seven devils all around you, seven devils in your house

[singmod]

JUNE 2024 EVENT

PART ONE — A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME: The Darkwalker claims another victim, and that is only the beginning of troubles for the Interlopers as they face a month of endless night and green gloom.

PART TWO — POLAR SUN: As June continues, Interlopers are faced with food insecurity as wildlife flees; tensions grow as they face hunger and the Darkwalker's continued influence. On the day of the Summer Solstice, the tension finally breaks and violent chaos descends upon Interlopers.

PART THREE — REPRIEVE: The end is in sight, and an ally comes to the Interloper’s aid.

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

WHEN: June 1st, then onwards.
WHERE: Milton area; Lakeside area (Carter Hydrodam).
CONTENT WARNINGS: death of playable character; supernatural death; mention of dead body; themes of death; supernatural beings; themes of terror; themes of peril.

The evening is quiet and still. May draws to a close and while the sun does not completely set, it dips low enough for the sky to grow a little darkdim with twilight. The midnight sun is almost upon the Northern Territories, the air is warmer than it has ever felt — even if it remains chilly. If this is summer, it is but a gentle brush of reprieve against the unyielding winter. The Interlopers wind down for the night, many turn to their beds to sleep, others sit awake and ponder their existence in this world. They think of home, of loved ones, of their predicament here in this place. The Forest Talkers, the strange beasts and monsters they’ve encountered.

The moon wanes in the skies, nestled amongst the stars. For those still awake to notice, they can see it: slowly, one by one, the stars begin to go out. Then the moon's light is swallowed whole, and a blanket of green gloom descends upon the Northern Territories.

The sky is dark and green and terrible. Many of those will recognise it, what this means and what will come. Others will not understand it, not know what it is that awaits them all.

They will soon find out: the Darkwalker comes.

Under a green sky, a cold fear washes over you — squeezing the breath from your lungs. Interlopers will find themselves overcome with that fear, and everything in their bodies and minds tells them to run. To flee. And so you run, heading for cover. Curtains will be drawn, some may hide under beds, within closets or wardrobes. Some desperately attempt to conceal themselves, make themselves small, unseen. Some Interlopers, in that fear, may rush to friends or loved ones to hide with them, others may simply cower alone — crawling and whimpering away from the night. The fear is irrational, unable to be overcome — even by the bravest or most stoic of Interlopers.

For those within Milton, it is further away but is by no means less potent: Interlopers will find themselves frozen with the constant loom of the Darkwalker’s arrival — even if it does not come to Milton. Those within Lakeside, however, will feel the true force of this presence: more like a knife edge — painfully gripping your heart as it draws close.

The Darkwalker howls: indescribable, unnatural, demonic. Low moans and groans. It comes from the east, the faint booms of footsteps in the distance growing ever nearer. It is coming, once more. It's coming for one of you. And still, you are powerless, unable to do anything. And it is an agony, awaiting its arrival. You cry, you whimper, you cower. Curling up for some shred of comfort, and finding none.

For those in Lakeside, through the fear, they may be able to note the path: a straight line from the east towards Carter Hydrodam. It seems to go on forever, building into a crescendo. Your heart beats so hard you fear it may burst from your chest, as if you might die of fright.

There is an almighty sound; the Darkwalker devours and even with the distance you can hear it. The sound of gnashing teeth, and… laughter. There is no scream, no bright light in the sky — Enola is silent this time. There is only that laughter, echoing off into the night.

The skies do not return to normal. The green gloom hangs in the air. It is done, but it is not yet over. While the overwhelming fear dissolves away, but a kind of… dread remains on the air — almost palpable.


The Darkwalker has devoured another. Braver souls who go out to investigate into Lakeside will find just who has been devoured once they reach the Hydrodam — although it may be a day or two before they will find the body in the medical bay.

At least it is cold enough that the rot does not fully set in — but death will certainly be here.

And this is but the beginning of the Interloper’s troubles.

POLAR SUN

WHEN: The month of June, up to Midsummer’s Eve + Summer Solstice.
WHERE: Milton area; Lakeside area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: themes of survival; food scarcity/food insecurity; supernatural weather; altered mental states; mental manipulation; themes of violence; potential character injury; potential character death; potential NPC death.

In the coming weeks and days, and weeks, the green gloom lingers. From the Darkwalker’s attack, there is no sun. No day, no night. No stars or moon or sun. No Auroras. Just the gloom and biting cold. Life becomes increasingly hard on Interlopers: higher expenditure on fuel — fires and lanterns are imperative to keep the darkness and the cold at bay.

