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hearteyes-for-killmonger · 5 years

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Makeover fic. This is for my love. It's long but I'm a try to fit this into 2 parts because I'm stubborn. @amethyst1993

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Part 1

Ken slurped the overflow of her grape crush soda from the top of the aluminum can and wiped the spill from the counter with her hoodie sleeve before pouring it into a red solo cup to fizz down. Erik, Shawn, and Travis were already in the living room with the TV on CBS and she could hear the superbowl commercials. “Ken, bring the nachos and hurry up,” Travis yelled and she snatched up the tray of cheesy chicken and jalepeno goodness balancing it on top of the pizza box.

“Why is Erik the only one in here who knows how to cook anything beyond ramen,” Ken wondered aloud dropping the goods onto the living room table before pushing her glasses back up onto her nose and taking her seat on the couch next to Shawn.

“Because y'all filthy niggas useless outside of good company,” Erik smirked grabbing a hot slice of pepperoni pizza while everyone else went for his homemade chicken nachos. Gnawing on a well-seasoned piece of chicken, Ken belched but continued her chew, watching the screen.

“Aye, but why can't you cook, Ken, wasn't your mom real traditional? I remember she made you wear them loafers and them catholic dresses with the tights when we were in middle school,” Travis chuckled reminiscing.

“Oh yeaah, them Throwback Thursday pics she posted. I seen em, she had the James Brown perm and then the two stick out braids like Snoop Dogg,” Shawn cackled and the room broke out into jokes.

“Akiki,” Ken mocked not finding any of it funny. “My hair was stiff because it was damaged that's why I cut it to my scalp. It grew back..” It was pulled straight back into a low bun at the back of her head as they spoke. She always wore a headwrap, however, so to their credit, they probably forgot she had hair.

“Oooo, aye Erik, remember when that girl you was with last year around February thought she was a nigga and tried to get at her? Big Ken almost took your girl,” Travis grinned as the football game finally returned. Ken sighed at the memory. It hadn't been so funny to her when it happened. It was confusing because as far as she was concerned she presented herself as a woman and it was obvious what she was. Irritated, she stuffed her mouth with a pizza slice and licked her fingers, wiping the residue on her baggy wide-legged jeans.

“I tried to forget. That one hurt my pride,” Erik scoffed.

“It's cool man, you still that nigga. You'll get her next time. She still on campus,” Shawn laughed good naturedly, elbowing Ken in the side, which was practically titty meat too. He didn't seem to notice then an odor hit Ken's nostrils and her face twisted in disgust. “My bad,” Shawn laughed, “It's the cheese.” Ken tried to fan the foul odor back in his direction.

“That's okay, I'll do you one better,” she said lifting an asscheek off the couch and ripping a ripe one.

“Dammit, nigga,” he coughed and Travis and Erik laughed. That was Sunday night.

A few weeks later, she was at the mall leaving Old Navy and saw a fine dude from her school's campus shopping in the Footlocker looking at a pair of New Balance sneakers. He caught her eye because he was tall and brown with a track runner's build, and had nice thick curly hair. She hesitated on whether she should approach him, afraid to be turned down and embarrassed. She knew for a fact that some men could be cruel when it came to women they weren't attracted to. Finally, she worked up the courage and she walked over to him. “Hey, um, you go to MIT.. So do I. I saw you from outside of the store and I thought you were attractive so I came over to see if I could get to know you and get your number.. something?” she spoke hopefully with a friendly smile on her face. His eyebrows rose as his mouth opened and closed, a bad sign.

“I… I mean.. I actually can't?” He squinted in apology, but Ken couldn't show her disappointment. “I'm kinda… already seeing someone,” he added, “...but thanks tho!” Nodding with a polite smile, Ken walked away but when she saw the same guy again, she was close enough to hear him shooting his shot at a girl who was with a group of her friends, all of them pretty like divas. She peeked out of the corner of her eye at her reflection in a random store’s glass window. Something inside of her was deeply hurt, but she didn't want to explore it and have the feelings break her down in public where she stood. She definitely didn't look like them. There was a reason why she never got male attention.. why no one ever asked her out or looked her way.. and she wanted them to.. badly! She hadn't gone to prom. She didn't go on dates. She still had her v-card and none of it was because it's what she truly wanted. She wanted love and magic. She wanted to feel wanted, admired, and pretty even if it was just one time. It was lonely being the only girl in a group of guys, especially when the group would get around other girls who they viewed as actual women. She was treated differently then by the men and the women as though she didn't belong in either category. It was an awkward feeling, being considered as sexless and unattractive. She didn't like it one bit, but what could she do? The only thing that came to mind was to call her best friend. Who else would she call?

---

"Wassup, Big Ken, what's this about," he asked walking into the kitchen as she followed. The smell of roasted potatoes wafted through the air.

"My bad, E, I didn't mean to interrupt you in the middle of dinner," she paused hunching over the counter. He looked over.

