expiationlogs | { Player Event } What's true of all the evils in the world is true of the plague as well

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{ Player Event } What's true of all the evils in the world is true of the plague as well

Who: You. (Open to all)
Where: All over Aldrip.
What: This is the log for what we’ve been affectionately dubbing The Organ Player Plot. Various places around Aldrip are facing dangerous supernatural occurrences. It’s a scavenger hunt in some way.
Warnings: MANY SNAKES, Body Horror, Organ Trafficking, Horror Themes, Violence, and we will be updating this as we go along.

A waking scream in the darkness is the first unheard omen.

Snakes, hundreds if not thousands, slither forth from the depths of Lorentia Cave and swiftly invade Aldrip. They are the heralds of the terrible things to come, and there are no corners safe from their encroachment. The serpents come in all shape and sizes, venomous or not, and are quick to become agitated if approached. Their readiness to strike and unwillingness to back off once provoked indicates the lack of survival instinct to flee. They are on the search for what's missing, and they will put up a fight.

An invisible haze sets upon the city , filled with anguish and fury, afflicting residents as it washes through the air and buildings. Children, the elderly, and the sickly are the first to complain of ailment. Within the next few days, patients begin to flood the doors of any hospital or clinic with more serious conditions-- fevers burning from them inside out and excruciating phantom pains that make them writhe in bed.

The longer what's stolen is not returned, the worse things get. Who knows how many bodies will pile high from these plagues if nothing gets done...

ooc//
[ Dara is currently locked behind a barrier in Lorentia Cave to stave off the further spread of deadly miasma. Please retrieve a protection talisman from Seimei and retrieve what she’s lost (and hopefully return it…) !

How This Works–
To begin the search for the supernatural sources a participant can select a number that corresponds to one of the squares on the map (seen below). To go on a route head on down to the numbered top levels in the comments and reply to it. This is your character kicking off their investigation. Some routes will lead to nowhere, some to something, and others to ;)? You’ll find out.

During exploration you will receive responses from either

quizpersona or

cursegod. This is not an interaction with that particular character unless indicated otherwise.

This event will handwave wrap up by the 20th if no conclusion is reached before then because Dara needs her poor organs back. ]

The Map

Happy Belated Easter lol

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[Perhaps he or Kotone should've sent Seimei a message before they started to run towards his way, but both of them are pretty distracted with the whole handling and delivering one of Dara's organs. Not to mention that said organ is still leaking miasma everywhere through the makeshift hold of his jacket, which, thanks for the talisman and everything. Scott's also still pretty angry for various reasons, but he's shoved it all down for the time being, really just focused on heading straight to Seimei.

As such, he really is relieved to see the other man still sitting where they found him before.]

Hey, Seimei!

[Kotone will most likely be right next to him, perhaps both panting because they really made tracks to get here. He's also just. Worried about her despite being super upset, but having her hand in his has sort of helped knowing that she's... okay for the time being.]

[ooc: tag order Scott -> Kotone -> Seimei work?]

[Kotone has managed to mostly get herself back together after the horrid experience of picking up Dara's stomach with her Persona. The horrors are still there, lingering on the back of her tongue with the taste of iron, but she's keeping her hand in Scott's and a firm expression on her face. She might have an agreement with Scott not to pretend she's fine in front of him, but she doesn't have anything like that with Seimei, so she's donned her bravest face as she steps up beside him.]

We got it. Warehouse by the docks. You probably saw Scott's optic blasts from the area.

[Because her boyfriend did literally blow the roof off the place. She squeezes Scott's free hand with hers as she glances toward the miasma-leaking organ. Please help.]

[ Brave face or not, a kind of taint Seimei isn't entirely familiar with is clinging to this young lady here. A pointed glance of concern her way may unintentionally rat out to Scott that something is indeed wrong when he's looking the two of them over, but he's quick to take the offered bundle and start transferring it over to a length of carefully torn paper for wrapping. ]

I saw something, certainly. Good to know what it was.

[ Scott's jacket is unfortunately not looking the best covered in cursed stomach juices while Seimei's getting to work affixing enough talismans to fully cover the paper he'd just wrapped it in, but, ]

If you're intent on keeping that, I can cleanse it as well.

[ And a glance up at Kotone. ]

After I see to you.

[So, he noticed

Hard to miss the pointed look that Seimei sent to Kotone, the stare making him glance at his girlfriend for a moment with that same worried frown. If he can sense that she touched the organ, that's pretty bad, right? Is something bad going to happen to her? Concern tears at his insides, but he does his best to keep it down. At least they're in front of the person that can probably help her the most...? He really doesn't know this man too well, but he's glad that he's here.

Something like trust starts to form, something that he hasn't felt for an adult here in a while.]

Don't worry about the jacket.

[After watching Kotone for a few extra long seconds, Scott sucks in a breath before turning to face Seimei.]

Kotone touched the stomach with her hands. Well, her Persona did, but her Persona is connected to her-- whatever pain he feels, she gets it too. When her Persona grabbed it, she became frozen, totally unaware of her surroundings.