With the green gloom in the air, the wildlife becomes more scarce — as if it has been frightened away into the deeper parts of the wilds. It will be harder to bring in fresh meat in both Milton and Lakeside, and Interlopers will find that they will have to rely on whatever stores they have — and perhaps even rationing for a while.

And it’s not the only thing frightened. Even with the debilitating fear that comes with the Darkwalker’s attack gone, there is still a kind of fear that lingers on the air that slowly eats away at the Interloper’s resolve over time.

Interlopers will find themselves anxious, on edge. Some will be prone to anger in their fear, others prone to fits of melancholy: tearfulness and sorrow. Between the cold, the lack of fresh game and the fear on the air — it’s no wonder spirits are low. Bickering and minor upsets between Interlopers are likely.

They call it the midnight sun, the polar day. It's opposite is the polar night. This is neither and both. On the day of midsummer's eve, that fear on the air is even more palpable. The air feels a little stifling at times, as if the pressure is all off — often quite oppressive, a strange kind of tension. There is something brewing, a low burning thing that begins from the moment Interlopers wake — heavy and sharp in their chest.

’So, Interloper. What will you do now?’ A voice sneers in your ear. The very same voice that has haunted Interlopers since the very beginning. The Darkwalker finally speaks after all these weeks of gloom since its most recent attack. ’When all is gone, when even the sun does not rise? What will you do then?’

A nervousness sits within you as you remember the Darkwalker’s words. What will you do if the sun does not rise? If the darkness is all that is left? If the food runs out? Your wonderings will continue to gnaw away within you. The darkness is hollowing.

’Will you lean on others, like you have always tried to do?’ the voice continues. ’What bonds you hold with them, the ones with those around you. But how strong are they, truly? Can you trust them? Will it matter when your belly is empty and your heart is low? Perhaps it is time to see.

’Never forget, Interloper. I am the Rot. And I will rot within you.’

As the day progresses into the Solstice, that tension lingers in the air, and the wonderings within you continue to wear at you. You find yourself becoming more and more agitated as time goes on. Those feelings that have been brewing for some time now have started to grow close to boiling. You may snap at others, grow restless, become enraged at the tiniest of things — the upsets wildly out of proportion for the smallest slights or issues.

You find your thoughts wandering, too. Perhaps it is to someone you know in this place, or perhaps it is to someone previously unknown to you. Maybe you have an issue with this person, or perhaps the voice’s influence extends further — not only adding to your agitations but creating them, too. A slight, a grudge, a bias.

You feel a bitter gnawing within you. The nightmarish green gloom above you persists and everything bubbles up from within. From the dark, the anger within you become too much. The tension finally snaps.

For some, it might come out as a vicious argument where you air your grievances, or finally let slip the things you’ve been holding close to your chest. A verbal beat down, incredibly hurtful in nature. For others, things may be drawn to getting physical. A literal beat down where your fists grow bruised and bloody, or perhaps even worse. Whatever it is, you want to do damage to someone else — there is darkness here, and so many things come out in the dark, don’t they?

Like a ripple, all around you: all hell breaks loose. Chaos erupts, and the air is filled with violence.

Let’s hope you might stop, or someone else stops you, before someone gets killed.

REPRIEVE

WHEN: Circa three days after the Summer Solstice.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: blood.

All things must come to an end, even the most violent of deadly storms. In the midst of the seemingly endless violence of the night, you find yourself outside. Maybe you're fleeing from another Interloper, maybe you're desperately trying to reach someone you care for, maybe you're simply trying to find somewhere new to hide. Interlopers are hunting one another, blood lies on the snow, bodies too — some breathing, some not.

Perhaps it is a trick of the light. Perhaps it's the Darkwalker’s influence still warping your already frayed mind. Or it's the blood in your eyes, your battered and bruised body struggling to get through it all.

In the gloom, you see it. See her.

A woman, dressed in furs, stones and shells glimmering on her chest like armour, stands in the snow before you. Thin and pale, eyes sunken. Her chest heaves with each breath as she looks around with wide eyes. Her hands are bare and bloody. It drips slowly from her fingers. Is it her blood? Or someone else's? You cannot tell, but you cannot mistake how thick it coats her skin.

Her head turns to look at you. You are stunned, but not frightened. Even through the gloom, after a moment or two, her eyes widen in recognition: she knows you.

