Graded [Frontier][Jareth]Chapter 2: A Red Wind Blows in the Desert, Part 2

[Clyvelle]

Goals
1. Escape the red storm
2. Figure out Jareth's geographical location
3. Find a path back to civilization, ultimately Ryken
4. Figure out why slimes make good travelling companions (or not)
5. Meet the Fabriken people and explore underground city

Cast
Jareth Fletcher
Achu​

 

[Clyvelle]

Jareth collapsed and did not get up after being struck by the aberration that had pursued him. The cloaked figures seemed worried and hurriedly picked him up and carried him further into the corridors of stone. Achu would remain on Fleet's back as the passages were still dark. They walked for what seemed like an eternity with Jareth moaning in his unconscious state as the wound inflicted by the creature festered.

Eventually, the soft glow of dim light could be seen as they entered a large underground cavern. There was a singular path leading up to an enormous manor, which seemed to have been carved out of the stone upon which it sat. Torches lit the path up to the house, which gave off a warm glow from its many windows. The trio quickly trotted across the drawbridge connecting the manor's front courtyard to the surrounding cavern.

"He's injured! He's injured!" Peet and Meet chimed in chorus.

"Somebody get Bode! We have an injured boy!" Fleet called out.

Cloaked heads with similar darkened faces and glowing eyes peeped out the windows of the manor. Upon registering what had been said, a growing murmur could be heard as figures shuffled around inside. Finally, the main doors opened as a robust figure emerged to meet them.

"What happened, Fleet?" said the figure as he single-handedly carried Jareth inside.

As Fleet conveyed the events of their encounter, Jareth was taken to an inner room where he was laid on a table. His cloak and shirt were removed to better examine the wound.

"This slime was with him. It seems like they're travelling companions." Fleet concluded.

Bode never responded as he got to work tending to Jareth's injury. The fabric enshrouding his massive body rippled as black tendrils slithered out here and there fetching various supplies. Fleet glanced over his shoulder at Achu on his back.

"Welp, little guy, you'll be coming with me. Bode will do what he can for your friend, but Pincer's venom is some of the worst stuff to get stuck with around here." Fleet explained solemnly. "You hungry?" Fleet stepped outside and closed the door after Achu followed him.

The inside of the manor looked much like a castle, but the walls and floor were all hewn from the same stone. There were decorations and furniture everywhere, which appeared to be well cared for despite the structure's location. Even as Fleet and Achu walked through the halls, others of Fleet's ilk could be seen dusting and sweeping and carrying linens to and fro.

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

Achu largely remained a silent spectator as things unfolded, only calling out once as he witnessed his travel companion's collapse. During the long, blind journey here, though quiet, he was acutely alert, trying his best to memorize the directions they took even though his efforts were futile in the end. The underground mansion was stunning and unexpected, with Achu having mistakenly assumed these creatures lived in crude caverns in the darkness. It was at times like this that he was once again reminded, that he had fallen into a true world of fantasy.

"Well, I hope you can save him." Achu piped up finally, instinctively stretching his body after being carried and held still for so long. "Jareth's a really nice human y'know? He's friendly even to a slime monster like myself." He advertised with a bright smile, addressing both Fleet and Bode as he left the room.

"Yeah, I'm hungry! I'm kinda always hungry actually, and can eat anything, so you don't need to worry about my needs too much." Achu commented casually, admiring the architecture and decor as he followed after the cloaked figure.

"I'm quite curious though." Achu spoke with the same casual tone, but there was something scrutinizing in those innocent beady eyes of his as he turned to look at Fleet. "Why do you guys want Jareth? Ah, no need to answer if it's classified info though, was just curious." Achu hummed and turned away straight after his words, slithering across the stone leisurely.

 

[Clyvelle]

"Well, you're definitely not a typical slime. Most slimes I've seen enjoy dissolving flesh more than socializing. Hm...now that I think of it, I've never heard a slime talk before." A chuckle escaped the hood covering Fleet's indiscernible head. "As for your friend, I'm not really sure why she wants him."

