here it goes [september open/catchall]

[siriusly]

Who: Manabu Yuuki + Soldier Blue + OTA
What: Gen + event open prompts for the month for both of my characters! Tag one, tag many, go apeshit. will match format
When: September
Where: Various
Permissions: Psychic power permissions/opt-out

Content Warnings: September event warnings + eye trauma + memory loss/manipulation + monsters & the gore they can make
there are drawn images of torture/monsters/blood embedded

---

1. house hunt
manabu yuuki @ housing in crenshaw


"...Hello?"

Manabu stops just shy of the next, creaky step in the large and (seemingly) empty building he's entered in. Things don't fall entirely silent until the little dog's tippy-taps click to a stop at the foot of the stairs, punctuated by an impatient snuffle.

Just find an empty space and make it your own, they said...jeez, really? That seems so...invasive. Because it is. But what is he supposed to do? Build a place himself? Fat chance. And no one seemed keen on trading menial work for rent, either - that uncomfortable separation of Sleepers and Wakers being the basis to dote upon him. He doesn't deserve that. Maybe others who suffered or struggled more do, but he sure doesn't.

The dog yips, its voice carrying through the open foyer and, perhaps, to spaces beyond, giving Manabu a little bristle. He glares over his shoulder and shushes.

"If you're gonna follow around, you're gonna be quiet, okay?!"

A moody little whine follows, and the dog sits. Manabu rolls his eye and looks back up, sighing and starting to climb up. Maybe nobody else really is here...

---

2. the dog
manabu yuuki @ the rainy streets of trench

[whether he knows it or not, this spunky little dog is a part of him. Manabu's a bit slow on the uptake when it comes to things of the heart, so the efforts they take to convey that to him are slow to take...yet still the little scrapper persists, because persisting is what Manabu himself does.

the dog is galloping through the rainy streets, sniffing around with a clear, anxious frustration, growling and yapping at passers-by that don't seem to be what they want.

eventually, they find a Sleeper. perhaps an old friend, perhaps a stranger who seems to have some shades of apparent compassion.

either way, the barking will persist, to the point of hopping and nipping at clothes for attention, trying to encourage the Sleeper and its omen to follow them.

come on! hurry up!]

---

3. event: bloodsport
manabu yuuki @ open lots within trench, near the canals

It can't be possible, but it feels as though Manabu's blood is both boiling and freezing at the same time. Sleeping doesn't help, moving doesn't help, sitting, standing, breathing...

What the hell is going on?


Cold fire flickers, sparking here and there with some residual electricity. It races off his body and snakes off into the saber he holds out as though it were drawn to it like a lightning rod. This should hurt...way more than it does. No more than an itch, an ache...

But the longer he stands still, the more it hurts. Manabu winces, doubling over for a minute before getting his stable footing back. He swallows down fresh panic, swiveling his head around so his good eye can survey, growing in desperation and doubt.

What does he do? What is he supposed to do?!

Get help, obviously. Somewhere. The thought is in his mind even as the confusion begins to overwhelm him; he yelps in alarm as another tongue of flame laps up across his shoulders and arms. Something catches his attention just over the bridge of his nose, and in fear and impulse, he swings that sparking saber with a yell.

---

4. event: river of regret
manabu yuuki @ a canoe on a strange river

D'AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH-!

[down he goes, dropped by the menacing murder that swept him up in the first place. Manabu's a small guy, so at least he's not at risk to toppling the canoe he plops into, but it's graceless, and he may wind up landing on whomever was there before.]

A...aowh...what the hell...?!

---

5. event: growing pains
soldier blue @ misc. planting grounds in trench

The rain has eased back into a steady, but gentle drizzle. The streets are still slick, but the wind has died down, making walking easier to manage. And while Blue no longer walks alone, he must do so slowly, carefully, putting distance between himself and the many, many open minds that surround him.

There's some reprieve here, especially with most citizens inside to avoid catching sick from the rain. A faint, pale blue aura keeps Blue dry and safe from that sort of fear - one more reason he has to take his time. The lion ambles just as slowly, letting him keep a hand on him for balance, emanating a steady sense of safety and assurance that Blue would find in himself were he to search.

Right now, though, his attention is outside of himself: The spark of a Sleeper - that familiar echo of their shared beginnings here - lights up in the gloom, and Blue is drawn to an open gardening space where someone seems to either be puzzling over what to do or...why.