Slowly and silent, other than her noisy breathing, she draws close to you. Maybe in turn you draw close to her, closing the distance between you. Up close, her eyes are blue, and sad. You cannot mistake the sorrow in them. She is tired, weary. Her hair is dark, worn loose and long. For some, you feel as if you've seen her before, but you can't quite place her face.

Softly, she says your name.

For some, there may be no recognition. This woman is a stranger, who knows your name somehow. She has been silent the past couple of months, after all.

For others, hearing her speak brings a sudden, jarring realisation: this is Enola.

She’s here. Enola. All this time, she’s whispered to you in dreams, in static, in the very air itself.

She raises one hand, dark and dripping in the green light. Lightly, her fingers brush against your chest. You don’t feel the pressure of them, don’t feel the odd heat of blood — only the weight of her stare as she holds your gaze. It’s a long moment of peace in amongst the chaos.

You feel her exhaustion, a tiredness that sinks into your very bones. Apologies, too. You have never known anything like it. But there’s something else too, something that takes a moment or two to put your finger on. Defiance. A renewal. Something shifts in the air, a growing tension, different from the kind that’s been held on the air throughout the month. It’s the coming of a storm, the rolling clouds, the growing rumble of thunder before the first lightning strike.

Enola nods, her expression grave. She pulls away and turns from you — her head lifting towards the skies as she walks. Her arms raise, bloodied hands twisting and tensing before her. They curl, almost into fists, and she makes a gesture: the slow tearing of something huge and invisible before her — a shriek spilling from her lips. A battle-cry, a last stand, a wail of agony. It echoes.

The sky cracks and splits open before you, dazzling light and colours blinding your vision into pure white. The world tilts too hard below your feet, and you don’t remember passing out.

When you awaken, Enola is gone. The skies are clear and blue, the sun is high in the sky. As you pick yourself up from the snow, in the harsh light of the polar day, blood has never looked so red. The horrors of the night laid bare. Interlopers are dead, but the Darkwalker’s influence is gone. For now.

In the wake of Midsummer, all Interlopers can do is try reconcile. Bury the dead, rebuild, lick wounds. But that feeling in the air still remains — that different, new kind of tension that has come with Enola’s appearance. The first of the lightning bolts has struck, but more are coming.

FAQs

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME

1. Alexander Hilbert has been devoured by the Darkwalker. His remains can be found in the Hydrodam. The following note has been left by Kates concerning his death: ‘Sveta gets possession of his research notes + blood samples + creepy lab journal because it's all in Russian, lmao.’

2. Information on the Darkwalker’s attack can be found here.

3. Usually, after the Darkwalker attacks, the sky would return to normal. This won’t happen. Instead, the usual atmospheric changes that occur during Darkwalker attacks will remain in place as June continues..


POLAR SUN

1. For an idea how the setting appears for June, it's like what you see in the game during the Escape The Darkwalker Challenge. Inside, there'll be a degree of green shades to rooms etc via what comes through windows but with it being lit up via fires and light sources, the gloom will be chased back.


2. Characters are free to use this event to kill NPC Interlopers. Methuselah and Young Bill are off the table, as are two marked NPC Interlopers. Please let Mods know if you intend on doing this for record keeping!

3. These acts of violence can be physical or verbal altercations, players are encouraged to work with the prompt however they'd like! However, anything potentially world-altering (ie. building destruction) must be first discussed with mods.

4. Interlopers under the Darkwalker's influence can be stopped in a number of ways. Showing genuine care and compassion in the face of violence is one way. Knocking an Interloper out is another way. Sometimes killing an Interloper may be needed, or simply restraining them and keeping them locked up somewhere so they can't hurt anyone else until the night is over would also work.

5. Talismans made by Heartman back in March with a Ward Sigil against the Darkwalker will come into effect during this prompt. It's been an ongoing process, with new Interlopers being offered them from their arrival. Players are free to choose what kind of talisman they received, or if they chose to get one at all. Their effectiveness is dependent on the type of blood used on the talisman.

