it was the silence underneath the stars

[democratically]

Who: Padmé + various
What: Catch-all event + various prompts
When: March
Where: Various locations
Content Warnings: Will update as needed.

PROMPT 1: JUNGLE LEVEL : OPEN

PROMPT 2: CATACOMBS LEVEL : OPEN

PROMPT 3: BLOOD DETOX : OPEN

Comments

PROMPT 1: JUNGLE LEVEL : CLOSED ( Ariadne and Sabé)

[democratically]

[It had been dismissed in the beginning, as other things here had been, like the lingering pain that remains within her body when others touch her. Yet the drumming had not departed. If anything, it had grown stronger and stronger... Until she had found it. Padmé had not been familiar with anything by the name. Even just looking at it had caused her heart to quicken. Something... Something about it had called to her.

The residence is sparsely furnished, a work in progress, and the game had stood out like a sore thumb. She had passed by it a few times, the temptation growing each time, until she had fallen for it's spell. It is a game, after all, and what harm could come from a game? The prick had barely been registered upon the tip of her finger when she had touched the piece, rolling the dice and moving.

She kicks herself now for that as she kneels upon the ground. An unfamiliar place, not at all where she had been moments before, and Padmé finds herself surrounded by jungle. She seeks to still her breathing, to listen, to try to figure out where it is that she has found herself now. The whisper of wind through leaves and the squawks of birds reach her and she slowly rises, glancing side to side. Where...? Yet it is the snap of something that darts her eyes to the side, and Padmé bends, finding a piece of wood, waiting as her heart pounds within her chest.]

[decoyqueen]

Sabé didn't even really care for games, but the pull had been too strong... In hindsight, she should have questioned more where the game had come from. She certainly hadn't brought it home, and if Padmé had she's sure she would have said something. Regardless, she was here now and she'd have to figure out a way back.

She was grateful that she still wore her blaster on her at all times, especially now that she found herself in an unfamiliar jungle when she'd been in the Trench just minutes before. She'd been through a lot back home, but never anything like this. It's eerily quiet and she can't tell if that's a good or bad thing at this point. All she does know is that she shouldn't stay in one place.

Sabé isn't really sure how long she's been wandering the dense jungle, and while she's been as quiet as possible, that means nothing to the foliage under her feet. She saw the person ahead before she could make out if it was someone she knew- the mushrooms that kept clouding her vision for the past few days made it more difficult than she'd care to admit. It really isn't until she's closer and the twig snaps under her boot that recognition dawns on her.

"Padmé?"

Or Airy- though the movement seemed familiar enough that she was almost certain it was the former.

[demonicbeauty]

Trench wasn't exactly the land of wish granting, but Ariadne couldn't help but wonder if maybe her homesickness had gotten a little too loud somehow. Finding herself in a jungle that so reminded her of Deleo was dizzying. It helped to remind herself that it didn't smell like Deleo. And that Deerington had occasionally whooshed her off to some alien place, only to bring her back after some kind of...to be optimistic...adventure.

The grant hotel. The hospital. The wonderful beach. She was just going to have to treat the jungle as such, until she knew better.

But just because it was a fake jungle didn't mean the laws of physics didn't apply. Probably. At any rate, it didn't take her long to scramble up the nearest tree. Just like when she was ten years old.

There were Human scents, not too far away. Familiar ones. So she leaped into the next tree. And then the next tree, following her nose, until she heard what could only be Sabé's voice below. Taking care to rustle the leaves as much as possible, so her presence wouldn't alarm anyone, she jumped down into a lower branch. The landing hurt more than in her youth; her whole body was absolutely aching for reason she couldn't exactly figure out. Ignoring the pain, she crouched down, pushing a few leaves back to see the women below.

[democratically]

Her life had usually been too busy with other events that Padmé hadn't had the time for such things. Now and then, some chatter, especially when she had been younger, but as the years had passed and her responsibilities had grown, it was lucky if she made it back to her bed to sleep instead of falling asleep on her desk or with a pad of information in her hand.

