{EVENT #3} ADVERSITY 1665648.6754

[expiationmods]

INTO THE DESERT

MOD NOTES: Please direct any questions to the corresponding comment below. Note that character decisions and actions taken on these prompts will affect future events, storylines, and relationships with other peoples of Expiation. You can find the OOC poll here. Please pick from the corresponding options with the appropriate character journal. If you use a personal journal or a journal not part of Expiation, your votes will not be counted. Remember that if your character did something different than what is in the prompts given, leave a comment in the OOC poll entry and link to your comment in the option made available. We will provide an IC post in exactly one week with the results of the poll that will wrap up the event. You may mingle on it if you like, but the most important purpose is to share the effects of character decisions on this event. The various prompts are, of course, optional.

FOLLOW THE FAIRIES

     

On the morning of the 14th, Chosen will wake to the sound of loud clanging outside as what seems like a band of fairies has arrived to town. Most of them don’t talk, they simply stare expectantly as they float above the ground and gain the attention of the Chosen. If a character tries to speak to them, most will roll their eyes or shake their heads—some possibly using rude gestures to get their point across. They seem like they’re waiting for something, and their stubborn silence might be a problem for some of the more impatient Chosen. Characters who are nice to them might get some sass, or some eye rolling. Characters who are more impatient and try to yell, fight, or harm the fairies might find themselves… afflicted. They might not be able to hear for a while, they might not be able to see—maybe they’ll be floating in the air as if in a bubble, not able to move one way or another besides squirming and yelling at the cranky fairies. It could be a lesser affliction, too—maybe your allergies suddenly act up, or you have a massive cramp in your legs so that you can’t go anywhere. These effects don’t last long, though, only about ten or fifteen minutes. Their purpose isn’t to harm anyone, they’re just trying to tell the ruder Chosen to kindly fuck off. Other lesser status effects might happen—but the intention is never to harm, just to distract.

”Good grief, how did I end up with this job today…”

A larger fairy comes flying up, and the others surrounding him roll their eyes in even more exasperation than anything the Chosen would’ve gotten out of them. He sighs in an exaggerated way, before putting on what seems to be a fairy’s sort of version of a Customer Service Smile. When he speaks, he’s smiling but he sounds bored out of his mind:

”Today, we’re taking volunteers to a blighted area that needs to be recovered. You may keep whatever you find there… probably. And before you ask, we can’t do it ourselves. So, if everyone’s ready–”

The fairies behind him make a motion, almost like they’re unzipping a zipper. With a sound of tear, a hole appears in the air behind him, almost as if the scenery itself has been torn. A couple more fairies pull and stretch the tear until it’s big enough for the Chosen to walk through. If the Chosen to look through the tear, they can see that there’s a desert on the other side of it. It looks to be some kind of ruins, actually—but don’t wait too long.

”Please! We don’t have a all day.”
Mr. Expedition isn’t too happy with hesitation.

**NPC will be available for interaction at this point!

JOURNEY TO THE DESERT

When the Chosen step through, they find themselves in the middle of some desert ruins. There’s not much on the horizon to see other than sand, and an oasis that looks like it’s off in the distance. If characters try to exit the city and go further out, they’re stopped and find themselves teleported back somehow. The fairies give a little chuckle when it happens, so maybe it was them? They can’t go further into the desert than where they’re at right now. There are stone buildings, but there are also metal remains of structures scattered around the area—just about the size of Aldrip. There’s remnants of businesses, restaurants and houses. Some are standing, and some are only remembered by a single dining room table sitting in the middle of the sand.

"Well ? What are you waiting for? Go on, do your… thing. Be tourists! Snoop! Investigate! Engage! Or… whatever it is you do. But I’d be ready when it turns dark. Oh! You might come across people – wait, I meant beings that don’t seem quite right. They are harmless enough in the daylight, but at night? Well, I’d be careful, if I were you."
**NPC will be available for interaction at this point!

I. THERE'S SAND IN MY SHOES

     

Chosen who wander the ruins may note that it looks like some of the buildings were left in a hurry. Some of them look like people just disappeared from the inside— everything remains intact, as if nothing has been moved or taken out of the building. Plates out, covered with dust and sand, as if waiting for a lunch that’ll never come, or at the bar with liquor still in smaller shot glasses. Twinkies that have been unopened and are, somehow, inexplicably,, still good—

The remnants of the interiors are covered in thick layers of dust, but when they look inside, everything is painted. Everything is treated as a mural, from the inside walls to the outside. From religious figures, partial landscapes, and even some cartoon-looking characters—there’s a little bit of everything painted. Nothing seems to be just plain, almost as if the people who had lived there had considered everything a blank canvas. There may still be buckets of paint that characters find still hanging around, dried up from disuse, but still there. Beneath piles of rubble, the Chosen can find canvases, easels and other art supplies, most in various states of disrepair from age.

Besides paper used for art work, it doesn’t look like there’s much in the way of books or newspapers.Instead, they’re able to find something that looks almost like a smartwatch: sleek, with minimal interface, but when touched, they activate a few seconds of what looks like decayed hologram log.

We have to work together! We can’t let them separate us—

The hologram disappears. The Chosen can fiddle with this device and try to restore the hologram, but it just repeats the same distorted words over and over in a loop.

Besides the watches are what look like datapads that are found around the buildings as well. Touching them will cause the screen to flash in and out, almost as if there’s something wrong with their wiring. But words on a screen can be found intermittently—

Those bastards, they left us THEY LEFT

But wait… You feel a sudden chill down your neck. Are you being watched? Was that a shadow moving from the corner of your eye? You look, but don’t see anything. No, that’s silly. Mr. Expedition is the one watching you. Of course. That’s all it was

Of course.

II. LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED

     

The Chosen are a thorough bunch, aren’t they? As they continue to investigate the ruins, they’ll be able to access places like pantries, drawers, closets, and basements that are still roughly intact. Kind of. There are various things in these nooks and crannies: characters will be able to find various sundries like money, or sheer metal, or old dilapidated clothing. Jewelry boxes may still have earrings or necklaces, tool boxes may still have tools inside, things like that. A lot of it is personal, tucked away in storage, waiting for owners who have seemingly not returned. Some of it is useless junk: broken toys, half-disintegrated candy wrappers, and the like.

”You might want to keep those items for later.”

Mr. Expedition says this over the Chosen’s shoulder, but when they turn around, he’s gone again.

What he doesn’t warn for… are the traps. There’s tripwire, and devices on the doors to ensure that they’re not messed with. What kind of traps?

Well, they’re mostly harmless.

