all i know is i don't know nothing

[reddosmod]

SEPTEMBER 2022 EVENT

A SPECIAL NOTE NOW THAT THE GAME HAS BEEN OPEN FOR A YEAR: Due to the cyclical nature of the world, during certain months, prompts from the previous year may be available to use. You can see September 2021's prompts here. Please make sure to note if you are using a prompt from last year, so that others will know where to look for the original content.

IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: Black birds flying in front of a church shrouded in heavy fog. ]
[Image Two: Red tinted clouds with a flash of red lightning piercing through them. ]

Prompt Two
[Image One: A stack of leather bound books. ]
[Image Two: A close up on the detailed arches of a Gothic/Neo-Gothic building. ]

Prompt Three
[Image One: A path in the woods with fallen leaves and bare trees. ]
[Image Two: Two swords covered in blood laying across one another in an X pattern. ]

[NAVIGATION]

Prompt 1 • Prompt 2 • Prompt 3 • Plotting • Newsletter

[JUMP TO COMMENTS]

Leap of Faith

WHEN: September
WHERE: Alternate Dimension
CONTENT WARNINGS: Parallel worlds, violence, possible death, religious cults

---

Throughout the month, people seem to just be... disappearing. It starts off as just a few locals here and there: maybe it's a butcher that's become a staple in the community, or a textile merchant that some Sleepers have come to rely upon in their time here. These disappearances seem to vary in how long they last. Some people are only gone a few days, others may never be seen again. The ones who return refuse to talk about where they've been or what has happened to them and will adamantly shut down any attempts to find out information. Rumors spread around the city at what could be going on and there's the occasional bit of conversation that mentions the possibility of reality bending Pthumerians being behind the ordeal.

It doesn't take long before it's Sleepers who start to disappear as well. It can happen at what appears to be any moment: sometimes during the middle of the night, a bed will simply swallow them up. Others might be walking along a path or road and suddenly drop through the ground, even when there's no hole to fall into. If a Sleeper with the ability to see invisible supernatural forces sees this in action, they will notice what looks like black, charred hands reaching up out of the earth and latching on to their victim before dragging them into black mist.

Sleepers who have been grabbed will find they've been yanked into a pocket dimension, a version of Trench that seems to be even more corrupt, even more polluted, and covered in dark fog that is difficult to see through. There's a heavy humidity in the air, the sound of constantly rolling thunder, and the occasional flashes of lightning across the sky. Bright bolts occasionally crash down through the fog and hit the earth, cracking it open and creating deep caverns filled with tar that is hot enough to melt a human being. Beasts larger and even more dangerous than those regularly seen back in Trench roam the streets, ready to tear apart and devour anything in their path.

The buildings are also crumbling to pieces and many of the staple locations of the city of Trench have been completely turned to rubble in this alternate world. Only religious buildings seem to be left standing and they have become crowded by locals who have yet to escape this new world. Sleepers will find that these religious buildings are the only ones that are completely safe from the beasts in the streets, offering themselves as Sanctuary from the out of control corrupted forces of this new world.

The locals in this place aren't here to make Sleepers feel safe and cozy while they wait to get out of this dimension. They're here to convert and it becomes obvious quickly. They claim this universe is the True World, the world that the Old Ones had wanted Sodder to create, one that they think the Nightmare could have evolved into if Sodder had been given the proper guidance. They believe that a Pthumerian by Riteoir brought about the perfect world that punishes those who have done wrong swiftly and spares those who are righteous and dedicated to a just path. This cult has elevated Riteoir to a God-like status in their eyes and they will do their best to try and convince all who gather in the buildings for safety that they are protected here because of their faith and dedicated to Riteoir's ideals.

They also become highly violent towards anyone who dares to insult Riteoir or who questions their beliefs in any way. Killing the non-believers is a perfectly justified reaction to these worshippers, convinced that any doubt in Riteoir's power to protect them will cause their safety net to collapse. They justify brutal murders of those they deem unrighteous as being necessary to keep the peace they have found for themselves in an otherwise clearly bleak world.

Playing along might be the best bet, but isn't required for people who would rather fight monsters over people. Sleepers may run in to other locals who also chose to get away from the cult madness out on the roads and these locals are more than willing to share the knowledge they've found while exploring this dimension. There's only one means of escape: finding a weak spot in the veil between worlds and performing a ritual to break it open.

Two Sleepers of differing blood types must find and gather together the claw of a large beast, a silver bowl, a piece of rubble, and a single red rose. Roses are hard to come by in this alternate world, but there is a small garden that grows in one of the churches. It requires sneaking around the cult members in order to obtain and they will attack anyone they find trying to cut the rose from the bushes. Once these object are found, the Sleepers must bring them to the area that would have been known as Sleepytown in the original Trench. Here, it is now a vast, open wasteland, with smoke rising from the crack in the ground, and a never ending fire burning beneath the ground. The faint sounds of screaming can be heard under the ground, but there isn't any way to determine if they're real or simply echoes from the past.

The claw can be ground down with the piece of rubble inside the silver bowl. The rose petals should be carefully plucked and placed on top of the claw. Finally, each Sleeper must cut themselves, and add equal amounts of blood until it begins to thicken. It doesn't take much, the magic working quickly to turn the mixture into a substance almost like slime. Each Sleeper must dip their hands in the slime and spread it onto the chest of the other, right above where the heart would be located. If the Sleeper has their heart located in a different area of their body than normal, then the slime must be spread there instead. Once this is complete, it will feel like acid burning against the skin, before it glows brightly. The lights will join together, forming a laser like beam that will then slice a hole in the air in front of them.

This hole will show the original Trench on the other side. It will only remain open for a few moments before closing up again. Sleepers must jump through the hole together in order to return to Trench. If the ritual fails, they will have to wait three days to try again, and will have to find a way to continue to survive in this alternate world. If it succeeds, the Sleepers will find themselves in the original Sleepytown, and will be able to return to Trench from there.

Bringing up the alternate universe, the ritual, or even Riteoir will put the locals on edge and they will quickly close the door of their shop or turn their backs on anyone who tries. Apparently this is a touchy subject that they'd rather ignore.

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

WHEN: September
WHERE: The Gaze
CONTENT WARNINGS: N/A

---

The Never Mind believes in knowledge and learning above all else. He can be found beckoning many towards the Gaze, encouraging them to attend the School of Mutter or visit the Archives to expand their knowledge. His ravens will try to guide people here as well and many Sleepers will start to feel a compulsion to follow.

There's talk of a prize being given by the Never Mind himself for those who learn something new while inside the Gaze. A bracelet shaped like golden wheat that can rid a small patch of land (roughly 4 square feet) completely of pollution, allowing the area to properly grow a small amount of plants. In Trench, this is almost as priceless as the gold itself, and so many are quick to encourage anyone to go and get one for themselves.

People can't just learn anything, though. When Sleepers arrive in the Gaze to claim their prize, they will be given a specific task: get to know someone new. There's no wiggle room for interpretation in the words. The only way to obtain the bracelet is for a Sleeper to talk to another person that they have never spoken to before. Casual small talk won't earn them this prize either. Sleepers must dive into a deep conversation that forces them to truly learn about the other person. It can be about their feelings, their past, their hopes and dreams... So long as it's something that they truly learn about the other and should, ideally, no longer make them feel like a stranger.

Bracelets will appear magically on the writs of each Sleeper once their conversation ends, so long as the criteria is met. Happy gardening!

[JUMP TO TOP] • [JUMP TO COMMENTS]

THE GREAT HUNT

WHEN: Mid-to-Late September
WHERE: Trenchwood
CONTENT WARNINGS: Hunting themes, possible death, large beasts, descriptions of gore.

---

An excerpt from Ancient Notable Beasts:

The story goes that as the Blood Moon rises and the farmers begin to hope for a bountiful harvest, Trenchwood begins to hear the growls of the Bugge through the trees. One of the largest beasts to ever roam the lands, it seems to only plague the woods in the autumn months, just before the leaves begin to change their color. Legend has it that the blood shed by the Bugge falls onto the green leaves from summer and poisons them, changing their colors, and slowly killing them until they fall to the ground. The Bugge hunts and feeds on any who enter the forest, but particularly enjoys to devour those who have let corruption touch their souls.

Hunters try to bring down the Bugge every year, many losing their lives in the process. The creature stands as tall as the old pine trees, covered in gray fur, and has claws said to be sharp enough to slice through diamonds. Drool pours from its mouth, matting the fur along its jaw and chest, and dying it a deep, rusty brown. Looking into the eyes of the Bugge can make a person paralyzed with fear, forcing them to relive their worst fears, and some say even freezing them into solid ice if they do not break free quickly enough. It is said that it is most important to track the beast as quickly as possible, for if you do not hunt the Bugge first, than the Bugge will find its way behind you and hunt you instead.

No one has ever managed to truly put an end to the Bugge. Even when it is slain, the shrieks of the creature are heard again mere hours later, and more who go into the woods unprepared end up never returning. Despite the danger, the farmers do no wish to be rid of the Bugge as the Hunters do. The blood spilled by both the Bugge and the Hunters who attempt to slay it does not seem to pollute the ground as it does other times of year: instead, the Blood Moon shines brighter, and the crops for the September harvest become richer than they were before. The farmers see the Bugge not just as a necessary evil for good crops, but as a blessing, a reward for all their hard work during the year.

Sleepers who go near Trenchwood will hear the Bugge from the trees. Getting too close to the woods will cause the cycle of needing to track the Bugge to begin. It does not matter if the Sleeper leaves the woods after, the Bugge will be willing to stalk them into the city, and kill them in the streets if it is not found first. Killing the Bugge is the quickest and easiest option, but the Bugge can be healed by those willing to put in the work. If a Sleeper has the ability to see souls, they will notice that the beast seems to holds a presence similar to that of a fairly large bear. However, if healed, it will run off before the Sleepers can see its true form.

