villagelogs | 028-029 » the winds of change

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028-029 » the winds of change

WHO: Everyone.
WHERE: Eastern/Central Mathias.
WHEN: Days 028-029
WHAT: A town meeting is called.
WARNINGS: Will update as necessary. PM this account to have a warning added!
NOTES: Plotting post over here!

RECOMMENDED ♫ Deadly Avenger "Ikiryo"

DAY 028
SOMETHING ON THE WIND
Another day dawns in the fair town of Mathias. The sky is a blanket of light grey, tiny specks of snow lightly falling as the hours pass. It makes the town feel almost quaint, the scenery quite peaceful in its winter garb. But beneath the veneer of peace there is a pervasive dread of something approaching. Something inevitable is on the wind, something that has come before and will come again...

Throughout the day, residents will consistently experience feelings of deja vu, that sense of having done or seen or said something before that can never be fully recalled. It happens again and again, tugging at the back of their minds, the memories just frustratingly out of reach.

Residents will also notice a note pinned around town:

The note can be found on the town hall's bulletin board and the front doors of many town establishments, including the Grey Gull, the library, and the boarding house. At the bottom of the note it is specified that the meeting will take place "tomorrow, when the sun is over the town square."

NEW ARRIVALs
The newest arrivals to Mathias will wake on the frozen lawn of the town hall atop a snowdrift. They had best hurry inside and get warmed up before hypothermia sets in.

DAY 029
A GATHERING OF MINDS
In the late afternoon when the sun hangs over the town square, residents will converge upon the Town Hall, where a larger meeting room has been filled with rows of chairs. After most people arrive, John Constantine stands and addresses the room... and then sits again. A grand introduction, truly.

Residents are encouraged to share their experiences and information they have gathered in the town while holding questions until the end. Rather than getting tangled in the intricacies of each person's tale, it seems better to absorb the broad strokes and try to connect the puzzle pieces to get a look at the bigger picture that is the mystery of Mathias Township.

THE INEVITABLE
As the meeting comes to an end and residents begin to converse among themselves, the feeling of something approaching and sense of deja vu begin to build, becoming almost oppressive as night falls. An hour after nightfall, residents learn the reason for these sensations that cease immediately as the earth begins to rumble. The buildings shake, furniture tumbles, and breakables crash to the floor as the earthquake sets in without warning.

The tremors last around a minute, far longer than a normal earthquake, and then the town settles again. There are no aftershocks, which many may note is quite unusual. Residents will find quite a bit of mess in their homes and other locations around town, but there is no structural damage to be found despite the intense shaking.

CONDITIONS UPDATE
— THE WEATHER is fairly typical of a northern winter. The sky is grey, the temperature hovers just below freezing during the day (colder at night), and a light snow falls during both days. Residents should bundle up when going outside and not venture too far into the dark night...

— THE FOG remains blocking the paths in the forest, urging residents to stay huddled within the town proper, and it also now blocks the northern section of town, beginning just before where residents know the chasm in the earth to be. Venturing into the fog is ill-advised.

— DISAPPEARANCES continue with Sherlock Holmes being the latest victim of the town's unsettling whims.

OOC NOTES
— TOWN MEETING STRUCTURE The town meeting section of the log is designed for characters to share any information they would like to with the other residents in attendance. ICly, characters should "hold questions until the end" with the intent that they can get the Big Picture first and connect any dots they see. OOCly, this means players should post their character's information sharing tag in the Meeting section, but the actual conversation about whatever they share happens after the meeting proper in the Mingle section. That way, these conversations can happen however players prefer, be that one-on-one or in small or large groups.

— HOUSING Please be sure your character's housing arrangements are up to date on our list. We're missing a few people and it really helps to know where everyone is for planning. Frequent updates for wandering characters are perfectly acceptable.

— THE BULLETIN BOARD has been updated. Players should note there is a change to the wall near the board that may be of great interest to some residents.