"Nah, you good bro. What was the 911?" He fixed his food, passing her to sit down and she took a deep breath.

"So, yeah, um.. You date a lotta women right?" He looked at her like she had three eyes.

"You tryna get hooked up? You ain't had to come over here for that. You could've called and I'd have s--"

"No, I don't need a hookup, Erik! I'm trying to ask you something, but you can't laugh. Just say yes or no." He waved his hand as if saying get on with it and she decided it was best to just blurt it out. "Erik, do you think I'm pretty?" Silence. He blinked in confusion and she sighed almost regretting her question since he couldn't even give her a straight answer.

"Excuse me?" That meant no. "Do I think you.. pretty? Define pretty.. I'm just saying.. pretty how because you not a ugly nigga you just need..," he shrugged hesitantly, "You the homie-" That was the last thing Ken wanted to hear.

"Nevermind, just stop.. please," she groaned walking away.

"What's wrong with you, you acting weird. You good?" He was genuinely concerned, she could hear it in his tone so she turned to face him again.

"I need you to help me. I don't know what to do. I'm not a nigga, I'm a woman and I'm tired of having that ignored. I wanna be pretty too where no one has to think about it."

He kisses his teeth, "Nig--Ken," he corrects, "You got personality and a good heart, don't you think that's better than looking pretty?" She thought about it for humor's sake.

"As smart as cool as I am... Would you date me?" She waited. He opened his mouth, with no words so she filled in the blank for him. "No, you wouldn't because I'm a nerd and I'm not pretty like the girls you date that get love and attention AND prettyboys like you to give it to them! I wanna be hot, Erik. I want to find love. You've never been in my shoes so you don't understand, but--" He waved again to cut her off.

"Nah, I get it. I mean, just looking at you now I could come up with a few suggestions. My only condition is that you gotta be on-board with all the changes I suggest." As long as the end justified the means, she would handle it.

"Done," she agreed quickly. Shortly after, she left.. content with his promise to clear his schedule for the following day. No classes for either of them.

---

"Your makeover starts today," Erik stressed standing over her. They were in a nail salon and Ken was laying back on a thin leather bed that she felt she was too heavy for, it was tipping and didn't want to hold her straight and level. A tiny Asian woman approached with a paper mask over her mouth.

"You want top lip, honey," the short woman asked. "N-" Ken started before Erik took over. "Yes. First, you need to wax them caterpillars she calls eyebrows, then that lil peach fuzz mustache, her hairy ass mannish armpits, and.." he turned to Ken moving her face from side to side, "Are you secretly Ashanti and ain't tell no one?" Her confusion cleared when he told the lady to wax her "longass sideburns".

She hissed, almost crying when the waxing strip ripped off of her top lip. A tear escaped and ran toward her ear. "C'mon Ken, you tougher than that. It can't hurt that bad. You see all these scars I got? You gotta suffer for what you want."

"Nigga I'm not like you, I don't get off on pain," she groaned angrily. He kissed his teeth.

"I told you that in secret.. damn. Just for that give her a bikini wax too, I know she got a wolf pussy." Ken flinched already afraid, but a Erik left the room giving her the necessary privacy. He could hear her pain from outside of the room and he cringed imagining his balls being snatched.

"Wax his armpits," Ken commanded when he'd finally re-entered. His body was already pretty much hairless.

"Hell no.. No.. Pfft," he shook his head but somehow he ended up with a strip on his underarm. He grunted, steeling himself when it was snatched off. "Ffffuck," he whispered.

"See," she laughed, still tender all over. When it was over and she'd been rubbed with alcohol she looked in the mirror and saw an extreme difference in her face. "Don't touch it, your fingers dirty," Erik scolded when her hand went up. "You got Flinstone fingers," he frowned. Her nails were bitten down, but it was a habit that was hard to break. He dragged her to a chair and chose a nail color.. hot pink. "Super girly," he prefaced sitting it on the table. It was her first time getting acrylics. They felt weird on her fingers, but she found herself moving her hands more when she spoke and maneuvering them gently so not to break her new nails. "Now them dogs," he said pointing to her sneakers.

She scoffed, "You might want me to keep these shoes on unless they got a chainsaw and a sander back somewhere." He rolled his eyes.

"Nigga, that's why you need it, so your feet don't look like you been kicking glass and bricks. Also, no more dairy. Pretty girls don't fart so you gotta stop that nasty shit.. I've yet to have a girl pass gas in my presence. Plus dairy is bad for your skin. No belching either or at least excuse yourself."

"I feel like I'm Anne Hathaway at princess lessons," she chuckled. Next was hair. Erik knew a girl who worked at a beauty salon/barbershop and he also knew the girl would do anything he asked so he called her and she picked up giving him a time to come by.