— Animal Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood from animals found in the world, such as deer, rabbits or wolves will find themselves more susceptible to the Darkwalker’s influence and disposition towards violence. They will be much harder to break out of the hold over them, and become almost frenzied state.
— Monster Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood from any creatures or monsters that Interlopers have encountered in their time in the Northern Territories, such as the Serpent from December’s TDM will find there are no negative nor positive effects. The talisman is essentially useless. and Interlopers will fall under the Darkwalker's influence.
— Interloper Blood: Interlopers carrying talismans using blood for Interlopers will be offered protection/resistance from the Darkwalker’s influence and disposition towards violence. They may be slightly affected but will have their wits about them more compared to others. If the blood came from an Interloper with an Aurora Feat — this protection/resistance will be largely increased, an the Interloper may even feel braver, less affected by the fear in the atmosphere.
— No Talisman: Similar to the Monster Blood Talisman, Interlopers will be affected typically by the Darkwalker's influence in due course.

There are no additional affects with an Interloper using their own blood, just if they have an Aurora Feat or not.

6. Animals owned by Interlopers will be more frightened and will want to hide away in the build up — they will be disturbed by the world. Mostly lying down and whining/restlessness. They may display some signs of aggression on occasion, but not to the same degree of humans.

7. Forest Talkers are hidden away and will not be able to be reached during the Solstice.

REPRIEVE

1. Enola can only be met alone, but she will appear to all Interlopers in Milton.

2. Enola will be nowhere to be found afterwards, there are no tracks to be followed. She has simply vanished.

PLOTTING POST

Comments

[webshootings]

Yeah, you're not too bad.

[ Peter wouldn't even think he was an alien if he didn't know any better. But the Doctor's been nothing but kind to him. ]

Kind of wish more of them were like you. But, I'll take what I can get. Especially in this place where we're not really sure what's out there. It'd be nice if we could surprise the bad guys.

[flanerie]

"Twenty two years."

He doesn't have to think on it. So many other dates fade and blur with time, but not the day she came to them. He wonders if it ever will, or if he'd prefer if it did.

"Four of them happy. Perhaps I should count that as fortunate. So many families never achieve so much."

[desperate_times_right]

“Yeah, I guess that's a long time to build grudges.”

The age doesn't even narrow it down, since she's a vampire.

“Well, I hope you three can work it out.”

[flanerie]

They're in more familiar territory now, closer to the edge of the forest. He recognizes this tree, that hillock, this particular slope of the land. Sometimes it reminds him of being young the first time, these old instincts for a place.

"...yes," he says, almost distractedly, "One way or the other."

"But all this about my familial bonds, and I haven't asked after yours." He smiles winningly, all shine and brightness. "Any particularly tiresome relatives? Old feuds? Fresh tragedy?"

[burying]

I don't know. I don't know how to make it better, how to make it right. Move forward. [ make amends with her people here, and move forward. It's so easily said than done. And he knows it won't change anything, it won't make anything better. It's hard not to feel helpless in the face of action. ]

When I first got here, I thought I was going to go rabid from the get go. I asked someone if he'd shoot me but that's— this wasn't me being full rabid, but something else.

So— I don't really know what I should get people to do.

[burying]

"That wasn't me." he argues, but it's not just anger. It's desperation. He knows there's not bullshitting around it. Of course it was him. Louis saw what he did. "I mean, it was me but I was—"

He doesn't know how to explain it. But his throat feels tight and his stomach churns uncomfortably. His eyes are wet and he shakes his head.

"I... I can't eat people, Louis." he says softly. "Animals are one thing, but—"

He wasn't even supposed to eat animal brains, either. Not until he got that stupid power. But now the animals are all spooked off and it's getting harder and harder to find food.

"I just... I can't do it. What happened never should have happened."

[desperate_times_right]

Chloe shrugs. “Nothing too exciting. I've been on my own for a long time.”

Her father is dead and her mother had chosen family approval over Chloe a long time ago.

“We sort of had a blood feud with this guy for a while but he's dead now so it's all good.”

She had killed him right before coming here, so it being all good or not is a bit questionable. She hasn't exactly had the chance to process it.

[desperate_times_right]

Can you fall unconscious when you're like that? Maybe we should knock you out and lock you in your house until you cool off.

[wolf_lover]

[They'd both been through this before and Connor took comfort in that, knowing that they had experience with it, even if it had only happened one or two times before. It helped to center him, especially the physical contact between him and the two of them. He was most surprised that Snow would show him some, especially since as far as she knew he was just a fellow Fable and not connected to her in any way.

It was times like this that it was apparent Connor was very young for a Fable both mentally and physically, only in his early twenties and trying to find his place in the world. Sometimes, like right now, he still really needed his parents to show him the way. Having them around may have been a bit of an emotional crutch but right now it was beneficial. It allowed him to be able to work through the Darkwalker moving through the town.