Most of the traps are just pranks: trap doors springing open beneath a character's feet, a loud burst of firecrackers upon opening a drawer, pie-in-the-face pranks with pie shells that have long since dried up. There is an endless variety, and nothing causes more than light bruising or startling. What will the Chosen pick up? What traps will they end up springing? Well, that's up to you.

---

THOSE WHO COME AT NIGHT

As Mr. Expedition mentioned earlier, there are some… people hanging around. Or are they people at all? Sometimes it can be as simple as a shadow, a trick of the light...others look as if they’re merely ghosts. Whether the Chosen try to talk to them or not, they don’t say much.

Why me?
Why us?
Why why why why why

It’s nothing that really makes sense to the Chosen… so maybe it’s not that important to interact with them. Right?

As the day gets darker and it turns to night, the figures become more tangible. Their forms become clearer, now: what looks like people with strange but possibly familiar markings running along their skin. They’re probably unnerving enough, with their incoherent speech that just gets louder and louder.But they're not the only concern here: the bigger problem is that something else is becoming more tangible, too. These creatures might have been humanoid, once: they seem to have two arms, two legs, and what looks like a head…but all of them look fuzzy, almost like they're half-there, with indistinct features and black holes where their faces should be. Even if they don't have mouths…they still scream when they attack.

III. DESERT'S HAUNTED

     

These creatures see the fairies—and anyone who might be accompanying them—as a threat, and they react accordingly. The marked humanoids ("Oh, ew, Infected!" Mr. Expedition will hastily explain, if asked), who had barely paid attention to the visitors earlier, turn more hostile at the sound of the screams, almost as if the shadowy mutations are encouraging them to join the attack. Curiously, their markings become more prominent at the sound of the screams, as well. They all seem averse to light, which might be why Mr. Expedition has encouraged the Chosen to stay close to camp. The campfire provides refuge from all of the hostile creatures, but for those enterprising enough to try exploring at night…well, good luck.

"Ah, yep, there they are," Mr. Expedition ponders aloud, ducking behind a group of the Chosen. "Now, let's see. What was I supposed to tell you about them? Hmm…something about 'the attack'." And then, just like that, he's gone again.

How helpful.

Chosen who attack the Ghosts will find this to be a futile effort: weapons, magic, and objects lobbed at the creatures are absorbed in the black void of their bodies. Physical attacks with fists and the like are repelled: the Chosen will find themselves thrown several feet away after trying.

The Infected, as Mr. Expedition called them, do not seem to be invulnerable. The Chosen are able to attack and push them back with weapons, magic, and physical attacks, which can prove fatal to them. When they die, their bodies disappear from the field moments after they're struck down.

Both the Ghosts and the Infected are able to hurt the Chosen, tearing at them with claws. The wounds caused by these creatures seem normal enough, but are invulnerable to magical healing, and take a strangely long time to heal…

IV. KNEW THAT'D COME IN HANDY

     

"Aha! I got it!" Mr. Expedition cries, reappearing over the Chosen a few minutes later. "Be nice! Remember the attack! And items have power!" He bows, as if he's made the most helpful announcement in the world, and then disappears again.

So…what does that mean? And why did he wait until now to even say anything?

Chosen that are able to think quickly may remember his words from earlier about holding onto some of the personal items they found in the ruins. They might also remember how some of their ranks had been Branded before, and how selfless acts helped them overcome those struggles. The Infected may stand down when they're held back from hurting others, or given a possession that someone found earlier. If given a personal item—any personal item—from the ruins, they pause their fighting, their faces going blank for a few moments. The markings begin to face, and they collapse on the ground. they're still alive, but unconscious.

The Ghosts are more formidable. They don't have the same reaction to the personal items, but they seem to be strongly affected by acts of protection. Witnessing the Chosen exhibiting these acts of kindness is what ultimately gets a Ghost to stop in its tracks. These creatures are too far gone to revert to a humanoid form, though—if their tastes are met, they simply fade away.

---

THOSE WHO STAYED BEHIND

We get it, not everyone trusts fairies. Those who choose not to go on the expedition to the ruins might find things eerily quiet in Aldrip. There are a few fairies who stay behind and continue to coax the ground back to life, of course—and just as before, they encourage the Chosen to help them do so.
But if they're paying attention, the Chosen might notice that something is amiss. Parts of signs on buildings have blinked out of existence. Some of the local residents of Aldrip act as if they're lagging. Some even flicker in and out of existence…but that's fine, right? Nothing to worry about.

Right?

V. IT'S NOT A BUG, IT'S A FEATURE

     

For those who have stayed behind, there's plenty of work to do in Aldrip and the surrounds. Buildings still sit in disrepair after the last event—haven't the locals been working on that? no? what have they been doing all this time?—and decayed wood and underbrush need to be removed from Pessiria Forest.

Now would be a great time to begin working on building up new things, too: plenty of Chosen have been talking about building homes or dorms to ease the pressure on the Inn, and some of the locals still whisper concerns about what happens if refrigeration fails again. Do they have enough crops to feed everyone, after that giant monster withered so much of the area? Where are you going to put all that debris, anyway? And what about the paths between towns that still lie in disrepair?

Unfortunately, the Chosen are almost entirely on their own for this. The people of Aldrip seem particularly helpless in the face of change, and some even seem to freeze up at the thought of helping out…wait. Are they actually frozen? They're not blinking. Or moving. …Oh, they're fine now.

This is fine!

VI. FUCK IT, WE BALL (WILDCARD)

     

Just because there’s not a prompt for it doesn’t mean that your character’s actions aren’t acceptable. If you wish to do anything that hasn’t been directly addressed by the prompts, leave a message for the mod team to say what your character would do. If you choose to go down this path, note it as a comment on the OOC poll when it goes up, and leave a link to your threads so that we can take all actions into consideration for the next State of the Game.

Comments

QUESTIONS / CONCERN / COMMENTS

[expiationmods]

[strength_of_will]

What sort of effect will holy magic/magic effective against the undead have on the Ghosts? Will it be the same as any other type of magic? Since William's is supposed to be able to give the dead peace, how well or badly will that go against the spectres?

[emet_sulk]

For the leftover tech like the watches/data pads, can the more technically-minded characters get into the inner mechanisms?

[ticket218]

Hello! Sigma's ability lets him take information he wants from someone in exchange for information they want from him via touch, all delivered right to the respective brains. If he were to try this on Mr. Expedition, what would happen?

[quizpersona]

Hello lovelies. You won't believe this but I am up to no good.

Say a certain someone is capable of reaching into the drawers without setting off traps-- specifically to grab some those firecrackers (using a certain spatial manipulation ability). Are those take-home-able?

