deercountry | CRY FOR JUDAS [January Catch-All

Entry tags:

CRY FOR JUDAS [January Catch-All | OPEN]

Who: Faith Lehane and you!
What: A slayer arrives in Trench, finds a hole to hide in and gets ready to start slaying again.
When: Early January
Where: Around

Content Warnings: Will be tagged as needed.

I. (where judas went to die)

[It's been a few days since Faith's arrival, and for the most part she's shut herself up in an abandoned house in Crenshaw and left it at that. It used to be that she arrives in a town and immediately tries to establish herself as the toughest kid in the playground, but she's changed. Or she'd like to think she has, anyway.

She mostly leaves the house to get food, and when she does she comes back with bags full because frankly? Prison food fucking sucks.

One night, however, she decides she's going stir crazy from being pent up like this, and even though she didn't leave by choice, getting out of prison's something you're supposed to celebrate, not sit indoors and sulk about. So she'll find... something. She wonders aimlessly through Crenshaw late at night, and ends up at the docks with a bottle of whiskey and a plate full of gingerbread cookies. If she sees you coming she'll give a nod, but her stance around the cookies is protective. The whiskey she'll share but these cookies are hers.]

They always keep this marketplace runnin'? Figured it'd be cleared out by now.

II. (getting equipped)

[It's been a week by this point, and she's done sitting around moping. She's a slayer, and yeah, maybe she's not a good one, maybe she's an evil heartless bitch who fucked everything up because she was rotten to the core but she's a SLAYER. And there's plenty of things that need slaying.

She heads for Prufrock, starting with the whole weapons thing. She needs something with range. A bow or a crossbow or even a rifle, though she kinda doubts this place has much in the way of firearms. Eventually, she gets kind of lost and overwhelmed, so she'll stop a stranger and ask. And that stranger... is you!] Yo, help a girl out, you know where I can find something a bit less medieval? Like, long ranged crossbows and rifles and shit?

[Or alternatively, maybe she's visiting the Gate, to get some healthy slaying practice in. She thinks these people are wimps for coming and watching the real warriors kick the shit out of chained up animals but hey, Diana told her that some level of training's required before she goes out guns blazing and starts hunting for real.

And... as always, she was more or less exactly correct, and it makes Faith feel like shit to even think about. Maybe you've been paired up with her in a team, or she's just come out from fighting, or you're both just taking a break in between fights but Faith gives you a smile and a totally chill nod from a very chill and cool girl.] You got much experience in this? Killin' monsters n' shit?

iii. (i need noise, need the crack of a whip)

[And now she finds herself at the club. It was only inevitable. She's on night... 8? 9? And she's dancing in a crowd of people, feeling the rush of being surrounded by other people's heat and the music's rhythm bouncing against her skin. She's wearing tight leather pants and a tight fitting crop top that shows off a generous amount of her cleavage because Faith's isn't shy and she thinks modesty's a scam for virgins.

She needs to feel everything and nothing at once, because it's the only way she can silence the rage in her head and stop thinking. She does need a break every now and again, and she drops down into a sofa close to the bar that you just happen to be sitting next to and she lets out a breathless laugh.]

This place is dope as fuck. [And then she'll sort of slump lazily and turn to whoever she's next to.] You look like you could use a drink, huh? Makes two of us.

iv. (winter's mourning)

[She was just wandering about, hands in her pockets, patrolling the area for any monsters that need killing when suddenly she's gotten too close to a ritual that she had no idea about.

In a memory that's not hers, she looks around, alarmed at the new scenery.] What the fuck? Where am I?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Oh hey, it's that girl. Luz. She didn't recognize her at first but she smiles in greeting.]

Look who's talkin', kid, I'd have thought you were a little young. I guess they don't really care about that stuff here.

[When Faith was Luz's age, she was absolutely sneaking into clubs, but she also wasn't drinking Shirley Temples. Faith looks at the bar.] How about we go check? Sure they have a coke or something even if they don't.

