villagelogs | 062 » that moment of experience / part i

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062 » that moment of experience / part i

WHO: Everyone.
WHERE: Eastern/Central/Southern/Western Mathias
WHEN: Day 062
WHAT: A storm rains destruction upon the town.
WARNINGS: (PM this account to have a warning added!)
NOTES: Plotting post over here! Part II details are below.

RECOMMENDED ♫ Deadly Avenger "Creeper"

DAY 062
THAT MOMENT OF EXPERIENCE
“A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one
chooses that moment of experience from which to
look back or from which to look ahead.”
— Graham Greene
The day begins like any other might. The clouds occasionally part to give glimpses of the sun, offering a bit of hope that the hours might pass without incident. It is a hope that is soon dashed, however, for midday brings with it a suddenly darkening sky. Those near the beach will be able to see the ocean churning as all light seems to be bled from the day, the sky darkening into a purplish-black more quickly than is natural, the process taking a mere ten minutes from start to finish.

And then it begins.

The rain is so heavy and pouring so fast that the ground cannot take it all in, sending rivers down streets and leaving lawns as lakes. The winds blow in gusts so strong that they could knock someone over, and the lightning that arcs brightly through the sky is immediately followed by thunder that shakes the town to its core, the tremors almost reminiscent of the earthquakes that plagued the town only days ago.

For some, the storm will be another nuisance of mother nature, forcing them to remain wherever they were before its sudden approach. But for others, it will be far more than that, for this storm is seeking revenge on those who sought to destroy the town. Destruction will rain down and it will not stop until its vengeance is satisfied.

THE NEW ARRIVALS
The newest arrivals to Mathias will wake up on the beach near The Grey Gull. It's a bit chilly out with their wet clothes, but surely there's something to help warm them inside the restaurant. If nothing else, the cowboys' homemade moonshine should do the trick.

ABOUT THE STORM
The storm will begin at midday and last until late into the night, only calming in the early hours of the morning. The heavy rain will flood the streets, though it will not be enough to flood the buildings themselves (except as noted below), and the winds and thunder will shake the town with such strength that it will almost seem as if the town is trying to tear itself apart.

But this is not a simple storm. For those residents who took part in any way in the destruction of the Town Hall, History Museum, or Stoker Park house, they will find the storm will destroy their shelter in some fashion. This can include broken windows, caved-in roofs, flooding from the rain, or even lightning striking the building. The details are up to player choice but something will be damaged by the storm.

— All damage to buildings will be repaired by the dawn of the following day as if it never happened at all. There is no way to witness this process taking place.
— If a resident is sheltering in a shared living space with others who did not take part in the destruction of the town, you may choose to have only your character's section of that location damaged. However...
— The storm's focus will follow the resident if they move to another area or location, meaning that the new location will also suffer damage in some way.
— Only those who took part in the town destruction in some way will be targeted by the storm, but innocent bystanders can be caught up in the situation as well.

CONDITIONS UPDATE

— THE WEATHER conditions remain fairly typical for early fall: warm days and cool nights. It feels almost like spring arriving except that there fewer red and orange leaves on the ground and more of them oddly returning to the trees and slowly fading to green. It's like watching one of those nature documentaries that have a timelapse of the seasons, only it's going in reverse.

— THE FOG has retreated from some areas!
— Residents may now wander the southern stretch of the forest surrounding Mathias Township — it is possible to leave the paths but potentially unwise to do so.
— The fog has also retreated farther into the western section of town, now stretching across town between Stine Road and Shelley Drive. This has revealed the Chasm in the earth that stretches from one side of town to the other between Stine and Hill Lane.
— Access to the northern section of the forest is still blocked beginning a few dozen yards past the treeline; this section of fog will urge residents to stay huddled within the town proper by inducing a physical reaction of panic and fear.

— DISAPPEARANCES continue! Ellie has vanished while others have returned.

— ALCOHOL supplies have run dry, save for any dregs that have been squirreled away by individual residents. Moonshine can still be acquired by those in desperate need.

OOC NOTES

— NEW MAP Thanks so much to Scy for this amazing new map of Mathias!

— PROJECT HELP Your mod needs help with some projects!

— PART II The next part of the log series will be have characters divided up (by OOC choice, not IC) into groups, so be sure to sign up for one asap. Anyone who doesn't make the deadline will be automatically assigned to an available spot.

