House Log 002: Be our guest

[payingfordeliverance]

Who: A pile of Pandoras and a pile of RWBYs and perhaps some assorted close attachments
What: A mingle log in which two houses alike in dignity have a slumber party for great CR kickstart justice
When: End of the first week in November, before the month becomes established as a horrifying shitshow
Where: Pandora House, which still needs a cooler name

Content Warnings: Nothing in the log prompts; mushroom monsters are present if we feel like being rude.



Somewhere around the end of September, Xerxes Break made a joke about slumber parties explicitly because he knew it would make Qrow Branwen's life difficult and that struck him as very funny. Now, he has to make good on this and throw a proper one. You'd think this would count as the joke backfiring on him but no, no, it most certainly does not -- Break and his pack of feral Victorian teenagers all thrive on a good party in their own way, and having come from an old-fashioned world they are already quite busy preparing to hunker down inside for the wintertime. Unused to being able to pass long, harsh nights with things like television and video games, they have many activities at hand to indulge in, and Break has already been hard at work stockpiling food like some sort of rabid hobbit.

The house itself is warm and pleasantly haunted and cozy in a way that only happens in homes that aren't accustomed to things like electric heat -- there are piles of quilts and blankets scattered around most rooms, free for the taking if someone wants to wrap themselves up, and all the communal rooms have fires going in their fireplaces. The heat that radiates from those spots is the kind that can thaw out frozen bones in a way that nothing else can. And the feel of the house itself is...well, despite the various struggles of its inhabitants, it just feels like the house is daring to hope that it can be happy. After all, it sat abandoned and empty for a long time, the more terrible of the ghosts that haunted it always inevitably chasing away anyone who dared try to settle down here. Those ghosts are gone as of last month, and the fact that every single person living here is now getting a second chance at simply being someone has already begun seeping into the walls themselves. Although it's still early enough in the month that the intense danger November brings with it hasn't yet become widely known, the house feels decidedly safer than the outside all the same, with a faint sense of benevolent sentience hitting as soon as one walks through the door.

That's what you get in a house full of darkbloods (and Oz).


Food: Probably it's no surprise to anyone who knows Break that the kitchen is where that sense of protectiveness is strongest; this is the room he's taken over as his personal territory. Feeling much better with last month's homesickness finally easing up, he spends the day of the party cooking enough to feed the whole crew -- he's been learning to cook mostly in restaurants, so this is no problem. Having been warned that beef in particular is about to become scarce for the season, he's gotten a hold of a good chunk of it and has put together a big cauldron of beef stew, with potatoes and leeks and many, many mushrooms and things to round it all out. This is one of exactly two proper meals that Break has mastered already, given that the basis of a stew is to chop up exactly the right things and then put them in a pot, and the house smells more and more exquisite the closer you get to the kitchen. There's fresh bread, too, and though the loaves are still a little misshapen they taste just fine, and he's recruited Lysithea to help out with her wonderful baked sweets. Break will sneak away for further baking when he's in want of a bit of quiet, too, so expect further treats all night. Of particular note, in the wee hours when the house is getting properly chilly, he produces a wonderful warm drink: A big pot of (non-alcoholic) spiced berry juice, rich and red and warmed up with cloves and cinnamon sticks and slices of the last fresh oranges he was able to snatch up at the docks floating about inside. Victorians know how to do winter food, and why wait for the snow to really get going?

Movies: This is something new and exciting for the Pandoras. Bereft of any kind of proper screen, they've been taught to pin up white bedsheets against the wall in the parlor, and someone's omni has been recruited to project things onto it. Given the recent spooky season and some of the kids learning about Halloween, many of the movies of choice tonight are themed thus, such as Hocus Pocus and The Others. But someone having figured out how to search the omni has resulted in Beauty and the Beast, too, for something a little less creepy. This whole thing is super great. Who knew you could go to the theater without having to get dressed and leave the house?

