revivalproject | You're in My World Now

WHO: Donnie et tu?
WHERE: Temb...a?
WHAT: Just when you thought you knew a place...
WHEN: During the earlier part of the storm
WARNINGS: Blood, things trying to eat people, grabby plants and all the potential danger that comes with the aforementioned

i. a little parlor trick
Ohhhh he had not meant to come here.

His curiosity about the strange vines had been his undoing, and before he knew it, Donnie had found himself being dragged through one of the creepy tears in whatever dimensional fabric there was.

It's concerning enough to see his breath freeze in front of him when he's hardly dressed for such a chill, but then he's almost choking as he finds out the hard way that this place hasn't the freshest of air. Thankfully the latter is one thing he does find himself prepared for as he pulls his breathing mask into place, one problem solved, but oh so much more to deal with. It's hard to focus when you're right on the verge of panicking.

His surroundings are familiar enough for him to figure out what's going on, or at least to construct some rough theories. An alternate space within Temba? But what did that have to do with a storm? For surely there was one, or at least he could only assume for the more obvious points, but those were all prior to...whatever this is.

...it is so cold here. Mind-numbingly so, and it makes him feel sluggish. The opening- right, he should probably try to find that and get out of here. Which way was it though..?

The flutter of wings grabs his attention if belatedly, and he cries out as several of the batlike creatures descend upon him. He smacks one with his hand, turning to run as adrenaline helps to get him moving again, but in his panic he forgets all about looking for the exit. He's got other priorities at the moment, especially as he catches a glimpse of something else moving in the dingy light. That's...not a human, is it...

ii. friends on the other side
Maybe you'd seen him duck in here some time earlier, maybe you just happen upon him by chance. A ruined building but it's got enough walls that Donnie feels fairly secure, and even then, barely.

He's practically wedged himself into a corner, hands locked around the length of his tech-bō, knees pulled in with his arms around them as though to make himself as small as possible. It's also an ill attempt at trying to stay warm as his hoodie isn't really doing it for him. Being cold-blooded sucks sometimes.

It might be easy to miss him, as still as he is, but in the quiet it's not hard to make out his breathing, quick and slightly amplified for the breathing mask he wears, sometimes just that, other times whispered words trying to psyche himself up, trying to keep himself awake.

Maybe you come upon the kid when he's threatening to doze off.

Or maybe you make enough noise that he jerks himself into alertness, an almost wild look in his eyes as he swings the pointed end of his staff in your direction with a gasp.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

While that wasn't a very effective plan, it was a pretty illustrative counterargument, and the most Donnie had moved in some time. Tony returned the hug with a tight squeeze, eyes darting in the dark over Donnie's shoulder like he might be able to see a better idea in the air, to be able to assure him better than, "Hey, you're going to be fine, I'm going to be right behind you." He did hope at least most of that was true. "Time to finally show me your ninja moves, huh? No more teasing, now's the real deal."

Don't be a lying liar, Anthony Stark. Donnie wasn't willing to believe otherwise however, so he only nodded, trying to look way braver than he actually felt. "You better be," he said, almost petulant, hoping maybe it'd be more incentive for Tony to take better care of himself.

Stick to the shadows, move light as a feather, blend with your surroundings... Dad wasn't here to make him proud but Tony was quickly filling in for a close second. Donnie sucked in a careful breath as he flexed his toes, hoping to thaw them out enough for once he had to move.

Tony's answer was a playfully condescending pat to Donnie's cheek, easier to sense than a too self-confidence smirk in the dark, of course he would be, he was invincible. "As soon as you get to the other side," he said as he found his footing, both hands on Donnie's arms to help him up as well, trying to sound sure that there wasn't any other outcome but Donnie making it through the door, "you call Jon. He'll see you."

Not a promising response, but Donnie knew he wasn't going to get any better, and the longer they waited, the colder he'd get again.

He got to his feet, taking it as a positive sign he could tell where the floor was as he stood. Anxiously he looked back towards the stairs, listening before he nodded back at Tony.