Re: QUESTIONS / CONCERN / COMMENTS

[baldrshand]

so this is a thousand years late BUT: if someone were to look for writing (journals, planners, etc) would they find any hints about what happened to the place?

Re: QUESTIONS / CONCERN / COMMENTS

[fatalism]

sliding in here late but, would the ghosts be able to tell if acts of protection are faked actions vs real intentions? If this makes any sense my brain is melting here so asljlkdalk

NPC INTERACTION: FOLLOW THE FAIRIES

[expi]

[orphne]

Hi! Can I ask a question before we go?

[Kotone raises her hand very politely like they're in class. She's seen a couple people get hit with various afflictions for being rude, and she'd really prefer to avoid that.]

What's causing the blight?

NPC INTERACTION: JOURNEY TO THE DESERT

[expi]

[ticket218]

Excuse me.

[ Customer Service Attitude to Customer Service Attitude, Sigma will be trying to get the larger fairy's attention with a polite wave. He and the fairies in the forest have been perfectly civil thus far, no reason to disrespect their...boss? Representative?? ]

I understand we've an important job to do here, but do you have a few moments to clarify some things?

dazai osamu | bungo stray dogs

[nullificates]

ꜱʟᴜᴍʙᴇʀ

(dazai can't sleep should there be a ray of light, and even the slightest of sounds is enough for him to awaken - but like this? he doesn't do it in good spirits. rolling out of bed, this is the fastest coffee he has ever made, a pair of pants and a black t-shirt contradicting the usual vintage style he wears. the bandages are much more visible like this, from the palms of his hands, to his neck, even his ankles are wrapped, and he drags himself through the inn as such, caffeine in hand, the face of someone who's still asleep and the messiest of curls on top of his head.

for a while, he's just watching, squinting as he is trying to get a hold of the situation. for now, just angry fairies... ah.

alright. a sip. a slowblink.)

Ah, little curses... I definitely won't try, but did they say anything so far... (yawn) ... Is this worth it...

ꜱʟᴜᴍʙᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ

(he's got at least his vest, and shoes before he decides that it is definitely worth it once he takes a look through the other side. it's almost awkward the way he moves through, like he's avoiding touching any edges, because!! who knows!! it might close on him!! 'no longer human', a blessing, and a curse.

he's glad that he's wearing black, at least, and sleeveless at that, or he'd be in much more trouble. naturally, there are a few plans for this to work for him in the best way possible. observe first. see what happens to others, before he can have his hand. strategic placement would be under the shade, so he sits, stretches, and pretends to be asleep. he's listening, watching from the smallest gaps between his eyelids.

zzzZZZzzzzzzzzz... not.)

ʜᴇʟᴘꜰᴜʟ ᴇxᴄᴇᴘᴛ ɴᴏᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ

(it's fine if anyone else gets the goods before him. with how he is, it's not going to be long until he gets his hands in every goods that there might be -- and aside from anything that can provide information, he's not particularly worried. everything is information, after all, and his memory is taking in each and every single detail of this place, even if it looks like he's not taking it seriously at all. a hop here, a skip there, a giggle as he draws silly faces around. all little excuses for him to look, to analyze thoroughly, while slacking off as much as he can on the surface. not at all different from usual dazai antics.

the next house he comes, however, he hears a banging noise from below him, a voice, and there's a trap door-- a little lock? oh. sounds like mr lockpick could help!! but he's going to have some fun beforehand.)

Heeeeeeeeeeeeey, how is it down there? Good napping spot?

ᴡᴇʟʟ ꜰᴜᴄᴋ

(ghosts? is that it? or... monsters? perhaps someone's ability. it's not wise to approach when he doesn't know - dangerous for dazai to put all his faith in his nullifying touch when the rules are different. not much he can do - he can fight, but to what extent? good thing he has brought one of chuuya's knives, for safety purposes, and that's what he is doing. naturally, not ghosts to target - he's been watching.

-- fuck, he should not have been that careful, when he notices the items being of use.

fuck. time to rush to the houses, get as many items as he possibly can carry, preferably from left-overs of traps. strategy-- strategy..)

slumber but again

[entreats]

[ Though Ange isn't exactly excited about the idea of this little field trip, she does think it's important enough to actually go along with it all. She's been telling a whole lot of people that she wants to find out more about this place and find a way home, after all, and this feels way more productive towards that than just sitting back in the village.

.. though not everyone seems to think about it that way, apparently. Ange spots Dazai from a distance first, assuming the guy is truly asleep. It's only when she stomps moves over towards him that she realises that might not exactly be the case.

Or maybe it is. It's hard to tell whether he's asleep or not. Ange would guess he's not, but also wouldn't be surprised if he was. Either way, she can't help but speak up, the teenage girl's hands perched on her hips. ]

Are you seriously napping?

Ethlyn | Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War | OTA

[baldrshand]

I. The desert

[Ethlyn hadn't had much time to think about what was through the portal, not with their fairy guide chivvying them along so urgently. It hits her when the heat does--like an enormous weight pressing down from her scalp down through her entire body, her feet sinking slightly into the ground.

The desert.

Her breath catches in her throat. The light, the heat, the scent of baking sand fills her senses. Instantly she looks up and winces away from the sunlight, but the sky is empty. Of course it is. This is another world. It isn't Aed.

All the same, she's glad to have a physical excuse to be sweating.]

R-right... right. [She brushes her bangs out of her eyes and squares her shoulders.] They're just ruins. It's nothing to worry about.

[That ignores what their fairy guide said about beings, but Ethlyn is less worried about ghosts than she is about more tangible foes. Taking a deep breath, she forces herself to step forward into the abandoned town.]

II. Turn every stone

[The town is sad and desolate. Ethlyn gets the feeling, as she moves through the sandswept streets and homes, that she is walking through an open coffin. She keeps expecting to see bones peeking out from the drifts and rubble.]

This place has been empty for years... but it seems as though the people who lived here may have escaped whatever happened to make them leave it. I don't see--I don't see any remains, do you?

[Or perhaps you find her inside one of the dusty houses, she finds one of the little watches with the square glass face and jumps when her touch awakens its voice. A device like their amulets?]

What--what is this? Is this the only message?

[She begins poking at it, prodding it, trying to make it work the same way as her amulet does--this technology is unfamiliar to her, but there must be some method to have it give more.]

III. Those who come at night

[The temperature has dropped precipitously with the sunset. Ethlyn often wondered if ghosts are real or the product of fear and imagination... now she has her answer.

