[open] rainy day bossa nova

[playdolls]

WHO: Pitou & Open
WHERE: Their favorite cat cafe.
WHEN: Any day throughout September, pick one!
WHAT: Some regain triggers! Pitou has gotten some unnerving memories recently, and we'd be happy to share for the month's event. All prompts are open to however many people are interested in them.
WARNINGS: Severed heads and gore.

THOUGHT EXPOSURE 1: VILLAGERS RUNNING -- Episode 78 – Very X Rapid X Reproduction (Scene starts right after intro/first ad)
[ The village is traditional, Japanese in its aesthetic and its fields. There is no technology here, no electricity, no running water. The little houses are built of wood and straw, the villagers gazing up in fear dressed like classic country peasants.

They stand frozen in their fields gazing upwards for a moment before they begin to disperse with screams, grabbing children in their arms and scuttling off into the huts that will not protect them.

As they run, the perspective descends upon them, a hunter sent foraging. The buzzing of many insects fills the surrounding air until the retinue has landed... and then they begin to collect the villagers in earnest. Some are killed on the spot, others carried away into the sky by winged monstrosities.

The air smells like blood and triumph.

Pitou stares away at nothing, blood drunk with eyes dilated, stirring their coffee without any real awareness of their surroundings. ]

THOUGHT EXPOSURE 2: THE SEVERED HEAD -- Kite's End
[ Silver hair flowers in the clear water beneath the tree. The hair is soft beneath the pads of their fingers. A prize. A lovely lovely prize, so worthy, worthwhile. They stroke the crown of the head reassuringly, looking down to admire it. Dead eyes stare back, mouth slack.

Something... something disappointed pangs deep in their heart.

This toy is broken so soon...?

A confused frown crosses Pitou's face, and they rub their eyes in tired frustration. ]

THOUGHT EXPOSURE 3: THE DOLL -- Doctor Blythe
[ Pitou is set up in a corner of the cafe, newspaper spread over two tables they've pushed together to protect the tabletops while they paint. The base is that of a Blythe Doll. The thing floating around in their head is much more terrifying than the cute doll base can possibly convey however...

The thing resembles the doll, it has a large head and large eyes, a small body, but from there it only becomes grotesque. Mouth sewn shut, with a horrifying array of medical instruments protruding from its body...

It's as though a particularly morbid child dreamed up this thing. ]

THOUGHT EXPOSURE 4: THE CAT CLAWS
[ Sitting in the front window of the cafe in the sun, Pitou has a rather heavy duty metal nail file out, and works with an absentminded frown on what have become rather frightening claws... ]

I should just kill someone with these things and get it over with...

WILDCARD
Feel free to mix and match, or do any generalized things you want: playing with cats, other animal shelter volunteers, etc! Hit me up if you have any questions or idea, I'm itsabee or you can PM me!

Comments

4

[longwei2go]

Now I see what you really needed the dremel for. [ Yin said with a smirk as she approached from the main floor of the cafe. the noisy backpack filled with tools was hanging from taut straps slung over her shoulder. ]

Nice claws.

[playdolls]

That is not what I needed the dremel for.

[ A dry, irritable answer, but then they concede, ]

But it might do the trick.

[longwei2go]

[ someone needs more coffee. or less. Yin sets the bag down nearby and takes a seat. ]

It's not like I'm judging. But they're getting pretty... extreme.

[ there's the faint clacking of metal fingers on the table to fit in the silence. Yin has a pretty good idea of the answer but has to ask anyway: ] Did you just wake up with them one day?

[playdolls]

[ Pitou holds out their hand with a frown. Their profession really didn't tolerate long nails, even if they were a more human length. It's all a big pain. ]

I did, it seems it's finally my turn to join this freakshow.

[ Pitou calls themselves a freak all the time, so this is really a very mild complaint. ]

They grow so quickly, I swear I had Grell cut them just the other day.

[longwei2go]

[ from one freak to another hot mess, it doesn't make much of a difference either. ] Besides growing fast, can they do anything else? Like can you make them sprout, or cut tin cans; cool shit like that?

[ because "they're just long and grow quick" is kind of dull and Restrospec bullshit is rarely so simple. ]

[playdolls]

Nope.

[ It is extremely dull. Pitou stares at the claws imaging slicing through tin cans, making them sprout, cool shit like that. It irritates them.

