moon's pale light [Open]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

Who: Cassandra (feudalladyshandmaid) and YOU
What: Arrival and Catchall for your local angry moon lesbian
When: Early to mid-November
Where: Around Trench and the beach.

Content Warnings: Blood-Crazed Zealots in one prompt, attempted kidnapping, brief memory loss



[A-1: Open, shut, closed off - OTA]
[To be honest, Cassandra sort of missed when she was a brainless squid, drifting through a dark sea. No cares, no responsibilities, and nothing to annoy the ever-living shit out of her for once in her life.

At least, as a squid, she wouldn't need to contend with a city of rapidly shifting doors and structures. This city... "Trench" was its name? An oddity if there ever was one, but one that Cassandra wanted no part in. The way they moved about at random, barring passage just as quickly as opening up for her, even just crossing the street is becoming something of a herculean feat for the strange newcomer; a blue-haired woman wearing dark, almost stone-like armor - But on close inspection, it seems to be stone? How does it move so well?

The answer might lay in the glowing gemstone embedded in her stony chestplate, glowing with a clear, magical light, almost crackling with energy as its bearer faces yet another newly developed dead end. She faces the wall with a scowl, raising her hand to press it, palm out, against the smooth uncaring stone...

And drive her first into it with an unsatisfying crunch.]

Come on! [The wall is unresponsive, so she needs to direct her frustration somewhere - Like YOU!] Are you seeing this?! How are you supposed to get anywhere in this place?

[A-2: Next stop, anywhere - OTA]
[There was nothing in Cassandra's experience, no cities or kingdoms, that were quite like Trench. To compare the quality of living in this place would be an entirely different matter, though Cassandra was focused less on that and more on... Well, everything. The city lived up to the mystique of waking up on the beach after formerly being a mindless squid.

Cassandra feels about as adrift now than back then. As ominous at the city seems, there's a rather varied supply of districts that Cassandra eventually finds her way into. An oddity that breezes her way through Gaze and its educational pursuits, stepping in and immediately excusing herself from Cellar Door with a hand up to block her view at all times, or briefly stepping through Crenshaw and gazing at the odd housing system the city had.

The few times she's fully halted come in a couple specific districts; namely, when she has to stop her self in the Cassandra district... because of course she does.

Her nose wrinkles at the heavy incense clouding the air. Spiritual healing. Peh. Her spirit was healing just fine.

The other was the trading district, so charmingly named "Willful Machine"... For some reason. At least the markets and booths were interesting - though, Cassandra was more interested in the stables she'd heard about somewhere nearby. But as soon as she tries to get anywhere, she's got locals clamoring after her - for trinkets and baubles she might like to purchase. Things that would go so well with that shiny gem over her breast. What was it? Could they see it? It would definitely fetch a pretty sum in someone else's hands-

They made themselves scarce when she drew her blade. She let it sink back into the scabbard forming on her back... just as she spotted someone looking at her.]

Ugh. Please tell me you're not going to try and sell me something? Or get me to sell something to you.

[B: Zealous behavior - OTA]
[It was only a matter of time before a fight broke out, with Cassandra at the center of it. She had no way of knowing it would be someone else attempting to jump her, though.]

What-!

[They appear around her without warning; hooks, large and sharp. Seemingly conjured from thin air, they move with purpose to ensnare her. She feels them try to dig into her armor, into her skin. Most shatter against the impenetrable stone, but a few hook into her arm and whip her back as she scrambles for her sword.

Which is when she sees them. Humans, but nothing like she's ever seen before. Disfigured and reeking of blood, several of them advancing from a blind spot in Cassandra's vision. Obviously, they didn't like when she cut herself free of those restraints, because one steps forward, raises his hand, and-

Wait.

What's going on? Where is she? And what the heck are these people looking at-]

Hey! Let go of me!

[More chains and hooks more? there were more? clamp around her arms and legs, dragging the confused woman back even as her instincts scream to resist. Even as they come to surround her, attempting to restrain her against the cobblestone ground with hooks and claws that scratch against her arms and face, she fights; even disoriented, she'll resist. These strangers have no idea what they're up against.]

