oceanview (different path) || ❝ turn the page i need to see something new. ❞

[outlierdirector]

a different path,
the same road.

When I thought that I fought this war alone
You were there by my side on the frontline
When I thought that I fought without a cause
You gave me a reason to try CODE BY TESSISAMESS

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[outlierdirector]

"Hey, Al! Snap out of it! Come on, man. The lights are one. We're good, right? Safe in the light!"

[ Jesse holds the manuscripts to her. She looks back up at Alan and Barry. Whatever happened, Alan hasn't quite returned to them. She glances to the side, frowning not sure what she should do. What if he thinks she and Polaris are just like the Dark Presence and Hartman? What if he wants nothing to do with her now that she did... whatever it was.

Polaris gently tugs at her mind. Her gaze turns to where her friend directs her and sees Alan's outstretched hand. She only hesitates for a brief moment before her hand reaches out and wraps around his. ]

[crazyisinevitable]

[ Alan's eyes look several shades darker than they should, as if some of the darkness got inside him and is doing its best to pull him away like it did with Hartman. But Alan's fighting back, because the darkness is terrifying and it scares him; he doesn't want to be like Hartman, even if Hartman may not have deserved what he got. Maybe he did. Maybe it's a kind of poetic justice. But Alan doesn't want to end up that way.

Fingers stretch out as desperation rises, but finally... finally he feels his fingers latch onto Jesse's hand as she reaches out for him in return. His fingers curl and he holds on as tightly as he can without hurting her.

When he speaks, there's a hint of shakiness in his voice as if the brush with darkness rocked him. ]

It- It's still dark; it's always going to be dark, as long as that thing is around. That thing that's not a thing; it's not something you can fight or hit or-

[ Alan's gaze shifts, eyes looking around as if searching for more light sources. They need more light. The lights in the room aren't enough. Maybe a floodlight would do it, but where are they going to find that? ]

I think- I think we need to get out of here, get somewhere safer. And keep the lights on.

[outlierdirector]

"Al, buddy. Hey, helloooo. Look at me. The lights are on, okay? The weird... I don't know, evil cloud thing? It's gone for now. We got the pages we need so we can figure out where to go now."

[ Barry puts his hands on Alan's shoulder and gives another good shake. Something to try and focus Alan on the present. They need to be able to move forward and get the next steps done to save Alice. ]

Alan. [ Jesse hates how small her voice sounds. She curls her hand around his and gives a squeeze. An anchor just like Barry is trying to make. ] The lights are on in the whole building.

[crazyisinevitable]

[ Barry gives him a shake, and even though it's not what he intended, for just a few seconds after, his shoulders continue shaking until he collects himself enough to stop the shellshocked response.

It takes another second for him to be able to look Barry in the eye, followed by yet another as he shifts his gaze to look at Jesse. There's tension in his face that has yet to fade, as well as a scared, wary look in his eyes. ]

It's gone for now, but it'll come back. [ He shifts his weight to lean against Barry just a little, and he squeezes Jesse's hand in return. ]

I don't know if we're safe here, even with all the lights on. [ But are we safe anywhere? ]

[outlierdirector]

[ Jesse and Barry share a worried glance between them. Barry may have no real idea of what is going on, but she has seen something similar. Alan isn't flying into an absolute rage screaming at the top of his lungs about how the Dark Presence will get them all in the end... but it's close to what happened in Ordinary.

Almost too close.

She presses her lips together and looks down. ]

"So, then let's get the hell out of here before it comes back! Where do we need to get to? Back to town? Unless there's a huge ass battery here somewhere."

[crazyisinevitable]

[ Alan would be lying if he said he wasn't worried too. He's worried, terrified, unsure where to go or what he should be doing. He can't help but feel that there's no escape; there's darkness everywhere, and how much good will staying in the light do? But he has to put on a brave face for Barry and Jesse, and that's exactly what he does, as best as he can. ]

Yeah. We need to get going; I'm not sure where to go, but we have to go. Maybe something in the pages will tell us where. We can't keep hiding; I mean, you two can, but I have to figure out what I need to do next. Maybe... maybe if I split off from you, the darkness will leave you alone. Or- maybe it'll come after you to make you chase me. No, I can't leave you behind.

[outlierdirector]

[ Jesse's hand clamps around Alan's at the suggestion they split up. That isn't happening. She isn't going to let it go like that. He isn't facing any of this alone. He has her, and Barry, and even Polaris--not that he knows that.

She hands the manuscript pile to Barry. He begins to shuffle through it. He settles on one page, looking it over a few times. Then, his eyes raise to Alan with a questioning look on his face. ]

"You, uh, know a place called the Anderson farm?"

[crazyisinevitable]

[ His eyebrows lift when he feels her hand clamp further around his, but he doesn't pull away. He wants the contact, the touch, even if he doesn't understand why; it reminds him that he's still here, that the darkness hasn't dragged him off too.

He's still torn, because part of him wonders if maybe Jesse and Barry will be safe if he makes sure they get to a safe room or a safe building and he leaves them there, each of them going their separate ways. The darkness wants him, not them. If he leaves, they'll be fine.

It's just getting the two of them to go along with it, and he's already sure they won't. But then Barry suggests a location and Alan snaps to attention. ]

I thought I heard some of the locals mentioning it. If it's a farm, maybe it's far enough out of the way that we can go there and regroup. I think- wait, it wasn't the locals. Anderson... I know that name. I think- There were a couple of old guys caught up in Hartman's hellhole named Anderson. Maybe it's their farm.

[outlierdirector]

[ Jesse simply continues to hold onto his hand. It's not a death grip, or something that would hurt him. She's not even clingy. If anything? She does her best to make it secure. Something that can ground him in the middle of everything that seems so ungrounded. ]

"Couple of old guys here? Huh. What a dirtbag." [ Barry sighs and waves his hand. ] "Alright, I'll get looking around and find directions. Think you can drive, Al? I dunno if I trust the kid."

I can legally drive.

"Yeah, when you're like sixteen. Come on, lets get out of here."

[crazyisinevitable]

[ He wants to just stay like this, holding her hand, forcing himself to breathe and think and not lose himself in blind terror. Never mind that terror is lurking around them, waiting for them to move so it can strike. With effort, he pulls himself out of his spiraling thoughts so he can actually hold a conversation with them both. ]

Yeah. He's a tool. No, that's insulting to tools. He's a grade A asshole. [ Alan looks uncertain for half a second but he forces himself to look less rattled and more put together. ] Yeah, I think I can handle driving. If I can't, well, I'll trade off with one of you.

[ He spares a glance for Jesse, one that says he actually does trust her. He gives her hand a light tug, not wanting to let go even as they start getting ready to leave. ]