deercountry | the balance of complete and incomplete [open]

Entry tags:

the balance of complete and incomplete [open]

Who: Anna Amarande and you!
What: January event catchall
When: January
Where: The Snake Den and around Trench

Content Warnings: Eye trauma, blood, swearing, artful robot nudity, will add as they come in

a. i will trust the artist molding me [the snake den]

Anna doesn't really need much help right now cutting loose at the Snake Den. Madam G has been on her list of Pthumerians to check out for a while, and even if there had been some kind of reluctance to begin with, now that she's here mingling in a borrowed suit she feels downright comfortable. It's like she's ten years younger, and though her voice is still smoky and she's still missing an eye as far as physical age goes, socially she's just. Free, right now. It's nice.

It's nice enough that, when she's not striking up conversation with other people, she decides to indulge herself in the open mic. Borrowing an electric bass from backstage, she walks up, sits down, plugs in, and grabs the mic. "This is one from back home," she says, "By a band called Silversun Pickups. It's about finding freedom and acceptance and love in the places and with the people that everyone else tells you to stay away from. They'll say that the only way to be who you are is to file yourself off. That you need to hold yourself back to make other people comfortable without ever worrying if you're comfortable." She's talking very passionately for someone who doesn't think of herself as a motivational speaker. With a confident look, she finally leads into the song. "Let's bury that lie, Trench. This is called 'The Pit'."

And she starts playing, and she starts singing. And when she doesn't need to be playing and her hands are free, even she's not really sure how she does it, but she finds a way to channel her androidinous self to modify her own voice—just for a little bit, just to test it out. Just to see what happens, before she snaps back into the final lines of the song. And regardless of how it's received, once she's done, she puts the bass down and gently thanks the crowd. Her heart-simulacrum is pulsing faster than it should be as she gets off the stage, and she waits there in the wings in case she happened to inspire anyone with that performance.

b. the echo of what is and what will be [the shedding ceremony]

This is... not a good month for Anna outside of that, so far. For her time at the Snake Den, yes, she's still resonating with A2, and she's still who she thinks she is. But it never really takes long for her to start shedding her own skin again, and damn her brain but she can't stop fucking picking at it long enough to avoid the transformation.

The first time it happens, Anna emerges in a pure white dress that she's wasting no time in staining red. Her hair is longer, cleaner, and in lieu of a katana she's brandishing a blood-red shortsword in her battles with these beasts at the edge of the city. Taking zero precautions against pollution or corruption, she swings her blade right at the neck and lets the blood spray wash over her. When it stops, she hunches forward and shrieks out a strangely melodic note while the beast falls over dead. Her back straightens, and it's clear even from whatever distance anyone may be watching at that she's no longer entirely who people might know. The flower blossoming from her right eye is a good early warning sign, but you'd better act fast, because her good eye is a blazing red and she's rushing towards her spectator with that bloodblade at the ready.

The second time is much less interesting by comparison, but it's not doing her much good. Because the second time, she's just... a normal 29 year old. Both her eyes are fine, she's fully organic, and she doesn't know how to use a sword. In fact, she's taking her time and walking slowly through the streets of a town that she's starting to get to know better, wondering what her life even is anymore. Her Omni helps her keep connected with back home, sure, but nobody can get in touch with her no matter how hard she tries. And she woke up, for lack of a better word, with this katana that she's got on her back, and the first friendly-looking person she sees, she just asks outright, "Hey, uh. You have any idea why I would have a sword if I don't remember ever actually owning a sword?"

c. i am creation both haunted and holy [wildcard]

((got anything else you want to do? hit me up here or at

roseward!! also: source for the suit image and lyrics for the cover.))

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Ok, that was. Oh holy fuck that was a thing. Neopolitan didn't have time to react at first. One of her two clones was in too close when it happened. The cross strike slammed into them, and there was a shattering, disintegration of glass right afterwards, just before she resolved into the one who was further away.

Nope, this was a oh shit moment officially and she had Anna's attention completely didn't she? Well, fine, she was going to start booking it, dancing between the trees. There was a very good chance that she'd be pursued, so maybe she could get her some distance away, heading towards the farms. Any monsters they saw... well, she almost felt sorry for them. Why? Because she was definitely taking the 'as long as I'm faster than the next guy' approach as she started to head towards the lake.

This was going to be one hell of a run but it'd get Anna away from trouble if it worked.

