maskormenacelogs | Into the woods and who can tell what's waiting on the journey?

Into the woods and who can tell what's waiting on the journey?

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: The West Virginia Federal Cryptozoological Reserve
WHEN: September 15th into the 16th
WHAT: September Swear-In
WARNINGS: Creatures of the night! And day. And in-between.

Welcome, welcome, imPorts of all shapes, sizes, and atomic composition! As an acknowledgement of all your hard (or not, for some of you, but imPorts celebrate as one) work over the summer, the government is granting you a sneak-peak of the new Federal Cryptozoological Reserve in the lovely rolling- and now carefully guarded- hills of West Virginia.

It’s only a couple hours drive from multiple porter cities, meaning you’re free to transport yourself or hop onto one of the reserved tour buses waiting to depart from the De Chima, Nonah, and Maurtia Falls porter buildings. The bus ride is relatively low key, with a nice promotional video playing in the background highlighting the lovely forest, mountain, fresh water and- in the case of ocean or ice dwelling creatures- enclosed artificial environments all the newly arrived in this universe creatures can now thrive in. ImPorts are thanked from saving these amazing creatures from a horrible, agonizing death they would have suffered without nanites to stabilize them. The video also makes careful note that while they have given the creatures plenty of space to wander and thrive, heavy security measures are in place. Think Jurassic Park, only with more experienced security contractors and oversight.

The main event is being held in the information center, a beautiful mountainside lodge/mansion with glorious views of surrounding Appalachia. See the trees just starting to turn colors, the lovely rivers and lakes, the blue skies outside the windows. Wander around to read informational panels about various cryptids- including which imPort or government official bagged and brought them in (OOC: to see a list of imPort caught cryptids, click here), read the very short history of the founding of the reserve, or obtain a map of the outdoor exhibits.

At the Mystery Mountain Mezzanine Lounge and Bar enjoy your on the house lunch and dinner and your first two drinks free, whether they be brightly colored, cryptid inspired cocktails like the La Chupacabra Chaser or Kappa Kosmo, or soothing teas, coffees, or juice smoothies (all also creatively named, such as the Lusca Lavender Earl Grey and Bigfoot Banana smoothie). From the comfortable window facing booths, lounge chairs, and couches, you can also watch the occasional (non actively predatory, those are in their own area) flying cryptid pass by, like the gorgeous Olitiau, from behind the safety of bullet-proof glass. Or the slightly more adventurous can go up to the rooftop bar and experience it all with only a few patio umbrellas to separate you and nature. Signs remind you to please don't feed the animals, including the Thunderbirds- they have their own designated blood troughs they've been trained to drink from.

The reserve itself has walkable trails or, for the lazier, a narrow gauge railway that will take you around the major exhibits while serving drinks and snacks. Again similar to Jurassic Park, there are fences separating you from the more dangerous creatures, but the very benign crytipds, like the Fresno Nightcrawlers, are allowed to wander around similar to the native deer and may even come close enough to say hello. All enclosures are large enough that creatures can be outside of curious human eyes if they want to, so be sure to come back again if you don’t see the crytpid you were hoping for!

These paths and rail also go through temperature-controlled glass tunnels throughout the artificial environments, allowing you to look at aquatic or chilly creatures in their man-made versions of native environments. Some of the more aggressive, people eating, creatures may test the barriers from time to time, but don’t worry. It’s the strongest glass known to multi-dimensional technology. It should be fine.

All in all it’s a gorgeous, and surprisingly calm, reserve that managed to spring up over the summer. A place like this seems like it should have taken longer to build with government bureaucracy and all- even the very short history of the location in the main building is rather vague about anything beyond the glorious involvement of the imPorts in helping create this facility and find the silver lining in the dimensional bleedthrough that’s been happening. But don’t worry about it. All the cryptids you helped catch are safe and happy in a place where the public can see them and important scientific research can be performed. Isn’t that all that really matters?

After a nice day of seeing the sites and enjoying the food and drink, the normal swear-in ceremony is gotten out of the way and two last events are underway: the naming and adoption event.

For the naming event, imPorts can bid to have a cryptid of their choice named after them! Or after their friends or enemies. Who doesn’t want to name a blood-sucking slug creature from the bottom of the ocean after their roommate that just won’t do the dishes. Or a glorious phoenix after themselves, take your pick.