She had always liked green spaces, but this was a bit much. Her pulse had quickened, that alertness to the strange situation that seemed to rise even higher with each passing moment. Yet it was relief that flooded across Padmé's face, although it quickly shifted. It meant that Padmé wasn't the only one stuck here. "Please tell me you're just out for a stroll..."

Although Padmé didn't believe that it would be that easy, especially here. Yet if there was an exit... While it may be true that the Senator no longer her senatorial duties, that didn't mean she wanted to go tramping about a jungle. Between reading more about this place and trying to clean up a little around the Willful Machine area, Padmé had more than enough to keep her occupied.

She'd made her way closer to Sabé, mindful of the footing, although she paused in turn, glancing back out around the foliage, drawn by the rustling.

[decoyqueen]

"I wish that were the case."

Sabé would prefer that to be what was going on- it would make much more sense than randomly finding themselves in a jungle with no clue what to expect. She carefully moved to close the distance between them but as soon as Padmé paused, she did as well.

The rustling could be nothing, but she doesn't want to assume the best from this place (or any place). Her fingers found her blaster at her hip as she looked in the same direction as Padmé. Without a second thought, she closed that distance and held her blaster at the ready. Once a bodyguard, always a bodyguard.

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne spotted that blaster. And while she wasn't terribly familiar with firearms, she'd spent enough time with the Winchester boys to know a weapon when she saw one. Quickly, she sprang up to a higher branch. "It's all right," she said. "I'm not dangerous."

To them, anyway. She was actually quite dangerous, when needed.

Quickly, she pushed aside a few of the thicker branches, her moon-white face popping into view.

Their face?

It was still so strange to look at two people who could easily have been her sisters. If her sisters had been Human. And alive. And a bit older than she was. But those were just minor details.

"It's me!"

PROMPT 1: JUNGLE LEVEL : OPEN

[democratically]

[She'd sworn under her breath when she had found herself here again. She'd tried, tried to hard, to ignore the game when it had come a second time around. Padmé had known what to expect, and had tried to rid herself of it. The bloody thing had showed up again and again, no matter what Padmé had done with it. Each time the draw grew stronger, the drums beating with her heart beat, singing through her blood.

Until she had touched it...

She knows now that the only way to leave is to finish the game, for better or for worse. She shudders but holds steadfast. She has done so once and she can do so again. Rising, she brushes the dirt from herself, before looking around. Jungle again, but this time she knows better. She needs to find the game and continue on. At least she knows some of the slights this time.

There are likely others here as well, and listening for a moment, Padmé takes off in one direction, mindful as she slips through the trees. She can hear something in the distance, a commotion, but she does approach gently, lest it be a threat. It's not until she sees the frame of a person that she softly calls out.]

Hello?

[cuddlery]

[It's mostly the frame of a tall person, just with some scorpion parts here in there. Scorpia's moving along anxiously, her game board tucked under her arm.

Once she hears someone calling out, Scorpia looks towards the person and then smiles cheerily as she waves with her free pincer.]

Oh hi there! How- how's it going? [Probably not well in these circumstances. But she's trying to be friendly!]

[democratically]

[There is a moment's start, if only because the sudden appearance of another and the looming claw. Yet she speaks, and Padmé eases. The game, at least, seems to be with her, which means Padmé doesn't need to chase down monkeys to get it. With her expression still curious, a hint of wryness does seep in as she offers a smile.]

I'm starting to rue the day I said I enjoyed greenery... I'm Padmé.

[cuddlery]

[She carries herself with a friendly demeanor that contradicts how strong and sharp her body parts look. This has proven to be dangerous adventure, but she's trying to take things in stride. And also help with the mood of this person she just met.]

It's nice to meet you! I'm Scorpia. Yeah, this... It isn't really the kind of scenic trip I would have wanted to go on. It really would be a beautiful place to be if it wasn't so dangerous! This game sure is something, huh?

[democratically]

Game indeed...