The room where Jareth was being examined was upstairs. Fleet had taken Achu back down to the first floor where they went through a doorway in the back of the lobby that led into the heart of the manor's first floor. Here they found a large dining hall where the cloaked figures with glowing eyes were polishing plates and silverware arrayed on the table as though expecting a feast soon. At the far end of the hall was an immense painting of someone, but the canvas had been torn out where the face had been. The body suggested it was a woman. Fleet beckoned Achu as he went to a side door.

"No, I insist! A special slime deserves a special meal--at least this once!" said he as a blackened arm and hand stretched from underneath the cloak to push open the door.

Inside was the kitchen. Several counters stretched along the walls. Two large prep tables were positioned on either side of an elevated hearth in the center of the room. The hearth had several isolated cooking stations along its length, each station having a corresponding mate that was accessible from the far side of the hearth. Fires were going and a few cooks were manning the pots thereon. Others were stirring, chopping, whisking, and washing.

"Let's see...." Fleet said while examining the various dishes being prepared. "You like meat or plants more?"

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

"Ah, really? I have yet to meet a fellow slime. Seem like fun fellows though based off of your description." Achu chuckled, pondering what it would be like to meet his kind. He had to blame god for dropping him in the middle of nowhere with no one around, he would've loved to have a slime family or something.

As to Fleet's response to his query, Achu's beady little eyes couldn't help but narrow at the slither of information he had been given. A 'She' huh? Achu pondered, his mind somewhat absent-mindedly wondering if Jareth's pretty appearance caught the eye of some crazy lady. Regardless, he didn't know much about Jareth, or even where he was, so he wasn't about to jump to some outrageous conclusions just yet.

The preparations for a feast seemed well underway, but what caught Achu's eye the most was that strange portrait. He wasn't sure what to think of it, but he mentally kept note to try and not offend any mysterious ladies around here.

Turning back to Fleet, he hopped over to his side as he spoke. His words were unexpected, but in a good way, causing Achu to peer up at him with a bright smile. "Heh, I wasn't expecting such hospitality, thank you Fleet." He spoke sincerely, clearly recalling that he was just a bonus pick up alongside Jareth.

Though he felt that he had restrained himself well, the interior sight of the impressive kitchen was more than enough to cause Achu to start drooling uncontrollably, a gooey blue liquid oozing from the corner of his mouth as he stared at all the delicious things being prepared. All the meat seemed so tender, the vegetables so fresh; every ingredient seemed to sparkle vibrantly in his eyes.

Quickly wiping the drool on his body, he immediately snapped back to attention as Fleet spoke. "Well, if you insist... I'd love some meat! Something soft and tender, if possible, my body's not been very happy with all the sand and rocks I've eaten over the past couple of weeks." He smiled brightly with shining eyes, full of pure anticipation and hope.

 

[Clyvelle]

At the mention of meat, Fleet guided Achu over to the far side of the kitchen where a large fireplace was situated in the center of the wall. Over the fire therein was some four-legged beast on a spit being rotated by the cloaked creature tending it. The skin of the morsel glistened with the fats and blood cooking out of the meat. The cook grabbed a handful of seasoning and slapped it directly onto the meat, rubbing it in as it rotated the spit seemingly unperturbed by the heat.

"I'd like a cut for our guest here please." Fleet said to the cook.

The cook turned to Fleet, then the glowing eyes lowered to Achu. After a brief pause, it turned back to the spit as its hand morphed into a blade. With a decisive cut it removed one of the legs, which was about half Achu's size, simultaneously catching it and moving it out of the fireplace. The still smoking meat was placed on the ground in front of the slime.

"Dig in!" Fleet said cheerily.

"I see I wasn't the only one who came to sneak a taste of tonight's dinner." came a soft, yet bubbly voice from behind.

Turning around, a girl colored in monochrome black with yellow eyes beamed at them.

