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deercountry2023-01-08 10:04 pm
reddosmod) wrote in deercountry2023-01-08 10:04 pm
Entry tags:
- *event,
- altaïr ibn la-ahad: tea,
- anakin skywalker: michele,
- ange ushiromiya: jelle,
- battler ushiromiya: chrono,
- beatrice: mila,
- caitlyn kiramman: mesi,
- chizuru yukimura: jelle,
- darth maul: shade,
- izuku "deku" midoriya: tea,
- jason kolchek: kacey,
- jinx: bekka,
- kd6-3.7: moz,
- lord asriel belacqua: min,
- luna lovegood: cheryl,
- luz noceda: pedro,
- maria thorpe: jaina,
- martin blackwood: lucy,
- mike enslin: aeri,
- nico di angelo: xae,
- peter graham: jhey,
- robby keene: ree,
- robyn goodfellowe: oggy,
- scorpia: gore,
- sharon da silva: lunare,
- terry silver: cass,
- trevor belmont: michele,
- venus: kari,
- vi: aeri,
- wanda maximoff: jade,
- willow rosenberg: lucy
turned dreams into an empire
JANUARY 2023 EVENT
A NEW CITY
TOWARDS A CURE
ROTTEN TIMES
CODING
Due to the cyclical nature of Trench, last year's January prompts are available for use. Please be sure to mark if your prompts are from this year or last year to avoid confusion when plotting/playing.
IMAGE DESCRIPTORS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE
Prompt One
[Image One: A dark, cloudy sky over a city street lit by lanterns.]
[Image Two: Dark woods with spots it up by moonlight. ]
Prompt Two
[Image One: Two, mostly melted candles burning in holders. ]
[Image Two: A spider web on top of sticks and berries. ]
Prompt Three
[Image One: An apple cut in half and clearly rotting. ]
[Image Two: A person lying in bed with their head on their arms. ]
Prompt One
[Image One: A dark, cloudy sky over a city street lit by lanterns.]
[Image Two: Dark woods with spots it up by moonlight. ]
Prompt Two
[Image One: Two, mostly melted candles burning in holders. ]
[Image Two: A spider web on top of sticks and berries. ]
Prompt Three
[Image One: An apple cut in half and clearly rotting. ]
[Image Two: A person lying in bed with their head on their arms. ]
WHEN: January
WHERE: Outside Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Seemingly living buildings, possibly paranoia and/or heavy anxiety, blood, beasts, hauntings
WHERE: Outside Trench
CONTENT WARNINGS: Seemingly living buildings, possibly paranoia and/or heavy anxiety, blood, beasts, hauntings
Those who continued to charge their compasses will find that they are finally able to go farther than they ever could before. They will have started to glow, much the way the pieces did back in October when they were searching for their other half. There will be a pull towards the new city skyline, urging the holder to explore.
The journey to this new city takes time. For the average travelling group, it would take a week to get to the edges of town. For the fastest movers, it would still take roughly four days. The forest seems to get strangely thicker and denser as the city gets closer, before it suddenly disappears and opens up to brick streets and stone, gothic buildings. The aesthetics are very much like Trench, clearly built around the same time period. However, unlike Trench, this city has been completely and utterly abandoned.
Old, rusted lanterns are attached to the sides of houses, without any candles or oil to light them. At night, the bricks lining the street almost seem to glow, allowing for people to see their path in front of them, but not much beyond it. The buildings loom above, massive shadows with an almost unnerving quality to them. At night, sometimes one could get the strange idea that the very stones of the buildings are alive: are actually moving and breathing.
There's also an unpleasant sound that follows around as the city is explored. A low hum in some places and outright whispers in others. They could be mistaken for the wind or creaking window panes that never got nailed shut. Othertimes, the whispers can become so clear, one would think that there was someone standing right next to them. These clear whispers can only be heard by the person they are directed to. The words will be direct and harsh, usually targeting a person's worst fears and insecurities, memories that still haunt them, or targeting characteristics that they hate the most about themselves. It's like having a personal ghost bully, but they can't be intimidated into being quiet, no matter how hard one tries. Hopefully you have strong self-esteem.
Those who continue to explore the city will find much of it barren and useless. The buildings are overgrown with plants and some even have trees starting to break through the stone floors, leaving cracks and rubble on the ground. Thick vines have taken over many of the streets, dark in color, and they almost look like they're pulsing when they're hit with moonlight. Another interesting thing to note: some of the trees surrounding the city, as well as the trees within the city, house the delicate mushrooms that help the ill Pthumerians. They seem to be in a much larger, more sustainable supply in this city. Maybe it would be wise to take some back home.
