Sixth Iteration Logs

<div class="postheader">WHO: (Who is making the post)
WHERE: (Where the post takes place)
WHEN: (When the post takes place)
OPEN TO: (Who the post is open to tags from -- Specific characters, all, none, etc.)
WARNINGS: (Please warn for adult content or anything triggering) <hr></div>
Put your post text here

tosavecocoon

WHO: Oerba Dia Vanille
WHERE: House 38, LITERALLY ANYWHERE ELSE
WHEN: May 5th through May 18th
OPEN TO: EVERYONE
WARNINGS: will update as needed
NOTES: MOOD MUSIC

House 38, for Phryne and Ashley, May 5th

Vanille wakes up today like any day on this world. It's a normal day as far as she knows, so she gets up, stretches, and heads out to get ready for the day. Once she's in her normal outfit - she's forever happy that she has her normal clothes and doesn't have to wear those scrubs anymore - she heads outside to check on the herd. All six of the larger ones are happy to see her as usual and she dotes on them as she ever does. After a while, she steps back to lean against the fence so she can watch them. She misses the wildlife of Gran Pulse sometimes, especially chocobos. It's been so long since she's seen a chocobo. They would get along great with the animals she already has and, even better, would be the best beasts of burden they have around.

Sometimes she wonders what it would be like to be a chocobo.

It happens almost without her realizing it is. Her body starts growing, elongating her nose, her mouth turns hard and... her limbs look... yellow. She gasps and everything goes back to normal. But this has made her wonder.

In a few minutes, she's figured it out. Giggling to herself, she runs to the front door of the house, yelling out through the halls from outside. "Phryne! Ashley! You gotta come outside and see this!" When they do make it outside, together or separately, they'll find a large flightless yellow bird waiting out in the pen with the others. It keeps shifting its weight, fluttering its wings every so often. Maybe it's excited about something?

They clearly need to check out this new... bird...

EVERYWHERE - OTA, May 5th through May 18th

After surprising her roommates with her new ability, she immediately starts running around the entire south village to find everyone she can. Anyone she knows is automatically a target, finding the best places and ways to introduce her friends to one of her favorite animals. Chocobo!Vanille can be found literally anywhere in the south village. Particular places that might find a giant yellow bird outside are the Inn, the fountain park, and any of her friends' houses.

Hopefully, everyone is happy to see a chocobo because here one is.

Chocobo!Vanille is generally well-behaved. She likes being petted and might even preen a couple of people before revealing herself. If someone scratches her under her chin, she'll stretch her neck up and flutter her wings happily. Just don't bend any of her feathers backwards. That hurts.

If she's feeling particularly playful, she can be found running circles around people, dancing, even jumping over things to see just how high she can get. This sometimes has a rather comedic effect, given that chocobos can't... fly. Sometimes she trips over things, not quite adjusted to a chocobo's movements. Sometimes she just falls out of the air, claws over tail feathers, wings flapping frantically and getting her nowhere, before she faceplants on the ground.

Ow.

Anyone is welcome to help a poor bird out, play with the bird, pet the bird, or just laugh at her comedic attempts at getting anything done.

enterprisingheart

WHO: Jean-Luc Picard
WHERE: The Inn, the villages, and anywhere in between
WHEN: NPC siege!
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE
WARNINGS: Warnings in subject lines as needed
Note: Plot details over here!

Things are none too settled in the villages, of late, between kidnappings and any of the other various attack of the interlopers (for lack of anything better). And with the latter coming more and more frequently over recent days, it's only really a matter of time before something needs to be done.

The question is then: what? And how?

connatural

WHO: Ashley Magnus
WHERE: Fountain, Inn, Around
WHEN: End of March
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: Violence, brainwashing, experimentation fallout

( They are the force between when the sunlight is arising )

tosavecocoon

WHO: Oerba Dia Vanille
WHERE: Fountain, House 38, the south village Inn
WHEN: March 18th
OPEN TO: First come, first served on the re-arrival just to keep myself straight, everything else is OTA
WARNINGS: There miiight be mentions of sacrificing herself to save others - will update if anything else comes up

FOUNTAIN - ~~FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED~~ MAINE

Turning into crystal is the strangest thing to be familiar with, but this is the second time it's happened to Vanille. This time, though, she and Fang had wanted it. They had been through so much together with their Cocoon family that when the time came, when they really did destroy Orphan, they realized that they had another gift to give the people of Cocoon. Despair wasn't the only way to become Ragnarok and the truth was, they were always better acting together than separate.