"Good evening, Cecelia." Fleet said immediately with a slight bow. "This is a slime that came in with the boy. I figured it would be better to offer him some of the food so it didn't go to waste."

The girl fearlessly approached and crouched down beside Achu.

"My name's Cecilia. What's yours?" she asked amicably.

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

It took every ounce of self-restraint Achu had not to immediately pounce on the tantalizing feast before his eyes, hypnotized by the rhythmic rotations of the spit roast. After innocently making eye contact with the chef, he was stunned to see the generous cut that had been dropped in front of him.

"Wah, all for me? Thank you so much, you're my new favourite person here! It's really cool that you can morph your arm into a blade like that too, I want to be able to do that one day." He praised and blabbered on excitedly, before immediately consuming the feast without hesitation. Swallowed in one gulp, it would take a bit for it all to digest, hence he sat there contentedly at a size a little larger than usual, kind of like a snake resting after swallowing a beast many times its size.

"Hello Cecilia, I'm Achu." He replied in a friendly but lazy manner, appearing a bit like a deflated balloon with how blissfully content he was. "Whatchu planning on nomming on?" He inquired harmlessly, taking another slow glance around the enormous kitchen.

The newcomer, though ominous-looking, seemed like a friendly face. Her appearance prompted mild flashbacks of the one that wanted Jareth, and the woman in the portrait, but regardless of if that woman and her were one and the same, Achu couldn't help pondering what her connection was to everyone else here. She had a similar darkness, and glowing yellow eyes to everyone, but at the same time, they didn't seem quite the same. The train of thought slowly led him to grow curious about what lay behind the cloaks of Fleet and the others, peeking at their dark faces and shadowy limbs.

 

[Clyvelle]

"Achu...Achu...Achu?" Cecilia repeated to herself appearing to mull over the word. "Like a sneeze?" A smile crossed her face as she considered the prospect of giving something such a name. As Achu continued however, a blank expression smoothed out her features. She blinked a few times as she processed what he said.

"What is...'nomming'...?" she asked looking from Achu to the cook to Fleet and back.

Fleet chuckled.

"He's a bit of an oddity, isn't he? Not only does he have manners, but he uses words not even Cecilia knows!"

Cecilia's jaw dropped as she let out a gasp. She turned away from Fleet while a pouty look puffed out her darkened cheeks.

"Well, he's a slime after all! He could have just made it up, you know." said she, folding her arms in front of her chest. "Do YOU know what it is, Fleet??"

The sudden question caught Fleet off-guard.

"Uh, well, uh, I mean...Oh! Achu can explain way better than I can. Go ahead!" Fleet said with a sly wink.

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

"Yes, yes, yes?" Achu responded playfully to the lady's repetitive calls of his name, his smile only growing brighter as Cecilia figured out his name's origin.

Her blank expression was contagious however, especially as her confusion set in and Achu was suddenly hit like a truck by the cause of it. It wasn't that big of a deal, in all honesty, but he felt a creeping wave of alienation from using a word of his old world, that no one else here seemed to know.

I wonder how they're doing back there...

He couldn't help but ponder momentarily, before immediately shaking such boring thoughts away and returning to the present with his usual bubbly smile.

"Well, I don't want to steal your spotlight Fleet, but if you insist." Catching Fleet's drift, he winked one crimson eye back before beginning to explain. "Nomming on is just an alternative but more fun way of saying eating. It's like saying 'munching on snacks', or 'eating snacks', 'nomming on snacks', they all basically mean the same thing." As he spoke, he wobbled around with vague circular motions to aid his digestion.

"So, whatchu planning on nomming on, Cecilia?" He posed his question again with a friendly, mirthful smile.

 

[Clyvelle]

Cecilia rolled her eyes as Fleet passed off the explanation to Achu. As the slime began to elaborate on his foregin terminology, however, Cecilia was noticeably intrigued as a spark of eager attentiveness lit up her eyes. A smile suddenly blossomed on her lips, soon parting into a grin which released a giggle.

