Snapping and cracking, the faint hum of the forest's nocturnal life surrounding and adding to the ambience and highlighted by the fire that he sat before. Half lidded eyes staring blankly into its depths, the orange flickers reflecting in his blank gaze. The air was cooling, soft. Something he had experienced many times in his many, many nights of endless running. Legs crossed, hunched forward, his arms resting limply on his laps as he stared into the fire. His anxiety had been reigned in, but its edges were still stubbornly refusing to settle just yet. A quiet sigh blowing through his nose, his left hand reaching towards the pile of lumber and grabbing a larger stick. The fire was healthy, large and not in need or having more fuel added yet, though he figured that there was enough material to feed it some extra. Wincing as his injured arm protested any motion at all, yet he took it up in both hands and broke it into chunks with practiced ease, throwing each piece into the humming heat.
With the pieces turning to charcoal in the fire, his hand came up to idly rub at his swollen upper arm, irritable to the faintest touch. If not for it, he would consider doing some exercise to take his mind off things. Letting his arm drop to rest back on his lap with his other, his gaze never leaving campfire. As the peace of the nature surrounding him had settled, the less natural sounds would come far more naturally now. At first, he had not expected anybody to join him at the fire. After all, he had only made it up to get his mind occupied and stopping its attempts and pushing a panic attack onto him. But the distant noise of the lodge door closing reached him. He figured either someone was going for a walk, or he was going to have guests at the fire. Sure enough, the sound of approaching footsteps reached him next. He didn't turn his head, but his eye's would flicker up to look to see who was coming to say hello. Three figures in the darkness coming closer, Solaris, Kio and Aya, huh?
Thinking back to his panicked self not 30 minutes ago, he did invite anybody to the campfire he was making. Though it wasn't like he wouldn't invite them in the first place, he just kind of forgot. Looking to his sides for a moment, "
Ahh... Right..." Muttering the words. He had forgotten to bring anything out with him. He had said there would be marshmallows at the least and here he was, alone at a fire without a snack in sight! Clicking his tongue at himself, scolding past Medrin for being so neglectful in his promises of snacks. Even if he had been panicked, that was no excuse to tell people he had something and not have anything of the sort. With a tired sigh, his head would raise to look to the approaching three. He wanted to put on a smile for them, to look welcoming. He didn't find himself with the strength to even pretend a smile. His eye's half hooded and a blank expression, tiredness in his eyes. "
Welcome, Kousei-San." Giving a small head nod in place of his usual greeting bow. "
Same to you too, Aya-San." Giving the same tired head nod in welcome. His eye's shifted to the red head that travelled with them. His expression didn't shift.
Thinking on it, he had first seen this one back when he had been resting in one of the tree's above the path towards the shrine, back just before when he met the pink and rainbow haired couple. Sayuri and Akari, he believed? It wouldn't be until near the end of the same day that he would spot him again, in the kitchen. Recalling how he fed Aya-San some fruit slices for a few moments and that was about it. He had figured that perhaps he was one of Aya-San's suitors and that was maybe about it, his mind going blank as he tried thinking on anything else about the fellow. "
I'm unfamiliar with your name." His words monotone. "
Name is Medrin Hymm. Nice to meet you." He didn't have the energy to put into much of a better greeting, giving the same small head nod bow. For it being his first day with this club, he hadn't expected to meet so many people. Most of them who he had met he even believed to be in some sort of relationship! Kousei and Nakamura, Sayuri and Akari, Aya and this red-headed guy. The only person he didn't figure anybody he met in any form of relationship was En.
With the quiet broken, Medrin found his attention caught between his need to enjoy some quiet and see if those who were present needed to hold conversation. He was piss poor at it, but he would provide if needed. "
Greeting's to you too, Kousei-San." His tone still flat, "
The air does wonders for the mind, please enjoy the fire to your hearts content." Eye's shifting towards the mugs of hot chocolate that had been brought out with them. He held no appetite, no matter how delicious the warm treat smelled. Once more, scolding his past self for letting his mind wander as it did. If not for that, his appetite would not have been completely sunk like a stone in water. With his good arm, he reached out tentatively, taking one of the mugs and sitting it on the ground next to himself. "
It is much appreciated, thank you kindly." Wearing a weak small smile as he took it, he didn't want to seem ungrateful. Though as he rested the drink down beside himself, his small smile melted away as swiftly as it had been stapled on. Though it seems that it hadn't just been hot chocolate that had been brought out to the fire! Watching as Kousei unfolded and set up a chair coupled with a nice warm looking blanket. No doubt for those who felt the nip of the brisk breeze.