Blue slows to a stop at a safe distance to observe - as much to avoid startling them as it is to perhaps avoid an unexpected attack - but it's hard to ignore someone faintly glowing in the rain for long.

---

6. strain
soldier blue @ rainy streets of lumenwood

Hh...nh...

[without much warning, Blue drops, just barely able to catch himself by his hands, sparing his head a nasty impact. but it's all he can do to keep up, his stamina waned.

he can't...keep moving. he heeded the advice - pointed to this district for healing - but he can't get there. between his natural frailty and the almost ceaseless torment of the moon-addled minds of the coldbloods, Blue's reaching a limit for his own faculties.

the lion, aware, circles him and snuffs, nudging at him and searching for a chance to try and heft his body up over him somehow. it's kind of hard to do without the proper limbs...and before they can, the lion's ears flick to the sound of someone approaching. it turns to step in front of Blue, letting out a warning rumble, daring whomever it is to approach with ill intent.]

---

7. event: river of regret
soldier blue @ a canoe on a strange river

In a blustering flurry of feathers, beaks, and talons, Blue's form appears - breathless and ruffled, but otherwise unharmed. He quivers, despite the heavy layers he wears, and stares at his shaking hands.

He's very quickly aware he's not alone, and even while the feathers flutter free of his hands, his red eyes flicker up to the other person in the boat - silent, but concerned and questioning.

What...is happening?

The thought leaves him unchecked.

---

8. frenzy
soldier blue @ a monster attack in trench

[a bright bullet of light precedes the sound of impact and a garbled, monstrous roar. moldy wood cracks and splinters under repeated swipes of tremendous force, and a mangled, starved beast grows more frenzied in its attempts to clear obstacles to get to the source of the glowing, fading light.

for the empathetically insightful, terror bleeds through the near area without recourse. terror and fury from two sources tied to a similar thread, for while Blue struggles to get some distance within the cellar for himself from harm's way, the lion is recovering from being shaken off and lunging onto the beast's.

it's not going great, though, because there's more than one of these mad creatures in the yard.]

Comments

3

[royalfling]

Wu and Fritter are on the hunt for supplies. Paint and fabric, mostly, maybe some lamps, some things to help spruce up the Raccoon Room and his and Mako's loft above it. It's a beautiful space, but clearly hasn't been taken care of in a long time, maybe even years.

"I think a nice emerald-- do you think the green is too much?" He is in fact talking to Fritter, who's perched on his shoulder, and chitters back at him, like they're having a conversation. Wu can't understand her words, but she can understand him, and he can get a sense of her sentiment: she likes the green. All in on the green.

Or, maybe that's just wishful thinking. She is still a raccoon, after all.

Fritter stops chittering after he has that thought and levels him with a glare.

"Hey! Okay. Good! Good, you agree with me. Sorry for doubting you, princess," he reaches up to pet behind her ears when he sees a flash of fire, which immediately sends worry down his spine. So many people have been using their new powers wrong, haven't been able to control them, and on top of that, Mako's been so antsy, so anxious, that his bending is sort of out of whack too.

But that person looks familiar. He looks familiar enough that Wu comes up to him, intent to say hi when a flaming sword swipe at him and almost hits him except that he leap backwards hard enough that he tumbles to the ground.

"Whoa! Manabu, it's me!"

[siriusly]

It's a wild swing, but he's a short guy doing the swinging, so had Wu not hopped out of range, he'd have gotten whacked right across the face. The remains of that mix of fire and electricity snaps off of the saber, crackling and dissolving after clearing some yards with nothing to fuel it.

Adrenaline is coursing through him now, and being wired like that seems to help with the pain - but not the panic.

"Ss-stay back!" he yells, the saber still held out and steaming from the discharge. "You're gonna get hurt, y--!"

Huh?!

"Wu-?!"

[royalfling]

The fire and sparks are certainly scary, but Wu's more concerned about Manabu. He looks up at him, and after a moment he pushes himself up and brushes off his hands. Fritter chitters unhappily from the ground.

"Are you okay? That, that looks pretty out of control."

7

[vibing]

Yuri caught the feather in his hand, having snatched it out of the air, which maybe wasn't his best move because the next thing he knows, he's in a boat. He's in a boat with a person, and not Repede, who had been at his side. He's not sure where Smokey is either, but when he looks at the other person at least he remembers him-- the kid from the beach. Blue.

