yes I knew it was no moonshine, it is real

[faceblocks]

Who: vi and various people
What: a catchall for october feat. vileblood anxiety things, animal shenanigans, facepainting things, non-event things. starters will be in the comments. ping me at eisdamme or eisdamme#7495 if you would like one.
When: throughout the month of october
Where: the rookery kitchen, ursulas, cellar door, willful machine, the outpost, the entertainment feed, other places.

Content Warnings: tba

Comments

anxious tattoos/facepainting [open and closed all month]

[faceblocks]

a [vi can be found in a few locations for facepainting with both harmless paint and paint that's more like than not to merge a sleeper with its mask. if she knows you well, she might be doing that very painting from the rookery kitchen, or perhaps from ursula's if you're a casual acquaintance...]

b [...two days during the week (a perfectly respectable every other day tues & thurs situation) vi can reliably be found at ursula's ink. she's in and out at other times when the mood suits, or if she has an appointment: she's extra early because oh no what if she's late??

this month, one will find her in her corner station next to a large window, fiddling with her inks, setting and re-setting down her tools to make room for paints, of which there is an assortment! there's glittery paint, glowy paint, and she's unusually overwhelmed by the choices here. her (still growing) portfolio is not at it's usual place on the other end of that table - it's in various stages of re-arranging depending on the day. (it's full of mostly blackwork, a growing number of color pieces here and there, some similar to what's on her skin, as well as geometric shapes, and an assortment of creatures both of trench and not. fancy a nightmare steed? she's got several of those in various stages of completion, and a few pieces of portraiture that are not compiled in the book scattered about. or not. she can't seem to decide if they should be in the book or out of the book, and yes, they're all d. except for the one that's jinx.)

it's possible she's meditating - or trying to, and if that's the case it's a crapshoot here: she might have just recharged her chill and forced that vileblood anxiety down and away for a time, or she could have been so startled that she's even more anxious and maybe has to start all over.

vi will busy herself until she sees a face, familiar or strange. don't worry, if you're afraid of needles, she's got that covered, too: she's a vileblood, and she doesn't charge extra if you need a bit of numbing up. she's got a small sign that says as much, but it also comes with a warning. best not to lie about broken skin, etc. - because you could die. and she will not be held responsible for that. there is a form to sign. it is very professional.

no, wait, there needs to be another form after the paint has had ....incidents.]

c [she's also made a couple stops for private painting - perhaps someone is too sleepy (manabu) or doesn't wish to make the trek anywhere further than their own sofa or kitchen table - vi has got you. or, at least she thinks she has you. maybe she doesn't. so many choices. so many colors. she should really just pause to check on her sister - hold on. wait, which brush did she pick up? sorry about that, she'll switch to the other one.

not all of the paint is cursed - there seems to be a mix up between batches.]

a

[tealeafs]

[ When Chizuru heard about the face painting, she didn't just want to ignore it - not when ignoring anything can come with a risk in a place like Trench.

.. but on the other hand, she also had no idea how to go about this. She's never done anything like it, after all. And no matter how hard it is for her to reach out for help, people in this place have told her over and over to just do that if she needs it.

It still means she waffles for about half an hour while holding her Omni, but in the end she manages to send a message over to Vi to ask for help with painting her face - and after arranging to meet in person for it, Chizuru makes her way over to the Rookery. ]

.. Miss Vi? [ Chizuru slowly speaks up as she arrives. ] I'm here.

[faceblocks]

[hi. hello. vi is already at the door, because ...what if she's supposed to meet someone? and good thing she'd been there, because she was supposed to, and if she hadn't been here ...just now she would have missed them, and that is unacceptable.

she'd been so busy worrying about the paint that she'd forgotten about the appointment even though that's what the paint was for - but she's ended up in the right place at the right time so everything is absolutely fine, right?]

Chizuru! Hi. I'm here, too.

[she waves off her own awkwardness, gestures for the sleeper to come inside, and will seem perfectly composed until they reach said kitchen, at which point vi will puzzle for a moment before asking:]

Do you want to have a seat? Or we can do this with you standing if that's...

...more comfortable?

[she will cover her sudden worry over seating with a huge grin. it's fine. this is normal. here is the smile of a confident person.]

[tealeafs]

[ .. huh.

Something does seem a little off, doesn't it. But Chizuru is such a die hard believer in the best in other people that she just brushes it off - for now, anyway, in this moment. Something does feel a little off, sure, but that's probably just Chizuru's perception being off, right? Everything is clearly fine. Vi would never be nervous. She's too cool for that.

So she just smiles at the other, as if Vi isn't nervously chattering all over the place. ]

No, I can sit. [ She even moves to take a seat already! Score.

Chizuru figures this will be more comfortable than trying to stand, anyway. ]

Thank you so much for wanting to do this for me.. I honestly wouldn't even have had an idea on where to start if I had to do it all by myself.