There are a couple of buildings that seem like they might hold useful information for those who choose to explore them. One is City Hall, a large building with all the gothic characteristics one would expect: buttresses, arches, spires, and even gargoyles line the edges of the top of the building. Looking away from the gagoyles might make it seem like they're changing positions or their wings are flapping. Inside the building, some of the stone has crumbled and is broken on the marble floors, but for the most part, the foundation seems to have held up. Moss is the biggest issue, coating the walls and much of the furniture throughout the building. Even the cabinets. Opening the cabinets will find mostly rotted and unreadable papers, but some of them look like they could have been town records at one point. Comparing them to records found in Trench will show that the city was founded around the same time, maybe even a little earlier, but there's no indication of when or why it was abandoned.
Another location that can be explored is a library. This building is not as intricately decorative as others, the windows have been smashed at some point, and vines have taken over much of the building. But it was clearly well funded, as the inside is filled to the brim with books. Most of the pages and covers are falling apart, destroyed by the elements over the years, or were shredded by the vines that took over the bookcases. There are still a handful of books that look like they're intact and possibly readable. The language isn't familiar, but for someone who is good with translating, or who has abilities that help them to translate text, they will find stories of varying worlds, just like the Archives back in Trench, as well as a few local legends and folklores. They all seem to be formed around the Pthumerians: one or two mention the Patrons that we've all come to know and... feel something about, prbably not love. The Tower is a common character in many. Another popular Pthumerian throughout is also... Riteior.
Which makes the final location characters may find of interest less surprising: a church that was clearly dedicated to Riteior still stands tall. A few other worshipping areas throughout town also exist, dedicated to minor Pthumerians that are unfamiliar to Sleepers, and whose names have been lost to time. There are also a few alters dedicated to some of the Patrons as well, particularly the Tower and Madam Generosity. But Riteior's church is the largest of them all and the decorative windows made of blood stones show just how important he clearly was to so many people.
There is a door in the back of the church that seems to be glowing at first. It becomes clear quickly that behind it, there is a great deal of red colored light shining through. It pulses gentle, never going out entirely, but clearly having a bit of a flicker to it that could cause some people, especially those with light sensititivies, to have extreme headaches.
NOTE: Currently, it will not be possible to set up a lantern in the new city or near its edges. The city itself seems to be rejecting the possibility. This restriction will be lifted in the near future!
The journey to this new city takes time. For the average travelling group, it would take a week to get to the edges of town. For the fastest movers, it would still take roughly four days. The forest seems to get strangely thicker and denser as the city gets closer, before it suddenly disappears and opens up to brick streets and stone, gothic buildings. The aesthetics are very much like Trench, clearly built around the same time period. However, unlike Trench, this city has been completely and utterly abandoned.
Old, rusted lanterns are attached to the sides of houses, without any candles or oil to light them. At night, the bricks lining the street almost seem to glow, allowing for people to see their path in front of them, but not much beyond it. The buildings loom above, massive shadows with an almost unnerving quality to them. At night, sometimes one could get the strange idea that the very stones of the buildings are alive: are actually moving and breathing.
There's also an unpleasant sound that follows around as the city is explored. A low hum in some places and outright whispers in others. They could be mistaken for the wind or creaking window panes that never got nailed shut. Othertimes, the whispers can become so clear, one would think that there was someone standing right next to them. These clear whispers can only be heard by the person they are directed to. The words will be direct and harsh, usually targeting a person's worst fears and insecurities, memories that still haunt them, or targeting characteristics that they hate the most about themselves. It's like having a personal ghost bully, but they can't be intimidated into being quiet, no matter how hard one tries. Hopefully you have strong self-esteem.
Those who continue to explore the city will find much of it barren and useless. The buildings are overgrown with plants and some even have trees starting to break through the stone floors, leaving cracks and rubble on the ground. Thick vines have taken over many of the streets, dark in color, and they almost look like they're pulsing when they're hit with moonlight. Another interesting thing to note: some of the trees surrounding the city, as well as the trees within the city, house the delicate mushrooms that help the ill Pthumerians. They seem to be in a much larger, more sustainable supply in this city. Maybe it would be wise to take some back home.
There are a couple of buildings that seem like they might hold useful information for those who choose to explore them. One is City Hall, a large building with all the gothic characteristics one would expect: buttresses, arches, spires, and even gargoyles line the edges of the top of the building. Looking away from the gagoyles might make it seem like they're changing positions or their wings are flapping. Inside the building, some of the stone has crumbled and is broken on the marble floors, but for the most part, the foundation seems to have held up. Moss is the biggest issue, coating the walls and much of the furniture throughout the building. Even the cabinets. Opening the cabinets will find mostly rotted and unreadable papers, but some of them look like they could have been town records at one point. Comparing them to records found in Trench will show that the city was founded around the same time, maybe even a little earlier, but there's no indication of when or why it was abandoned.