[Is he ratting out his girlfriend? Maybe. But he wants to tell Seimei everything that he knows, so he has a better understanding of what happened. So he can help her more. Maybe Kotone would've said all this herself, but Scott is still kind of mad at her.]

[She opens her mouth to respond that she's fine -- only for Scott to jump in. He's treated to a frown for his efforts; not because he's speaking on her behalf, but because he seemed more worried than he really ought to be. She presses her lips tightly together and returns her attention to Seimei.]

I saw a memory, [she says reluctantly, still without letting go of Scott's hand. "Saw" is probably too mild of a word; "experienced" is probably better.] Of Dara-san's. It didn't stop until Thanatos put her stomach down.

[It was horrible, but she seems to at least outwardly be taking it in stride.]

[ There's a slight squint at 'Persona', even with the qualifier that it and Kotone are connected somehow. That's. Vague, but he might have to work with vague if this is to be dealt with quickly.

The important part is that something of hers touched the stomach, and it's clearly effecting her. ]

Her curse stems from a profound grudge. I've little doubt whatever you saw was from the event which spawned it, which means you now carry a piece of her with you.

[ Once everything's all wrapped up, he holds out a hand towards Kotone. Expectantly. ]

Let me see.

[Kotone mentioned that to him when they were making their way here about seeing a memory and everything. It sounded awful, although he knows it would be more than just the horror of a memory that would get someone as strong as her to freeze up like that. It forced her to be trapped, somehow.

As Seimei explains, Scott's frown increases and his hold in Kotone's tightens, both out of continual worry but also support. He's still mad, yes, but whatever this is... whatever may happen to her, he's going to be right here with her. Even if she's 'carrying a piece of Dara' in her now which... he doesn't know what to really think, but at least he knows one thing and that's staying by her side.

Hopefully Seimei doesn't need both her hands, but Scott will reluctantly let her go if needed.]

Wouldn't be the first time!

[Oh, having a piece of a god within her? That just sounds like a normal day honestly. Between first carrying a piece of Death within her since she was seven, then awakening to several Personas -- and having many of her most powerful within her now -- this just kind of seems like business as usual.

There's no hesitation as she puts her hand in Seimei's, though -- she'll only give him the other if he needs it, because it seems like Scott might to hold onto her more than she does. Oh but wait, speaking of her Personas--]

Um, you might sense a lot of different- [Pause. Squint. How to explain this in a way that's going to invite more questions. Use his terminology.] Gods? Spirits. That's normal. Dara-san would be the only weird one.

[Nope, that just seems like it will result in more questions, so-] Scott can explain more.

[ Luckily for Scott he only needs the one hand. He's just taking a closer peek to see if this is something that will linger or eventually fade.

Which is admittedly tricky to navigate when yes, there are indeed multiple unique--presences? Not quite gods, not quite spirits, but close enough to leave him at a loss for any other way to describe them. Just one is already a heavy presence for most humans to deal with and there are?? There are so many???

He's definitely keeping an eye on this girl later. Right now, though, he needs to focus on finding Dara. ]

...Mm. Tell me, how have you been feeling since seeing this memory?

[Huh?! Why does he have to explain this?! He doesn't even use a Persona!!

If the situation was just a little less serious, he would be gaping at Kotone, because what, but instead he takes in a low breath and holds it, just so that he can get his thoughts in order. Okay, so he kind of knows about Persona stuff, mostly because of said girlfriend that's tossing all this work on him. Geez, it's a good thing he really loves her!!]

There are multiple Personas-- spirits inside Kotone. They're all representations of her soul, proof of her connections with others. She has full control over them. [Usually.]

[He's the one who'd taken the challenge to "find the other Persona-users in town" seriously! Besides, it's like a time-honored tradition to foist off the difficult exposition on someone else. She trusts him to do it right, and that trust is proven by the explanation he gives. He gets a small, appreciative smile back over her shoulder before she focuses her attention back on Seimei. How has she felt...? Normally, she might tell him she's fine, but Scott will call her on the lie even if the other man doesn't.]

...My mouth tastes like blood, [she admits, trying for a smile as if it's not a big deal.] And... I'm really tired. Like I lived through what she experienced.

[ A nod. ] For the moment, that's to be expected. As far as your body and spirit are concerned, you did live through her experiences.

A sliver of the curse is stuck to you much like a splinter. It isn't an immediate danger, and with time and care may ease itself out, though if mishandled may also burrow further in.

Allow yourself at the very least the remainder of the day to rest. I'd like to have another look at it once you've had some chance to regain your strength. [ Looking over to Scott, ] Keep watch over her, and inform me immediately if anything in her condition changes.

[He plans on kicking Kotone to bed after this. Whatever complaints she may toss at him, nope. Not listening. This is what happens to reckless leaders that don't listen or just charge straight ahead without considering others around them.

His hand in hers tighten just a bit more when Seimei brings that up. So, Kotone is now cursed for whoever knows how long because of all this. She may have placed herself in more danger for weeks or months now because of one single decision. His anger flares back up because this is worse than he thought. It takes a lot of self-restraint on his end not to start yelling or give Kotone an upset stare, only looking at the older man with a grim and serious expression.]