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He's surprised by the question because hey, he assumed the topic was shut down before it even started. It's also not something he's ever really talked at length with many people, if he's honest. "Yeah, we really did. We tried before she got sick, but it never happened. Probably a good thing, all things considered."

He rolls his shoulders, debating letting the topic drop or continuing on. But Doc asked. "Have some women to try with back home right now too, keep humanity going a little bit longer, but so far it hasn't happened with them either."

He won't bring up wedging himself in, or attempting, as a pseudo-father figure to his enemy's children. But damn, the kid needs some guidance he's not getting at home and the little one's fucking adorable.

"Never wanted any, myself." Since he's asked, he might as well answer. "It would have meant having to settle down. Living long enough to be responsible about it wasn't in the cards." But even now when it's in the cards, when he's actually started to settle down a little bit, he still hasn't changed his mind.

Of course, they don't always get to choose.

"Maybe you aren't getting any on account of being an asshole," Doc quips. It's just too bad Negan isn't in the mood to receive any pearls of wisdom because apparently Doc is in a giving mood right now.

"You had your reasons." There's no judgement in his tone. Doc had been sick and well, some people have other priorities. But no, you don't get to choose if it does happen anyway.

"For the record, I've seen shitty dads plenty. You don't seem like you'd be one if you put effort into it." He's a coach and it's the Apocalypse. He's seen shit parenting a plenty in both situations and usually, they're easy to spot.

He snorts at the comment, but hell, Doc wasn't wrong in saying they might know too much about each other right now. Negan confessed shit he shouldn't have that night and it feels like Doc sees right through him sometimes. "Probably is why, you're not wrong."

God or whoever's got every right to fucking punishment him time and again just for what he did to Lucille, forget the rest of the shit.

"Look, now that we're not both drunk as fuck, I just want to say I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable or piss you off last night. Being an asshole is what's kept me and other people who aren't irredeemable assholes alive, but that said, I cross lines I shouldn't. And hell, I like you, so I'd prefer there not being hard feelings." He gets it if there are though.

If he had to pick between parenting talk or last night, it's hard to see which is the lesser evil, but Doc is going with last night.

"You sure looked like you had some hard feelings," Doc scoffs. He had been sitting on the floor a while longer as Negan got to his feet. Half-drunk as he was, it was kind of difficult to miss. But he won't hold it against Negan if Negan isn't holding anything against him.

"I haven't- done anything with another man worth keeping dirty little secrets over in a hundred and forty years." This he is giving away freely, no impending death required. "I care not what lonely men want to do at night. You do what you want with whoever you want. As long as they want you to."

"Excuse the fuck out of me... you get to stare at my stuff but you pitch a fit if I look at yours?" How is that even fair? He thought it was an eyes above the waist type of deal for both of them. He's not actually that irritated about it, not enough to keep fighting.

But maybe he is slightly annoyed.

"Yeah, well... I'm usually with women too. But sometimes I don't say no to a little sausage if the guy catches my eye." Why not? Different dynamic, different games to play, and Negan's biggest weakness is pleasure for however long it lasts, with anyone.

"Well, I hope you're not implying you think I'm capable of anything else. I've been called an asshole, a monster... but I'm not an animal. I don't touch anyone unless they want it. They have to say yes." It's the one goddamn code he sticks to, right up there with never hurting or killing children.

"I was not staring. You stuck your crotch in my face," Doc retorts irritatedly. The cowboys have a bit of a lean when their hands are on their canted hips, usually because there's a gun in the way, but but there is absolutely no reason why Negan has to stand like that.

"I am saying no to talking about sausages." Request refused. Declined. Vetoed. Doc isn't even hanging around the kitchen. He has bedroom closets to empty.

"Oh, my sincerest fucking apologies for standing up wrong, how thoughtless can I be?" He got to his feet to go wash up, like Doc requested. You know, he felt kinda like a jackass, but now? He's just irritated.