"Nomming." Cecilia said gleefully as understanding set in. "Well, on that subject, I think I will 'nomming' some of the potato soup. It is so rich and creamy!"

Cecilia stood and walked back to the far side of the hearth in the center of the kitchen. There in one of the cooking stations was a pot currently being stirred by one of the cooks. A black tendril snaked out from the free arm, lassoing a spice shaker and sprinkling its contents into the thick, cream-colored soup. When Cecilia approached, the cook turned and looked down at her. Her eager eyes said it all, but she emphasized her desire by opening her mouth and pointing inside. The cook gave the soup a few final stirs before scooping a decent lump of potato along with the cream into the spoon, then held a hand under the spoon as it was brought to Cecilia's mouth. She blew on it a few times before eagerly chomping down on the morsel. She let out an appreciative moan of satisfaction as she savored the spoonful.

"Oh, it's so good!" Cecilia exclaimed as the cook went back to readying the dish. She suddenly gasped. "We should bring some to the boy! I bet this will perk him right up!"

Fleet did not respond right away. His hands busied themselves with stacking some dirtied pots and pans.

"I'm...sure he would like that, Cecilia." he said, his wavering tone adding an air of uncertainty to his words as he glanced towards Achu. "I was about to take Achu to see him anyway. Bode should be about done."

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

Achu didn't care to correct Cecilia amidst her excitement, instead merely smiling and nodding as if full of praise. Potato soup does sounds good right now... he thought lazily, despite knowing full well he had just eaten something half his size. He blamed his monstrous slimy body for his bottomless stomach.

"The chefs here are so nice." He couldn't help but comment as Cecilia wandered over to the soup section, wondering how they could bear with people barging into their work station, disturbing them and demanding free food so casually. Were they not annoyed at all? Then again, Cecilia did seem like someone important here.

"To Jareth?" At the mere mention of his human travel companion, Achu immediately perked up, hopping on over without delay. "Let's go then. I hope he's still alive." He prayed sadly, though his choice of words was a bit strange.

 

[Clyvelle]

"We need a bowl for our guest then." Cecilia said sweetly to the cook.

The cook removed the pot from the hearth and carried it to an adjacent counter. Tapping the spoon a few times on the pot's rim, his arm stretched out to set the spoon in the washing basin. While it was there, the hand grabbed a clean bowl and returned to the cook. Snatching a ladle hanging from a rack overhead, the cook scooped the soup into the bowl until it was properly full then handed the steaming bowl to Cecilia. He quickly grabbed a new spoon and stuck it carefully into the soup before she walked away with it.

"Alright, let's go see this boy. You said his name was Jareth?" said Cecilia as she went to the kitchen's exit. She abruptly stopped before crossing the threshold. "Oh, wait...Fleet you take the bowl to the guest. I just remembered. I have something else to do."

Cecilia quickly handed off the bowl before rounding the righthand corner into the dining area. When Fleet and Achu followed after her, however, she was nowhere to be seen. Fleet looked around then down to Achu shrugging. He would proceed left towards the doorway they had originally entered the dining hall from the lobby. Through the doubledoors out to the foot of the staircase leading to the second floor, the path was as it had been when they first left Jareth. At the top of the stairs they were about to turn right and follow the railed-in balcony around to the room where Bode tended to Jareth. Fleet suddenly stopped however when a low voice pierced through the tranquil air.

"Fleet...have you seen my daughter...?"

The voice was cool and even, but its pleasantness did not override the appearance of whom it came from. There in the far corner from Fleet and Achu stood a feminine figure cast in shadow. Her eyes glowed in a similar fashion to the staff and Cecilia's, but the narrowed, focus expression created a much more intimidating demeanor. Fleet froze for half a second before casually shifting between Achu and the shadowed figure.

"No, Lady Estrie." Came the answer. Despite the apprehension in his body language, Fleet's voice was level, the lie obviously practiced, or perhaps one that he has had to tell before.

Lady Estrie was silent as her stare lingered on Fleet. Achu would feel the gaze shift towards him.