[C: A moment for your my thoughts - OTA]
[Somehow, despite all the horrors and confusion, Cassandra eventually finds peace.

Not in herself, but rather in her surroundings. As the sun begins to dip under the horizon, Cassandra sets foot on the same beach she had washed ashore on. The smooth, black sand drags at her feet as she steps towards the waves. The air reeks of salt and ocean spray.

Somewhere, far out there, was her home, right? Yes. It had to be. Across this sea, maybe across another, and another still. She'd get back home, yes... She would do that much. She did so before, on foot no less.

At least, outside of the city, in the relative calm of this beach, she could think, and breath, and feel the power ebbing at her fingertips. Yearning. Like a muscle that hadn't been used recently. She had to flex it every now and then.

Cassandra lets her hand sweep to the side, to a random patch of sand, it doesn't matter where. Slowly, she focuses, and calls out, to the earth before her, and the power inside of her, flowing out of that tiny blue stone she'd coveted closely since waking up in this twisted land.

Slowly, but surely, a black stone emerges from the sands, intricate lines in the stone shining blue in the fading light. It raises up, and up, until she allows it to stop heeding her call. Only once it's at about waist height. A single fang on this beach, that Cassandra would sooner shove back down than use on anything. Not yet. Nothing's gotten to her so far.

The woman emanates a soft sigh and she lets the palm of her gloved hand brush against the stone. No matter what, she's got power. She can protect herself. Nothing in this world, or any other, would take that from her.]

Comments

B

[laminae]

[Fights breaking out in Trench aren't all that unusual, but even Fern has noticed the shift this month. More Sleepers are getting targeted, often by weirdos with hooks, and when a fight does happen it's way more brutal than normal. Most importantly though, he's heard about some of those Sleepers going missing.

So literally stumbling upon one of these fights while out in the city totally lost (thanks, moving walls) is either really good luck, or really bad luck. He isn't sure which, and he isn't about to stop and consider it when there's someone who clearly needs help. Nope, he's just going to go ahead and barrel straight into this without thinking, because that's who he is.]

Hey!! You greaseballs! [Of course, Fern's way of jumping into the fight is to literally jump into the fight. The grass making up his body sharpens dangerously as he full-body tackles one of the zealots commanding some hooks and chains to the ground. Maybe not the most graceful idea ever, but an ambush is an ambush and he seems to be at least taking them by surprise.]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[For someone itching for a fight at practically any moment, Cassandra wasn't looking very much like she was enjoying this little altercation. She got her fill of being jumped by weirdos on the road during her time in the caravan. And just when she thought her day couldn't get any worse.

But none of the zealots were really expecting someone to leap into the fray so suddenly. And so dramatically, at that! One of them, still in control of Cassandra's restraints, is fully bodied by a boy made of grass, stumbling back and even collapsing under the sudden assault. It's a distraction. Just what Cassandra needs.

She focuses and reaches out. Only a moment and the ground beneath her bursts with an array of sharp, black rocks bursting forth, shattering chains and throwing off a few more foes as Cassandra rises to her feet. Her sword hand tight and ready.

At least one takes the opportunity to blast her with a bolt of lightning. Electricity suddenly arcs across the stones, coursing up Cassandra's arms as she defends herself. Another grasps at Fern's back, trying to throw him off his companion.]

[laminae]

[Hey, at least this is one down! Fern has absolutely no plan beyond "tackle the zealot" and when he glances over to see who it is they're attacking he notices the shock of blue hair and oh Grob Gob Glob Grod he knows who that is. He's seen Varian's sketches and he remembers the well, though he had chalked the latter up to some kind of trippy Trench hallucination or dream since he didn't see her around afterwards. This raises all kinds of questions, none of which he has time to get answered since they're knee-deep in a fight.

Fern, of course, recognizes the black rocks. He's seen those in Varian's memories, back in Deerington, though these ones look helpful rather than hostile. Still unnerving though, and Fern needs a second to process those and the admittedly cool sword as he watches to make sure Cassandra is okay.

His attention is pulled away when the second zealot grabs him. Thorny vines shoot out reflexively from his limbs and wrap around her, dragging her off and tossing her into the nearest building while the one he tackled struggles to throw him off. She hits the wall, though with her own gravity darkblood slows down her momentum so the impact doesn't knock her unconscious. The vines repeat that action, slamming into the zealots who were dazed by the black rocks, fully knocking them out.]