It's far more of a thing than even Anna was really prepared for—were she in her right mind, she wouldn't know whether this was an echo's doing or the beasthood or something else entirely. But she wasn't, and from the looks of things she might not be back in her right mind for some time. Like a feather in a whirlwind, she whipped herself towards the thing that had stolen the chance for blood from her and dashed forward so quickly she might not even have been touching the ground.

The girl was fast, yes. And she was fortunate to be leading the rogue intoner, the sixth or seventh or however many there truly were, down a path that included some of the other beasts of this town. Being faster than the next slowest prey seemed to be working, as the flower seized hold of Anna's body and controlled her into slicing up a maddened beast that she normally would have handled with far more care. The wounds uncauterized, she let herself all but bathe in its blood.

Yet still the flower yearned for more. With the beast down and the prey she'd been chasing still within scent's range, she lifted her head and began her menacing chase anew, towards the lake.

Neo stayed just at the edge of eyesight when she saw Anna attack a beast, just in range where she'd still be able to find her easily and start the chase again. It gave her time, each time the beast that was her friend attacked a monster, to catch her breath. Her aura could replenish, just a little bit, and then she could take off again. It was a constant game of cat and mouse, and a very dangerous one at that, because she was hoping that those monsters were going to wear the intoner just a little bit. This was the only way to really tell her stamina after all.

But by the look of things she wasn't slowing or flagging and that was a serious problem. Neo was frowning visibly as she panted, the lake starting to come into view. She couldn't keep this up could she? There just weren't many beasts venturing out this month, and that was a concern. Between the two of them this area'd be clear for a while. Unless...

Was there something down there by the lake? She squinted, not quite sure and trying to pick up speed. Her lungs were starting to scream, so she was really hoping she'd seen something useful by the lake shore.

Yes. The scent of prey in the air, the beat of its heart, the racing of its blood. She wanted it, needed it. This was a true hunt, the sort of hunt that lowly humans prepared their whole lives to avoid. The savage Intoner kept her chase until the surface of the lake came into clear view, its shimmering waves reflecting the pale yellow light of the moon.

Another beast lay there, too, one she only recognized in the thing that had become her subconscious. It wasn't something that she could fight, at least from the unimaginable power differential between the two of them that she could simply sense by being somewhere nearby it, but the prey was getting closer to it all the same. Her eye narrowed; the flower quaked. And pouring every last bit of energy she could into her legs, drawing on the blood spilled from her rampage and as much ambient blood within the air as she could channel, she pushed ever forward, ever closer.

If only she'd been able to keep up that speed with her claws, she might have caught her prey here. But something—her forebrain had not told her what, but something was slowing her attacks.

Fuck, she saw it too. The Moon Presence was there, resting on the ground. She didn't really like Cynthia that much and she definitely didn't want her to lunge in and attack her friend, but she had to be the only thing that could calm her down. Whatever was going on, way above her paygrade.

But, she heard footsteps behind her, and as she did, Neo breathed in a hiss, darting behind a tree in her run. Two neopolitans split off, both headed towards the lake but putting distance between herself. She couldn't do this another time, and keeping it u p when she was this tired wasn't easy, but she'd get there.

As she raced in, she was waving her hands frantically, causing the great creature to look up and eye the ... three, no, two of them for a second. Neo frantically tried to sign, given that any other form of communication was hard, but thankfully Cynthia was the sort able to read thoughts, wasn't she?

'You have to help her, please!'

More tricks. More tricks that her prey was too weak to pull off. She could hear its heart racing now, sense its terror like it was already on her tongue, under her nails, inside her mouth. These tricks, these illusions wouldn't last long; she would refuse to be fooled by them.

But out of nowhere, with no warning or indication or anything in the slightest, the flower's petals wilted. Only for a moment, but enough to stop the vessel that was Anna, to make her footsteps stumble, to send her careening chin-first to the ground. At this speed she dragged up some dirt with her, and as she scrabbled back to her feet she was forced to spit out a mouthful of soil and blood. Her teeth and claws practically sharpened themselves as she delivered another scream, but just as soon as it escaped her throat, the unseen force of another blow collided with her body, her throat, and stopped the sound.