"I actually canceled a lady's appointment just to give you this spot. I know this lady is pissed as fuck at me..," she rubbed Erik's chest with her nails, "So you owe me..." she whispered seductively. Ken decided to mind her business and she sat in the chair, watching Erik's back as he left. While Erik was gone, Ken started talking to the stylist. Her name was Melissa and she was head over heels for Erik. She was also really good at hair. Ken's hair had been brought to life. She was rocking bantu knots and her edges were swooped for the first time. She absolutely loved her edges and she'd purchased the gel that Erik's girl used to slick it. Erik was also impressed and he slipped Melissa a cheek kiss, turning to look at you. "What you waiting on Ken? Pay the woman."

---

Clothes were next. He went over to Ken's place and went through her closet thoroughly throwing out her old beaten shoes and worn out hoodies. If it was dingy, baggy, or with holes, he trashed it with some resistance from her. She didn't want to let go. He had to remind her of their deal in order for her to back off. She was left with a few pairs of jeans and half the number of shirts. His next move was to take her shopping.. for bras and lingerie. He made her get fitted and buy her size.

"Just in case you get lucky. You wanna be ready," he encouraged, pulling various sets for her to buy. She seemed awkward about it but he was used to lingerie shopping and knew his way around. "If it comes down to it, you wear this shit right here and let that nigga rip it off you. You gotta be cute with it though. You know how girls be acting coy like they shy but you know they ain't?" He chuckled looking for dap, but when she only stared, he remembered that she didn't wanna be looked at as one of the boys anymore. "My bad, Ken.."

"While we're on that, I'd prefer it now on if you all called me Kendra," she said rolling her eyes. Erik threw his hands up, relenting. He followed her as she payed for the undergarments and then she allowed him to drag her into other stores.

"These pants are too small, I need a few sizes up or a longer shirt to pair with it," Ken grunted in the changing room as she struggled.

"Let me be the judge. It looks sloppy when you wear all that baggy shit. I always figured you just ain't care." It took her a while, but the changing room door opened and she walked out awkwardly, jumping and yanking at the jeans he'd given her to try on. His jaw dropped but she didn't notice. He was thankful for that.

"DAMN," he gasped, "Where all them thighs come from? ....Turn around?" He hissed like he was in pain when she turned and her ass was sitting like two globes fighting each other. She jumped and her ass shook as she tried to wiggle. Her waist was more tapered than he thought and that ass... He was speechless, mugging her ass like it was evil. He looked down and he could see his dick getting hard. Oh shit. He grabbed a nearby pair of pants off the return rack to hold in his lap and cover it.

"I need a size up," she sighed and hearing her irritation, he used it as an opportunity to escape without her noticing his erection, going to get the next size up. He couldn't get the sight of her perfect ass out of his head. He'd masturbated to way worse. Nigga, It's Ken, he reminded himself repeatedly. BIG KEN. The image of her belching and farting in competition with Shawn came to mind and it seemed to help him remember who she was, but now he had to deal with what had just happened to him.

---

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everyonesomething · 6 years

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Session 21e

Edith Runekill: "So."

"Guess... guess we still got no idea where we are in this maze, huh." Grim: "Sure we do. We're in the corn." Edith Runekill laughs in delight; Grim told her a joke.

In this session, Grim and Edith get trapped in a metaphor.

The set-up: Still at the roadside farmer’s market, Grim and Edith find time to have a chat.

The Game: In the parking lot, Edith is juggling groceries, supplies, the keys to the camper, and a growing sense of unease she’s developing every time she looks at the nearby field of corn. She is somewhat distracted, which is why she ends up launching the keys into the cornfield with Mage Hand when Grim startles her.

Grim has been sitting in the shade of the camper for about an hour while everyone else perused the farmer's market, as uncannily still as a lizard on a rock and quite easily overlooked. She only moves when Edith gets close enough to talk, turning her head to take her in.

Grim: "Runekill."

Edith Runekill , intent on the complicated applied mathematics of loading the camper in the most efficient way possible, jumps and starts. The keys fly high up into the air, in violation of all the laws of Newtonian motion. Grim blinks and her eyes follow the keys, and then she looks back at Edith with a faintly puzzled expression, as if to say why did you do that? Edith Runekill watches the keys majestically arc through the air; in a perfect parabola they fall to earth and land somewhere among the corn. Edith Runekill: "Oh, dang." "Um." "Hi, Grim." Grim: "That's a hell of a wizard trick." Grim still isn't sure if Edith is going to wave her hands and bring them back. Edith Runekill casts a sidelong glance towards the corn field. "I... really messed up, didn't I?" Grim: "You?" Grim sounds mildly incredulous, still not really focused on the keys. Edith Runekill: "Well, um, the... the keys, I mean. You gotta concentrate on mage hand, but I was trying to do too much at once, and... well..." "I guess I oughta... go... get 'em back."