So Fang and Vanille had willingly become Ragnarok, but instead of destroying Cocoon, they saved it. They reinforced some of Cocoon's outer shell and sucked up all of the crystal dust that had fallen onto Gran Pulse, creating a strong crystal pillar out of it to hold Cocoon in place. That was as much as they could do and now they were part of the crystal pillar, part of the only thing holding Cocoon up in the sky. There they would stay, for as long as the crystal pillar survived.

The sensation of being crystal isn't as wet as she feels now. Something is different. She flexes her hands, something she shouldn't have been able to do at all, given that she'd been holding Fang's hands in the pillar. Frowning, she finally pries her eyes open, shocked at the sight of water around her. Light shines from above, so that is where she goes, kicking with all of her might until she finally breaks the surface of the water. She coughs once she's up, leaning her arms on the stone wall, but not yet far enough to have her head over the edge. She still has to cough up some water from her lungs and come to terms with the fact that she isn't a crystal anymore and what that might mean.

SOUTH VILLAGE INN - OTA

Once she has been fished out of the water, she finds herself a place in the Inn, only really wanting to warm up and dry off properly before she makes her way back to the house. She's grabbed a spare blanket or something like one and is at least wrapped up in it by now. At some point, she has a lot she will need to process. True to form, though, she's pushing a lot of that aside for later. She might be sitting by the fire, but part of the reason she stayed in the Inn for a while is to see if she can find anyone she knows. Several people deserve to hear something about what happened to her and if she can find familiar faces, all the better.

Anyone who comes by is greeted with a smile at least. "You can sit by the fire with me, if you want. There's plenty of room."

House 38 - OTA

Eventually, she makes her way back to the house she has been sharing with Phryne and Ashley. Her head hurts, her heart is heavy, and she's only partially coping with everything that happened back on Cocoon. Her first stop is to say hello to the animals outside in their pen. She hugs each of the larger animals, staying outside long enough to notice or be noticed by anyone walking by. Passerby will receive a wave from her, especially if she knows them. Then she makes her way inside to try to find her housemates and the dogs. Raine and Bhakti announce her arrival and she spends some time cuddling and loving on both of them.

"You didn't miss me, did you?" she teases them, letting both of them lick her face and hands as much as they want. "I hope you were good while I was gone."

sonofthedawn

WHO: Lucifer Morningstar
WHERE: Near the river
WHEN: March 10
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: Geese on Man violence

He's found the interesting little vending machine during one of his sojourns out and about.

It's a pretty little thing, but it is interesting that of all the powers within it, not a single one appears to be his. It's only further evidence to him that Dad doesn't want him to have proper fun, though at least he can have some sort of a good time. It's also a shame no one thought to stock the vending machine with at least one row of Twinkies. If you're going to have the technology, you might as well best use it.

He's whistling and chipper as he selects rapid regenerative healing and makes a note to come back for some of the other extremely helpful powers that are on display. Once he's pressed the button, he now needs to make the more important discovery and see if it's worked.

No time like the present.

He recalls seeing the geese-like animals near some of the bodies of water, which is perfect. It's not so large that if this healing hasn't kicked in, he'll be dead, but he also knows that geese at home are vicious enough that he'll have quick success if he does this right. It's not far before he finds some milling about the river, looking fretfully calm. If Lucifer has a talent (of which he has many, but this is paramount), it's being able to annoy something into a rage.

"Come on, then!" he demands, shouting loudly and splashing them with water, getting right into their little fiendish faces to agitate them. "I know you're Dad's least favourite creatures," he taunts. "Come and do something about it, will you?" He's ever closer, making loud noises against each of their squawks, and eventually, enough noise, flapping of his arms, and splashing does the trick.

