Elbin
Elbin is very excitable and happy, a young gnome full of boundless energy. Crys sees him as a kind of younger brother, and he's the son of Greta. In reality, he embodies the lively spirit that comes with childhood. He's the first to "die" when the world starts to fall apart and his "death" is used to fuel the fire of the idea that therapy is hurting them.
Scene Stuff
"Elbin? Elbin!!" Crys cried out as she ran towards the little gnome, even as cracks appeared in his round little face. "Elbin, what's wrong, how can I fix it?" Aisling stood nearby, watching with a wise old frown. "Crys, there's nothing you can do."
Poor Elbin looked terrified, even as the cracks in his face widened and spread. "Crysie, what's going on? My face hurts..." His soft little hands brushed against his cheek, confusion and fear in his eyes. "I-I'm not sure Elby, but I'm gonna fix it ok? You're gonna be ok, I promise." Tears pricked her eyes as she clutched his little hand in hers, even as he shook and pieces of his skin began to flake away like chipped porcelain. "Aisling, do something! Why aren't you helping him?!" Crystal cried, desperately picking up the pieces in an attempt to hold him together. Aisling only shook her head.
"This is what happens when you begin to doubt us. You're the only one who belives in us Crys. If you lose faith, this is what happens: we crumble like paper in the wind." Aisling's voice is solemn and mournful, like she's resigned to the information she has to convey. Crys sobs softly, holding his face in her hands. "No! I believe. Of course I believe. I know you're real. C'mon Elby, you can't leave me, please..." But Elbin was already gone, crumpling to dust in her hands even as she begged him to stay.
One of her closest friends, gone in an instant, all from a moment of doubt.
Of all Crys' fairy friends, there was one little gnome named Elbin that was her absolute favorite. He was a sweet little guy, only about 3 feet tall and bursting with wild energy. This is who she was looking for now.
"Elbie! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" Crys called out, her voice echoing across the empty house. Her mom was at work, as usual, and Elbin loved playing hide and seek, so anytime the house was empty they played. He always found new, creative hiding spots, she'd never found him in the same spot twice.
Crys hummed softly to herself as she checked all the cupboards and hidey holes, thouroughly searching the house. No sign of Elbie. With a sigh she started up the stairs, resigned to rechecking everywhere she already looked, when she heard a child-like giggle. She froze in her tracks, listening intently. Another giggle came from under the stairs. Walking back down the steps, she circled the staircase. There wasn't any space under the stairs... but they did have a basement that shealways forgot about. He must be down there.
Racing through the house, Crys located the basement entrance: a simple trapdoor next to the back door. She couldn't help but cough as she swung it open, dust exploding from the entrance that hadn't been opened in who knows how long. As she peered down into the darkness and her eyes adjusted, she could make out the rickety old ladder, obviously dangerous. "Elbin! I know you're down there! Come on up!" Her own voice answered her in echoes, until it was only silence. She really didn't want to go down there.
"Elbin, c'mon, don't make me come down there!" She called again, but still no one responded. So she sighed and grabbed her phone from her pocket, turning on the flashlight, and started down the rotten old rungs.
Each step was accompanied by an ominous creak, the wood bowing under her feet as she prayed it wouldn't snap. One step after another, her flashlight slicing through the darkness to reveal eerie things that had been down there longer than they had lived in the apartment. The last time Crys came down here was, in fact, the day they signed the lease, and she had been eight years old at the time. It had terrified her back then, and it honestly wasn't much better now.
Finally, she reached the bottom, dust swirling around her feet as she jumped the last two rungs, and she turned to face the darkness. Even with her flashlight, the darkness seemed to press against her, a pressure she logically knew was from being underground but felt like dark forces out to get her. In all her time connected with the fairy world, Crys and Aisling had only ever encountered one creature from the darker side of the worlds. A small, shadowy creature that haunted her day to day life often when she was younger. One that, though she'd never admit it, still haunted her.
Back then, she'd been powerless against the little Alp that had decided she was it's next target. The night terrors it caused tormented her for years, and every once in a while it returned to spite her, though she hadn't told Aisling that. Alps are malicious little creatures, shapeshifting demons that cause sleep paralysis and terrifying nightmares by sitting on a victim's chest at night, sometimes suffocating them. Her little Alp had never completely suffocated her, but it had gotten close before. Sometimes, whenever she saw hats, it still triggered her anxiety.
Now, in the pitch black, she could almost see it's glowing red eyes, peering at her from the darkest corners. She shook her head, trying to ignore the fear, but her trembling light gave it away. "Elbin! This isn't funny, please come out!"
Almost on queue two wide, sage green eyes appeared in the darkness. They blinked once, twice, and then Elbin stepped into the light. The light glinted off his silvery white hair and red gnome cap, his smile big and bright.
"Crysie, you found me! It took you soooo long!" Elbin cried, dancing around her excitedly. Crys let out a sigh of relief. "Elbie, you can't hide down here, it's too dangerous! Plus it's creepy and icky and awful..." She trailed off as she started back up the ladder. Elbin was quick behind her, scrambling up the rungs like he was walking on air.
Physical Description
Apparel & Accessories
Tan short sleeve t-shirt with a red satchel across his back with a brown leather strap, tan khaki pants and brown boots
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