Grim offers to get the keys instead—she instinctively feels Edith would take all day tracking something down in a maze of corn whereas getting lost isn’t an issue for her. Of course, Edith doesn’t want someone else to fix her mistakes so after some back and forth, they decide to go in together.

But things are never so easy when corn’s involved.

Nora R. | A staff member steps out to block Grim's path. She's wearing a pointed wizard hat styled in after an ear of corn. Nora R.: "Halt, ye travellers! Dare you enter my devious CORN LABYRINTH? Dost thou possess the courage to find the TRUE PATH? Art though strong enough to best the TERRIFYING BEAST which lurks in the heart of the Labyrinth?" Edith Runekill cringes. Grim stares at the wizard, then moves to brush past her Grim: "Gettin' our keys." Nora R.: "Um... only the pure of heart may pass! Er, which you can prove by... um, please pay the fifty silver admission?" Grim: "Lady, we're goin' in, pickin' up our trailer keys, and comin' back out. Save it." Nora R.: "P-please! I'm in deep trouble if they find anyone in there without a hand stamp!" Grim makes a noise of animal level irritation and digs in her pocket, then shoves a gold piece at the wizard Grim: "Find yourself a better job." Nora R. | The corn wizard, in a low voice, says. "Lady, you think I'd be here if I could get literally anything better than this?" She irritably stamps Grim's hand. Grim: "Yes." Nora R. | All business again, she brandishes her stamp. "And now, your sweetheart?" She means Edith. Oh, God. A nightmare. Grim grunts and just keeps walking Edith Runekill meekly allows her hand to get stamped without making eye contact. There but for the grace of Auril goes she, etc. Edith Runekill slinks after Grim.

Grim is all business once they’re inside, letting Edith talk about corn density, hybrids, and maze layouts. The corn rustles around them. The pair finds a dead end and Edith stops Grim just before she can start cutting her way through the maze. As frustrating as it is, they can’t just start hacking apart someone’s source of income.

They turn around to retrace their steps, but find the previous path is now blocked with a new entrance off to the side. The maze has been changing as they go.

Magic!

They’re both confident they won’t get permanently lost in corn hell. Grim’s sense of direction is too good and Edith points out the amount of corn is a constant so there must be new open paths for every closed one.

Edith Runekill: "I guess the amount of corn in the field's a constant, so whenever a passage closes, another one's gotta open somewhere..."

Grim: "How th'hell d'you keep so many thoughts in your head all the time?" Edith Runekill: "Well, I specifically went to a school that specialized in agricultural magic. It wasn't what I ended up majoring in, but I picked up a bit anyway. It was kinda inescapable." Nora R. | The path behind them closes, and a new one opens up to their left, in addition to the path forward they'd been following. Grim shakes her head, eyeballing the new path and then turning along it Grim: "Nah, I know you got learnin'. I mean somethin' else. You always got a lot happening in your head, a lotta tracks, a lotta voices. Seems exhausting." Edith Runekill: "Oh, I... well, sometimes it is. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate on one thing when I got six others I'm worried about." Grim nods and glances back at her Grim: "S'what I'm thinkin'. Ain't nothin' ever clear that way, I'd imagine." Edith Runekill: "Sometimes trying to think of all the angles at once means you see something you woulda missed otherwise, though. See how one thing connects to the other. Realize that now's the time for something you had in your back pocket. That sorta thing." Grim: "You gotta hold it all in your head for that?" She regards her curiously. "Don't you never just ..feel it's the time?" Edith Runekill: "I... uh. Not... really? When I act impulsively like that it tends to not go so well for me." Grim falls silent and takes a drag on her cigarette, watching the way ahead

Grim hears some heavy footsteps in a nearby part of the maze and more cautiously follows Edith as the latter spots something shiny in the dirt. Rather than the keys, it’s a token for the maze: a coin with an ear of corn on one side and "CORN LABYRINTH FUNBUX" on the obverse. In smaller writing beneath it: "You've found some of King Corn's hoard! Redeem your coins at the exit for a fun prize!"

Things are going super.

Grim lets out a low steady exhalation It's fine. This is fine.

Grim: "Runekill, if you're enjoyin' this we're gonna wind up havin' words." Edith Runekill: "I'm absolutely not enjoying this." "I hate this." Edith Runekill flips the coin away Auril knows where. Edith Runekill | There's a muffled grunt. Grim: "Makes two of us. Alright, let's keep moving." Edith Runekill: "Yeah." Grim closes her eyes for a moment as they walk, struggling to keep her bearings in this ocean of corn. It's not a comfortable feeling.

Edith comments out loud that she thinks she’s had dreams where she was lost in a corn maze. Grim can’t relate, she hasn’t had dreams since she was a kid. She thinks maybe dreams are connected to magic, but Edith tells her no, hers are just anxiety. Grim relates even less to this concept, the only dreams she remembers from her childhood were about fire. Edith apologizes, but when Grim asks what the apology’s for, she stumbles over her words and says it’s sympathy for Grim’s past experiences.

