deercountry | February Catch All

[It's long become habit for Willow to check the shore monthly for new arrivals, just in case there's a familiar face among the new Sleepers washing up on the shore. It feels like the list just keeps getting longer, and longer, even more so after Tara's departure.

It feels like only yesterday and a lifetime ago all at the same time.

She leans on the rail on the boardwalk with her arms crossed as she watches the waves crash against the sand. Lost in thought and in old memories, it hits her that Tara isn't coming back. None of them are coming back. She's not even sure why she still keeps turning up here, just on the slim hope that some day, someone she knows might wash up on shore.

She straightens up to step away to go as stiffens, almost as though all of her muscles have been hit by a spasm all at once. A flare of panic hits when Willow realizes she can't move at all.]

[Willow isn't the only one who comes to the shore to check if new people, whether familiar or not are washing up on shore. While it could be lonely to pop by and do the rounds, Ruby felt an instant smile curl up on her lips when she caught sight of Willow leaning on the rail.

She's quick to throw an arm around her friend in a half hug and look out toward the ocean.]

Hey there, Willow! How's it going today?

[She hasn't even noticed she's frozen in place yet.

Sorry Willow.]

[It comes as a relief to see Ruby approach. Ruby is a Huntress, surely she will immediately notice something off about how still Willow is; that she seems oblivious to the approach, she doesn't move an inch, talk, smile, blink, anything.

Except Ruby clearly doesn't notice a thing.

It's so cold.

The hug helps, though, and the affection in the greeting. After living together for nearly a year and a half, it would be difficult to not consider Ruby family. After all that time and the things they've been through together, it doesn't take much to realize that she might need a little more help figuring out something isn't quite right.

Willow tries to gather her focus, in spite of the dread settling into the pit of her stomach, in spite of not being able to close her eyes to block out the sight. If she can just alert Ruby that something is terribly wrong somehow...

If it comes out as more of a distant, ghostly wail than what she intends, then Willow doesn't seem to be aware.]

Ruby, help.

[It takes longer than Ruby would like to admit that something was wrong. But after the distant call catches her attention she starts to piece together the fact that something is wrong. Her arm felt how rigidly stiff Willow was- the fact that she didn't even seem to be breathing normally.

Ruby steps back and takes a moment to look over the situation.]

Willow? What happened? How am I supposed to help you?

[It comes a relief when the effort pays off, and Ruby clearly hears her, and if Willow could breathe a sigh, or let her shoulders sag, she would. Even if Ruby can't help herself, surely at the very least, she'll be able to find someone who can.

It's still Willow's hope they can figure it out without too much trouble.]

I don't know what happened. I came down here to see if there was anyone coming out of the sea that I knew this, and then... Sudden paralysis!

[Much like Willow, Savage made the monthly ritual to walk see if anyone from his world happened to have arrived. He was only looking for one specific person, who he knew in his hearts would likely never appear, but he was drawn to walk the length of the beach at least once a month to search anyway.

On his way up to the Boardwalk, he spotted Willow doing much the same as himself. He approached, misinterpreting her freezing as if she had seen him and it was a reaction to him rather than some other effect. Undeterred, he walked over to the railing and leaned his back on it, having to drop his mismatched elbows further than usual because of his height to rest on the top of the railing.

He looked her up and down, noticing she still hadn't moved. Was she playing dead?]

What are you doing? [He'd poke her in a minute.]

[It doesn't come as much of a surprise when Willow realizes that other Sleepers make the same trek down to the ocean to look for their loved ones, but she wasn't expecting to see Savage. With Maul already here, she can't help but wonder who he's looking for.

She's not sure what to expect from the approach, not after everything that's happened between them, but it's not as though there's much she can do, unable to budge. It's not for lack of trying, as she tries to will even just a blink of her eyes to no avail. Trying to connect with her Omni doesn't occur to her until after Savage speaks, and really, using it to send him a message is a last resort, born mostly out of fear that he'll think it's some kind of prank and get fed up and leave her there.]

I, uh, I'm kind of stuck. I don't know what happened!