Arts and Crafts: The other thing happening in the parlor is the coffee table being taken over by art supplies. The Alices like to make things, and have been amusing themselves lately putting together decorations for the house. We have paints, fancy papers with pretty patterns on, scissors, glue, glitter, the works. The sorts of art supplies you'd expect from a couple of girls who spent the bulk of their early lives locked, in some capacity, in a tower. It's something fun to play with while the movies are running. It is possible that White Alice may be working on painting swirly bits on an animal skull of some sort. Don't worry about it, it's fine.

Game Room: The house does have an actual dining room, nice and long and with high ceilings. Given that the kitchen with its huge wooden table is plenty big enough to eat in, they haven't bothered to use it as such. Instead, there's a table set up off to the side for board games and jigsaw puzzles -- and, more importantly, the bulk of the room is totally clear for things like indoor badminton and a ball made for kicking about. Possibly this is because Break spent all of September trying to convince himself it was silly to worry that the Alices had been eaten by something only to have them turn up in October and tell him of having been eaten by a giant fish, and he freaked out and decided he doesn't want the kids playing outside where the beasts are unless they have to. He is not telling.

Training: That said, weapons training simply needs to happen outside, and it's entirely possible that sooner or later it will come up that this slumber party is full of weapons enthusiasts and at least four of them, inexplicably, are scythe users. If that happens, there's a clear space outside in the backyard that Break has been using for his own drills, grass already trampled flat and a few nice sturdy posts that a blade has clearly been whacking away at. There's a nice stone wall around the property that will keep a great many of the unsavory creatures out, as some of the back used to be a garden which has long since grown wild, and Break has taken a hint from Gaze and set up several tall incense burners, too. If anyone is feeling in want of a midnight spar for some reason, this is where they can go -- but keep in mind that the wall won't keep the poisonous floating mushroom creatures out, and given that said garden has proven to be a mushroom oasis, the horrible little shuffling ones that induce hellscape hallucinations may be about, too.

Comments

[wishforaneye]

Arts and Crafts

This is where Alice could be found whenever a movie didn't quite catch her attention, or at any other time when she simply felt like it.

Of course there was a small collection of skulls on the table beside her, as if waiting their turn to get some bit of color added to them. Various sizes, but nothing too big to take up too much space. All from some animal, of course. There was one drying just to the side and out of the way, a bit of glitter mixed in with the paint that really did give it quite the nice sparkle.

Movies

It was hard to keep Alice down in her seat, but at least she was hovering just above it, a few bowls of snacks floating around her as well. All the easier to grab a little something to eat while eyes were glued to the sheet-screen. When it was something that caught her interest? There was no pulling her away, quiet and enjoying the scenes and color, and following along with how eagerly Alice paid attention.

Amok amok amok! So far her favorite was Hocus Pocus simply for the charm of it, and even some little cheer even once the witches were beaten. A boy turned cat finally reunited with a lost sister—

"That was a very nice and helpful dead man," she liked that part as much as any others. "But a dead man's toe doesn't much sound like it would be good." At least there were some impressions left on her?

Game Room
"Dinah!" That was a winged omen, shrunk down to be the size of a medium-large dog swooping across the floor to catch a ball that had been tossed from across the room. Rolling it along the floor with a batting of paws before swatting it back up in to the air. Passing it back and fourth as such.

Still a little used to playing by herself an even making her own fun, Alice had conjured up a game of her own when she stayed inside. Even now with other people over it simply hadn't much occurred to her to change that right away.

"Let's see if we can get it higher!" Without floating it as she did many things, of course.

Recharge

From time to time Alice could be found curled up against her Omen who had made themself as large as a couch, wings tucked and acting a little like a blanket. All was good and well, but at times it was clear that she was adjusting to being around so many people still. Content to simply watch from a taken over corner even in her bits of quiet time. Usually having something sweet to pick apart and eat bit by bit.

