maskormenacelogs | storm season [OPEN]

Entry tags:

storm season [OPEN]

WHO: Cecelia, various
WHERE: De Chima, Heropa, ???
WHEN: September
WHAT: September catch-all shenanigans
WARNINGS: Marked in tag subjects if needed

o1: De Chima, small business block, Houdini's Magic Supplies, etc.
[while other teens are skulking back to school, Cecelia keeps a routine of maintaining a shop full of wares she hates, serving regulars she barely tolerates, and altogether makes a great, pleasant use of her time!

maybe she oughtn't complain too much: it is a pretty niche store, so it's mostly empty for vast chunks of time. she can get a lot of reading done, and, since she's the only employee, she can control the audio. enjoy the weirdly out-of-place tracks of forest ambiance upon entry, and do try not to set off the trick hats spring-loaded with playing cards.

at break times she visits a tea shop down the block, picking a patio seat and quietly judging all within view, scratching down her idle thoughts in a leather-bound journal. if you can read elvish, good on you! otherwise, it's just fancy nonsense with too many curls and dots.

beyond that, this is a busy street! hijinks can happen on the regular: rotten drivers, rotten pedestrians, teen hooligans and vandals...it's not as dangerous as Maurtia Falls, but high heat brings about hot tempers!]

o2: Heropa, botanical gardens
[peak flowering season is fading, which means the volume of tourists in this particular venue has greatly died down. finally, Cecelia can peruse this place in some fashion of peace! she'd been itching to since she'd heard about it back in...May? was it May? how long ago is May, again?

whatever.

point is, she may not see all the fanciest of blooms, but hardier summer and tropical flora is in abundance and quite lovely as-is. it sure does suck that so little of it can evoke feelings of the refined and lush forests and gardens of her elven home, but she's gotta take these opportunities to enjoy greenery where she can: this world seems so damned opposed to the stuff.

what a nice place to just sit and reflect in! it vaguely reminds her of some dreams she's had -- encountering fanciful and handsome strangers, footsteps masked by the bubbling of a fountain...]

o3: Heropa, beachside, thunderstorm warnings
[living in Florida in the summer means getting showers or thunderstorms almost daily, and it's an actual nightmare for Cecelia's hair. eventually, though, one has to just suck it up and endure it, you know? this can't go on forever. right???

in any case, it would figure most any opportunity she sees to wander the beach without an eyeful of tourists is inevitably broken up by storms. no wonder this place is all but empty, save for some reckless surfers and herself. Cecelia watches lighting flickering off on the horizon beyond the city as the sky darkens, feeling a prickling under her skin.

most of the time, it's a harried hustle to the bus stop to avoid the downpour: sometimes she wins, but sometimes she'll plop down looking like a miserable, half-drowned (but very smartly dressed) rat.

other times, she will linger, even as winds kick up and nearly yank her shawl and hat free of her (sometimes that happens, too; a little help, maybe?), eyes fixed on surging clouds.]

o4: Heropa #2/gov't housing neighborhood
[if you live in these assigned houses, you'll notice one of the buildings has an incredibly out-of-place balcony on the second floor that is hilariously too ornate to belong to the building it's affixed to. kind of an eyesore to be part of Cecelia's secluded space!! but whatever. she could be glimpsed time to time, sitting on a swinging chair with a book or journal in her lap, mostly in the very, very early morning hours, because half-elves don't really do the whole 8-hours thing humans do...

as for housemates, Cecelia sightings can happen at similar times, or...very, very late. watching taped soap operas or movie specials. with a box of tissues. and some trail mix. as you do.]

o5: wildcard
Come up w/ur own prompt or hmu to plan @

whyellewhy

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

This really isn't the best time to be heading out there. You know that, right?

[this might be the second or third time Cecelia brings this up on their walk to the Porter. even though she says that, she's the one all dressed up and heading off to work anyway.

she scowls at some gawkers passing by in the opposite direction before lowering her voice.]

Weirdos aside, the news said there were still nasty monsters popping up here and there? Like, what is even the point of the hero-people who say they're on top of it anyway?

Yes, but if we waited for a good time, we'd never go anywhere. [She gives Cece a smile, for the second or third time, and continues in the same conversational tone.] Especially with the monsters, and these incursions into reality.