[It has not been a good day. Willow would even go as far as to say it's been a pretty bad one. It starts fairly minor, and it's easy to brush it off as a moment of clumsiness when she trips up the stairs on her way back to her room, as the wolf, before waking up for the day. At least, she doesn't think anyone was there to see it. Bit embarassing to trip on the stairs from simply not picking up one's feet quite high enough.

It escalates quickly. A broken glass at lunch she cuts her hand on while trying to gather up the shards before anyone gets hurt, knocking a book on her head while trying to grab a different volume at the Archives, a loose lid from a spilled tea that destroyed an hour's worth of notes, a slip on the ice on her way to The Ritual Gig.

It's there that Willow's patience runs out, when, upon hearing someone come in, she turns to greet them and knocks a crystal off the counter, shattering it into tiny, brightly coloured shards as it smashes against the floor.]

Oh, come on!

[She flashes an apologetic smile, and grabs a broom and dustpan from behind the counter to clean up the mess.]

Sorry. It's been kind of a day. Uh, was there something I can help you find? Or is this a social call?

[ Without the context of everything else that's been happening to Willow today, the crystal thing does just seem like an unfortunate accident. Nothing too big. Something that could happen to anyone, really.

So even though something in Ange's expression seems faintly sympathetic, it's nothing too big. Nothing that stops her from just nodding a little at that last part, before adding: ]

More or less.

[ She just wanted to check up on her friend, really.

Especially when Ange has been way more antsy about her friends' safety lately. ]

'A day', though? Has something been going on? [ Other than the crystal pieces that are all over the floor now, anyway. ]

Oh! Ange, hey!

[Willow manages to force a little smile. It's always good to see a friend, but she still can't hide her frustration over the constant accidents that have plagued her most of the day. Everyone has bad days, of course, she knows that, but she's never felt like she's been particularly clumsy, and today has been... Well. Kind of a lot.]

Ever have one of those days where everything you touch just seems to go wrong or ends up broken, or on the floor, or on an hour's worth of work?

[She lets out a sigh.]

It's been one of those days.

Well, as long as it's the mundane kind of wrong, it isn't too bad just yet, right?

[ Granted, it's not like Ange is a particularly optimistic person, but.. even she can admit to this much in a place like this. Especially when the alternative is things going wrong on a much bigger scale, ending up with death.

Or at least having to deal with the threat of death.

And after she's said it, Ange is already moving to lean down and help Willow pick up the pieces of the broken crystal. ]

Unless there's actually something going on that'll escalate. [ You never quite know for sure in Trench.. Sure, it could just be a coincidence, but it also could not be that. ]

It's, uh, more frustrating than anything, I guess.

[At least for the moment. The bad luck escalating is certainly not something she's considered yet, but as soon as Ange brings it up, it hits Willow her friend has a very good point. If her bad luck does escalate, it's not going to lead anywhere good.

She looks up suddenly as she scoops up another shard of the crystal.]

What'd you have say that for?

[Isn't that pretty much a guarantee it's going to escalate now?]

[ Ange holds up her hands in front of her, almost defensively, even though her expression is just a touch too calm to really match that intention. ]

I doubt jinxing it really is a thing here.

[ Not when - if this is some bigger thing - it's controlled by the Pthumerians.

And nothing or no one can keep them from escalating things at all times, Ange is pretty sure. ]

Besides, isn't it better to think about it? Now you can prepare in advance. Make an emergency plan.

[A wry smile crosses her face as Ange tries to defend her position.]

I think I've got more than enough going on in the bad luck department already. I guess saying something that probably can't-

[She stops herself.]

You know what? I'm not even going to tempt fate even more and say it. You're right - a plan's probably the best way to go here.

Then tell me. I'll help.

[ Sure, Ange may be the bearer of bad news here. But on the other hand, she's also very much willing to help Willow out with this entire situation.

Not even just because she was the messenger, but just-- Willow is a friend, why wouldn't Ange help her if this place may somehow be giving her an especially crappy time right now? ]

What has happened to you so far? Maybe we can find some patterns. [ Which would definitely help with a plan to prevent more mayhem.. ]

[Willow runs a hand through her hair with a sigh. Admitting to her running tally of accidents is a bit embarrassing, but she is also aware it's probably necessary to figure out what's going on. At least she knows she can trust Ange not to laugh at her over it.]

