recolle | [Closed] I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night...

Entry tags:

[Closed] I sung of Chaos and Eternal Night...

WHO: Penelope Raban, the esper Mateus, and an (un)fortunate few.
WHERE: The streets of Recolle, Recolle Woods, and Kumou Shrine
WHEN: January 12th to January 15th
WHAT: Penelope has regained the demonic summon Mateus that she cannot control without a fight. Mateus flees, seeking to gather support for the inevitable conflict between them and to hurt the people close to Penelope.
WARNINGS: Violence against people and animals, blood, possible gore, potential mentions of ritualistic sacrifices. Other warnings may be added, so please assume this log will involve any number of unpleasant things.

In the early evening outside of Wiffle Waffle, something stirred, and bystanders reported that it seemed just a touch more chillier than normal. Shouts were heard, the resonant crash of steel against steel, and a deep, rasping laugh but few people got a clear picture of what was going on. It wasn't anything to worry about, probably, even if a young woman was spotted limping to her car and driving off like a maniac. Just someone who fell, probably.

Others may have noticed an enormous shape slinking off into the shadows too, but that was just a guy carrying an old Christmas tree. Probably.

I. January 12 to January 14, Streets of Recolle.

In the immediate aftermath of the incident, nothing happened. The creature expected that it would very likely be met with immediate pursuit, but when it wasn't that gave it time to think. Slulking from alley to alley, Mateus considered it's surroundings in bewilderment, maddened by its failed attempt at freedom. It knew only what its summoner did, and the deluge of information took time to process.

Traveling outside the city was simple enough, and surrounded by the cold of Recolle Woods it found a place to build into a stronghold. A shrine with a certain kind of energy to it worked quite nicely, giving it an opportunity to call forth minions.

It needed more support though, and it needed it badly if it wanted it's freedom. Fortunately, this new place seemed a likely place to find the gullible and foolish, those with more ambition or desire than caution. People with darkness in their hearts, the wicked or the misguided. These were people it could use.

The darkness helped, masking its movements and making it easier to study potential allies. Moving with an unnaturally graceful gait for its ungainly form, the esper followed at a distance...weighing and measuring, trying to get a feel for who to approach. When it does, it calls out first in a voice as cold as a glacier, and as dry as a desert. Just a greeting, always delivered from a particularly dense patch of shadows, concealing itself at first.

"Why...hello there," it rasps, "...I was wondering if perhaps we could speak..."

II. January 13 to January 14, Streets of Recolle.

When dawn came, Mateus had come to several conclusions, and chief among them was that it would need to attract its summoner's attention somehow. To draw her in, to keep her off balance, and get her to come in upset. Easier prey, that way, and what better way to draw in a self righteous mortal than to play on her sense of loyalty. Discovering who she held dear was simple enough, they reeked with the girl's scent, and those become its first targets. Others as well, those not allied with the girl, but those who might carry word of the attack back to her.

Skulking, stalking, moving from shadow to shadow, Mateus observes and waits. The attack comes on suddenly, a streaking blur of cold rippling out of a shadow, a demonic form rising up from a snow drift or out of the mouth of an alley. The esper shrieks something unintelligible in a gutteral tongue, and then...

"Where is Penelope?!" before attacking with an arm, its trident, or a spell. Defend yourself, run, or perish!

III. January 14, Recolle Woods/Kumou Shrine.

As the third day arrived, Mateus had decided that staying within the bounds of the city was less than wise. It could not continue these forays into a confusing tangle of concrete and lights, and if it attacked many more people it might draw the eyes of a mortal militia. So into the forest it goes, waiting to see if its labors to attract Penelope are successful.

While out in the forest, though, it hardly remains idle. Humans that visit the Kumou shrine or who are out in the woods are both potential targets or potentially approached if they have a suitable amount of darkness in their hearts. A rustle of leaves, the tinkling of ice crystals, and a sudden deepening of shadow are all that announce its presence.

Individuals it seeks to bargain with will be greeted with a simple "Greetings..." while those it intends to attack will hear only a battlecry before being struck with a shock of freezing cold...

IV. Contact Pen.

If your character wants to contact Penelope after a thread about being attacked, this is the place to do it. Post deal threads involving action with Pen I will reply to in the original thread.

V Any Day, Wild Card.

If there is a specific scenario you'd like to play, or a different set up to being approached or attacked, then feel free to write your own prompt and I will respond with Mateus accordingly. If you want to do a group thread, as some of you guys have mentioned, just leave me a note of who is participating in the subject line as well!

I'm perfectly fine with whatever you want to do, but if you feel the need to get in touch with me OR just have any general questions, please hit me on Plurk.

intercession. Reference art linked above courtesy OperatingThetan.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'll be back soon, Sakura.

[And for the first time during this entire conversation, he smiles.]

[He smiles, as if he isn't going off with a terrifying creature who in all likelihood may just be using him. He smiles, as if he isn't choosing his own wellbeing over staying with a friend who trusts and cares for him dearly.]

[His eyes are absolutely empty.]