"Isn't it nice, Dinah?" A thunderous purring. "Do you think, perhaps, we could sneak another bowl of stew?"

movies

[notimeforfailure]

She had almost forgotten about the moving pictures. Deerington had been a treasure trove of entirely fantastical technology - despite being in the far future, Trench was paradoxically more in keeping with what she found familiar from Fodlan. Still, some of the old technology from Deerington was preserved.

Lysithea watches the movie quietly, mostly still awed by the entire concept. She follows the storyline easily enough, though.

"Magic is presented in a fairly negative light, isn't it? I don't know what I'd ever want with a dead man's toe. Or with any magic that required it."

[wishforaneye]

"Most things seen as strange are usually presented as such," it was a thoughtful tone, "More so if it's seen as different, without easy explanation- so I suppose those not used to it would think it easily bad, that and what they were doing with what they knew wasn't good." Of course it wasn't goo— "The life of a child is already short as it is, could be better ways to stay young than that."


Alice had a bit of of cinnamon roll caught in her fingers, picking little pieces of it to eat as she pondered then.

"I liked the use of voice as a magical power. That makes some sense, enchanting and bewitching through song; seems so much more fun than working with a dead man's toe."

[notimeforfailure]

"None of that was very close to what I know to be magic."

Lysithea pauses.

"...Well. I suppose you could sing incantations if you wanted to, but it seems impractical. I believe you're right. This was the interpretation of somebody who didn't understand much and felt it presented a threat. It does give some context for the idea of 'witches' in this world, though."

She has a feeling these are the same kinds of witches who might have consorted with demons, a phenomenon with which she has regrettably become familiar.

"We do have a sort of magical dance where I come from."

[wishforaneye]

"There is a little magic where I'm from- but mostly monsters, and a place that grants great power." Almost idly it was difficult not to wonder if in this view she'd be a witch or a devil. Interesting either way.

She was listening, attention caught and honestly the other's presence was welcomed. A new face yes, but so willing to speak to her even like this was- well. Alice held things a little closer when it came to such little things.

"They spoke of a Master that gave them their powers, so perhaps it all starts from the source seen of such a thing." Black and white views, perhaps.

Most views of the world were like that, it seemed. "You do? What sort?"

[notimeforfailure]

"Oh - er."

Lysithea realizes this might have been a misstep. Surely at some point, someone would say, "can you show us the dance" and she would respond with, "absolutely not." But she continues on, a bit clumsily.

"It's a dance in honor of the Goddess. But if the dancer is skilled and has proven their dedication to the art, it has a most invigorating effect on the audience. Refreshing, perhaps."

This is not the sort of magic she is comfortable with.

"But I'd guess they were speaking about an infernal being of some sort. That is -- demons. They're similar to other witches that I've read about that are familiar to this world. Is your world's magic related to its monsters at all?"

[wishforaneye]

Alice hummed, thoughtful for a moment-

"That sounds as if it takes a lot of work, and preparation," or so she would think given the wording. "Music can do the same, a voice filled with emotion and want. I wonder how well the two sorts could pair. Someone who can perform than dance, and someone with an enchanting voice," be it magical or not hardly mattered—

"It would be quite the thing to witness. Don't you think?"

There was a smile there, as if she already had an image in her mind, a few of the bowls she'd had idly twirling in place. Slowly, like on a music box stand.

"Yes, and no. The monsters are born of a dimension filled with power, enough so to influence time and reality if someone wished it and had sway over it," and she knew that so well. "They make pacts with people, promising them a chance to reach that power, all to fill their own hunger and a chance to be in the world connected."

game room

[velvet_teen]

"Get it, Raspy! Let's keep it in the air!"

The other Alice hurls her much smaller, launchable Omen up to intercept. The ball careens off poor Raspy, who flaps to stay up and mobile, and goes off to a corner somewhere. The room is clear of breakable things for a reason.

[wishforaneye]

"Keep it going, keep it going!"