Okay, let's see. I fell up the stairs this morning on my way up to my room, and that was when I was still on four feet instead of two. I broke a glass and cut my hand at lunch. I tried to take a book off a shelf at the Archives and it fell on my head. I had a cup of tea next to me while I was working, and the lid must've been loose - knocked it over and ruined all my notes for the day. So I gave up and came here instead - slipped on the ice on the way and now...

[She gestures the crystal.]

It's been a lot.

[ At least Willow is right in her assessment - Ange doesn't even slightly look like she's about to laugh as she's listening to the list of incidents, even though its sheer length makes Willow's life suddenly sound like an extremely corny slapstick movie.

This isn't really the sort of thing Ange finds funny in the first place anyway - which helps. ]

I see.

[ Instead it sounds more like she's quietly contemplating all of this for a moment. ]

So it's not been anything too dangerous yet, right? [ Sure, some of that must have been painful, but in a way that's.. very mild by this place's standards. ]

No, nothing too dangerous. Nothing -

[She stops herself before deciding to bring up scenarios that could put her in actual danger, as opposed to just being embarrassing, or leaving her sore afterwards. If there really is some kind of curse or something following her, she doesn't want to risk manifesting destiny by giving it suggestions. So instead she finishes lamely with:]

Uh, nothing too dangerous yet, anyway. There's got to be a way to stop it, though, right? You know. Before it does get worse?

That's what I was thinking.

[ Even if Ange doesn't know what that way is just yet. But she refuses the concept of this escalating enough for it to actual become some danger to Willow's life, rather than just something that's basically just an annoying inconvenience.

The girl holds out her hands in front of her until a book appears in her hands out of a cloud of golden butterflies. It looks a little like a notebook on the inside, and Ange flips the pages like she's looking for something. ]

Do you remember doing anything out of the usual before this started? Or seeing anything of that sort?

[Willow's eyebrows raise a little at the question, as she considers it. Has anything out of the ordinary happened before all this started?]

No, I don't think. Nothing that stands out, anyway. It's just been... you know. Normal for here. I've been pretty much just sticking to my regular routine.

[She reaches under the counter for a leather bound book and draws a sharp hiss of pain as she raps her knuckles against the underside of the shelf as she pulls it out. It's fine. She's not even going to comment on it. She just gives Ange a tired look and begins to flip through the pages.]

Nothing stands out, anyway.

[ Ange definitely looks over when Willow hisses like that. It's not quite as surprising anymore at this point, but.. it sure does make Ange think that they really have to resolve this.

It's one thing if these small things keep happening in a row, but what if they become bigger? No one is durable enough to try and dodge impossible danger all the time. ]

So it's like random bad luck. [ Not helping much. Ange looks at her notes for this month last year, but-- nothing there either, huh. ] .. it'd make more sense if this was happening next month. I mean, this seems way more of a Moss King sort of thing than a Doorway one, right?

[ Unless it's somehow connected to Willow's relationships. Or maybe they're just messing with each other's months now, just to make it extra confusing? ]

Yeah, it doesn't really make sense, does it? Unless they're, I dunno, working together, or something. I guess it could have something to do with Riteior too, maybe. But the whole bad luck thing does seem right in the Moss King's wheelhouse.

[She hmms thoughtfully as she considers the predicament.]

I mean, he is kind of chaotic. It could still be him just springing up a little early. Or Riteior. He'd be on my suspect list too, given you know. His whole everything.

Maybe we should do that ritual again?

[ It did say they'd have to do it a few times before Riteoir's power would truly be weakened, right? Maybe it'd at least stop him from being able to reach over and influence this city - whether it's influencing the Pthumerians or the people living here. ]

I guess it wouldn't be a waste, even if this particular thing isn't being caused by him. He's a pain in the ass anyway, so we'd at least be rid of him. [ Even if it means they'd have to see if people with different bloodtypes than them are actually available to do the ritual. ]

Yeah, maybe.

[A little too used to magic backfiring on her, Willow doesn't sound so sure. Maybe it's not a great idea for her to try any kind of ritual until they can clear up the bad luck problem.]