Go home, alright?

[Something falters in his expression, like he's having sudden doubt, but it's gone in a second.]

[He turns back and walks to stand at the side of the creature in the midst of shadows.]

[...Isn't that where he belongs?]

[Mateus turns away, shifting itself to move further away from Sakura. If Howard follows, he'll be swept away in a gust of snow, taken to a park not far from Penelope's home. The Esper shifts, looking down at Howard questioningly .]

I will send one of my Ice Azers with you, if you think you may need it, Carter.

I don't know what an Ice Azer is. But if you think I need it...

[He rubs his shoulders, shivering from the sudden rush of snow. He turns.]

[Sakura isn't there. Of course. He's somewhere else now.]

[Howard sets his jaw and looks up at the eldritch being, his dark gaze hard to read. But he's not afraid, that's for sure. He made his choice, and he has to go along with it. No backing down, now.]

Where am I, Mateus?

A greenspace not far from the girl. Still within your city.

[It answers quickly enough, and bends to scoop up a handful of snow. It has what it wants, more or less, and while it is hesitant to expend power creating these creatures, it feels a worthwhile gambit. This human knows her. He may have insight.]

As for Azers...they are my creations. Constructs of living ice.

[Squeezing the snow, it releases a second bubble of magic, and something seems to come alive in its hand. A small bundle of ice expands to the size of a beach ball, then contracts down to the size of a golf ball before flying to Howard's jacket pocket.]

Keep it with you. It will let you find me again, when you are finished.

[What it doesn't say is that the Azer may very well attack Pen, if it senses things going badly.]

Hm. You quite like your ice. [He remarks, peering inside his jacket pocket to look at the thing. It doesn't look like much. Whatever. It's not like he'll use it until the very end, right?]

She's around here, then? [He casts his gaze around at the dark environment.] I'll try to find her...if I can.

[There's an awkward pause. He reaches up to adjust his tie, staring up at the eldritch being.]

Mateus, before I go...I'd like to ask a question.

[His eyebrows furrow together. It seems like a simple question, but...]

When you are free...what will you do?

[Mateus tilts its head to one side, almost like its considering what to say. When it does speak up, its quiet, in an almost fervent voice.]

I am going to grant you your wish, and then I am going to find a way out of this damnable city. Beyond that dome.

...And then what?

[He says, his tone flat. His eyes never leave the other, expectant for some kind of answer only he thinks will come.]

After you get out of this dome, what will you do?

I know not. This world...is foreign to me. I need to explore, to learn what I can.

[That is exactly what it will do, and there is absolute, perfect conviction in its voice.]

I am sure that I will find some calling, though.

["What are you going to do, Lovecraft?"]

Hm. [Howard closes his eyes, nodding, like he's accepting the answer for what it is.]

You know what I would've answered, to that question? [A pause. He suddenly lets out a short laugh, his face filled with a kind of strange bitter-sweetness, before he shakes his head.]

Ah...you know what? Never mind. It was a silly question.

[A man with long hair stands at the edge of a pier. He turns his head, eyes lidded, worn shoes inches away from the water.]

["Sleep."]

[Howard waves a hand, before he turns and starts to walk away into the darkness. He has to find Penelope. Then Mateus can be free, and all of this can be over.]

I'll see you soon, Mateus.

[Mateus smiled eerily, slipping back into the shadows to wait.

Finding Penelope might not be too hard, if he knows where to look. Her contact details are on Retrospec, and she'll answer his messages without any reservation. He's an odd guy, but he's a decent one, in her book.]

[He pulls out his phone, eyeing the shadows with an unreadable expression. He thinks he has an idea of how to get her out, if she's hanging around this area. He taps at his screen, sending out a quick message:]

penelope

i think i'm near your house. i can't see much. the darkness is really stifling i think i'm lost. are you at home?

Oh. Hey Howard.

I can give you my address. Put it in your phone and it'll take you there. I am at home, and from there you can call an Uber or something.

[Address sent! Bing!]

thank you very much

i'll be there soon

are you sure an uber can drive in this kind of darkness though?

[Sure enough, there's a knock at her door. Open up, Penelope.]

[The door opens, and Penelope steps out onto the porch with her Tonberry, pulling it closed behind her.]

Hey, Howard. Sorry, I have a friend over who's asleep right now, and I don't want anything to wake her up. She had a bit of a day.

[Boy howdy did Felicia have a day.]

So, you got lost?

I see.

[He looks down at her. Honestly, he likes Penelope. She's a good girl. But if she's the cause of this trouble, then he has to fix it. Hopefully, she'll see things his way and cooperate.]

Yes, I did...though, actually, I ran into a friend of yours who pointed me the way.

[And she (and Tonberry) look back up at him and smile.]

Yeah? Who?

[Just curious, making idle conversation.]

Penelope...

[A long pause. He reaches forward to grasp her shoulder.]

You have to let Mateus go.

[She stands there, looking at his hand with a raised eyebrow, then looks back up at him.]