Sick sword!

[Is it cool sword times? It seems like it's cool sword times! Fern forms his own grass sword, quickly bringing it down on the pinned zealot, though the guy just barely manages to block at the last second with a burst of ice around his forearms, then towards Cassandra's feet, trying to slip her up and give his electricity comrade an edge.]

A-2

[imaglyphwitch]

Luz was by herself today, luckily a little before the days where she'd be captured. For right now, she'd trying to take him some of the scents, a strange looking feeling that she'd be wanting to take in as much as she could today. It just so happened that right as she was lingering by the tree that she should come across a woman that seemed to stand out from most people.

The hair, the outfit, the sour face. It seemed to scream that she was very clearly not someone from Trench.

"Something bothering you?"

[feudalladyshandmaid]

"Wow. Is it that obvious?"

Apart from the general confusion she felt over a district bearing her name, the amount of heady scents in the air was enough to stagger her for a full minute. Surely, she was going to end this day with a headache - if not from these incense, then from something else.

Her eyes fall on the kid watching her. No one familiar, just like everyone else here.

"What tipped you off?"

[imaglyphwitch]

"You looked like you smelled a bag full of farts, for one thing. I know it's a lot, but you can't be too careful these days. All this talk about blood pollution, it gets into people's heads. So they try to protect this place as best as they can."

She clearly hadn't seen the blood tree yet.

"Also, I definitely would have noticed someone like you before. The blue hair, the fabulous outfit, the glowing stone. No one's really looking like that without ruffles or at least a cape or two, and 'planies' wouldn't want to draw that much attention to themselves, they think its garish. So I figure you're a Sleeper, like a bunch of us!"

B

[prodigalhairess]

[The more time she spends wandering the streets of the city, the more Rapunzel realizes that maybe doing so without thinking is a bad idea. Nothing terrible has happened to her yet, but there's a feeling that hangs over her and presses at the back of her neck when she's out alone... it's sort of similar to how she felt in Vardaros, the feeling of people keeping an eye on her - but it's decidedly more sinister here. It's not like Corona where the guards were friendly but alert, where mostly everyone knew each other and watched out for each other. There's a layer of unease here in the dead of night, and it makes Rapunzel quicken her step in her journey home.

A journey that is very suddenly interrupted by the sounds of a scuffle and yelling - familiar yelling, that makes her heart both sink and swell. She can't just - she can't ignore this, so despite a small voice at the back of her head telling her this might not be the best of ideas, she charges forward.

... And ohhhh boy it's a good thing she did, when she skids to a stop in the alley where Cassandra had been jumped. She sees that glowing blue-haired figure, and the figures closing in on that, and in a flash, she reaches up to pull the ties out of her hair.]

Hey!

[Gripping a fistful of hair tightly in one hand, she lashes out with it like cracking a whip, that indestructible blonde hair wrapping tightly around the throat of one of the people (creatures???) closing in on Cassandra, yanking them back and causing them to stumble and fall.]

Get away from her!

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Considering the intimidating presence she had back in Corona, even without the Moonstone's full power, Cassandra almost expected nobody would be foolish enough to try and come after her. Then again, this wasn't Corona - it was somewhere darker, colder. Full of hate and malice.

The kind of place Rapunzel would've probably driven the caravan into without a care in the world.

Rapunzel... Her thoughts stray to the blonde princess time and again. She can't stop herself. Even now, in the middle of a scuffle, she's still focusing on-]

Rapunzel?

[She watches as one of the brutish cultists is suddenly yanked back by his neck with a very familiar length of blonde hair. He flails a hook against it to cut himself free, to no avail.

The other cultists, momentarily distracted, don't have time to reorient before Cassandra's back on her feet and headutts the nearest one as hard as she can. It's... not the best move in her arsenal, but it puts one of them down on the spot, and the hooks in her armor vanish.]

You shouldn't be here! [She shouts over her shoulder, drawing her shadowblade properly this time as the remaining cultists regroup. Several of them let electricity arc between their hands...]