The adoption event is perhaps a bit more concerning, ethically speaking, but really there is only enough room for so many Jackalopes or cat-sized Zaratans in the building. For a donation to the reserve and signing a contract agreeing to monthly check-ins from the government on the health and well-being of the creature, imPorts can adopt their very own pet cryptid to bring home with them. All the cryptids available are the size of a Great Dane or smaller and have no powers or abilities beyond that of your average Great Dane. They’re just awesome to have around.

Starting just after these auctions buses will start leaving every two hours for the porter cities. However, people are welcome to stay until dawn, enjoying food, drinks, and picking up a pair of night-vision goggles for walking the trails or riding the trains to see some of the more nocturnal crytpids (the Mothmen, for instance, can only be seen at night). You can even borrow camping supplies and set up for an overnight in designating areas of the Reserve for the really adventurous!

OOC: FOR QUESTIONS AND ADDITIONAL PLOT INFORMATION PLEASE SEE THIS POST!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lucifer has so far been enjoying the evening; he tends to enjoy social events such as these, and this time he didn't end up in some embarrassing costume. And the notion of naming things is intriguing, given the first time it happened. He's got no desire to name any of them himself -- he'd rather leave his enemies where they belong, buried in the past -- but it could be amusing to see the names that others come up with.

He's taking advantage of the fact that Chloe has wandered off to smoke while he watches. The cigarette pauses on the way to his lips as he feels a familiar tingle: there's an angel somewhere nearby. A quick scan of the crowd tells him it's not a angel he knows, and when he finds the one in question it's with a bit of surprise. None of his siblings have that kind of fashion sense.]

If I didn't know better, I'd say that dear old Dad was drunk when he came up with that one. He must have just stuck together whatever parts of animals he had left and called it a day.

{It's a delayed reaction mostly because Gabriel can't shake the weird feeling up his spine as someone lifts up something soft with three eyes.]

She asked for us to-

[Oh. Whatever thought he was going to say vanishes. It's a feeling. It's just weird because it's like seeing something that's been copied. Familiar, but it's not the same. Lucifer.

The last time he saw the morningstar it had been with a hearty fuck you as he and his soon-to-be minions fell to earth. This figure doesn't look nearly as...frightening.

Honestly it's the worst kind of family squabble. It goes beyond the little office metaphor they've set up and he takes a step back, purple eyes angry. He said He but-]

...In our world she was gracious enough to ask us for our favorite parts. It was collaborative. Your...counterpart missed it.

[It would have been fine if Adam had went with something like "beaver duck" but no. Gabriel folds his hands in front of him and there's the briefest static electricity at his fingers before he stares at the ceremony continuing and speaking softly.]

Morningstar.

[His lips press together. He'd sent Micheal who sort of tolerated their sibling/colleague/former friend and ally/best buddy. Healing the rift? fuck what Crowley and Aziraphale thought was possible.

His smile is way too bright.]

...Or a morningstar. Nice to see you.

[He is unperturbed by this encounter. Visibly, anyway. He doesn't have much use for angels on a good day, and finds it rather amusing to toy with them when he can, because none of them have anything resembling a sense of humor.]

Those were someone's favorite parts? [Oh Dad. What was going on in this other Heaven?]

Which one are you, then?

[Gabriel doesn't look enough like the counterpart from Lucifer's world for Lucifer to be able to figure it out.]

[They have names and personalities, Morningstar. Names and personalities and even if their human corporations looked a certain way and were constrained by gender]

Gabriel.

[He smiled again as the humans began to clap.] Messages, storms, all that good stuff.

[They may have names but their personalities are restricted to the things they were assigned to protect. He has the personality of a wet sack of something.]

I picked the tail. Good for building houses.

[This new thing had long tentacles and the archangel recoiled visibly.]

What is that?

One of the important ones. [The emphasis is deliberate. Lucifer isn't the only angel with an ego. Gabriel and Michael had long been cognizant of their status as archangels and the fact that they were mentioned by name in various religious sources.]

Though when my father wanted to send me a message, he sent the firstborn.

[He drops the cigarette butt and crushes it under the sole of his expensive shoe.]

Some kind of squid.

[This is one of the few moments that Gabriel won't give into his natural ego. 1) because he's not going to give the Morningstar the satisfaction and 2) That thing. At the mention of the first born however he resists the cringing feeling from that...thing.]