Unfortunately, those who choose to heal the Bugge will find that there are consequences. Where killing the Bugge brings about a more bountiful harvest, healing the Bugge causes the crops and other plants in the farming district to suffer and wilt. The local farmers will be furious if they find out who has chosen to heal over kill and will deny any further trade with the individual in the future, seeing them as a weak link in the natural balance of this world.

Those who choose to shed blood through September, whether the Bugge's or others, will find that the legend is honest about its impact on the earth during a blood moon: while it won't rid the ground of pollution, it seems to make life around it stronger and more durable. This includes not only the harvest but all life forms, including Sleepers.

[JUMP TO TOP]

CODING

Comments

Albert Wesker (aka. Dr. Adrian Winters) / Resident Evil series / OTA

[subject_013]

Great Hunt prompt

River of Regret - September 2021 prompt

More to come on the open post which includes this prompt - Watch this space!

Vi | Arcane

[faceblocks]

i : knowledge is power : for peter & for sasuke
cw: a spicy book with a nsfw pic on the second link

[several little birds have convinced her to alter her route this morning - fang has been following a small conspiracy of ravens, and vi has been meaning to visit the school to inquire about the sorts of classes they might offer - mostly practical, but she's also got a bit of a bone to pick with never mind. there are also whispers of a prize - something she might keep for herself or give to another - she hasn't yet decided - should she even win.

but she has found the pthumerian's bones unpickable, really, his feathers unruffled, and when asked bluntly about the purpose of the books - one specifically- she'd been told she already knew the answer and provided no further answer beyond. she'd repeated her question, and he had repeated the same answer, each time patient, pleasant enough, and with no discernible investment in her reaction. it's as if he was dealing with a child and hoping that this time "because i said so" would just ...stick.

never mind offers her the unsolicited advice of perhaps reading even more books - exchanging her three for three more, wholly unconcerned about what she'd already seen. and if she doesn't like those books, she is welcome to look in the archive. there are all kinds of things to learn there.

so this is where she finds herself, wandering in no real direction other than where her feet are taking her, down one row of shelves that takes longer to navigate than she'd expected. peering at the books, thinking about some of the books sansa had mentioned - and what do you know ...she's found one - the one about pride and prejudice. she flips through it, looking for those "every so often" illustrations, and getting rewarded when she finds them. these are in color, and very fancy, the pages are gilt-edged. she is very careful with it, and manages to pick up another books - one of the sunstone ones that luz had mentioned (seriously? are these just ...all together or are they appearing based on what she's thinking?) - finds a table to sit at as she turns more pages. her eyes widen in surprise as this recommendation unfolds in many, many (mostly) pictures, but she doesn't put it down.

yes, yes, reading's not going to earn her any prize, she's going to have to talk to a stranger for that (weird, but fine? she can see the merit in it, the opportunity to learn) so she's waving over anyone who passes by that she hasn't yet spoken to, and hoping someone will bite. doesn't anyone else here want to win a patch of uncorruptable land capable of growing herbs or food on?]



ii : river of regret 2021 : d, ortus, sharon
cw: mangled corpses of loved ones, birds eating corpses, themes of regret, possibly everything, honestly.

[a conspiracy of ravens, you say? well, that seems to have turned out to be what it says on the tin in this case, because it is 99% possible none of these occupants would have decided to board were they not carried by said conspiracy and gently (or not) deposited into the drifting canoe. as calming as her vileblood might be to others right now, vi is edgy until she gets her bearings.

vi immediately recognizes two familiar things - one is a person, and the other is a ...feeling (and also a person). the person is sharon, to whom she gives a confused look as soon as she's done turning to see what's around them. nothing but still waters, but they continue to move along. the second is that ...feeling - that weight of impossible, ominous magnificence, and the urge to cry out notice me that is tamped down by fear of (literally) rocking the boat.

staring does not rock the boat, and it takes her a good, long moment to tear her eyes away from d (his hair ripples in the silence, dark as a raven's wing, more captivating than the dappled waters they float upo---


---nope nope nope stop it)

and when she does she's looking at a face she doesn't recognize.

it's a welcome relief from the staring at d, and that's writ across her face, too, as she shrugs at ortus. it's all very serene just before the corner's turned and the stench comes.]

Was everyone else dumped here by birds or is it just me?

[it was kind of a rude drop. not even an attempt at a princess carry. there had totally been enough ravens for a princess carry, come on.]



iii : wildcard

[if you want to do a specific thing, lmk @ eisdamme : pm or on the plotting post.

[noniad]

[ Ortus occupies the rough center of the boat, griping the walls of either side with blanched knuckle tightness. He takes up space like an armoire draped in black cloth, but somehow seems to collapse in on himself like a rain-rotted squash. His skull painted face is wide and blank and profoundly unhappy.

He knows this clotted reek all too well. ]

I, too, was so transported.

[ Despite his nearly palpable discomfort, his voice is perhaps unexpectedly level and calm. He looks over his companions, taking their measure, and (very carefully, so he does not rock the vessel) he pulls his shoulders back and nods. ]

I am Ortus Nigenad. It seems we have discovered the meaning of the idiom 'all in the same boat'.

[icanhearscreams]

Absolute Immersion

Jun likes to read quite a lot. He doesn’t spend all of his time in the Archives - especially given his behavior last month. But the locals seem to be used to Sleepers acting weird, so there’s not really much of a problem. Instead they seem almost eager for Jun to take one of the rare books.

He doesn’t seem to mind, since rare books tend to be really interesting. How unfortunate for him that these books don’t seem to be the normal type…

[Either put your memory here or hit me up on the plotting post to get one for your character! You can even write a starter and I can make a memory based on that.]


River of Regret (2021)

The ravens make him almost scream, but he doesn’t - he’s whisked away before he can even get the scream out. Instead he wakes up on a small boat. It’s so quiet… it’s almost beautiful, before he rounds the corner and sees the bodies.

Ah. It’s one of these.

He sighs and puts his head in his hands for a moment before looking up. Right. There’s other people in the boat with him.

“What do you think we’re supposed to do here?”


Bloodsport (2021)

He feels the nervous energy, but he’s used to things like that by now. He hears about the Gate, but doesn’t really pay much mind to it. He avoids it, in fact - he’s tired of violence. He’s so tired of fighting. He’d rather run.

He doesn’t manage to run for long. Eventually he passes out and finds himself in the arena. He sighs and looks across at his opponent. “Just so you know, I’m not much of a fighter.” Sure he can punch, but he’s not got superpowers, even with his new blood.


Wildcard

[Got another idea? Hit me up here, atrypical, Matt#6266, on the plotting post, or PM me.]

@grice cw: gunshot, blood, violence

[icanhearscreams]

"Ushiro... I really like you." The girl smiles down at Jun from where he's been sitting on the bench in the playground. She looks up at grins. "Thanks. It feels good to finally say that. I was so nervous! That was the first time I confessed to someone I liked. It might have been more nerve-wracking than when I signed the contract."

She smiles at him. "Let me tell you one more thing while I'm at it. Tonight, let's sleep together."

Jun's face contorts like he just ate a lemon. "Wha - huh?" "You're so agitated, that's so cute." "Whaaaat? What are you saying all of a sudden!" "What's the big deal? You don't want to?" "But, your brother is..."

The girl snorts. "Just ignore him. I'll show him that his little sister won't just obediently listen to her brother from now on." Her expression grows more serious. "I never thought about it before. About how scary it is to be alone at night. I feel as if everything will disappear when I sleep, and my mind can't stop thinking about too many things. Also, I'm scared that I'll never see another day after I sleep. That's why..."

She turns to face Jun. "That's why you should think about it too. I'll be waiting for you."

A cry rings out across the playground, and the girl runs to the younger boy's side. "Hey you! What do you think you're doing?! Who do you think you are? What the hell are you thinking, bulling a kid half your size?"

The 'kid' pulls out a gun. "Huh?"

A shot rings out, Jun sitting on the bench still. The kid turns to Jun and walks over while the boy is still in shock. He lifts the gun and shoots at him, point-blank. It misses him by centimeters, hitting the tree behind him - and the kid teleports away. Jun just stares in shock at the girl on the ground.

Scorpia | OTA

[cuddlery]

A. I'm a Scorpion Lady in Another World!

[Scorpia's getting real tired of being dropped into random places! And yet here she goes once again. This time she's grabbed by some charred hands and pulled through, so she feels like there's a little variety.

And so she wanders the new environment with an air of uncertainty. One can find her wandering the fog and seeking shelter. Or find her in the midst of dealing with monsters. Or Scorpia could instead come across someone else who is being threatened by monsters and/or cultists!

Or one can jump ahead. After figuring out the way home, it's time for Scorpia to work together in preparing the ritual to escape...]

B. Social Link Speedrun

[This bracelet sounds very enticing to Scorpia, who wants to do some more gardening and try to get some prompts! And on top of that, it's an opportunity to make new friends! Sounds like a win-win-win in Scorpia's book, because she's sure that everyone could use a new friend in a place like this!

And so she'll pop up in front of unfamiliar people all throughout gaze, with a sunny smile and a greeting - sometimes from behind a bookcase or around a corner!]

Hey there! I'm Scorpia. Coldblood, big fan of hugs, I'm a Night Walker - who are you and how are you doing?

C. Bloodsport II: The Bloodsportenning

[Scorpia feels a strange sense of deja vu...! She had passed out, and now the tall scorpion woman suddenly finds herself in the middle of an arena. The crowds of The Gate cheer and call out for blood!

She rubs her pincers together anxiously as she looks around.]

...Please tell me this is a singing gig...

[But there's no such luck, as her opponent is stepping out...]