[A mildness to her tone although there is nothing mild about the expression that crosses her face. But, it could be worse, not that she gives voice to that thought. That would be inviting more trouble that she'd rather not have to contend with.

She does offer a smile in turn, letting a soft breath out.]

Last time there was three of us, although I honestly cannot say if that made it better or worse.

PROMPT 2: CATACOMBS LEVEL : OPEN

[democratically]

[a at the entry]
[It isn't something that Padmé had thought about, having too many other thoughts on her mind. Where the dead go hasn't been something that she's sought to investigate, rather seeking to learn more about this place in general. The scream is wrenched from her throat as she finds herself tugged downward. Soil fills her mouth, losing her awareness as she plummets with a groan on impact. Heaving breathes as she coughs up dirt, spitting out the clumps that linger within. Yet she remains for several minutes there on her side, pain wrenching through her, before she rolls onto her back.

Nothing seems broken, so that is a good thing, although there's likely to be a very impressive bruise come tomorrow. She finds herself glancing around, but this is no jungle. There are vines above, but it's underground if she has to guess. Her glance roams, taking in what she can, listening for any sounds that might catch her attention, any threats that may be looming. Eventually, she does get up with a groan, finding a cut along her arm that oozes slowly blood. There's nothing to be done about that yet as she takes a step towards what appears to be a shrine. She doesn't know enough to know who it is for, and after a moment of exploring, she takes a seat to go through the backpack.

It's by now that she notices another arriving, no doubt in much the same way that Padmé had, and she rises, rushing over to see if they need any help. Or, perhaps, if they have any idea where they are.]

Hey! Take it easy. Do you need anything?

[b untouchable temptations]
[Should she just have sat by that goat head? Should she have tried harder to find a way back up? Had there been something that Padmé had missed? This place is too new and she barely has an understanding of it. She's been able to manage some of it, but this? She shivers, eyes darting around. How long...? The game had been strange, but Padmé had eventually figured out that she just needed to get it done and over with. This place? Is forward the only answer?

She'd lost time with the water, both in trying to figure out how to navigate it and later being disorientated. Stumbling and tripping, it had perhaps only been luck that had seen her to the other side where she had collapsed. It's made her wary now as she enters the room filled with treasure. It isn't actually something that calls to her. While she may have enjoyed fancy dresses, it doesn't sing in her blood to gather more wealth. If anything, she would rather use what she had to help others. But she hasn't seen anyone for some time, which is why it startles her when she does see someone.]

Do you see the exit?

[c exiting]
[Go, go, go... It keeps screaming in her mind. Get out, get out, get out. How long she's been down there, Padmé doesn't know. Minutes, hours, weeks, months, years... Time has lost it's meaning. No doubt she likely is a horrid sight as she suddenly emerges, straight out of the ground. At another time, she would have given things a little more thought, been a little more courteous to the fact that it may well be someone's grave.

Not today.

A breath of air is heaved as she wrenches downward, dirt all but covering her body, yet the blood remains. Between the mushrooms and her nails, a number has been left upon her arms and legs, and oh, oh, if this is another room... She's drained, sore all over, blood drenching her skin. Dried in some places, caked in dirt, freshly bleeding on others. She may well have fought a nexu, but this time it had been her own nails that had done this. But up, up you go, her mind says, and Padmé slowly lurches to one foot, swaying for a moment, before putting one foot in front of the other. It's all that she concentrates on, at least until she sees a person ahead, and only then does she croak out.]

Where... where is this?

[b untouchable temptations]

[thisislife]

[Lexi stumbled into the room not long after Padmé had entered, waterlogged and covered with thick streaks of mud, especially on her clothes and her hair. she looks like she'd gotten attacked like a swarm of angry mosquitoes, which had been true. she was glad Leslie did girl scouts and took them camping before she and Rue had entered middle school because she'd eventually figured out what to do about them.

the practical part of her says not to bother with the gold or gems or jewelry, that there had to be a catch somewhere along the line, something like Smaug or the items in that old Disney movie, "Aladdin." her greedy side for--attention, affection, positive reinforcement of any kind, told her that just one of those diamonds would pay the mortgage for a year or more.

so she put her fingers in her mouth, biting down hard, and made her way towards Padmé, only letting her fingers out of her mouth long enough to say] No, not yet. Maybe it's close? It better be close. [and she returned her fingers to her mouth, biting on them again]

[democratically]

[She looked about as good as Padmé did. The trials of this place were marked across her, and yet despite it all, that sheer stubbornness and determination to overcome remained. She had never been someone who would easily be broken. She might bend, on her own accord, but never shatter.]