Well you know. I was busy guiding humanity and Hell in my world is actually kind of disgusting.

[ugh.] drives a nail down this corporation's spine. Is Micheal here?

[Yours or His. Though he'd know if His were here. He hopes. He thinks.] I mean eventually we should probably have some sort of discussion. Distant familial bonds and all.

[uggggh the way it wiggles. The angel closes his eyes and looks away before focusing fully on Lucifer, those purple eyes bright and suppressing disgust.]

Delivering messages is one of Amenadiel's jobs. [He's just not the only one who does it.] He wasn't delivering these messages to Hell. He delivered them to Earth, when dear old Dad got tired of waiting for me to return to Hell on my own.

[None of the angels had ever set foot in Hell, until he abandoned it and Amenadiel had to patrol its borders.]

Michael is not here. I'm the only non-human from my world here.

[Which is fine with him, since they're his favorite humans, and he prefers them to the celestials.]

I'm guessing you've never eaten tempura.

I don't eat. [His eyes narrow before he rolls them.] What is it with this obsession with eating? Seriously she made food for them. Our kind should be able to subsist on her grace and Holy water at most.

[He sighs.]

It's disgusting. And she didn't make that. At least I don't think she did.

[Crud.

Crud crud. Fuck Fuck Fuck. He shouldn't have revealed his celestial radar was on the fritz so to speak.]

I mean obviously it's a part of her plan. but.

Uh huh.

[He's enjoying this probably more than he should, but he doesn't care.]

If squid weren't meant to be eaten, then they shouldn't be so delicious.

Have you ever considered doing something just because you enjoy it?

[Like eating.]

[Another animal is adopted and people clap. Lucifer gets a very dirty look.]

I'm not an overstuffed dove sitting on the garden's wall making friends with beings they shouldn't be making friends with.

[It's probably far too clever a description for Aziraphale then the principality deserves.]

Next you'll tell me I should read. Or watch something besides Sound of Music.

Does your father have a favorite movie?

Who says you shouldn't be friends with him?

[It's much more fun being friends with whoever he wants. For one thing, it means he has friends in the first place.]

Books can be useful. And there are a lot of good movies out there, none of which my father has seen because the Silver City does not have movies.

[Or anything fun, in fact.]

It wasn't me. Aziraphale was on apple tree duty and I should have never left him there. I was preoccupied. Mother was furious.

[They're coming to the last of the animals now.] That snake had gotten into the garden and convinced her to eat the apple. We told her she should have put it on the moon but it had a purpose.

It just never got fulfilled. Clearly.

[It's said so matter-of-factly that he shrugs it off before raising an eyebrow.] Your father should watch sound of music. It's absolutely fantastic.

Apple tree duty? To do what, sit there and babysit a tree?

[Which clearly didn't turn out so well.]

It's funny that a snake could do that because snakes can't talk.

[Sure, angel. Whatever you say.] Next time I talk to him I'll be sure and pass that along.

[Of course he is.

Gabriel instantly freezes and his shoulders set. For one second he doesn't look like a traveling salesman peddling snake oil. Instead he looks vengeful, judgemental, angry, and lightning crackles across his fingers.]

Aziraphale's here.

[His smile returns.]

Wonderful. Absolutely fabulous. And of course he had to. She made it. And I'd think you'd know that snakes have ways of persuading people.

[Poor Eve and Adam. If only they had stayed.]

The inoffensive angel, yes. That demon friend of his, too.

[At least now he knows which world this Gabriel is from, and a little about it.

There's a strange sort of smile on his face at that last comment. Of memories recalled but mostly of the knowledge of pulling off that particular stunt.]

I do, yes.

[He's not called silver-tongued for nothing, even if he doesn't lie.]

Although the snake part was less literal and more metaphorical. And the fruit was less like an apple and more like a banana.

[If Gabriel were any sort of other creature he would raise an eyebrow at the banana comment. Since he's not he frowns.]

The inoffensive angel?

he's very offensive. To be frank I'm not even sure he's an angel anymore. He and his "Friend" have become some sort of brand new species. He survived hellfire.

[Can you believe it.] And crowley survived holy water.

[The ceremony is concluding and Gabriel smiles and claps good naturedly.] you taught them how to die. That feel good?