The sooner he got out of here the sooner he could work on something to make here easier to deal with and hopefully it wouldn't have to be a rescue mission. Donnie placed a cold hand over Tony's, fingers tightening around it before he let go, mentally psyching himself to be ready to move.

The journey up the stairs was much less physically painful, but drawing it out to try to keep quiet meant every step felt like a winch on Tony's chest until it was painfully tight as he finally stood in the faint pool of moonlight. He could hear the beat of wings still, and the distant screeching of hungry animals, all out of sight, and searching around where they had come from. At least, Tony hoped, because he was gesturing for Donnie inquisitively, pointing deeper into the building, where there might have been another exit. With a tap on his own chest, he pointed back toward the door that had come through.

The longer they took to get back up the stairs, the less sure Donnie felt about going through with this escape plan. He came up behind Tony once they were back on the main level, the sounds beyond their sight not doing much to reassure him, and he was about to shake his head with renewed rejection of this idea.

It probably showed at least a little on his face, but he cast a look back, seeking out other passages, not really finding much offered by a glance. But surely there had to be something. ...and if not, then he'd just have to double back. Donnie looked back at Tony with a hesitant nod before forcing himself to start heading deeper in before he could change his mind.

Tony watched him go a few steps with his own clench of anxiety, reluctant to turn away, like maybe this could have been enough, to watch Donnie make his escape and keep himself between the creatures and the kid until he made it to the fountain. There was more screeching overhead, though, the sound of the bats circling the building, searching for the first sign of their prey. Tony glanced up, then tugged his scarf tightly around his face so no loose ends could be easily snagged before he started back toward the door, sweeping down to pick up a handful of broken concrete to help make some noise as he went.

Donnie was making good on his ninja skills, quiet despite feeling like his heartbeat was all too loud. He was listening for signs of Tony's own start, moving slowly just in case the man decided to change his mind after all.

Windows on this end of the building helped outline rubble and toppled furniture, offering better shadows to hide in as he made way for the wall framing the murky light. No door that he could see, but he could possibly squeeze out the window, though he had to free up his hands to do so. Donnie snuck closer to peer outside for any movement, nearly choking on a gasp as he saw them; a pair of the dog-shaped creatures slinking about, sniffing at the ground...somehow. He wasn't sure whether he liked them better now or before he had been able to really see what they looked like.

None of the creatures seemed to take any notice as Tony carefully eased the door open. Despite the chill on his bare arms, he could feel the sweat sliding down them as he glanced up at the gathered hungry mouths wheeling above, then the Seymour, half burnt but limping its way down the street, gore as much as it was teeth. There was forty metres between him and the next open doorway that he could see; a city block to the next cover to duck into and bide his time. With a deep breath, he could feel a burn in his lungs still from the infection in the air, and from his sprint with Donnie in his arms. It was still the last one he took before he was stepping out onto the street with a whistle to get all of the attention on him. "Come and get it, gorgeous," he invited as every face whipped toward the sound.

Should he run? Should he wait? It was only a few seconds now but Donnie knew he couldn't afford to sit very long. He grabbed the edge of the window sill, preparing to slip out.

Tony's voice sounded faintly from the other side, but the demodogs jerked their heads up and bounded out of sight. A familiar shriek also sounded from beyond, and for a split-second, Donnie felt stuck where he was before lurching out the window. He took a panicked look around,trying to assess where he was, and where he needed to be to get out. Fountain, the fountain was that way, wasn't it?

He started to run, his movements still feeling jerky, still stiff from the cold, but also hesitant yet to leave. Please don't get eaten please don't get eaten please don't get eaten, he thought feverishly as he forced himself to press onward, straining to hear any signs that Tony was on the move, maybe right behind him like he said he'd be (He said!), ignoring the likely alternatives.

If he wasn't so weak...

Donnie swallowed that bitter thought as it came up again. Get to the fountain, get out. Get help.

You're in My World Now

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