It was easy enough to create games out of no where to keep them both entertained, and this was high energy. Getting to play in ways they had never really gotten so much opportunity for. With the help or their Omens this game was certainly on! Alice moving so that she could hit the ball back up before it hit the ground, knocking it upwards with the palms of her hands.

"Going your way, Alice!" For the better all breakable things had been cleared out since the last time they made up a game, honestly.

[velvet_teen]

This Alice baseball slides across the room and punches the ball into the ceiling. She's a big fan of running around. Not, perhaps, the best at aiming it to any particular teammate.

"Aaaah- some one get it, quick!"

[wishforaneye]

Quick, quick—

Dinah was more than happy to dart about, racing so that she could basically headbutt the ball upwards with a leap. The Omen having just as much fun as the sisters were, shining through that piece of soul for the paler sister that the winged sabre cat was. White eyes shining bright with mirth.

It was with a warmer laugh that this Alice nearly tripped backwards before kicking the ball right back up in to the air, "This is longer than last time already!" Letting herself float a moment, just to keep from landing on her butt and be back up on her feet with a bounce.

[velvet_teen]

Is it?? Alice has not been keeping time, she is also not entirely used to time not being, like, a social construct or whatever. She's going to be real shocked when she starts getting taller.

Personal space is also a nonsense concept - she lunges into the fray and leapfrogs right off Dinah's back to kick the ball upwards again.

"That's because we're the greatest!"

[wishforaneye]

For all she felt it was the longest time- it could in reality be the shortest, but all that mattered in the moment was feeling of continuing it on for longer than she could remember. It was a funny thing, time absolutely nothing solid but still passed in one way or another.

"Nothing has gotten in our way yet, either!" Thank god, there really was likely a reason the area was so very much clear of things easily knocked over or broken.

Dinah even moved a little to help propel Alice up higher, twisting to land on paws. This was certainly one way to get out the large cat Omen zoomies, right? Right! "The absolute greatest!"

Sure, this Alice went a little upside down to help keep that ball up, spinning a little to keep herself from tipping over. Higher and higher that ball was going.

Arts & Crafts

[swornto]

How is it coming along?

[Oz has gotten over his initial shock of seeing Alice paint skulls. It makes her happy, seems harmless, and the end result is charming enough. Seeing her work on art projects is so strangely nostalgic. It's nice to be able to do more than watch her work.

Though he had stepped away a while ago to fetch tea, he returns with a cup for each of them.]

For you, if you'd like?

[wishforaneye]

I think I'm getting better.

[There were a few smears of paint on her skin, but she wasn't wrong. The more of them she did, the better Alice got with her lines and color. Of course, even the ones that were glittery swirled patterns were just as pretty as the ones she attempted a scenes on, in her opinion.

Nice home decorations, really.]

Oh, yes. A little break for some tea wouldn't hurt at all. Thank you, Oz

[Fingers were wiped a little just to not smear something on the cup when she took it.]

Do you want to try? Even just colors take well, I think.

[swornto]

You're quite welcome. Careful; It's still hot.

[He settles down with her, admiring the painted skulls from a distance. She really has improved. If these were being sold in a store, Oz is sure that they would fetch a decent price. He's so deep in his awe that her offer takes a moment to sink in.]

... Oh. Me? I don't know if I'd be very good at it. I wasn't put in painting classes passed the fundamentals for a reason!

[Even then, he's not sure how to paint something without a guide or a reference.]

[wishforaneye]

Of course.

[It was nice to hold the cup in her hands still, to feel the warmth of the tea through it, even while being careful not to burn. Some little inner wonder, the knowledge this was through a body of her own and not just in place of her sister.

That smile curved a little brighter.]

You don't have to be good at it, so long as you're having fun. That's the most important result if it, I think. Just put whatever colors you like in splotches, and it would still be something you had fun with.

Like the swirls I did on another one.

