deercountry | april catch

Entry tags:

april catch - all

Who: viktor and others, open to all with some closed prompts
What: some late march/early april logs, including some tdm stuff. i'm happy to attach something else on if anyone's interest in doing something specific
When: late march through april
Where: various

content warning; terminal illness, arcane season 1 spoilers, likely game typical beast gore/body horror, potentially ableism mentioned, claustrophobic imagery

open prompts.

fishers of dreams - the lighthouse, early april (tdm)

a. while awake

[if you've been roped into this lighthouse business too you may enter to find a man already there. he seems vaguely disgruntled by the business, offers vague greetings but otherwise sticks to scribbling in his notebook. it looks like schematics and formulae, but anyone with an eye for either might notice they tend to trail off and start in odd bursts.

viktor will offer to cook when evening falls (or whatever seems to be the right mealtime in this place) so maybe that is a better time to strike up conversation. the smell coming from the kitchen is heavy on whatever spices the place stocks, promising pain to anyone who doesn't have the stomach for that sort of thing. worse if he finds the rotgut liquor tucked away, which he will pull out and offer despite smelling more like turpentine than anything edible.

these tricks of the eye though, flashes of people vaguely recognizable, he chalks it up more hallucinations. last month was mushrooms, so this? irritating, far more distracting, but it followed the pattern.

it isn't until later in all this he'll track whoever is with him down.] Did you see someone else come through? There, just up the stairs.

b. nightmare

[trying to reach the odd lighthouses is fruitless, the shadows converge and when the dark clears the area seems more closed in than before. it shouldn't be, he was just outside on the shore, yet now the dark sky seems to hang too low, lower still, suffocating.]

What now? This is another illusion of sorts, is it not? One this place is so fond of. [viktor sounds more irritated than anything, maybe defensive since the grip his has on his crutch is white-knuckle tight. in the distance seems to be a lighthouse, though the light is far and the area is so stifling, promising a tunnel that will close and snuff out the light entirely.

it's ridiculous of course, the walls are not that close, certainly not enough for this suffocating grip on the lungs and throat. there's no real explanation, less so when a few steps forward and the ground begins to dot with great metal cables, the distinct, sickly sweet smell of chemicals in the air. there are pools between them where the ocean should have been, this time shallow spills of what could be gasoline or something similar, slick rainbow puddles, oily and difficult to walk through without slipping or sinking.]

(ooc; for this one please, feel free to add your own character's nightmare in any flavor at any point!)

odds and ends - willful machine, early april

[viktor can be found around the vendors often enough, especially those specializing in scrap metal, tools or small machinery. for the most part he doesn't stick out, except for the fact often his massive omen often accompanies him, some sort of huge pink salamander/axolotl that he'll lean against or ask rather politely to help carry larger purchases.

he doesn't seem to notice or care about any attention, though the creature will blink curiously around. feel free to approach or find him haggling rather intently for such a stick of a man, accent thickening when it gets heated enough. maybe you want the same scrap? or are looking for something and he's standing nearby enough to notice a lost look and offers assistance?]

[one might also find him about by the sound of a nasty coughing fit. he stands with his back curled, a rag to his mouth as a makeshift handkerchief. it's a wet cough that shakes his entire frame, and when it's over his sniffs and clears his throat, straightening.

the cloth is stained in a pale color that catches the perpetual moonlight of april. paleblood, that he regards for a moment before folding the cloth in on itself with a small frown.]

closed prompts.

jinx - willful machine, late march

[viktor doesn't stay by the lamp exactly. he would usually but he hardly sees the point when this person he's meeting knows him by sight as far as he can tell. it leaves him feeling comfortable to wander within eyeshot mostly of the lantern, strolling down the canal docks to find a place to stand and watch the boats cut slowly through the water.

he likes it here, he thinks, in this district. the noise and foot traffic, the winding canals and dirty water, the boats bobbing to and fro - it wouldn't be a bad place to set up. a lab that will double as his home because he doesn't see the point in separating the two any longer, even if he can practically hear heimendinger's tutting about his work-life balance in his ear. it will be closer to the vendors, less of a hike to acquire what he'll need to start fresh. first a new brace for his leg and back, then some basic experiments into lunar energy to get a feel for it.

his lungs flare and burn, minor enough he manages to swallow it down without reaching for the rag in his pocket. he makes a note of the severity and timing, adds it to his growing mental list that seems to indicate his illness does indeed remain but is diminished. promising, if he's being optimistic, but at the moment he feels only a sense of irritation that now he doesn't know the timeline of his own life. one he might be shortening drastically with this ridiculous stunt.

a sigh and viktor goes back to watching the boats, trying to clear his head. he considers trying to message vi and ask her opinion of this but... no, he doubts he'll get anything. he's not sure if he disgusts her as a class traitor or amuses her in truth. better to just see for himself what he's gotten himself into like a fool.]

allen - willful machine, early april

[the 'grand tour' doesn't amount to much yet, the lab area just a large, empty space dotted with a few tables and a couple of desks, not even a chalkboard he's been keeping an eye out for or something that could do the same. one of the desks at least is littered with junk, at the moment tools and the starts of a knee brace, a table nearby with all the scrap he's managed to grab that could be useful in the future. one corner has a cot, maybe he'll clear out whatever other small rooms the place has later for a bedroom proper. maybe not.

viktor seems satisfied with it as he gestures around, and rio has commandeered one of the tables for her own to lie across.] A solid start, I think. I like this area, this eh... Willful Machine, that is.

