a divining log

[queenofseers]

WHO: Everyone participating in the divining for Atropos
WHERE: Nonah Government Apartments
WHEN: May 1st
WHAT: It’s time to try to talk to Atropos.
WARNINGS: Probably lots of talk about the apocalypse, will add more if needed


There’s likely a sense of tension in the building when one enters Kanaya’s apartment. No matter how much this group has prepared, there’s no real way of knowing what awaits- and there’s plenty at stake. While there will certainly be time to commiserate before the event, it’s barely a casual affair. Feel free to discuss plans with others, but there’s no time to waste.

The divination will start soon enough. Cassandra and Kanaya themselves are in place, clearly steeling themselves for any consequences. They’ll be prepared to use their abilities, and so should everyone else. If you need time to prepare your powers, to communicate with others, or are ready to fight, you can certainly do so as the divination begins, or- if you think something’s gone wrong, you can act to change that. No one knows what’s about to happen.

And- well, it may not be what anyone expected. Before long, it’s clear: Atropos is here, and her voice can be heard. But not what she’s saying. In fact, though everyone can comprehend she’s speaking, her words are total gibberish. Is there a sense of purpose here? Is communicating in this matter even on purpose? It’s hard to tell.

At the very least, Atropos is aware, and she’s listening to everyone here. The divination has worked. The problem is, it’s not clear how it would be possible to talk back- or even what they’d be responding to.

And then- sudden compared to when it started- the divination is over. There’s nothing more anyone can gain from this. Yes, talking to Atropos has been successful...but it’s not as if anything was truly learned.

They can take comfort in one thing, though: their precautions worked. The world didn’t end, right? Seems they’ve gotten off with nothing.

In the aftermath, you’ll have a surprising lack of wounds to lick and disasters to settle. Is that really it? For now, it seems so. Hang around, or perhaps linger outside, but for now it doesn’t look like much is going on...

Although there certainly are a lot of crows around tonight, aren’t there? And...do clouds usually drift in that direction?

It’s something, at least.

[ ooc: Despite the ambiguous results, the log is open for characters to play a part in the divination! Feel free to create prompts taking place before, during, and after. ]

Comments

Cassandra Igarashi/Urdr | OTA (cw: vomit, some body horror)

[queenofseers]

1. BEFORE

[ Cassandra’s coughed up the majority of the meals she’s eaten this week, and she hasn’t slept more than an hour in the last twenty-four. But that’s to be expected, isn’t it? If she’s going to die soon, than the priority is getting this done. The cost doesn’t matter nearly as much as what they could gain.

Which is why she’s covering up any particular signs of illness when she arrives- she’s in a particularly long cloak, hands in thick gloves, hood up, mask on the upper half of her face. Besides the fact that one could note her face seems pale from the parts that aren’t covered- pale enough to see veins- signs of what’s to come aren’t immediately obvious.

And she won’t let anyone forget why they’re here. If you approach, she’ll turn towards you, her severe tone evident. ]

So you’re ready. Because if you’re not- you really should not be here.

2. AFTER

[ This is fucking bullshit.

And Cassandra’s said that, although cursing in rage isn’t what she’s doing when she can be found. She’s actually gone outside, hidden off in the corner of the building, wanting to destroy something, anything, because what the fuck, what does this even mean-

But she’s throwing up instead. Black, tar-like stuff. She’s been doing it for days, but right now it’s especially bad, the effort the divination took taking the energy out of her completely. Days ago she was starting to accept help with mild irritation, but after what just happened? After getting nonsense? She’s far too pissed to respond the same way. Once she hears someone approaching, she’ll make the effort to stand up straight and whip around to face them. Her mask is off; she looks bad. ]

No, I didn’t fucking understand any of it. [ She’s expecting that sort of question. ] What else do you want?

2

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Okay ordinarily Jacob might have questions about the divination but right now the tar vomiting seems like a higher priority.]

Are you okay? What the hell did she do to you?

[He gestures at the black sticky mess on the ground, which is clearly some kind of curse from Atropos.]

[queenofseers]

She? What are you-

[ Cassandra blinks at him, confused, for a moment before leaning against the wall to keep herself upward properly. Oh- Atropos, he means. She sighs and puts her face in her other hand. ]

That's got nothing to do with Atropos, actually. I've got nothing from her. Fucking none of us do.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Still stuck where we started, in other words. Great.

[Jacob sounds bitter, but also resigned to this outcome. He's gotten used to dead ends in these kinds of investigations over the years. A lot of the time things don't pan out.]

So what was that? Are you sick?

before

[dragony]

[ Ruka would need neither her empathy nor her remaining eye to tell that Cassandra is not doing too hot. It's in the way she moves, and the way she talks, and it's only amplified by her dress and her stress and her, well, everything.