And above their head, a new thought takes shape: ]

I feel incomplete.

[longwei2go]

Incomplete? [ wow, there's a familiar phrasing. but somehow Yin doubts the feeling is going to completely match her own interpretation. that's not just her being naturally contrary either. her fingers twitch; all of them, once. ]

What do you mean, exactly?

[playdolls]

[ Their mouth twists into a frown. They weren't entirely ready to articulate that idea, but they suppose-- Yin is an easy sounding board. Lacked the kindness and concern that Grell might show on this topic, able to explore it less emotionally.

Pitou flexes their hand, in and out. ]

Like you said, what good are these? What function does it serve to change the anatomy of my nails? Unless there's something more to it, and it's just a matter of time.

[ Their eyes flick up to meet Yin's. ]

And what is next. What will I turn into?

[ They aren't frightened, that much is obvious, there's a shine in their eyes that shows only inquisitive excitement. ]

How can I be at peace, until I know?

[longwei2go]

[ that's a deep line of self-questioning. noooot exactly Yin's territory — intentionally, or accidentally.

she leans back in the seat and cants her head to the side, looking Pitou over as they basically contemplate the meaning of their current and future existence. ]

My money's on cat ears. [ leave it to Yin to take the piss out of such a serious moment. though it doesn't look like she's laughing. ]

3

[erythristic]

Is that what you're thinking of turning her into?

[her friend was a lure, a pull into the cafe where she chose coffee to continue her caffeine dependency and decided that she would plop herself into Pitou's space without even asking. fair was fair, with them, but the image floating around Pitou's head drew her in, fascinating her in the way that the bizarre and hideous ended up doing. Grell props her chin on her elbow, staring almost dreamily at the thing.]

If so, I approve.

[playdolls]

[ Pitou's eyes lift to examine the thought bubble. It was rather convenient, honestly, an imagine frozen in time of what they imagined. There's a lifelike detail to the picture, shade and like, texture in the fabric of Blythe's clothes, depth where the stitches criss-cross into her mouth... ]

Dr. Blythe.

[ Pitou announces with a cheerful little laugh. ]

All these little surgical pieces might need to be made out of resin, but that's not so difficult.

[ They didn't shy away from any part of the crafting process. Assuredly why they get along so well with the corpses too: people were no different than dolls, they had their pieces and parts which could be made, reformed, painted, sewn... ]

[erythristic]

She's a sweet little dream you're having...I want to see her when you're done.

[it's an impressive figure - complex with delicate hands for the job of a doctor, big eyed and knowing though as soulless as a doll could be.]

Are you thinking of making them individually or as a large piece? And how do you want to do the mouth?

[it's a peculiar hobby, but the details are what draw Grell in. and truthfully, she thinks that if Pitou finds a happiness in them, then she'll support it - though sometimes with them, it's hard to find a line to draw. but one takes an artist (for assuredly it's some kind of odd art to recreate a person) with all their eccentricities.

that, and Pitou doesn't look at her strange when she complains that a murder would liven things up in her job or says that the things caused by the monsters were fascinating in their own terrible way.]

[playdolls]

[ Their eyes flicker down again, rubbing their fingers over the blank doll they have before them. It's fun, having all the power to turn this little hunk of plastic into something lovely, molded to Pitou's exact specifications. But not perfect.

Dr. Blythe had her ugliness, parts of her that were more function than form, and Pitou likes that about her too.

A faint smile. ]

I'll have to decide, it would be easier to cast a large piece, but I'd get a bit more detail out of doing each implement individually. There's no rush, it's just for me.

[ It was a wonder, really, how Pitou found the time for all these projects. It almost raised the question of if/when they ever slept. And the question underneath was always: were they just that creatively driven, or... was there a hole to be filled. Time to be killed. What would Pitou Blythe do if they were really forced to just sit, be still, and be alone with their thoughts? ]

And I think I'll use real thread. If I'm careful, I can work it through the plastic without mangling it. Maybe pre-drill with a detail dremel.

[ Their fondness for the project, however, does suggest that they love the work, whatever that's worth. ]

[erythristic]

[but why should Pitou stay still? why shouldn't they occupy themselves with things that got them moving and gave them flickers of happiness and pride? to stop meant to actually confront things, if they existed, and when there was reasons to not do so, then it seemed pointless.]

