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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[ She's... had a time of things. Withdrawing after the shock of her own death and near death to hypothermia, the double whammy of Dean and Castiel arriving to upend the 'I don't need anybody' niche she'd carved out for herself in Mathias.

Claire's small world has once more tilted on its axis.

It's... good though. Knowing the boys in her space. Better still to know them alive, honestly, though she's still mildly embarrassed at how much she freaked out over seeing Castiel here.

The little trip to the mansion has knocked her head straight, quite frankly. With company this time.

Currently, Claire is lying on her back on the bed, legs stretched upwards against the wall above the headbord. Thinking. Puzzling. The knock makes her frown for a moment, but it's just that - a knock, followed by Dean's voice. No scratching against the wood.

Thank fuck for small blessings. ]

Yeah, come in.

( The model home did not do Dean any good. He pissed off Quentin, avoided Cas, and generally lorded over everyone with his ghost knowledge. His knowledge proved to be pointless. It's one thing to say you're an expert on the supernatural, it's another to be contradicted.

She calls back, so Dean opens the door, fingers wrapped around a mug of piping hot coffee. )

Morning.

( Even the way Claire lounges reminds Dean of himself. If Dean is in his bedroom, he's rarely just laying, head against the headboard. It's laying across the bed, or upside down, or on his stomach. Every day, he recognizes something else of Claire inside himself. )

Coffee's on.

( Obviously. He brought it. He comes closer, holding the mug out. )

You hungry?

Depends...

[ Claire rolls into a sitting position easily, tucking her hair back when it sticks up and grinning as she plucks the coffee from Dean's hand. ]

... you cook, or Cas?

[ There's a mirthful glint in her eyes, in the quirk of her lips, features that have so much inherited from Jimmy Novak that now makes her look like Cas' own. Funny, how that works. Morbid, too, but... well. That's just how the cookie crumbled or something. ]

Thanks for the coffee. What's prompting the delivery service?

[ She takes a generous sip, watching Dean over the mug with a cocked eyebrow and casual, relaxed curiosity. ]

Cas makes sandwiches.

( But, he says it with a detached fondness before she thanks him for the coffee. Cas cares for him, and for Claire. Trapped together, Cas preferred to set out dishes, utensils, and help with cleaning up. He took care of everyone. He kept his hands busy, sure, but, Cas is compassionate now. But not a compassionate cook. )

I can't say good morning? I can't cook for us?

( Who do you think he is! ... )

We haven't talked. Not - really, not since - ( That thought trails off. ) Thought we should. Get on the same page. Compare notes. Hunter to hunter.

Not complaining. But you start bringing up breakfast to my room, I might do some iron and silver testing on you.

[ Claire snorts in amusement though. Teasing and riling up Dean is fun, to be honest - all within its limits, of course. It's been... surprisingly nice, living with him and Cas. ]

Yeah. I've been a bit... well. You know.

[ She kept leaving the house early, returning late. Never getting into shit, just... keeping to herself. ]

Wanted to hear about what happened to you two when... y'know. Looks like we all went elsewhere.

Did I offer you the continental breakfast?

( She's going to come downstairs like everyone else. Unless, there comes a time where he has something to discuss with her and maybe he'll bribe her with breakfast for. Until then, she meets him halfway. There is a kitchen table for a reason.

He knows. He and Sam, they've always let her be. She made her own way like a Fleetwood Mac song, living with Jody some of the time or hunting by herself. Sam and Dean and Cas have been caught up in all things Chuck. But, Dean always thinks of her. )

Me too. We uh, woke up in a haunted model home. Full fridge. Shadows in the mirrors. Scratching. Ghosts didn't do anything unless a mirror was broken. That's how they got you. Where'd you end up?

Continental my ass. We both know you wouldn't last without eggs, bacons or pancakes. Neither would I, for that matter.

[ Who wants a buffet of baked goods, toast and fruit, really. ]

What, you got actual ghosts? This stupid town keeps short changing me, I'd kill for something to gank right about now. We also had mirrors that felt like something was in there. Nothing came out, though. Put my fist through one, so I'd know.

[ She waves her arm briefly. Not her brightest moment, but definitely a spectacularly angry one. ]

I landed in the mansion. Been there before, too, during that one day all of us lost, a while before you arrived. Only I wasn't alone this time. John was there. Max, Klaus, Raylan. We did get those scratches, too. Under the floorboards and on the ceiling.

( Yeah, yeah. No matter how in his head Dean might be, he doesn't go a morning without fixing up a proper, high calorie breakfast. She knows him well.

He smirks, perching on the edge of her bed as she feels shortchanged on the ghost front.