This is a dire situation they're in, and a grave undertaking that could by all accounts kill everybody assembled, and possibly lead to more death and destruction for everyone else, but... somehow, this seems extreme, even for that. (Then again, maybe Ruka is simply used to how it feels to hide herself away, and cover up the worst of what she's enduring, and recognizes similar tactics in others.)

At Cassandra's outburst at Ruka's approach, though — her lips purse, and she has to restrain herself from biting back, from echoing and amplifying the strain — she exhales, soft, and speaks quietly. ]

Ready enough. [ The worst that can happen is something no one is ready for. ] It feels like everyone here is.

[queenofseers]

[ Cassandra softens, for a moment. She never though Ruka wouldn't be ready, of everyone- Cassandra herself is just overly touchy right now. Even she knows that in these circumstances. ]

With some of these people, I'm not sure. But I know you know how important this is.

[ She's bad with emotions. But she can tell Ruka's feeling...something. Discomfort? ]

What's going on?

[dragony]

They came, knowing what our intentions are. [ Her head cants to the side, a slight shrug to her shoulder. ] Once we see them in action, we'll know for sure, but... we won't get anywhere, if we won't trust the people who are at least trying.

[ It's a conversation she's had with Jaime, and him she's echoing now: you inform them the stakes, and if they're still willing, you give them their chance to prove their capabilities. With this kind of plan, with these kinds of stakes... and from what Ruka's felt in the air, nobody here's just there for kicks.

But when Cassandra questions her, Ruka comes closer, and speaks quieter. ]

What's going on? I don't know. [ Her gaze flicks over Cassandra's dress, and settles on her face, measuring. ] Do you?

after

[ambasciatore]

I just want to know if you're okay.

[ He says quietly, looking up at her. They were all frustrated, the nonsense words, the lack of answers - at least all the doomsday prep wasn't for nothing, just not quite what they had in mind. They all looked like hell - Nico hadn't slept before, and he certainly wasn't sleeping now, but his own health can come later. ]

I'm worried about you.

[queenofseers]

[ Cassandra's expression briefly becomes hurt when she sees Nico. He's a good kid- and, also, a kid. She feels badly about having to brush him off the way she's going to have to do with everyone. ]

...I'm fine, Nico. I've been putting up with it for weeks.

[ Something that once she says it she realizes tends to make people more worried, but, well. ]

I doubt it was going to go any better anyway.

Ronan Lynch | OTA

[nightmarist]

before

Ronan arrives in his human form, at the start, because that's the way they know him. Although he normally relishes the opportunity to bewilder or upset people, it's best not to unnecessarily complicate things today. Despite the fact that he's brought his mouth with him, however, he speaks even less than usual. It's not that he's especially frightened of what they'll be attempting, but he does respect the need for concentration. On everyone else's part, if not his own.

He requires nothing but the minds assembled here today, the ones he'll be strengthening and linking to one another, like the spark of ley magic that he is. Lurking patiently while the others prepare themselves, Ronan waits until they're ready for him.

Then he ceases to be a boy. It's not immediately clear what he becomes, only that the Ronan Lynch who stood there a moment ago feels less like a person and more like a suggestion. Maybe they just collectively imagined him there. Maybe there was never a boy. There is something where he was, and from certain angles, it looks like some kind of light. But it's difficult to look straight at the thing. Optical nerves can't fully translate the information. Other senses attempt to pick up the slack: it's the scent of frozen earth on the first day of winter, the feeling of drawing a blade, a song heard from an open window.

It doesn't matter. The confusion lasts only a second or two before everyone who needs to understand it now understands that this is the Greywaren. Minds link where they are meant to be linked. Energy surges to all who require it. The telepathic connection is open and the Greywaren is theirs to command.

after

When Ronan returns to his human form, it's not a reappearance so much as it's a reformulated understanding of him. It becomes absurd to think that he ever went anywhere, as he's so solidly standing where he'd been before. Like he'd been in the periphery, rather than vanished.

He doesn't remain standing much longer. Though he's always been absurdly pale, he seems to have somehow lost even more color. Pressing his back to the wall, he slides down slowly to take a seat on the floor, knees gathered up to his chest and arms hanging at his sides.

Something is wrong.

And it's not wrong in the usual ways, no. He can't put a name to the problem. If it was the beginning of an unmaking, he's sure he'd recognize the symptoms by now. This is an unknown thing, falling in yet not disintegrating. The floor feels solid beneath his palms. His heart slams in his chest. He is a stubbornly alive creature and he has no reason to believe that will change in the next few minutes. So why does he feel like he can't find the edges of himself?

after

[photophobic]

Kylo's senses are blown wide and flooded to overflowing— he feels the disconnect rip through him as she is, and then is not there in their midst, he feels hot, and sick, over-aware of every sound and thought and movement, he feels angry and cheated--

And then he feels something worse. The absence of something.