[he'll never admit part of it is the boats. everyone's allowed a sort of childish interest, right? they're soothing, even if they lack the motors that fascinated him.] Have a seat, if you'd like. How have you been since the tombs?

wildcard.

[as i said, feel free to ask for anything else, including other tdm prompts, i am more interested in seeing the worlds built by others for the archway prompts so i didn't include any here. my plurk is

dichotomy or you can dm me here!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ugh. [that pretty much sums it up.] I suppose at least they aren't dead. As far as I can tell they have no particular agenda, they haven't said anything or tried to lead anywhere.

[that comment gets cut off by a yawn, his face scrunching in annoyance at that aspect of things. maybe no agenda but this fatigue clearly isn't natural.

he ladles out the makeshift goulash into a bowl, heading over to place it on the creaky little table the place has. a return trip is needed for his own bowl thanks to the crutch, and his amusement returns as he says from the stove,] If you want a real 'kick in the teeth' there is a bottle of liquor I found hidden in the cabinets. It's the sort of rot that could blind a man if he isn't careful.

[Damn, yawning really is contagious. He sees Viktor yawn and he wants to yawn, too]

Think I'll pass on the liquor. I want my head screwed on and my eyes wide for whatever's gonna come.

That and it tends to make a person sleepy. [which given the chain yawns the last thing they need is to make it worse. he takes a seat at the table, leaning his crutch against the wall.]

We're going to succumb to sleep soon at this rate. Perhaps we should try to take shifts rather than keep fighting it?

[It's unsettling for him. As a marine, he's been trained to stay up for long stretches of time. If even he is feeling like he needs to sleep, there is something going on]

Yeah, good call. You can take the first snooze since you made dinner. I'll eat and wake you if it looks like you need it.

[it's such a tempting offer he almost wants to curl up on the table and start sleeping right now. instead he breathes out his nose and nods in thanks.] Very well, thank you. I hope this isn't to lull us into a vulnerable state and attack.

Ah well. How have you been, Jason? [he focuses on his food, which is very spicy but pretty decently made, hearty sort.]

[That's his concern, too. Too bad there's no coffee around here. Jason goes to get some of whatever Viktor made. He's not especially hungry but he's hoping the spice will be the "kick in the teeth" he needs to keep awake]

I'm just goin' day by day. There are people from home I miss, but I wouldn't wish them here for anything. I got my self-defense classes and workin' as a Hunter, so I keep busy. Wish I could tell ya this place gets easier to live in, but honestly, you just gotta find stuff to enjoy in the middle of the madness.

[sadly it's more likely to make viktor sleepy, having a full stomach, but he doubts skipping meals is going to make him any more prepared for whatever is to happen. he's half expecting some to come and try to harvest their blood or something equally grim.]

That does seem to be the only way forward. At least there is plenty to do here, one way or another. [the mention of being a hunter makes him curious though.] What sort of weapons do you use as a hunter?

I came in with my rifle, but bullets are hard to come by. I've been learnin' the crossbow instead. I figure with the right type of bolt, I can take out most monsters that come through. I ain't got that with me now so we'll have to trust in my combat knife and your cane if things get hairy.

I have- [he pulls his crutch over, showing where if you twist the lower handle a certain degree it slides out to a small knife. an one shouldered shrug and back in it goes.] -that, if for some reason you need it. Hopefully it won't come to any of that.

A rifle and combat knife- were you a soldier in your world?

Yep. First lieutenant.

[However he felt when he signed up and however he feels now about the war, he's still proud of that commission]

What about you? I mean, what'd you do back where you're from?

[viktor can't say he knows the details of that rank but he can figure out that makes jason an officer of some sort, making him nod along.] That would explain the skill necessary to offer combat training.

Oh, I was a scientist in my world. I cofounded a technology known as Hextech, which essentially harnessed arcane energy through machinery rather than through a mage's will and whims.

Magic's still a new thing to me. Where I'm from, it's all parlor tricks and sleight of hand. I'm just startin' to get a handle on the magic my paleblood gives me. Aside from my omen, but everyone's got one of them.

[He's quiet for a beat, and then]

You wanna meet her?

It's odd to imagine a world without it at all, but I've spoken to a few who had to deal with the ah... culture shock, I suppose.

[he perks up a touch at the offer] Yes, I would. Is your omen a creature you knew or a completely new manifestation?

Had enough of a shock before I even got here. Everything else I've just been rollin' with.

[He makes a so-so gesture] Knew in the sense that she's an animal that exists in my world. You'll see.

