villagelogs | 018-020 » what he hides

Entry tags:

018-020 » what he hides

WHO: Everyone.
WHERE: Eastern/Central/Western Mathias.
WHEN: Days 018-020
WHAT: The fog recedes!
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary. PM this account to have a warning added!
NOTES: Plotting post over here!

RECOMMENDED ♫ Graham Plowman "Edge of Darkness"

DAYS 018-020
THE HIDDEN REVEALED
“Three may keep a secret, if two of them are dead.”
— Benjamin Franklin

As the sun rises in the distance above the sea, the fog slips away from the unsettling town, winding through streets and across buildings until it is nestled soundly in the forest. There it waits, ready to snare any who dare test its limits — residents would do well to remember what happened the last time they encountered the fog so intimately.

With the fog receded, the western portion of Mathias is now revealed and available for exploring. There are more businesses on the town square and even some on the street that runs off the square. The schoolhouse is nestled by the southern treeline, not from the little makeshift cemetery at the end of Jackson Boulevard that is courtesy of a few kind residents in town. To the far north of the square is a sprawling garden, now covered in snow, and a greenhouse that once supplied the botanical shop. And to the west, beyond the square, is another residential district of the same size as that to the east. What is different, however...

These buildings are all in some form of decay. From the beginnings of rot to completely collapsed and little more than a pile of proverbial bones, none of these homes are anything resembling livable. Well, as far as one can tell, at least. For between the streets of Hill Lane and Stine road there is a crack in the earth. A dozen feet across and fifty feet down, the crack extends from one side of the forest to the other, either end cut off by the fog. The view to the other side is clear but there is no way across.

THE NEW ARRIVALS
There are quite a few new faces in Mathias on this day. Awaking throughout Day 018, they will find themselves laying in the snow beside that unsettling crack in the earth, houses both quaint and decaying surrounding them as the snow begins to cover their bodies. Best get inside and warm up, dears.

SPECTRES IN THE NIGHT
The days are short now that winter seems to have set in unseasonably early. Though the clocks in Mathias fail to properly keep time or sometimes even work at all, the sun rises around 8:00am and sets at 5:00pm. There is far more darkness than light in these days, but in that darkness there is, in fact, light.

In the distance all across Mathias, there are lanterns lit against that darkness. Their lights dance across the snow, the warm flickering shining like tiny stars and offering an almost ethereal glow to the crisp white snow. It would be a beautiful sight to behold... if it weren't for the shadowy figures that held them. With partially raised arms, the figures hold the lanterns and walk the streets of Mathias, drifting in between buildings and disappearing into the forest. Still yet, there are some that simply stand in place, as if waiting for something or someone.

No matter where or when these figures are seen, they always seem to be facing away from our residents, and attempts at reaching them are all for naught. They will fade from view if one gets too close, and return to sight when that distance is regained. And in the morning, those lanterns may be found in the snow, their lights extinguished but their glass somehow still warm.

STRANGER IN THE SNOW
Those investigating the western part of Mathias and venturing near that inexplicable crack in the earth will have the most unsettling feeling of being watched. Most of the time, there is nothing there and no one to be seen, but then—

On the other side of that expanse, sitting on a porch, in the shadow of a home, or standing in the oddly moonlit street, there is a man. His features are shrouded in darkness and not much can be discerned about him, but instinct tells you he is dangerous. There is a sense deep in your bones that he is maliciously amused.

He makes no move to speak, nor will he respond to any attempts on your part. Instead, he sits, or he stands, and he watches. By the end of Day 020, all sign of him will be gone, along with the eerie feeling of being watched.

LOCATIONS

Unless otherwise noted, all new locations have working electricity and other utilities.