Chances are, there is some trick to this place.

[She did glance back over her shoulder. A two way entry? Would it also be an exit? That seemed ridiculous though. Across the way, maybe?]

Did you want to split up, or search together?

[thisislife]

[Lexi feels like she's gone through hell. one of the annoying levels, not the fiery ones. she'd pinched herself multiple times to make absolutely sure she was awake, and each time she was. unfortunately]

Yeah, probably. Definitely. This is probably a tempting "oh, let's see how greedy you are," kind of thing. 'Cause I really doubt we're going to find a magic lamp with a genie inside just sitting there and going "take me!"

[a little like formed between her eyes as she thought]

Together. That way, if there's something awful in here, it will be the two of us against them.

[democratically]

Magic lamp?

[Sorry, Lexi. Padmé has no idea what tale that is, as it isn't something that she has heard of. Although magic to help... That would be too good to be true.]

Of course. [Offering a smile, before glancing around.] Hmm, circle around first, and then go inward if that doesn't reveal anything?

c. Exiting

[opress]

[Savage had been followed her as a significant safe distance ever since he had first caught sight of her face in another portion of the catacombs. Why was he following? He felt himself confused by her, since she had Airy's face but definitely didn't feel the same in the Force. So he follow discreetly, uncertain and confused by the fact that this woman moved like someone very well suited to helping themselves out of tight situations - like Airy - but something was off

It was Airy but not Airy. An imposter? No, she didn't act like someone wearing Airy's skin, not that he wouldn't be surprised by that happening because this was a catacomb and undead things didn't do reasonable action. Then again, he knew plenty of species that wore the skin of others so... maybe he was just thinking too hard about it.

He watched her go through the exit and slowly approached himself, needing to be certain he stayed out of sight just in case. The door that wasn't a door had him moving cautiously as well, and he stepped to the edge of stone and peered down into the pit of corpses, mushrooms and... well, there she was. His glowing golden eyes watched her struggle, and he used a Force leap to get to the other side where she was crawling.

The spores were already eating into her skin it seemed. Carnivorous mushrooms; he'd heard about those.

Savage reached out a hand in her direction. She wore Airy's face, so perhaps she had answers as to why. Using the Force, he moved to capture and pick her up so that he could bring her to the stone where he stood.]

...Airadne?

[democratically]

[It was the glorious breathes of fresh air that Padmé greedily took, almost afraid that it wasn't true, that it was another test. She shuddered, not quite as sentient as she usually was. Yet each passing beat of her heart seemed to cement that she wasn't there. The game had been one thing, and even the hardships that she had had there had been pale in comparison.

She didn't clue in, at least not right away, not until her mind prodded her into action. The all but weightless sensation that seemed to be within her head, and yet wasn't. No, it was still reality. She swallowed, regretted that choice as the taste of soil made her cough. There was a shake of her head, trying to clear her throat, having to do it several times before she did finally manage to sputter out.]

No. Padmé.

[opress]

[Who? Somehow the name was faintly familiar to him, like he might have overheard it during a conversation that he was privy to but unable to react to. Maybe it was his imagination on thinking he had heard it, but what was for certain was that she wasn't Airy with a new hair style or clothing.

A part of him thought of losing interest and dropping her into the mushrooms to be consumed. She was none of his business, but then... he had come this far that it seemed like a waste to just release the Force and let her drop still alive.]

I'll get you out, but you're on your own from there. [Maybe. It depended how interesting he found her once he had elevated over his safe rock outcropping and set down. Humans were so delicate sometimes.]