D. Wildcard

[Feel free to come up with an alternate prompt or hit me up for plotting!]

C she will get reasonable i promise pls talk her down

[faceblocks]

[vi steps into the arena, clangs her gauntlets together twice - breath coming hard and fast and the cheers of the crowd ringing in her ears. she doesn't know if they're cheering for her or not - doesn't care, either. her blood is up thanks to so many things this month - and she's ready to fight whoever they pit her against.]

I can sing you a lullaby before I put your lights out.

[she smirks, clanging her fists together again and raising one into the air. she doesn't know this sleeper. looks like it might be a fun match - the woman's brought her own gauntlets. what she also doesn't know because it's been buried by bloodthirst is that her vileblood has made her a walking chill pill. that's ...probably a good thing.]

Peter Graham 👑 Hereditary

[possessum]

CLOSED STARTERS

^{plotted starters here. feel free to hmu if you'd like to do something! → plotting}

— Michael

[possessum]

( The past few months have been... strange, which is probably a ridiculous claim to make, considering things are always strange, here. But it's been... a different kind of strange. Hard, in different ways. There are things Peter's still reeling from, and things he doesn't really know how to fix. He's just kind of been keeping to himself, nursing some wounds quietly.

But as September begins to stretch out, he's poking his head out again, checking in on some faces he hasn't seen in a while. Michael's one of them — and Peter decides to literally check on him one chilly, rainy afternoon. He stops by the closest bakery first, picking up a couple of pumpkin muffins. He knows the demon doesn't need to eat, but he also knows Michael seems to like sampling human stuff.

It's really not like Peter to swing in on someone unannounced, but he knows Michael won't get mad at him for it? It's a kind of comfort, trust, that comes from knowing the guy for so long. This month marks a year for them both in this place, but of course, they knew each other before, too. A lot of loss has happened these past months, so many people returned to the sea. Peter's maybe finding himself afraid to lose Michael, too. And Paimon's certainly been raring to see him again, too. He made a miniature of him just the other day....

So it's some rare blend of both of them having the exact same goal as Peter and his own demonic passenger stand outside their friend's door in a comfortable sweater, a little wet from some light drizzle, but not drenched or anything. There's a bakery bag tucked in one arm and he uses the other to reach up and knock. )

Hey Michael, it's Peter. You in, dude?

Shiro | Voltron | Warmblood | ota

[shiro2hero]

~ GENERAL ~
1) Koz's Place
Like any other place and time, Shiro can be found at Koz's place. At the orphanage, doing odd jobs around the building - pretty much anything that isn't cooking, since even the volunteers have learned not to let him anywhere near the kitchen. Anyone else can run into him here, if they're also interested in helping out with the orphans. Or... if they're so inclined, Shiro also usually pulls recess duty.

Where the kids of Trench have decided to climb all over him like he's a jungle gym, screaming laughing. Shiro's laughing too, giving anyone passing by a thumb's up. Yes, he's fine, don't worry.

2) The Archives
And here, Shiro spends a long night or several throughout the month. He has a stack of papers, and his device out on a desk. The papers appear to be the ones he's kept since Deerington. And he's cross-referencing them and his device.

While... writing it all down. In a really big book. Several really big books... Which he is regarding with growing exhaustion throughout the month. If anyone turns up, he looks at them, smiling faintly. The circles under his eyes are huge. "Sorry, am I in your way?"


~ LEAP OF FAITH ~
1) The Buildup
"Go! Move!"

It's the Nightmare. He's back in the Nightmare and it isn't even October. But, just like back then, Shiro's sense of self-preservation flies out the window, in the face of trying to get other people to safety. He may be disoriented from dropping into this parallel world, this world that smacks of old Deerington, but like hell is that going to stop him from grasping the arm of the person who ended up nearby, and thrusting them ahead of him.

The thing shambling down the street after them is intent on catching up. And so, Shiro puts himself in between his new companion and the Beast.

"Up there! Looks like a church! Go!"

2) The Break
Sodder

They're talking about Julia. He's been hunkered down, for the time being, in this particular church, to get his bearings back. To see if he can contact anyone else. And what does he hear? Sodder - her name. It's enough to get Shiro's head to jerk up from the corner he'd been dozing in, locked on the local across the room. Listening while they speak about her. While they revere her power.

Shiro is, on the whole, a reasonable man. A man who values talking through confrontations, for who fight is the last option available.

"- if Sodder had been given the proper guidance -" they're saying. Haughtily. Dismissively. That she would have wanted this world. That Julia would have wanted horror, blood and Beasts.

He doesn't remember standing, he doesn't remember crossing the room. He doesn't remember staring the local dead in the eye, while his voice goes flat, steely cold. Because Shiro is, also, a man who valued Julia Sodder as a little girl first, a powerful eldritch being second.

"You don't know a god damn thing about Julia."

Yeah... that will go over well.

3) The Aftermath
Needless to say, shortly after that particular conversation, or confrontation, rather, Shiro's booking it out of the church. Or ducking an angry mob, depending on what point you run into him. He can fight monsters, he will fight monsters. An entire angry mob? With pitchforks and torches?

That's out of his wheelhouse.

Whoops.

3

[tempredmental]

"What was that?" Keith was running with him, since his association with the 'heretic' meant he was a target, too. "Usually, I'm the one getting kicked out of places!"

cho hakkai | saiyuki | paleblood | ota

[knowsvinewhip]

ARRIVAL & GENERAL
1) Beachcombing
While lost in a new city, why not pitch in and help with the locals? Catch fish, mend nets. Extremely doable! Mending especially is nothing new - just different knots, different material, than usual. So is assisting in other ways, like using the simple supplies offered to volunteers to make soup on the supplied fires. People tend to speak more over their meals, right? An easy way to learn about this world.

He does spend quite a bit of time learning how people wake up, wash ashore here. That there isn't any predicting it. That there's nothing to be done but wait and see. It's an odd feeling - like the world has gone muffled. Silenced. He wonders, in the midst of keeping himself busy, if one can have withdrawl symptoms from a lack of secondhand smoke.

2) Entering Trench
It's that drive to keep himself busy, occupied, for some vague sense of normalcy, that drives him to finally leave the shore, and head into the town proper. It's not smart to stay there, lurking. There's only so much you can learn from fishermen, as helpful as they'd been, and without supplies, camping on a coastline at this time of year? Just a recipe for pneumonia.

Where else would someone find themselves, but the shopping district? It's more of a larger city than he's seen in some time. Which is probably lucky - a city this size must have jobs that can be done, as, unfortunately, whatever stroke of luck allowed him to wash ashore with his limiters, did not see fit to also include a certain gold card.

"Excuse me." So says he to the nearest individual who looks ... well. Trench enough. Hakkai smiles, because of course he does. "I was wondering if you would happen to know of any inexpensive lodging."

As in free. Or willing to accept dish washing for a room.

LEAP OF FAITH
1) Arriving
Now this? This is more along the lines of how he'd pictured Hell. And this time... there isn't a figure with hair like blood to snark at him for his commentary. A pity - Hakkai is sure his friend would have some form of witty wise crack about him once again waking up face down in the mud. Instead, he sits up in the middle of a road, clothes slicked to skin with the humidity, the fog obscuring anything nearby.

This... has to be hell.

A theory even more reinforced by the sight of monstrous shapes lurking in the fog. As one skitters closer, slavering, dragging what appears to be a proboscis against the ground. Hakkai gets to his feet, staring in mute shock for a long - maybe too long - moment, as the Beast draws near. He doesn't have a visible weapon on him...

2) Surviving
"Well, this is certainly intolerable, isn't it?"

Hakkai says it so blithely, it's like he's commenting on the weather. Wow what terrible rain and deadly lightning we're having. This particular building he, and whomever he may be speaking with, has found his way into is only slightly less crumbling than the others. There's not much shelter to be found, but it's better than nothing.

"We've no choice but to attempt to return, I believe. I've no intention of joining a cult in this lifetime."

The only question is, of course, how. Hopefully, whoever he may have ended up here with has an idea.

Entering Trench!

[obeir]

It's been a gradual process over the last year, but K has finally adopted some fairly typical Trench attire. Meaning he's dressed much like the native pseudo-Victorian hunters roaming around the district, in a duster coat over top his many layered suit — he looks very Trenchly indeed, though arguably more approachable than the average hunter. And that suits him fine, because he's happy to help those who need it.

"New arrival?" he guesses as he turns toward the man addressing him, giving the fellow a curious once-over. "Common practise seems to be claiming any abandoned house you like the look of. I could point you in the direction of a few I've been helping renovate. If you need something more temporary but already habitable, there are also fully supplied safe houses." Since he'd taken it upon himself to continue maintaining them in Mako's absence, alongside Ruby.

Jason Kolchek | House of Ashes | Paleblood | OTA

[hearuthinking]

1. The Great Hunt

OF course Jason heard about the hunt going on. Usually he skirted around actually killing the beasts of this place, knowing that in a lot of cases they were corrupted Sleepers. But that didn't seem to be the case with the Bugge.

He wasn't planning on tracking down the Bugge on his own, but should any of his other Hunters want in on the action, he would tag along with rifle spear in hand.


2. Growing Pains

[After living here for so long, Jason takes rituals like this a little more seriously than he would have on first arrival. But even if he didn't, there is something cathartic and symbolic about putting your past to rest. Jason chooses his old 9/11 hat as the thing to bury.

It's far past the time for him to say goodbye to this thing. It'd been a lie from the start and ever since meeting Salim, it's become even more of a lie. He buries the hat and sheds a drop of his blood as the ritual dictates. After a moment, a flower sprouts and blooms]

Huh. That's kinda pretty.