"Is that a slime...in my manor, Fleet?" said Lady Estrie.

Fleet's form seemed to swell slightly, obscuring Achu a bit more from the lady's view.

"The cooks are experimenting again. They're feeding the slime various items to see if it changes the slime's taste. I'm escorting it around while it...marinades."

Lady Estrie's gaze returned to Fleet.

"Is that so...? Oh...." Lady Estrie suddenly faltered to the side, her blackened hand grasping onto the railing. "I'm...going to lie down...."

In the span of a blink, she vanished into the shadows. Fleet remained as a statue standing guard in front of Achu, but eventually, he moved again. He glanced down to Achu.

"Let's go. The soup's getting cold." Fleet said. "Oh, and don't worry--we don't plan on eating you."

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

"Yup! Jareth, he's- Oh, oop, no worries. See ya around Cecilia." He waved in farewell the best way a slime could; with his whole body. Regarding her abrupt disappearance, Achu didn't think too much about it, thinking it relatively rational for shadowy beings to have mysterious shadowy powers. It was still hard to come to terms with all these fantasy shenanigans, but he tried his best to think logically about them. "You guys sure are interesting. With interesting abilities to boot. Wh-"

Achu babbled on, only pausing his words abruptly as Fleet suddenly stopped. The lady of the house... Achu concluded silently as he took in the situation, taking notice of Fleet's apprehension and the figure's intimidating demeanor, one that seemed to be ingrained in those that stood in a position of power.

As her gaze shifted towards him, Achu did not shy from it. Instead, he gave the most harmless and demure little smile, increasingly shrinking his presence behind Fleet's cover. Though Fleet's words were contradictory to his actions, Achu was not dumb. It was clear he was trying to cover up something, so he played along and remained silent, like a good dumb little slime that didn't understand a thing.

Once the coast was clear, Achu breathed a mild sigh of relief and relaxed himself. "...Is she alright?" Though he didn't have any sympathy for the stranger, he still felt it prudent to ask about her condition. "And I figured. But thanks for the clarification." He smiled lightly. "Is she Cecilia's mother?" He inquired after a pause, hopping after Fleet as they continued towards destination.

 

[Clyvelle]

"She's...been unwell for quite some time." Was all Fleet said before a crash came from the room where Jareth was.

Fleet immediately sprinted to the room, while deftly keeping the soup contained in its bowl. He burst into the room as woeful screams filled the air.

"What did you do? What did you do?!" The boy was screaming, crouched in a far corner away from Bode.

His shirt was off, making the source of Jareth's distress plain to all: his left arm had been removed. Bandaging had been wrapped around his chest to cover his stump. Red-stained linens were piled by the door, and a cart near the bed had a sheet with a black red stain draped over something on top.

"Calm down, boy. It had to be done." Bode was saying calmly, making gentle motions with his arms to call for de-escalation.

Fleet glanced from Bode to Jareth. When Achu came up behind him, his gaze shifted to the slime.

"I was hoping we'd be able to explain things before this happened. Think you can try to calm him down? I'd like for him to taste Cecilia's favorite soup before it gets cold. We can talk while he eats." said Fleet.

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

"Jareth!" Achu yelled reflexively at the commotion, sprinting into the room behind Fleet. His beady eyes darted around the room, quickly taking into account the bloody bandages, strange cloth-covered lump and most of all, his travel companion's lack of arm. The scene of 'Pincer's' mandible biting down on Jareth's now lost limb as he fell through the cavern entrance flashed through his mind, leading him to give a silent smile and nod of acknowledgement towards Bode.

Fleet's words on the other hand left a wry smile on his face. Calm him down? Were they close enough for something like that? Although Achu enjoyed giving off the impression that he and Jareth were best buds, in reality the pair had only known each other for a couple days. Still, if there was anyone here that could give the poor boy any sense of familiarity and comfort, it made sense that it would be him.