Another location that can be explored is a library. This building is not as intricately decorative as others, the windows have been smashed at some point, and vines have taken over much of the building. But it was clearly well funded, as the inside is filled to the brim with books. Most of the pages and covers are falling apart, destroyed by the elements over the years, or were shredded by the vines that took over the bookcases. There are still a handful of books that look like they're intact and possibly readable. The language isn't familiar, but for someone who is good with translating, or who has abilities that help them to translate text, they will find stories of varying worlds, just like the Archives back in Trench, as well as a few local legends and folklores. They all seem to be formed around the Pthumerians: one or two mention the Patrons that we've all come to know and... feel something about, prbably not love. The Tower is a common character in many. Another popular Pthumerian throughout is also... Riteior.
Which makes the final location characters may find of interest less surprising: a church that was clearly dedicated to Riteior still stands tall. A few other worshipping areas throughout town also exist, dedicated to minor Pthumerians that are unfamiliar to Sleepers, and whose names have been lost to time. There are also a few alters dedicated to some of the Patrons as well, particularly the Tower and Madam Generosity. But Riteior's church is the largest of them all and the decorative windows made of blood stones show just how important he clearly was to so many people.
There is a door in the back of the church that seems to be glowing at first. It becomes clear quickly that behind it, there is a great deal of red colored light shining through. It pulses gentle, never going out entirely, but clearly having a bit of a flicker to it that could cause some people, especially those with light sensititivies, to have extreme headaches.
NOTE: Currently, it will not be possible to set up a lantern in the new city or near its edges. The city itself seems to be rejecting the possibility. This restriction will be lifted in the near future!
WHEN: January
WHERE: Trench & The New City
CONTENT WARNINGS: Blood rituals, cursed effigies
WHERE: Trench & The New City
CONTENT WARNINGS: Blood rituals, cursed effigies
Going through the door with the light will bring characters into a room that looks like it may have once been a nursery. There are shattered pieces of furniture that were once cribs, toy chests, and kids playsets. They're covered in moss and vines, but some of the wood may be salvagable for those who want it.
More importantly, there is one thing that really stands out here: a large hole in the wall that is filled with pulsing red light as well as swirling clouds of fog. Getting closer will show that the hole leads to the same world that people were being pulled into back in September. This Other World doesn't go to the Other Trench, but clearly an alternate version of this current city. The mirrored side is that of the very church you're currently standing in.
Those who went to explore the library will recall reading in lore about Riteior's powers. The reality warping and world-building like powers were clear, given the existence of the Other Trench, but another power that was mentioned was his ability to use his blood magic to create powerful effegies. These doll-like figurines could be of anyone and were often made of other Pthumerians in an attempt to control them. Legends say the abuse of this power was ultimately what made him unpopular among the other Pthumerians, and rituals were created to try and seal his powers away. The back and forth fighting eventually created the Other World that Riteior was banished to and ultimately ruled over.
There are books in the Other Church that will talk more in depth about his effegy creations and how it was that they were utilized. One form of these effegies created an illness, one that altered the very cells within Pthumerian blood and could be spread to other Pthumerians through close contact. This illness was said to have destroyed them from the inside out over a slow period of time. Many of the symptoms listed will line up with ones that impacted Pthumerians have shared with curious Sleepers, or been observed over the past few months: aches, pains, bleeding, power warping, personality changes, memory loss, brain fog, eventual disfigurement, and ultimately, death.
(Those who read about this might remember that, while he never mentioned feeling physically ill, the Tower's lover, Nevermind, was unable to find the answers to the illness (something he's never had trouble with before) and was unable to pull up much information on Riteior, despite having existed at the same time as him. It seems like he may have been more impacted by this illness than he realized.)
It's clear that Riteior has found a since September to further break the barriers between his Other World and the world the Sleepers and Patrons live in. It's clear he has begun to create effegies of the Patrons. There are a few choices left to the Sleepers with this information. The easiest would be to leave it be. If you hate the Patrons and want to see them die, obviously that would be something that a character is welcome to do. Knowing the outcome is ultimately death obviously can sway some people in this direction if they wish to see the Patrons destroyed.
Some people might argue that this is unwise, considering how much chaos has come from the Pthumerians being sick thus far. They are worshipped for a reason by the natives and long time Sleepers, so perhaps getting rid of them would cause more pain to this world than is worth risking. The next option is to a temporary solution to the issue: find the effegies and destroy them. Characters who choose to go this route can go into the Other Church to enter the world and try and find Riteior's figurines. It may take time, as he could be located in the Other Trench, and it would take the same amount of days to travel in the Other World as it does in regular Trench. Asking the compass to help you locate the effegies will work: it will glow, leading you through the woods, until you find a small building hidden in the trees.