3. See No Evil, Network Post (Paleblood effects of the month)

[At first Jason just thought there was something weird going on in the Trench. He felt around for his flashlight and knows he turned it on but still doesn't see anything. Esfir appears and turns on the Omni for him before coming over and growing big enough that he can lay his hand on her head]

There you are, girl. What the fuck's goin' on? Why's it so goddamn dark?

4. Wildcard

[ooc: I'm also interested in Bloodsport if anyone needs a rescue, or Jason losing his hearing and using his telepathic powers instead if anyone's willing. Hit me up here or seraphjewel to plot things. I will match style!]

wildcard | lost hearing

[fogsong]

[ It's a little later in the month that Sharon happens to spot Jason in the winding streets of Crenshaw. She calls out to him once but when he doesn't answer she gives another shout of his name. When that doesn't seem to catch his attention, she breaks into a jog to catch up to him. ]

Hey, Jason! [ She sing-songs his name but even that doesn't get him to turn around. Fuck, was she mistaken? He was easily recognizable even among the hunters. She reaches out to touch him on the shoulder. ]

Hey, excuse me? [ Maybe she was mistaken. ]

closed prompts

[siriusly]

happy anniversary.
for vi - leap of faith.
cws: panic attacks, emetophobia, corpses, drowning death mentions, cannibalism mentions; leap of faith cws applicable

[it takes a bit for it to really hit, because the primal panic that came with the earth opening up, for nightmarish hands grabbing, yanking, dragging him to what seemed like a one-way ticket to a suffocating death was a bit too familiar to the monstrous transformation he'd experienced early on in his tenure in Trench. all that it needed was fingers closing around his throat and--

--and while that doesn't happen, there's little reason to calm down just yet: this isn't hell, but...there's a quality to it that nags at him right away. the warning bells of past experience ring on into a numbing drone in the back of his mind as he drifts through what feels like...which...can't really be...

Deerington...? again?

no. the people have faces. eyes and mouths (and teeth. teeth for smiling. for biting. for ripping his flesh--) and words to say. the buildings aren't the quaint country townhomes in decay. sure there's a shed or a barn here or there, but it's not the same. this isn't it.

keep it together, Yuuki.

god, he tries. but the moment someone evangelizing at him speaks the name Sodder, Manabu feels his chest squeeze so tight that it knocks the breath right out of him, and it's all he can to do stagger away, double over, and retch. even then, he feels suffocated - not choked by hands, but water. the vision of the bloated corpse of himself by the riverside fills the forefront of his mind and has him reeling.

it's been a long time since panic seized him up this badly; he's not prepared for it. all he can do is drop to his knees, doubled over his own mess, and tremble with the effort of rapid, ragged breaths.]

---

bad time management.
for d - the great hunt.
cws: death mentions; great hunt cws applicable

[going back to the Outpost is the wrong thing to do and Manabu knows it. but if he stays in the town, if he sees the places he's familiar with and walks through Crenshaw, knowing Ryunosuke isn't there...it's gonna drive him nuts. he can't deal with it right now, knowing there's absolutely nothing he can do but wait and see if he'll come back or if...he's gone for good. like the others. he can't think about it, he has to work.

of all the days for a gigantic monstrosity to come lumbering through Trenchwood...]

GAAAH-!

[Manabu dives under a sweeping claw, rolling a few feet before he can get his knees under him and bring his pistol out, firing up at the massive body before it can fully turn his way, raising a fist and bringing it down over him faster than he can feasibly spring out of the way.]

happy anniversary

[faceblocks]

[she had expected to find herself dragged back to the arena - possibly for not giving it everything it had wanted - and prepared to give it exactly the same shit again, but...

...no. this is utterly something else. not a book, it's too much a reflection - a refraction - of trench, and it'd taken her an hour to figure that out, grateful for her new gauntlets, her new boots - but omenless, as the last thing she'd been able to do was to force fang out as the hands had pulled - no time for words, no need - the wolfdog knew what she'd been left behind to do. to tell jinx vi hadn't left her and hadn't died. that she would be back.

the longer she's walked, the more she's seen the more she wonders how that's possible.

(if it's---

no, stop. get off that road and get off this one, too.)

a bright flash had split the earth beneath her feet - and when she'd blasted upward in a pair of boots she'd only just begun to adjust to she saw that beneath it was something that looked like molten blood. it had been one of the only times she'd been able to see beyond a few feet - and what had lit up in the lightning wasn't anything she'd wanted to see at all, but it had confirmed where she was.

the hollowed out ruin of the rookery might have escaped her notice, but the blackened, twisted version of the weirwood tree didn't - its leaves all fallen around it leaving nothing but a reach of dead branches reaching upward echo of the hands that had pulled her down. the trunk had seeped red, soaking the ground around it - no fallen leaves at all, just a river of glittering, spatterdark red.

she's less able to parkour here, too - so thank ruby again for these boots - they've already severed the limbs of the first beast she'd encountered - an unspeakable thing she'd left (a gibbering stump of a torso) - in the wake of an approaching crowd.

she's fresh from that kill when she finds a structure that's less of a husk, and found it full of people - a buzzing rise of whispers, eager hands offering a place to sit, pressing a cup to into her grasp, a small boy standing on a bench next to her to place a wreath of dead leaves upon her head. there is a hearth, and they gather around it with hums and offerings and this is the true world they tell her, a singsong of smiles and clasped hands, and it's about the third time she's heard this when she does what any sensible person would do and ghosting them by slipping out a window when they turn toward the fire to listen to its wisdom.

she is presently on the heels of this departure, by several bounds and turns - when she sees the silhouette of someone kneeling - and she's half a mind to book it past, but something clicks - slows her pace - tells her to take a second look. she is glad of it when she does - because she knows this man. what looks like the shell of a man she is passing familiar with - all heaving breath and wide, stricken eyes - the puddle of sick beneath him causing her own memories to resurface - and nobody wants that, least of all violet.]

Hey.

[bending down, she prods his shoulder with a gauntlet - a smatter of stones worked into it both vile and pale - a poke, another - a turn back over her shoulder because she doesn't think her absence will go wholly unnoticed, and manabu's state of shock isn't helping her get the fuck away from the building any faster.]

Hey.

[another shove ] Come on. [a shake and a hiss:] Manabu, dammit. Get---

[up

they don't have time for this. she doesn't have time for this, but she's not about to leave him here - for too many reasons to cover as her mind races - as she sees phantom flickers, hears flickered whispers - and they have to move - they need to get the fuck out of here, because this is bad, really, really bad and she doesn't need anything more to tell her that.

he's of precisely zero use to himself or anyone else like this - and she makes a judgment call, because if it were her in this situation she would want the same. so - she pulls back - strikes him across the face with the palm side of her metal glove. ]

Get it together.

luna lovegood | harry potter

[creidim]

☽ a story meant to be told | knowledge is power
note: Luna can either have lost her sense of taste, hearing, sight or touch in this prompt, depending on when in month a thread takes place — please let me know when you’d like this to be!

[ Luna isn’t easily kept away from the School of Mutter during the rest of the year, but she’s very much keen to be around here during Never Mind’s month. As a Ravenclaw, she does have a soft spot for the Patron of Knowledge — so there’s no need for his ravens nor the compulsion to bring her here. It’s a new ‘school year’ after all.

And she’s keen when the bubbles of talk come up about the place; a challenge of sorts, one of learning — with a highly valued prize up for grabs. Luna’s not much for competition, something clear with the whole Bake-Off competition in June being mostly a friendly thing than anything seriously competitive (well, in her eyes, anyway). But she’s more than ready to get stuck into things.

And it may come into fruition in a variety of ways: perhaps a simple greeting on one of the streets in Gaze during the first or last weeks of September: 'Are you here to win Never Mind’s prize too?' In the second week of September, you may be trying to get her attention only to find yourself ignored (it isn’t intentional), and might need to reach out to gently get her to see you. Or perhaps there’s a misjudgement on her Omen’s part during the third week of September may have her accidentally bumping into you, blinking in a wide-eyed daze: 'Sorry, I didn’t see you.' And the black hare sighing in exasperation and apology: 'Perhaps you should have stayed home for the time being, Luna.']

☽ don’t you fear the night | leap of faith
note: Luna has lost her sense of sight in this prompt

[ Perhaps it is a blessing that the abilities of her blood have taken away her sight. She wouldn’t like to imagine what she can’t see, but the stifling humidity and the endless low rolling of thunder is enough to warrant that there is plenty of danger in this place. She speaks to the locals, learns quickly of her situation — and she knows she needs to be smart about things if she’s to ever get out of this place. Luna has dealt with cults before, and she knows that it is best to side with them than to try and argue. They can be an ally of sorts, if one could call it that, as much as she dislikes the idea. But if it might keep her safe when she’s like this, sometimes it is better the devil you know.

And at least in the meantime, it gives her time to try to quickly and quietly work on escape. Her Omen helps her navigate about the place, but she’s wary still. She manages to find a silver bowl in amongst the ruins, and rubble is easy enough to find. The beast claw is a fortunate accident when she finds one already dead in the streets. The real task for her is retrieving one of the heavily guarded and scarce roses, and to somehow make it to the remains of Deerington. She needs help in getting further forwards.

Luna can be found around the religious buildings. She sticks to the edges of gathering places, stares inwards but unseeing — as if she might be waiting for someone, or simply just watching. Someone might recognise her, dirtied and bedraggled — or maybe think the fact she’s keeping to the fringes a little odd for such ‘community spirit’. She can’t be the only one who’s trapped in this place, and she can’t be the only one looking to get out, either.

She sits curled up on a church pew, clutching a ragged rucksack to her chest. A black hare, larger than usual, sits on her hind legs, keeping watch — an ethereal spectre of smoke and blood. Inlé alerts Luna when someone draws close, and Luna will lift her head but not be able to look directly. Her voice is hushed: ]

… Are you a Sleeper—?