The thought enters his head and he's sure it's him, but that doesn't stop his brows from raising. Yuri shakes his head, finally lowering his hand, the feather still clutched between his fingers.

"I have no idea, man. My best guess is more magic stuff."

He waves the feather before letting it go. At least wherever they are, it's pretty nice. The sun is shining, the water is still, even though they seem to be moving.

"Guess weird stuff just keeps happening here."

[firstroar]

Likewise, Blue needs a moment to recapture a bit of familiarity of this person. It doesn't take long - Yuri left quite an impression, and it's only been so many days. The Mu had wondered if he'd gotten along alright...before realizing it may have been silly to wonder at all, given the strength of will he'd sensed within.

Still. It's always in him to worry and wonder on those around him, the ones he makes connections big and small to.

Blue makes a faint sound of regard, but it takes a moment before Yuri's words really sink in and give him reason to frown.

"'More'?" he echoes. "What else...has happened to you since?"

[vibing]

"Oh, you know," Yuri holds up a hand and while he was going for fire, ice crystalizes around his fingers tips. He glares at this hand, then shakes off the ice, the shards hitting the otherwise calm water. "Jeez. Not good at it yet."

His eyes skip away, out at the water, at the statues they're coming up upon. "No clue what this is about, though. Think there's any chance we're just on a nice boat tour? Super romantic."

6

[thinkfirst]

[ Patrolling, at least, seems to take the edge off of this incessant need to be doing something. It has always made Flynn feel better to be useful, to be moving, to be working somehow—his on-off switch, as Yuri once observed, is permanently stuck at on. Flynn cannot just stop.

And it is a knight's duty to protect the people. No matter that these are not his people (they are now, a small voice says), and that technically here his status means nothing at all, nor his oath. The knights are not a functional body, and so Flynn has no duty to fulfill except to himself and to Yuri and to society.

Patrolling, keeping watch, clears his mind and gives him a chance to think like few other things to, and so Flynn guards these moments and pushes himself out into the rain in full armor, ignoring the way the damp creeps between the cracks. Daisy snuffles uneasily at his side as they round a corner. This district is not Flynn's favorite: even in the rain the scent of blood seems to hang heavy in the air, stifled only by the sick-sweet smell of flowers. It's a combination that reminds him inevitably of funerals.

He is thinking of funerals when the growl reaches his ears.

Flynn stops, holding out a hand to Daisy, who nickers softly at him, something like a warning—

and then all sense of warning disappears as he sees the familiar limp form at the feet of this beast. ]

No—

[ Already drawing his sword, Flynn steps forward, recognizing both Blue and he needs help in the same second. The lion doesn't look like any of the beasts he's fought so far, but that doesn't mean it isn't a threat.

Something tells him, though, that it is not, and so after a moment Flynn relaxes, wary, and meets its eyes. ]

He needs help. Please, let me.

[firstroar]

[the rumbling from the lion's throat does not cease - certainly not when steel has been drawn. again and again, humans have raised weapons to hurt Blue and his like, and the creature intrinsically knows this. they know, too, that the rules here are different...but being so much of Blue frames what they perceive. it's the physical outlet for strength Blue can never have himself, and they will punish anyone who seeks to overpower him.

the vibrations of hostility only makes the pulse of concern from Flynn all the more apparent, and Blue manages to lift his head enough to see - try to see. his vision is blurry, but his mind's eye is still keen.]

From...the shore...

Flynn...?

[the lion does not blink, still focusing on what could be a threat, while some recognition starts to seep in from Blue.

daring, testing the truth and mettle of this person, it decides to let out a more threatening rumble, flashing teeth. after all, Blue's been deceived by falsehoods before.]

[thinkfirst]

[ Daisy is very sure this is not a monster, approaching more placidly than Flynn, and that is the only thing that keeps Flynn from charging forward to defend his friend. There are monsters like this at home, leonine and powerful, and he would not want Blue to fall prey to one here.

But Daisy knows this place better than he, and he trusts her.

Carefully, his own heart pounding in his ears (this could be the wrong choice, and he may regret it—) Flynn presses his sword back into its sheath and stands, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. ]

Please. I only wish to help, and if you don't allow me to approach I'll only find another way. I've been told it's a character flaw of mine.