Mustering up the friendliest and gentlest smile he could and plastering it to his face, he hopped on over with a wobble. "Hey Jareth... remember me? Don't worry, it's fine, these nice people saved your life. I think you were poisoned by the creature that was chasing us earlier..." He spoke slowly, allowing time for his words to sink in whilst peeking at his face.

"Oh, and we brought something for you from the kitchen, courtesy of a girl named Cecilia, can you eat?" He asked with a tilt of his head/entire body, recalling that Jareth didn't seem to feel hunger anymore after his incident.

 

[Clyvelle]

Jareth continued to cower and whimper even as Achu approached. The slime's reassurance did not quell Jareth's morose moaning, but his frantic state did seem to calm as he focused on the slime.

"My arm, Achu...." he lamented. "First the island and now these...things! I'm losing pieces of myself everywhere! I'm scared there won't be anything left of me to return to Ryken...."

Jareth's voice croaked and his face was scrunched as though he were crying, yet no tears fell. He sank wearily to the floor as he hugged his knees to his chest.

On the other side of the room, Fleet was moving about with the bowl of soup. After pausing briefly at a counter, he approached the pair sitting in the corner.

"My name's Fleet. I am sorry about your arm, Jareth, but it was the only way we knew how to save you." Fleet said kindly as his gaze shifted to the bowl in his hands. "This is my friend's most favorite soup. It always makes her smile when the cooks prepare it. She wanted to share it with you--this soup that brings her so much happiness--so I hope you'll at least try some." Fleet held out the bowl with his blackened hands. "If you still doubt how tasty it is, Achu can assure you just how delicious our food is."

Jareth lifted his eyes to behold the one offering him soup. The sentiment about Fleet's friend's happiness seemed to strike a chord in the boy, as a pang of guilt over his pity party creased his face. He sheepishly accepted the bowl with a mumbled 'thanks'. Jareth stared at the soup a moment as he shifted himself into a better posture for eating. There was still the slightest bit of steam rising from its surface, wafting its aroma into Jareth's nostrils. He had to admit: it did look and smell delicious. Even though Jareth still did not feel hunger after all this time, he decided to indulge his host and dig into the soup.

Fleet's friend had been every bit correct: the soup was just as delicious as the dishes Jareth had tried for the first time with Michael in Aslan--even better perhaps, as this soup was not magically enhanced with mithril flakes as the Aslan dishes had been. It was simply a skillfully crafted soup, which gave off a familiar smell and warming sensation that reminds one of home. Jareth sniffed dryly as the tearless sadness overtook his features again. Finishing the soup with a grateful sigh, Jareth set the bowl on the floor beside him. His eyes looked heavy as his head began to droop.

"Achu...I want to...go...hom...." Jareth mumbled as he faded into sleep.

Fleet's arm extended to the floor and scooped up the empty bowl. He looked to Bode then back to the boy as the former advanced, black appendages slithering out of his robes to twine around Jareth's unconscious form.

"Achu, we'll have to move you two to a different location. I can give you answers once we arrive, but while we're moving through the house, it's imperative that you stay quiet, ok?" Fleet warned.

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

Unfortunately for Jareth, Achu was not someone with much empathy. Staring motionlessly at the boy, his gentle facade seemed to crumble slightly the longer the human went on. He couldn't relate at all to his suffering. He had always lived careless and carefree in both lives: the fear Jareth spoke of just seemed so foreign and unfathomable to him. Sure, as a born and raised criminal, he was someone that had tormented others and sent them down to hell, but a tormentor could not understand the pain and mental trauma they inflict on their victims without experiencing it themselves.

"I'm sorry Jareth." Was all the slime could eek out, trying his best to hug him from the side. People craved comfort during times of distress. This was not something he had experienced, but had learnt through interacting with others. Still, although his heart was cold, Achu genuinely wanted to see Jareth find the strength to pull himself back together.

"Oh yeah! The food here is super delicious, you won't regret having some." Though he remained silent as Fleet gave his words of comfort, he smilingly joined back in on Fleet's prompting.