[A few moments later and a bobcat joins him. She looks like a pretty normal animal except that her spots look like stars. She regards the two men for a moment before taking a tour of her surroundings]

Her name's Esfir.

[the process of summoning an omen always fascinates him, even if he's seen it a few times now. he's familiar with felines of various sorts but he's certainly never been around something as large as a bobcat, leaning forward as he regards it.

it doesn't shock him jason's omen seems rather formidable and sturdy. the coat though-] Are those stars typical? I've never seen a coat like that before.

[and esfir gets a polite nod] Good to meet you, Esfir. [a pause and he offers] Would you like to see mine? She's quite capable in the water, which could be useful if things get grim around here.

Me neither; it's what gave me the idea for her name. It means "star" in Russian.

[Esfir finishes her survey and deems the place acceptable. She settles into Jason's lap and submits to a scratch between the ears. Despite being a wild animal, she very much seems like a regular house cat who just wants pets from her master.

Jason smiles when Viktor returns the offer]

Sure, I'd love to see her.

Hm, I suppose it must have some meaning, if they're reflections of us in one way or another. I'm afraid symbolism isn't my particular forte.

[especially the symbolism of another world potentially. he watches esfir take the pets with a smile- it's actually a word not too far off from his other language, which is interesting and makes him ask,] Do you speak this language? Russian, you said?

[but yes, he takes a moment to summon his own omen, the very large pink creature tilting her head as she examines the area then esfir and jason, many tongues scenting the air around her for a moment.] This is Rio. I knew her in my world, actually. A bit of a shock when I summoned her out of nothing, I admit.

A little. I'm better at it when I'm talkin' with my grandma.

[Jason is a little startled at the giant pink whatever-it-is. Some kind of lizard? Esfir lifts her head and stares at Rio for a moment before settling back in for more pets]

Yeah. It came as a surprise to me, and Esfir's just a little thing. Can't imagine the shock of a huge creature like that poppin' the hell outta nowhere. But you say you knew her?

It sounds similar to my first language. Did your grandmother teach you it?

[rio plops her head on viktor's lap after her curiosity is sated, clearly not wanting esfir to be the only one getting pets here. viktor snorts softly, running his hand over her head.]

She's incredibly helpful as a mobility aid, I'll admit. Easy to lean against. [she trills at that, contented] Yes, I met her when I was a child. I haven't seen her in... decades, I think. She was a rare mutation my mentor cultivated, I believe because she is capable of digesting and processing chemicals that would kill nearly any other living creature.

Yep. Taught me to cook, too. Maybe I'll treat ya sometime.

[Meanwhile Esfir gives Rio a look like "we have these humans trained well, don't we?"]

Shit. Sounds handy. You know as an omen, she can change sizes? When I first met Esfir, she grew as big as a fuckin' lion to fight off a monster. Rio's already big but I bet if you needed her to be, she'd get even bigger, or smaller.

Please, where I was living beforehand they considered salt spicy and flavored enough. [he mourns. whatever russian cooking is like he has to imagine it's better than that.

rio returns the look with an agreeing tail thump on the floor, clearly they have gotten their humans' priorities where they should be.]

Oh, truly? I haven't seen that yet, is that true? [he looks down to rio who trills in agreement that yes, this is something she can do. useful to know earlier, rio, but he has no doubt she'd use it only when necessary. a bit on the stubborn side.] Esfir fought a monster- did she get hurt? I've been wondering what happens when an omen is injured in any way.

[He raises an eyebrow at that, and then smiles]

Hopefully we can scrounge up enough ingredients for you to get a sense of real flavor.

Nah, she beat that fucker back no problem. Got me and another guy out of the well safely. [Esfir flicks her ears like "of course I did"] I ain't seen any of them hurt, but they're kinda like spirits, I guess? Esfir only shows herself when I really need her, most of the time.

Let me know what you need and I will keep an eye out myself, Willful Machine has all sorts. I set my lab up there, and thank gods I already know how to haggle. A ruthless lot. [he sounds approving of that though.

he can't help a chuckle at the little ear flick, she does seem sure of herself.] She does seem more than capable. Rio comes and goes on her own whim as far as I can tell, unless I call for her. I've been concerned what would happen if we do run into a beast- she may be large but she isn't a fighter.

[and he'd rather she not get hurt. jason makes a good point though, about what they are. surely physical injuries wouldn't do any real damage to them beyond making them vanish for a little while.]

I know the area; I patrol around the stables sometimes. [The approving way Viktor talks about the merchants makes Jason snort a little]

They both seem pretty calm now, so at least we know there's no danger close by. [He takes a bite of the food] Whoo! That really is a kick in the teeth.

I enjoy the canals, I've never seen a city system like it. [no venice in his world, this is pretty novel stuff.

the reaction to his goulash makes viktor chuckle. honestly he's glad jason is here, his tension at the situation has lowered considerably, even if he's still alert.] To be fair usually I would serve it with some sour cream to help cut that, but alas. I am not sure I would trust any dairy products in this dusty old place even if they were stocked.

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