She wishes more than ever that she had brought her Light Brand with her. Her plain iron sword seems inadequate against these unearthly souls, and she's not keen to be wounded again. So while she keeps her sword unsheathed, she doesn't get closer--except if she sees someone else who looks like they need help.]

Are you all right?! Hurry--we need to keep away from these--these spirits.

IV. Wildcard!

ii

[entreats]

Not so far.

[ At least Ange can agree on that, actually answering the question rather than ignoring it when it's asked of her. It's not exactly like she's here to be social, but-- on the other hand, it seems like they all need to work together to find out what exactly happened here. It's not like it's possible for a single person to look at every clue, after all.

So she's willing to cooperate here, glancing over at Ethlyn. ]

Though it's possible they all died in the same place, or that all their bodies were dumped somewhere. [ .. sorry, Ethlyn.. It probably doesn't help that Ange says it with such a calm tone too, like she's talking about something completely normal and casual. The weather, or something along those lines. ] So there could be a whole lot of remains in one place, and then nowhere else in the village.

Emet-Selch | Final Fantasy XIV | open

[emet_sulk]

1. There's sand in my shoes

Emet-Selch is looking a little rumpled this horrid, desert morning as he picks his way through the ruins. He, of course, had tried to argue with their fairy guides and been suitably punished for it. Whilst he could have stayed behind in protest at the treatment, the lure of hitherto unexplored territory eventually overcame his disgust.

Finding one of the little holographic data pads, he plonks himself down tiredly on a bit of fallen masonry and starts to fiddle with it. He's searching for a back panel, or some kind of way to get into the inner workings of the things. He has an old, open toolbox beside him to help but his soft cursing can still be heard.

"Curse these primitive tools..."

And if he feels that prickle on the back of his neck? He whips around and flings a swathe of dark aether in that direction, piercing yellow eyes searching for the unseen threat.

2. Those who come at night

A shrill scream pierces the night, disturbing the heavy sleep pulling at Emet-Selch's eyelids. He jolts upright, sand scattering, and his eyes immediately find the spectres looming on the fringes of the camp firelight.

He sighs irritably and gets to his feet, brushing down his clothes. He still doesn't have a weapon made yet but he can Create a temporary staff. Pooling aether into the crystalline focus, he unleashes a storm of fire at the encroaching enemies--

--and immediately gets flung backwards. Possibly crashing into someone; definitely landing in an undignified heap.

"What in Zodiark's name--?!"

3. Wildcard

Got another scenario in mind? Feel free to DM with ideas or just write something custom.

1

[entreats]

"What kind of tools are you looking for?"

He may have already been able to see Ange approaching, if not just by her shadow starting to move closer as she was approaching him. Even if the girl may not exactly be social by nature, she's figured there's only so much she can figure out about this place by just looking into stuff herself.

And since it seems that Emet-Selch is working on something, she figures he's at least seriously trying to investigate all of this too. Might as well see what he found out then - or maybe help find something out, when she realises he's struggling with it once she gets closer and hears him speak.

Hence her question. She doubts they'll be able to find anything much better than what he's working with right now, but who knows.

Nikolai Gogol | Bungo Stray Dogs

[quizpersona]

LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED

a. [ Giving up the opportunity to do some sanctioned stealing? Not likely! Although the fact that it is dubiously permitted by flying little humanoids from fairytales makes it slightly less appealing. For a man who has been caught stealing for seemingly no reason besides for ones that are purely philosophical Gogol spends a lot of time stalking through the abandoned buildings without having taken anything yet.

With so many investigators traipsing through it means he encounters someone else eventually. Focusing his gaze on the a line in the dust on a counter he draws with his index finger, he decides to pose a question to that person. ]

What makes a good souvenir good? Do you have any thoughts?

b.

i.
[ The traps? Oh those are a blast. It only took falling for the first trap door to learn most areas are booby-trapped. The comical shriek the clown of a man releases early on in the day might've been something that could be heard throughout the abandoned settlement. Embarrassing mishaps aside he reserves part of his day for enforcing good WSIB safety and prevention practices. Which means into the shadows Gogol goes! Until he sees someone else about to fall victim.

There's liberal use of the Overcoat. For the tripwires he teleports his hand to flick whoever is about to step on it on the forehead or at the side of the head before they do. For the dried up pies he pulls the victim partway through the floor boards so the pastries fly over their heads-... leaving them stuck there from the shins up. ]

Who~opsie-daisy.

ii.
[ The firecracker drawers however are a different matter. Humming a cheery tune he sidles up to the first person he witnesses moving to open one of the safer ones. ]

No no, you definitely won't want to open that one. Go for the one below it!

[ For the record: that's exactly the one that has firecrackers in it. ]

CLOWN'S HAUNTED

[ Unlike the jovial disposition during the day the Gogol that catches sight of the familiar brands is entirely different presence. He watches those shambling bodies bereft of all but heightened emotions with a uncharacteristically blank expression. The inner thoughts are unreadable at that point; but the intentions are clear. Despite being accustomed to combat he's clearly keeping his distance this time. ]

leave no stone unturned - a!

[entreats]

I'm pretty sure the focus of this entire thing was on investigate.

[ Still, even though the content of Ange's words clearly contain some pushback, there's nothing that intense in her voice. If anything, its tone is very flat, practically devoid of emotion. At best there's a tiny hint of sarcasm in it, but not much else, as Ange's gaze slowly moves over towards the other 'explorer' she just encountered.

She seems to observe him for a moment, but then one eyebrow slowly rises on her pokerface. ]

Why would you need a 'good' souvenir anyway? If you want to take something back, does it really matter what it is?

Chuuya Nakahara | Bungo Stray Dogs | Open

[darkdisgrace]

Follow the faeries... or argue with them

A. [So here's the thing about Chuuya: He's friendly, but he is very much that guy who will react with a temper when pissed off. So when a fairy makes a rude gesture at him in response to his questions, he of course starts shouting.

And soon stops, voice cutting out awkwardly mid-word. He opens his mouth silently, no sound escaping him.

The sheer fury on his face is downright comical.]

B. [When he starts yelling even louder when his voice returns, 10 minutes later, a different tactic is taken: He's struck blind, wavering in place, and now he gets it, tension tight in his shoulders at the lack of vision.

Okay. Don't fuck with the faeries. Got it. the next 15 minutes are going to be extremely awkward and vulnerable for the normally fiery man. Someone might want to help him out.

Or make him feel even more uneasy, perhaps.]

Leave no stone unturned
[Well, Chuuya is nothing if not a thorough man when given a mission, so of course he's going to rummage through everything while attempting to at least be respectful as he does so. Those messages seem to imply that these people are long gone, and Chuuya is--surprisingly perhaps--quite respectful when it comes to the dead and lost.