I think first, though, we should look for some kind of... I don't know. Good luck? Anti-bad luck? Sort of a ritual - or maybe even a cleansing one. I don't really want to risk you know. Setting the shop on fire, or summoning something horrible or anything if something goes sideways.

[ .. well. Willow does have a point. If the other can't even stand here without knocking stuff over, then who knows that could happen if she were to try something a little more intricate than that..

Even if Ange isn't sure she knows any spell or ritual that's got to do with luck. And she can't let Willow do it by herself when that might just jinx her worse somehow.

She frowns in thought, quiet for a moment, until an idea rises to her. ]

Maybe you just need a good luck charm.

[ That'd be easier, right? Nothing Willow herself would have to do about it. No chance of screwing anything up. ]

Don't they sell something like that here in town? [ The locals do sometimes sell the oddest things.. ]

Probably, yeah. There should be something in here that'll help.

[Willow keeps flipping through the book without looking up until she finally lands on the page she's looking for.]

Ah! Here - So, it looks like this is a thing that happens sometimes. There's a ritual to fix it. You have to... get a carving...

[She peers down at the page, and then taps a sketch someone has done on it.]

Oh, look, here! There's a picture. Oh, it's kind of cute - it looks like a little squid. Uh. Anyway. So you get this carving, add a drop of blood from you and someone from a different blood type you're close to. Leave it overnight, then... Ah. Burn that and a 'fully bloomed rose' in the doorway of the home of the person who's cursed.

Always weirdly specific, huh.

[ But despite Ange's half-deadpan remark, she is rather glad that Willow found such a concrete solution in there. It saves them some asking around, after all - and Ange is all for being spared a few extra social situations, thanks.

She moves over towards the other girl, starting to copy the words down into her own little notebook.

You never know when it might come in handy to have this knowledge at the ready, after all.

While she's writing, she pipes up with: ]

Do you want to use some of my blood? [ It's offered pretty casually, but.. you know, it's Trench. It's pretty normal here, especially with how long Ange has already been here.

And she's pretty casual about this stuff to begin with. ]

[Willow gives Ange a tired look. She's got that right - Trench always is weirdly specific with its blood rituals.]

You'd think once in awhile, someone would come across a spell that's a little less complicated, and a little more traditional. You know, a little eye of newt, toe of frog, that kind of thing.

She slides the book towards Ange to make it easier for her to re-copy into her own notes.]

But yeah, if you're up for helping, I won't say no. This whole 'bad luck' thing is getting old fast.

[ .. Ange has to wonder if frog toes are such a common thing..

It's not like there's a witch from her world she could ask. She's pretty sure Beatrice, who's also in Trench, would just go along with it to troll her, rather than give her a serious answer.

It's something to think about as she writes, though she sounds incredibly casual when she speaks up again. ]

Yeah, it's totally fine. [ It's not like Ange is going to leave a friend out in the cold.

Even though there's no way she's going to say something that sappy out loud, even if it's what's happening here. ]

It's just a little bit of blood. Just a drop. [ She taps the text. ] I don't think losing that is going to kill me.

[A tall scorpion woman has wandered into the shop to browse. And almost immediately, she winces at the broken crystal. Considering her own luck hasn't been very spectacular lately, she almost wonders if it was her arrival that caused this. If so, she feels guilty!

She meets the woman with a friendly smile.]

No, I'm just looking, really! The shop caught my eye, and I thought I'd take a look-see... [She steps closer.] Do you need help with that? I can help! [And hope that her own luck situation doesn't make things worse somehow.]

[There's no shortage of Sleepers who don't look exactly human, so one that looks like she is at least part scorpion comes as no big shock. Willow waves off the offer of help as she moves to sweep up the remains of the crystal.]

No, that's okay, I got it. My fault, anyway. It's been kind of a 'hey, you need to stay away from anything even remotely fragile' day. I should've put the crystals, and the every other breakable thing I guess away before I opened up for the day.

[Willow gestures vaguely around the shop with a smile.]

You're welcome to look around, though. Just let me know if you have any questions about anything. I'm Willow, by the way.

[Scorpia just stays nearby in case there is anyway she can help.]