Edith changes the subject back to the lost keys. Grim tries to get a sense of where they are relative to the entrance, but is eerily at a loss. All the while, a rustling sound is in the background of the maze. They focus their attention back to finding the keys and getting out.

Helia (GM): The stalks of corn part.

Corncob Head walks on to the path. Edith Runekill: "Oh no! It's Corncob Head!" "What's he doing this far east?" Grim has literally no idea what's going on or what Edith is saying suddenly Grim wonders if this is what dreaming is like Grim is so out of her depth Edith Runekill: "I... wait, Corncob Head... is real...?" Edith Runekill: "Is this... am I hallucinating...?" Grim is like the most twin peaks character in this group and this is too much even for her Grim: "Shit, if you are I hope you ain't seein' what I'm seein'." Edith Runekill sidesteps a little closer to Grim. "A nightmare man with corn for a head?" Edith Runekill: "'Cause that's what I'm seeing." Grim: "Well." "Hell." Grim raises her rifle and takes a step back Edith Runekill: "It's something we told stories about back home... but I figured it was just folklore, y'know. A cautionary tale about coming home again if you leave." Corncob Head talks a step forward. Grim: "Runekill, tell me 'bout this thing. Is it a ghast, undead? A construct?" Edith Runekill: "It's just something outta tall tales! Things they say about Corncob Head ain't exactly magizoologically consistent, y'know? He's... he's a representation of something primal to Plaguewrought Land. A punishment for anyone who leaves and tries to come back." "Could be something that goes back to the Spellplague, maybe?" "Hm." "Um I'll get back to you when I'm not COMPLETELY TERRIFIED." Corncob Head reaches for Edith. The groan continues. Edith Runekill: "It— it's me he wants, Grim." Grim narrows her eyes a little Grim: "Well he ain't gettin' you."

Grim uses her rifle to fire a few magic bullets into the ground in front of Corncob Head. They’re enchanted to shoot up at anything that gets within 30 feet of them.

Yeah!

Corncob Head isn’t sure what to make of this and backs off. Grim and Edith try to figure out what he even is and why a Plaguewrought spirit would be so far west. Does he know when a Plaguewrought Lander is going back home? Does he just manifest in corn fields? Edith tries to Dispel Magic on him, but nothing happens.

Having had enough of magic mystery solving for one afternoon, Grim and Edith back off from Corncob Head and head to an alternate path. Corncob Head, too, backs off and retreats into the corn wall behind him.

Rattled by the experience, the pair is even worse off looking for keys or an exit.

Edith Runekill: "Let's just keep moving. This was built for tourists, right? Obviously Corncob Head isn't typical but there's gotta be a way out..." "...I was always kinda afraid things would turn out like this for me. Like it's a dream I had..." "Like I got this sense of deja vu in here. Even though I been in lots of corn fields but only a corn maze once before." Grim: "Keep it together. Keep on movin', like you said." Grim eyes the corn walls suspiciously, watching for any sign of Corncob Head returning Grim: "Whatever dreams you had about this never had me in 'em." Edith Runekill: "Yeah... yeah! That's a good point. The worst thing about all the dreams I had like this is that feeling of being alone, of having nowhere to turn, noone to help you. But you're here!" Grim: "You got a lot of folks at your back. But you got grit, too. Between us, we'll figure this out."

Corncob Head is a mighty adversary, but he’s only strengthened their resolve.

Mercifully, they find the keys up ahead. It doesn’t help them find the exit, but one thing at a time. Grim picks a path at random, leading them to the east—though the magic at work is messing with the natural shadows, making it hard to tell which way true east is.

They relax some as they put distance between them and Corncob Head.

Grim: "Sorry I ain't much more'n a gun in the end."

Edith Runekill: "Y-you're a lot more'n that, Grim." Grim: "You know what I mean." Edith Runekill: "Not... not really? You're tough as nails, brave as hell, you got a lot of experience with things I never even thought about, and... and a friend." Grim gives Edith an odd look, then frowns back at the corn stalks Grim: "You got a lot of charity in you, Runekill. Can't help but be glad of that" Edith Runekill smiles slightly. "And I can't help but be glad you got our back through all this." Edith Runekill: "Even when occasionally I been a bit... inconsiderate...?" Grim gives her another odd look Grim: "Hell are you talkin' about? Reckon you're about the only one've us who considers." Edith Runekill: "Well... I Knocked." "Pretty rude of me, in retrospect." Grim snorts and looks ahead again Grim: "Retrospect my ass. You ought've known better all the while than to go listenin' to Pepper." Edith Runekill: "Sometimes I lose my head a bit and don't think things through. Sometimes."