Going inside will show a series of figurines on a table, but they can not be destroyed by typical means. The texts that discuss the figurines talk about a ritual that can be used to destroy them, one that invovles making a mixture that must include a small amount of every kind of Sleeper blood. Then, a powdered form of the mushrooms from the trees must be mixed into the blood until it bubbles, similar to carbonated drinks. This mixture must then be poured over the effigy, which will dissolve as though it has been covered in acid. This will begin to lift the illness from the Pthumerians, who will take time to recover, usually over a month. However, as Riteior can make more figurines, this solution will not help the Pthumerian illness long term.
The last option involves a little more research. The ritual for sealing away Riteior's powers is hidden somewhere in the books in both the library as well as in the archives in Trench. It's deeply hidden, almost forgotten by time. It will be inside a book with a blank cover, a layer of dust on the binding, and the pages yellowed by age. It's handwritten in a local language that hasn't been used in ages, and may be difficult to translate at first, but comes together easily once the cadence is figured out. Magic of some sort has been placed on the pages to stop those who have powers from being able to translate it with them. It will only be able to be translated through good old fashioned research.
Natives will be willing to help, though, and in the end, the translation will state that the ritual again involves using each Sleeper blood type. It must be mixed with rose oil and the ashes from a burned yew branch until it forms a paste. The paste must then be used to draw a swirling pattern on the ground, one similar to a Celtic knot, though it does not need to be nearly as intricate so long as the pattern has no visible beginning or end point when it is done. Afterward, a Darkblood stone must be smashed, and its pieces scattered over it. It will glow a bright, blinding red, before disappearing as though it was never made at all.
This ritual must be repeated twice a month for three months in order to guarantee the Riteior's magic will no longer be able to impact the Pthumerians across worlds.
More importantly, there is one thing that really stands out here: a large hole in the wall that is filled with pulsing red light as well as swirling clouds of fog. Getting closer will show that the hole leads to the same world that people were being pulled into back in September. This Other World doesn't go to the Other Trench, but clearly an alternate version of this current city. The mirrored side is that of the very church you're currently standing in.
Those who went to explore the library will recall reading in lore about Riteior's powers. The reality warping and world-building like powers were clear, given the existence of the Other Trench, but another power that was mentioned was his ability to use his blood magic to create powerful effegies. These doll-like figurines could be of anyone and were often made of other Pthumerians in an attempt to control them. Legends say the abuse of this power was ultimately what made him unpopular among the other Pthumerians, and rituals were created to try and seal his powers away. The back and forth fighting eventually created the Other World that Riteior was banished to and ultimately ruled over.
There are books in the Other Church that will talk more in depth about his effegy creations and how it was that they were utilized. One form of these effegies created an illness, one that altered the very cells within Pthumerian blood and could be spread to other Pthumerians through close contact. This illness was said to have destroyed them from the inside out over a slow period of time. Many of the symptoms listed will line up with ones that impacted Pthumerians have shared with curious Sleepers, or been observed over the past few months: aches, pains, bleeding, power warping, personality changes, memory loss, brain fog, eventual disfigurement, and ultimately, death.
(Those who read about this might remember that, while he never mentioned feeling physically ill, the Tower's lover, Nevermind, was unable to find the answers to the illness (something he's never had trouble with before) and was unable to pull up much information on Riteior, despite having existed at the same time as him. It seems like he may have been more impacted by this illness than he realized.)
It's clear that Riteior has found a since September to further break the barriers between his Other World and the world the Sleepers and Patrons live in. It's clear he has begun to create effegies of the Patrons. There are a few choices left to the Sleepers with this information. The easiest would be to leave it be. If you hate the Patrons and want to see them die, obviously that would be something that a character is welcome to do. Knowing the outcome is ultimately death obviously can sway some people in this direction if they wish to see the Patrons destroyed.
Some people might argue that this is unwise, considering how much chaos has come from the Pthumerians being sick thus far. They are worshipped for a reason by the natives and long time Sleepers, so perhaps getting rid of them would cause more pain to this world than is worth risking. The next option is to a temporary solution to the issue: find the effegies and destroy them. Characters who choose to go this route can go into the Other Church to enter the world and try and find Riteior's figurines. It may take time, as he could be located in the Other Trench, and it would take the same amount of days to travel in the Other World as it does in regular Trench. Asking the compass to help you locate the effegies will work: it will glow, leading you through the woods, until you find a small building hidden in the trees.
Going inside will show a series of figurines on a table, but they can not be destroyed by typical means. The texts that discuss the figurines talk about a ritual that can be used to destroy them, one that invovles making a mixture that must include a small amount of every kind of Sleeper blood. Then, a powdered form of the mushrooms from the trees must be mixed into the blood until it bubbles, similar to carbonated drinks. This mixture must then be poured over the effigy, which will dissolve as though it has been covered in acid. This will begin to lift the illness from the Pthumerians, who will take time to recover, usually over a month. However, as Riteior can make more figurines, this solution will not help the Pthumerian illness long term.