BENEDICT BOOKS Nestled quaintly on the square surrounding the Town Hall, a thick layer of dirt covering the front windows. A portrait hangs at the front of the store to illustrate the namesake of the little shop... that may, in fact, not be so little. Dust covers everything in sight and detritus litters the wooden floor, as if someone left the door open and allowed half the forest inside. (more info)

MATHESON ANTIQUES Also on the town square is an antique store that is a lesson in chaos more than culture. The items within are stacked haphazardly, creating narrow aisles running throughout the space. Furniture, light fixtures, old revolutionary and civil war memorabilia, all of it is jumbled together with no rhyme or reason. Indeed, one wrong move could create an avalanche of aged wood and peeling paint.

POE'S CLOTHES Located on the town square, this shop carries only the basics. Loose jeans in a few sizes, khakis, solid color dress shirts and blouses, flannel in various styles, socks and underwear.

SPIN RIGHT ROUND RECORDS On the square across from the beauty store, the music shop is as dusty as everything else in this town has been. Tables line the walls of the long shop, filled with rows and rows of vinyl records, while a few wall shelves display cassette tapes for sale. One side of the store is for New items, while the other holds the Used section with items for resale. Residents may recognize some of the artists but many are unfamiliar to them.

CLINIC Outside the decayed, crumbling building just north of the square is a still miraculously intact sign with the name of the clinic's doctor, Dr. Ken Suzuki. There is no way to treat patients in this location, but with care, some salvageable supplies may yet be found in the remains.

BARKER BOTANICALS Not quite a flower shop and not entirely an apothecary, the botanical store to the far north of the square is something of an amalgamation of both. With a few broken windows to let in the rain, parts of the shop have been overtaken by nature, the house plants growing beyond their pots and rotted flower petals littering the floor to tell of seasons past. The still unclaimed walls are filled with decaying plants and jars of dried herbs and other vegetation, along with a few essences and tinctures.

GREENHOUSE A few dozen yards from the botanicals shop is a sprawling garden, now covered in snow, and a greenhouse that once supplied the botanical shop. The glass is still miraculously intact, though covered in grime so thick that one cannot see inside.

GALLERY The gallery is essentially a large empty space with framed and matted black and white photographs of the town lining the walls. There is a small selected of prints available for sale near the front entrance, and a few rooms at the back of the building — a dark room for developing photos, a small office, and a locked room.

MOVIE THEATER This single-screen theater is quite small, having only 40 seats, but there is a large collection of movies in its storage room. These are all old film reels however, so hopefully someone knows how to thread a film projector.

HISTORY MUSEUM Across the street from the Historical Society, this once esteemed wooden building has seen better days. Windows and doors are boarded up and there is visible rot and decay on the exterior walls. Part of the roof has fallen in and the accumulating snow threatens to collapse the rest of it as well. It is not wise to venture within.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY This brick building has also seen better days, though in a different sort of way. Where once had been carefully cataloged collections and cozy reading rooms for aficionados of local history, there are now stacks of bankers boxes and weathered tomes in every nook and cranny. There is no organization to any of it, everything seeming to have been stashed in a hurry and then left forgotten. Anyone who dares to dive into this archive will need to devote quite some time in order to find anything worthwhile. They will also want to bring their own light source — the electricity does not work here and the windows are quite dark from the accumulated dust and grime.

SCHOOLHOUSE A much smaller school than most of our residents might be used to, there are only a half-dozen rooms in the building, with a few comprising classrooms, meeting areas, and workspaces. All ages were taught here, and one might almost imagine the sound of children's whispered voices and distant laughter while within the empty building.

CONDITIONS UPDATE

— SNOW continues to fall in Mathias. Days 18-19 see light snowfall that very slowly accumulates, but the snowfall turns moderately heavy on Day 20 and sees significant accumulation. The temperature hovers just below freezing and dips lower when the sun goes down.

— VOICES are not openly haunting our residents, though they may still be occasionally encountered in the more heavily decayed buildings where some rooms seem to almost swallow whatever light tries to enter them.

— THE FOG has receded from the town proper and much of the eastern and northern beach. The path through the northern forest to the lighthouse is now also clear.