I am a little young. I like to live dangerously.

[Compared to the last month, this is so the least dangerous thing that's happened to her. You don't almost get made into Swiss cheese at a Farm so that you could go to some place and have some barkeep try to kick you out because she might have a drink.

Not that she would, of course. Luz still didn't get the whole deal of alcohol when it tasted so vile].

Aw, but I like how sweet and bright it tastes.

Then you're in good company. I'm told I'm wicked dangerous. [She grins. She likes her spirit.

She rises to her feet, cracking her neck and flexing her shoulders.] Well, in that case, I'd hate to disappoint. Let's just go ahead and ask, alright?

[Luz couldn't help but smile a little. It had been some time since she'd met someone who wasn't immediately pegging her as some kid just sort of playing at being an adult. Granted, that was a little of what was happening, but Luz was very aware of that, and simply wanted to be away from that distinction tonight.

After all, she was the "mom friend," and even those needed to cut loose].

Sure, ok. How've you been doing? This place treating you rough?

I'm used to rough. This place is better than where I came from, though, so it's got that goin' for it.

[She waves at the bartender.] Yo, double shot of scotch for me and a Shirley Temple for my friend here. Thanks. [The bartender goes about making the drinks and Faith turns back to Luz.]

What about you? Any juicy gossip?

You could say I'm used to it too.

[The Boiling Isles had been crazy, but not worse than Trench other than the tyrant. But compared to Deerington? She could at least not hate Trench].

[Luz gives the bartender an appreciative smile then turns back to Faith].

I mean, that depends. What do you want to know?

[She was actually talking about poverty and emotional abuse and not... monsters, because the latter was always fun more than anything to her. But like, she gets that she's the weird one here.]

Anything. I mean, it's not like I'd know enough to really know what to ask.

[Luz was lucky enough to not have had that happen to her, so she could only just relate to crazy].

Well then we'll probably want to start on what you DO know. You know about the fact that we all have a kind of blood magic, right?

Yep, I've got that much. Blood magic, a lot of you came from a town inside a little girl's dream, uhhh... there's these fuckin' weird demons who are ruling over this world that I think's already gone through an apocalypse?

[She tries to recall the stuff Willow told her. It feels like ages ago.]

I don't know if its accurate to call them demons. They're powerful, more akin to demi-gods, maybe. It's hard to think of them in those terms. Probably because it was the girl's mom who brought us here. I think she wanted to give us something better but...looks like this place has its own problems, specifically with blood and corruption.

[Which now Luz has seen very up close and personal and is trying to at least learn a little more].

I'm not super in it with the magical terminology, to be honest. Demons is just sort've the catch-all where I'm from.

[She's served the two drinks, and Faith hands Luz the Shirley Temple with a smile.]

You had any personal experience with the corruption shit?

I can understand why. Makes it a lot easier. It's just not technically accurate.

[Especially since Luz was in the Boiling Isles several months ago which is crawling with demons, and not all of them fearsome].

Ooh, nice! They even have me a little umbrella!

[At the question, Luz's face falls a little].

You could say that. Yeah, actually, it's pretty darn personal, considering the last few days.

[Not all the demons in her world are evil, either. Plenty of them are perfectly peaceful people with slightly macarbe practices. And then Luz speaks and Faith... vaguely recalls something on the network about that. Right... A friend of hers.]

Oh, well... you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, y'know.

No, it's probably good you should know.

Corruption is pretty much something that's mental and emotional, but it's also connected with blood. So you'd have to be dealing with some intense mind situations and there would have be a saturation of blood in the air. In my case, I was kidnapped and taken to what was a human farm to sacrifice organs and blood and stuff to one of the deities of this world by these fanatics who are really good with blood magic. Honestly, "human farm" sounds too manufactured though. Think of it more like a slaughterhouse.

So with that kind of backdrop along with all the blood? Stress and fear and anxiety? Corruption is definitely happening.