The last option involves a little more research. The ritual for sealing away Riteior's powers is hidden somewhere in the books in both the library as well as in the archives in Trench. It's deeply hidden, almost forgotten by time. It will be inside a book with a blank cover, a layer of dust on the binding, and the pages yellowed by age. It's handwritten in a local language that hasn't been used in ages, and may be difficult to translate at first, but comes together easily once the cadence is figured out. Magic of some sort has been placed on the pages to stop those who have powers from being able to translate it with them. It will only be able to be translated through good old fashioned research.
Natives will be willing to help, though, and in the end, the translation will state that the ritual again involves using each Sleeper blood type. It must be mixed with rose oil and the ashes from a burned yew branch until it forms a paste. The paste must then be used to draw a swirling pattern on the ground, one similar to a Celtic knot, though it does not need to be nearly as intricate so long as the pattern has no visible beginning or end point when it is done. Afterward, a Darkblood stone must be smashed, and its pieces scattered over it. It will glow a bright, blinding red, before disappearing as though it was never made at all.
This ritual must be repeated twice a month for three months in order to guarantee the Riteior's magic will no longer be able to impact the Pthumerians across worlds.
WHEN: January
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Food poisoning, illness, emetephobia
WHERE: Everywhere
CONTENT WARNINGS: Food poisoning, illness, emetephobia
For those who have stayed behind in Trench, Madam Generosity's party is still going off the same as one would expect! It's a good place to go to take shelter from the cold and have a good time. Despite her illness, it seems that Generosity is living up to her name once again.
But when one isn't feeling well, they're bound to make a few mistakes. After attending the party, some people may find that they're feeling less than spectacular. Maybe it's just a hangover? Or staying up too late. Either seems reasonable. But the feeling is a little heavier than that, and it doesn't take long to see that you might actually be sick. Looking into it will bring up a simple answer: some of the food provided was definitely rotten, whether visibly, physically so or magically.
Symptoms will vary from person to person. Some might be able to walk away with some minor aches, a sniffle, a sore stomach. Others could end up having some strange things happen with their blood powers: a Coldblood could get the hiccups and set their porch on fire or freeze their sandwich. A Darkblood might sneeze and unintentionally glitter bomb someone rather than giving a spray of usual spit. A Paleblood might cough and cause the people around them to get a surge of empathy or heavy emotions. These blood impacts seem to be unique to each person and have no bounds. Feel free to create whatever outcomes from it you might wish.
There are also some who may get hit truly hard by the food poisoning in Trench. They will be hit with more classic symptoms, like fevers and chills, vomitting, body aches, and more. They could become weak and vulnerable, needing the help of another to care for them, put a cool cloth on their forehead, fall asleep at their bedside, until they feel better. Classic hurt/comfort is the goal here. You know what to do.
Regardless of severity of symptoms, they should clear up within 72 hours. After effects, such as weakness and dehydration, can last longer, but people should start to feel back to themselves within a week.
But when one isn't feeling well, they're bound to make a few mistakes. After attending the party, some people may find that they're feeling less than spectacular. Maybe it's just a hangover? Or staying up too late. Either seems reasonable. But the feeling is a little heavier than that, and it doesn't take long to see that you might actually be sick. Looking into it will bring up a simple answer: some of the food provided was definitely rotten, whether visibly, physically so or magically.
Symptoms will vary from person to person. Some might be able to walk away with some minor aches, a sniffle, a sore stomach. Others could end up having some strange things happen with their blood powers: a Coldblood could get the hiccups and set their porch on fire or freeze their sandwich. A Darkblood might sneeze and unintentionally glitter bomb someone rather than giving a spray of usual spit. A Paleblood might cough and cause the people around them to get a surge of empathy or heavy emotions. These blood impacts seem to be unique to each person and have no bounds. Feel free to create whatever outcomes from it you might wish.
There are also some who may get hit truly hard by the food poisoning in Trench. They will be hit with more classic symptoms, like fevers and chills, vomitting, body aches, and more. They could become weak and vulnerable, needing the help of another to care for them, put a cool cloth on their forehead, fall asleep at their bedside, until they feel better. Classic hurt/comfort is the goal here. You know what to do.
Regardless of severity of symptoms, they should clear up within 72 hours. After effects, such as weakness and dehydration, can last longer, but people should start to feel back to themselves within a week.
All Over Trench (if you don't mind a belated tag in!)