"You're the one who brought it up... You could've said apology fucking accepted and dropped it there. Or you could have told me a big old fuck you, and it still would have been over with!" He shouldn't follow. He should let him go and go fuck off somewhere else until he cools down, but his feet are carrying him before he thinks the better of it.

"You don't get to tell me I'm the asshole and then act like one yourself... I mean, Jesus fucking Christ, man. I'm not even trying to fight with you!"

... Except where he totally is, but before, he hadn't been.

Doc is not so uncouth as to tell someone else to go fuck themselves even if he might be thinking it but Negan is pushing him real close to that point.

"Then why, pray tell, are you raisin' your goddamn voice?" Doc snaps back, shutting the cupboard door slightly loudly than he had intended, hands tense in his belt loops.

"Because you must be getting off on being the most frustrating son of a bitch around!" He moves to get in front of Doc, even if that means wedging himself between him and the door.

"How about you tell me what the fucking problem is? I told you I'd back the fuck off with the flirting if it bothers you that goddamn much, but you're still acting like I pissed on your goddamn dog. Maybe you do need to get laid by somebody... maybe it'll loosen that stick you've got shoved right up your ass!"

Almost everyone else likes Doc so it looks like it's a Negan problem from where he's standing. Doc takes a couple of steps backwards to put some breathing space between them.

"I don't know what stick you're talking about. There is no stick," he hisses. He has the patience of a saint when it comes to the New Yorkers. Maybe slightly less with Raylan, but not by much. It's just Negan who pisses him off.

"Get out of my way," he growls, trying to keep his hands to himself even though he would like to reposition Negan, or deck him in the face, and get to finishing up here.

Thing is, Negan likes Doc a lot, so he's not even sure why the fuck they're sitting here arguing. Or standing. Whatever. Although Negan has always had a talent at getting under people's skin so very easily, intentional or not.

Usually it's intentional, but not so much this time.

Generally not this time, but he's feeling stubborn and frustrated with a lot in general. "Then maybe there needs to be a stick."

He hesitates for a moment before an exasperated chuckle leaves his throat. "Or what, gonna shove me again? C'mon, man. Why are we fighting?"

"Because I'm trying to finish up here but you are in my face." And Doc doesn't much like Negan's face right now. He's two or three inches shorter although the cowboy hat does make them about equal.

"Either you are helping me clear this cupboard out of clothes that can be salvaged or you are in my way." And right now Negan very much looks like he is being deliberately in the way.

There's a part of him that wants to be a stubborn ass and stay where he is, but that would be childish, right? Probably. So's the urge to knock that hat off his head to just be an asshole, push Doc a little bit further. Maybe if Doc says something else frustrating.

"I'm helping," he finally answers after a drawn out pause, pushing away from the cupboard, rolling his shoulders to try to ease some of the growing tension there.

"Let's just hurry and finish this up real fast. You got a place to throw any junk we come across?"

Doc stands his ground, not quite sure why he should be anticipating a fight but feeling like not doing so would be a big mistake.

Finally when Negan backs off Doc is able to breathe a small, relieved sigh, adjusting his hat and reaching inside to pull out bundles of clothes.

"Back in the cupboard. We only need what seems useful." Either he's exhausted and still hung over or Negan just drains the life out of him.

He gives a nod at that. "Sure."

Whatever seems useful, he can do. He's not really less tense, but he's going through the clothes, plucking out ones that look in reasonably good shape and chucking them in the nearest crate.

The only reason Doc hasn't slinked off to the other room to go through the clothes there is because it seemed childish to do so, like it's making some sort of statement that they can't even work together. He can be the bigger man here. He always has been, or has tried to be anyway, around other people. Negan ought to be no different.

