i'm sick of dancing with the beast

[bassriff]

WHO: Marceline and whoever!! POSSIBLY YOU????
WHERE: WHEREVER
WHEN: Throughout the month
WHAT: Catchall log.
WARNINGS: none to start, will edit if needed

Starters in the comments! If you want to get a thread going, feel free to PM me or hit me up at clockworkbrain.

Comments

mabel, 1/12

[bassriff]

[She could call ahead with some notice. But when has she ever been one to do that? Besides, she's got a surprise ready. Marceline's already flying over Heropa and closing in on the government housing block when she thinks to send a text.]

yo mabel!! get yourself out here, we're going someplace cool

[glitterateur]

I'm out I'm out!!!!!

[And she is, out on the front steps wrestling herself into a new sweater (dancing bananas, an experimental new pattern) and shooing a cat back inside. Marceline says they're going to do a cool thing and she is not going to miss that biz.]

[bassriff]

[Marceline touches down on the lawn, adjusting her hat. It's nearly sunset, but still, better safe than sorry until that sucker's out of the sky. They've got time to get to one of the music stores they'd need for this anyway.]

Hey! You ready? You're gonna dig this, trust me.

[glitterateur]

[It's only the fact that Mabel still wants Marceline to think she's sort of Cool and Mature that she's not vibrating from excitement.]

I'm so ready. Where're we going?! Am I gonna need my bedazzler?

[bassriff]

[She knows Mabel isn't, but she likes her anyway.]

Nah, leave the bedazzler. We're hitting one of the music shops downtown.

[glitterateur]

Really?! What're we doing? Are you gonna commandeer the whole store and turn it into an impromptu concert? Is there gonna be dancing?!

[She's already running in the vague direction of downtown, forgetting about the whole flying thing in the face of a potential musical situation.]

[bassriff]

Nah, nah, nothing big like that. You wanna pick up music?

[Mabel. Come on.]

[glitterateur]

Like learn to play something? Like a real instrument and not something dumb like the sousaphone? [Sorry, Dipper.] Yes!!

[bassriff]

Thought so! [Marceline grins, throwing her arm around Mabel's waist.] Hold on tight, 'kay?

evening, Chilton's office

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Chilton was more than willing to accommodate her, given his experience with vampires. Marceline, his third vampiric patient to date, nevertheless embodied few similarities to that of Kanaya and Tobias -- and that's what would make this session fascinating, thought Chilton. Variety in anecdotal material made his research all the more persuasive.

His office favored a neoclassical look: Greco-Roman art framed on his walls, the light blue fringe accents matching his sedan. Heavy influences of black and gold peppered his desk, his choice in psychiatric encyclopedia, his pens and leather chair. As always, there was an alternative to the comfortable sedan sat across from his desk -- a hard wooden chair, one made intentionally uncomfortable.

It was a dilemma that Chilton liked to pose to his patients.]

[bassriff]

[Marceline takes in the decor as she steps inside, opting for the sedan - or its position, anyway. She lifted off of the floor, reclining a solid six or so inches above above the comfortable seat.]

So. [She fiddles with one of her bracelets, before looking over to Chilton.] How's this going to work?

[slightlyoffchilt]

[He stares at her a moment, as if expecting her to descend. When it becomes clear that Marceline will not -- the first defiance against his expectations -- Chilton recovered his surprise with a particularly sanguine smile.]

You've already made yourself comfortable, which was the first step. I'd like to begin by getting a gauge on your current emotional state; how would you describe your daily feelings? Contentment? Contempt? Sadness?

[bassriff]

[That one takes her a moment to come up with the right answer. She closes her eyes, thinking, speaking again after a few seconds.]

Contentment's not the word I'd use. It's close, but...grod, I don't know. It's more like acceptance?

[slightlyoffchilt]

Acceptance teeters on resignation sometimes.

[Not a criticism, just and observation. Chilton couldn't help but smirk, thinking that the dubious nature of the status quo might be something to tinker with.]

Unless you mean something beyond acceptance of your circumstance? Do you feel, for example, accepted by your peers? Or the locals?

[bassriff]

Please, I live in Maurtia Falls. The locals are afraid of me. [Oh, sure, there's the ones who like her. But that's through the lens of her music and act. They don't know her any more than the others do, by and large.]

No, you got it the first time.

[slightlyoffchilt]

[Even better, he thought.]

What is it that you would want, Marceline? Out of this experience, out of your time dedicated to a world you won't remember if -- or rather, when -- you might return?

[Really, it was still a question of if. But whimsical what ifs didn't lend well to existential crises.]

What is your purpose beyond accepting where you are?

[bassriff]

I don't know. [Really, she doesn't. She's been grasping for some kind of meaning.]

I guess I want to make something people are going to remember, even if I won't. If I can change some lives, then... [The band is one thing. Putting that art and a body of work out there into this world.]

1/15 i guess idk sometime before THE WAR

[fistofthejoestar]

[what a beautiful day at the park! the sun is shining, the birds are chirping...and there is a very large, very ugly black dog romping through the grass like he's never seen this place before in his life. it may not be picturesque, but it's endearing, and it certainly has his master in good spirits.

Jonathan leans down to unclip Hyperion from his leash, reaching into his pocket for the ball he'd brought along. the dog immediately recognizes what's coming next and sits perfectly still, attention focused like a laser on the future projectile. what a good boy.]