He takes a few items here and there, intending to propose the construction of a memorial of some sort or another. Small trinkets, nothing he intends to keep.

Of course, getting to those things means tripping a fair few traps. The first time he stumbles into a trapdoor trap, the shout that escapes him is quite loud, but he's soon floating himself out of the previously concealed hole with a scowl.]

Seriously? What were these people tryin' to keep out?

[People like them? or something else?

Chuuya will keep his eyes peeled, cutting tripwires with his knife when he spots them and pulling people out of holes after they've triggered traps. The nice benefit of having a guy who can manipulate gravity freely around.]

Those who come at night
[When they finally manage to get a good look at the figures hanging around, Chuuya's blood runs cold.

Those marks... They're just like back then. One gloved hand reaches up to rub against his cheek and neck, bare of marks now but still remembered.

For that reason alone, Chuuya chooses not to attack those with brands and tries to focus on the shadowy ghosts, trying to avoid attacks from the infected as he does. His punches do nothing however: they just send him flying backwards every time.

He's a bit injured by the time the advice to use the items comes along, but it's enough: He shoves whatever he can grab from his pocket towards the infected trying to attack him, watching as their face goes blank before they crumple to the ground. Alive.

Shit. All the way out here? But how?

He can be found fighting and protecting others both: While his abilities do very little to damage the ghosts, he can still move very quickly to drag people out of harms way.

And if needed, he'll throw items towards people who are empty handed and looking like they need help against an infected.] Catch!!!

Leave no stone unturned

[fatalism]

[ this is exhausting even though fyodor is letting chuuya do most of the work, and he's allowed the other to trigger quite a few traps just for the fun of watching him curse and use his ability.

all in all, good times all around. ]

Be careful. [ he warns, unnecessarily. like an asshole. ]

Tsunayoshi Sawada | Katekyou Hitman Reborn

[theskyaccepts]

A - Bad Day for Pranks

[The moment he arrives, Tsuna doesn't like this place.

He can't say that he likes abandoned spaces all that much. Places that are empty of people. It's upsetting, worrisome, and it reminds him of the Choice battle. Granted that city was more a deliberate construction than an abandoned place but the feel is the same. And it's a bad one.

(The whole multiple dimension thing bothers him. He's known about it for a while but the Mare rings were sealed, so he didn't think he would have to deal with them more than he already had. Joke's on him he guesses).

So, his guard is up when he explores. But maybe not in the right way. He's waiting for something to jump out at him that he misses the tripwire and falls on his face. There's a clang as he opens a door and an empty bucket falls on his head. He looks singed from some firecrackers that might have exploded when he reached into a drawer.

There's a groan as you find him in a crumpled heap at the bottom of some stairs, a bucket on his foot.

That last one might not have been a prank.

Joke's really on him.]


B - Totally Afraid of These Ghosts

[So here's the thing. Tsuna? Despite his mafia connections that he probably hasn't mentioned don't worry about it, is actually a total weenie. He hates ghosts, and he's already having a bad day because of his status as a perpetual prank victim.

So, seeing these ghost? His first instinct is to run. Maybe hide somewhere? If he can? Things don't seem likely though.

Instead, there is a burst of light and Tsuna stands ready. A bright orange flame burns in the center of Tsuna's forehead casting a calming light, and his eyes are a similar colour. The Rings on his fingers have transformed into a pair of red gauntlets and he stands ready, shoving down the nervousness.]

Hang on!

[He shouts as he bursts forward with that same flame emitting from his hands before he slams his fist into an Infected.]

Are you alright?

C - Wildcard

[Want to do something different? Want to plot? urbaninja or PM]

A!

[mooglebow]

[As she and her mostly invisible moogle explore the abandoned village, the sudden sound of some of the traps going off startles Serah. What the heck was that?! Out of caution, she approaches the house, Mog now a sword in her hand...

...only to find nothing? Huh. It isn't until Tsuna groans that she sees him, the crumpled heap that he is on the ground, bucket on his head...]

Oh my gosh! Are you okay?!

[Once she's next to him, Serah crouches down to carefully take the bucket off of his head and assess any injuries.]

William G Maryblood | The Faraway Paladin | open

[strength_of_will]

1. There's sand in my shoes

William is no stranger to ruins. After all, his entire childhood had been spent living and training in one. There is no hesitation at all when he's invited to step through the portal into this desert land and he carefully picks his way through the crumbling buildings at the fairies' behest.

It's been a long time since he's seen some of the items he finds. As he bends down to pick up a candy wrapper, he's struck by an odd sense of familiarity. Memories of his past life pricking at the surface, only to scatter like so much mist when he tries to grasp them. But nothing strikes a chord more than the smartwatch he finds hidden under a layer of dust.

"This is..." He should know what this is. Looking at it, the thought that this is more advanced than what he's used to pops into his mind. However, he knows by its form that it's a watch. "I wonder if it still works-- ah!"

He startles at the hologram which appears and almost drops the thing. It spits out its broken message before disappearing, leaving William to stare at it in shock.

"What happened to this place...?" he wonders aloud.

2. Gracefeel's peace

When the spectres rise from the sand later that night, William is amongst the first on his feet, spear and shield in hand. Are they Stagnate's minions? He hasn't had any contact from either them or Gracefeel but he cannot imagine how it would benefit Stagnate to attack him now. After all, Stagnate had already told him in no uncertain terms that he would meet his death fighting the dragon.

The fact remains, however, that these look to be undead. He takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, readying himself for a fight.

"If you can't fight, stay back!" he calls out. "If you can fight, protect the others! I can fortify you if you stay near me."

3. Wildcard

I'm open to people encountering William wherever. He's likely to set off one of the defunct traps, and musing over things half-familiar. William's particular holy power will allow him to send off the ghosts without the need for items and his blessing can offer buffs to others if they fight with him.

Gracefeel

[baldrshand]

Ethlyn has never decided whether or not she believes in ghosts--even now, after a time where she might reasonably be expected to know. But her situation here has given her no clarity on the matter. Now it seems she has an answer.

She draws her sword. There are tales in Jugdral of the dread warriors of Loptous' reign, made from the dead and possessed of terrible might. She can only hope that these creatures are not so powerful, but she still draws closer to William. "Fortify how?" she said. "A spell?"

Yuja Wightshade (WoL) | Final Fantasy XIV | open

[likethestars]

☉ SAND SAND AND MORE SAND

[ After trying to converse with the fairies and mostly being rebuffed with attitude, Yuja was about ready to just give up and go back to whatever she was doing before. However, the arrival of the larger fairy and the promise of exploration is too much of a draw for her to ignore.