When that crippling sensation of terror finally began to recede and he no longer felt paralyzed by it, he was able to speak.]

Is it over now?

[flanerie]

"My congratulations," he says, quite sincerely. "I'm sure that was satisfying."

Revenge tends to be, when all goes well. He certainly enjoys extracting it for pettier slights, although it's never been so sweet when it comes to wrongs of greater gravity. But those must be exceptions to the rule.

[desperate_times_right]

“I'm glad he can't pull any more shit, but I was expecting to feel better about everything than I do.”

Maybe it's just because she got kidnapped so fast.

[moralabsolutism]

[There it was. The two usual questions people had about his unusual appearance. Even after all this time, he wasn't good with giving straight answers regarding them]

Very carefully.

[He said in response to the first one, in a tone so dry it was hard to tell if it was sarcasm or a serious answer. Rorschach paused for a moment at the second question before giving an actual answer, this one more serious than the first but which still answered absolutely nothing.]

Only face that matters.

[moralabsolutism]

It certainly doesn't bring the best out of anyone here.

[Rorschach agreed with her. He wondered if this place was deliberately designed that way, to bring out their worst impulses and make them all eventually turn on one another. But he decided to keep such speculations to himself. He didn't want Kate worrying anymore than she already was.]

And yet it's still an improvement over New York for me. Which tells you something about how horrible that place was. Like living in an infected, rotting wound most of the time.

[Cheery talk and one he figured they didn't need to be delving into.]

I'm glad you're alright. This town would be much poorer without your presence here.

[Then, awkwardly but meant in a sincere fashion, he reached over and patted her hands still interlaced around her knees before jerking his hand again away as if he'd touched something hot.]

[flanerie]

"Ah." He nods, seized by a stroke of sympathy.

"Perhaps you haven't spent enough time considering all the misfortunes you've averted for yourself in the future? And all the pleasures he can no longer enjoy, severed from them as he is - although I suppose we're short on pleasures to indulge in. Still. You continue, he does not. You enjoy the privilege of outliving an annoyance. It's not such a common thing, for you quick-blooded mortals."

[bigbaddy]

[ Colour both of the men in the room surprised by Snow's gesture. He's seen her be gentle with kids before, sure, but-- those were usually little kids. The kids Bigby absolutely doesn't know how to deal with. (Not that he's all that better with teens and young adults, but-- you know, it's at least easier than dealing with the very little ones.)

Connor is a little too old to fall into that category, and yet Snow is treating him so sweetly in the middle of all this. The surprise provides a bit of a distraction in the middle of all the dread and fear, though--

...

Something is off, isn't it?

Bigby realizes it the moment Connor speaks up. Yes, the fear feels less than a moment ago, like it's fading away, but there's something odd. Bigby can't remember any of the previous times being like this. It puts him on edge, slowly releasing his hold on both of them. ]

Wait. [ He says, slowly rising from where he was sitting on the bed. He winces a little in pain, but easily bites through it. He's had worse.

Bigby turns his head to look at both Snow and Connor. ]

Don't move just yet.

[ He can't help but almost make it sound like an order - but it's not even because he's angry, it's because he's worried. Overprotective. He does not want to fuck around when it comes to anything relating to the Darkwalker, and he slowly moves over towards the window, pulling aside the curtain, and..

He frowns when he spots what's out there. ]

The darkness isn't leaving. [ It's an odd tone in his voice. A little bit of a grumble, but there's also clear surprise in it. As if this sight is even taking Bigby Wolf of all people aback. ] There's something wrong. It's not supposed to be like this.

[desperate_times_right]

“He was a pseudo-religious revolutionary leader,” Don’t ask her how she made an enemy of one of those, “so I'm not sure how many of the pleasures that I enjoy he would have indulged in, but I see your point.”

[flanerie]

"Self-righteousness is a sublime indulgence."

He even enjoys a touch of it himself, from time to time.

"And in your case, justified. Removing another bloviating prophet from the world is a most worthwhile endeavour, wouldn't you agree?"

[desperate_times_right]

“He really was the worst. 'Progress demands sacrifice' and yet somehow it was never his neck on the line.” Chloe rolls her eyes. “No idea what my partner saw in him.”