And sometimes he can combine his walks with something of use — that is, a bit of grocery shopping over at the Willful Machine district of the city. With plenty of demon-conjured gold in his pockets to use for bartering (technically gold may have no monetary value here, but the Trenchies love shiny items), Peter's able to secure what he needs, and he's heading back with a couple of bags in his arms, when he meanders over closer to the canals, drawn to it in a strange way, eyes going a little glossy. It's because of the demon king within him, whose associated element is water, and who likes to get a little dose of it every once in awhile. Even if the canals aren't exactly... the best source of it, and even Paimon wouldn't want to actually set foot in the water.... he likes to stand and breathe it in sometimes. Be close.
So Peter's just standing there near the canal docks for a few odd long moments, tall and thin, unmoving and dark eyes half-lidded, when a flash of movement nearby stirs him out of the spell. The young man blinks, looking up to see someone else nearby. The shock of white hair immediately grabs one's attention, but what keeps it is the.... multi-headed creature alongside him. Peter's openly ogling, startled and confused all at once, and yet somewhere inside him is this strange flicker of familiarity that he can't quite place, seems to come from somewhere deep inside. (This would be thanks to his Omen, a certain white-lipped python named Susurrus who has since spoken to this man and his Omen on the network...)
Peter's eyelids flutter and he hesitates, unsure. He... feels like this person isn't completely a stranger, and yet he's sure he would recognise him... but he's not bold enough to make his presence known by addressing the guy, so he just. He just stands there, holding bags filled with bread loaves, cheese, jerky, and some other things. ...Staring right at the guy, with an increasingly anxious expression.
i never mind \o\
Teleport markers, or whatever they call them here, are to be hunted down one by one and Yoichi is nothing if not stubbornly persistent. That it's taking him way longer than most people probably take is just how it goes! Exhaustion today just means tomorrow he can blip from place to place, how can he not be interested?
At least he has company. The omen has yet to speak to him, but that was alright, maybe they simply weren't the intelligent kind or ... he himself was causing a problem, he'd get to the root of it eventually, but he trusted their instincts if nothing else; three heads are better than one at spotting potential trouble. And it's the omen that spots Peter long before Yoichi does. One head notices his still watchfulness, and the entire hydra stops slowly. A second head.
Only when all three serpentine heads orient on Peter, alert and lifted high (which admittedly only comes to midthigh or so on Yoichi himself) does he even ... notice, and also stops, studying the hydra's reaction. So far he doesn't see any signs of aggression, so .. it might be alright. Peter himself is studied for a long moment, anxiousness suddenly mirrored in his own growing anxiety. People shouldn't be able to recognize him here, the only ones who could would be his brother's minions--
Who might be. Out shopping, how mundane. No, if he acts like prey he'll be treated like prey, so deep breath! "Excuse me!" Clearly this is just a casual thing and nobody's about to get locked into a bank vault again if they're not very, very careful. Yoichi heads right for Peter, the hydra slinking at his side in a rather mustelid long-bodied hop, tongues flicking, attention utterly fixed. "Do you know where the .. uh, teleport point is around here?"
YES, nothing at ALL is amiss and he isn't even remotely concerned, acting normal is the way to go.
no subject
He startles when the man takes notice of him finally, and for a long moment, they're just watching each other with growing anxiety on both ends... Funnily enough, Peter has his own reasons to be paranoid of a stranger's attention fixed his way; the cultists from back home could show up some day, with their hungry smiles aimed right at him. (Looking back, he can see that those smiles held something of admiration. Doesn't mean they were any less hungry.)
The person's heading his way and the young man tenses, arms tightening around his bags, pushing them against his chest. He stays where he is, wills a little smile onto his features so that he doesn't look completely weird; never mind that his smile looks especially nervous.
"Hey. Oh. I uh.... I'm actually not sure." ....He's been living here for an entire year now and he doesn't know these kinds of things... Peter hasn't exactly integrated into the setting, however, a fact that might be made more obvious by the way he's dressed. Hoodies and jeans with the knees ripped out and dingy Converse sneakers aren't exactly Trench Fashion. But he can attempt to be helpful and he's turning his head from side to side, looking out for it. Where is that thing.....
"Uhhhh.... I don't see it." (It's somewhere on a dock but he isn't looking that way yet...) "I can uh, help you find it though. If you want." He can't help his eyes moving downwards to take in the creature accompanying the man, and his nervous smile wavers a little more nervously. It's scary...
"Is that... your Omen?"
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On the other hand he doesn't much like the implications of being recognized so far from home. "Oh. You should find it too then, it's good to have as many teleport places as possible." Easier travel that way, right? Less walking is always good, it tired him out too fast.
The hydralike .. or weasel-like omen meanwhile doesn't have eyelids to blink so their gaze is utterly unwavering, creeping closer bit by bit on webbed feet. Though Yoichi does notice their cautious approach, he's taking cues from their reaction, and the lack of aggression still suggests he's not in any kind of danger. So what are they after? Slowly they lever themselves upright into a meerkat sitting position, which brings those three pythonish heads up even higher, and no sooner is there a brief grab for Peter's bags than Yoichi lunges, not for the young man but his omen, snatching them back before they can get mouths full of sharp teeth into ... the nearest bag of groceries.