She swayed where she stood, her vision doubling, the flower quivering in her socket. "Neo," she cooed, her voice sickeningly sweet. At least this was an improvement from the frenzied screams, but she still didn't seem to be stopping entirely. Her steps became slower, deliberate. "Come to me, Neo. I'm so lonely, Neo. Hold me, Neo."

Oh... fuck her. On the one hand, a little part of her wanted to do just what Anna was asking. Come on over, give her a hug. Maybe that would help cure her? On the other, there were more warning calls than any. Even as she could feel the Moon Presence stirring, languidly looking at the two of them, watching as the unseen blow seemed to have an effect.

This felt like a really bad situation. Something wasn't right, and she took a step back, glancing from one to the other. Rather than coming over, she beckoned. This close to the Moon Presence was helping, right? Maybe if she got a little closer... Neo wasn't sure, but hopefully that flower would fall out or whatever it took.

They could fix that, right?

The flower had planted its roots deep and thick. It had no intention of going anywhere, not while its petals still grew bright and wet and heavy with blood. But its hold over its host seemed to be weakening, or perhaps it was simply trying a different tack, but the white of Anna's eye grew ever redder as she staggered forward, following Neo closer to the presence that she could not identify.

Another wave of mental energy broke out and washed over her body as she spoke in an even more deeply honeyed voice. "You're adorable, Neo. So small, so fierce, Neo. You fit in my—nngh, arms, Neo," she continued, her footsteps getting jerky, slower, until she stood all but stock still again with her body swaying back and forth almost imperceptibly. Like a flower searching for sunlight, or a weed begging for water.

"Neo..." The word came out dry. On the cusp of exhaustion. But the flower had one last trick to incense its next bit of fertilizer. "I can show you Emerald, Neo..."

Oh man, the moment that she said that, Neo knew there was still something up. She took another step back, a hand resting on the Moon Presence's body while it watched almost idly. The situation wasn't resolved, but it was ... under control. Neopolitan knew that deep down, but the offer it was a cruel thing, manipulative in nature, and...

If you were in your right mind, you wouldn't say that.
You can't send me home to her, and back home she's not 'my' Emerald.
Whatever is in you, you need help, not a hug.

Fuck, what she wouldn't give for a vial of squid ink right now. That would really help, but it didn't work that way here. She swallowed and pointed to the ground.

Sit. Rest.
I'm not leaving.

She also wasn't getting closer, but that was beside the point...

As the words amelodically washed over her ears, Anna began laughing, low and slow like it was the last thing she could think to do. She couldn't move anymore; the flower had been rooted beyond its own will, and that was more than enough to make the girl underneath ecstatic. Its influence was fading, or maybe it was just going dormant for the moment; either way, she'd stopped glowing and being able to move entirely. Almost on command, she sank to her knees as a wave of psychic energy gently pummeled her.

The laughter subsided after a moment, and the petals of the flower curled up as though they were drying out. Like the spellsong had finally fallen off of her, or something like that. She sat with her eye pointed towards the all-loving moon and her legs tucked underneath her, and with an open mouth, she drawled out the words "thank you". Her body shook with one last miserable laugh.

She just sighed and finally flopped onto her ass, looking utterly exhausted. She'd been running for a while to get Anna away from town, after all, and she was scary powerful like this. Neo managed a weak smile over at her, giving her a once over and finally holding her omni out again, this time displaying the words instead of relying on the text to talk.

Welcome back, Anna.
You are seriously a little too pretty for either of our good right now.

Look, she was just going to admit it and get that out there.

"Flirt with me later," she said, her voice slowly dying as her torso slumped. She just... she felt exhausted all of a sudden, like she'd been in a constant bloodrage that her body was forcing her to ignore so she could keep the anger flowing. It was draining. Tiring. It was... exactly what had happened, wasn't it?

She smiled weakly, like she didn't really understand what was happening around her or how she'd gotten to the lakeside in the first place. The flower's influence over her body, for the moment, had totally ceased, and she was just a human with an alien blossoming within her. It was totally fine.

Her body shook as the tension worked its way out of her. "Go home," she cautioned her friend. "Stay away for now. Okay, Neo? Not forever. For now."

She breathed out and looked over at the Moon Presence, which put a tendril up to wrap around her waist gently, settling her down a little ways away. She looked with worry over at her friend, folding her arms, not quite sure if she should go and finally nodding.

Ok, I understand.
I'll give you a call in a week or so.
Just stay safe, Anna.

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the balance of complete and incomplete [open]

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