— DISAPPEARANCES continue to plague the town. While Daisy Johnson has returned, Zed Martin, Rey, and Quentin Coldwater have now vanished without a trace.

OOC UPDATES

— MADNESS has now been unlocked. Congratulations to Inky for Claire earning the first Madness! Who will be next? (Please be sure to keep your sanity updated regularly; Stars has created an amazing tracker for anyone to use if they'd like.)

— HELPERS are officially in residence! Kelly is our Registrar and Stars is our Librarian — both of these delightful members of our community are helping behind the scenes to keep things organized and updated (and doing wonders for the mod's own sanity levels), so please give them some thanks for their hard work!

— REPORTING updates is still a thing that your mod and helpers beg you to do. Changes to locations, plot notes that affect the community, and discoveries should be reported over here so these can all be noted in their appropriate places. (For clarification, reported Discoveries are not public knowledge unless a character has ICly shared this information.)

— A MAP of Mathias now exists, thanks to our wonderful Librarian! Please note that it is not to scale and there may be a few minor errors due to your frazzled mod. Expect updates in the future as more secrets are revealed.

— BULLETIN BOARD — don't forget about it. That's all.

CLAIMING AP REWARDS

Normally, only one AP reward can be claimed per log, but due to the plethora of new and old locations to explore, this restriction is being relaxed. Instead, for this log only:
— Players may spend AP on up to three rewards, though only Spot Hidden may be repeated.
— If a player is spending multiple Spot Hiddens, they must be with different characters and in different locations.

If two characters are investigating the same location together, they may each spend a Spot Hidden on that location. Players should record their spent AP after the AP request has been approved. Sometimes there is nothing to Spot with your Hidden and the points will be "refunded" to use elsewhere.

navigation | faq | setting | mod contact

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Cas squeezes back, the real, in the flesh, Cas. Dean's eyes fall closed, emotion passing between them. His choked back sob chokes Dean's throat, a lump forming. It's okay, he thinks. I'm here. )

Isn't that my line?

( Another minute passes and Dean lets himself pull back, opening his eyes. )

I thought you were in the Empty, man. ( Hands sliding back to squeeze his shoulders, Dean looks him up and down. ) You're here. You're right here.

[Castiel actually laughs; only Dean could inspire such laughter in him, after it all. After Castiel wakes up in the snow next to a fault in the ground, trapped in some woods that he doesn't know. It feels like a small miracle, but a miracle nonetheless, and Castiel, though he doesn't understand why he suddenly needs to breathe, is only too happy to breathe Dean in, even as Dean eventually pulls back.]

Perhaps I felt like stealing your line.

[Castiel lets his gaze roam all across Dean, from his face to his shoulders, drinking in the sight of him, seemingly healthy, whole, and alive. His Grace sings at the sight.

When Dean mentions the Empty, Castiel shakes his head, though he also takes a moment to stare at the ground in order to move past the temporary chill that comes over him at the mention of what was supposed to be his ultimate fate.]

Jack pulled me out, to...assist him. I was in Heaven before...

[He glances around them, wondering where here is supposed to be.]

Wherever this is supposed to be.

( That feisty quality is what Dean has gotten used to, Castiel's autonomy and his heart. He's mastered sarcasm and he likes to hear it. Even if he's pissed and it's lobbed in his direction. Even when he's angry, pissed at Cas, he still appreciates him being safe. And here. While feelings swirl around Castiel's secret and what happened after, having him here grounds him in a way he didn't feel before. He's been the stranger in a strange land, with and without Sam, and with and without Cas, but this is different. He just knows it is. He doesn't know why. Maybe because he thought Cas was really gone.

Maybe he was good to lose himself completely in this charade.

Now he's not so sure it is a charade. )

Jack? He had the juice to pull you out? He pull you out because I disappeared? I didn't - answer Sam. I thought I had time.

( To break.

But, if Jack knew all this and then sent Cas. Or, Sam. Or, Cas volunteered. Whatever happened... )

... You found me.

