And then...

[Neale]

This is a whimsical idea of mine, inspired by Prairie Home Companion, of all things. Garrison told a story which led from one disaster to another, wandering all throughout the world, into science fiction, fantasy and horror... I'd kinda like to try that here. Think of it as potentially the world's longest shaggy dog story. Just post whatever you feel like for what happens next to our poor hero and heroine...




Jack Armstrong and Claire Nichols were happily picnicking on the beach one afternoon, late in the summer. They had just finished their meal when they noticed a strange figure crawl painfully from the surf. Jack rushed down to offer assistance, but stopped several feet away, his mouth agape in shock.

This figure was clearly not human, nor any animal he'd ever heard of appearing on the Discovery Channel, resembling more than anything else something you'd see on late night UHF. It was roughly man-sized, bipedal, with two arms and a head, but there was where its resemblance to a primate ended. Scales covered it, mostly dark blue, with some lighter patterns evident. Its eyes were huge, the midnight black pupils some 3 inches wide.

The strange creature reached inside a flap of its flesh and pulled out a round, glowing object, pearlescent and about 5 inches in diameter. It pitched it towards Jack so it would land at his feet. The creature rasped out one word, black ichor spraying from its mouth as it did so, then collapsed, laying still as death.

Claire timidly crept up beside Jack, "What did it say, honey?" Jack narrowed his eyes, "I think it said, 'Beware.'"

And then...

 

[Guest]

*Posted by Ravenloft*

Jack knelt down to look at the grapefruit sized 'pearl'. He reached his hand out toward it when Claire came to his side. "Jack?" His eyes drifted from the 'pearl' to meet with Claire's eyes for a brief moment, then they turned toward the dead creature. "Beware" it had said... But of what? Jack looked out toward the water, it was calm. There didn't seem to be anything to be warry of out there... Was it this 'pearl' then? Jack could only imagine as he gathered it up in his hands. Claire said his name again, nervously.

Nothing happened. The 'pearl' rested comfortably in Jack's up turned palms. He stood and tilted his head to the side. Shifting the focus of his eyes from the creature to the 'pearl' then back again. "Lets get out of here. Call the police, or the coast guard or something..." Jack suddenly wanted to be where that thing wasn't and Claire didn't seem to object, as she was already on her way to Jack's car. He followed after her quickly, still holding the 'pearl'.

Claire sat in the passenger seat as Jack slipped in next to her. She looked over at him with surprise. "Jack! What are you doing?! Get rid of that thing! It gives me the creeps!" She stabbed a finger at the oversized pearl.

Jack looked down at the sphere as he sat it in his lap. "I don't think thats a wise idea..." He muttered. "What?!" Claire shot back, suddenly getting really annoyed and firghtened by how weird Jack was acting. Jack turned to her, seeming as calm as ever. "Listen... Whatever that thing out there was, it had its reason's for giving us this..." Jack said as he placed his hand over the pearl. "And for some reason, I think it was for our own good..."

Claire stared at Jack coldly for a moment then turned away, falling silent.

*and then?*

Ravenloft.

 

[Necromencer2]

Hey I don't want to but in or anything so I will ask permission...

*throat clearing*

Lord Neale, may I please have the honor of posting on your thread?

Post Permission: Imoens K.I.S.A? She is a mage-theif for crying out loud! She could kick your ass and still have time for tea!

 

[Necromencer2]

ohh......sorry neale, I thought you meant Imoen as in Baldurs Gate Imoen, not "the" imoen who hangs out in SRP

 

[poohlive]

Jack had seen that look before. He quickly started the car, putting it in gear. The tires squealed as the two year old Volvo left the parking lot.
"John," Claire's stern voice scolded him. John simply ignored her, heading back onto the hiway. It was a roundy romantic road that hugged the shore's edge. The shore abruptly turned to rocks as the road began to climb higher onto the adjacent mountainside.
Claire looked at the ocean as the car began to move higher into the air.
Outside she could see a storm approaching. She looked at it with great interest. It seemed to be coming into shore at a ridiculous speed. Her breath was caught in her throat as she turned back to John.
"John, would you look at that?"
John turned his head for a second, before going back to the road, "Yeah, that's great."
She sighed, relaxing a bit in her seat. A raindrop hit the windshield. It was huge, covering nearly a quarter of the glass. John put on the wipers at a rapid speed. His speed didn't diminish. Huge raindrops hit the car, shaking it slightly.
"John, shouldn't you slow down," she looked over at the speedometer. There was more fear and concern in her voice than anything else. The speedometer read nearly 60.
"Claire, don't tell me how to drive," he gripped the wheel tighter. The pearl, in his already whitening knuckles, moved between two of his fingers. The car slowly began to speed up on the wet road.
"John, Please!"
She was more frightened now. Scared now, she put her seatbelt on.
"Everything will be fine. We'll be hom in a few..."
The white ball erupted from his sweaty grip. It bounced on the ceiling and fell into Claire's lap. Screaming she pushed it down to the ground under her seat. John was looking at it the whole time, and then her. His eyes weren't on the road or the impending puddle of water.
"Give me the pearl Claire," he said, his tone was dark and authoritive.
"John, quick, look at the..."
"Claire, give it."
She looked at the road, and then back at the road. Quickly she bent down, searching desperately with her hands. After what seemed like eternity she found it, giving it back to him.
"Now, John, please..."
John grabbed the pearl, but as he did the steering wheel whirled around to the right, sending the car spinning. Claire began screaming as John tried to get control of the car. He wished he had put his seatbelt on. He didn't have time for wishful thinking though.
And then...

