Cassian Andor (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
diametrically) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2024-09-05 03:27 pm
diametrically) wrote in abraxaslogs2024-09-05 03:27 pm
diametrically) wrote in abraxaslogs2024-09-05 03:27 pm
no subject
[ That's a phrase he didn't think he'd say in his lifetime. And yet here he is, hunting down magical dolls that enjoy mischief. As rational as he's trying to be, that doesn't stop him from being attentive to everything going on around them.
And from flinching again when Annabeth lets out a shrill shriek. ]
If they're trying to corral us they're not doing a good job of it.
[ After all, here they all were in one room while the remaining doll was across the hall. But almost immediately as soon as he says it, a little laugh chitters around them as if it were somehow in here with them when he knows that's impossible. They were dolls. They were just fabric. He straightens himself up, casting a look at the drawstring bag that seems to move just slightly when he does.
Telling himself that it's a figment of his imagination he readies to move the chair out of the way and places his hand on the doorknob. ]
We'll rush into that classroom and shut the door behind us so it can't get out. On the count of three.
[ And at that he holds up his fingers, counting down before flinging the door open and darting across the hallway into the empty classroom. ]
no subject
[ Magical and alive, in this case, might as well be synonymous with each other for all Percy cares. Because either way, he hates it.
The sooner they get that last one the better, because they can leave this creepy school behind and get the dolls back to where they belong.
He nods at Cassian's plan, waits for the count to get to three before he follows suit, bounding for the empty classroom just after his friend makes it in. He knows full well that Annabeth won't be far behind. ]
no subject
[ she does not make it there and shut the door as per cassian's plan. ]
[ there's another giggle from somewhere in the room just as annabeth breaks into a run, and it's enough to stop her in place, to look behind her on the chance they missed another doll. that's about when the door to this room slams in her face. she blinks at it for a second, then grabs the doorknob only to find it locked. ]
Are you serious right now?
[ she jostles the door handle but nothing happens. there's another giggle, though this one sounds like it's outside the room. ]
I know how to pick a lock! [ she has lowered herself to yelling at dolls, neat. the door handle shakes again, though not by her doing and she jumps back from it and swears again under her breath. ]
no subject
Just work on getting out. We'll find the one in here.
[ Panicking and trying to get her out of there would be counterproductive to how far they'd come. And they couldn't very well risk the dolls that they did have running away. Turning to Percy he motions to the side of the classroom nearest him. ]
Take that side.
[ But what would a quest be without something happening to all of the mystery gang? As soon as he turns around something launches at Cassian clamping onto his face. With a muffled shout he staggers backwards ramming his shin into the child-sized desk and chair earning an angry curse that is drowned in childlike laughter from the doll on his face.
A little help Percy? ]
no subject
[ Okay, so none of this plan is exactly going the way that it should so far. If any of this ever gets out to the rest of the Camp for whatever reasons, or however those reasons may be, Percy and Annabeth would never live it down.
Also? He effing hates these dolls. So much. ]
Are you sure we can't just throw them into a fire-pit somewhere?
[ And maybe it's that sentence, that threat, that spurs the doll on into some kind of a Chuckie-vibed frenzy, because from one second to the next, the last doll of the batch launches itself at Cassian, clinging to his visage like a squishy, fabric vice, resembling the alien from Alien. ]
What the —
[ Percy frantically looks around for something to use, a tool, or a set of really long tongs, a taser ... ]
Uh. Hold on, Cass!
[ He finds a small sweeping broom, the kind meant to clean countertops and sweep dust into a dustpan. And, like, he's seen how badly this goes in the cartoons but he's desperate, okay, so he picks up the broom and carefully comes up behind the doll chortling while attached to Cassian's face. It's a quick motion and not particularly forceful when Percy thwaps the bristles forward, doll and his friend's face and all. ]
no subject
Actually, when you put it that way, it checks out.
If he had full function of his mouth he'd probably shout that he was definitely not trying to hold onto this doll. In fact, he'd love it if it fell right off his face and into the bag so they could be done with this ordeal. Instead it comes out something more like: MRMPHHH!!!
With his shin still smarting and blooming into a bruise he grips the doll with both of his hands in an attempt to try and throw it off of him. Unfortunately for him the doll has a vice-like grip and impeccable timing. The only reason Cassian is able to remove the doll in the first place is because it chooses to release its hold on him. And it happens just as the broom Percy launches at the doll connects with his face instead.
It doesn't hurt. Not really. But one of the bristles does poke him square in the eye which does hurt and causes him to release his hold on the doll with one of his hands to clutch his face. At least with his mouth free he can now swear as freely as he'd like. ]
Kriffing doll - [ He looks up to Percy with a look of weary indignation that the doll takes absolute glee in as it swings harmlessly towards Percy. ] I thought you went to camp to learn how to swing a sword.
no subject
[ Cassian's face does look a little blushed from being flogged by a bristled broom, and his eye's probably gonna need some drops or something later, but at least the doll's released him. Which is kind of part of the plan? (Of the new plan anyway.)