Yes. Presumably because of his becoming the new God. He explained the gist of it, but he didn't go too deeply into the details.

[And, oh, Castiel will never not take distinct pleasure in the fact that Chuck is human now, destined to be alone and forgotten. Chuck will spend the rest of his existence on Earth, and then, ideally, wind up in the Empty when he finally does pass. Or Hell; either option appeals. And perhaps that is petty of him, but, Castiel thinks, after everything? He's entitled to a dab of pettiness.

He's still watching Dean, wonders what else Dean knows. Clearly, he remembers Castiel getting taken to the Empty, but it sounds like he might not be aware of anything else that's occurred after, which...damn, Castiel thinks, recalling how he just told Dean about Jack ascending to become God. Too late to take it back now, though.

When Dean says that Castiel has found him, he smiles, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes.]

I think, in this case, it was you who found me, no?

... Jack becoming what.

( Cas is right. All Dean knows is Cas gave himself over to the Empty to save Dean, to keep him fighting. Billie had them in her sights, pounded on the door and Cas, he said what he said.

Now he's given another reason to not address it. Because, that isn't what he remembers.

Cas assumes Dean knows. Cas is smiling. )

[Perhaps he should not have assumed, judging from Dean's reaction. If he has to guess, the last Dean remembers is of that night when the Empty came for Castiel and Billie both. Which means...He doesn't know. He doesn't know that they've defeated Chuck, that Jack has taken Chuck's place. And he certainly doesn't know about Heaven, or that Castiel felt Dean's soul ascending just before arriving here.

There's a lot that Dean doesn't know and Castiel does, and that is...quite the burden, he realizes. Shit, as the eldest Winchester might say.]

You weren't aware of this? Perhaps we should...find somewhere to talk.

[Castiel has a startling realization just then; bitterness seeps into him, he finds himself slightly shivering. He can hear his teeth chattering. His eyes widen as he realizes this.]

Dean. I'm cold.

( He doesn't know anything. )

You're --

( He rubs his shoulders, like he did Claire's, before nodding, pushing an arm around him and ushering he and Cas farther away from the crevice. He gives one, unsettling, glance back at the Stranger, but, thinks better of it.

The further away from the crack he gets, the better he feels.

He walks Cas through the falling snow past the other houses back to 1301 Phillips Dr. He holds the door open for him before closing it shut. He wraps his knuckles against it once, keeping his head bowed. He's here. He's safe. He's not freezing to death.

Turning, he tries to collect himself, keep himself together. He's supposed to be the rock. He's strong. He's -- out of the Empty. Dean's eyes tear up, not knowing what to say, a shaky breath pushing out. )

Cas.

[Dean's rubbing his shoulders, suddenly, and while it can't stave off all of the cold, the gesture still helps immensely, warming Castiel instantly. Dean puts his arm around Castiel, and, instinctively, Castiel's own arm wraps around Dean, holding onto him by the waist as Dean steers them away from the crack in the ground.

He walks with Dean as houses appear; he blinks, surprised by their presence. He didn't know to expect any signs of civilization out in the (seemingly) middle of nowhere like this.

He follows Dean inside as Dean holds open the door to a particular house, and Castiel wonders if Dean lives here, possibly. Dean shuts the door behind them, and by the time he turns back around, there are tears in his eyes; Castiel aches at the sight. He finds his own eyes tearing up before he can help himself.]

Dean.

[Castiel stares, watching Dean, just basking in the sight of him, as much as he can. He's uncertain how to begin, so he asks what he feels like a pragmatic first couple of questions.]

What's going on? What is this place?

Mathias Township. ( He starts to say, Chuck, but if Jack is God, Chuck isn't, right? ) It's abandoned. People wake up here. There's a traveling fog, they say it's deadly. It's like something out of a Stephen King novel. Everything's either in disrepair, or it's untouched. And all the technology, it's straight out of the 90's.

