View Same Google ImgOps iqdb SauceNAO Nick x Anon post E1 cliffhanger.png, 505KiB, 1024x2437

Anonymous Tue 17 Sep 2024 21:35:40 No.69240671 Report

Quoted By: >>69240709 >>69241192 >>69242746

>>69240638
A continuation of this if you would

Anonymous Tue 17 Sep 2024 21:51:02 No.69241192 Report

>>69240671

>I'm drug back through the crowd, Nick threatening to rip my arm from it's socket. I still can't rip my eyes away from the door she disappeared into. I expect any moment for her to fly out, to come and speak her mind.
>My head rings a sickening tone. Run pulled from under me. I'm shaken, literally.
>I blink as I notice Nick's talking, jostling me to try to get me to focus. I zone in as I hear my name, several times.
>"Anon, Anon please. Come on dude."
>I finally turn an eye off of the door for just a moment. I can only just barely look at her.
>Her face is extremely worried. It's clear she's blaming this on herself, thinking she's done nothing but send me down into a pit again. I try to talk to her, to tell her that this wasn't her fault.
>I have no words to spare right now. They're all locked inside my head, refusing to move through Trish's gaze.
>A second voice, Trent's. "Everything cool?"
>I feel him move to my side. The doorway seems to grow ever darker, ever closer.
>He peeks his head in front of me, face dropping. "Oh shit, Nick?"
>I'm tugged again, more fiercely this time as I'm turned to face Trent. His eyes scanning me up and down.
>"Anon? Shit come on let's get him out of here. You go get Curtis. Anon, dude it's okay."
>I attempt to turn back. I'm stopped. My eyes beg to hold onto the door, to watch for the incoming doom. I'm not allowed and dragged forward, feet stumbling and refusing to be easily moved.
>I'm pulled outside and onto the curb. Distance does me well. I can't shake the need to face the place but I find a touch of control back in me.
>Unfortunately it also means I'm no longer held up by mere adrenaline. Legs start to give and I'm slowly lowered onto the concrete nearby, on the edge of the sidewalk and the parking lot.
>I slowly start to return to control, as I'm patted on the back.
>I take a swallow of air and cough, realizing only now I've been barely taking any in for a few minutes now.
cont.

Anonymous Tue 17 Sep 2024 22:02:54 No.69241575 Report

Quoted By: >>69241988

>>69241192
>Everything shivers. Blood's ice-cold. Sweat still pours off of me. I control my neck, if only a little. I point my face to Trent, his own worried eyes match mine. I move my mouth but nothing comes out. Come on. I try, again. It's air but no sound.
>Before I can fully pull the words I have to say I find Nick's now next to me as well, a second pair of steps alerting me to the atrociraptor's presence as well. In a flash Nick's wrapped around me, trying to calm me further.
>Her voice is apologetic and hurt, "I'm so sorry. Fuck I should've known better..."
>I manage a denial. Just enough strength to grab the floor.
>"No."
>The world slows as I'm given full attention. Nick's arms lower but don't leave as she leans back. Memories flood as I prepare. I relive it.
>I've been through this enough that I can weather it. All these days spent allowing my broken will to piece together enough to do so. I fight the scenes back and speak.
>"I know that bass player."
>Trent glances up, seemingly to Curtis before back to me. I can't force my head to move, all energy devoted on merely speaking. I manage to force out some more information.
>"She's...she was in the band...Fang's band."
>Her name is still like a boulder, just saying it is a monstrous task. Thankfully I find Nick has instantly understood the situation. Shoulder under my arm and I'm standing, almost too roughly.
>She speaks, rushing. "Got it. Let's get you home. What shit luck."
>I find my other side propped up by the chasmosaurus, ensuring I don't tumble over. As I'm let onto my own two feet I can't resist the need to look back at the door.
>There stands one of the specters from my nightmares. All else falls away again. She's no longer chained down by obligation, a crowd. She's here for me. I'm terrified.
>Curtis is the first to step forward, a solid wall between me and her, breaking my vision. There's yelling and shouting but I'm marched off before I can register any of the words.
cont.

Anonymous Tue 17 Sep 2024 22:16:00 No.69241988 Report

Quoted By: >>69242333

>>69241575
>I blink once and find I'm in the van, not even sure how I got here. I point my eyes at the venue and see the purple triceratops marching back inside, livid. My shoulders slowly drop as I feel a hand on them.
>"You hungry?" It takes a few moments for the words to click in my head.
>My stomach would probably eject anything put into it right now. Yet I agree anyway. Just need to get away from here.
>I nod, or do the best to. I think I barely twitch. It's enough as I feel the van lurch and pull back. The motion empties the rest of the adrenaline in me.
>I sink and slide into the chair, a sigh escaping me. Almost exiting as a moaning wail. Now that terror has abated anxiety kicks in. She knows I'm alive. I know she's still in Volcaldera. It's just a ticking clock until she finds a way to force the conversation.
>My head pounds, nauseating strength slamming behind my eyes. Reed's probably still in town, too. God...
>Through tired eyes I look forward to find we've already found our destination. Time itself evades me as I pick myself up, again.
>It's enough to ask for an ending to all this. Here I was, so well and all it took was one look and I'm right back to square one. Is this just me now? Something cold's pressed against my cheek and I flinch. Surprising even myself at the amount of energy I still seem to have in me.
>Nick smirks, pointing a paper cup at me. "Didn't answer so you get a coke." I accept the drink, then the large box. I open it to find it filled with varying pieces of chicken on a bed of fries.
>Nick speaks again, mouth already partially full. "Gimme the leftover bones."
>As I stare down at my sudden dinner I feel empty. At least I don't feel like my insides are trying to escape out my mouth. I chance a fry.
>Quite good. I slowly find the ability to move forward as I eat. Each bite my nerves unwind, the salt and warmth quelling my ails.
>I start to listen in to the world at large as we sit, quietly eating.
cont.