Wild-eyed, he whips around to scan the room, hurling his still-sparking awareness outwards in search of him. He shouldn't have to, he should be able to feel exactly where Ronan is, always, but even when he finally lays his eyes on the crumpled, folded form slumped against the wall he can't quite connect it to Ronan as he remembers him. Something is horribly, terribly wrong.

Kylo's presence pours itself over the mind of the pale and weakened boy as if trying to shake it until his Ronan slips free, his body following in long hurried strides. His heart pounds as he crouches beside him.

"Ronan?"

[nightmarist]

When Ronan reaches out to Kylo, he's almost certain his hand will slip right through him. That there isn't a hand at all. That Ronan Lynch is a thought in Kylo's head and never had any limbs to call his own.

But his fingers curl around Kylo's bicep, grasping it. Ronan heaves a sigh of relief at the solid contact and hisses eloquently, "Jesus, fuck."

There's more to that thought. He'll have to find words to apply to it later. That strange existential slipping hasn't left him yet and his mind is working at full capacity just to hold onto the sense of himself.

Kanaya Maryam-Lalonde | AFTER

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya hadn't been very social before the diving, hardly the attentive host you might have come to expect from her. She was just as tense as the surrounding atmosphere, bracing herself for whatever sacrifice she might have to make, or become. She reviewed every contingency she'd thought of with the people who would need to activate them, but didn't get ahead of herself with any goodbyes. No, she had to be strong, to purge any sign of weakness, to not let a hint of her own worries out. If the others saw her sweat, they might lose heart, and so might she.

But now that it's all over, that projection of strength is exhausted, giving way to a desperate panic. The moment they're out of Ronan's link, she's shaking her head vigorously, stumbling over herself to the camera she set up. ]

No, no no no no no. That can't be it, there has to be more! [ She takes the camera off its tripod, struggling with shaking hands to rewind the recording. ] You miserable bitch, you have to give us more than fucking that!

[melodramagic]

[ Sabrina is frustrated, her head swimming and palms still sweaty and shaking, but she has no idea the level of exasperation, fury the others feel. This is her first attempt for answers, not years and years of scouring for crumbs.

She steps toward Kanaya, her hands reaching out tentatively. ]

Kanaya...

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya doesn't respond to Sabrina, and it isn't entirely clear whether she just didn't hear her or she's actively ignoring everything outside of what she's currently doing. What is clear is that the manic energy she's putting out isn't likely to invite interruptions.

Still fussing about with the camcorder, she stares intently at its playback screen before pulling it closer to her ear, seemingly to only grow angrier by the second. ]

It's-- It's not even there. The measly, insignificant amount of horseshit she gives us, AND IT'S NOT EVEN THERE!

[ She lifts the camcorder over her head, ready to smash to the ground, but manages to reserve at least enough restraint not to do so.

Instead, she just screams from the top of her lungs. ]

[queenofseers]

[ Despite her waning health, Cassandra had very much approached the situation in a way similar to Kanaya; she was stressed and unfriendly, focused on what lied ahead. And, like Kanaya, now that the divining is over, she's startled but mostly angry. Pissed beyond belief, even.

All that work for this? Doing all of that despite the fact that she's been losing sleep and everything else, despite the fact that sometimes she feels like she's dissolving, and-

When the initial shock of the divination comes off, and she bites down a surge of exhaustion from the effort, she lets rage take over. She hears Kanaya and approaches, holding her hands out. ]

Hey- let me see. Let me fucking see.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya catches one of her reaching hands by the wrist and shoots her a look, wide-eyed and furious. Her grip is entirely too tight. ]

Try growing a goddamn smidgen of patience, for fuck's sake! [ Realizing her grip on Cassandra's wrist has been tightening, she releases it, instead pointing to the couch. ]

Sit down! Go sit down!

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob knows about failure. He knows about training and planning and striving to do something important, and seeing it all apart, all the same. He may not have ever been as vocal as Kanaya after, say, Archangel's defeat or the slaughter on Eden Prime, but he knows something of what she feels. He steps toward her, debating whether or not it would help to put a hand on her shoulder.]

I'm sorry, Kanaya. I know you did your best.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya's no stranger to failure, so much of her history has been snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Her wins only came from absolutely bullshit luck. But with all of that, she's had three big losses that defined everything for her, and here they are on the brink of a fourth. She thought this might change things, that they could pull back from it, but now it feels like they're just teetering closer.