( He moves over to the thermostat to check the temperature, turning up the heat. )

Those are all the facts, what this place is, what's your best guess? Last I checked, you were gone. That's the last thing I know. Nothing about Jack bringing you back. Becoming God. Is that how we stopped Chuck?

[Castiel blinks, listening as Dean explains this Mathias Township. This reminds him, somewhat, of Apocalypse World, only lesser populated, and, according to Dean, with more primitive technology. And 'deadly fog' is a new experience, even for them.] This is a township? Is this...Dean, I didn't see any other signs of any other villages around here. Is this the only town around?

[Castiel wonders. Is this merely a world Chuck forgot to destroy? Or perhaps this is an aspect of the Empty, meant to lure them into a false sense of security. He pinches the bridge of his nose, feeling a headache coming on from the weight of his own thoughts.] I would guess this is another alternate dimension, perhaps one Chuck forgot to destroy. But I couldn't tell you for certain.

[Castiel considers how he wants to answer, knowing he needs to be careful with what he chooses to say.] Jack didn't go into all the details but from what he told me, you all found a way for him to absorb God's power? Enough to turn Chuck human and make Jack as powerful as Chuck used to be.

We don't know. The fog keeps everybody in. It rolled back this morning, there's more inside it.

( Maybe things inside it. He doesn't know. )

I thought - maybe it was on our Earth, but, remote. ( But it can't be. Time isn't working right. ) And that made him God.

( Jack is God. Jack is doing good. Jack is everything and nothing. There's a swelling of pride, one he can't really claim himself considering how slowly it took him to accept Jack again. Maybe he never fully did. Can he, now? And does it matter? )

For now, we go with, not a Chuck world. Or, one Chuck left behind. One where the space time continuum apparently doesn't run like it does for us. Time also -- doesn't tick here.

The fog...cages people inside of this township. Of course it does.

[Castiel rubs a hand across the lower half of his face. Well, why not exchange working in Heaven alongside Jack for a seemingly haunted town also apparently controlled by fog. Such an upgrade. But, on the other hand, Dean is here, alive. And so is Claire. So Castiel will take his victories where he can, especially when those victories are so large and wonderful in their own right.

But he can focus on telling Dean about Jack, and all the good he's doing as the new God. His expression visibly softens when speaking about the Nephilim, an obviously proud father speaking about his son.] Yes. He's doing so well, Dean. Because of all of us, and how we raised him. He's truly living up to his promise to usher in Paradise.

[He makes a point of referring to all of them - himself, Sam, and Dean - when speaking about how raising Jack allowed him to become God. Dean deserves to hear that he's important in Jack's life, too. And Castiel will make sure he knows it.]

Wait, what do you mean, 'time doesn't tick here'?

( Dean will forever have hesitance toward Jack, with his original reservations, with Mary, and with an anger that stews beneath him. While it sounds better than good, is it too good to be true. Paradise doesn't come easy, and contrary to how he comes off, he's read Utopia. But, Castiel smiles so warmly, his pride practically glows through. Dean doesn't question it or make a Paradise by the Dashboard Light joke. )

Clocks. All clocks, they're stopped. They don't run. Same thing on my phone. There are days and nights. But, fuck if we know what time it is.

[Time has stopped; clocks don't function, but this place goes from day to night and in between. Castiel tilts his head, trying to make sense of what Dean's telling him.]

What could possibly interfere with clocks but keep the cycle of day and night? It sounds like the abilities of a Reaper.

[Reapers, like the ones from back home. Like the one who likely led Dean's soul to Paradise. But Castiel is trying not to think about that.]

A reaper not doing its' job right. People die here, they come back. Their corpse is still there. Maybe for shock value.

( He doesn't know. )

The rules here, they don't make sense. At least when Gabriel locked us all on TV, we knew the rules. And this is not Scooby Doo.

( Read his disappointment, Cas. )

...What?

[Castiel's entire expression wrinkles as he tilts his head, trying to make sense of what Dean's just told him. People die here, their corpses remain, but they don't stay dead? Even for someone who's died and come back to life multiple times, this is a new experience for Castiel.