Once in the ruins, she can't help but get that strange feeling of deja vu. Perhaps it reminds of her the edge of the universe, a place where lonely, dead worlds were recreated. As she begins to pick her way through one of the houses she pauses, a memory coming back to her. ] This must have been what she saw on that desert world. [ She says softly as she picks up one of the plates on the table.

Later, she come across one of the smartwatches. She fiddles with it for a few moments before the words appear. She squints at them, reading them slowly aloud, even spelling one or two out as if she doesn't recognize the word. ]

☉ WILDCARD

[ If you're interested in something else, let me know. I'm happy to write a personalized starter or you're more than welcome to toss a starter at me. PM me if you have any questions. ]

[entreats]

[ Considering this village isn't exactly the biggest place around, you're bound to eventually run into someone else trying to explore the place - especially when every single living being stands out so much in a place that's otherwise completely empty.

It's due to it that Ange spots Yuja, for one, just as the other is busy picking up one of the smartwatches and looking at it. Apparently girl hadn't found one of those herself yet, since she frowns in thought when she sees what Yuja is picking up, moving to step closer towards where the other is. ]

What did you find?

[ It seems important. Or, at the very least - it stands out among everything else here. ]

ange ushiromiya | umineko no naku koro ni | ota

[entreats]

( 1. there's sand in my shoes )

[ Maybe you came here with Ange to look around the buildings on the expedition. Or maybe you just happened to be in the same one as the girl while she was exploring, rather than having chosen to go with her specifically. Either way, you just happen to be nearby as Ange manages to fish one of the datapads out of the rubble. Maybe you already see her grabbing it and giving it a thoughtful look, the girl's eyebrows knitting together into a frown.

Or maybe you just notice it because Ange touches it, reads the words that flash on it, and then gasps. Not the loudest gasp ever, but considering the lack of emotion Ange shows most of the time, it's definitely more than the usual coming from her.

If you aren't already heading towards her because of it, she's the one who looks at you instead, the frown lingering on her face. ]

Did you see that too?

[ Her voice is still relatively flat, the surprise seemingly gone, but there's something tighter than the usual around its edges. Like she's on guard. ]

( 2. desert's haunted )

[ Of course there's something dangerous.

Of course there's something dangerous. Really, Ange would have been more surprised if this expedition somehow ended up being completely safe, or if Mr. Expedition didn't dip out at the worst possible moment. No, this seems par for the course as to how these things usually go.

Not that the creatures don't seem ominous all the same. But terror isn't an emotion that Ange has been very familiar with lately. The girl does seem to tense up, but it seems more like preparation, like she's trying to think of the best way to deal with this threat.

If you happen to be near her, then.. well, sorry, but she's enlisting you for her plan. ]

Do you think you can hold them off for a moment? I might be able to deal with them.

[ But casting her magic under duress isn't exactly Ange's strong point - hence her needing help here. ]

there's sand in my shoes

[fatalism]

[ I don't think you should touch- is on the tip of fyodor's tongue but it is way too late now. those words sound ominous but what about this place does not present some kind of hidden layer to it? fyodor can see something even if he hasn't put the puzzle together just yet. ]

Yes, I saw it. Perhaps we should be a little more careful with what we touch, yes?

Blackbeard | Our Flag Means Death | ota

[midlifecryseas]

1. the mosquitoes are big around here cw: violence/injury

[ These fairy bugs aren't new to Blackbeard in at least that he's heard about them from people before now. Seeing them in the flesh is interesting, at least until they're flipping him off for asking a fucking question, and he's swatting at them in retaliation, which has him suddenly... lifted into the air himself, like fucking Peter Pan, in a fucking soap bubble. He yells some more, cursing colorfully as he struggles to stand in the bubble, which is, of course, impossible, and just leaves him scrambling around, hair in face, more and more pissed off—

He unsheathes the dagger from his hip and stabs the bubble, which, in hindsight, maybe not the best idea. Whether it's the blade that does it or the fairy deciding to finally let him free, the bubble pops, and Blackbeard hits the ground face-first with a pained squawk. He clambers shakily up to his kneeling and looks down to see his own stupid knife sticking out of his side. So... he may have fucked up. ]

2. a hole new world

[ As soon as the only fairy who knows how to talk around here starts talking about blighted areas, and probably keeping what you find, and volunteers, Blackbeard already has his doubts. But then the fairies go and rip a hole in the fucking air to another fucking dimension, and yep, he's decided. He looks at the stranger nearest to him who's also been told to jump into a fey portal, shuffles a step towards them and claps them encouragingly on the shoulder. ]

You first. I'll be right behind.

[ Then he steps back. He will not, in fact, be right behind. Fucking no thank you. So, hope the other "volunteers" have fun. ]

3. reality is a simulation

[ The vibe of the town is different, once a good chunk of the chosen have gone dipping into the fairies' holes. Quieter, tense. At first Blackbeard figures it's for some normal human reason, but obviously that was a mistake as some obvious town landmarks are suddenly wholly or partially missing without a trace, vanished entirely. Weirder than that, though, is the way he'll be talking to a local to buy some nice piece of jewelry or pouch of tobacco or whatever, and they'll go doll-eyed and still as a doll, too. It's fucking unnerving, and he can't be the only one to notice, right? So he asks of more than one Chosen, whether they've stayed behind in Aldrip as he has, or once they're back from their glorious hole adventure: ]

Hey, have you noticed the locals are more vacant that usual, some of them?

4. wildcard me

[ want to do something weird? here's your option! ]

1

[caregives]

[... Leanne just watches the interaction. she's tried to communicate with the fairies multiple times, but hadn't been successful yet... so naturally, she's given up. they're not the kind of fae that she's used to at home.

but she does watch in mild judgement as some people try to argue with them.

Blackbeard included.

she doesn't think much of it and almost turns away when he gets Afflicted, but then she sees blood at the corner of her vision. Leanne gasps and runs forward, holding out her hands to him.]

Here, let me look at that!

[nurse mode: activate]

kotone shiomi | persona 3 portable

[orphne]

[Kotone has had a rough few weeks, but she's keeping up her cheerful smile in spite of it all. Really, unless one knows her well enough to realize that maybe that wide smile isn't entirely reflective of her true feelings, one would think nothing was wrong. But her discussion with Shinjiro, her fight with Akechi, her listening to Dazai's list of crimes, Ken's impending judgement, and finally, Shinjiro's recent disappearance, well! She's going through it right now.]