 

[Neale]

OOC

Necromencer2, old friend, so far as I am concerned, there is but one Imoen... My fiancee!
OOC: This thread is wide open to anyone and everyone to take the characters wherever they wish. I started it out of curiosity to see where it would go... Have at it, people!

 

[Necromencer2]

.....The world turned upside down as the car flipped into a ditch. John groaned as he pulled himself from the slightly burning reck that had been his car. "Claire, get out." was all he could manage, his ribs battered and bruised, his longs feeling crushed.

Turning towards her he saw blood trickling slightly down her face. He touched that lovely face, so warm, yet it was cooling ever so slowly.

The force of her condition hit him like an oncoming train.....Claire, the bright light in his life, was dead...because of him.

Standing up was painful on the outside, but deathlike on the inside. Tears pouring from his eyes, he decided to go get help, but first..

He spotted what he was looking for...the pearl. Picking it up, he threw it with all his might into the woods. "BASTARD!" he shouted.

He turned on his heel and began to walk away, but a strange tugging sensation made him look over his shoulder.

And then........

 

[Guest]

Jack turned, his eyes burning with tears, Claire was dead, nothing seemed real. So it seemed only natural that the orb was floating before him, pulsing with a soft pinkish-white light. "Go away DAMN YOU! You've done your damage! There is nothing more you can take from me!!!" Jack shrieked, a sudden burning rage ripping through him. The orb only came closer, pulsing still.

Jack swung his fist out at it, but his hand passed through the orb as though it were not there. Stumbling back, looking at the burning wreckage, Jack saw Claire's hand, bloody, hanging limply from the passenger window. Choaking back a sob, he crawled toward her, the pain was increadable, but he couldn't leave her in there... He just couldn't...

So, he dragged her limp body from the burning car and away from the wreckage, finally collapsing against her, his eyes shut tightly, bitter tears flowing down his cheeks. There was a faint glow of light from above, pulling him from his mourning. He looked up, eyes red, vision blurry. "Is this what that... That thing meant?! To... To beware of YOU?!" Jack shouted, he couldn't accept that HE was the reason Claire was dead... It was human nature... To blame anything but oneself. And he was only human.

In reply, the orb sunk low, coming within feet of Jack, its pulsing inner light irratic. It was trying to communicate. *Blink blink blink blink-blink-blink blink blink blink* Jack mouthed "S-O-S" to himself, his mouth hanging open. He knew now that the orb wasn't out to hurt him. Turning away, Jack looked down into Claire's face, there was a viscious gash above her brow and blood soaked her hair, Jack's lips turned into a grimmace of self loathing. He paid no attention to the orb as it sunk even closer, the light illuminating Claire's pale features. He could only hang his head, resting his cheek against her chest.

And there he laid, he would have laid there until the crows came for him if he hadn't felt her heart beat. Recoiling in shock, he looked down as she drew a rasping breath, her hair was still matted, but the gash on her brow was gone. Joack snapped his wondering gaze up, locking it onto the orb. An eiry silence followed and the orb went dark.

Jack reached out to it, so much had happened so quickly... His mind was rushing to catch up as the orb fell into his upturned palm. Looking from the, now innert, orb, down to Claire, Jack breathed out, a shaky breath of wonder.

*And then?*

Ravenloft

Sorry to negate Claires death, but I LIKED her!!! Damn it! And at least I made it a remarkable thing...

 

[Necromencer2]

Fine with me

I just killed her to give the guy somekind of anger against the badguys....whoever they were..

At the time....I did not know whether the orb was good or evil, so i improvised

 

[Neale]

In the distance, Jack and Claire heard the distinct sound of a helicopter approaching. As they stood, exhausted, their shadows eerily dancing in the firelight of their burning car, the helicopter came right over them, illuminating them in the actinic glare of a brilliant spotlight.

They shielded their eyes from the glare, watching the helicopter land. A lone figure, dressed in a white jumpsuit, marked only by a golden 'Q' on its breast, strode toward them. As it came closer, they could see it was a redhaired and bearded man, in his late 40s. "I am Professor Quest, and I am here to help you."

And then...

 

[Ravenloft]

Jack got to his feet, supporting Claire as she rose too, her arms wrapped about his shoulder. Jack turned to her, smoothing her hair back again, his eyes showing great concern as she closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest.

Jack turned to this Quest fellow. "Is that so? You're a little late for the show then..." Jack said as he arched an eyebrow. He stayed rooted where he stood, sizing the man up.