23 - dictated

[takethat]

[It's late at night when Phoenix spots the cat, as he's traversing the halls of the castle, headed back to his room.]

Oh--uh, hey there?

[Although the creature is a little too deep in his uncanny valley, he still puts on a friendly smile. It's not that much stranger than meeting a lion here, after all, right? Probably just a new resident from some weird world with bizarre cat things.]

...are you new around here?

[But the cat doesn't say anything. Phoenix shrugs and is about to wander on toward his destination, when suddenly there's a heavy weight flung into the left side of his body; he's knocked over, the journal skidding some distance away and falling open, to record the full attack.]


What--aaaaggghh!!! Get off me! Get... get away! No!

[The sounds of a struggle are plainly evident for a few moments more, before a rustling as the journal is quickly retrieved, and desperate panting, running--]

GLaDOS!!

[He reaches her door, on the same floor as his own room but further down the hall, and bangs frantically, begging to be let in.]

GLaDOS, please please open the door, please...!

[But no answer comes quickly enough, and the cat is there again, and Phoenix takes off once more, already knowing the sprint to his own room is fruitless--]

H...help! Somebody, please--it's following me! It's--

[And then a scream filled with fear and agony... and then silence, for a long while before Phoenix speaks again.


This time, his voice is hollow.]

Oh my god...

Comments

[silentrunning]

[The sounds of the attack filter over the journal, loud and clear. And journals being the way they are, one journal owner in particular hears that struggle.

She's standing at the base of the staircase leading up into the tower she lives in...

But on hearing that, she freezes for half a second, taking off for the elevator in a dead run.

Flinging herself inside, she punches the button for the fifth floor, and is out and running again, almost before the elevator has stopped. Where is he?

Her boots thud harshly on the stone floor, and woe be to anyone who happens to be in her way.]

[takethat]

[Should Chell find Phoenix, he's curled up in a heap on the floor, holding the stump where once his arm was, and simply staring in stunned silence at the wall nearby.]

[silentrunning]

[She finds him, all right...But almost in the wrong way. She almost trips over him, only her reflexes and ability to stop on a dime saving him from getting tromped on. But as soon as she realizes it's him, she drops to a crouch, reaching out to touch whatever part of his anatomy is nearest her. She doesn't say anything, or write anything just yet.

Wait a minute... She can see Phoenix's write hand... But not his left...

And then it all comes to her. Her eyes widen slightly, but she doesn't freak out. Instead, she reaches out, prodding at his right shoulder with her finger, trying to get through to him.]

Your arm, Nick? What happened?

[takethat]

I don't know.

[He answers her just as hollowly as he was speaking over the journal after the attack, although he's still curled up near-fetal position on the floor.]

It's... gone. The cat took it.

[silentrunning]

Cat?

[She doesn't know what he means, but she sits near him, completely alert, watchful. A cat shouldn't be too much of a threat. But if it's a cat which eats arms...]

I'll protect you.

[takethat]

[After lying there for a few moments longer, he manages to pull himself into a sitting position, pressed against the wall as much as he can.]

Everyone else... needs protection too. You're not safe out here!

[silentrunning]

Nor are you.

she points out, reaching down in an attempt to pull him to his feet.]

Not leaving you here.

[There's that stubbornness again.]

[takethat]

O... okay, okay...

[He's wobbly on his feet, out of fear as well as the unbalanced feeling of being short quite a few pounds on his left side.]

...but the whole castle, probably--! I mean, what if it's... what if it can go anywhere?!

[silentrunning]

[One way to find out, right?

Supporting him on his left side, just to keep things balanced, she propels him, and herself consequently, toward his room, which is on this floor. She's praying they can make it before the cat of doom can decide to nibble off another part of Phoenix.

Surprisingly, her only thoughts are of getting him into the safety of his room. If they can make it in, THEN she might freak out, just a little. But only then.]

[takethat]

[It's a surprisingly uneventful trip to his room, and when he unlocks the door (awkwardly) to let them in, he sighs in relief. The lights are all still on in the room, and everything looks fine.]

...maybe I should just look in the bathroom to be sure all's clear there, too...

[silentrunning]

[Shaking her head at him, she gestured emphatically at his futon, with a downward motion, as if to say "Sit down. I'll take care of it." before walking into his bathroom and peering around, checking for cats.

This involved peering into every corner, and under anything that a cat could possibly get into, and even a few things a cat couldn't get into. She was being thorough.

But after she had assured herself, to her exacting specifications, and assuming Nick had followed her request there, she'd drop beside him on the futon, and wrap her arms around him and just... hold him as close as she possibly could.]

[takethat]

[He's curled up into a tight little seated ball when she returns, and is so relieved to be hugged. He doesn't fight it, nor does he return it, but instead he just sits there, his lone arm wrapped around himself, twitching at every little noise he hears.

He's very thankful for Chell's quiet nature.]

[silentrunning]

[And presently, he would feel a hand awkwardly petting his spiky-haired head. Yup. Chell's being motherly, sitting on the futon just holding him and petting his hair in long, soothing strokes, much like one would pet a cat. And every time he twitches, she pulls him closer against her, protectively. She doesn't speak, but there's no need for words. Just her hand petting his hair and her arm around him, and the fact she'll keep him safe. Or that's the message she's trying to convey.]

[takethat]

[After quite some time of this, he begins to settle down, although his eyes are still watching the corners of the room fearfully. He mutters low under his breath, clearly a bit embarrassed by his behavior.]

Thanks for your help, Chell...

[silentrunning]

[And she answers, since nobody's around but him to hear.]

You are my friend.

[Just those words and nothing more. She also loosens her grip a little so he can pull away if he wants. But one arm still remains gently around his shoulders. It's a very long moment before she speaks once more.

[I will protect you. I am glad to see you not dead.

[It doesn't matter if Phoenix gets her meaning. She's said what's on her mind. She's used her voice.]

[takethat]

...you're a good friend, Chell. Thank you.

[He hiccups a bit from the tears, but otherwise seems to be calming down.]

I think you and I have a lot in common.

[silentrunning]

[Welp, that got her attention. Cocking her head sideways somewhat comically, she blinked at him.]

Why?

[She likes the thought of having something in common with Nick.]

[takethat]

[He shrugs as well as he can.]

I just feel like we get each other, at least a little... don't you?

[silentrunning]

[She thought about it for a second, and nodded with a smile.]

We do. You understand me better than most. For that I am grateful. And glad to have you as a friend.

[And she was happy he was safe from that horrible cat-thing too. Not that she'd say it aloud, simply because she would prefer not to make him panic again.]

[takethat]

Ditto.

[Subconsciously, he rubs at the shoulder still remaining after the cat's attack, and before he can stop himself, lets out a little whimper.

Oops.]