1. Follow the fairies

[So when the fairies show up looking for volunteers to help, well. She sprints for the club building to grab her bright green feathered naginata and raid the kitchen for supplies. Some bottles of water and easy-to-pack snacks! Feel free to catch her there, or on her way back to the fairies as she prepares to jump inside.

After all, Shinji might be there. It's a long shot, but she has to be sure.]

2. Leave no stone unturned

[It doesn't feel right, taking people's things. This isn't like picking up random junk in Tartarus, this feels like people are just waiting to come back. Sure, she heard what Mr. Expidition said, but she pauses in the living space of one of the houses, just quietly taking stock of everything around her with a faint expression of pain. Eventually she reaches out and runs her fingers over the worn, well-loved ear of a stuffed dog, clearly waging some kind of internal struggle over whether she should take it with her or not.]

3. Those who come at night (cw: persona 3-typical suicidal imagery)

[The whispering voices hadn't bothered her overmuch; it was just like Tartarus, really, the weirdly echoing voices, the ghostly figures. All that was different was that these hadn't attacked.

Yet.

The sight of the Branded -- Infected -- whatever -- makes her blood run cold as one of them sprints in to attack.]

Look out!

[Wielding her naginata in both hands, she intercepts his grabbing hands and twists, hurling him to the ground with enough force that he doesn't immediately get back up again. The Infected are clearly people, but the ghosts? Her attention stolen by incapacitating the wave of Infected, she doesn't hear the scream of a ghost behind her until it's almost on top of her. Trying to slash it with her naginata repels her backward with a scream of her own, but she manages to land on her feet somehow, even if she skids in the sand. Immune to slashing damage? The ghost is still coming, and in a moment of desperation, she draws the Evoker holstered at her waist and points it at her own head.]

Sandalphon!

[Maybe it's because looking for Shinji is her most pressing concern right now, but as the impact of her Evoker knocks her head sideways and wreaths her head in blue flames, the angel of the Moon arcana bursts forth instead of blood or brain matter. The golden angel extends a hand to cast a Light spell, but to no effect. Once again, Kotone is repelled backward, the angel vanishing as quickly as it had appeared.]

4. wildcard!
[Y'all know the drill! She'll be around the desert searching for things (Shinji) and trying to uncover the mystery behind this place. Hit me up on the discord or on plurk for plotting!]

Follow them Fairies

[whatsamada]

[Ken hadn't heard from Shinjiro as of late. Just like Kotone, he was starting to fear for the worst as he wondered if he was taken. As he was looking around for some supplies, he managed to catch his leader in the kitchen.]

Kotone-san? Is that you?

[Pause]

...What are you doing?

Sigma | Bungou Stray Dogs | CW: Violence against the Infected

[ticket218]

a. Journey to the Desert
[ Sigma, despite all appearances as a man with fine and expensive tastes, is no stranger to scavenging. He's pretty thorough in his searches when he's found a place that looks like investigating, indeed leaving no stone unturned, though for the most part in the daylight hours the only thing he seems to have picked up to carry with him is a sturdy looking hammer.

That, and a fairy friend who's never fluttering too far away. If others are within sight they may make a quick pit stop to flit around these people curiously, most definitely not searching through their pockets or hands or anything--if you feel a little lighter it's just the heat, and return to Sigma's side shortly after.

Another sight you may walk in on, though, is a quiet one. What remains of these four walls makes it clear it was a bedroom, and Sigma is parked in front of some kind of ravaged vanity. He doesn't notice whoever's walked in, focus intent on a small piece of jewelry in his hands instead. His fairy is more likely to notice you before he does, but they seem curious about this tiny thing as well, perched on his shoulder to lean in for a closer look instead of investigating any newcomers. ]

b. Those Who Come at Night
[ Not everyone heeded the cryptic warning. Why would they? Some can defend themselves easily enough, others maybe didn't listen, some might have just lost track of time and daylight during the expedition. At the end of the day it's no one's fault.

But at the end of the day there's also a monster coming for your throat.

No matter what's kept you out here this late, the "Infected" have found you. Maybe they've backed you against a wall, maybe you found one of those unsprung traps at an inconvenient time, but it's making its way towards you with claws and teeth and--

CRUNCH!!

--and the head of a hammer lodged in its skull.

Of course it wouldn't go down with just one hit, maybe not even two, but Sigma yanks the thing out and gives it one more good whack to push it off kilter for at least long enough to turn to whoever the creature had its eyes on. ]

Can you run?

c. Wildcard
[ You know how it goes, let's do this thing. ]

b but also c-ish

[quizpersona]

[ Gogol is truthfully not at all surprised to see a past associate with blood on his hands. The heroics do interest him though. How compelling. It's something for him to watch for entertainment while he's not being helpful at all at a good safe distance.

Nikolai waits for a quick lull in the activity. Sure of his timing he sidles through the Overcoat. He has the presence of mind to carefully step over a disfigured corpse. ]

Now, then... Do you recall how I told you it was safe around these parts? Back when you first joined us in this world.

Scott Summers | XMCU

[laserguy]

Twinkies last forever;
[Look, it's totally Dazai's fault that Scott's hungry. He was trying to get breakfast, but stuff happened, and now he's here at this strange town without any food in him. So, totally not his fault that the unopened twinkie that's so innocently sitting there actually looks appetizing. At least it's not covered in dust like the plates and stuff!

....

And exploring a strange place takes a lot out of someone, especially a teen. Besides, it's not like anyone's here to judge him, right? Right. So, Scott reaches over to the twinkie and to his credit, does sniff it, just to make sure it doesn't smell rancid. Yep, smells like a fresh twinkie to him. It's probably fine.]

leave no stone unturned;
[Scott isn't sure he should be listening to Mr. Creeplord, but whatever, guess it wouldn't harm anyone if he took a few candy wrappers. No one's going to miss those things, even though he's pretty sure that no one's returning to this place anytime soon. Everything's all abandoned and it honestly gives him a slightly unsettling feeling or maybe it's the twinkie that isn't digesting well.

But he continues looking around, until he finds a slightly plain brown box that's sitting on top a table, similarly covered in dust. And by law, if there's an unopened box, you just have to remedy that situation. He's just following the laws of the universe as he undoes the latches and flips it open--

Only to get socked in the face with a boxing glove.

It doesn't really hurt, but it manages to knock his glasses off and predictably, a bright red light starts tearing through the wall in front of him. It last a few seconds, before Scott finally closes his eyes and turns his head to the side, recovering from the shock. Oh, that doesn't mean he's not pissed though.]