She'll be a jewel. I can't say I can offer any help in this, but I'm glad you're tolerating my spying on the work in progress...it's been so long since I got to. Actually, it feels like an eternity since I had no obligations at all...

[in the background, one of the cats lets out a long meow, clearly trying to convey their opinion on something. maybe someone wouldn't pick them up.]

It doesn't bother you, that everyone can see her next to your head?

[playdolls]

[ Pitou blinks slowly, looking out into the cafe. They really just don't give a shit about other people. They shrug. ]

No, I'm sure a few of them think it's creepy but they can choke on their lattes. I like my things.

[ A telling turn of phrase, in its way. They liked things, their collections of pretty stuffs that they customized in their own way, making their mark, and refusing not to stand up for that mark. That was just how they existed in the world, unafraid. ]

I didn't know you liked it that much, not my fault you're always so busy though.

[ A mocking sing-song tone, and obviously as with anything Pitou defers blame elsewhere. ]

[erythristic]

You keep yourself as busy as me. That's not my fault.

[the remark on things goes noticed, but Grell only raises her eyebrow. that spoke to the Pitou she knew - the Pitou that would dismiss things such as personal dreams in bubbles as no concern and lose themselves in the making of pretty little dolly clothes because it was theirs and no one else's.]

But call it a personal interest in this little one. Let me keep spying, or at least send me progress pictures. Your choice on the matter.

[playdolls]

I'm not that busy.

[ Pitou is very, very busy. If it's not one thing, it is always another. Seriously, at what point they ever sleep is a very deep question of consideration. ]

Besides, you could always just go out with me.

[ They mean to everything all the time, like anyone who isn't Pitou could possibly keep up. They're being a blithe little dick. ]

Hopefully she doesn't take too long though, even with all the detail work.

4

[embraves]

[His motorcycle is parked just out front, probably seen through the window as he makes his way towards the cafe. Something strong, he hopes, to get him through the rest of the day -- coffee, he just needs coffee.

He walks through the door, but a giant thought bubble in his peripheral thoroughly distracts him. Even worse is what it reads.

He stops mid-step, looking at Pitou, frowning with confusion.]

Murder's illegal, you know.

[You know, in case... they didn't know. And wow, those are a scary set of claws.]

[playdolls]

[ Pitou looks up, expression pissy and it's on the tip of their tongue to reply with something exceedingly rude, but then they stop.

Oh. A cute blonde in motorcycle leathers.

Their expression changes, utterly self-satisfied. ]

Cloud.

[embraves]

[He recognizes Pitou from the little profile picture that's attached to every Retrospec user when they use the app. Cloud hesitates for a moment, then nods.]

Pitou, right? [He's good with names and faces, even if he's not very social.]

You've got... uh. Claws.

[Can you hear the question hanging in the air?] And a little more than that. [The thought bubble, he means.]

[playdolls]

[ Their smile is charming, blithe to the fact that they were just irritably thinking about slashing throats or something. ]

They're a bit of a nuisance.

[embraves]

They look like it.

[To say the least. He has more questions of course, but he's stuck in that awkward zone of "I should go get my drink" versus "I should stay and try to make idle chit chat". He shifts around, then decides to stick his hands in his pockets so he doesn't fidget.]

But like I said, probably not a good idea to kill anyone with them. What happened?

[How did they just get... claws, he means. Retrospec?]

[playdolls]

The usual, apparently.

[ The unexplained continuation of their changes annoyed Pitou. They didn't like not knowing. They want to know how, they want to know why, and until such time as they established Retrospec's means and ways, they were going to be surly about it. ]

Appeared overnight, they're too tough for most shears, and they grow back too quickly.

[ They are also sharp and snag in everything. What a pain. ]

[embraves]

[Cloud is the last person in the world to judge anyone for being surly about changes. He thinks he'd feel the same way, especially if he was granted something so... intrusive.]

Do they hurt?

[And then, he actually does step forward curiously, looking at their hands.] And can I see?

[playdolls]

No, not really.

[ Pitou sets their file aside and extends their hand lazily, like some rich lady holding out a piece of unconscionably expensive jewelry for everyone to admire. ]

They're just a drag. This pointed curve at the tip snags in everything.