— UPDATES Don't forget to report updates as they come up! Changes to locations (like toppling a few bookshelves in the library), big plots you have coming up that will affect the game (parties, major property destruction, etc), or exciting discoveries that may tie into the game's mythology (even the things provided by the mod) are very helpful to have in one place so relevant page updates can be made. IC events are also helpful to know about in advance so they can be included in the log write-ups.

— MOD STATUS The usual reminder that it's just Amy steering this ship, so things will are going to be pretty slow for a while. Apologies in advance, and please don't feel shy about pestering me if you're stuck waiting for something. (All outstanding matters will be taken care of in the next few days!)

navigation | faq | locations | report updates

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[ The shadow cast by his form is the only warning she has to draw her out of her panic before she hears his voice. Her head snaps up, not taking the extended hand, instead scuffling back slightly. She didn't care if it looked undignified, he was the last person she expected to see anywhere. Here eyes dark back to the faint crack of lightning, watching for wings before she turns her attention back to him. ]

Where are they?

[ Did you do this more like. She leaves the question vague for his interpretation, reinforcements or Mal and her other travel companions. She can't scuttle too much further backwards, bracing herself for him to grab her or for some of his trusted inner circle to appear from behind rock. She waits for the pain to hit of her heart slowing down as her body locks up. But it never comes, her gaze shifting between him and the space behind him for as long as she can see it. ]

[ It's such a loaded question, the Darkling thinks, and his gaze remains passive as the other all but seizes up, moving backwards, panic clear on her face, wariness a close second. Let her get it out. He looks bored, the barest hint of an eyeroll though his eyes don't move save to scan the horizon. ]

Your friends aren't here. [ And, his gaze sliding back to Alina, tone flat: ] Neither are my men. [ His hand moves back to his side. If Alina isn't going to take what's offered to her, she can get up herself. ] How fortuitous.

[ And convenient. Still, it's the two of them and only the two of them, and the Darkling feels a surge of anticipation moving through him, watching Alina carefully. ] There's a place to take shelter not far from here. You must be cold.

[ She wants to lash out at his lack of interest, that her worry and concern held validity. That she wasn't an inconvenience in his day. The panic begins to calm, the blood pounding in her ears slowly stilling as she gets her breathing back under control. Though, it doesn't shake the chill at his word choice. She hardly saw this as a fortuitous set of circumstances.

But, she also had no interest in remaining in such a vulnerable position -- getting up (and doing her best to hide the effort) without his help. Her clothes are heavy, but she'd do this on her own if it killed her. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel the pressure of his fingers digging into her shoulder, the pull on her power. There'd been no warmth, and she hadn't expected to see any. Not after the Winter Fete. Taking a moment to wring out her dress, her plans to brush his comments off are overruled by the chatter of her teeth as a sharp wind rushes over them. Picking up her bag, she does her best to keep a distance from him, stubbornly squaring her shoulders. ]

Fine. Lead the way.

[ Alina had chosen this, the Darkling reminds himself. That moment in the tent, that conversation between the two of them. He'd said as much: if Alina wants a villain then the Darkling will oblige.

He's unsurprised when the other stands up herself, that defiance burning brilliantly in her eyes, sending a rush of something rippling through the Darkling that manifests in a casual, too cold glance. He has half a mind to tell the other to go first, a polite 'after you' and a too-thin smile. Instead, he heads to to their destination.

The Grey Gull is exactly the way it's been for the few days he's been here, and the Darkling is pleased that someone had been using the fireplace before them, finding no need to light it. Instead, once he's sure they're the only ones in the restaurant, he pours them both two fingers of moonshine. ]

We've much to talk about. Make yourself comfortable. [ He's far from polite in his intonations, moving to the fire and handing her her glass. There's no need for disguises, no need for clever posturing. Alina knows exactly who he is. ]

[ No. She didn't choose this. He did. He's the one who brought the fabricator in and took control of her abilities using her words from months ago against her -- before she'd come into her powers and had accepted her identity as Grisha.

Make me your villain. Except, she hadn't needed to -- no framing of any justification for his actions was going to be an apology. There was no 'us', there was him. His needs, his desires, and his manipulations.