She's already spent all her rage, and feels emptier for it. All that's left is despair. ]

Yeah, well. Maybe it would have amounted to more than nothing if I'd done better.

sabrina spellman | open

[melodramagic]

BEFORE

[ The sleepless night before their attempt to make contact with Atropos Sabrina deliberated on bowing out, her communicator in her hands and the text screen open with both Cassandra and Kanaya's IDs attached. She hasn't been able to put aside the fiasco with Darin/Diomuhr from a few weeks back, her main concern bringing that sort of chaos to the forefront again when they finally made contact with Atropos.

But Sabrina decidedly shows up after talking herself out of such negative thoughts. She knows she made a mistake, but she doesn't want to let Cassandra or Kanaya down, especially the latter after having her come to her rescue and preventing Diomuhr from skewering her when he had the chance.

As everyone gathers and prepares for whatever comes next, she finishes up warding the area in case someone — or something — attempts to break out. It may not be as powerful as she needs it to be, but it might hold off something until someone much stronger than her jumps in. ]

AFTER

[ It seems it's done as soon as it's started.

Sabrina stands with her palms open, eyes shut and focused only on the voice she heard mere seconds ago. The problem is she can't decipher any of the words spoken. It's in no mortal or witch tongue she could understand. In fact, it only occurs to her when she opens her eyes and begins to see the confusion or anger on other faces around her that it was, in fact, pure gibberish they all heard.

This whole time, her heart had been racing, steeling herself for an entity with a booming presence akin to the Dark Lord's, but now she feels foolish. ]

Did it not work? What did we do wrong?

before

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob's been looking forward to the divination for a long time, but not without a sizable amount of dread. He knows it's dangerous, and it's only the fact that ignorance about Atropos could get literally everyone killed that makes it seem like a good course of action. The same impulse that drives him to triple-check every piece of gear and equipment before a dangerous mission drives him to be here for the prep phase, even though he has basically nothing to offer this mystic project beyond moral support and a spare set of hands, as needed.]

Sabrina. How's the set-up going?

[If he's holding the near-disaster with Diomuhr against her, he isn't showing it.]

[melodramagic]

[ When Sabrina looks upon Jacob her initial thought is that he's presumably upset about the Diomuhr fiasco, so she regards him with a hint of wariness and seems to draw in upon herself. She's mostly embarrassed, but she's certainly carrying guilt about what happened, even if it's her house that seems to have taken the most damage. ]

I think it's just about ready. I can't promise it'll keep anything from escaping completely, but it'll slow it down.

before

[dragony]

[ The girl is someone Ruka remembers seeing around the Network, but it's different to see her in person. She looks younger in the flesh — probably the youngest one here, if she had to guess. It's a big commitment, for someone here so new, who didn't experience that destruction firsthand, or any of its consequences. It could be testament to her character... or to her ego, perhaps. There's no way of knowing yet.

So while Sabrina works, Ruka watches her — she leans against one of the far walls, arms folded and attention fixed. Maybe it's a little unnerving, considering the way she looks and the weight of her stare, but-hell, if she's made distressed by just Ruka, then what kind of chance in hell does she have against anything?

Once she seems finished, Ruka finally speaks. ]

What did you do? [ For all that the collective tension is a thick smog in the small apartment, Ruka isn't letting it show: her voice is steady, almost light for curiosity. ]

[melodramagic]

[ Sabrina doesn't recognize Ruka immediately, their initial conversation on the Network being audio only. The voice might register as familiar enough, but it doesn't click yet, not when through devices one's voice always sounds somewhat off.

She notices the older girl watching her the entire time, though she doesn't make much of it. Perhaps she's curious, or unimpressed with her handiwork, who knows.

Honestly, it's the eye-patch Sabrina fixates on when she finally faces her, though remembering it's rude to stare, she does her best to focus on her entire visage instead. ]

A basic warding spell. I don't know if it could contain a Fate, or whatever else may appear, but it would buy everyone else enough time to react.

Georgia Mason | ota

[choosetruth]

Before

[Georgia is here to observe and report. She's not hiding that. Sure, her human lie detector powers might come in handy, though she's not so confident in them as to assume they'd work against a god, but for the most part?

Someone has to write things down. If the worst happens, her notes and footage are being directly updated to the cloud. The record will be preserved. If the second worst happens and the people here do learn something and choose to hide it, well, she's prepared for that too.

For now, it's time to gather quotes. She approaches people when they seem to not be too busy, her recorder in her hand.]

How are you expecting this will go?

After

[Well, that sure was... something. She isn't sure what but it is something. Her recording isn't extremely helpful, though.]

Honestly, that's pretty consistent with my expectations for what talking to a god would be like. [She taps her chin thoughtfully, frowning under her sunglasses.] I wonder if it's something that can be translated, or if we could adjust our process to get something clearer for future attempts.