Grim then apologizes for what she said to Edith the other night. Edith accepts it, it was upsetting to hear Grim talk that way but knows she wasn’t really herself that night. Grim corrects her to say it is a part of her, just one she didn’t want Edith to see. Edith is supportive of her regardless, and it’s only natural the group would have some friction from the close quarters.

Grim then stresses to Edith she’s not a good person, even if Edith disagrees. She feels like Edith is holding her to a higher standard than she should—it’s just going to get her hurt when Grim doesn’t live up to it.

Edith takes her words to heart and admits she was putting Grim on a pedestal at the start, but doesn’t agree that Grim isn’t a good person. She’s risking everything to stop Szass Tam, and for Edith that speaks for itself.

Grim: "Takin' down a predator ain't morals. It's survival." She eyeballs the cornstalks around them as she says this, like it's as much for corncob head's benefit if he's listening. Edith Runekill takes one last drag on her cigarette and extinguishes it with prestidigitation. "Protecting people vulnerable to predators who can't fight 'em off alone is morals, if you ask me. It's the basic stuff of decency, of civilization. Mutual aid and the like." Grim gives a low grunt, but it sounds more thoughtful than dismissive. She can't really argue. Edith Runekill: "It ain't easy, doing what we're doing. Or... it isn't for me, anyway." Grim huffs on her cigarette for a moment, then speaks bluntly Grim: "You an' Mal, you got a lot've other paths you could be taking. You got good things ahead, an' all around you the way you was livin' back home." "You got a lot on the line, an' I respect that. Respect you equally if you come down to packin' up and headin' home before this goes all the way to hell." Edith Runekill peers out across the swaying corn, silent for a while, framing her thoughts. Edith Runekill: "I know enough about Tam to say I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I packed it in before I saw this through." Grim: "Y'might not get to live with yourself or your man if you don't. You at peace with that?" Edith Runekill , without hesitation: "Yeah." Edith Runekill: "I mean. I'd prefer if it didn't come to that. I know I got things I'd like do ahead of me. But, if it's gotta be that way, well... that's how it is." Grim looks back at Edith and regards her levelly, then nods.

More at ease now, Grim and Edith can clearly focus on the maze—Grim comments she’s beginning to see why Edith would want to leave endless fields of corn. She asks if she’s been east of Plaguewrought, out towards Thay. Edith hasn’t, Thay doesn’t care for outsider archaeologists digging around in the area. Grim suggests maybe she and Edith can see the sights in Thay before they all have to face Szass Tam and Edith smiles at the invite.

Grim: "B'sides, you and I ain't had a chance to raise hell. Ain't gonna let Pep 'n Malkas have all the fun, are you?" Edith Runekill comes emerges a bit from her grave, solemn look, and flashes Grim a crooked smile. Edith Runekill: "Been a while since I did anything that could be called hell-raising." Grim: "I know you got it in you. Country girl, ain't a doubt." Edith Runekill: "I used to be the kinda girl who jumped outta moving cars on a dare, so... well. Probably." Grim: "Kinda girl who leaves everythin' she knows for the city, then does it again to hunt a lich. I reckon you got a real good impulse for livin', when you let it out." Edith Runekill nods. "Yeah. But I don't think a lotta people notice that. They see the way I look, the way I talk, and figure they got me pegged." Grim: "People are dumb." "Most folks're better at holdin' down assumptions than they are at gettin' the measure of a person, but don't nobody like to admit it." "Learn that real quick livin' a month from one washroom to the next." Edith Runekill nods. "Even my own folks looked at me and saw somebody I ain't really. Which... probably explains a lot about how things turned out with them." Grim: "Long as you know who you are, fuck the rest've 'em." Edith Runekill: "Yeah! You know what? Fuck 'em!" Edith Runekill looks chagrinned Edith Runekill: "Um... fudge... them...?" [infernal] fuck

Grim tells Edith that Mal’s more nervous to see her folks than he’s letting on. Edith is torn—she knows it’s unfair to drag him there, but she’s worried it might be the last time she ever sees her family. Grim says that neither Edith nor Mal is wrong for feeling about her folks the way they are, but it’s something to keep in mind. Mal’s sacrificing a lot to go with her and Edith knows it. Grim tells her they’re lucky to have each other and that she hope their relationship stays strong.

And with the last of the tension resolved, Grim and Edith manage to hatch a plan on how to leave the maze.