☽ only time left to believe | the great hunt
note: Luna has lost her sense of touch for this prompt.

[ It is no mistake that the Bugge is causing a great deal of upheaval about the Trenchwood, and Luna is certainly no Hunter. But she joins the hunt for the huge beast regardless during the latter half of the month. It is an unhappy affair. She is conflicted about what needs to be done. According to the legend, the blood spilled will bring a bountiful harvest, the people of Trench won’t go hungry when winter comes. And life in Trench is hard enough without worrying about needing to worry about where one’s next meal comes from.

But there’s something so… wrong about this. The Bugge may be attacking anyone who comes to the Trenchwood this month, but it is simply a beast existing in a way a beast would. Who are they to go after it? To try to kill it? Why must it be punished with attacks and death for simply existing?

She’s been quiet for the most part. It’s a wise choice considering the danger around them, the Trenchwood is hardly a safe place any other time. She keeps her Dream Hunter bow in hand as they move slow and quiet through the trees, the soft blue-white light of ethereal weapon offering a little light as they move. But Luna’s mood is sombre, grim — her expression lost in quiet thought. She doesn’t want to do this. Do they have to kill the Bugge? ]

I don’t like this.

☽ wildcard

Plotting comment is here! Wildcards welcomed, even general catch-up prompts. Luna can often be found in either Gaze/The School of Mutter, or Ritual Gig, a magic/occult shop in Willful Machine for the most part in September. Contact heolstor or heolstor#5725 for plotting

The Great Hunt

[terribibble]

[You could not put two more contrasting people next to each other if you tried: Luna with her ethereal bow and moonbeam hair and delicate features, Fiddleford with his Just-A-Shovel and obviously home-made harpoon gun and the absolute tragedy that is his face. It's even worse than normal: as his time in Trench has gone on the baseline corruption he showed up with has only deepened. His hands and the area around his eyes are noticeably blue, the rest of his skin has a gray tinge, and his lower canines have become two very tiny little tusks that poke out of his mouth even when it's closed.

It's fine.

His corruption is why he's here, because the stronger it gets the more appetite for danger he seems to have. Hunting a giant possibly-undead magical monster? Now that's a thrill.]

I don't know, I'd say we've got a decent chance.

[He has fully 100% misinterpreted what about this she does not like.]

Maria Thorpe | Assassin's Creed | Coldblood | OTA

[givetheslip]

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER;

Maria thinks for a good long while before entering the Gaze. It's been a long time since she's sat through anything like schooling, and even then, everything she learned was for a very particular purpose; what to expect as a noble wife, how to run a household. There were useful things, mathematics and such, but she's long since abandoned all that. What she's learned, she's taught herself or she's been forced to know because war doesn't care whether someone is ready to know its teachings.

But what they're being offered is useful and this is a dangerous land. She doesn't pretend to know everything about how blood rules this place but even she can see the importance of clearing ground to grow things. They need food for survival, and apparently the marijuana Ariadne talked about is also much in demand. So Maria goes to claim her prize, resaoning she can handle anything she's asked for in return, and it's true, she can, but that doesn't mean she particularly likes it.

The stranger to whom she's apparently meant to bare hear soul will find a woman with a braid wrapped around her head, arms crossed over her chest and looking not-terribly-happy but resigned. She'll do what she must.

"Well. How do you think we should approach this?"

ABSOLUTE IMMERSION; [cw for violence, religious war]

She accepts one of the books from an Arcane Scholar on something of an impulsive whim. Maybe Altaïr will be interested, or maybe she'll just keep it to herself. He's not the only one allowed to do some reading, and she's had precious little opportunity in recent years. She doesn't expect to be so drawn into the book's contents; doesn't expect to so vividly imagine the scene before her, as if it really happened, as if she'd been there...

(Maria has no way of knowing that right now, someone else is reading a tale from her life, that they're reliving an encounter with a man who is in Trench right now. She'd put herself forward as Robert's decoy, a target who very well may lose her life in his place — but that doesn't mean she won't fight back against the man she knows is coming. To the death, if necessary...)

[OOC - Insert your memory here! Doesn't matter whether Maria knows your characters or if I know your canon — feel free to link particular scenes! If you'd like to relive Maria vs. Altaïr instead, feel free, just know that if the vision doesn't diverge from canon, it will end when Altaïr stabs "Maria" and no ensuing speechifying will be recalled.]

LEAP OF FAITH;

She's here, and then she's...elsewhere. That's the only way Maria can explain it. It isn't as unfamiliar as Trench was when she first washed up, but it is very clearly not the city she has come to know, at least a little. She wakes up, and something is very wrong here.

At first she plays along out of sheer bafflement. It is less compliance and more a self-serving cautious; she knows better than to push back when she doesn't know what dangers await her, or what allies she may have. Convert. Believe. It's not the first time she's seen people demand such things.

It only lasts so long. Maria makes a break for freedom and it isn't as easy as she'd hoped. It never is. Yet she doesn't give in, because if she gives up herself to become what these cultists want her to be, what will she have left? She's faced death before. Now, it seems, she will again.

[OOC - Open to threads ranging from pretending-to-believe to getting messed up for questioning to hitting the road to performing the ritual! Plotting thread is here if you want to discuss. Feel free to go with action brackets if you prefer, I will match.]

knowledge is power

[hopesparks]

Anakin had the same idea. He's passionate about learning, and he can pick up pretty much anything. But, of course, Never Mind has other ideas. He could turn back but he's stubborn and the promise of a gift that could do so much good makes him stay.

Fortunately he finds a stranger pretty easily, and she's fortunately of the same mindset.

"We could start with our names, where we're from, and something like our jobs or interests. Maybe we'll find some similarity that'll make the rest easier."

To that end, Anakin holds out his hand. "I'm Anakin Solo."

sansa stark | asoiaf

[dohaeris]

i. goodbye to you (vi)

[the rookery was alayne stone's home as much as anywhere. when sansa heard about this ritual, she knew it was time to lay her to rest. she considered the old agate buckle of needle necklace as a symbolic object before she remembered the bottle of dye in her bathroom. perhaps it's silly, but it's the same tyroshi shade of brown. now if sansa has to dye her hair again, it'll at least look a little different. sansa clutches the little bottle as she and lady stride across the back room to her heart tree.

she thinks about lady's grave her in her dream winterfell, where she found the missing piece of her soul. lady carefully takes the bottle for a moment while sansa grasps her dark bloodstone buckle with one hand in order to leverage up a piece of the floor around her weirwood, revealing a patch of dusty soil displaced by the tree's growth. sansa retrieves the bottle from lady, who carefully digs a small hole there. sansa pours in the dye before she buries the bottle, to remove the temptation of digging it up, and pats the dirt back into place. she rises.]

Goodbye, Alayne. You were clever and brave, and you deserved a better father.

[a single winter rose pushes through the dirt to nestle against the weirwood. sansa's eyes widen briefly, then soften, her lips parting in a gentle smile.]

ii. goodbye to everything that I knew

[sansa knows the city's ravens too well to be very frightened when she's carried off; it's better than falling or stumbling into a horrible tunnel. she's relieved, almost, to be deposited in a small riverboat; she thinks of the trident, and wonders if her mother or robb ever sailed into riverrun this way. lady was not brought with her, but a small raven lingers on her shoulder. she admires the carvings of never mind and his ravens.

sansa has long forgotten the old westerosi superstition about their raven messengers, that dark wings bring dark words. if she hadn't, she might be more prepared for what she sees.]

iii. hello from the other side

[sansa likes learning new things. it makes her feel stronger, safer, fortifying the courtesy that is her armor. she doesn't like gaze as much, but she goes to the school of mutter a few times a week, anyway. and she's very interested in the possibility of a prize from never mind. she wears her charcoal dress embroidered with swooping ravens in his honor.

she falters a little when she hears the terms of the challenge, not because she doesn't want to get to know people, but because it means they will have to get to know her. she doesn't want to explain about alayne stone and littlefinger, and people barely seem to be able to follow when she tries to tell them about king's landing. and she doesn't want anyone to feel sorry for her, especially. that's what she liked best about being alayne, here.

nevertheless she catches someone's eye and smiles, making her way towards an unfamiliar face, clutching her skirts to one side in a half-curtsey. lady follows in a matching embroidered collar.]

Hallo, my name is Sansa Stark of Winterfell, and this is Lady.

[lady yips a friendly greeting.]

I should be very grateful if you could tell me what I might call you.

i.

[faceblocks]

[she has hung back, watching sansa pat at the dirt around the base of the tree, around the neat little hole that lady had dug, smiling a little before the sadness kicks in - it's a small sadness - and blinking in surprise as a rose rises up from the buried relics of alayne stone.

but now that the ritual is complete, a little clear of her throat before she approaches. ]

Do you mind if I say a few words?

Ruby Rose | RWBY and Johnny Lawrence | Cobra Kai

[onekindsoul]

[OOC: I'm going to be putting closed prompts in here but if you'd like to throw a starter in for something we've discussed or just a random idea, go for it!

Can be reached on plurk at jjabarrett or discord at jjabarrett#9701 for more plotting.]

u no wat (robby, johnny, and paul when he wants to BUST IN)

[strongroots]

Everyone has a choice, and Robby's leads him to Johnny's dojo early one morning unannounced.

Mainly, because he figures his dad isn't big on the early early morning classes, and it's a better gamble for fewer people being around than later in the day. It's a visit that's been bouncing around in his mind, an incessant nagging that he's been trying to swallow down, ignore. Just deal with his own life, push out elements he doesn't have to engage with. Don't start fights that aren't going to lead to anything.

But Robby can't, and it's as much about some other guy he barely even knows as it is about his own screwed up relationship with his dad.