Medrin would remain quiet at the question of the group activities. After all, he had been there with him for his trials. His arm throbbing at the memory of the boat almost capsizing. His eye twitching at one of the pulses of pain. He figured the question was more for those joining them at the fire than for Medrin himself. "
I apologize, i do not really have much in terms of horror stories." His half lidded gaze shifting back from the fire towards Kousei,
"Though i do recall a couple, such as the Teke-Teke or The Rattling Bridge." Dryly chuckling as Kousei mentioned playing Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai. "
I'm afraid i didn't quite pack enough candles for such a game, otherwise i might have taken up the offer." His gaze slowly drifting back to the fire. He was more than happy to have the company, a distraction that would further let him push down the remaining anxiety that had surfaced and bubbled earlier. Though one thing he just wasn't, was social. He much preferred a hang out where you could sit quietly with friends and do your own thing than idly chat. At least it was only Kousei really chatting much, having watched Aya-San wobble her way to the campfire and sitting herself in the prepared garden chair that the vice-President had left out for her. He assumed the red-dead would be hovering around Aya somewhere, though he find he didn't have the energy nor the interest to check. After a few moments of quiet, the conversation seemingly going nowhere, there was hope that it would be a nice quiet hangout by the fire more than anything. But it seemed that a peaceful night wasn't afforded to him just yet.
A distant howling yell ringing through the quiet of the dark of the forest and overshadowing the crackle and pop of the fire, Medrin's eye's raised lazily from the fire as the distant yelping ended with a sudden splash. Aya was already on her feet. She had been quiet the entire time, though he assumed it had been from her unwell state. Yet there she was on her feet, something going through her noggin. She was looking in the direction of the yelp, his gaze lazily following hers as he say the shape of one of the boys emerge from the dark. Waterlogged clothing stuck to his body, an irritable expression and clearly swearing a storm in his head judging by the looks of things. He held curiosity to his situation, naturally. After all, it wasnt often that you see someone walking from the lake like one of those American horror movies. Jason or something, he didn't know. His thoughts tapering off swiftly as his eye's followed his path towards the cabin past the fire. He had questions, but none of them pressing enough to walk up to the strange soaked boy, though he did hold a bit of sympathy towards him. After all, Medrin had been in the water himself and had ruined a good set of clothes too, so he knew the annoyance of such a thing. On the bright side, the cabin had everything necessary to remedy the issue entirely. A good shower and a trip to the laundry room and it's all as right as rain. A tiny chuckle dryly ringing in his throat for a moment, his eye's moving to see as Aya walks from the campfire in the direction of the pissed lake-boy. Latching onto his arm as though she were his girlfriend, their conversation a bit too far away. If he tried, he could probably listen in on them, but he just couldn't find himself caring at the moment. Whatever Aya and her boyfriend wanted to do was none of his concern... "
Boyfriend?" Blinking a few times slowly as he looked back to them for a moment, his half lidded gaze on them for a moment.
The two seemed like quite the picture together and Aya was clinging to him quite a bit. Perhaps the red-headed fellow was just a close friend of hers and the lake boy was actually her boyfriend? He could see that. His gaze drifting back to the fire, "
Good for her." The words floating through his head. He figured that the red-headed one most likely already had a girlfriend that he just hadn't met yet. He did see another red-headed one running around. Perhaps they were going out or even related? Who knew! "
Ugh... Enough!" Muttering the word to himself, annoyed at his own brains musings and thoughts. Even his brain was failing to give him some peace and quiet it seemed. Whatever Aya and Lake-Boy were up to was none of his business nor concern. He wanted to say that at least it was quieter now, but it wasn't. Just less company overall. The sounds of Aya and the other one getting more and more distant by their even decreasing footsteps and chatter. Just as one left the fire, suddenly another would turn up. The sounds of approaching footsteps. His eye's lazily raised from the campfire to see what new friend was here to enjoy the fire. One of his eyebrows raising a little as the afore mentioned "
other red-headed one" approached and sat herself by the fire. He had seen her here and there occasionally, but never had a talk with her personally. She was saying something, but his eye's had already returned to the fire. Something about some chestnuts? He figured she was going to roast some chestnuts and share them. Surely Kousei and the other red-dead would enjoy some. Maybe... The crackle of the campfire becoming the majority of the noise once more. Medrin letting out a silent sigh through his nose. "
I apologize if i do not appear to be the most energetic, unlike how you have seen me earlier in the day. It isn't like me, normally. I admit that being around people like i have been isn't something I'm used to yet." Letting the silence settle back in. Once more, just as he had almost settled into a comfortable peace, a new noise cuts through and reaches him. His ear twitches a little as it zones in on the noise in the distance over by the lodge. "
An... Engine...?" Brow furrowing as his head turned in the sounds direction. Someone was pulling up on the Lodge? At this time of night? "
Did i miss something?" Asking the question to nobody in particular, figuring that most likely nobody present knew what was going on either.
