Cometh the Big Crying Wheel

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 15th
Location: A refurbished castle on the outskirts of Exsilium.
Characters: Anyone at the party!
Summary: Vanadi hosts a party that goes very poorly.
Warnings: Violence, probably! Let a mod know if we should update this.


It’s a lovely night for a party!

The venue at the outskirts of town is, unfortunately, a bit drafty — and actually rather sparsely furnished, as well. In fact, party goers are encouraged to mingle, drink, and enjoy themselves in the courtyard, as the castle itself wasn’t able to be renovated in time, and has proven to be a little bit architecturally unsound. Any explorative guests might find a small hail of dust and pebbles on their heads if they venture too far in — and who knows what else, if they continue on.

But the drinks and snacks both are plentiful and delicious, and the large canvas set up from castle wall to castle wall keeps off the sprinkling rain. The weather could even be described as warmish and pleasant, if one were feeling generous. A group of Exiles plays classic instruments in one corner of the courtyard, having been paid enough to even smile at any Transports that wander near.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a good night. Until about 10 PM, that is. Come 10 PM, the Misery rolls into town, tearing down the canvas, nullifying powers, and crying corrosive blood everywhere. That’s the cue for all hell to break loose, as the final wave of mind-controlled characters snag their victims and make for the hills — or at least for the UE. The mind-controlled characters will also have the backup of a squadron of 20 of the Masked, the UE's special ops force. The Masked's main goal is to grab those on their list and get away, but they're certainly not above shooting to kill at anyone that gets in their way. They're also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and physically enhanced by their suits, so they're a good bunch to try to avoid.

But do have a wonderful time until then, won’t you?

Comments

[anklets]

[-and goes instantly still, half her face hidden by the play of shadow and light spilling down into this narrow passage. Without seeming to move, all but her mouth has fallen into the dark.

How hadn't she noticed that?]

Hey. Come out.

[devotedtothecore]

[ ---ah.

Too late to retreat further into hiding, now (tension flaring in his muscles as she froze, seconds lost to stock-still indecision) and naught else to do but step forward, shadows drawing back from rough-soled boots, from an unremarkable coat, and the face above it (thin-lipped, watchful, uncertain.) ]

...it is I.

[ Would she remember, even. ]

[anklets]

[The roof-climber.

She remembers, given a moment to cast back. That had been the first she'd admitted aloud her worries: even in numbers, we haven't been enough, and something like that... it's good for setting memory checkpoints. She remembers him because she remembers feeling penitent.]

Why is it you?

[ like she has to take any small-talk from someone who's followed her down a dark, isolated passage, she's been conditioned better than this ]

[devotedtothecore]

[ The question, asked, seems to abruptly plonk the foolishness of the entire situation down onto his head, turning caution to consternation.

Nothing for it but blunt honesty. ]

I saw and thought you suspect. ...I didn't recognize you.

[anklets]

[As though he should need any other reason. She would not expect it- nay, wouldn't stand to hear it. Her Boots deactivate, slither back down her thighs.]

Good, then.

[devotedtothecore]

[ His eyes flick to that flash of movement, linger briefly on her feet. Not an optical illusion then, that time, but some mechanism equipped, arcane or otherwise. (As always perturbing, how often difficult it was to differentiate.)

At her face, again, or what there is to see of it. ]

What were you doing there?

[anklets]

Looking. [ shortly, though she doesn't mean to mince words ] I don't like the dark.

[devotedtothecore]

[ Like the words of a child, he thinks, and recalls one who kept the lamps lit throughout the night, though they slept in the safest bed in the city.

She is no child, however.

With a touch of exasperation: ] You could well then keep to the light, if so.

[anklets]

If I don't keep to the shadows, how else am I meant to slay the monsters hiding in them?

[devotedtothecore]

....

[ A long, questioning look, wordless for a time.

Then: ] One suspects it is men, rather than monsters, to be wary of in this place.

[anklets]

[She shrugs, and finally makes the move to approach him, slow and measured pace. He is no wounded animal, but strangers oft deserve the same wariness.]

What's to say there's always a difference?

1/2

[devotedtothecore]

[ ...he can't put into so many words about what it is about this woman (the words she speaks), but it is such, at least, that he keeps uncertain creases in his brow and wariness in his eyes, watching her.

Yet she had a point. ]

...

[devotedtothecore]

[ An irritated sigh, and a hand raised to scratch at the back of the neck.

Ridiculous. ]

Are you always out and about in the dark, then?

[anklets]

[Three feet. Figures it near enough, she puts her heels together, straight-legged and straight-backed.]

When I need to be, I guess.

[devotedtothecore]

[ As a guardsman would. The hand moves down to his side, then up again into folded arms. ]

Do you feel such a need tonight?

[anklets]

I'm out here, aren't I? [ shortly, but not unkindly ]

[devotedtothecore]

...I see.

[ A thin-lipped pause. Then, glancing back at the life of the party: ]

Have you heard of the disappearances, then?