[prodigalhairess]

[For good or for bad, there are times when Rapunzel just... would not listen to Cassandra. This is one of those times, because no matter how shaky the metaphorical ground they're standing on is right now, Rapunzel isn't going to just run away and let her once-friend deal with a bunch of creeps trying to attack her.]

Doesn't matter, I'm here now!

[She doesn't want to upset Cassandra even more, after what happened in the tunnels beneath Gothel's cottage. She doesn't want to further tear at the rip in their friendship when she'd been able to sew a few threads back in. A small voice at the back of her said that this might just make Cassandra hate her even more, like she might think Rapunzel thinks she can't take care of herself.

It's not that. It's really not. It's just -

She thinks of that brief moment of panic, when Varian had told her about different timelines, and how things with Cassandra and Zhan Tiri ended. She'd nearly shut down then, when she thought he meant that Cassandra had been killed. The thought of losing her friend plagued her nightmares so often these days, and seeing these things closing in on her...

She can't. Even if Cassandra doesn't want her to help, even if she's just going to be mad at her after, she can't do nothing. So even as the first zealot still struggles to get to their feet, Rapunzel lashes out again - this time she doesn't just grapple one of them back, but swings them to the side, smacking them hard against the nearest wall in an attempt to stun them.]

Come on! There's a big enough opening, we can just get out of here!

a2

[grice]

[ a boy falco's size in a place like this would probably be interested in shining her shoes or trading furs, and worse, stealing the glamorous gem in her chest. falco's wide eyes and staring was born of something else, though, and it hadn't been fright or awe (maybe some awe)— it was mostly out of recognition. ]

Miss Cassandra—?

[ his heart skipped beats, remembering from not long ago the toy bird she'd gifted him before all of santa rosita went dim. ]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Cassandra didn't think anyone would be so bold as to try and swipe the stone embedded in her chest. It was something of a pride thing for her; she'd already stolen it, so why would anyone else take the risk? They'd have to fight her for it.]

Huh?

[The sound of her own name shakes her from whatever trance she'd fallen in. Someone called her name, but... this kid? He's nobody she recognizes. Which means all the anger Cass kept simmering beneath the surface, at all times, is eased off, leaving behind a Cassandra more... normal. More confused.]

Are you talking to me?

another B

[droptheious]

[This isn't the first time Varian has dealt with religious zealots in this place and he's sure it won't be the last. His first month in the dream was dealing with...well, not exactly these lunatics, but people like them. Enough to be on his guard, even if he's lucky enough to be able to navigate the city this month where so few can.

He heard the commotion before he sees it, and naturally races off towards it, but once he does see it, he doesn't hesitate to help. As much as he's sure Cass can look after herself, as much as a chasm has once again opened between them, he can't and won't leave her in trouble. ]

Head's up!

[That's more for her benefit than the zealots. He hucks an alchemy bomb at a nearby group of them, green flame exploding on the floor between them and licking up their legs. A few of them drop, rolling around trying to bat down the fire but it won't be enough, he knows that much. So he'll just helpfully call out to her, to check on her:]

You dead?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Oh, great. Now there's things on FIRE.

As much as she doesn't particularly want to see Varian right now, Cass won't pass up the gift of help. Even as the green flames lick at her bootheels. Her chains have loosened, and in a moment they're shattered by black rocks rising out of the ground around her.

With all the nonchalance in the world, she stands.]

No. But they'll be.

[Not that she aims to kill. But rather, sending a few of these disfigured foes toppling over themselves with a well-placed flat rock is its own reward.]

C ) No thoughts, head empty

[glitchinthesystem]

[ The beach did offer a sense of peace and quiet in a place as dark as Trench. He's not sure if this place was worse or better than Deerington. Honestly, it was really hard to really pin it down. But, at least the waves stayed the same here on this beach.

There had only been on beach back in Deerington and that one was very depressing looking in that sinkhole. Either way, he had come here to just get away from town for a little bit. He'd stayed locked up in the house for so long he figured why not go out for once?

He should've expected other people here though as he was walking casually down the shore, the woman in armour with vibrant blue hair sitting by herself was definitely striking in her own right. He might've walked right past her with out much of a word until he came closer to see that that armour was definitely not armour but...stone? Shiny, black stone, polished almost like a mirror's surface.