I understand that feeling. I've felt a little more slippery than usual today! In retrospect, maybe coming here wasn't the smartest idea I've had...

[She'll just. Try to distance herself from the breakable stuff.]

My name's Scorpia! Nice to meet you, Willow. This is a very pretty shop!

Thanks. I, uh, can't really take credit for it. I just help run it. An old friend of mine set it up way back in Deerington, but he went back to the ocean, so me and Luna have taken over.

[It's going on a year since John and Herc left Trench together, and Willow still thinks of them both from time to time.

While normally it may not strike as too unusual that two people may be struggling with an off day as far as luck or coordination goes, it's not lost on her that this is Trench, and the coincidence seems far too likely to be something more, and it immediately puts Willow on alert.]

Like... more slippery how?

Oh, this one really goes back then! It's about time I paid a visit. I have met Luna Lovegood, never knew she had a business venture!

[Hearing that much does feel comforting to Scorpia, at least.

In any case, Scorpia tries to stand still to keep more unfortunate stuff from happening!]

Right, I mean slippery in... most meanings of the word? I just feel like I'm slipping and sliding everywhere I go! [A nervous chuckle.] And most things I pick up? They are not staying there for long!

Yeah... Me too...

[Willow trails off thoughtfully for a moment. If they're both having the same issue, then it's probably not just a rough day. Something occurs to her and she glances up at Scorpia.]

Hey, maybe we both keep our hands off and, you know, away from all the breakable stuff until we figure this out, okay?

[She dumps the contents of the dustpan in the garbage and sets that and the broom aside, throwing her arms up when the latter immediately just clatters to the floor. Whatever. It can stay there.]

I don't know about you, but I kind of get the feeling there's something more going on than just both of us having a bad day.

[She nods along with her idea - and flinches just slightly at the falling broom. Well, close enough!]

Yeah, I am very ready to keep away from anything delicate! [She's already had to be careful with how powerful her pincers can be. Now she has to be extra cautious!]

You know, I think I get what you're getting at. This can't just be a coincidence. This might be a... a thing. A thing that's happening to people. [It's hard to find words to describe stuff that happens to people every month.]

[It's a relief to hear Scorpia is prepared to use caution, but Willow expected nothing less really. She's aware she'll have to be more careful herself until they can get to the bottom of this, but at least they're both on the same page.]

Yeah - yeah, that's what I'm thinking too. Now, whether or not it's the Doorway's doing, or Riteior, or... just kind of a thing that happens sometimes I'm not sure yet.

[Carefully, Willow pulls a large book out from under the counter and starts flipping through it.]

We've got a book on common curses around here. It helps a lot when people come in looking for a solution for something specific. Maybe you can check your Omni too? Or, there's all kinds of books on the shelves too.

[Good old caution! Scorpia's ready to be more careful than ever.]

Oh yeah, good point. Could be any number of forces at play here!

[It often feels too exhausting to try tracing these events to their source. Scorpia just chalks them up to things that happen in Trench! But if there's a way to stop this curse, that's absolutely worth looking into.]

Some good old knowledge can go a long way! I think I'll take a looksie at one of those books if that's okay.

[She then takes slow, careful steps towards ones of those shelves. And she slowly, carefully reaches her pincer towards a book...! But as she grips it, all the other books just fall on her. It might not really hurt her, but it's still unpleasant!]

O-okay, sorry, maybe not the best idea!

Bad luck does seem to be going around as of late. [Chara's voice is clear and carefully devoid of any tone. They hadn't come looking for Willow Rosenberg, their prior meetings had been... well, not particularly pleasant to say the least.

But they hold no grudges against her. They have no doubt the sentiment is not returned.]

Riteoir's handiwork, I would imagine. [They hum.] I was told this was a "John Constantine's" shop.

[Oh, hey, one of Willow's least favourite people in all of Trench. Right up there with Maul and Reaper. The bad luck train just keeps on going, doesn't it?

She pauses as her hand lands on the broom, studying Chara suspiciously. It doesn't sound like they've turned up looking for her, but it's hard to trust someone who's killed your friends and destroyed your home.]

It is. He's not in. Was there something you needed?

February Catch All

Wait For Me

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

2. Bad Luck

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject