one painting burned

[thehangedrose]

[Open the journal, and you might hear the slight mumble of somebody talking to himself under his breath.]

Okay, so right now, I need to go get eggs, and milk, and ooh, stop by the laundromat for the handkerchief, and-

[There's an abrupt pause.]

Wait. This isn't...

[Garry looks around, realizing that this is not the place he was in before. No, this isn't the outside of an art gallery. This is a lobby of some building he's never been before. Huh.]

I'm...just going to leave now. Yes. [There's the sound of stamping as Garry wanders over to the door of the lobby.] See, there are doors, I can just go and lea-

[CREAAKKK. The doors opens, and that is definitely the outside. But not any outside he knows.]

...What. Why is-what's going on? And what keeps poking me in my coat...?

[A few ruffling noises, and then suddenly, whatever Garry has discovered in his coat sends him into a state of agitated hyperventilation.]

No. No no no no NO NO NO. Th-this...this can't be happening. This is all just  some sort of mental kickback to what happened before, a-and...why do I have this? I shouldn't have this...

I'm finally going crazy, right? That's it...that explains everything. Good for you, Garry, you're insane. I knew that place would do horrible things to my mental health...

[A long pause, before he adds, quietly:]

At least I haven't seen any dolls yet...

Comments

3/3

[thehangedrose]

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKKKK!!!!

[Garry snatches the doll out of Klaus' hand like a hot potato and then throws it right back in his face with a surprising amount of strength for someone so lanky, and then hastily rushes backward before tripping over one of the chairs in the lobby and falling right onto his back.]

[Something bright blue shows itself poking out of the interior of his weird tattered coat as he flails a bit on the ground, but then disappears when he pulls himself up, visibly shuddering.]

Th...That...WHY would you DO something like that?!!

NYAHAHAHAH

[precede]

[ It takes little effort for him to dodge the doll while bursting into enthusiastic laughter. He lets out an audible sigh of satisfaction as he quietens down, sauntering closer to pat the guy on the back. ]

All in good fun! And you're a good sport!

[ The blue glow doesn't escape him, but all in good time. ]

SUCH A BULLY ;~;

[thehangedrose]

Nghhhh....

[He flinches away from Klaus' touch, frowning, before pulling himself up back to a standing position, folding his arms after he does so in an effort to make himself look like that was all just a fluke, even if his heart is seriously going ten miles a minute at the moment.]

That...that wasn't very nice of you. [He lets out a rather womanly "hmmmph".] You-you just startled me. I wasn't expecting that at all.

he's the biggest baddest bully of em all >:

[precede]

[ He scoffs, absently kicking the doll away. ]

Of course. You weren't expecting a welcoming gift. That was very nice of me, actually.

[ Because if he weren't being nice, he would be at his throat right this minute, the way his heart sounds like the dinner bell. ]

[thehangedrose]

Well, of course not! I wasn't expecting anything, and definitely not that!

[He lets out a sigh, shaking his shaggy head in a rather morose fashion.]

...All I want is to get home, away from things like this. It isn't fair.

[precede]

[ He smirks, shifting his weight and narrowing his eyes at the man for a moment. ]

There's no such thing as fair, sweetheart.

[thehangedrose]

Yes, there is!

[He lets out a rather childish huff, crossing his arms.]

Fair exists, I'm certain about it. Anyways...I shouldn't be here. It's not where I belong at all.

[precede]

[ Klaus pokes the guy on the shoulder with a surprisingly strong finger, just to amuse himself. ] Where do you belong then, a theme park?

[thehangedrose]

[A sound of protest escapes from Garry's lips as he rubs the place where Klaus poked him, frowning.]

No! Why...why would you even think that? I'm not an attraction of some sort, if that's what you're referring to.

[precede]

The Scaredy Man. [ He angles his lips in mock consideration. ] Nah, don't think that'd get people to buy the tickets. You could be the foil though.

[thehangedrose]

H-hey! Hey, I'm not any Scaredy Man! I was merely startled- that's all!

[GRUMBLE GRUMBLE NOT A SCAREDY MAN >8I]

[precede]

[ He shrugs. ] You could give me a name if you don't like that one.

[thehangedrose]

I'm Garry. That's my name, not-not Scaredy Man.

And you are?

[precede]

Garry! [ Such a fun name to exclaim. ]

You can call me Klaus.

[thehangedrose]

Klaus? Nice name...is it German?

[precede]

[ Nice. That's nice. He grins. ]

Nordic.

[thehangedrose]

Nordic! Huh, haven't read too much about them, but that's still kind of cool.

[precede]

[ He starts pacing around him like a predator. ]

Now, now, there's no need for the chit chat.

[thehangedrose]

[Oh, oh that makes him nervous. Garry almost shrinks under the other man's gaze, reminded too much of the horrors he met back home at the art gallery.]

[His voice starts to waver:]

W-why not? Isn't that what people do? Chit chat?

[precede]

[ He laughs, sounding almost genial. ]

Not while shaking like that.

[thehangedrose]

[Garry sniffs, rubbing his arm awkwardly- goodness, someday he would need to learn how to keep his composure under strange circumstances.]

I-I'm sorry...I guess I'm still not really in the right state of mind for such things...

[precede]

[ Here's slapping him on the shoulder, a little too strong for most humans, and shaking him a little. ]

How about a drink, hm? The cure to all ills!

[thehangedrose]

[WOW THAT IS STRONG and Garry wobbles a bit, but manages to keep his balance enough to gulp and nod.]

Okay. Um...sure! I mean, I'm not the biggest fan of alcohol, but a drink would be nice.

[precede]

[ What's with the people here and their reticence toward alcohol. He doesn't get it at all. But he saunters away and gestures with his wrist for Garry to follow him. ]

Come along.

[thehangedrose]

[Garry follows obediently, like a very thin and lanky puppy in a strange tattered coat. The man seems nice enough, really, even though he played that horrible little prank on him before.]

Is there a bar inside of the castle or something?