He arches an eyebrow at Dean's proclamation of this not being Scooby Doo.]

A talking dog would help liven the environment, admittedly.

If only it was Cousin Simple in the forest with the friggin' fog.

( Not that any of that makes any sense. But, leave it to Dean to mix a Scooby Doo reference with a Clue reference. )

You feel anything? Any answers?

( Because without angel radio, they have zero answers. )

Or perhaps some sort of angry spirit. That, we could identify and deal with.

[Though Castiel's lips quirk upwards at Dean's use of pop culture, finding comfort in the familiarity of it. Just one of the endless reasons he's so fond of (and in love with) this particular man.

When he asks if Castiel feels anything, Castiel tilts his head, trying to listen. Nothing. Not even static. He seems to have been cut off from angel radio.]

Nothing, I'm afraid. I don't believe I can access angel radio here, Dean.

[And then Castiel sneezes again, as if to emphasize his point.]

Even a witch. Drop a house on her. Done.

( Witch-killing bullets, too. But, there are so few answers. )

Then where are we? Is it when? Some lesser god? Gabriel's red headed step brother?

Well, if I see any flying houses or flying monkeys, I'll let you know.

[Though, also, Oz isn't a bad comparison point, all things considered. This town is far less colorful and vibrant, but it still maintains the same sense of 'fish out of water, lost and uncertain as to what to make of this place,' as far as Castiel can tell.

He snorts at the mention of Gabriel, shaking his head.]

I wish I had the answers, Dean. But I don't know. I don't recognize God's hand in any of this, or any other deity and/or celestial being that we know, for that matter.

Twister.

( He snaps and points at Castiel. Maybe, he's referring to the tornado Dorothy is caught in. Maybe he just liked the Jeff Daniels flick. Maybe a little of both. )

And God is Jack, so what do we need to learn from the B-side of a ghost town album. It's gotta be a deity, though. Right? It takes a lot of juice to keep us spinning our wheels. Archangel level.

[Castiel arches an eyebrow and tilts his head in response. Is Dean referring to the tornado in Wizard of Oz or is referring to the movie? He doesn't know.]

The movie?

[He rubs a hand across the lower half of his face, trying to think of how to best answer Dean.]

I would think so, yes. Archangel level, at least. I don't think Jack would do something like this, though. I believe he means to let people choose their own paths.

[True free will, he thinks with a soft, fond smile. The free will they all fought so hard for.]

Also like in Wizard of Oz. Or, is the angel term tornado?

( Look, Castiel has witnessed his sheer enthusiasm for random references, even if they're slightly off. Yes, like the movie, but also like Dorothy gets caught up in. )

Team Free Will.

( It's fond, but it hurts, too. It sounds about right for Jack. No, it sounds just right. )

What, Jack got caught up on a late night monster mash and sent us all here? ( No, he makes clear. ) Or, it's the town. The town just pulls people. Maybe, like a vacuum.

Angels call them tornadoes, mostly. The Enochian equivalent gets a lot of use in dirty jokes, for what it's worth.

[The more you know, as the human saying goes.

Castiel smiles as Dean utters the name that he christened them all with all those years ago, the name he reworked as 2.0 to ultimately include Jack once he came along. He feels a sense of pride, peace, and, also, a profound sense of sorrow, all at once, knowing that Dean doesn't exactly get to spend much time on Earth enjoying that free will he worked so hard for.

He keeps that thought to himself, for now, however.

He shrugs at Dean's theory.]

It wouldn't be the strangest thing that's ever happened to us, now, would it?

Enochians swap dirty jokes?

( He can't picture it. Sure, Castiel spent ten whole years becoming a real boy - so to speak, that now he feels things, but Dean doesn't picture other angels being as -- flippant. Or into blue humor. )

It wouldn't. You ever encounter hauntings involving time travel?

018-020 » what he hides

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

and wrap?