[faceblocks]

Cool, cool.

Not a big deal at all. I do this all the time on paper. And lately: faces.

[seeing chizuru sit down is helpful, that's one less thing she has to worry about just now. now it's looking at the paint. no, wait ...she can't just start painting, there are questions.]

First things first. What am I painting you as?

[tealeafs]

Um.. I'm not sure, actually.

[ Sorry, Vi. That answer might not be helping you much. But while Chizuru did hear about the entire painting faces tradition here, she didn't hear about much else, so it looks like she's thinking for a moment.. ]

Do you think there's something I should be painted as..? Um, I mean, I wouldn't stand out too much! [ Perhaps not too surprising to hear that from Chizuru, at least. ] And I would like for you to be able to paint something you're confident in too!

[faceblocks]

Oh. Umm. Hmm. Okay.

Well, I'm good with painting animals. Nature stuff, creatures. Or I can just do a bunch of fun shapes, or a robot, or...

[she tries to rein it in, because that's a lot of options.] Do you have a favorite animal or creature? From here or home? [if she doesn't know what it is, she can use her omni.] I think they're supposed to be a little scary, but I don't think that part matters as much.

[does it? maybe? shit, she hadn't thought about that. what if it's the scariness of the costume that has the protection baked into it? no, no. sansa's costumes have been less on the scary side and she's been fine.]

b-ish

[strongroots]

[ There's the giddy whispers of festivities, celebrations to look forward to despite the uglier side of Trench happenings this month. Robby hasn't really thought about the Black Parade too much; a lack of good sleep has made him irritable, and even when he sleeps -- it's not restful. So he hasn't given any of that much thought, focusing on figuring out other shit.

Some of which takes Robby to Vi's work place, a bag in tow. It's deja vu, where the first time that bag held an assortment of treats when he last came back: twinkies (you've gotta), hershey's kisses, reese's cups and goldfish crackers. Also a loaf of cut bread in sealed plastic, because if a woman says she likes bread, well, why not oblige?

(And see how different one ranks the kind made in Trench, and then the kind replicated through blood magic. Does the blood magic give it flavour? Bread tastes like bread, to Robby.)

He'd been in a good mood that time, a small smile free to widen, his mood relaxed. This time when he enters and catches Vi's attention, there's a dimple that forms in place of a smile, exhaustion in the weight of his eyes. He lifts the bag with its hidden contents. ]

Got time?

[faceblocks]

[she's got time, and also: she's got two finger guns and a neck crack because she's just managed to beat that damn worry. her ink is fine, jinx is not going to starve because she's got an omen (and sansa) to check on her. it's all good.

her own face is painted and masked, an oilslick version of one of trench's own nightmare steeds, complete with a sharp little horn in the center of the mask, almost as if it's protruding from split, glittering flesh. (the blood's glittery, too.) she slips the mask off when she sees robby (the paint is enough, right?)]

Got presents?

[she makes a face, a handwave that says she's kidding, and she is, mostly. like ninety percent kidding, but her head tilts when she catches sight of ...yeah, that's exhaustion. that's ...not sleeping, or not sleeping well. or just having been through it. for a moment she wonders if he's here about one of the memory books.]

Yeah, nothing but. Take a load off, you look like you need to.

[strongroots]

[ There would be the crack of a smile, a joke readying, but nothing about his face changes to the joke given first. His eyes only skim to where he could go with the offer to sit, and he takes it quietly, somewhere he can hold out the bag for her still; elbows leaning on knees, a breath exhaled through his nostrils. ]

It's blood shit, [ he gives in way of explanation. ] I got lucky last month.

[ Was lucky, for other people; and the luck for him had been not feeling increasingly like shit every new day. Even sitting like this is itching into the territory of annoying him - like he should be doing more, moving more, even if his muscles feel strained and worn at the same time.

At least, that's all he wishes it was. But he'll allow her to dig into the bag if she likes than speak more, since, you know - he's got presents. This visit is: cheetos, chips ahoy! cookies, a packet of oreos, and jolly rancher gummies. ]

[faceblocks]

[the HUGEST commiserating eyeroll at "blood shit".]

See? Spoken like a true trencher--

--ugh--trenchie. Sleeper, whatever. Welcome to club "blood shit". It's a ride, but not the cool kind, like at the park. Blood shit, or "stuff that blows about this place 101" should have been in the book with the map.

[she comes out from her station, dragging her own chair with her to place it in range of the one he's taken. everyone looks (or feels) terrible this month. sometimes it's a double barrel of both.

but she's genuinely happy to see these bright, crinkly bags, some with cheerful animals and almost every one bearing lots! of!! excitement!!! in its branding. hey, she's excited to paw through it, so where's the lie in that advertising. she has yet to find something she truly dislikes, foodwise. in his offerings and ...in trench itself.]