I will. [...] Is there anything I should do that will help her? Ease this curse?

[She did live through it. That makes her pause for a moment, because that's certainly a lot to take in. If her body thinks so, and her spirit thinks so, then does it really matter what she logically knows to be true? Biting, tearing, not just eating but feasting on another person... bile threatens to rise in her throat, but she takes a breath and tries to force herself to focus on something else. It's impossible not to remember how good it had felt to inflict pain, though. How she'd lost herself completely.

Both of her hands are occupied, so she can't draw it to her heart to more easily reach for her Personas. She'd almost killed Scott when she'd lost control of Thanatos almost a year ago. If something like that happens again... Dimly, she registers him squeezing her hand and refocuses on Seimei. She hadn't heard what Scott had asked, only asking her own, quiet question.]

...Am I going to hurt people?

Edited 2024-05-01 12:12 (UTC)

[ Oh dear, oh dear. Now here he is faced with two frightened children and no concrete good news to give them. Not that he was ever the type to sugarcoat these sorts of things in the first place, but the way he hesitates while trying to pick out the right words might not be doing their nerves any favors.

When he finally speaks again, his tone is even, but gentle. ]

I cannot promise that you won't, or at the very least feel the urge to. While some curses lay dormant once revenge has been taken on those who provoked the grudge, stronger ones may target indiscriminately, no matter the victim's relation to any guilty parties.

[ His hand shifts against Kotone's, a more obvious attempt at comfort than simply holding it for observation. ]

Every living creature has the capacity to create a curse, to become a demon. And unless we're one of the dedicated few to reach enlightenment, we fight that demon every day of our lives. I cannot tell you how best to fight your own. Only you know what can ultimately soothe it into a more manageable state.

It would do the both of you well to discuss your demons. How to anger them, to calm them, to live with them. That will be the best way to care for one another as this all plays out.

[No promises or certainties that Kotone won't harm anyone. It's hard to hear, mostly because if she harmed someone, she would take it extremely hard. He knows her. However, despite knowing that, he wants to stay by her side, even if his own life is at risk. It's possible she might be a little upset at him, but he's more than willing to just say that she would do the same in his shoes. She basically did when he was affected by that corruption.

He's not going to budge on this. He wants to be there for her.]

I'll be by her side the entire time.

[It's what he can promise right here, right now. He glances briefly at Kotone as he says that, before returning his gaze back at Seimei. He's not going to say it out loud, but they already promised to tell each other everything, even if it's stupid. Talking about their... demons shouldn't be too different, right? Even if he hasn't told her a couple of things yet--]

[Her expression falls into a cautious blankness, an expression Scott would be familiar with seeing when she doesn't know exactly which face is the right one to present in a given situation. She doesn't know about all that -- everyone has a demon? She has lots of those in her heart -- but at the core, it makes sense. If there's a curse within her, then it's up to her to control it. Manage it.

Unbidden, the memory of losing control of Thanatos comes to mind again, and she just nods as if firming her resolve. She'll have to manage it, no matter what.]

Okay, [is all she says out loud, though. Maybe Scott will let her go without discussing all this stuff, but she doubts it. He's stubborn about that kind of thing.

A beat, and then she forces a smile, though even she knows it's hardly convincing.] Maybe I'll awaken Dara-san as a Persona!

[ Seimei certainly doesn't look swayed by that smile, but at least it seems like Scott is dead serious about caring for her. Good. He's intimately familiar with the type of people who insist on handling everything by themselves like it's all fine, like they're different from others and it doesn't take a toll.

Maybe the stare he gives her for a beat or two says as much. Maybe it doesn't, but eventually he'll nod. ]

Then that's settled. You may rest here a moment if you like, or return to wherever you'll be most comfortable.

[Normally, Scott would smile or at least roll his eyes when Kotone makes a silly comment like that, but he's still so serious. He has a feeling now that making her talk about any sort of 'demon' or insecurity will be a challenge on his end, but as he told Seimei, he's going to stick by her. That's what he's here for. Being with her isn't just for when things are easy, but when stuff gets really fucking hard. They've been through a few incidents already.

At least it's obvious that she isn't really fooling anyone, if judging by the stern look the older man is sending her. You know what, he kind of likes him a little more for that--]

Kotone, what do you feel more comfortable with? [He turns his eyes towards her, wanting to see her preference in all this. He's fine with either and she's the one that's cursed, so. While waiting for her response, he strokes her hand with his thumb.]

[What is she supposed to say in response to that? She meets Seimei's eyes with just a hint of defiance, as if daring him to tell her not to go. That's not right though, is it? She should be grateful to for his help. Is this anger and annoyance her own, or a remnant of Dara's...?

Her hand tightens around Scott's, even as she draws back from Seimei.]

I want to go back. ["Home," she doesn't say, because she never calls anywhere "home." Scott's house is the closest thing she has now that the farmhouse is empty again.

Almost as an afterthought, like it's something she's realized she's supposed to do rather than it being a natural, reflexive motion, she dips her head into a bow.] Thanks for your help.

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{ Player Event } What's true of all the evils in the world is true of the plague as well

organ delivery!

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