Wringing out her dress, she follows -- almost grateful that he hadn't attempted to be a gentleman, not sure she'd trust him at her back. The building is suitable enough, shelter from the cold and a fire already breathing warmth into the space as she almost greedily moves toward it. Quickly, she drops the bag and removes the heavy brown cloak. Spreading it over a nearby chair before taking the offered glass. Alina almost doesn't want to sit, but standing while having a whispered conversation might draw more attention than necessary. So, she chooses a chair near the fire, keeping her eyes on him as she adjusts the heavy skirt to keep it from clinging to her skin. Somehow, she manages to hold her tongue, keeping her scathing remarks about what there could be to discuss to herself. Choosing instead to sniff the liquid in the glass as she waits for him to elaborate on what could qualify as 'much'. ]

[ Alina sits while Darkling pours, and he's mildly surprised the other takes the glass without much of a fuss. Perhaps this will be easier than he thought, he thinks, and after a few moments he sits at another chair by the fire. They're alone, the population of the village hardly large enough to make this place seem too crowded on the best of days,but appearances are important in case someone does wander in, seeking shelter from a brewing storm.

Alina's here. It's the two of them, no other from their world, and it's as close to fate that the Darkling believes in. Divine Right is closer--he revels in it, just for the briefest of moments, chin tilting up in the barest hint of what appears to be pride. ]

Your powers here have been weakened. There are others--otkazat’sya, for the most part--that are also trapped within the confines of this village. We are not in Ravka.

[ Of all the things to fight with him about, alcohol wasn't it. Not when she wanted to numb everything to a somewhat tolerable level while she dried off. She held none of the grace he did, shifting in her seat to pull her soaked hair off of her skin to help warm herself up a bit faster. And as much as she'd like to avoid having to see his face in this moment, it's the safest place to look if she had any hope of trying to detect a lie.

But that's not what she sees. He's pleased? Proud? Of what. Any puzzling she might've attempted to sort through freezes, though, at his word choice. He was a calculating man, he didn't choose words without thought.

The abandoned. Orphans. Also non-Grisha. But, that's not where her mind goes. And he knows that. He must. Her eyes go a bit wide, staring at him with her fingers tangled in her wet hair, control of her full faculties not at peak performance. You are not alone. That shouldn't be at the forefront of her mind, but it is. Freeing her hands, she straightens her back, picking up the moonshine and taking a tentative sip. Somehow, she keeps from coughing, but it burns - only adding to her already hoarse sound from her yelling by the water. She almost asks how she can be sure he's not lying, but that's foolish. Putting down the moonshine, she immediately tries to summon light, the small orb barely able to grow without having to call on a lot more power than she had the energy to expel. Her brows knit as the light extinguishes. ]

Why are we here, then?

I don't know. [ He doesn't bother to hide how displeased he is with not knowing something--but he and Alina are to be something close to equals here, and to outright lie and say he knew everything would be completely foolish. Alina is not without her power, even though her summoning has been weakened, much like his own. Her determination, the way she looks at the world, her ability to adapt. It's what makes her unique. Valuable. He takes a breath. ]

I was hoping we could try to find out. Together.

[ He speaks as though there's some silver lining to them both being here, as if she might hold some key to helping him unlock the mystery of their limitations. Find common ground to work as a team. His admission to not knowing something catches her enough off guard that her tone isn't as harsh as she might've intended when she bites back. A few wounds still a bit too fresh to glide over so easily with a promise of working together again. ]

As equals? Or is this just another attempt for you to use me for your own personal gain?

[ Quickly, she continues, fully aware she runs the risk of him just walking away if she prods too much. Whatever trust she had for him is gone. Whether or not some fragment of that could be rebuilt out of necessity remains to be seen. ]

If we're going to be trapped here together, something has to change. I won't be used again. Not by you -- not by anyone.

[ He doesn't answer the first question--even if it's not rhetoric, there's no need for him to comment. The Darkling's face twitches, the barest hint of an upturned smile, smirk there for only a flicker of a moment. He finds Alina amusing. He finds her smart. He's proud of her, in an odd way. ]

Name your terms.

[ There's a fire in her, one he thought had been extinguished, the same one that rippled through her when she brought a knife to his hand, severing the piece of atnler embedded in his hand. It's on her face, plain as day, and the Darkling's gaze is surprisingly soft. ]

[ It wasn't so long ago that she worked hard to get even the barest of smiles out of him. And now? Now it felt tainted. Wrong. Different.

Empty.