You bring any for yourself? If there's something you want to split, just say it before I open something.

"I got lucky last month" should not mean "my blood's kicking my ass this month".

[strongroots]

[ He shakes his head, waves a hand with the 'Have it' he says to the foods. Some people like stuffing their faces when they're annoyed, antsy, pissed off with life and whatever else they can find to be pissed off by, but Robby's never been the type. Never had the food for it, and even now, he isn't in the mood. He's got his arms close to crossed, except for the one that he's using to rub at the other, like he's got an annoying rash under the sleeve. ]

Sleeper's the shittiest name I've ever heard. [ Because it is, and fuck it, he'd rather be called a trenchie any day of the week than a Sleeper. ] I try sleeping, and when I wake up, it's like my nerves are on fire. Every time I stop moving, my body's got another thing coming.

[ Even now, already, he's been tapping his foot against the floor. His folded arms trying not to move, tightening up to stop them, but even that shifting to prevent it is just another way of answering his body asks to twitch, twitch, move. ]

I don't even get anything useful out of it. People who tell me warmblood's as good as any other is full of shit.

[ And his mouth is full of the word shit today, too. ]

[faceblocks]

[vi tears open the bag of cheetos, deciding (unwittingly) to fight a battle with orange dust on this day of days. it won't do much to quell her anxiety, but it'll be a while until that truly rises again, thankfully. little spikes here and there can be dealt with.]

My sister got hit with the other one. Can't stay awake long enough to eat. Faceplanted in her food, and I was so worried I didn't even laugh. She didn't laugh either. Her omen's gotta brush her hair. [jinx has a lot of hair. that's a three person job, so yeah, she's been roped in. she doesn't mind ...except when she has to start over - rebrush, rebraid, because it just somehow must be ...wrong.]

Two things. One, did they tell you about beasts and pollution? Two, and bear with me, does the movement have to be big, or will anything work?

[vi keeps a fidget device at her station. works on nervous clients, jinx, and ...sometimes herself. she reaches for it as she pops another bright orange puff into her mouth, grinning as she chews. she does not notice the transfer of cheese dust on her fingers when she hands the small device to him. it's a bit like a wooden rubix cube, only there's nothing to match, it's just something to turn in a number of ways, none of them wrong.

and shit's a good word, especially lately.]

bonk

[megatheorem]

[Palamedes has never been to Ursula's before, but he supposes - first time for anything. His entire body hurts in a profound way he can do nothing about - thanks, darkblood! - and rather than sulk around at home or at the Sanctuary snapping at people about it (that's a paleblood's job, anyway), he's decided to go out. He remembers Vi telling him about her tattooing, and so it's more or less happenstance that brings him to wobble into Ursula's and loiter around until she's not too busy with whatever she's doing. He's just looking around... hmm, inks...

After a bit,] It's quite a place.

[Hi, Vi. How's it hanging. If he looks like shit it's because darkbloods never get it good, don't mind it at all.]

I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd come say hello. Can I sit down, before I fall over, please?

is bonked

[faceblocks]

[it is quite a place, yes. and one she's comfortable in, at least for the moment, having had a bit of time to direct her mental energies into trying to be chill, a thing she isn't used to trying this hard at. she'd been trying to hard to focus on that she hadn't seen or heard him slip in. if she had she'd have been worried sooner.]

Well, well, look what the cat---

---oh. Wow, you look---

[like you were dragged in by a cat she almost says, but there's no cat to be found. just a very worn down palamedes. so she's up and on the move. no fingerguns for him, she is quickly dragging over another chair for his chair so that his feet can have their own chair. he looks like it's a two chair kind of day.]

Yes. Sit. Please sit. No falling over allowed.

[you fall over, you get carried to a reclining chair. for a moment she thinks it's coldblood related like jinx, until she remembers palamedes isn't a coldblood - they'd talked about trying to find one, and it had led to big things. so it must be something else. and now she's dragging her own chair around her work area and closer to the little setup she's arranging for him. hold on, she's getting a pillow.]

Did you take a lamp or walk all the way from the Outpost?

[because dude. you look like you walked thirty miles over a path of legos.]

[megatheorem]

[Oh, and that's an uncharacteristic amount of fussing from Vi, he thinks. Not that she's in any way not a fusser, in her way, but Palamedes has grown accustomed to a certain level of busybodying from his social circle and this is spiking above that, while she darts around to get furniture and pillows.

Really, it's not that bad... but he won't complain, sinking gratefully into the chair - and ah? Putting up his feet, too? Sure.]

A lamp. You don't have to worry about me, I assure you; necromancers are not known for our robust physicality.

[Which, like, he hears it, that sounds worrying in itself, so as he holds up a hand to Explain,] I look worse than I actually am, promise. It's the blood acting up, that's all.