Briefly, he worries, because he remembers what happened when Coulson broke one. Don't mind him as he catches her waving arm, inspects it - and her. Looks like she's not covered in cuts. That's sufficient. He lets go, having multitasked. He was listening while being concerned. )

We had Cas, me, John Henry, Helen and Carter - doctors, and this magician Quentin. ( They are on fraught terms. Quentin reminds him of a young Sam. He did not take to Dean's busting his chops. ) The shadows in our mirrors reflected back, like they were in the room with us, but nothing happened. Day two, those shadows got closer. And, right. Phil Coulson, he was there, too. He busted a window himself ( Mirror, but, it's a music reference, it will probably go over Claire's head. ) mirror - and, the mirror did not like it. You've heard of death by a thousand cuts?

( Not the Taylor Swift song, Claire.

...But, also the Taylor Swift song, sure. )

Power went out, too. We also woke up in what we slept in, plus coats. Little bit violating.

( He doesn't know if he would've appreciated a wardrobe change. Some flannel. He was underwear and t-shirt guy the entire time. Now, most days he's going to be going for the pajama sets. They're soft, warm, and when they're all inevitably kidnapped again, he won't be freezing. )

Did you have a mark on the back of your hand?

[ Claire doesn't resist him checking her hand. Better not to put up a fight. She's stubborn, but Dean Winchester is old man kinds of stubborn - she knows she'd lose. Some windmills you just don't tilt at. ]

Doctors are useful. You know, for people who put their fists through mirrors, thinking of no one in particular.

[ She flashes a brief grin, humourless, and then purses her lips. ]

Coulson, huh. When you say death by a thousand cuts... he okay?

[ 'cause that old man is of the good sort. Claire'd hate for him to get hurt. ]

No mark. Pyjamas and boxer shorts all over the place, though. Guess everyone got to go dressed for a slumber party...

( Sure. Fine. Old man kinds of stubborn. )

Don't know. Haven't checked back in.

( Look, no one's in charge and Coulson has friends, right? If he needed help, they'd say it. Maybe. )

I don't do do slumber parties.

( Slumber parties are for chick flicks. Dean does one night stands or romantic nights. That's it. And he's had neither in -- too long. Whatever happened with Cas, it doesn't count. )

[ Claire cocks an eyebrow at that, but decides not to press the matter. Must have been serious shit going down for Dean to not know if a man survived something that happened right in front of him, but she'll find out. ]

You're missing out. Hot chocolate, marshmallows, movies, pillow forts, junk food... I mean, what's not to love. We do that shit whenever Donna visits. It's stupid. I love it.

[ Claire takes another deep sip from her coffee. ]

You know, I should introduce Cas to the concept. He'd love it, the giant softie.

( He survived inside the house. He was worse for the wear the whole time. This same man only checked on Neal because they ran into one another. Yeah. He's going through something.

Not the time to ask if bra freezing's a real thing, right? Also, this is like his little sister/daughter/niece, he does not want to know. )

Why - would Cas love the concept of a slumber party? Other than he actually needs sleep here which, ( He shakes his head, it gives him the willies. ) not loving how graceless he is. Feel like I spend half the time worrying about him.

He'll be fine.

[ She doesn't say it with a dismissive tone, but with firm conviction. Cas will be fine on account of Claire needing him to be fine. She doesn't know what she'd do if she found his corpse instead of her own one day. Or Dean's, for that matter.

They're not allowed to get seriously hurt or to die. Full stop. Claire looks down, frowns at her coffee and worries her bottom lip. ]

I mean he's like a super ancient angel warrior. That doesn't go poof just because he's not bright like a supernova here.

[ She still remembers what it was like, saying yes to him to save her father. Chained to a comet. Back then she didn't know that Cas could be as soft as he could be fierce - but now she knows he can be as fierce as he can be soft.

Finally she looks back up with a small smirk. ]

Also, you kidding me? Cas is a massive dork. He loves human shit in general. Why wouldn't he love hanging out and having a dumb good time?

( He doesn't worry like that, for the record. If she was thinking anything other than normal angel-hunter worrying. )

He has less, though. It takes more out of him. He sleeps, Claire. Actually sleeps. Says he slipped in the shower, too.

( He's really coming off as someone who doesn't worry, right? )

Cas is serious. He's a soldier. He's -- yeah, he's a father. And he likes sandwiches and honey and for whatever reason, bees. ( Jesus, why is he going on about Cas? ) Whatever. Find matching sleeping bags, braid each others hair.

[ Slipped in the... jesus. Hopeless. These men are hopeless. How does the fate of the world regularly rest in the hands of the Dork Squad?

Still, though. Something pings along Claire's radar, listening the way she listens on cases, trying to parse information. That's... some weird stuff for Dean to just ramble off unprompted about Cas.