Sure enough, as soon as the sound of the engine getting closer, a car door opening and closing and then the engine getting more quiet and distant, he could only assume a couple things. Either someone got INTO the car and left, or there was a brand new best friend to eventually meet. There were many in the club on this trip that he had yet to meet, he wouldn't be shocked to hear that one of them maybe had to leave on an emergency or something similar. Before he could return his mind from the wondering of what it might be, he would hear the lodge door closing shortly after the engine sound was gone. "
Arrival." The word quietly muttered to himself. "
At least it wasn't by helicopter this time." Chuckling the words as his attention returned to the campfire. The hot chocolate by his side still untouched. It was still warm at least, but he still just didn't have the appetite for it. Though he also didn't want to appear ungrateful and it would be a waste of good hot chocolate if left alone... Maybe later. Worst case he could just let the female red-head have it! So far there were four at the fire. Excluding himself, he only knew one of the other three, that being Kousei-San. Even then, he hadn't spent more than an afternoon with him, he didn't know much other than a couple minor things and his name. He had a long path ahead if he was going to make friends he knew anything about!
Outside of some idle chatter here and there, the sounds of the campfire and the ambient forest surrounding them, he figured finally that there would be no further surprises. That this was as busy as things would get! Unfortunately, he had forgotten that there was a lodge FULL of others he had yet to meet, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for one of them to come on out at any given time. Especially with a nearby campfire. It wouldn't be long before the sound of another emerging from the treeline would reach him. Though the voice was completely unfamiliar, softer and a lot more pleasant on the ears! Though it was tinged in cold. He didn't need to turn his head by the time he had heard the question of joining them at the fire, the owner of the voice sitting beside him by the fire. Blonde hair, pretty coloured eye's, cute voice and attractive? This club didn't know what ugly people were, did it? She clearly looked not only cold, but upset by something. Had he been more familiar with the unknown girl, he would ask. But perhaps best left alone for now. "
Please, make yourself warm by the fire." Softening his voice a little, wearing a small smile and hiding his exhaustion as best he could. First impressions mattered after all. The male red-head was approaching, handing something to the blonde girl. He hated that he didn't know their names yet, it made starting talks with them or even just labelling them much more difficult!
As the two were interacting, Medrin would turn his attention to the fire, taking up a couple pieces of lumber, snapping the bigger sticks and adding chunks of bigger and smaller sticks to feed the fire and stop it's recession. Adding a couple handfuls of dry grasses to give the fire a little boost in claiming its new material. With the fire fed, his attention would return fully to the group with him by the fire. It had gotten a bit more chattery since her arrival! He listened a little bit as Kousei seemed to know her and was asking her a couple things. One such thing Medrin picking up was when he said "
Nijima-San.". Her family name? It sounded nice. And now he had something besides "
Blonde girl". Giving the fire one last once over, he reached down to his untouched hot chocolate and offered it to Hani. "
It's a bit of a cold night, the fire should not only keep you warm. But if you want, there is some hot chocolate that might also help to warm you." Giving a small head nod bow. "
Ahh, pardon me though, My name is Medrin Hymm. I'm... New to not only the club, but the school and even the city it resides in. It's nice to meet you." He didn't have much else besides the fire and some hot chocolate to offer, but he found some joy in getting to meet another potential friend.