And I am in the Justice League, so if you look at it that way, I really ought to be here, too.

Edited 2019-09-04 01:39 (UTC)

Oh. Right.

[gods, is every person in the house affiliated with some weirdo superhero team? she can't even scoff about it now!]

Ugh, then, you're welcome, I guess, for going out of my way to go to work...that just happens to be in the direction of nightmarish horrors. Seriously, though. It was awful. Do not blame me if you see something gross yourself; I definitely tried setting some nasty, teeth-bearing goop-mass on fire and it did nothing but make wretched sounds.

[she shudders while pulling the door to the porter room open, face twisted in a grimace. so gross.]

[Fuu can't help but be amused by Cece's indignation. How dare she make it awkward to gripe!]

I've seen a lot of strange things here... but I'm certain that if I said I was a veteran, something uniquely horrible would appear just to prove me wrong.

[She gives Cecelia a somewhat curious look as they head to the faintly glowing pad.]

But I would have thought that a goop mass would be particularly susceptible to fire. Odd that it wouldn't be... [They usually are in the Castles & Chimerae rulebook, after all.]

Yeah, you would think? But no. Just teeth and noise and people getting all sucked in there like it was their job to be... [she shudders, very repulsed at just the recollection.] It's more fit for a sprawling dungeon than--[Porter glow!

blip!!

aaaand De Chima.] --the middle of the street.

Between that and those obnoxious faeries... [she lets out a beleaguered sigh, hopping off the platform.] I don't know how any humans around here live past twenty.

So--they really are being absorbed by this thing? [She had heard that, but it sounded a little too gruesome for her to want to believe without it being confirmed by a trusted source.

And unfortunately, Cecelia is a trusted source. She steps out of the Porter room, looking concerned.] I suspect people who don't live in Porter city have quieter lives.

[She's here to walk with Cecelia to work, she's not here to drag her into a monster fight, and certainly not to get into one on her own. Avoiding it would be best for now, and coming back later with someone more willing.]

It doesn't move around, does it? I wouldn't like to turn a corner and meet it.

Honestly, Fuu? The more we talk about it? The more likely that is. So maybe we not. [her tone is snippy, but it's not coming from a mean place; she's just a little unnerved by the prospect of exactly what Fuu's spoken aloud. it means she's extra suspicious when they're back outside, shooting dark looks up and down the street before setting course.]

Maybe those other places would be better. I can understand safety in numbers, but not at this rate...

[Snippy or not, Fuu can admit that she finds the prospect far too probable, and she nods.]

Somehow, I think that trouble would follow us to wherever we'd settle. [She, too, looks around--there's no way not to be on alert given recent events.] Trouble seems to find us like magnets find iron filings. And it clings just as much.

[it's out of stubbornness that Cecelia instead tries to not be on-guard, because that'd just be inviting the trouble right to her, yes? of course yes.

but even so, her ear twitches, sensitive to the evil magic that globby mess makes when not too far away. she pays it no heed as they walk, because determination can be one helluva blinder...]

The only bit of trouble I'll be accepting today are those idiot magicians who come in and squabble like displaced hens about their level of artistry in stupid handkerchief and card tricks, thank you. Honestly, events as they are seem to be trying to get me to be thankful for their nonsense!

[Fuu grins. The force of Cecelia's disapproval might actually be enough to change the laws of causality, if only she could harness it properly.]

You aren't fond of prestidigitation? I think it's impressive how well people can make things appear as they're not using only a little dexterity and some knowledge of psychology--

[She stops short and looks suddenly at her feet, half-expecting to see a sudden patch of quicksand. Frankly, that wouldn't be implausible. But all there is under her shoes is the solid cement sidewalk.

Which doesn't explain why it's curiously difficult to drag her foot up and forward.]

Oh dear--I don't think today intends to obey you, Miss Cecelia.

[She's already got her hand hovering over her glove jewel, ready to draw either sword or bow, as she looks around.]

I'm sorry, what? [she's all ready to scoff and clap back at the notion of parlor tricks being noteworthy, but Fuu's gone and cut the topic short in an odd way. she shoots a scowl over at the girl that grows more puzzled at how bristled and alert she's being. that just means she must be in turn, and so she finally realizes what's tingling her ears.]

