[ It's freezing. Literally. Less than, in fact, and the wind is harsh and blows snow that fills the air and makes visibility near zero. Still, on one rocky ridge there's the glow - a portal, all spinning amber sparks, opens up and releases two people: one bald and in dark elegant robes, unbothered by their surroundings, the other scraggly in every way that counts and wearing light, loose, short-sleeved training attire.
The unkempt man speaks first, hunched and staring around, clearly out of his element.
"Wait... is this - ?"
"Everest." The wind whips savagely but her voice carries with no trouble, and she's earnest and unconcerned when she follows it with. "Beautiful."
"Yeah, r-right. Beautiful." He's clutching at his mostly bare arms. "Freezing, but beautiful."
"At this temperature, a person can last for 30 minutes before suffering permanent loss of function."
"Great.."
"But you'll likely go into shock within the first two."
Hands in pockets, taking one last casual glance around, she turns and begins to walk back in the direction of the portal.
It takes him a second too long to process what she's just said, too busy with his chattering teeth and the barely anything he can see of the view. "—What?"
"Surrender, Stephen..." That's sing-song, a parent's casual chiding, and then she's through the portal and it begins to close.
He lurches up toward it, squawks a No!, but by the time he reaches it the portal is nothing but sparks on the wind and he falls right through them to his knees, staggering back up to his feet a moment later with a look of wild panic.
Is she insane? He's going to die. He's absolutely, definitely going to die. ]
mount everest it is!! I'm Very Late, 0 pressure to reply
The unkempt man speaks first, hunched and staring around, clearly out of his element.
"Wait... is this - ?"
"Everest." The wind whips savagely but her voice carries with no trouble, and she's earnest and unconcerned when she follows it with. "Beautiful."
"Yeah, r-right. Beautiful." He's clutching at his mostly bare arms. "Freezing, but beautiful."
"At this temperature, a person can last for 30 minutes before suffering permanent loss of function."
"Great.."
"But you'll likely go into shock within the first two."
Hands in pockets, taking one last casual glance around, she turns and begins to walk back in the direction of the portal.
It takes him a second too long to process what she's just said, too busy with his chattering teeth and the barely anything he can see of the view. "—What?"
"Surrender, Stephen..." That's sing-song, a parent's casual chiding, and then she's through the portal and it begins to close.
He lurches up toward it, squawks a No!, but by the time he reaches it the portal is nothing but sparks on the wind and he falls right through them to his knees, staggering back up to his feet a moment later with a look of wild panic.
Is she insane? He's going to die. He's absolutely, definitely going to die. ]