Edith Runekill: "It's getting late. The others are probably worried about us..." Grim grunts and rubs her eyes Grim: "You wanna try flyin' yourself on outta here, I won't be sore." Grim is not doing that though lmao Edith Runekill: "I'm not gonna leave you in here." Grim: "Hell you ain't, never stayed lost and ain't about to try it now." Grim blinks and then rounds on Edith Grim points at her own eyes and then at Edith's. There's another brief electric tinge to the air. Grim casts Hunter's Mark on Edith Grim: "Get yourself on back to the camper. I may not know corn, but I sure as hell know how to find a quarry." Edith Runekill: "Oh! 'Cause you'll be able to fix on my location and triangulate with that." "That's... that's really good thinkin'." Grim nods, giving a slight smile Grim: "Got my moments." "Go on, now. Gimme somethin' to head towards." Edith Runekill: "Maybe more often than you give yourself credit for." "See you soon." Edith Runekill casts Fly, and gently wafts away on the air current until she gains some altitude; she swoops out of sight, towards the camper. Grim watches her go, squinting from under her hat Edith Runekill gently lands on the roof of the camper. Grim gives Edith a minute to reach ground level again, then sets her hat, shoulders her rifle, and sets to navigating the fucking maze at last Edith Runekill tries to catch sight of Grim in the field from the height of the roof, but to no avail. Grim makes pretty short work of the maze once she's able to keep her bearings, maybe ten minutes behind Edith by the time she finds her way back to the entrance.

Once she’s out, Grim finds Edith taking her frustration out on the worker running the maze who maintains flying out of the maze is against the rules. If they had wanted to leave, they were supposed to flag down one of the workers in the watchtower—a worker Edith says disappeared, leaving them alone with Corncob Head.

Corncob Head exits the maze. Edith Runekill: "Sometimes I feel like my whole life is getting out of a corn maOH AURIL WHAT" Corncob Head 's Corn Face is pulled up and a normal human's face is visible under it, like a helmet. Corncob Head looks sweaty and uncomfortable and frankly terrified. Edith Runekill: "...i "...i'm going to die of embarrassment." Corncob Head stands and lights a cigarette under a wooden standee that says "Challenge our spooky corn maze! Dare you face the horror of Cornboy?" Corncob Head 's wooden standee version stands menacingly over the maze. Edith Runekill: "...maybe I shoulda done a bit more vetting in my haste to go get the keys back."

Malkas comes out of the restrooms, adjusting his pants. Malkas: "Oh hey, you made it." Grim eyeballs corncob head Grim doesn't give a fuck how natural or otherwise that thing was, she's still consumed by the desire to punch it Edith Runekill: "This really seems like an irresponsible use of potent folkloric images, if you ask me!" Malkas turns and looks at Corn Boy. Malkas has vague recollections of kids dressing up as "evil tiefling" for halloween and thinks Edith might be overreacting a little. Edith Runekill: "Do they think Corncob Head's a joke? Do they think the darkest stories they tell on the coldest nights in my homeland are just toys they can play around with??" Grim: "Gonna wait in the car." Grim leaves Malkas: "I left half a baked salami in it." Malkas calls after Grim. Grim values that information AND Mal's acquaintance

Resolution!