We-wait. There's--there's foul magic afoot. I can feel it? Oh, gods. Let's just turn around...

Yes, I think you're... [Fuu trails off as the sound hits her--dozens, maybe hundreds of whispers and mutters and moans, all uttered through horrible gnashing teeth.

There is a part of her mind that is yelling its head off, urging her to cover her ears, to turn and keep walking, to ignore this awful enchantment we've been through this before haven't we but the only thing that seems to register in her muscles is the idea of walking.

So she does, aimlessly, and not nearly in the direction that she ought to.]

Wow! Okay, let's just. Ignore Cecelia's advice! [she follows, exasperated, but she can't shake the gnawing awareness of badness afoot.

and the magic itself becoming more a sequence of audible sounds doesn't help. this, too, is all too familiar -- the pull at her is very much the same as when she and Finn had encountered it.

maybe she should just quickly blow this one up and be done with it? ugh. ugh she can hear the...the glorping from just a corner block away!

she grimaces, tugging at Fuu's arm.]

Unless you know how to, to blow it up, can we not? Please? I'll cut work, it's not like more than six people shop there anyway!

[Yes, let's! Some part of Fuu is dimly aware of Cecelia and her indignation. She feels the tugging and stumbles, stares blankly at the hand on her arm. Why is it there? What dos its owner want her to do?]

What...? Why? What are we blowing up? [And then she hears the horrible gloop beneath the whispers.] Oh goodness, is that the monster everyone is talking about?!

[FOR ONCE, FUU SOUNDS SOMEWHAT ALARMED. shocked out of her trance, and turning to see what the thing actually looks like in the flesh--so much flesh, horrible, horrible flesh--she does not have her usual facility to accept things with nonchalance.]

[Cecelia wants to both vomit and run away. ideally at the same time. now that Fuu's got some sense back in her head, that's the time the half-elf starts just straight-up clinging to her arm, because that's a useful thing to do.]

I, I blew up that thing not two days ago! It got everywhere it was disgusting can we please just go?!

[okay. cecelia's clinging. THAT'S FINE, HONESTLY, IT'S GOOD, SHE CAN'T PANIC WHEN SOMEONE ELSE IS PANICKING FOR HER.]

You blew it up?! Oh, well--[yes, just go back the way they came, notify Aegis or something, this thing is large and horrible and she doesn't at all blame Cecelia for not wanting a second encounter, given that Fuu doesn't want a first.

Unfortunately, the thing has noticed them, and it is... gibbering towards them.]

How did you blow it up? I don't think we should lead it through the city if we can help it!

[ Something else noticed them.

The Outsider appears.

Quite literally, he just appears in his idiosyncratic way, appearing out of smoke that glitters with lights, his black eyes shining. He seems unhurried, no panic in his manner or tone. ]

Hello, Cecelia, Fuu. You're in a spot of trouble, aren't you?

[before Cecelia can sort-of-kind-of recount getting poor Finn covered in mouther-gunk, the rat-boy appears.

Cecelia screams, nearly toppling over and taking Fuu with her.

inCENSED:] YOU!!! [glaring!!] If! If you're not here to help! Don't be here at all! Go get eaten for all I care!

[oh boy THAT WAS RIGHT DOWN HER EAR. Fuu grabs Cecelia's arm to keep the both of them upright. She can't claim to be any less shocked by the Outsider's sudden appearance, mind. But she is considerably less outraged.]

It would seem that way, Mr. Outsider. [She glances from him, to the monster, and back again. Is he here to help? She can't even begin to guess. Given his proclivity for garbage and rats, he might just be here to relax. On the other hand, his words sound like he knew what was going on.

...Which brings up some uncomfortable questions about being watched, but of course, that's really not the priority at the moment, is it?] But I think it would be very unpleasant to be eaten by this--why are you here, if I may ask?

[ He looks at Cecelia, raising an eyebrow. ] If I was here to help, would you accept it?

[ But then he very pointedly looks away without waiting for her answer and focuses on Fuu. Polite Fuu, who always keeps her composure, even in a situation like this. ]

As a matter of fact, I am here to give you a gift, Fuu.