Watching Jareth consume the potato soup was somewhat novel. Seeing as the boy hadn't eaten in who knows how long, he thought he'd have some trouble, but it was good to see that his digestive system was still working perfectly fine.

Jareth's sleepy mumbles were met with a soft smile. "It's back to bed for you it seems." He chuckled gently, wondering if the human would end up sleeping all day at this rate. "But Ryken huh..." He pondered out loud, wondering how far this 'Ryken' place and Jareth's home was from here.

Fleet's solemn warning was subsequently met with a quick nod from the slime. "Roger that." Keeping his mouth shut as they prepared to move, it seemed he would have to save his questions about this 'Ryken' place until later.

 

[Clyvelle]

Bode cradled Jareth's unconscious form as a black tendril snatched up a bag in the corner of the room. Fleet stalked to the doorway and peeked outside.

"What are you doing Fleet?" Came a sweetly innocent voice from a corner opposite the door.

Fleet half turned, but did not face Cecilia, who had just emerged from the slightest shadow in the corner of the room. Instead of facing her, Fleet looked to Bode and silently shook his head before addressing the slime, "Don't look at her, Achu, and don't address her while we're moving through the house."

It was the first and last warning offered by Fleet as he opened the door and marched out onto the balcony. Bode trotted after him, the tendril holding his bag bobbing as he went. Cecilia, of course, came too, clearly offended by Fleet's cold shoulder.

"Fleet? Are you ignoring me??" said the shadowy girl indignantly.

Fleet pressed on down the balcony to the head of the stairs where he made a hairpin turn around the banister to begin descending to ground level. Cecilia, who had been following hot on the heels of the leader, lagged behind now to bring up the rear of their marching order. She was quiet all the way down the stairs, but as they began crossing the lobby her eyes glanced to the double doors that lead to the dining room.

"Oh, Achu!" she said as her eyes narrowed, "You poor thing! I bet you want more of that food back there! Come with me, and we can get you something REALLY delicious this time!"

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

Achu's gaze fleetingly surveyed their surroundings, avoiding Cecilia's form as if she was air, as he slithered silently after Fleet.

Stay quiet. Don't look at Cecilia. Don't address Cecilia.

Three simple orders were given, and Achu obeyed them without a word of complaint. He wasn't sure what mystical magical ride they were going on, but if there was anyone here he felt he should listen to, it would be Fleet. Not because he seemed particularly trustworthy or anything, heaven knows what his superior's intention was kidnapping them both here, but he at least seemed a tad less life-threatening than Lady Estrie.

There was honestly a lot that had happened in such a short period of time. What happened to those boringly endless days in the desert? Things were flipped on their head so suddenly. He enjoyed the new and novel scenario of course, but it was a tad annoying being stuck in a mysterious escape-room-like mansion and having to listen to someone so dutifully. He was a leader not a follower okay? He had a desire to turn this place on its head and crack it open, peering at all its secrets, but alas, such desires must be quelled without the means or resources.

Achu's train of thought was briefly interrupted, then consequently de-railed by Cecilia's words. Hey, did I really seem like that much of a foodie to you? I didn't even ask for the food, Fleet insisted! He grumbled mentally, humorously displeased despite not making any move in response to Cecilia's words. Instead, he began idly thinking up a tier list of foods for this new world in his head, relieving the boredom of an otherwise silent and uninteresting venture through the mansion.

 

[Clyvelle]

Cecilia stopped as the group continued to move away from her. Not even the slime could be swayed. Her face turned back towards the room on the upper story they had emerged from. They lingered there until a servant emerged and crossed the lobby's ground floor in the opposite direction of the group. Cecilia's gaze shifted to the servant before she began following it instead.

Fleet and the gang had crossed the lobby and went through an archway into a sitting room. As he crossed the threshold, Fleet chanced a glance behind him and seemed relieved to see Cecilia had left off following them. He turned and assertively crossed the sitting room, following its inner wall around to a closed door. Opening it, he revealed a stairwell descending into darkness.