Jesus christ. [She furrows her brow. Wow, that's... something. Hmmm, yeah, Faith... kind of already has some idea of what a corrupted version of herself could look like but she's a bit distracted by Luz's own story...]

That's... a lot. I mean, I appreciate the warning, but uh... is that cult still around? That seems like something to be taken care of and fast.

[She's not even sure what she'd do, she's probably not supposed to kill people even if they are fucking terrible? But maybe if they're worshipping evil gods and kidnapping 14 year olds to sacrifice them, that's an exception?

There's probably no exceptions. She's going to get a bad grade in Slayering.]

It's not good. Honestly, it can be one of the most harrowing things you'll ever have to deal with, and I've only been here a few months.

[And personally, Luz understood she hadn't properly dealt with those mental images yet, not really. That was mostly because she didn't want a resurfacing of her corruption, but still].

I think they're only supposed to do that whole thing at a certain time of the year. If they did it all the time, I'm sure people would have banded together and hunted them down by now. Then again, this might be the first time Trench is dealing with so many sleepers.

What would you do, if they were still around? Do you think you'd be able to fight back?

[...It'd have some tough competition for her. She wonders if corruption's easier to handle when it's not just the choices you're making of your own free will.

Maybe Angel would know.] Not on my own probably... but I figure there's enough of us we could band together and drag them into the light, y'know?

I'm assuming they're not superpowered, right?

[Corruption just had a way of playing with your mind when you already were feeling pretty down. It just really made a bad mental and emotional situation even worse].

Oh, it would have to be quite a lot of us, really. And we'd have to be really good.

They're experienced with their blood alignment. The best way to fight them is having someone who's blood can put them at a disadvantage. You have to be REALLY fast too.

In fairness, losin' fights isn't really something I make a habit of doing. Or do at all.

[She smiles.]

A big raid could be an idea. I dunno what the general rule of thumb is regarding executions here but, I figure we could at least get them running scared.

[Well, that was just a cool thing to say with a smile like that. Luz got the feeling she meant every word, and wondered how intense fights with Faith got].

That's the thing. They don't...have a place where they gather together, as far as I know, other than the Farm, and they brought US there. Even getting out was pretty much a miracle. I had to call on the Moon Presence to do it before.

Trust me, if I knew way ambush them...

[She trailed off. Ok, that was. Not good. Not good at all she was even entertaining that idea. "Ambush them?" Hadn't she had enough of THAT]?

So... what? How would they be getting organized if they weren't meeting?

The farm's gotta be a location in and of itself, right?

Some of them have paleblood powers. They might be able to use telepathy.

[Maybe. Honestly, she preferred Faith's idea. Definitely less scary].

I think so, but getting out was the hard part.

I'm sure we can figure out some way to find it. Or at least to find one of the cultists and make him give us the location.

[Using what? Torture?

That's an uncomfortable memory for her.]

If we can't wipe 'em out, I figure we ought to be able to at least make them run scared. I dunno, it's just something to think about, I'm not really a planner.

We'd have to get the jump on them first, and then what if they didn't want to talk? we'd need a Paleblood who was at least stronger in the craft than them.

[Luz is not even entertaining the idea of torture, as she is a pure, sweet~~Disney~~ child]

For that, we might have to pinpoint where they are. That's kinda where things get tricky. There are several unexplored places in Trench where they might be, but those places are remote for a reason.

[She knew enough about Trench that there were things that were BIGGER than Deerington in scope, and she wasn't sure how willing she was to throw herself at them yet].

Well, I know a couple witches. [One witch. And Willow might not even agree.] I'm not suggesting you and I just go charge 'em wherever they are. But I figure we could probably ask around, see if anyone else is interested.

[She grimaces.]

That can wait though, I mean. You came here to relax, probably not the best place for a war meeting, y'know?

(no subject)

imaglyphwitch - 2022-01-25 14:35 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only