He blinks a few times having stopped and then see's her conjure the same stone out of the ground.

Huh. Well okay then. Either way, it wasn't hard to notice the woman's demeanour though, lost? Sad? Conflicted? He's not really sure what it could be but if that sigh was anything it was definitely something. So, he stops, his hands stuffed into his pockets as he finally speaks up; ]

Seems like you picked up one the greatest to do hobbies in Trench;

Brooding on the beach.

[ He's great at first meetings. ]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[The stone is an unnatural force, as alien as its appearance. To think, she would be able to control the power of an otherworldly force like this, make it work for her. And yet there were so many mysteries still locked away, more powers she has yet to learn. Mysteries she'd solve with time, and peace and quiet.

Which she's not about to get on this beach, it seems. Snapped out of her thoughts, Cassandra looks back where the voice had sprung from, finding an unfamiliar face.]

Guess I'm already a local, then.

[At least her wry wit hasn't lost its spark.]

It's kinda hard to find quiet places to think around here.

A-1

[lightthedarkness]

[Usagi was minding her own business getting horribly lost as well. And at first, when she sees the bright blue hair and pale skin, Usagi thought the other woman was incredibly pretty.

Except until she started yelling at her.

Usagi jumped, her omen, a margay hissing at Cassandra for yelling at Usagi. But Usagi puts a hand up to gently calm her omen down, the wild cat making a noise as she sat across the blonde's shoulders. The little rabbit realizes the other isn't mad AT her, just... mad... in general. Honestly, she could get that.]

Ah... yeah, I- I'm actually super lost myself at the moment. Where are you trying to go? Maybe if we try together, we'll actually get there?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Unfortunate for Usagi's omen, but possibly fortunate for Usagi herself, Cassandra is quick to anger but even quicker to restrain herself. So, when she draws her blade against the sudden hissing cat, she doesn't bring it down on the poor animal. If anything, she intends to use it in self defense.]

...I'm trying to get anywhere that isn't here. [A roll of her shoulders, meant to deal away with her tensed stance.] I'll settle for someone that actually lets me walk down a street. How about you?

( a-1 )

[danserai]

[ ahiru's hand immediately went to grasp her pendant as if to hide the similar magical glow. even though it's clear, they're both very different stones, the palpable magical power made her take a step back, wary.

but she recovers quickly with a nervous smile. ]

I kind of wander around . . . and . . . hope for the best?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[Ah. Dang it.

She can't get angry at kid. She could, but that's not why she's here, or why she's the way she is at the moment. No. Only one person really deserves her ire, despite how she's choosing to take it out on her.

Such is Cassandra's tunnel vision that she doesn't even notice Ahiru's pendant as she regards the girl in full.]

Ah. Well, that's... something I'm pretty used to by now.

a1

[13thcommander]

[That's Cassandra, but also not. Her hair never looked like that before, and she wasn't so aggressive. There's something in her eyes that Erwin has never seen before, and he knows without asking that this isn't the Cassandra from Santa Rosita.]

[But it is Cassandra, and Erwin isn't going to leave her alone. She can obviously fend for herself, but that's not his concern. They worked well together once before, and they can do it again.]

I don't know. I'm still learning myself.

[The stone in her armour catches Erwin's eye, but he doesn't comment on it.]

Where are you trying to go?

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[It's Cassandra. Though it's not her in any way Erwin would recognize her. This was a matter of Cassandra's past that she never found the time or reason to bring up in conversation. It was raw and ugly; black and twisted like the rocks that coiled around her frame right now.

Not exactly an afternoon dress fit for Santa Rosita. But surely it would've been the talk of the town.]

Anywhere that's not right here? Maybe somewhere with a working street?

[Her wit is tired, as is she. She doesn't know this man, so he's not at all the focus of her frustration.]

I'd settle for a place to sleep at this rate.

C.

[hopticulture]

[It is weird how easy it can be to return to some sense of normalcy even after a terrible experience. She's bandaged up from her time at the Farm, but long sleeves and pants and heavy boots cover up the injuries she's received. An injured herbivore is disturbing, after all, at least where she's from. Visible injuries make you an easy target, so Haru makes a habit of standing tall, walking big, even if the only clothing options in Trench that fit her comfortably are clothes made for kids.