Fleet held the door and gestured for Bode and Achu to file in after which he'd follow, closing the door behind him. A moment in darkness later and a light source was suddenly produced in the form of an orb in Fleet's hand exuding a soft blue light. Returning to the front of the group while holding the stone out in front of him, he led everyone down the stairwell.

The staircase spiralled for quite a ways until it leveled out in a long tunnel. There were barred doors on either side, giving it a classical dungeon look. Many of the bars were deformed, broken, or rusted away. Though the tunnel continued on for an undetermined distance, Fleet stopped at a cell, the entrance to which was quite thoroughly destroyed. Fleet turned to Achu.

"We should be fine to talk now. So first of all, this passage is an old emergency exit for the house. If you follow it off into the darkness, it will eventually lead you back out into the desert a few miles from here. It caved in shortly after the red storm appeared, but I imagine a slime could squeeze through if it wanted. If you wish to leave, you may do so now. Jareth will be staying with us though. We need him to help us with something." said Fleet.

 

[SilverFeathers]

Achu (#6593FF)​

Despite being long gone now, Achu couldn't help but feel a slight twinge of guilt at ignoring Cecilia so blatantly. It was like ignoring a stray barking at your door, it was not your responsibility and was out of your hands, but it was still a pitiful encounter. Though he didn't care for her feelings, Achu did ponder on how Fleet would explain himself to her later. She seemed like someone of higher standing than him, so he idly pondered if he'd be in for trouble. Hm. Not his problem though.

The spiralling stairwell into darkness did not bode well for his and Jareth's future endeavours. He knew that they were in a labyrinth of stone and mountains, and that descent didn't necessarily mean entering a shady basement, but it sure as hell felt that way when compared to the luxurious manor they had just left behind. Despite the gentle blue glow illuminating the walls and steps, it was at times like this that Achu thought about how useful it would be if he could see in the dark.

The new sight of prison cells and metal bars did not improve his outlook in the slightest. If not for the deformities and ruin that plagued the dungeon, Achu would've pondered if they were about to be locked up. Fortunately, it was not too long later that the silence was broken by Fleet and Achu was free to speak aloud again.

As tight-lipped as ever. Achu chuckled internally at Fleet's brief last few words. From what he had gathered so far, a 'she' wanted Jareth for some reason, and now Jareth was needed to 'help with something'. It was all very suspicious, and as much as it seemed like fun to stay and try and crack the mystery, the warning bells had long been rung. Perhaps if he had nightvision, could tunnel, or was otherwise able to protect himself or escape easily he'd be more inclined to stay, but unfortunately he was nothing but a harmless blue blob.

If anything, Achu wanted to avoid the possibility of being experimented on like Jareth had been. His tale and trauma did not seem like a fun time. It sucked to lose his long sought-after travelling companion like this, but it was probably for the best he didn't dig himself any deeper into the mystery behind the sand man.

"Alright, tell Jareth it's been fun. Take care of him for me." Achu hummed idly, as carefree and casual as ever. He took one last glance at the white-haired human before slithering away into the darkness without looking back, wondering if they'd meet again one day or if one of them would die first.

 

[Clyvelle]

Conclusion
Achu would slink along the dark tunnel for a good while. Thankfully the path was more or less straight. Eventually he found the caved in portion as Fleet had said, but managed to squeeze and slither through without much issue. Achu would emerge at night in the desert once again. The bizarre storm could be seen off in the distance, red lightning still flashing occasionally. As for Jareth, Fleet and Bode took him into a hidden chamber in the manor's dungeon. A dark mass slithered about in the shadows.

Continued in Jareth's Lost Time​

 

[Skyhunter]

Isekai Hell RP Grade​

Alright, not a bad rp to read, a smaller one at that too. Seeing characters interact with Achu and Jareth go through a pretty rough time of losing a arm was quite a thing to read. I very much enjoyed the read, now onto the rewards!

Jareth (GM) - 34 Points

Achu - 23 Points