Anonymous Tue 17 Sep 2024 22:27:19 No.69242333 Report

Quoted By: >>69242657

>>69241988
>Trent and Curtis having some with us from the backseat. Van quietly pumping along as we sit in this parking lot. Violent crunching and popping?
>I glance over to see Nick wearing a shit-eating grin just completely blendering a chicken leg.
>Slowly she picks up a thigh and just...bites through the entire piece, bone and all. My god, Nick.
>I shake my head and feel her efforts not go to waste. Her playful gaze, her ability to yank me out of my own head. I feel a smile return. It's small, only half of one if anything but it's back. She's gotten quite adept at finding where the thing lives inside my head.
>She gives me a huge one back, ensuring she really hams up the next few bites. It's absolutely horrid to watch her.
>Even Trent agrees, "Oh come on, Nick. That's nasty." Both her and Curtis chuckle.
>The rest of the meal is quite easy. Head still thrumming but no longer threatening to pop my eyes out of my skull. Just enough to remind me that I'm going to sleep well tonight.
>As my energy returns so to does my feelings of thanks. Before the meal's over I address the lot of them, hoping to make them feel better after having to just about drag me away from a murderous trigga.
>I speak calmly, "Thanks for taking me out. It was nice aside from uh...yeah."
>Curtis makes himself heard, a rarity. "Anytime, brother."
>Grunts of agreement from both of the other two.
>I let the warmth steel me. Meal mostly eaten and I palm the rest back to the voracious dino herself. In a flash they're gone and we're headed back. Music back up, only after a glance to check to make sure it's okay with me and the ride is in motion.
>I take the time to think, tuning the rock out as best I can. I focus on Trish. Her form racing my heart again.
>I'll need to talk to her, eventually. Or do I? I watch the passing trees as I think. Pathways in my head twisted and confused. I try my hardest.
cont.

Anonymous Tue 17 Sep 2024 22:37:26 No.69242657 Report

Quoted By: >>69242925

>>69242333
>Why do I have to subject myself to her, again? Why do I have to allow her to attack me? I loved Fang just as much as she did. I calm down, stopping my head from riling me up any more.
>At least I've got my answer. We'll need to speak. If only for me to get it through her thick skull that I was a victim in this, too.
>Just the thought is enough to completely break my mood, again. Hate that word. Feels like something you hide behind. Something that exonerates you. Enough.
>I force myself back out of my head and into the moment. Glancing over to see Nick bobbing along as she drives us back. Watching her just enjoy life. Beautiful.
>I don't bother delving back into my own headspace. I'm too distraught today for more. I just want to sleep.
>Nick pulls up to the curb outside her house, hopping out and calling back to the other two.
>"Alright take her home, boys. Talk to you later."
>The usual goodbyes and well-wishing is exchanged. Promises to hang out again and all.
>It's only a few steps before my body reminds me that I'm running on fumes, here. I turn a trip into almost a roll, ending up on my back on the lawn. I've run my leg much too hard today.
>I sigh looking up. A bary pokes her face at me from above.
>It's smug. Oh boy.
>"Leg?"
>"Yeah, overworked it." I squint at her as she smiles wider.
>Completely nonchalantly she speaks, "Shame. Guess I'll have to carry ya."
>I almost bark out, "Nick wai-"
>And am promptly ignored as I'm picked up, princess carried, by her. Any masculinity I'd thought I'd had is right out the window.
>Cherry on top of all this the van hasn't pulled off yet. I'm certain they see this act. I put a palm on my face as Nick just chuckles, carrying me up the stairs.
>I feel a prod on my side. Nick speaks as she pokes at me with her tail.
>"Here, unlock it."
>Her tail deposits a set of keys into my hand and I do as told, fumbling once or twice before getting the thing open.
Cont, one more.

Anonymous Tue 17 Sep 2024 22:46:42 No.69242925 Report

Quoted By: >>69243161 >>69243554

>>69242657
>We end up on the couch after a few moments, Nick refusing to let go of me and turning the moment into one of cuddling.
>I'm set in her lap as she leans into the side of the couch, stretching her legs across it. She asks as we sit.
>"You want me to kick that bitches ass for you? Make you feel better?" I sigh as she chuckles. I fear she may only be half-joking.
>"No, Nick. Thanks, though." I sigh as she grumbles something about it being my loss.
>I slide off, Nick tucking her legs up so I can sit normally before she returns them to across my lap. Looks like she has something to say.
>"Think you did pretty well, all things considered."
> I lean into the couch, listening as she continues.
>"Stay in tomorrow?"
>I find a bit of snark in me. Something buried quite deep. "Sure, unless you want to carry me again."I gesture down at my leg.
>Poor choice of words. She cackles back, "Got used to it already did we?"
>I listen in while she has a fit of laughter at her own quip. A downpour of relaxation soaks me.

Fin

>>69240697
Next, short break first.