She wasn't going to falter. Wasn't going to let him get under her skin. Not today and certainly not after everything he'd put her through. Terms. She could do this, quiet her running thoughts enough to focus and ensure she wasn't about to make it unintentionally difficult for herself. ]

Equals. No more games, no more lies or half truths. You and I both know I could make your life miserable here quickly. Undo whatever misleading tales you've told others about who you are.

[ That might've been too far, but if there was a time to test pushing him... it was now. ]

[ Equals. That's all he'd wanted, all he'd hoped for until Alina betrayed his trust, until she put her foot down, until she can to the tracker boy with the foolish thought that he was right.

His eyes narrow, face stoic, and he listens, contemplating for a brief moment. Her lead up is smart, he thinks, but she pushes too far, her offer tipping towards the absurd. ]

You think I've spun stories when there's no need to? [ The Darkling's head cants to the side, something passing through his features, hard to read. A cross between amusement and annoyance. He doesn't answer or agree to anything, not just yet. ]

[ That's all she'd thought she wanted. To be seen at the same level as the infamous General -- the dark to her light. As though her life was some folk tale she'd let herself get lost in for an afternoon at the orphanage.

Mal saw something in Aleksander that she should have. She couldn't do this again. Not like before. ]

I think you've told everyone enough to not appear suspicious, but have leaned heavily into whatever their assumptions are without offering much correction. I think you're letting them tell you about themselves without offering much in return.

[ She's playing a dangerous game, the shift in her posture the only awareness she's allowing her body to show -- watching his face carefully. She was touching a nerve, subtle as it was. The change was there. ]

[ That does get a smile out of him, slight but true, though it's hard to tell if it's one of annoyance or if he's genuinely pleased. Clever Alina, smart and far more observant than others have given her credit for.

The Darkling included, apparently. ]

It would be foolish for either of us to make enemies with those already here, given our common enemy is whoever brought us here.

[ A light warning for her to keep her mouth shut about what's happened, one he'll voice aloud in a moment--tentatively, he's agreeing to the deal. He allows his features to soften as he circles back to her proposal. ]

All I wanted was for us to be equals, Alina.

[ It would be foolish for either of us to make enemies with those already here.

And there the rest of it is. Shifting it back on her while framing it with that 'us' again. She can't stop the bit of incredulity that dances across her face, knowing if it came down to it she would not be the one making enemies here. Her mind can't help but go back to the tent, her hands flexing instinctively as she fights the urge to grasp at her neck again. A grounding reminder of the trust that has already been broken. ]

All you wanted was control -- illusory or real. I will not allow that to happen again. Not here. [ Her face softens, the hurt she'd been swallowing down trying to peek through as she takes another drink -- almost able to mask it again when she tries to continue. ]

You should have asked me, Aleksander. Before -- [ She's not interested in rehashing what was already said, using his name as he used hers. ] No more lies. No more manipulation. I will not be used again, common enemy or not.

[ Control, she says, and his upper lip curls into the barest hint of a sneer. She thinks she's right. She thinks she knows him, she--

--the Darkling calms himself almost immediately, shutting off that train of thought. Alina will not get the satisfaction of seeing him any way other than composed. Not now. Now after what she's done.

She'd wanted a villian, and now she had one. ]

You will not tell anyone of what has transpired between us. In return, your safety will be ensured.

Edited 2021-06-24 20:49 (UTC)

[ She thinks she's right because she is right. He didn't put her on display for her own benefit. And it certainly wasn't for her health or safety. Much like now. Nothing in this conversation is about her, but about what she plans to do regarding him. There is no us. There never was. She needed to remember that. There was him and what she could do to facilitate whatever goals he set out.

Any sympathy in her expression melts and hardens into something harder. Colder. ]

I tell anyone the truth of what happened in the Fold and you'll what? Kill me? You couldn't in there and you won't now. You said it as much yourself, we need each other here.

Be careful, Alina.

[ His face remains impassive, though the warning in his voice is front and center. Alina has called his bluff correctly, which means resorting to something else, something worse. The shadows in the room seem to grow, and while they don't creep towards him, the slight amount of darkness in the room is a direct response to her, leveling his gaze onto his sun summoner. ]

I may need you, but whether or not I need any friends you make in this place remains to be seen.

[ He tilts his head a fraction of an inch, letting a small amount of silence fall between them before he continues. Alternatively: ]

What would happen if the next person to wash ashore is your tracker friend? [ The threat is left unsaid. ]

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062 » that moment of experience / part i

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