3

[monoceroscaeli]

The arc of Manabu's saber is met with a clash from Childe's own blade. Flames fight against the blade of pure Hydro, in the hands of a man with bloodthirst in his eyes. He won't let whatever is happening get the better of him, though it is tempting to duke it out with Manabu right here. But his logic stays with him. This isn't normal and though he knows his friend here is brave and can take care of himself in a fight, it doesn't mean that jumping in right away is the smart decision right now.

He'd been out and about looking for somewhere to satiate his own cravings for battle, when he saw Manabu standing there with something that resembled elemental energy lighting up the edges of his body. Naturally, he had to investigate- and now he stands with blades crossed.

"You know, swinging blindly at your opponent isn't a strategy I'd suggest. Neither is being surprised that easily."

He'll lower his blade, dismissing it with a wave of his hand.

[siriusly]

Manabu didn't expect to hit anything, let alone hear the clang of metal...or a voice. His heart leaps into his throat, still wired by the anxious blood. Adrenaline joins the mix with a wave of alarm so abrupt that he can't even process who it is speaking.

The saber remains in place, save for the quivering of his arm. He's not a swordsman by any stretch - his form is barely form at all. This is blind lashing about and it's clear.

...Half-blind, if we're being technical.

"Who--" Just as he blurts, the red hair registers. The lanky form. "Ch-childe...?!"

[monoceroscaeli]

"The one and only," he replies, his burning for a battle seeming to calm down a little just from crossing blades just now with Manabu. Further composing himself, he quickly addresses what he'd just witnessed.

"Are you alright? When I spotted you, you had what looked like elemental energy buzzing about you. That fire on your blade certainly confirms it."

2

[onerthes]

"Well hello there, little hound. Are you one of Doug's?" Vira-Lorr said, leaning forward when the dog started yapping at her. She had an umbrella out and was perfectly happy to follow a dog anywhere in this town. It was probably a testimony to how much she'd come to trust the breed and Doug that she barely thought about dogs as potentially dangerous anymore.

So, she was now following a hound, her own Absol trailing docilely along with her, padding as it did in the faint rain, unconcerned and unperturbed. It felt no true disasters coming, after all.

[siriusly]

The noisy, demanding dog trots ahead, stopping at a corner to wait for her and the Absol before speeding down the street and into a vacant house's yard. There's a rotten, smoldering smell emanating from here - one that the drizzly weather has yet to fully drown out.

Manabu's sitting on the stoop of the house, drenched and charred and looking a mess. By now, he's gotten used to the dog making a racket and has given up trying to get them to shut up, so he barely lifts his head when he hears that it's back.

What the hell. It never seems to stop or leave him alone! He's got no food...he's got problems here, dammit!

[onerthes]

"Manabu. Are you quite alright?" Vira-Lorr said as she drew into sight of him. She wasn't in a terrible hurry, at least right up until this moment. As soon as she saw him, he looked more than a little bit in distress. She trotted over and looked at him. "Are you injured? I can see that you get help if you are." Because the most she could do was physically bind a wound, which she was about to if he was at all more than singed.

2

[droptheious]

[Varian's had an easier time with his Omen. Ruddiger was his companion back home, after all, and he could already communicate with him just fine- something he understood was...more uniquely a Corona thing than an anywhere else thing. The rest of it, all the magic, that was definitely unsettling, but given all the other unsettling parts of this new world, he'd let it slip into the background.

The dog isn't what he's expecting, and Ruddiger chitters at them from the safety of Varian's shoulders. Varian crouches a little to look at the dog, canting his head a little.]

Hey Buddy, are you okay?

[The dog barks and nips and starts trying to lead him away and while it's not quite the same as understanding what animals want back home, he can read it loud and clear. He gets up, starting to follow the dog through the rainy streets.]

Okay, but please don't be leading me to like...murderers or anything. I don't need that this month.

[siriusly]

[the dog, understanding that doubtful request, snuffs and makes a whiny sound in reply. as if they're doing that! they're a good boy!

once Varian's for sure following along, the dog starts back the way they came, claws clicking on the cobblestones, moving with urgency and purpose...and looking damn adorable doing so.

shame they're not leading Varian to something cute. it's not murder, but it's not great, either: they lead the way to a busted-up old house, hopping over a missing step and going inside, giving a loud bark that echoes off the interior.

they turn and look back to Varian, then down at a gaping, splintered hole in the wooden floor, letting out a vexed whine.]