[ All he does is lightly gesture with a hand - he doesn't grab her or touch her. It just happens. The Mark of the Outsider. The mark appearing feels like a quick burning, itching sensation, the tattoo appearing just as quickly as he did. With it, comes the instaneous knowledge of the three powers that it grants her. ]

Now, I believe you were facing a monstrous creature? I'll leave you to it.

[ And, just like that, he dissolves into smoke and is gone, blinking away to a safe distance to watch. ]

[in the little scramble to keep upright, Cecelia shuffles behind Fuu and glares daggers over her shoulder, an ear twitching.]

I told you that was never, ever going to happen! But go ahead, get--!

[aaand she's cut off, because Fuu is actually able to have more collected, less vitriolic dialogue with him. it takes Cecelia aback, and she shoots an incredulous look at the Outsider and at the side of Fuu's face that she can actually see.

before she can inquire further, there's that move, and Cecelia lets go and backs away at the very first inkling of unusual energy, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on-end.

her mouth opens and closes without a word until he's puffed away.]

Wh--wait. What. What? What did he just--?! GAH!

[there's once again no buffer between them and the monster. gods, she almost forgot about it for a second!]

[Fuu grabs her hand as the mark is burnt into it. She pulls off her glove and stares at it. It's a sigil she's never seen before, bright blue and then fading to black. And she can feel the power that it holds.

The Outsider is gone before she can ask him anything, or indeed, thank him. But she doesn't need to ask him anything, she realizes. She knows what she can do with this.

And she knows that Cecelia is not going to like it.

At all.

Remotely.

Oh well.]

He just gave us the solution to our problem. [The monster is gibbering its way closer to them, but Fuu has time, more time than she ought to, to decide what to do. The first thing she does is take hold of Cecelia's hand. Then she moves her other one. The gift might be the Outsider's, but in deference to Fuu's own sense of aesthetic, they are transported from the road to the top of the bridge with a swirl of gentle green breezes curling around them. And next...] Please close your eyes, Miss Cecelia.

[She lifts her hand again, not allowing herself to hesitate. A swarm of rats appears, pouring out from every shadow in the vicinity. They set themselves on the creature, ripping it open with their tiny sharp claws and tearing into it with their teeth, swallowing it bit by bit.]

[before Cecelia can question that, she squeaks at being grabbed in turn, then squeaks again when they're teleported. she ought to be used to that, thanks to Finn, but this particular brand of transport came with aesthetics she's not used to, so she's still on high alert and suspicion.]

I'm sorry, what now? Why are-- [hell, she's closing her eyes anyway because she has no trust in anything right now except Fuu's advice.

that doesn't stop her hair from standing on end with dread, because while she can close her eyes, she can't close her ears, and she can hear the dreadful, nauseating noise as if it were right up next to her.]

Oh, gods...!

[SORRY SORRY SORRY SHE DOESN'T LIKE IT EITHER IT IS COMPLETELY AWFUL]

[but after what seems like far too long a time, the noises stop. Fuu, looking over the railing of a bridge, sees a horde of round-bellied rats now lazing about, their little paws scratching at their stomachs or looking for a good sunny spot to loll about and digest.

she looks. faintly green. to go with her clothes.]

They're--they're done. [She turns her face away, looking the other way down the street.] Ah... do you think he's going to come and take his powers back?

[somewhere during all that, Cecelia's let Fuu go and wandered further along the roof, her hands clapped over her ears and her eyes squeezed shut, only taking fast glances at her feet to make sure she doesn't trip or topple over something. this is the worst and she should've just set the magic store on fire already to be done with it at this rate! she should've just struck the monster with lightning again and fled. maybe she needs to start bringing an umbrella with her just for that -- to avoid getting splattered, that is.

when Fuu pipes up, she peels her hands off her ears, letting her fingers curl against her jaw as she shoots an unhappy, irritated look her way.]

Why did he give you anything at all in the first place and not just! Do something himself?! GODS, he's the most irritating creature in the entire world and now I'm going to hear that in my meditations for the rest of my life and just! Never know rest again ever! Ugh!

storm season [OPEN]

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