Let's see how far we can cover, hm?

[he loves playing with his dog anyway, but this particular game of fetch has a secondary purpose: helping determine the strengths and limits of his new stand. unseen to those around him, The World's hand manifests above his own, lending Jonathan its power as he winds up for the throw.

the toss is truly magnificent in the distance it arcs across - and no one is happier than Hyperion. his master is so busy trying to chart how much further it's gone thanks to the stand that he doesn't really register where it's going to land until it hits the ground and his dog is almost upon it; in other words, wow what are the odds it'd drop so close to another dog in this park full of animals???

he has every confidence that Hyperion will behave himself in the encounter, but that doesn't mean he can just sit back and watch it unfold. as soon as Jonathan spies the mixup he starts jogging over, apology already written all over his face as he starts scanning for the other animal's master.]

[bassriff]

[Ozzy looks up and stands his ground, eyeing the much larger dog a little warily. still, he doesn't run, just. man that sure is a big dog getting up in his space. maybe a little growling from this poodle mix.

Marceline, for her part, is sitting under a nearby tree in a hoodie and a cap to avoid the sun, letting Ozzy run and play for the time being. now, though? uuugh. whatever, she's dressed for this. She floats up into a standing position, walking over towards the two dogs as Jonathan approaches.]

Hey, Ozz, is the big guy rudin' you out? Don't worry about it, he seems cool. [even if that dog's ugly, he's kind of charming. doooogsssss. Marceline looks up at Jonathan, floating up a few inches higher because HOLY FUCK THAT MAN IS ENORMOUS WHAT THE HELL

well, dogs match their owners, she guesses.]

[fistofthejoestar]

[are you calling Jonathan ugly, Marcy. because if so we need to have some words.

Hyperion seems to be cheerfully unabashed by the light growling, but oh! his new bestest best friend does appear to be a bit on edge. he immediately abandons retrieving the ball for the time being and lays down to minimize his largeness, tail thumping against the ground heavily. look how unthreatening he is, new buddy, come smell him.

the floating doesn't really throw Jonathan off as he draws to a stop, because he's seen much weirder - although there's certainly a little mild discomfort to come once the situations settled down and he has time to notice the more obvious vampire tells. for the time being he finally gets to make that apology that he's apparently been saving up on the trip over.]

I'm terribly sorry, I really wasn't looking where I was tossing the ball.

[he doesn't pull Hyperion away just yet, but his posture is ready to defuse the situation should it decide to escalate.]

[bassriff]

[he's not ugly but he's definitely a big bara with a puppydogish look and you know what that's good enough!!!

Ozzy's growling slowly lowers and he moves closer, sniffing the air around Hyperion as he lays on the grass. Marceline shrugs, smiling down at the two dogs.]

It's okay, looks like they're making friends. [There are definitely some sharp teeth showing as she talks.] What's his name?

[Marceline reaches out to try to give Hyperion some scritches behind his ears.]

[fistofthejoestar]

[mnnnn. he sees those teeth. how can he not, when he spent an entire month honing the ability to pick out the tiniest details in the biggest maelstrom of bullshit to ever grace the earth? it doesn't take a genius to match them up with the heavy clothing and reach the proper conclusion, let alone a ripple master.

his posture and polite tone don't change an iota, but it's definitely something that Jonathan files away in his memory. the vampires of these other worlds are all different, but giving people the benefit of the doubt doesn't equate to leaving oneself open to pain.]

Hyperion. [he laughs quietly.] I thought it was apt.

[father of the sun, watchful keeper of the light. it was hard to imagine a better name for the dog that was now trying to twist and turn his head so that he could give Marceline appreciative doggy kisses while also allowing her to continue scratching behind his ears. it's an ongoing endeavor that probably won't succeed, but the earnestness behind it is too sweet to be exasperated over.]

[bassriff]

Yeah? Apt how?

[She doesn't know her myth very well. Marceline laughs, landing and bending down to let Hyperion do his thing. She keeps scratching, bringing her hands down to pet the dog's neck and shoulders.]

My lil guy's Ozzy, by the way. [Who is now sitting in front of Jonathan and craning his neck to look up at him.]

[fistofthejoestar]

It's the name of a mythological figure associated with the sun.

[this is a huge oversimplification, but Jonathan knows himself well enough to know that if he started to go into detail he'd never stop. Marcy would probably rip that hood right off her head and burn up in the afternoon sun just to escape, and forcing that kind of action's really not proper etiquette at all.

upon noticing the other dog trying to get a good look at him he drops into a crouch which, while still massive, at least lets poor Ozzy keep from straining his tiny neck. he holds his hands out in front of him for inspection, within easy access but not far enough out to imply he's going to touch without the little dog's approval.]

It's good to meet you, Ozzy.

[he's playing around a little with how solemn the introduction is, but there's a spark of sincerity to it. Jonathan looooves being introduced to new puppies.]

[bassriff]

[Ozzy has no problem with it! Jonathan strikes him as friendly, and he pushes himself up onto his hindlegs to try to get closer, yipping once. Marceline laughs at the exchange, even if she's a little uncertain about the part about why Hyperion has his name.]

You're an imPort too, right? I think I've seen you around.