She'll keep that in mind.

Maybe subtly interrogate Cas later, see if the doofus is being just as weird as Dean. ]

I'll have you know I rock a braid, and so would Cas. Maybe I can get him to play Truth or Dare...

You think you'd win that one, but what won't Cas do?

( Within reason. Maybe he should've said what can't Cas do. And then, he brings a finger up. )

Don't get Cas wasted. ( He sees the beginnings of this thought, Claire! He sees it!

As for Truth or Dare! Dean would rock Truth or Dare. But, he is not playing it with Cas and Claire. ) What about something that you can play with two people. Like Trouble. Or Battleship. Remember Battleship? ( He snaps. ) Mousetrap.

Oh, Dean. Think bigger.

[ Claire leans in, mischief on her face. ]

Not only am I gonna get him drunk, I'm gonna get him to do phone pranks.

[ She puts her fingertips against her temple and then spreads them. What a mindblowing idea. It's gonna be hilarious.

Maybe she can also get him to try and prank Dean. Now that would be funny. ]

On who? The four houses of people who think they'll die if they don't answer?

( Wait. Wait. Wait. )

Do it.

[ That's a healthy way to get over trauma, right? Find the button related to it, and push it relentlessly.

Her smile deepends into a smirk that spells trouble, and lots of it. This is the face of the teenage delinquent. ]

You got it.

( Eh, his grin lessens as he laughs, finally taking a sip of his own coffee. That's right. He brought her coffee and had his own. It's not as hot. It's actually lukewarm. )

Don't. Don't ( His next laugh reaches the middle of this sentence. ) prank call the other houses. Or the boarding house. They already think they'll die if they don't answer. If you ask them if their refrigerator's running, they'll think the demon prank calls now. It'll start something. Maybe -- start slow - with Cas. Game night. Minimal alcohol. Dude doesn't know his own tolerance yet.

Damnit. You with your logic. Fair point, though.

[ The idea is still morbidly funny - but perhaps a shade cruel, even for her.

She remembers suffocating in her room in the boarding house. For a moment, she looks away, blue eyes going distant and haunted. Then Claire snaps herself back into the presence. ]

I solemnly swear to go easy on your angel. How about that?

( Not like she'll take him up on all his advice considering Cas' sunglasses the next day. But, at least he doesn't hear any testimonials are demon crank callers.

Bringing his coffee down from another sip, he notices the moment she needs, the intake of breath. She looks away. )

Hey, hey. He's not my angel. Why does everyone think he's my angel. He's his own angel. Literally. He rebelled.

( For Dean. )

Sure. But your brother's still your brother, and his own person. Your friend is still your friend, and his own person.

[ Something nagging at the back of Claire's mind.

But really, Dean's not the person to press about those things, if there are.. things here. Better ambush Cas. Plus, Cas is a much shittier lier and might eventually cave in trying to deflect rather than bunker down. ]

You can be your own person and still have like... I don't know, I guess a sense of belonging. Jody's her own person and also my... [ Claire frowns. Swallows. ] ... my mom.

Well, yeah, he's -- he's my best friend, Claire.

( Why does he feel like he's defending himself, defending what he and Cas have, but also denying something else? )

You survive? ( Really choked that down. ) I know, Claire. Cas is Family. Capital F. He's important.

( He knows. He only told one person, Neal, about what happened with Cas. He's also the only person he'd discussed Cas' declaration with. His 'I love you, Dean Winchester.' Dean knows Cas matters. And fundamentally, he knows Cas is like a brother, but he does not have brotherly Sam-like feelings for the guy. Nobody will be Sam. But, he also doesn't think of Sam like he -- might have started thinking about Cas. He would never kiss his brother. He kissed Cas. Why did he kiss Cas.

It's Dean's turn for his eyes to glaze over, coffee cup almost tipping as he thinks. )

[ Claire falls quiet for a moment, just watching Dean. The way his eyes go far away, the way he stops minding his cup.

She waits for him to notice, to scoff and laugh the moment off. When he doesn't, she doesn't either. Lets the moment sit as it is, with its uncharacteristic weight.

Claire thinks of that often painful tightening in her chest. She thinks of Kaia. She thinks of Ellie.

She thinks that she has a lot of things figured out a lot better than Dean. The advantages of youth and changing times, maybe, although there was a gap of time where she remembers being angry at being teased for not being popular with boys.

Some things are hard.

Eventually, she reaches out, just before the coffee spills over, and balances the cup out with her hand. ]

Yeah. I get you, Dean.

(no subject)

cholesterol - 2021-01-27 17:48 (UTC) - Expand

Good place to wrap up I think?

waywardsister - 2021-01-29 05:32 (UTC) - Expand

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