Haru has also taken to the beach for some refuge. Water and open space isn't necessarily a natural safe haven for a rabbit (in fact, it's dangerous), but there is a freedom and relief that comes from looking out over the waters, towards the horizon that spans onward.

She's not really paying much attention, hands stuffed in the pockets of a baggy coat, a large red scarf covering her nose and mouth just in case, the only movement being her long ears which move slightly with the wind. It's getting dark though, so she's about to turn back when she sees what looks to be...a rock?? sprouting out of the beach like a plant.

And...oh, a person? Was she that zoned out that she completely missed this other person at the beach? Probably. And a sensible rabbit would mind her business, turn away and go home.

So of course, Haru approaches Cassandra, making her presence known.]

Did you do that? Or do rocks just...sprout up here on the beach like that?

[Does she need to keep an eye out next time?]

[feudalladyshandmaid]

["Normal" is a big of a philosophical nightmare for Cassandra. Whatever "normal" was, she probably hasn't experienced it in a long, long time. Even before waking up on this beach, and finding herself in a city of dreams and terrors. And cultists, evidently!

She had also taken to the beach for some sort of basic, primal need for space. She just needed... space. To think. To plan. To check herself over after one too many run-ins with the cultists currently plaguing the streets. Luckily, the blunt of their attacks had run into Cassandra's impenetrable armor, leaving behind nothing but scratches (and a few singed hairs from the lightning attacks).

In her own way, she too was zoning out. Nothing really to do on this beach besides focus on the power flowing through her. It's a connection she could always fall back on, at the very least.

Which means it's perfectly easy to spook her out of her own trance. If Haru is perceptive enough, she may spot Cassandra tense up as she turns to regard... the bunny person?]

Uh... [A quick glance to the rock, and she raises her hand. The rock reacts and sinks back into the earth, leaving little more than a hole in the sand.] No. That's me.

C

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul came down to the beach to look for someone. His brother Savage has been coming down here a lot, and while Maul hasn't asked why, he's fairly certain he knows why. Savage is waiting for Feral, their youngest brother, the one that Maul unfortunately never got the chance to meet. Maul has come down to see if Savage is once again pacing the beach, waiting for a familiar squid to come in with the tide.

But he's not here and so Maul instead sits down cross-legged on the sand to meditate. It's a relaxing setting with the sounds of the waves coming in and out over and over again, perfect to focus and let the Dark Side flow in and out through him. It's only when he senses another lifeform come near that he opens up his golden eyes, noticing Cassandra further down on the beach.

While he's never seen the blue-haired woman before personally, there's something about the sight of her that stirs something in Maul's mind. He's seen her before, not in one of his own memories, but that of Varian's. After knowing the teenager for almost two years, he's seen more than a few of his memories from Corona, plus just heard some descriptions from Varian himself.]

You have power.

[He notes, his horns, red-and-black skin, and fangs making him definitely stand out even among the myriad of residents in Trench. His voice, oddly enough, doesn't suit his looks at all. Velvety, low, and smooth with a soft tone, he sounds more like he should be a narrator of audiobooks or university lectures than being a Dark Lord of the Sith.]

sorry for the wait!

[feudalladyshandmaid]

[They stick out like sore thumbs among some of Trench's denizens. Different. Brighter. A hint of danger, not that Cassandra is aware of the myriad of things Maul has done in this lifetime in the name of the Sith. But the mere concept of an eternal battle between light and dark won't be lost on her when the time comes for it.

His voice most definitely doesn't match his appearance, and that fact ripples across Cassandra's face when she finally lays her eyes on him. After dealing with the murderous and mutilated cultists, she understood that she may find herself faced with any manner and shape of local. Some, she might recognize. Some, she didn't. Her surprise at Maul's... everything, however short it seems before Cassandra regains control of her face, is clear.]

I do. It's mine.

[She affirms, the slightest nod of her blue hair. The bright gemstone on her chest glimmers in the light, even as the light within it seems to fade.]

I worked hard to get it.