The nearest one lunges for him with an intent to bite and bite it does, sinking its teeth into Lucifer's skin. He lets out a howl of surprise, tinged with delight, and steps back to see if that will do the trick, looking at the punctured skin with eager fascination.

To anyone looking in from the outside, maybe they would think that he's lost his mind, but Lucifer might just have a way to get part of his powers back and he's thrumming with the excitement of it, staring at his arm like it's treasure and not just a nasty goose bite.

connatural

WHO: Ashley Magnus
WHERE: Around the village
WHEN: During the first part of March, post Take Two
OPEN TO: OTA, with individual threads for Desmond and Lucy
WARNINGS: Talk of dying and killing likely

( But I'm still alone in my mind )

valdyr

WHO: Ubbe Ragnarsson
WHERE: Inn by the fireplace!
WHEN: Evening of 2/20
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: None! (Please warn for adult content or anything triggering)

Almost every evening since arriving, Ubbe goes to the hall most call the "Inn", which is somewhat appropriately named given most go in to gather and prepare food and eat. But the Viking goes for the fireplace and for the warmth it brings. He spends hours there, staring into the flames while it takes him back to many evenings at the Great Hall in Kattegat.

One thing he remembers well is how loud and busy it is when everyone comes together with men and women and children celebrating for many different reasons. Most times, it was the return of their people from successful raids and to feast and drink to the ones who had died glorious deaths in battle and earned their way into Valhalla to drink with Odin and Thor. They gathered to celebrate weddings and births and to honour traditions like Jól and Ostara.

It was a place that brought back a flood of memories for the displaced Viking.

Tonight, Ubbe remembers the stories told around the fire in the middle of the longhouse. The ones overheard by the men and women, their travels and the riches they came home with. The ones Floki would tell with such great enthusiasm and intensity in his eyes. It was the way he laughed while telling them that always seemed to make the tale a little scarier than it should be. But mostly, Ubbe remembers the way his father, Ragnar, told them to him and his brothers when they were young boys. His voice always seemed to bring life to them better than anyone else and that makes him smile.

[ Feel free to catch Ubbe quietly reminiscing or smiling in memory! Then sit down and let him tell you a story :) ]

tosavecocoon

WHO: Oerba Dia Vanille
WHERE: House 38, around
WHEN: early February
OPEN TO: All! With a closed section for Ashley
WARNINGS: TBD

OTA

As soon as Vanille got back from the long hike, she threw herself into her daily routine. The pups were happy to see her back and she was equally happy to see them. She was also happy to see her bed again and the comfort of her home away from home.

So, in an effort to avoid thinking about everything she saw for as long as possible, she spends the majority of her time with the animals. Sometimes she can be found in the pen with the larger ones, sometimes she's outside the pen playing fetch with the quickly growing puppy and the reptilian dog. Other times, she takes the whole group for a walk outside. She's discovered that it's really a lot easier to guide the herd if she's on the back of one of the kirin. Given how responsive they are to her, it hasn't been hard to train them to obey her weight changes, rather than anything around their heads. They are still a bit flightier than her others, but as long as she remains calm, so do they.

Unfortunately, this doesn't always help the other kirin. Sometimes it spooks and then Vanille has to command Raine to stay with the llamas while she rides off to fetch the loner. She always returns with the other kirin trailing behind her.

"There's a good girl," she says soothingly, releasing the renegade kirin back into the herd. "See? Not bad at all."

CR - anyone she has at all spoken to, even over the network

Vanille gives it a couple of days before she starts her rounds of checking on everyone. She doesn't know what all everyone had broadcast and how that affected them all. What she does know is that her group hadn't fared too well. If any of the others had bad memories or uncertain futures play out, she wants to at least be there for them, even if they don't really address the issues.

So she spends time knocking on doors and bothering her friends at the Inn or anywhere else she might see them. "Hi!" she chirps brightly, with the tone of someone who thinks there's nothing wrong at all. "What are you doing today?"

Ashley

Ashley is one she saves for last, mostly because she has a feeling she's going to need some intervention here. Vanille knows the right door to approach and does so with purpose, knocking firmly on the door. "Ashley? It's Vanille! Open up!"

Open up, Ashley, or Vanille might just come right on in.

nobroth

WHO: Alistair Theirin
WHERE: Southwest of the South Village
WHEN: Feb 6
OPEN TO: OTA
WARNINGS: Probably some Thedosian cursing.

There were many things Alistair was. An idiot, according to quite a few. A bastard, according to quite a lot more. Few credited him with determination, and maybe that was true once. Years of living at the edge of being caught and killed, though, had kept him literally and figuratively on his toes, and his pursuit of knowledge about Corypheus? He had been determined to see it through.

And that was why, even though it was damned cold and he could feel snow coming in the air, he had trekked out into the woods and, armed with only an axe, had brought in a few trees. Not big ones - not like he'd prefer - but ones he'd found in overcrowded patches in the woods that would never grow bigger with the canopy as thick as it was. One by one, he'd hauled them to the southwestern edge of the village and had begun work once he'd gathered them there. He hacked off branches, the smaller of which would make good firewood and kindling, the larger of which could actually do well for smaller projects. He already had a mental list. He could do... enough with the axe. Not a great amount, but enough. Enough to build a few sawhorses, which would be absolutely necessary, and then to start work on some carts, which would be just as needful as the sawhorses. Provided he could find someone better at marking circles than him, anyway.

He'd already hung his coat on a branch that had a smaller, strong branch sticking up - his swinging the axe was making him sweat, and he knew that when it came time to stop, he'd have to go in quickly to keep from getting sick. But as it was, there he stood, with one log already nicely shaped, a pile of brush nearby, as he worked at hacking branches off the next, a quiet song keeping time with every axe swing.

lifeofadeathseeker

WHO: Kalen
WHERE: The Inn or The Fountain
WHEN: Feb 2
OPEN TO: Open to all
WARNINGS: No warnings anticipated

( I'm tied to so many things I don't need to do )

sixthiteration

WHERE: Inari Shrine and elsewhere
WHEN: 25 January 2019 through ?
OPEN TO: All opted in characters
WARNINGS: Please warn in the subject line of your comment as needed, and remember to move anything turning adult to a new post.
IMPORTANT NOTES: Final reminders and informational links are here. Please label all top-levels clearly so that there is no confusion who they are open to and what they are for, and DON'T FORGET TO ADD YOUR TAG!
Have fun and ask questions here!

aguidingkey

WHO: Aqua
WHERE: Bunker, Inn, blacksmith (all south village)
WHEN: January 4th (bunker), January 5th for the rest
OPEN TO: Bunker is closed to Malik, the rest are OTA
WARNINGS: tbd!

bunker, January 4th, closed to Malik

Darkness had surrounded her for so long that she wasn't even sure if she would ever see the light again. It was almost as though she belonged to the Realm of Darkness now. Like she was a part of it somehow. Aqua had spent her life fighting darkness and had sacrificed herself to protect Terra from being lost here with her. That all seems so long ago. Sometimes a part of her wonders if it was even worth it in the end. Did Xehanort get what he wanted in the end? She doesn't know.

She just feels so lost and disconnected, forever wandering in the darkness.

Her eyes slide closed for just a minute. But it's a minute that feels like it lasts an eternity. Just like everything else in this realm. The sensation of falling asleep is the last thing she remembers. Inside the tube deep in the bunker located on another world entirely, she sleeps, unaware of where she is or why. Her name and vitals flash on the tube's readout, the only signs that she is alive at all. For now, her body rests within the stasis tube, the magenta scrubs a glaring contrast to the soft blue of her hair.

Inn, January 5th

After spending the remainder of the night and part of the morning in an abandoned house, she decides to take a better look around the southern village. Around lunchtime, Aqua slowly pushes open the door to the Inn. Her limbs feel like lead and she can't tell if it's because she's not used to so much light or because the Realm of Darkness took so much energy out of her all the time. She squints a bit at the flood of light, still not used to it after so long with so much darkness clawing at her. Finally, after she manages to get her eyes to adjust, she makes her way inside, closing the door softly behind her. So many people seem crowded into this one space; it's hard for her to adjust. She will, of course, but a part of her had almost thought she would never see anyone again. Her eyes search for any familiar faces, out of habit, but of course she doesn't see any. Ven is still sleeping and Terra...

She doesn't know what's happened to Terra and that's one of the things that keeps tearing at her.

Steeling herself, she takes a deep breath and heads for what appears to be the kitchen area. She can see at least a couple of people in here. Maybe one of them can answer a few more questions for her. "Um, excuse me," she says to the nearest person, doing her best not to take up more time than she needs to. "I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could tell me how much munny a plate of food is."

She doesn't really have munny right now, but she is willing to work for her food and help out as much as she can. Besides, having something to do will help her keep her mind occupied and keep her from thinking too much about what's going on in the Realm of Light.

blacksmith, January 5th

Eventually, she makes her way through the southern village again, ending up in what looks like a blacksmith's building. Taking stock of everything she can find once she makes her way inside, she heads for the first person she can see. "Excuse me. I'm looking for a new weapon."

She isn't at all used to needing help in any form and she's spent the majority of the day asking everyone she meets for help in some form or another. If this keeps up, she really isn't going to know what way is up anymore. Still, she is determined to find a way to help and fit in for as long as she's here. She will pay their kindness forward as soon as she can. Whatever the first person tells her, she eventually finds someone else and asks something entirely different.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

sixthiteration

WHERE: Simulation, door between the SV inn and police station
WHEN: Sunset Dec 31 through sunrise Jan 1
OPEN TO: ALL - MINGLE
WARNINGS: Please warn in your subject line as needed and move all adult content to a new post
NOTES: GENERAL PARTY DETAILS: Here & Here | PLANNING POST: Here | NEWBIES: You may arrive at the party, details here.

As the sun dips toward the horizon, another day in the village put to bed, those walking past the tiny piece of woodland between the South Village inn and police station next door may notice something out of place: A door, golden and shimmering, seeming to hover in space and go nowhere. Indeed, a quick step to its other side reveals nothing at all but more forest. Dare to grasp the knob and swing it open, however—

A party, wild and opulent and grand, set in the front halls and gardens of a sprawling Victorian mansion, all cream and black and glittering gold. Tables groaning with festive food and drink, a lively band, and enthusiastic occupants seemingly unaware of the strangeness through which our intrepid villagers have arrived.

Step through, and you shall be transformed: Vigorously healthy, impeccably coiffed, a glittering star in your own right. To exit the way you came will see all of this gone again, and do take care: While news travels fast in the village, if you don't indulge soon, you may miss this extravagant respite — The music, the frivolity, the fireworks at midnight... Or all of it altogether, for it will fade away with the dawn.

connatural

WHO: Ashley Magnus
WHERE: Somewhere semi private
WHEN: The 22nd
OPEN TO: Druitt
WARNINGS: Talk of death and murder likely

( Sometimes you just wanna cry )

tosavecocoon

WHO: Oerba Dia Vanille
WHERE: House 38, up north in the kirin fields, back at house 38 outside
WHEN: Dec 20th, 21st, 22nd
OPEN TO: House 38 starter is closed to Phryne, exploring is closed to Ashley and Natasha, last section at the house with the kirin is OTA
WARNINGS: possible mentions of torture, loss of agency, zombie-like monsters and getting turned into one. Her sneak preview is from 4:05 to 4:20 on the clip

House 38, closed to Phryne

It starts out like any other day. Vanille wakes up, happily dons all of her various bangles and jewelry, and dresses in a combination of her normal clothes and something appropriate for the weather. It's nice to have all of her clothes and jewelry back. For a few minutes each day she can almost pretend that she's back home in Oerba, before anything happened to them at all.

Except today something pings on her wristband. She frowns at it, noticing the countdown. She doesn't know the calendar that this place is using, so it doesn't mean much to her. What catches her attention instead is the clip that plays next. The clip is only a few seconds long, but she recognizes too much about it. Sure, she and Fang haven't set foot inside Orphan's cradle before they woke up on Cocoon, but she recognizes it all the same. That being in the background... that laugh. Those weapons on the ground are all familiar, too, in a stronger way. Those are the weapons of her family. Her new Cocoon family. And they've all somehow gone Cie'th with Fang and Vanille being the only ones still upright.

This can't be anything. It can't. Vanille doesn't remember this happening. Maybe it's the future? But how? And why? Or maybe she's just like Fang and can't remember this part. Maybe something else happened. All of these new Cie'th, just like the Calvary. But these are her family, turned Cie'th for no purpose than because she and Fang failed their Focus. Because Vanille keeps running.

Guilt nearly swallows her. As she presses her hands to her ears and squeezes her eyes shut, she lets out a horrendous shriek. Both dog-like creatures start barking and making noise, clearly as distraught as their human mistress. The redhead dissolves into inconsolable sobs, rocking where she sits on the edge of her bed, clearly in no fit state to do anything.

exploring, closed to Ashley and Natasha

With Ty gone, there are only about two people left Vanille wants to take out on an exploration. She has several acquaintances and people she wouldn't mind hanging out with. But Ashley and Natasha are currently at the top of her "take out exploring" list. So, after letting Phryne know that she's going to explore a bit, she sends Natasha and Ashley separate messages, asking them to go exploring with her. Taking care to make sure her llamas are okay without her, she packs her own bag with supplies and rations, pats Bhakti and Raine on the head, and makes her way outside.

With her two other friends coming along, Vanille leads the way up north. She's much more subdued than she normally is - no tearstains in sight at least, but there's a determined set to her jaw that speaks of some kind of deep pain she doesn't want to talk about. Eventually, during one of their breaks, Vanille spots a group of horses. Her face lights up more than it has been since they started out and she decides to make camp so she can spend some time just watching the majestic animals. Good thing she brought some rope this time. She might need it if she tries to bring some of these home with her.

If she isn't just watching the horses, she might be staring into the campfire or seeing how her companions are doing. She needs to introduce her llamas to Ashley when they get back... and maybe this is a good time to tell Ashley more about who, and what, she is. As for Natasha, there's always time to get to know each other. It isn't as though Vanille has been hiding everything about herself and her world anymore. Just the important details. But the longer she spends here, the more she thinks that these people really don't know what l'Cie are. And maybe they won't be afraid of her.

at home with the kirin, ota, around the evening of Dec 22nd

Eventually, once she's gotten her new pair of horses settled into the pen and introduced them to the four llamas, Vanille decides to spend some time outside with her menagerie. She still needs names for two of the llamas and now she has to pick out names for the horses. That will give her something to do for a while, pondering names.

She does have to keep an eye on Raine, though. Bhakti seems to have a healthy appreciation for the new beasts, keeping his distance until they seem to accept him. Raine, on the other hand, is used to the llamas, which are gentle and tolerant of a lot of things. The horses startle too easily and after the first few mishaps with them, Vanille picks up her errant puppy and holds onto him. Eventually, she sets him down inside her room, where she doesn't have to worry too much about him, and returns to getting used to the horses. Later, she'll let Raine back outside, but for now she needs to keep things as calm as possible for the horses.

This proves to be easier said than done, she realizes, as the horses stare at the latest person approaching. Their nostrils flare, ears twitching everywhere. Vanille runs her hands down both of their necks, quietly talking to them. "It's all right. It's just another person. You're gonna be fine. Promise!"

And maybe she's saying that as much for her own benefit as theirs.

can_fight_ugly

WHO: Anne
WHERE: Anne's House
WHEN: Tonight
OPEN TO: OTA/Mingle
WARNINGS: Drinking, will edit as necessary

[The video opens to show Anne's living room with a subtle glowing decor of candles and greenery and red berries (though, to note, care has been taken so the two elements are not intersecting). Anne herself is sleek-haired and smiling, with a little kitten perched on her shoulder. She's got one hand up to steady him as he's the inquisitive type, trying to lean in to sniff at the device she's currently talking to.]

I received two surprises today. Little Lynn on my shoulder, here, and an obscene amount of wine. So, I am declaring Girl's Night. 'Girl' is up to your interpretation. If you want to hang out and enjoy some wine, you'll be welcome. Just, BYOG; bring your own glass. House 53.

Private to Franklin

I was gifted with way too much wine for one person, and am throwing a little get together at my house. You're more than welcome to come, and I also wanted to know if you want me to set a bottle aside for you?

Private to Tony

Bottle of wine with your name on it if you want it, as thanks for helping me deal with Eddie and Venom.

At The House

Anne has pulled out a selection of eight bottles and set them in the living room. She's stashed two for herself and the rest are in the kitchen just in case they somehow run through the first 6,000 millileters. She's not sure how much interest there will be or how many people will show up, but she's also aware that what she's got could be considered a hot commodity.

So why not barter with it, Anne? Why not trade it for favors, labor? She asks herself, but the answer is too bare and ready; I'm lonely. The idea of filling her house up for one night for something that's not related to survival, surrounding herself with friends, will make the truth she's facing a little easier to bear.

Hadn't those been the best Girl's Nights? Either sharing a celebration or gathering to commiserate? It's not something Anne did often - she wasn't usually the one organizing it - but with everything that's been happening lately, she'd felt she was in need of a little release and what a perfect sign it was to find the 'Crazy Single Cat Lady Starter Kit' on her doorstep. At least she can have a sense of humor about it.

She's got a dry red opened and a glass poured for herself as she waits for people to arrive.

clouded_heart

WHO: Foggy Nelson
WHERE: Arrival Fountain/About the place
WHEN: December 9th ish
OPEN TO: Anyone
WARNINGS: Will be updated if appropriate

Foggy's arrival is a spluttering gasp as he surfaces from the water. He kicks through the water, already aware of the cold pinching his wet skin. It gets worse as he reaches the stone lip of the fountain and pulls himself out; the chill cuts straight through him to his bones and sets his teeth chattering almost immediately.

Some kind soul seems to have left blankets and towels, so he grabs one and wraps it around himself, over his head and around his body to try and stave off the worst of the wind. Then he looks back to the fountain, half expecting to see someone else struggling their way out like he just has.

moderndayassassin

WHO: Desmond Miles
WHERE: Fountain; around the village,
WHEN: 12/3
OPEN TO: Anyone!
WARNINGS: Swearing for sure

Fountain arrival; ota

His hand was going in slow motion as it reached for the key to saving humanity and releasing Juno. Despite knowing it was right, despite saying goodbye to the remaining people in his life, he was afraid as he took a deep breath and prepared for the end. His eyes closed ... and then suddenly he was opening his eyes surrounded by water. Desmond flailed, shocked and horrified, this was not the way he expected Juno to take him, and was he supposed to just wait until he drowned? No, this can't be right. His feet kicked and he broke the water into air, gasping and scrambling for the side of ... what the hell was this? His eyes hurt from the water and he dragged himself out, immediately shocked by the cold of the air around him. It hadn't been cold before, why was it cold?

Desmond shakily tried to stand but collapsed hard onto his knees, his hands catching his weight. He should be dead. Maybe he was dead. Or maybe this was something else. He sat back on his haunches, breathing unsteadily, and dropping this strange pack from his back to toss it aside. Who put that on him? Juno's face hazily appeared in his mind's eye, and his confusion turned into rage. Maybe he failed. Maybe this was Minerva, furious that he disobeyed. Frustrated, he did something very stupid and dove right back into the water, going as far as he could. He had to finish this. He couldn't thwart fate. He reached around of any sign of what to do, but it was dark and he sprang out of the water again, colder and more exhausted than before.

"Juno!" He yelled, searching the sky. "Minerva! Which one of you bitches did this?" Desmond spit out water, shaking from cold or shock. "Juno! Goddamnit."

Around the village the next few days, OTA

Desmond was unnerved by everything so far and deeply suspicious. It was an elaborate lie, it had to be. A trick. He went to the inn just because there was no where else to stop freezing and not starve as far as he could tell. He sat by himself in the furthest corner away from others, making certain nothing was at his back but the wall in case of stabbing. Occasionally he ventured up to the records there, reading it but skeptical.

Later on he can be seen in the bunker trying to make sense of what was down there and if his hacking had any use. He was wandering around the village, admittedly being a little creepy as he glanced at the houses and cased the joints. Eventually he claimed House 46 and sat outside, staring off into the distance, scowling.

retributes

WHO: Lucy Stillman
WHERE: Fountain, around the village, the Inn
WHEN: December 1, 3-4
OPEN TO: Fountain locked to Connor (Dec 1), OTA for village inn shenanigans (Dec 3-4)
WARNINGS: Lucy will be coming in with her injury. The internal damage won't be as fatal as it was canonically. Mentions of blood and swearing, I'll update for anything else that comes up throughout the threads

( I'm pouring crimson regret and betrayal )

reasonablepatterns

WHO: Steven Crain
WHERE: South Village Inn
WHEN: 23 November 2018
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: Hill House spoilers, most likely; discussion of mental illness

This must be, Steven thinks, his inevitable break with reality.

For the better part of his life it's loomed, pale and ghostly, a thin sheen of anxiety beneath his foundation. At first, he'd believed that if the bricks he'd laid atop it were sound enough, the mortar between thick enough, that he might forget, mostly, what lay nestled in the mud below. He understood, though, didn't he, how futile it all had to be? That mental illness was creeping steadily, slowly up behind the walls and spider-webbing cracks through everything he'd so carefully built?

He ought to have known better, and he knows that. He does. But who wants to really admit their life is nothing but borrowed time?

There is no making sense of where he is now, there is no squeezing of his eyes closed to call up his skepticism and logic it away. It is a fact: In the sudden, sharp air as he surfaced, disoriented and gasping; in the scent of wood smoke and flat bread and lye soap; in the creaks and hums of the building around him. That all of these and a thousand other details seem far too vivid for even the most elaborate hallucination may be the most terrifying part of any of this yet.

Because it had been real, the House, all along. Hadn't it?

Whether reality is firm here or not, one thing Steve's never been particularly skilled at is simply waiting for the tide of delusion to carry him away. The first day he'd spent in a haze, little remembered about it now except for strong, capable hands leading him to warmth and relative safety; the second day, he'd wandered, shaggy-haired and wrapped in a new black pea coat, peering into buildings and asking a few questions. Mostly, he'd spent his time listening, although none of what anyone's had to say has made him feel much better.

Presently, he's crouched in front of the wide, smoke-darkened hearth in the main room at the South Village inn, squinting at the latest evidence that he's clearly lost his mind: A little lizard, about five inches long, vibrant orange and basking leisurely in the pale gray ashes just in front of the cracking fire.

"What the fuck," he murmurs to himself, barely audible, brow tightly pinched.

Sixth Iteration

Logs

Entries tagged with sanctuary: ashley magnus

Credits & Style Info

WARK ( OTA!!!!! )

(no subject)

Distant stars come in black and red

maybe someday we'll figure all this out ( OPEN )

if you're gonna wanna fly, you gonna have to crash

See, everywhere I go I got a million different people tryna' kick it

surely you have heard the story of

facing the ghosts that decide }{ OTA

Two | Oak and Iron

Arrival; Do you oppose a greeting, pulling the rug beneath their feet?

[MINGLE] One-Man Show

open your eyes to a new world }{ OTA

[MINGLE] Auld Lang Sim

The world can be cruel sometimes

no one knows what the future holds ( OTA with closed sections )

GIRL'S NIGHT

[OTA]

i'm done being a pawn

My tourniquet, return to me, salvation

Feels like I'm returning most everything I bought;