Fuck-- that was shit. [That sucked!! Who made that sort of trap?! ...But crap, where are his shades? He has to find them or he can't really go anywhere. Or do anything. Fuck. He keeps his eyes closed before kneeling down on the ground, trying not to let his panic overtake him. It has to be somewhere close by.]

knew it'd come in handy
[One way or another, Scott's figured out that you're supposed to give those items in the abandoned city to those weird infected guys. Course, it's easier said than done, especially since it's super tempting to lower his shades and blast the incoming marked creature across the field and be done with it. But... he honestly doesn't want to resort to 'blasting everything,' especially since he's already killed a couple of these guys.

...

He doesn't know what killing them really means or his mind doesn't want to think about it, especially if they used to be people, but he stays put as he holds out the broken stuffed dog to the approaching Infected. Scott seems grim, but determined, although from afar, it may appear like an idiot kid that's just standing around and waiting to get killed. Or maybe you just also want to see what will happen when the item's returned to them.]

twinkie

[grappler]

[listen. Vi's poking around nearby, and she hears the sound of a plastic wrapping before she looks up. it's a little awkward, because this is the kid that she tried to beat the shit out of once...

but she's curious.]

What the hell is that?

[at least she's not exactly judgmental...]

Ragna the Bloodedge | BlazBlue

[rebellions]

I. karma's a bitch

[ So now there are even more fairies out there, huh? Technically speaking, Ragna isn't terribly interested in them, but he assumes they must know something about this whole "Chosen" bullshit, so he might as well ask. And by "ask", he obviously means rudely demand answers from them, which ends about as well as one would expect; it quickly escalates into an insult contest between him and the fairies, and it's hard to tell with side is more fed up with the other. ]

Tch, buncha little shits...

[ At this point, Ragna is feeling pretty much done trying to argue with them and tries to leave... only to find that the gravity around him isn't what it used to be, and he begins to float up in the air. ]

What the hell?!

[ The fairies snicker at his distress, clearly having fun watching him flail in panic. It doesn't take a genius to figure out who's behind his current predicament, so Ragna's initial panic is quickly replaced by pure anger. Perhaps someone more reasonable would try apologizing to the magical beings in an attempt to make them undo... whatever they did, but seeing as this is Ragna we're talking about─ ]

Fuck off.

[ Yeah, that's not happening. Guess he'll just hang in the air for a little while. ]

II. why did it have to be ghosts

[ It doesn't come as a surprise that there would be some kind of danger involved in this expedition, and quite frankly, this is way more up Ragna's alley than going through some abandoned houses in search of god knows what. He's been in a bad mood after being dumped in the middle of a scorching hot desert, so having an excuse to beat the crap out of someone is exactly what he needed.

Interestingly enough, he displays vastly different reactions depending on the type of enemy encountered, however: ]

a.

[ Those "Infected" or whatever the fairies call them? Piece of cake. Any of them that approach him find themselves at the receiving end of his blade, and while cutting them down one by one doesn't seem to accomplish much, he sees no reason to try and find a different solution to the problem. Sure, the fact there's seemingly no end to them and they never learn from the fate of their predecessors is a pain, but what else is there to do but to keep destroying them if they keep coming? ]

Get outta my way!

[ This time around, Ragna doesn't even bother drawing his sword; instead, he reaches for the creature with his right arm, which instantly transforms into a beastly, clawed form and he grabs the Infected, lifting it up. The creature trashes in his grip, trying to escape, only to slowly come to a stop and grow limp a moment later. The man lets the corpse go, dropping it to the ground, as his arm returns to its normal shape. ]

... What the hell was that...?

[ He asks no one in particular, looking down at his hand and slowly flexing his fingers. Sure, his Soul Eater worked just as intended, but something about that felt a little... off, just now. He's not entirely sure whether it's his Grimoire acting up, or just the result of being in a different world...

Oh well. The man shrugs, deciding there will be another time and place to figure that one out ─ preferably somewhere without these weird zombie-like things attacking him. ]

b.

[ ... and then there are those other things. The ones that shall not be named. Ones that Ragna would give anything to unsee.

Of course there would be ghosts here. Of course. That's just his luck. Why couldn't it be literally anything else?! Snakes, spiders, hell, he'd take mummies for fuck's sake. But no, it has to be the one thing in the whole wide world that actually scares him.

Ragna has been doing his utmost best to avoid those things, but unsurprisingly, what little remains of his luck eventually, and he finds himself face-to-face with one of the phantoms. ]

... Nope. Nah. Nuh-uh. No. Nein. Non. No way, no how.

[ He quickly spins around, away from the (momentary confused) spirit, and starts walking away. Maybe if he simply ignores it and doesn't acknowledge its existence, it'll just disappear like a bad dream upon waking up? Clinging to that hope is his only solution aside from running for the hills. ]

wildcard

[ Feel free to toss any scenario at me or hit me up for plotting something else if you'd like! ]

i

[caregives]

[why do people think they should just argue or yell at the fairies? Leanne's watching as yet again someone else ends up in the sky, and she puts her hands on her hips as she looks up at him.]

I don't think continuing to cuss them out is going to help anything.

[she's. just saying...]

closed to vi

[bulleting]

[The fairies unnerved Caitlyn. While she never was outright mean to them, she tried to press them for answers about this world and their situation, to no avail. While she definitely didn't trust them, the portal to this unknown city caught her curiosity, and Vi's too.

Armed with her knife and new, but crudely made rifle, she set out through the portal with Vi, to see what there was to be found. While she was trying to mentally prepare herself for it to be a lot, the ruins in the sand still came with a twinge of sadness and worry. What happened to these people? Were they other Chosen, like the people in Aldrip? Was whatever happened here coming for them next? So many questions burned in her mind.

With a nod towards Vi, and a reassuring touch to the rifle strapped across her back, she moved into the first and closest ruin near them. It looked like a home, and if everything wasn't covered in a layer of sand and dust, she would think she was intruding. She swept through the room, taking in as many details as she could, before she turned back to the table. She ran her finger gently through the dust, before examining the layer that easily wiped off onto her hand.]

This place has been empty for some time. The way the table is set, they must have left suddenly. [though, maybe the question should be, did they leave, or were they taken?]

[grappler]

[Vi's following Caitlyn, seeing as how this sort of thing is something that she'd be more into. she's still keeping her eyes peeled, though, fists loosely clenched by her sides as if she's ready to start fighting at any moment.

she glances around the home as well, and something about it makes her heart hurt, too. it doesn't look like something like Piltover -- where she'd probably rejoice to see it in ruins. it seems more simple here... and that makes her feel kind of bad.]

Looks like it.

[she reaches forward to pick up a watch that was on the table, turning it over in her hands.]

Huh, nothing like that's in Aldrip.