( Or maybe he's just telling himself that. At this point, he's too agitated to care. )

He slips into the warehouse, never having been in the inside, but an open door hopefully (...hopefully) means that his dad is around. Eyes on the lookout, and if there's no Johnny in the immediate space, he'll poke his nose into any side rooms.

But regardless of where he finds his dad, it'll have the same conclusion: a hardened face whether or not it's regarded, and an edge to Robby's voice in the announcement of his arrival.

"Hey."

Hey.

Ford Pines | Gravity Falls | Open

[cryptograms]

( i a. you can stay asleep )
[ Intense interest probably isn't the right response to finding yourself in an even more hellish alternate universe version of your already pretty hellish home. But would he really be Ford Pines if he didn't monofocus on dangerous subjects in an effort to evade his own depressive mental state?

Of course not.

The locals have proven to be a bit rowdy in response to his curiosity, so Ford has abandoned trying to talk to them in favor of his old standby: rummaging through the Archives (or what's left of them) in search of information. He's not having a lot of luck, however, and combined with the generally less-than-great time he's been having since the end of August, he's both feeling and acting less energetic than usual.

Thus, when someone happens to draw close enough for him to notice, but not so close that he can make out the details through the fog, his reaction is not his typical wave and greeting. Instead he straightens up and slips a hand inside his coat, reaching for but not drawing the weapon he has concealed within. ]

Who's there?

( i b. if everything's erased )
[ But Ford can't stay unenergetic and serious forever. Eventually he and his new companion make some headway into escaping this place. Piecing together the ritual they need to complete to get out of this place has been an engaging process (at least, it has been as far as Ford is concerned) and it promises to continue to engage. Just... maybe not in a fun way. ]

All of these will be tricky but... I think we might have the most trouble with the roses.

[ He glances to his fellow Sleeper. ]

Any ideas?

( ii. in another perfect life )
[ Fortunately, once Ford is back in Trench proper he's in a better mood. Still not cheery, but better equipped for things like mandatory socializing at the Archives.

Granted, he's not exactly thrilled by the idea, and so he doesn't actively seek anyone out. As usual, though, the Archives do as they please. It doesn't take long for his wandering to lead him to nearly collide with another person. He takes a step back when it happens, but makes no move to flee the situation. Instead: ]

Hello, there. Are you here for Never Mind's challenge?

( iii. wildcard )
[ Tag me with your own starter, or hit up my plotting post over here! ]

II

[strikefirster]

[It isn't hard for Ford to collide with Johnny. He looks hopelessly lost and confused in the Archives. He was just looking for a book on how to repair his relationship with his son. He didn't ask for this. Instead of anger or annoyance at the collision a bit of a cocky smirk plays up on his lips when he hears Ford's question.]

I wasn't, no. But if Never Mind's throwing down the gauntlet then I wouldn't be a man if I didn't rise to occasion, right?

[forcechanic]

A: Knowledge is Power

Helping the farmers deal with the corruption seems like something she should do. She wasn't sure what she was expecting when she went to investigate, but at least she hasn't met a lot of people here.

She hadn't been sure she'd be able to do anything while her vision isn't working, but if she just has to talk... yeah, she can manage that. It won't take long to sense someone who's presence she doesn't recognize.

"So... hi." This has to be better than getting dragged to some diplomatic event, right?

B: Leapt Faith

There is no sense that is convenient to have lost when your little brother goes missing. Who kidnaps just one Solo, honestly? Other than some strange phenomenon.

But she's trying to ask around and having to hold out a notebook whenever she approaches someone. "Have you seen my brother Anakin?"

This question may be more useful if the person actually knows him.

C: Leap of Faith

Whether she ever gets to the bottom of the Anakin mystery, eventually the same events take her as well. She might not be able to feel anything physically right now but she can feel the wrongness here.

Her first instinct is to head for the buildings that are actually intact. She tries not to argue while she's catching her breath, but she definitely doesn't like what she's hearing.

Once she's recovered from the shock of arrival, she ventures back out. At least this is a danger she knows what to do about, but she's still on the lookout for potential allies. "Are you from..."

She hopes she's right, or that question could spark aggression.

A: Knowledge is Power

[convene]

"Hm?"

It takes him a moment to truly realize that she's talking to him. Not that he means to ignore her, he's a bit distracted as of late. His eyes go wide in realization before he's quick to give her his full attention, turning to face her completely.

"Ah! Sorry. I just--" He quickly bows. "Sorry. Hello."

Not awkward at all.

Luz Noceda | The Owl House |OTA

[imaglyphwitch]

Leap of Faith

It was funny. When Luz had found herself in the cave of those cannibals, it had been nothing less than horrifying, and she'd been tied up. When she'd been in the factory, she was strung up and bled like a pig. Both of these things had been horrifying, and should have been enough to trigger a PTSD response when Luz awoke in this bad ending world.

But Luz had been through the end of Deerington, and while it had been one of the more traumatic things she'd ever been through, it had been the most awake she'd been in her life. Waking up to this dystopia, dark and scary and monsters lurking, seemed to wake up the part of Luz that managed not to die back then. She hid where she could, she used her glyphs when she needed to, and it turned out? Sometimes she had to be even smarter with them now. Luckily, she'd learned more about them being here. If she needed to sneak past a monster? She could go invisible. If she were being dashed against rocks? She had her glyph combo ready to give that final crash a pause and she'd make it to safety before the final blow happened. If those Riteoir psychos pushed? Luz pushed back.

This wasn't friendly, nice Luz from Trench: at least, not when these troubles came at her, or a friend. Now Luz was quick, and she'd bite if she needed to. It wasn't how she wanted things, but after the business with the factory and then her first death? She wasn't about to take a death for being too soft.

It certainly didn't help matters that Owlbert wasn't here.

Knowledge is Power

Luz wasn't a person that frequented Gaze terribly often. Granted, she knew enough to follow the ravens: after all, she could turn INTO a bird, why wouldn't she trust them? So she sought out the thing Nevermind spoke of: the wheat that could help uncorrupt a piece of land. Luz knew that this was something that would help grow a patch of land, help her continue the quiet dream Margot had hoped for, her little garden. Sure, you could grow other things too, but Luz would be just a happy with the little bit of plot that she could share with those she loved.

And the condition? Well. Luz tended to talk to people in general, though she'd not done that as much the last few months. Now was the perfect time to change that.

Bugge Hunting

She'd gone into Trenchwood with Scorpia as a way to explore what they could do with their astral projecting, though the two had been unaware that something had been watching them that night. It had been just an itch at first: a little after attending Vira and Minako's wedding, she started to feel eyes on her, and tended to hurry home when she could. She'd had her staff, and seeing her fly on it, it knew she could escape. So it waited, and waited, to catch Luz without it.

And then one day, it came for her.

She was by herself, had let Owlbert stay in the barn for a bit, and she was with Tempest when she felt the eyes on her. She swallowed, then looked at her omen.

Just this once.

And now Luz was riding her wolf omen, a beast in hot pursuit, letting put low growls and coming AWFULLY close at times.

Luz sure could use some help here!

leap of faith

[entreats]

You know what the thing is with trying to go around while hiding?

Eventually you run into the same hiding spot as someone else. Which means that Luz may be trying to duck into an alleyway to hide from either a monster of a bunch of cultists, only for Ange to already be sitting there, trying to catch her breath - though she raises her hand, glowing golden with magic that she seems ready to fire off.

A hand that is lowered the moment Ange realises she actually recognizes the person entering the alleyway. It's not some monster, or one of the crazy people in this place.

".. Luz," Ange says, letting out a deep breath. "You nearly scared me to death there."

Not that it's Luz's fault. The girl was just trying to hide, the same thing Ange is doing here. But it's hard to not be totally on edge in these surroundings, where everything seems to be out to kill them.

Ryunosuke Naruhodo | Great Ace Attorney Chronicles | Warm Blood | OTA

[convene]

Leap of Faith: Research edition

Being pulled into an alternate Trench was not how he wanted to spend his time, but he figures it was inevitable that something was bound to happen. Maybe it was like the Dream, a time before Trench - but this wildly more dangerous. Ryunsouke has left the safety of the church in order to find the information detailing this ritual he's heard whispers about. The only place he knows where to find that information is at the Archives.

Which is a pile of rubble.

Dodging some monsters and keeping his distance, he can be found digging through the rubble, going through journals and loose pages that he can find in a desperate search. He's careless as he tosses aside another book, almost frantic to find this information as a means to escape. If they could get out -- if there was a way out he needed to find it. It would only be a matter of time before-- no. He shouldn't think like that. He's survived before by being careful. He'll just be careful here in this hellish landscape and he was certain to survive.

Leap of Faith: Death edition

CW: death, eye gore, violence, general gore

So much for being careful. After barely managing to get the rose, the last thing that they need is a claw of a beast - and he's not sure what is going to be more challenging. He hides behind the remains of a building, clutching his bow to his chest as he dares to glance around to see the large, wolf-like beast stalking down the street. Jaws snap a snarl at the air, claws dig into the earth as it sniffs around for it's prey, and Ryunosuke just so happens to be what it's stalking. He practically holds his breath, carefully, quietly notching an arrow along the string and waiting.

This wasn't going to be an easy task, and his only weapon was the bow he had on him - no special powers, no supernatural abilities: he's an average guy with a lot to lose.

Another deep breath, and then he's around the corner drawing the bow string back and releasing. The arrow flies through the air, a soft whistling noise made before it imbeds itself into the eye of the beast. It howls in pain, head shaking violently as it tries to shake the arrow loose, but to no avail. Now it's mad, and Ryunosuke knows it as it slams into the ruins of one of the many buildings in trench, teeth gnashing as it looks around frantically for it's assailant.

He knows better than to just stand there and stare, and quickly moves to put more distance between himself and the monster. He has no idea how he was going to get it's claw once it was dead, but he's sure he can figure something out.