[swornto]

[Her words sound so wise that Oz is nearly taken aback. Ah, what a state to be in! Being given life lessons from the Alice who spent her life in the Abyss... It's refreshing. He likes seeing this side of her. He likes hearing that she knows to have fun. Every skull she's painted now looks much more precious to him, as they symbolize her happier life.]

Hmm... I suppose I'll give it a try, then. Nothing to lose!

[He reaches out for some paints, humming thoughtfully.] Hmm~mm. Maybe I'll break every painting rule I ever learned, then. That sounds like a fun change!

[wishforaneye]

[It could be so easy to forget she was far older than she looked, and just as easy to forget that even despite everything she was still just a young girl who never got the chance to simply be a kid. An unfortunate mix, perhaps, but here she could indulge in the most simple of things.

This entire chance was a precious thing to her.]

That's the spirit, Oz! Nothing to lose, and break every single rule if you want. It can be more fun that way.

[There certainly weren't any rules that stopped her from mixing paint with a certain glitter to make it look like gold; which she was using to highlight the cracks in a new skull she'd pulled closer to herself.]

arts and crafts

[entreats]

Ah.

Yes.

Skull painting. This is totally normal.

-- Or so goes Ange's thoughts when she's sitting at the same table, also trying to get a bit into crafts. Perhaps she's just momentarily fled the slightly more loud sections of the party in order to sit somewhere where it's quiet, trying to recharge her introvert battery. She's doing something much more simple herself, having grabbed one of the papers and seeming to be attempting to fold it into some sort of shape.

But her gaze keeps glancing off towards the little skulls. It's so.. so.. something, alright.

"Is this something you usually do?" Ange ends up speaking up to Alice after a few moments of thinking about it.

[wishforaneye]

"I've picked it up here."

Alice was lifting one of the smaller skulls, a large bird given the shape and beak, just in her fingertips. Looking where it was cracked, following those lines as she turned it carefully. All of them were cleaned at the very least—

"Some of the shops around here will take them in trade, I've found, so- maybe if I make them a little more special they'll not be bored of them. A little color for how this places lacks it at times."

Then there was a smile, "I think it's fun, too. They already look nice on their own, so it's a little like someone putting on make-up, I think." Decorating to add emphasis and highlight some aspect.

[entreats]

At least there's some sense to it. Ange acknowledges that it has an actual use when you can trade them in to the shops here, and she doesn't doubt that if they were decorated, they'd probably be worth more to those shopkeepers than just any regular old skull.

But then again, considering that last thing Alice is saying.. maybe it's more than a little weird after all.

"Except they're already dead."

So it's like putting make-up on a corpse.

"Kind of macabre, don't you think?"

There's no upset or offense in Ange's tone though as she says it. There's not much emotion in her voice at all, on the contrary. Her tone mostly just sounds flat.

[wishforaneye]

"Dead and so long gone," it was hummed, almost sing-songy for just a second. "Macabre- I think I like that word," it fit right along with morbid, right? Given the context, yes.

At least Alice wasn't leaving it just at that, despite picking up a brush as if she were about to.

"A memory that they once lived, and cruel as life can be it was still something beautiful in places some would never think to look."

Her head tilted, blowing a stray piece of hair from her face rather than risk getting a bit of paint in it- "Those alive like to use color to highlight pieces of themselves they want to draw attention to, right? Or away from, sometimes."

1/2

[entreats]

... why is this house full of weird children?

[entreats]

And it's not even like Ange isn't used to this. In fact, as she's sitting here at the table with the girl, she's more and more being reminded of dealing with some of the witches back home. They too looked much younger than Ange, but acted in this same odd, odd way this other girl is acting.

Maybe the only thing Ange can hope for is that this girl at least isn't as malicious as them.

But rather than actually answering Alice's question, Ange instead speaks up with: "Isn't saying 'those alive' a little weird? It's almost like you aren't talking about yourself if you put it that way."