#summary #previously on #neverwinter 1933

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song-birds-stuff · 7 years

Text

The Getaway

Ripov rubbed her throat with a small groan,maybe she should keep her distance from Captain Tim. “Ya need a hand,miss?” The lavender skinned bounty hunter looked up, the orange Star Nomad,Wander she heard, he offered a hand,smiling kindly. She looked at his hand before she accepted it,the small man helped her up. “Uh,thanks..erm,Wander,right?” With a tip of his hat he nodded “That’s me! Pleasure to meet ‘cha!” The grizzled loner shook his hand “Likewise,name’s Ripov,so…ya a friend of Hater’s?” Said overlord opened his mouth to interject,only for Wander to answer first “Oh,as much as he ain’t willin’ ta admit it,me an’ him are awfully good pals!" Hater grumbled while he pet his precious Morph whilst it purred contently "We're NOT bud-" Suddenly,there was a loud,bloodcurdling screech. Ripov swore under her breath "Grop. The queen...we gotta move. Now!" Wander nodded with vigor "Righty-O Miss Ripov! Ah saw a tunnel on m' way here,c'mon, its this 'a way!" The quirky Nomad called as he led the way,the purple humanoid,skeleton,Zybornak,and two Watchdogs decided to follow,not like there were a lot of choices here. Indeed,there was a small opening to a tunnel,however small it was,no wonder Wander climbed through it. Sylvia raised a brow "Ya sure we're all gonna fit in there,buddy?" The shorter gave a small shrug "It looked ta be the fasted route,plus on mah way through, I saw a ship right in th' middle of the planet." Ripov nodded "That's the Not-Stromo,my ship. This is the best we got." Each nodded,Peepers speaking up "We better hurry then,who knows how long that acid webbing will hold that thing!" With that,the group climbed inside,though Hater and Sylvia had some trouble with they're wider build. Watchdog Tim cringed as he felt the slimy walls of the tunnel "Ew!Ew!!" Wander smiled reassuringly "Ya can stay in m' pouch if ya want!" "Pouch?" Was the unison response,Wander gave a small giggle "yep,pouch!" The small Nomad showed off the furry skin pocket,pulling out a few items from it to stow in his Hat "Not a lotta folks know Star Nomads have pouches,I s'pose" The little Watchdog quickly climbed into the skin pouch with a thankful gleam from his eye,the Watchdogs equivalent to a smile "Thank you so very much.." Wander only smiled,leading the way in the tunnel. "So,Wander. How'd ya know how to find this place,exactly? I've searched for this place for nearly a decade,how'd ya find it so quickly?" Asked the grizzled loner. The cheerful traveler smiled at her "Well,me an' Syl found this place a few weeks back,an' there were SO MANY Aranchnomorphs all over the place! It had ta be Cap'n Tim's homeworld,so ah thought it was th' sensible thing to go here,an' it looks like ah made th' right call!" Ripov nodded "Impressive,I'm honestly surprised ya haven't at least gotten a scar or some acid marks on ya,those things ripped apart a titanium ship in seconds." Sylvia scoffed "You don't know Wander,he's the one who found and TRAINED Captain Tim." The warrior's eyes went wide as saucers as she looked to Wander "YOU? How is that possible? It's neigh impossible to even get close to one of those mo-things,the closest I got to one,I lost my FOOT." Wander gave a childish shrug "Well,us Nomads are much tougher than we look,ah've gotten plenty of scars an' burns,but Star Nomads have mighty rough an' thick skin,real hard ta scar,Cap'n Tim jus' likes ta play rough!" Ripov went silent,impressed "Wow. Color me amazed.." The smaller gave a small giggle "Well,thank ya kindly Miss Ripov! Yer makin' me blush!" The purple skinned bounty hunter smirked "Well,it's not everyday I meet someone that can face off a Morph and survive and live to tell the tale!" Wander smiled before spotting a familiar turn "It's this way! C'mon!" Wander led them to a hole,though it was covered mostly by earth and acid webbing. Ripov whispered "Drat,some Morphs must've blocked it off!" The orange furred helper shook his head "Naw,I can get us through,hang on.." He turned himself around,positioning his legs to the blocked exit,and gave one kick,and then another. The third broke it through and Wander tumbled out "WAHHH!!!" The acidic webbing clung and pressed against his body,sticking to his fur as he hung upside down,he felt his trusty Hat cling to his head. "WANDER! Oh grop,ARE YOU OKAY???" The Star Nomad called "Ah'm fine! Just gimme a sec!" Wander focused,heat radiating from his body until the tangled up mess melted just enough to melt the sticky binds,causing him to fall. Though melted,he still had a good bit of the acidic goo dripping and he swore pulsating all over his body,he landed on his hands and did a successful flip. The others dropped down,though Watchdog Tim had landed,quite unconscious in a pile of goop when Wander fell. Ripov asked "You alright there soldier?" With a slight gag he nodded "Yeah...ah just need to clean all this gunk off..." The grizzled loner pat his sticky shoulder "You... can use my bathroom on my ship,can give you and your comrades a lift to the intergalactic train station if you need." Hater waved the idea off "We have the Skullship,but uh...thanks for helping me find Tim-Tim,I guess..." As the skeleton and Watchdog (whilst carrying the second,still unconscious Watchdog) Sylvia spoke up "That'd be great,we kinda ran out of Orbble Juice yesterday,plus...Wander kinda needs it." The raven haired warrior smiled as she led the way "Then let's get inside before any Morph's get here." Inside,it was spacey,maybe TOO spacey for one person. Ripov pointed towards the hall to the left "Bathroom's the first door to the left,you need any help,just call." Wander smiled "Thanks,I'll try ta be quick!" He wasn't lying either. He was in there for,like, five minutes total. As Ripov set course,Wander smiled "So,Miss Ripov,how'd'a know Hater? You helped him find Cap'n Tim?" The taller rubbed the back of her neck uneasily "Well...I sorta,hunted him down originally to eradicate his entire species in the name of revenge for the death of my crew that I held dear and all I remember of them now are they're screams of horror as they were ripped to shreds." Wander looked remorseful,new,usually when Ripov talks like..that,people give her weird stares,he was different. "Well,may not be the best way ta meet someone,but sure seems things turned out okay! Ah've meet folks in WAY worse situations,trust me." Wander reassures with a kind smile. It..made Ripov smile,REALLY smile,for the first time in nearly ten years. "Thanks,I...suppose..thanks." Wander gave a light giggle "Why,a new friend 'a Hater's is a NEW friend of mine!" She looked surprised "Friend? Well,I...haven't had one of those in a long time..." Suddenly,thin yet strong arms wrapped around her side,extra soft,and warm "Sounds awfully lonely,but don't 'cha worry! Ya got us now!" She was hesitant,but something about this odd,short little man warmed her heart,she decided to smile,patting his fur lightly "Yeah...I guess I do."

#wander over yonder #wander #Emily Ripov #nomad hunter #lord hater #sylvia the zbornak #commander peepers #Tim the lovable Watchdog #decided to do some self indulgent things

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