He hopes.

Knowledge is Power

So the task at hand was to get to know someone new. Ryunosuke could handle that! He needs to meet new people anyway. It would certainly take his mind off of the alternate reality he finally managed to claw his way out of, and give him something positive to achieve. Except he steps foot into the Archives. Except he finds himself wander through the stacks of books idly, his mind occupied by past events. Except he picks the first book off the shelf, a fiction novel that he doesn't recognize and opens it to the first page to hastily start reading.

He clearly needs a distraction.

A deep breath, a shaky exhale, he does his best to focus on something that isn't his death and subsequent revival in that place. The book is helping but he's realizing that it's making him look unapproachable. He hastily places a marker inside of the book and closes it, looking up to make sure he wasn't just being rude.

"Sorry," he finds himself rubbing the back of his neck as he catches someone's eye. "Are you...were you... sorry."

Off to a great start, Ryunosuke.

Wild Card

[Have another idea? Want to catch him as he's revived back in the pocket dimension? You can reach out to me @ Redfielding, or on my plotting post here. I'm down for shenanigans!]

Knowledge is Power

[subject_013]

He might have made this flustered performance before a tall blond man in black, struggling to keep a straight face and not let an amused smirk tweak the corners of his mouth.

"I apologize if my quiet approach alarmed you. I suppose I take that rule about quiet in a library very seriously. What comes of being a scholar from a young age," the interloper says, slipping a book back onto the shelf.

Atsuko "Akko" Kagari | Little Witch Academia | OTA!

[thatsmymagic]

Note: Akko is a Paleblood and is losing some senses this month. Dates of sense loss are as follows.
- 5th-10th // Sight
- 11th-17th // Sound
- 18th-24th // Touch
- 25th-30th // All senses intact again

i. knowledge is power

[ Get to know someone? Easy peasy. Akko is nosy to begin with and loves to chat besides. You can find her in Gaze throughout the month, feeding the ravens on the steps of the school and waiting for someone to catch her attention. Although with her senses on the fritz it can go a bit differently depending on when...

When her sight is missing, she's wandering around and bumping into people left and right, even though her Omen (a black and silver koi fish) tries to direct her through the crowds, people get missed and mistakes are made.

When her hearing is on the fritz, she can be found sitting on the steps of the school, feeding ravens breadcrumbs and being kind of bored until she spots someone coming close. At which point she waves them down and - having learned that she is loud and off-key when deaf - points to her omni and then to you.

The sense of touch isn't hard to work around, so she's back at it with the ravens. She's gaining quite a flock of them. You may wish to approach her just to let her know she's COVERED in bruises and ask if she's okay at this point.

Or maybe you've caught her at the tail end of the month when she has been mercifully spared of another ill effect. Bouncing along the streets of Gaze and marveling at the things she couldn't see or hear prior, Akko will wave down anyone she hasn't met yet with a big smile and an offer to help with the challenge. ]

ii. leap of faith (sept. 25-30)

[ This absolutely sucks. Akko has been thrown the heck out of the church for asking too many questions and arguing with the priests - thrown out, and driven away quite pointedly at the end of a sword. The message was clear. Do not return, do not pass go, do not even look at this building again. This was perhaps the first taste of the true dangers of Trench she'd seen firsthand.

It's difficult to find her at first. She is, after all, taking the form of a mouse. She scuttles between buildings and sits under pieces of rubble, watching for Sleepers lost in the fog or on their way to the church. When she spots someone, she scampers over and pointedly tugs on their pants/skirt/dress/what have you. In a small but perfectly recognizable human voice, the mouse says: ]

Hey! Follow me, it's not safe out here. I know a spot we can hide, come on!

[ A low growl resounds through the streets. The mouse's urgency is apparently warranted. ]

Re: Atsuko "Akko" Kagari | Little Witch Academia | OTA!

[madgamerhat]

Knowledge is Power: Hearing

[ Driven by a seemingly instinctual presence, an old man wanders far from his beach home. He finds himself at the Gaze. This location is far removed from his usual trading posts. What's this? He notices a girl feeding ravens. He approaches with a smile. ]

Hello!

[ The old man greets. Once the girl indicates that she is hard of hearing, he pulls out his Omni. ]

How are you?

[ He reveals the words on the screen. ]

kaworu nagisa | evangelion | OTA

[peripheries]

Knowledge is power

Kaworu is not so bothered by the task ahead. Despite nearly a year here, he maintains his curiosity and desire to understand others. And now, it will help heal corruption, which he has long accepted as a worthwhile exertion of effort.

He doesn't care much for the School of Mutter, nor of his patron. He's much more a child of Mariana now. Still, certain things must be done regardless of preference. So, he looks around, seeking whomever seems most interesting and approaches them, getting far too close, almost oblivious to the ravens circling around him like a halo.]

Hey. Tell me something about yourself. We need to get a bracelet.

[He looks at you, highly expectant and impatient, seemingly oblivious to the reluctance to share something with a stranger, even for a worthy cause.]

ii. Knowledge is Power (with a twist)

[If someone shows a particular (though understandable) reluctance to share personal feelings. Kaworu will reach into his pocket and pull out a feather wreath, a gift from his patron. Boring, he thinks, but useful here.

He waves it, as though that will compell whomever he's speaking to to get a move on.]

Come on, this will force you to tell the truth if you're scared. So let's just get on with it. This place is boring and I want to leave.

[So... he's making that your problem! Apparently!]

iii. wildcard

[Feel free to hit me up on DM, Discord server, or plurk worldtype]

Knowledge is Power

[slightlytaller]

Um...

[This was awkward. For a second, he felt almost as if he were looking at a long lost relative of one of his old schoolmates-- the obscenely wealthy, eccentric, and direct spoken Melvin was as much a benefactor as a strange friend, and even Waver Velvet could appreciate the way his violin playing a soothing balm against his own frayed magic circuits.

The occasional puking of blood was, unfortunately, just part of the package.

Waver blinked at the kid, before deftly pushing his own disconcerted feelings aside and straightening his collar somewhat.]

My omen is a cat,

[He explained, following along things that had helped the last time he encountered an awkward teen. With a motion, he gestured to the black cat that laid on the study table next to his current stack of books. Her green eyes were closed, and her tail twitched every once in a while-- as if dreaming.]

Although, I don't think just going up to strangers and making demands is a good way to get a bracelet, you know. Never Mind might be savvy enough to spot kids trying to game the system.

Kainé | Nier: Replicant 1.2247 | Vileblood

[foulhussy]

Knowledge is Power

[ Kainé knows that the effect of this month’s moon on her blood is the cause of her feeling more sociable lately, but it doesn’t seem to bother her as much as she thought it would. It isn’t as though she’s ever chomping at the bit to chat people up, but lately the terrible ordeal of being known just doesn’t seem as dreadful as it once was.

Maybe it’s the incentive of a reward. The chance for life to gain a tiny foothold in this blighted land. Coming from a world where failed harvests were commonplace, talking to a stranger doesn’t sound that bad for Kainé. So she makes her way to Gaze.

Some poor stranger is going to come across a surly, white-haired woman staring intently at them, before she takes a deep breath and approaches. ]

So how do we do this shit?

Leap of Faith:

[ Life had been getting a little too peaceful lately, hadn’t it? One moment, she was strumming out a few clumsy chords on her new guitar, and the next she is falling into darkness and into the warped reflection of Trench.

She comes close to panicking at first, that she had returned to squid form without knowing it, and swam off into another world, forever separated from the life she built and the people she’d come to love. But she has no time for that; she has to survive and gather what information she can, and eventually she learns of a possible way back— but it won’t be easy, with the streets crawling with Beasts and the only shelter held by fanatic cultists.

What a shame that Kainé is so bad at putting up with bullshit. At least she’s always been good at surviving on her own. But others might not be. She wanders the desolate landscape, evading what Beasts she can, and trying to find anybody else who might be caught exposed in this nightmare. ]

Come on, follow me! Quick!

Vileblood Moon Prompt:

[ The increase in affability has had another effect, namely that she occasionally, if quietly, hums or outright sings to herself when going about her business. She knows why, of course: recently she’d told Anna that she’d like to play music with her. She’d been practicing in snippets of time that she got throughout the day.

At first she was embarrassed and tried to stop it, but eventually, probably because of the moon, she stops caring. After all, if she doesn’t feel like dealing with anybody’s comments, she’ll just ignore them. Easy.

She never does it when she’s out patrolling as a hunter, but when she’s strolling through the markets, one might be curious about the normally rough white haired woman who is quietly humming or practicing scales to herself. She might even be inclined to respond to the attention. ]

Vileblood Moon Prompt

[cuddlery]

[Scorpia had come to the markets to see what was up for bartering today. But she was quickly distracted by a different sight in the streets. Or rather, a sight and a sound.

She hears some nice humming nearby and turns towards its source. She's always been a fan of music, and that's only increased since she started her own singing career! But when she sees the source, she's surprised, which shows as she utters her name.]

Kainé? [When they first met, she was mostly quiet and rough. So her humming is a pleasant surprise! After drawing attention to herself, Scorpia waves her pincers in the air apologetically.] Sorry, I just - you sound really nice!

Savage Opress / Star Wars / OTA

[opress]

Leap of Faith
[Savage snarled as he cleaved through the large beast that had come to take his life. The smell of burnt flesh and fur filled the air as the creature howled in surprise before it staggered and fell onto its side. He slashed its head from its neck to end its suffering and to increase the chances that he could ease away from the area before other beasts came to investigate the kill.

He growled as he wiped at the deep claw marks in his thigh, and while they hadn’t struck anything vital, the injury would slow him up as he move around this strange violent dimension that was and wasn’t Trench. Green smoky blood rose from the claw marks in his thigh, soaking into his trousers.