"
Similar to Kousei-San, I'm afraid i don't exactly have much in terms of love stories. I can say i've had one or two crushes a while ago, but not much more than that." Chuckling quietly as Kousei mentioned being a tree and himself being the lead star in some story. He wasn't much of an actor, though perhaps if he tried he could maybe put his acrobatics to some decent use in storytelling. Arm throbbing painfully as acrobatics entered his head. Between the option presented of love stories or ghost stories, Medrin had far more of one than the other. And it sure as shit wasn't love stories. "
Well, if we're choosing between love stories or horror ones, i mentioned to Kousei-San a little bit earlier before you arrived Nijima-San that i knew a couple. The Rattling Bridge and the Teke-Teke." Giving it a little bit of thought, "
It's not too long of a story, so how about i start off with a ghost story and anybody after is free to share their own love or ghost story!" Taking a moment to think, doing his best to recall the story from when he had once long ago heard of it for the first and only time. "
I admit I'm not the best story teller, so i will do my best. Please make sure you have good snacks and drinks whilst you enjoy the fire and hopefully the ghost story." Throwing another chunk of lumber onto the fire, a sizzling coming from it as the new material was slowly consumed by the hungering flames.
With the few moments to think, he nodded quietly to himself, confident that he could recall the story well enough to tell it. Or at least so he hoped. Clearing his throat, his gaze still on the fire. "So then, let me tell you the tale of the Teke-Teke." Shifting a little bit to make sure he was comfortable. "
The story is one of the more urban ones, dating back from the days of world war 2. The Teke-Teke is a ghost who sometimes appears in a number of urban legends. It is said that she not only has no lower half. But that she runs about on her arms, creating the distinctive "Teke-Teke" sound from which she earnt her name." Using one of the longer sticks to poke at the fire, gauging when he might need to add more fuel to the fire, before continuing to tell the story. "
It is said that the Teke-Teke likes to chases its victims down dark roads. Although despite having no legs, a Teke-Teke can crawl at inhuman speeds. So fast is it, that it may even catch up to those who are speeding away in cars. And when it catches you..?" Giving a bit of a pause as he isn't quite sure if he wants to use the sickle version of the tale or not. His internal debate only lasting a couple seconds as to not break up the story too much, his tired brain steaming slightly as it tries to keep up and feed the correct information. "
Then it will tear or slice you in half, stealing away your legs. Perhaps, if unfortunate enough, turning you also into a Teke-Teke." Throwing another small chunk of lumber onto the fire, realizing its less of a story so far and more of a general description. Better try to fix that... "
As for how the Teke-Teke first came to be, apparently it started back in..." Thinking for a moment, "
Muroran..?" Scratching his head a little before figuring it was correct. ".
..From the unfortunate fate met by an office worker. Long ago, back in the years after World War 2 had ended, Supposedly an office worker in Muroran, Hokkaidō was assaulted by American soldier. That same night, she had leaped from a bridge down to the railroad tracks and had been hit by an oncoming train. The impact was forceful enough, that her body was ripped in two, halved at the waist. What should have been a swift, painless and certain death, her fate would not quite meet with her yet. The severe cold of the Hokkaidō night was harsh and bitter, causing her wound to slow it's bleeding and drew out her agony, refusing to let her bleed out. Dying still on the rails, Instead of letting the cold take her, she squirmed and wriggled about for help. Desperate to survive and stave off the incoming dark. She would endure, scrape and crawl for several minutes. Through her agony, pain, fear and endurance, she would drag herself along the tracks and find herself at the train station. Relief would nip at the poor woman and drive her further, survival possibly in sight! Even finding and being seen by an attendant! Though as the woman approached, crawling closer, help surely at hand, the attendant looked down to her, and to the woman's horror, she watched as that attendant retrieved a plastic tarp. Instead of trying to help her, the station attendant just covered her with The plastic tarp, the woman unable to endure much more, her strength leaving her as it had taken all that she was left, just to reach the station. And so, slowly but surely she died a slow agonizing death." Taking a few moments to check with the fire, hoping his story was alright. He probably missed a few details here and there, though it was his first attempt at telling a ghost story, so it wasn't going be perfect. Unsure what else to do, figuring it might be best to wrap up his ghost story.