[He's always been far too thin and prone to getting winded on the stairs, so the darkblood aches simply make his existing physical detriments... overt. He's dealing.]

Well, how are you doing, anyway?

[faceblocks]

Yeah, yeah the blood shit. So tired of this. It's messing people up. It's messing me up to have to see it.

Well, you should be. That's the thing, right? Necromancers make deals with death, right? Cheat it, beat it, make friends with it, weave and dodge? I don't know how it all works, but it should come with some robustness.

And Trench can just ease up. First the books, and the river, and that whole other thing with the ritual to get out? This blood shit can go.

[alas. she is not able to talk it away. but. she doesn't answer yet. her only thought is:]

Do you want a blanket?

[megatheorem]

I've never made a deal with anyone, no. Being a necromancer is an innate condition I was born with, not unlike a high metabolism, but I won't bore you with my theories. A blanket would be nice.

[He supposes, anyway? A blanket won't make his joints hurt any less, but it seems like it will make Vi feel a little better, so yes: a blanket would be great.]

And— well, I didn't really go out, this past handful of weeks. What happened?

[faceblocks]

[it's not a far trek for a soft blanket, and she'll hand it to him after a pause - deciding that it's best if he arrange it himself in whatever way he likes - before she sits back down.]

Lots of people got isekai'd. That means "different worlded". Learned that one from Shoyo. These books appeared all over, handed out and stuff? Never Mind's idea of a group chat. So you're just reading one minute and the next you're reliving someone's worst memory. Or maybe third worst. Maybe you're them. Maybe you're just watching. Maybe you see something you shouldn't see and your brain goes all sideways and bam, corruption city and your sister's gotta come through and put your head on straight.

I did get to punch a king, though. He was a dick, and I got a cool sword out of it. I got a sword from another book, too. So I'm learning how to do that now. Surprised it missed you, since you're kinda a book guy.

[books > lessons > first aid > sidebar to conversation:]

Oh, remember that idea we tossed around? The packs that stay hot and stay cold? Well, I found someone that could do it, and I dunno if it'll help you, but I've got 'em on me if you'd like to try.

A

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul is definitely done with masks this month. After being turned into a dinosaur and going on a rampage on the last day, he doesn't trust any of them. Fortunately, everyone who is aware of what happened last time is more than happy to steer him clear of anything that might be cursed.

One of Maul's followers gently steers him clear of one of the stalls that may have cursed masks or facepaint.]

I don't think you want to try that one, Lord Maul. Why don't you try Urusula's?

[They suggest. So Maul finds himself back at the tattoo parlor. When he spots Vi, he lifts a hand in greeting before he makes his way over. His two followers remain in the front area while he goes over to her.]

Are you doing facepainting as well as tattoos this month?

[faceblocks]

[no cursed paint for you, maul. you have had enough bullshit from this place. thank the pthumerians for followers. or thank the followers for following.

she's having a crisis over paint. none of it looks right, but oh, hey, hi, there is no problem here. she is professional. she can make decisions. yes, she just dropped that particular paint jar right into the fucking trash bin.]

Yup.

[there are two followers. oh no. is this three faces she has to paint? a momentary look of panic. (lies - it's not momentary, it's still there.]

What kind of paint? [the kind that's not cursed, vi.] I mean, what kind of design?

[survivalthroughhate]

Surprise me. I want to see what you can come up with that will compliment the designs I already have.

[The lines of the geometric patterns all over his skin create a definite harshness to Maul's face that otherwise wouldn't be there, making areas like his cheekbones and nose very prominent. He wants to see how Vi will attempt to overcome the challenge.]

[faceblocks]

[she can do that. there are a few options - and she's going to have to take a deep breath to not get sucked into the overwhelm of those options. so, paint. sure. she's got lots of paint and that's fine.]

You want a change up of color, or are you good with a red and black scheme? 'Cause I've got a few ideas, and they're all a bit unsettling, which ...you're probably going for. Scary's the flavor, this month.

[survivalthroughhate]

I think a little bit of color shall be good.

[Maul usually just goes for red and black as a general rule but right now he's feeling a little festive. Might as well give into the spirit of the holiday!]

[faceblocks]

[she's got the paint for that! or, rather, the skill as well. she follows the red areas and makes them grey, black, white, and suddenly with a small addition of a new color, they become more chrome than anything else, but also shadowed, shaded. she adds in a bit of a scaled effect at the outermost edges, fading them into black. that part's surprisingly easy, though he might hear mutters of breathe in strength breathe out bullshit as she works, and she steps back to assess at least thrice.]

Pick a color, violet or green.

[he's going to be a dragon, but she's using a bit of her homeworld inspiration here. and his horns will also get paint, she just hasn't decided what kind yet.]