[democratically]

[She assumed that he was a friend of Ariadne, given his initial reaction to her. It wasn't any sort of recognition that Padmé expected with her own name though. While it may be known in some circles in her own galaxy, it would be circles that dealt with politics or Naboo for the most part.

Despite the situation, Padmé still held a certain level of calmness. She had never been one to get herself worked up overly so in stressful circumstances While she would like to be back at her residence, she wouldn't have given up if he had chosen not to aid. Even if she had needed to crawl, she was going to get out of this.

There was a small nod though, resolute.]

T-thank you. Your name?

PROMPT 3: BLOOD DETOX : OPEN

[democratically]

[She'd spent the last few days at home, recovering from her experience underground. Even now, she finds her sleep restless and haunted, but she pushes through. Still, Padmé may look more than a little haggard, bandages on her arms where the worst of the mushroom damage had been, and a few cuts across her cheek. The rest, thankfully, can be hidden beneath clothing, as the bruise she has from her initial impact and from some of the other less than pleasant adventures are rather sizable.

Her goal had been to seek out the archives, although that has gotten sidetracked. The surge of plantlife is what had first caught her attention, although she had given it a wide berth lest it actually desire human flesh, but then the red lumps... She's found herself staring at one, attempting to figure out what it is, without getting too close. The smell is less than pleasant, and looks almost like blood... Nose wrinkling, she does move to interrupt.]

Excuse me? Sorry to bother, but I'm rather new. Do you happen to know what in the stars those things are?

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul himself doesn't look too great. He looks like he's recently had the crap beaten out of him, the injuries from it still left clearly on his face, including a black eye (which was more of a dark plum shade than anything else) that still has yet to heal. He certainly got into a fight with someone....or something as the case may be. He glances at Padmé, definitely with a weary air that wasn't present the last time they had talked.]

Not entirely. But at a guess? I would say it is blood from this place all gatheredup.

[He gestures towards over where one of the blood hounds is trotting up. That actually was who Maul was following when he came upon this scene. This particular blood hound looks a bit like a black Rhodesian Ridgeback with a pair of antlers rather like those of a Great Sable Antelope. They go over to stand beneath the Blood Blister and begin to absorb a little bit of it, making the pustule of blood start to slowly shrink.]

[democratically]

[She does a double take, having not quite seen who had been there before asking her question. It would be hard to forget such a face, and the conversation that they had had on the network here. It does bring her to a slightly more alert stance, if only because he had admitted to being a Sith.

Although she does stiffen again as the beast starts towards them, not having witnessed one such as it before. But it seems that it has come on its own accord, and she watches with a morbid fascination as it goes towards one of the bulbous blobs. She takes a half step back, away from it, not entirely certain what it will entail, between the creature and the swelling.]

The animals are native to here, or are they a trained defence?

[survivalthroughhate]

[Maul keeps one eye on Padmé while keeping most of his attention on the blood hound. The Senator is a bit of a wild card with all of those who come from their galaxy and he's not sure what to make of her quite yet. As for the doglike beasts, while they seem to be helpful creatures, Maul isn't quite sure if they are friend or foe just yet. But given how they are helping with the blood pollution, Maul is willing to give them the benefit of the doubt until one of them turns on him and tries to do something like gore him with their antlers.]

I believe they are native. There is a man....well, he was human at one point but has not been for quite some time. He is called the Dog Keeper and has been an ally of the Sleepers for a long, long time. He has many canines that are helpful, so these might belong to him in some fashion.

[democratically]

[She is perfectly fine to keep him guessing, as many have been in that situation. Most have guessed in the wrong direction, which had only worked for her. She hadn't been a puppet of a queen, easy to manipulate as no doubt the Trade Federation had learned. If he falls into that category, she has no qualms with that either. There has been much deception in her life, from her handmaidens to her marriage.]

And what is he now?

[Aside from being a Dog Keeper. There is almost an elegance to the creatures, along with the obvious reaction that makes her shudder.]