He opens the adjacent wardrobe door and takes in a deep breath, letting it out slow. His eyes glaze over the too many clothes on the hangers, still not accustomed enough to fast fashion to get used to all this excess, and probably taking too much time going through each item compared to Negan who seems far better at picking over things quicker. Probably on account of him having more experience doing so.

Of course they can work together. If neither one of them is moving just yet, then they need to at least be able to deal with each other without petty arguments. Occasionally at least.

"Having some trouble there?" He ventures after a moment, looking at the guy as he picks through the clothes.

Doc glances over at how Negan is rifling through the selection of clothing but he can't quite figure why he's picking some over others. It's not by colour or material, the latter of which seems more intuitive to him.

"There are an excessive number of shirts here. How are you deciding?"

"Are you serious?" The question catches him off guard and for a second, he thinks Doc is jerking his leg or something. Apparently not.

"How are you deciding on the shirts? Just out of curiosity. I'm going by practicality, tossing shit that looks too torn up or worn out."

"...I see. I'm-- well, if it's smaller, perhaps Mister Bright or Mister Caffrey could use it. But they both have something of an aversion to flannel. They would wear tapered trousers that run out of fabric and finish 3 inches above the ankles though, but Raylan would rather go without than wear those." Meanwhile Doc likes his pants tight enough to see his religion so... yes he is accounting for taste without commenting on what is in good taste and what is not.

"You- may be right. I need fewer criteria."

"Well, ain't that sweet." There's the flash of a grin. Negan's of the opinion that beggars can't be choosers, but--

"Nah, it's fine to do. Hell, it's a good gesture even. Personally, I don't see the issue with flannel, but. Here, there's some over here that are more cotton than flannel. Might be better for Malcolm or Neal." He is trying so hard to not tease about that Mister nonsense.

"What is it you like anyway? Besides old timey cowboy. Not that I'm complaining... still say it's a cool look, man."

"I am not sure what 'old timey cowboy' entails." But Doc is fine wearing anything, honestly. He has a preference for button-up shirts himself, flannel or plain, that much is obvious. But he would wear a few long sleeve shirts too with the top few buttons open. He hasn't tried the Steve Jobs turtleneck or a Hawaiian shirt, a polo or muscle tee or even a band t-shirt, but he is open to suggestions.

"I would try anything not- overly flamboyant or obscene." Muted colours. Fifty shades of blue, green, brown and the like. Doc gives Negan a brief once-over and follows it up with a one-shouldered shrug. "Anything you would wear."

"Well, that's just you in general." Old timey, that is. Negan can't say he hasn't worn a Hawaiian shirt or two in his day, but that was before the apocalypse. Now it's all practical... mostly practical. The leather jacket might not always be, or the red scarf, but goddamn, it makes a statement. That's important.

There's a slight grin at that. "Obscene? What's that... like fucking see-through mesh?" But he can do muted colors, sure. Not like he veers far from that, himself.

"You know, if you ever want to borrow the jacket, you can. Bet it'd look good on you. Plus, fair's fair after the hat." If he didn't trust Doc to take care of it, he wouldn't be offering his other baby over after losing Lucille.

"What?" Doc... can sort of picture that kind of thing on Wynonna maybe, and it doesn't look obscene on her, but he's not that experimental to try it on himself.

"It's your jacket," he insists. Also if they start swapping clothes it might give the wrong idea to the rest of 1306. He's pretty sure the hat and the special moment they shared at the museum already gave the wrong idea. And while Doc is not fundamentally against the idea it did give, always finding ways to make unsubstantiated rumours work for himself, he just-- hasn't warmed up to Negan enough for the soul to be aligned with the willing or at least indifferent body.

"It's a cool goddamn jacket though." Negan doesn't particularly give a shit what people thing or don't think about him. He can't in his position back home, and besides... he already knows the worst parts of himself. No one's gonna surprise him with any big revelations about the depths of his assholery.

But he doesn't push. Instead, he just tosses a few more things into his own crate before nodding his head towards the other cupboard. "Want some help over there?"

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