"Stop that! .. Ah, yes, I think so? I hope so, otherwise I've got a pet monster and I'm not really sure I'm qualified for that kind of thing. I'm terribly sorry, they just. ... Grab things sometimes and have no manners at all, behave yourselves." The omen wriggles a bit, stubby legs kicking, but doesn't seem to be making any headway; had it been a real creature and not one of smoke and blood magic, he'd never be strong enough to restrain it.
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Only....
"...Truthfully, I never use them. They uh, well. Kind of freak me out a little." He confesses with a soft sound that's almost a laugh, definitely self-deprecating. "And just the thought of teleporting... I don't know. It's kind of scary." Magic and anything magic-adjacent still makes him very nervous.
But it's at that moment that the three-headed thingie is grabbing for him and Peter yelps, tensing just as the man catches them in the nick of time. Watching him deal with the squirming Omen, Peter's willing his heartbeat back down, a little more quickly this time, because — oh, it wasn't him they were after, but his bags... Giving a wide-eyed blink, he looks down to the things in his arms, brows lifting.
"Oh, maybe they're hungry? I uh. Have a bunch of food in here..." He sticks a hand in, starts pilfering through. "They can have some if they want. Got bread... some cheese, jerky, stuff like that."
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Omen oriented thievery is simply NOT going to be tolerated, and as the hydra fusses and softly hisses, he maintains his tight grip. Or as tight as he can anyway. "No, no, they're just.. you shouldn't.. I shouldn't encourage such mischief, if they want something they can ask. Politely!"
Not that the omen yet bothers to speak, to him or anyone else. "Even if they're, I guess, a baby Omen that needs to grow up first, it's important to establish rules and boundaries, like not stealing." Yoichi was firmly anti-stealing, and so he's going to enforce it, adorable little snake otter thing or not.
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"Oh, that'd... that'd actually be cool, yeah." The offer to be accompanied on a teleporting trip would actually be pretty nice... Granted, Peter will perpetually be nervous around a stranger, but he's... pretty much perpetually nervous around people he knows, too. That's just. That's just how he is. "I appreciate it," he adds, meaning it. And that gives him more fuel to look for the thing, craning his neck for a moment as he continues to glance around, before his eyes sweep back down to the guy's Omen.
"They don't talk yet?" He knows it happens — his own didn't speak to him for like, an entire year... but he tilts his head at the little creature, studying it for a moment. Despite the chimerical mix of animals and the whole three heads thing, it's actually... it's pretty cute? In a spooky way; he thinks Luna would probably immediately fall in love with it.
"If you want, I can help, maybe? It could be a good lesson, if you wanna try?" He feels bad not giving them some food... "Like, we could reward them if they somehow ask for the food. Maybe not verbally, if they can't talk, but.... maybe if they just touch my bag with their nose or something? Gently, then they could get a treat? Like how you train dogs."
/busts free of endless irl!!!
He was grateful, really. He'd resent it if everyone didn't have to deal with it, but everyone did, so he was just one of many. And he's getting the impression that Peter might not actually be one of his brother's minions and might just be unusually stressed out by recent events. Or one of those people who just don't adjust well to being around meta powers. Peter's reluctance to deal with the teleport network might be that.. but it is, in Yoichi's perspective, probably the most harmless part about this place, so he gives his best reassuring smile. Everything's easier with company! "It won't be too bad after you get used to it." Really! And he's willing to try a couple easy hops just to show that fact.
After all it'll make Peter's life easier in the long run. The smile fades though, to a puzzled frown, as he considers his Omen. "No. I don't even know if they're a they, an it, a he, a she or something else. I was ... told that their reluctance to is something I'm doing or going through, and I haven't quite figured out what that is yet." It's his own failing, apparently. "I'm working on it though."
But not fast enough to coax verbal language out, it seems. Since they're not being let go, the hydra seems to settle where they dangle, looking as put out as a snakeish otter creature possibly can. "Maybe it's just not time yet. I don't know."
as I take forever.... sobs in "the work week keeps slaughtering me" (ಥ_ಥ)
But the longer he talks to this mysterious stranger with the mysterious Omen, the more Peter is managing to relax... slightly. In little ways. He no longer looks like he's in threat of running away, at least! "It uh... probably would help a lot. Being able to get around faster than walking. Used to have a bike, but..." Peter lets the thought trail off. It's not here anymore. "...besides, walking alone in this place is probably asking for trouble."
Of course, he does have a very volatile demon wedged into his body that has saved his ass more than once, but that's not exactly the sort of thing you just dump on a stranger. The younger shifts as he looks back down to the Omen, listening to the man speak.
