Chapter Text
LOCAH isn’t nearly as bad as you’d imagined it would be. From what Jane described, you assumed it would be grim, depressing, and damp. Which it is.
It’s not terrible, but you could certainly do without the damp factor. (Water in general, you can deal with, most times, i.e. the rain from the seed pods here, and the bodies of water they’re responsible for. Damp is just another thing entirely, and it’s not fun)
It’s plain right off the bat that no one has lived on this god-forsaken rock since, well… since far longer than the four-hundred-and-thirteen years that originally separated you. No mistaking that.
It is also uncannily like something out of those Indiana Jones films Jake loves so much. Tombs filled with puzzles, scarabs crawling the walls, skulls everywhere, weird heiroglyphs and tablets. (in all honesty, you’re a bit confused as to why the game picked this for Jane, as opposed to Jake)
It is also dark. Very dark.
You remember having a difficult time adjusting to the low light, here, when you first came through the Gate. You were just lucky that a system of mirrors and lanterns keeps the place lit enough to see the paths. Not to mention those seed pods. Damn, those things are colorful.
Doesn’t change the fact that it’s still dim as fuck.
Which brings you to your current situation.
“Will you please watch where you’re going?!”
Jane’s voice and a pound on your shoulder drags you out of your thoughts.
“I’m sorry, princess, but you’ve been really quiet, and a man will inevitably let his mind wander when no talking is done. Doesn’t matter where he is, or what he’s doing, the brain will inevitably take a vacation trip to the other side of the planet.”
“Pfft! This from the guy who will go on and on about robots and ponies and stuff when there’s nothing else to talk about!”
“You could help me by giving me something to talk about. Shit just doesn’t come up out of the blue, so to speak.”
She just huffs, and you can feel her bury her face in the back of your neck.
Neither of you says anything else, for now.
It’s been like this for a while, now. Ever since she took a bad step, while the two of you were exploring the ruins, and she twisted her ankle. (Maybe she’s getting a little too enthusiastic about this game, what with her running around from puzzle to puzzle. This place isn’t booby trapped, but it is still easy to take a nasty fall. You can thank the dimness of LOCAH for that.)
She’s been piggybacking on you, since then. It wasn’t a problem, at first; you both enjoyed the company to begin with, and she even expressed pleasant surprise when you offered to carry her.
Then things started to get a bit tense.
Right now, when she isn’t complaining about the rough terrain and/or you seeming to space out (you’re just checking in on Derse, nothing huge; and besides you’re just multitasking like AR advised), she’s had her arms around your neck like you’re the only life-preserve left on a sinking ship.
And of course, you’ve both been yelling at Lil Seb to stop scampering so far ahead.
You’re both tired, and small arguments have been happening more and more, like the one just now.
You’re sick of it, and you’re willing to bet she is, too.
Finally, in an effort to diffuse the tension that’s been building up, you say the only thing you can think of.
“Let’s just find someplace to camp.”
“Hmm?” She lifts her head up.
“I don’t know what time it actually is, but I really think we need to sit down, rest, and get our bearings.” You shrug, as you shift her higher on your back. “Besides, we need to do something about your ankle.”
She smirks and prods your collarbone. “Back to being a gentleman, are we, Strider? Why, I didn’t think you had it in you!”
“I can and will drop you, Jane. Especially if you keep that attitude up.”
She chuckles, but doesn’t push any more metaphorical buttons. She simply gestures dramatically at the path before you.
“Lead on, Dirk!”