[droptheious]

[Varian unquestioningly follows the dog. No one would think twice about something like this back home. Animals were just as smart as people most of the time, sometimes smarter- and he knows the omens here are very much likewise. So he follows, not doubting for a second he'd be led somewhere other than where he was needed.

The house isn't what he expected- it's definitely seen better days, but the dog charges up with such purpose, it's definitely where he's being led. He hesitates at the steps, just in case there are murders in there, before heaving out a sigh and heading inside.]

Okay, hole in the floor. [He edges a little closer, peering into it, raising his voice a little.] Hello? Someone down there?

1 House Hunt

[spiritwalks]

As he makes his way through the dark, Manabu might be able to discern a soft purple light emitting from the chest of a lanky, shirtless man...who is hanging upside down. From an ornate chandelier. Legs wrapped around the light fixture.

Wavy grey hair hangs from his head like a curtain. His arms are folded over his chest. And aside from a slow, gentle sway of the chains holding the chandelier in place, the figure is perfectly still.

Until Vyng's eyes suddenly open. And he gives a cheery: "Hello!"

[siriusly]

"GYAUGH-!!"

It's not the greeting that gets him, but the discovery of a body upside down and glowing. Now, Manabu's never done any haunted house things before, but based on this? He's not a fan.

Jolting back causes him to hook the heel of his boot on an edge of carpet, which in turn shifts and scoots underfoot...which in turn sends him toppling down a decent length of stairs while the dog goes apeshit downstairs. There are several "ow"s and "augh"s along the way.

[spiritwalks]

Uh-oh. That's not good. Without a second thought, Vyng tightens his legs around the chandelier and stretches out a hand toward the staircase.

Whoosh!

A gust of air pushes up against Manabu, in an attempt to cushion and slow down his surprise descent.

6

[clawandscars]

[What sounds like footsteps approaches. Tsume stops a few feet away from the lion, looking at him warily.]

I'm here to help.

[Blue had done him a good turn before and so he's here to return the favor. Tsume kneels down by the man, and to an outsider, it looks like he's nudging him gently with his hand. In reality, Tsume is nudging him with his muzzle, trying to get him to rise up under his own power.]

Come on. Don't fall apart on me now.

[firstroar]

[the lion's lips curl in warning for only as long as it takes Blue to recognize the impression of someone familiar. someone who doesn't mean to do him harm. that comes with the contact against Blue's shoulder at arm, sending that signal through him, stirring him out of the daze that strain's left him in.]

Who...?

[the image of a stranger's face, blended with the wolf...Blue grimaces, shifting in response to the nudge to sit up a bit, leaning on the lion's side.]

2

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul and his Omen, a Maalraas named Venge, both stare at the little dog with bemused expressions on their face. Venge turns to look at Maul, communicating telepathically with him. 'Shall I eat it up like the morsel it is?' While they're generally the kinder of the pair, they have a vicious streak too.

Maul thinks for a moment as the creature continues to yap at him, apparently trying to get his attention and make him follow them wherever they're trying to lead him to.]

Hmmmm, no. I'm intrigued. Let's see what it wants first.

[He finally turns to follow the little dog, Venge trotting alongside him, still looking at the beast like they're considering eating him up.]

[siriusly]

[the yappy, scrappy dog stands still and alert for a beat, waiting for a decision to be made. when the pair start to approach, he yips and bounds around the corner, beginning to strike a stop-and-go path several yards ahead of them where he bounds ahead a distance and stops to look around expectantly. this goes on for a couple blocks of the darkened streets of Trench at night until other sounds start filling the air besides little dog-yips.

gnashing, slavering jaws crunching on splintered, rotted wood. grunts and tugs. scrapes of claws.

it's one of those beasts - a haggard, vile creature clawing and bullying at a broken-down structure. something thin and metallic slips through some of the cracks and fires a burst of narrow, crackling heat that...doesn't hit anything except the ground not far from the dog.

not a lot of room to aim in there, apparently.

the dog, the fur on its shoulders raised, its ears up and alert, shoots Maul and his omen another look and a lower bark. the scene paints itself, right! we need a hand!]