"Oh— don't worry too much about the whole, not talking thing. Mine didn't even talk for a whole year. I honestly thought maybe he was going to be silent forever, and then one day.... he just started it up." Peter thinks back on it for a few moments, remembering the solid year that he and his strange snake Omen existed without any verbal interaction. He gives another little smile to the hydra-thing, tilting his head slightly. "Do you know their name yet? Mine kind of... let me know what his was, even before he talked. Like inside my head.
If you don't, you could always give them a nickname until you know it, though. I don't think Omens mind."
and then i take forever because strepflu is awful
Granted pickling a bike in salt water probably won't be great for its durability, but it's the thought that counts. "Until then, I suppose sticking to teleporters is probably wise." And! ..He's still not sure where it is, and is pretty ready to go looking again, and just take Peter with him. Peter seemed nice enough, if a bit skittish, and he could understand being nervous. Wasn't he deathly worried not long ago that Peter might be one of his brother's minions? "Come on, that lamp has to be around here somewhere." And off he goes! ..Not particularly quickly, Yoichi's comfortable moving speed is at best a liesurely stroll.
With further information, namely the passage of a whole year thing, suddenly Yoichi is reminded of a certain snake that had given helpful advice not so long ago. Was this the same person? The hydra's already figured that much out but isn't inclined to clue anyone else in, in favor of wriggling a bit again, but Yoichi doesn't set them down. "Not yet, no. And I haven't really come up with anything I think suits either. None of the hydras in myth ever had names so I can't even go for the easy reference!"
nooooo so many sicknesses going around jfc!! >8|
But oh man, yeah, the offer about bikes is met with another smile and an appreciative nod — Peter would love to get his hands on a bike again! It'd make things a lot easier and definitely be more in his comfort zone... For now though, the other guy's right, and Peter's moving along with him, falling into a comfortable stride, just as leisurely and slow. He's a lot more relaxed now, glancing around for any sign of that lamp thingie.
"Hmm... that is a tough one... And, man, I wonder if every single head might end up wanting its own name." He smiles again, looking down at the creature. They really are weirdly cute.... it lends to another question, conversational and curious.
"Are there any stuff like this, in your home world? Magical creatures, I mean. Mine, definitely not; I'm just from plain Earth."
....Well. Turns out the Earth he thought was so plain really did have supernatural things going on, considering Peter ended up possessed there, but...! On the surface, at least, things seemed very average. The otherworldly stuff was tucked down, hidden.
Tis the season! And soon, ALLERGIES.
The questions might seem invasive, but there's a certain guilelessness to them that suggests Yoichi's just curious and not intending to be prying. Bike searches are set aside for later beachcombing; he knows what he'll do should he find one. "Oh, I hadn't thought of that." he glances down at the hydra too, which now seems fairly content to simply be carried now that they were moving, each head focused in a different direction with all apparent serpentine interest. "I guess it'd depend on whether they're a ... hive mind, I guess, or three individuals sharing a body."
There's a bizarre thought. What would it be like, sharing a body with other minds? Who had control?? "...That's a tough one to answer, actually. For most of history it's all assumed a myth, dragons and unicorns and so on. Except not long ago, that's begun to change. I thought we had a just plain Earth too, and then people started getting powers. And I've heard rumors of mermaids and even Godzilla being around."
It had been normal, once! He'd been normal once before his brother forced a power on him! "So I guess there's probably hydras around SOMEWHERE by now. Maybe the Earth you know isn't as normal and boring as you think either."
let the suffering begin :'))))))
He knows now that it was witches who put Paimon inside of him.
"Oh— no, I don't have magic. I'm just a regular guy." Said with another self-deprecatory little smile, as though being 'regular' is kind of an undesirable thing around here. Although... it's also not entirely true; Peter's not exactly regular. He just hopes his little demon problem doesn't pop up through this, and that Paimon behaves himself. Peter's very sure that the demon king is interested by this guy and his unique Omen.
—Speaking of which. Multiple minds sharing a body, imagine....!
"Wait, really? People just started getting powers....? Oh man. That sounds... wild." A beat, before he adds another word, one that feels more appropriate. "Scary." Terrifying, actually!! But.... hearing that makes Peter feel a little more compelled to open up, like maybe it's okay to.
"Actually.... I uh. I think you might be right about that. I don't think there were any Godzillas roaming around, but um.... when I was brought here, I started learning more about my world? Turns out, things like... magic do exist, there. Occulty stuff — like witches, rituals, shit like that. I still don't know too much about it, so I've been trying to learn.
Did something... happen, to make your world change?" He also doesn't want to pry into potentially personal details, so he won't push harder if it seems uncomfortable. But he has to wonder, what could make something like that just happen?