He seems like an angel to me. [A celestial being anyway, which is close enough, since in his world celestials are either angels or devils, and he's the only devil. Which leaves only angels.]

Maybe he's some of both then.

They were humans. They were always going to die. [Which sounds a lot colder than he meant it to, but at the time he hadn't cared any more about humans than any of the angels care even now. Today, he'd have a different view of what was appropriate.] If it helps, they were allowed in to Heaven.

[That gets a squint.]

You can't be "some of both". [Can you? Says the angelic asshole. He looks genuinely confused for a moment before he lets it slide.]

...Sure. Yeah. But-

[Why does it bother him. He can't say. Glaring at him like an offended childhood he focuses on what he can be mad at.]

Implying that I'm somehow part demon? We're all not you. Lucifer.

[He laughs arrogantly.] Okay?

[He's silent for a moment, considering the fact that he possesses both angel wings and a devil face, either of which he can draw out at will, and that's not even counting his monstrous form, useful as the King of Hell needing to bring demons in line, but still possessing wings (though they lack any trace of the angelic). And Amenadiel's theory, and Chloe's assertion that there is some angel in him still. Add in the events in Los Angeles before he arrived here, and he's not so sure anymore that the only options are one or the other.]

Are you sure about that? How else could an angel survive hellfire and a demon survive holy water?

[He might not get an answer. That's not the important part. What matters is getting someone to question what they think they know.]

I never said you were part demon.

[That's what they were trying to figure out before he left. Because it was terrifying. It nearly got Sandalphon and Uriel and they wouldn't have survived. They would have died.

Or would they?

The thought is enough to make his chest ache again because they're his responsibility and he cares and they're family and he cares and he looks genuinely concerned staring at his feet.

When he looks up again he's that same smiling asshole.]

They can't. That's the point. They're something new. Mutated freaks or something. Too much time on earth too many foods and vices and-

[No. No he is not going to get into this. Instead.]

Good because I'm not.

[He watches the handlers collect the animals before turning those same purple eyes back on the morning star.]

My world's version of you was always kind of a penis. Except that he cared and he always used to do that. Are you sure about that. Like it meant something when all he did was take what was a really good system and turn it upside down.

And those two? Are just like him.

Good. Humans aren't that bad, you know.

[The first time he ever felt at home was on Earth, but he's not going to share that info with some judgey angel.]

I don't think that's the word you meant to use.

You make it sound like caring is a bad thing.

Sure. They weren't bad until they multiplied and started getting hurt.

You make changes so that it makes their lives easier and they keep screwing up. Jesus? You know how hard that was? Telling Mary she was going to be a part of the great plan? I didn't expect humans to fuck it up so royally.

[And a bit more trickles out because the past 24 hours have been hard and without her and her grace and his hierarchy and all of that stuff that made him feel in control he is out of control.

So he is honest.]

That hurt. And then they kept doing it. Keep caring out of because if you do you make stupid decisions and more people get hurt. Plus they're idiots! They can't see how to-

[Wait. Hold on. He interrupts his tangent ] Penis. That's the right word right? For a person who's rude or downright mean? I mean yeah that's also a part of human anatomy but it's what a person is called if they do something terrible.

The word you're looking for is 'dick.'

[Angels are good at being them.]

Maybe they don't need you to fix their lives for them. Making their own choices, that's what matters. And then they have to live with the consequences.

What's the point in Hell if no one's going to be allowed to go there? Isn't that balance supposed to exist?

[He sticks his hands in his pockets.]

You sound like Beelzebub.

[It's not about balance. It's about being the best maybe but Aziraphale and Crowley threw that off and maybe...]

...I don't...like the thought.

[He looks away, eyes narrow.]

It just seems so...poorly managed. The whole idea of Hell. And overcrowded. And just...

[Bad. Wrong. Human beings maybe deserve better but the whole point of the exercise was to make it work and...

He scratches the back of his neck.]

You can't seriously believe that. That people should be allowed to go there.

It's infinite. If it needs more space, it just adds some on.

[The population keeps propagating. The population keeps dying.]

I didn't say that. My father created it for a reason, and then needed someone to be in charge of it, so it seems a bit strange that he would expect obedience and then have something in place for when he didn't get it.

[Is is possible he expected humans to fail?]

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