He craved off a forelimb from the dead beast as a future meal and dragged it and himself off the path to find a place of refuge that wasn’t full of religious zealots. He would rather sleep with the beasts that wanted to murder him – home sweet home basically – than deal with those humans and their false sanctuary.

He run across a small group of them and made himself scarce when he heard their ravings. It reminded him of the Blood Crazed Zealots, and he wanted no part of such ravings. So, he’d take his chances.

Still, he froze when he heard sounds up ahead, issuing a low threatening growl. It didn’t smell or sound like a beast looking for a meal.] Who goes there?


Knowledge is Power
[Savage had missed the memo that there was a prize to be won from Never mind for expanding one’s knowledge. He was casual about his entry into the Archives, to replace the book that he had finished working his way through to replace it with another. He didn’t enter for a prize after all; by the Winged Goddess’ will, he wanted to be in and out as quickly as he could to limit the chance of others catching him sneaking in.

He skulked his way down the rows of books, though he was difficult to miss because of his sheer size and his glowing golden eyes. He was busy picking through the books on the basics of blood magic, flipping through the books searching for one that would prove a challenge without being a complete frustration for his current reading level.

He looked as approachable as quill fiend, but he also wouldn’t refuse conversation. He was best approached as he leafed through books in his search for the proper skill level.]


The Great Hunt
[Hunting a massive dangerous creature? Savage wasn’t one to refuse, especially if the legends were even close to those whispered in the taverns and the Hunter’s Guild. It sounded like a tall tale, but there were certain Hunters that had a haunted look when they spoke of the Bugge. He listened and he learned what he could, even going so far as to speak with a few farmers to find out any key details.

He went to the Torchwood, keeping to the edge of the city as he listened to for sounds of the beast. He took his time and even decided to bring out his two-handed battleaxe for this; the weapon was quieter than his saberstaff. He had hunted similar beasts on Dathomir and felt extremely comfortable tracking dangerous creatures.

Normally, he would go as a hunting party. A handful of Nightbrothers working together could bring down most creatures and often with minor injuries.

It was why he hadn’t entered the forest yet. He was waiting and watching for others who might be useful companions for traveling into the Torchwood. While he was confident of his own skill, he understood better than most the strength of numbers, even if it was nothing more than a pair working together.]

Do you hunt the great beast? You seem like you might not die immediately.

[A Zabrak offering of ‘let us hunt together’.]

Closed to Airadne

[opress]

[Savage arrived at the house in question and all of its disarrayed glory, and this was nothing new for him. He lived on a planet where things were knocked down and had to be rebuilt all the time. Okay, there wasn't much forest on Dathomir, but one thing he was always good for was heavy lifting.

He nudged a large rock with his foot as he walked around the place. It looked like some work had been done already, which meant Airy was probably around here somewhere. He walked around without making any effort to hide his footfalls as he moved to where he expected a garden to be. She did like plants and apparently felt like salvaging the herbs?

When he finally spotted her, he issued a low chuff of greeting.] Where do you want me to start? This shouldn't take long.

kylo ren | star wars

[dyaddyissues]

leap of faith. (a)

[ Kylo had heard the whispers about it; the sleepers vanishing without a trace. Concerning, but he doesn't let it worry him when his own problems are coming to head. One day he can't taste, which is unfortunate but something he can live with. The next week all sense of touch appears to be lost on him; which means when a pair of hands grab him from behind and give him an almighty shove, he doesn't realize it until he goes sprawling. Ignoring embedded rocks in his hands and scratches that trickle blood, he takes a good look around his surroundings. Great.

Muttering curses he reaches for his lightsaber and ignites the crossblade as he trudges the path through the dilapidated city.

leap of faith (b).

[ He doesn't need to walk far before coming across a creature and it's almost a relief when Kylo does, when it rears up and snarls at him in a way that tells him it's a danger. Good, he thinks, his saber already ignited in his hand. It's something to do, something he can do that's not wandering about this barren Hellscape, growing more and more frustrated as time went by. Gritting his teeth, he lunges at it. ] ]

closed to Rey.

[ He's been thinking about their last conversation. Perhaps what they needed was a face-to-face one, where one couldn't simply hang up on the other. Which is why he waits until she is home from whatever it is she does during the day, Kylo doesn't know.

Hesitation doesn't suit him, standing in front of her door wondering if he should knock. Sighing, he settles for calling out. ]

Rey. It's me.

wildcard

[ After escaping the pocket dimmension and during his time there, Kylo will be suffering the effects of his bloodtype, loss of senses. Taste, touch and then the force and lastly his hearing with the last two being compounded with loss of sight after an argument with Rey. During the last two weeks he can be found wandering, lost and angry, around the trench. He'll initially refuse any offers of help, but will be in a very bad way during this time. Good luck with that! ]

b)

[opress]

[Savage had been tossed in this pocket dimension some time before, though he actually didn't know if time moved differently. All he knew was that he couldn't sense his brother anymore, which was indication enough that none of this was normal and he would find his way back.

The Force rippled as another Force user appeared, and he stomped his way over to find a black-clad human with a red lightsaber. A Sith? The young one was attacking one of the many beasts of this place, and the raw emotion was easy enough to sense.]

That better not give you trouble, little Dark One.

Reaper | Overwatch | OTA

[no_reload]

Knowledge is Power

Get to know someone new? Gross. How was that even a worthwhile bit of knowledge?

Reaper felt a prickle of annoyance to the stipulation to Nevermind’s challenge, not because it meant that he had to ask probing questions to someone he had never spoken to before but because it meant he had to tolerate the reverse. He was a deeply private man, and he understood over a lifetime scheming and strategizing that knowledge was power. To gain this gift, he would have to actually speak about something involving himself.

Nevermind didn’t seem stupid enough to make it a one-sided endeavor after all. Still, the temptation of the prize outweighed his apprehension. After all, he could control the narrative of what information he was willing to give.

He moved around the Gaze looking for what he would consider a reasonable but easy target. Probably someone young, he decided. The older folks had enough life experience to realize when he was holding back and might actually have the know-how to jockey extra information out of him. Now who also looked interesting?

Suddenly he lifted a hand and pointed a finger at an individual that he had chosen for conversation. "You. Come join the Reaper and tell him a little about yourself."

The Great Hunt
There had to be a catch when it came to the legends of the Bugga. Hunt or be hunted? That had seemed little too on the nose when it came how things operated in Trench, but then again, what could one expect from farmers eager for a good harvest? He had actually been asked to find and kill the Bugga by a farmer while he was on Night patrol, which amused him greatly. So fine, he’d hunt it, even kill it.

He had tracked through the forest in the early morning hours when the shadows were long and the forest was at a stillness he preferred. It didn’t take him long to realize that he was being hunted as much as he was doing the hunting, and that they were tracking each other with an increasing sense of danger. He let the Bugga assume the upper hand, even if he recognized that to be dangerous. Death didn’t scare him, though it gave him pause what with his blood connection to Maul. No one should experience the death of those they were so close to that closely he imagined.

Reaper had to jump when the branch he was walking along tilted thanks to the tree itself being violently uprooted as the Bugga came in behind him. He teleported to another tree, only to have the branch snapped by the massive beast he had agreed to kill, and he felt a shiver of anticipation as he landed on the ground and found himself staring up at the Bugga.

He unloaded clips of both shotguns into the massive creature before being knocked into a tree. He flowed to his feet, feeling the damage but healing it quickly enough. Massive jaws snapped to close around him and swallow him whole, but he snapped out his arms to shove his strength against upper and lower jaw that sought to crush him with a single bite. The Bugga was strong, and Reaper’s arms strained to hold those teeth from closing around him.

Yet he held, putting the full weight of his concentration into the act even if, little-by-little, those jaws forced his arms to strain and relent inch by inch.

"A little help would be appreciated…."

Closed to Willow

[no_reload]

He had decided that she had suffered enough. She might have taken Maul away from him, and he had responded by killing her friends and assisting in burning her house down, but his worst was always when he unloaded a bullet into someone. That in and of itself was never the worst part, it was that the necrotizing flesh would never heal, would always be as source of pain.

He had let her suffer with one for a few weeks, one of the few times he had bothered to let the world of Trench know that Reaper was never truly at his worst just being a troll. His passive assholeness was him on good behaviour, and that there were very few things that wouldn't suffer if he went off the rails. Let Willow serve as the reminder that he could do so much terrible action to this world.

The added benefit was that he knew where she was of course. So he could track her down by knowing where he was.

Reaper arrived at the Archives knowing that he would find Willow there, and he made a point of gliding along the many floors and between the shelves soundlessly. It wasn't until he was close enough that he knew she could hear that he let his booted feet walk on the floor. He even took the dramatic route once he was close enough to turn to smoke and move from one aisle to the next where she was.

"Enjoying reading? Or distracting yourself?"

Lance Closed Prompts

[azurestar]

( ooc: PM me if you'd like to plot a starter. )

For Shoyo

[azurestar]

[Being stuck in a parallel version of Trench that somehow manages to be even worse than the real deal is not how he wanted to spend today. Especially when he can't hear shit. The silence is threatening to drive him crazier than usual as it is.

And he's pretty freshly fallen into this hellscape, so he hasn't yet run into the cultists. Until now, when he stupidly flags a group of them down from where he is breathing hard on the corner after being chased by a monster. He thinks at first that they are maybe other sleepers, but the way they are stalking forward with creepy intent has him questioning his choices.]

Oh boy. Uh, nevermind guys! I'm good!

[He can't hear himself so his volume control is way off and he yells that loud enough that if someone happens to be a block over can hear. And now he's backing up slowly as they approach, saying something.] Sorry, I didn't catch that! But I'm fiiiine, you can go back to whatever weird stuff you were doing!

[And he bumps into something from behind as he's backing away. Or someone.]