[thedreamer]

( ooc: Was thinking we could wrap here and do new stuff with the upcoming event maybe if that works! )

[ Truthfully, he wishes more of them were at least — well, if not entirely like him, at least easier to be reasoned with. To listen to other perspectives. He never gives up easily, even against creatures and entities that might attack with no hesitation, seemingly driven only by the urge to harm, but there are times when all reason and logic fails and — things have to be done. ]

Whatever happens here, whatever comes next, I do believe in us. Collectively. More should be like you, in fact.

wrapping works for me!

[webshootings]

That's...I appreciate you saying that.

[ He's done a lot of not believing in himself lately so having someone else say it is...a lot. It's good, it's overwhelming almost.

He swallows, smiles and then nods. ]

I hope there's more like me around. And you. Thank you.

[ For saying that and for being a good guy. Maybe they would get through this with good people around. ]

can probably wrap up!

[wingbound]

Huh?

[ Levi blinks blankly at him, not quite following the answer, sarcastic or not. The second part appears to reaffirm his other theory though, and he nods grimly. The fellow must not be human, then, at least not entirely, but he's seen weirder looking Interlopers by now (like Hornet, probably). ]

[ He's half tempted to call it ugly, but it's not like the poor sod can control it if it really is his face, so he decides to leave it for now.]

...I see.

[ He'll proceed to take his book and find a quiet corner for himself to start reading, and maybe taking some notes in a little flipbook he's found in some home. ]

[fidior]

[ She shouldn't see this. He knows Kate is no stranger to horrible things, both before and during this place, but she shouldn't have to. It's too much, too awful: this young man, a part of their community, now lying unmoving in a pool of red that's growing wider and wider in the snow.

Edward adjusts his hold on her, secures her tighter, and breathes quietly as he starts to turn around, slow, feeling as though time has slowed down into something that's impossible to count, mere seconds dragging out. ]

Yes. [ He's gone. He needs to say more, to explain, to plea, to tell her that he had to stop him, that something was wrong with Mikel, that he had to be stopped — but he can't bring himself to voice the words, not right now, and he knows Kate likely knows all of those things. The facts are there, too clear, stinging: Mikel was influenced by the darkness of this place. He attacked her. He wasn't going to stop, so he had to be stopped.

Edward's facing the boy now. He moves around him in a wide circle, but they'll have to walk past him, and he wills his legs forwards, trudging through the snow. There is a thought, though, something he suddenly feels he needs to say. To make certain of.

So he forces his eyes to move, to look at Mikel as he passes — to make sure that he's truly dead. That he isn't.... suffering. It becomes clear within moments that the died on impact, that the injuries are too severe. That is a mercy. ]

He's— he isn't suffering. It was over instantly.

[ Edward swallows hard, the movement felt down in his chest. Only when they're several feet past the dead boy and after he's turned the corner of the building nearby does he speak again. ]

It is safe now. You may open your eyes, if you wish.

[flanerie]

"It never is," says a man who has cheerfully refrained from putting his neck on the line for any occasion but the one that's left a thin scar across it.

"Perhaps they were moved by his passion," he suggests, as the lights of the town come closer, "Madness can be...compelling, in its way."

[desperate_times_right]

“I asked her that,” Chloe says, recalling the scowl it had netted her with a fond little laugh. “Whether joining up with that man and his merry little band of rebels gave her purpose. She said she just wanted to start with the worst one.”

[powersuited]

[ There's relief that comes, in the wake of an event like this, where the overall feeling of terror isn't quite as crushing anymore and Snow finally thinks that she might be able to breathe again. The fact that she's not alone helps, even if it's just the three of them standing together, her hand falling to Connor's shoulder while its twin lingers in Bigby's, creating a closed circuit that, for a moment, makes her feel safer in the midst of all of it.

The fact that Bigby's moving, though, is what draws her in his direction, hand leaving Connor as she immediately attempts to steady Bigby in his efforts to stand. He's still healing, and she knows any motion at this point has got to be painful for him, but when he's made up his mind on something, there'll be no deterring him. Besides, out of the three of them, he's been here the longest, and she knows she might have to cede to his instincts if he's sensing something off here. ]

Bigby?

[ His name leaves her uncertainly — not because she's wary of him, but what he can sense that she can't, and while she's initially tempted to cling to him, to squeeze harder to keep him from looking out the window, she lets him slip free, withdrawing her hand as she lingers over by the bed with Connor. ]

What do you mean, it's not leaving? [ A rhetorical question, since he's already answered it, but she isn't moving either, per his order. ]

You've never seen anything like this before?