip tightening on his arm as she spoke. "We need to go!" Such a blunt statement, straight forward and stern from the amount of fear backing it, as if it strained the words in bold. Where would they go, who knows? She just knew that if they did nothing, that feeling of dread, that feeling of danger would most likely lead to their deaths.

[Throndir]

Requesting a Survival check before I describe the next part.

Rei: 1d20+4
Lucy: 1d20+3