With the fire flickering, a perfect background noise to his attempted ghost story, "
Some say that, according to legend... That three days after hearing this story, you will at some point, see the ghost of a woman with no lower half. Some whisper that the ghost is searching for her legs, which were lost when she was rendered in half. Others whisper that she is angry at humanity for not helping her when she was dying! And others whispering that she is simply out to slaughter as many people as she can! Her wrath and need for vengeance insatiable. And when she catches you?" Giving a small pause, not really coming up with any other way of saying it, "
She will rend you in half and steal away the lower half of your body. Perhaps, even adding you to the ranks of the Teke-Teke too." This was exhausting, already atop being exhausted making it even more tiring. It was difficult being social in the first place and now here he was, telling ghost stories. He let out a tired sigh, he had only really came out here to get some fresh air to escape from his anxiety driven panic attack in the first place! Enjoy a night time fire, some quiet company. Part of him should have expected ghost stories, but for the life of him, he just never once thought "Stories around the fire." At the very least, it was almost over, only a little bit more to tell, then it was anybody else's turn! Maybe the cute one, Nijima-San had a decent story? Who knows... Finish this one first brain! Rolling his eye's at himself,
"
Apparently, through whispers, rumours or tall tales of self proclaimed survivors, there are ways of staving off and surviving the Teke-Teke. When she catches you, sometimes she might not instantly kill you. No. Through gritted rasping teeth will she ask you a series of questions. Should you answer them perfectly, may she let you keep what she dearly wishes to remove from you." Medrin thinking to himself, asking himself what the fuck her questions were. C'mon brain, you have them in there somewhere! Be uselessly tired in a few more minutes! Mentally shaking any details it might have left from his noggin. Groaning softly, rubbing the ridge of his nose, he would remember the last details he HOPED were the correct ones. "
First, she will ask you. "Do you need your legs?". To survive, a correct and precise reply is required. You must state: "I need them right now." A simple answer for her first question. However, those coming after demand a little bit more, for she will ask you. "Who told you my story?" You must reply, "Kashima Reiko." Medrin picking up the stick he used to poke and tend the fire, stabbing it's tip into the ground and drawing out each part of the name. "
Ka as in mask" Drawing it out in the dirt for those listening to see! (仮面), "
shi, as in death" Drawing out the next, making sure he did his best to make it clear and readable. (死), "
ma as in demon" It was getting more and more annoying to draw these in the dirt, he believed everybody knew the kanji, but at this point he had started and he wasn't going to do anything but commit at this point. (魔), "
rei as in ghost" The tip of the stick snapping off, the slightly burnt stick failing to remain sturdy enough to act as a pen for the earth. Tossing the stick onto the fire and picking another decent stick to not only prod the fire, but draw kanji in the dirt. (霊), "
and ko as in accident." With the last one drawn out, the whole name written out plan for them to see. (事故). "
Should you be asked the question and answer precisely as such, then at the very least, you might not find yourself missing your legs and able to greet the approaching dawn. And with that, maybe three days from now you might hear the sound that names the ghost that will haunt you? But at the very least, if you do. You should have the answers necessary to ward her wrath."
"
With that though, my story is over. I hope you all enjoyed it and maybe at some point, I'll tell the other one i know. It's of the rattling bridge! But for now though, i'd have anybody else tell one if they have any." Looking amongst those at the campfire with him. It was getting quite late and despite his arm injury, he did want to be up early enough to get his morning workout in. He would keep the fire alive for maybe another hour then kill it off. But until then, everybody was free and welcome to use it how they pleased. And hopefully, he had left a decent enough first impression to Nijima-San to make a new friend.
Interaction('s) - Solaris:
@xLarius - Kio/Ruby:
@Rads - Hani:
@Monbon - Ayaya:
@YetieBetie
Mention('s) Akari:
@ScarletNova - Sayuri:
@Monbon - Haru:
@ScarletNova - Hawk:
@wolf. (sorry if i forget anybody else, this took yonks to do.)
Location('s) Campfire
BLEH!
Annoyance was a reaction that Aya was quite used to. If not expected in most settings. Given to how most any interaction she had with people wasn't exactly great conversation material. Her entire character was supposed to be a nuisance, so vexation was the assumed feeling the handsome stranger battled as he took a tad second longer turned away before he turned to fully face her.
)