Except that like a bat out of hell, the possessed bundle of fabric and stringy hair flies straight for Percy this time, likely part of its revenge plot for threatening to throw it in the fire.
For the record: he still wants to do it. ]
Whoa!
[ Percy manages to grab at it just before it affixes itself to his face in a similar fashion, struggling against the surprising strength of force that this haunted doll possesses with both hands held out before him, gripping at the wriggling doll with all of his demigod-imbued might. ]
You know — [ he grunts ] — this always looked so fake in the movies! But I get it now! This thing — [ another huff of breath ] — is stronger than it looks! Can you get the bag? Quick!
no subject
Try as he might to hold onto the doll it uses its gleeful, maniacal momentum to launch itself at Percy. An attempt to catch it has him grasping air but thankfully this doesn't turn into a comedy of errors with him needing to wield the broom. With his one good eye he locates the bag still slung over Percy's shoulder.
Getting the bag isn't the problem. It's opening it wide enough for Percy to stuff the doll he's wrestling into it without letting the other two out. And while they should still be nothing more than magic-infused dolls and certainly not sentient ones, the fight of their demonic sister seems to incite them, jostling the cloth bag around. He opens the top of the bag just enough before holding it out towards Percy - ]
They're trying to get out - you have to move quickly.
no subject
[ it takes a little more effort than it should, given the door handle continues to shake through the whole process, but eventually annabeth unlocks it and shoves the door open, finding herself face to face with a doll laying flat on the floor outside in the hallway. ]
This is Toy Story bullshit. Don't even think about it.
[ she practically dive bombs the doll like it needs to be literally wrestled with, scooping it up in her arms. then she scrambles to her feet and shoulders the other door open to where percy and cassian are actually wrestling with the bag and the dolls. she takes three seconds to take in the situation before she's there with them, using her own doll like a bludgeon to shove down one of the others trying to get out. with all four inside, she and cassian manage to close the bag, and once it's sealed up, all the movement inside ceases immediately. ]
Okay.
[ she stares at the bag and takes a deep breath. ]
Four's enough, are we all in agreement?
no subject
[ Marking this down as one more reason to hate schools, tbh — and creepy dolls, honestly.
He rolls his shoulders, takes another breath, and reaches back for the bag if Annabeth would prefer that he handle it again. The dolls aren't moving anymore, at least, and he's pretty sure they don't have actual sharp teeth to gnaw their way out from the bag either, so they should be wrapped up tightly.
Of course, just for safety's sake, he ties the knot one more time and takes a last poke at them to test his observations. He's not taking any chances. The bag remains still.
As they head out of the school the way they'd come, everything has gone quiet, the hustle and bustle of the day having calmed down. Most of the shops not related to Eifstide activities have closed up by now too, but there are still a few restaurants opened — and, thankfully, the shopkeeper responsible for making these damned dolls is opened too. ]
Man, I'm starving.
no subject
Without bacta gel, antiseptic or even a healing spell to his name however this is just something he'll have to deal with until they leave this place. Of course he'd be the one dealing with the lingering aftermath of all of this. ]
Four is more than I expected to deal with.
[ He keeps his eye on the bag until they've delivered the bag and it's no longer their problem. Thankfully aside from a couple of jostles from walking along the road, the bag itself doesn't seem to move. He can't say he's been more happy to see a bag of toys leave their possession before. ]
I need ice for my eye. And something to clean it with.
[ Nodding his head in the direction of a nearby tavern known for its soups. With the source of his irritation gone, it's mostly just weariness that fills his voice. ]
Should we get food before heading back? My treat - even though somebody [ And here he looks wryly at Percy. ] should work on their aim.
no subject
[ she lets percy carry the bag without argument, and she would be quite content to never step back foot in the school again. it's a good thing she doesn't have to attend a regular school here in abraxas. returning the dolls is easily the best part of the whole ordeal as they all but dump the bag on the counter and exchange a few words, leaving out the worst of their struggles, but explaining the dolls are all still in fairly good shape. the bag remains still, even if they all keep squinting and giving it second looks the whole time, even as they walk out the door. ]
He's always been bad with archery. [ she says it without even looking at percy, too interested in the tavern cassian points at. she recognizes it, having been once or twice already, and easily nods. ]
I could go for soup.
[ with unexpected fatigue, the three of them slip into the tavern and pick one of the tables in the back corner. as soon as they're sitting down, it's like they deflate in their chairs. they sit in silence as they wait for their soups and remain in that silence after it's delivered. annabeth stretches her legs out under the table across percy's lap, while cassian puts the cold glass of mead against his eye and percy tiredly stirs the spoon in his bowl before taking a sip, dribbling a little down his chin. ]
[ at least the soup is good. ]
🎀