I...had a feeling you ran into Mateus.

[She moves, twisting her shoulder and freeing herself. Putting one hand against his chest, she pushes back.]

I don't think that's a good idea, Howard. In fact, I know it isn't.

Why?

[He tilts his head to the side, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Even as he staggers back from the push, he's already stepping forward back towards her.]

If you let them go, then they don't have to hang around any longer...they can be free.

[Pen plants her feet firmly, putting one hand out as far as it will go to keep him back. Her other hand reaches for her necklace, tugging at a bit of crystal...]

Howard. It isn't that simple. I can't just...let it go. It attacked me when I regained the ability to summon it. I had to have one of my friends drive it off.

[She looks at him with wary eyes, her Tonberry settling between her legs, one hand still holding the lantern up.]

It has been attacking people, one of whom is asleep inside. It's a demon. Do you have any idea how bad it would be if I just...let it go? Even if I could without it killing me, I wouldn't.

Mateus just wants to be free. Do you think they wanted to be...summoned? Pulled into your control?

[He shakes his head, uncertain, but still determined. He came all this way, he left Sakura behind...he's not going to take no for an answer.]

You're in control of them. You can end all this. If you keep doing this...other people will still continue to be hurt. What are you planning to do? Just...leave this whole scenario like this? Watch people get hurt? Or are you just...hiding here...away...

[His eyes glance towards her hand at the movement to her necklace. In the past, he would've found it odd, but now, with all his knowledge that magic exists, that demons exist, and that little stones may appear far more than they seem to be. Even that strange toy...is it just a toy, moving like that?]

What are you doing?

[He lets out a huff, his mouth quirking to the side, like he half expects this to be a joke of some kind.]

Are you going to attack me, Penelope...?

Howard. Of course I am not going to attack you. But I know things you don't.

[Penelope's eyes blaze, a sudden fire erupting behind them. That was a low blow and a deep dig at something she had been trying to avoid.]

I had a memory of that creature. An Esper. A Demon. Its kind are evil, cursed beings placed under a geas by the gods. They don't want just freedom, they want to kill everyone they can find. My other self defeated it, and because she did, she gained control over it. A means to cage it, to keep it from hurting people.

[She drops the crystal, gesturing at the Tonberry. The little creature waves up at him, very much not a doll.]

I've got another creature, a being she made a pact with, out searching for Mateus, so I can defeat it again. I have to beat it to regain control, or it has to kill me so it can slip the leash and regain its full strength...and kill everyone else.

[Her forehead furrows, and she shakes her head.]

Once Shiva finds Mateus, I'm going to deal with it.

[He hears everything. Honestly, a part of him wants to laugh at it. It feels like something out of a fairytale. Gods? Demons? Magic? Those don't exist. This is the real world, where everything must be logical, where men don't grow grapveines out of themselves, or find that their hands are transformed into a writhing mass of tentacles.]

[But another part, deeper down, finds himself almost offended by the notion of her words. Of course, yes, if what she is saying is true, then such creatures should be stopped. But to be caged? To be under control of someone else? It's like reining in the ocean, that wild and mysterious and deadly thing, and bending it to your will. It's impossible, almost insulting to think about.]

Penelope... [He feels his hands clench into fists at his sides.] I understand what you're saying, but...

[He grits his teeth.]

Why can't you just...kill it? Why do you have to control it, huh? If you want to stop it, at least have the decency to end it for good instead of forcing it to work for you...

[Why does he feel so pained about this...?]

Those creatures are not yours to control.

[Penelope meets him stare for stare, her eyes intense and blazing, almost furious at what he is suggesting. She grinds her teeth, plants her teeth obstinately, and folds her arms across her chest. It bothers her too, that she has to accept this burden, but it is a burden...and one only she can bear.]

Why don't I kill it? Because I cannot. You cannot kill something that is immortal, Howard. My memories are clear enough.

[She adopts an almost lecturing tone, quoting right from her own head.]

In vainglory they arose, shouting challenges at the Gods. But prevail they did not. Their doom it was to walk the Mist until Time's end. Now they are bound to live only when summoned by their Glyph, to serve whosoever called them forth.

They cannot be killed, they can only be contained. I did not know that, when Retrospec gave me the glyph to summon Mateus. I had no idea, or I wouldn't have done that. I thought it would be like the Yahri...[She nudges Tons with her foot.]...creatures that my other self and I have made pacts with.

[She scowls.]

Howard, if I could send it back to the Mist or wherever, I would. But I can't. Once I beat it, I can banish it to its prison, but that's all. I have to deal with the hand I was dealt, but I have no intention of dying and letting that thing kill anyone else.

[The Azer in Howard's pocket starts buzzing, moving slightly, trying to get free...]

It's...it's not fair.

[Forever imprisoned. Forever under someone's control. Unable to be killed. Just at the mercy of someone's whim. The language of Glyphs and Yahri and the rest mostly go over his head.]

It's not fair...

[She's right. She's right, because that creature will kill people. It could hurt his friends. It could hurt Penelope. And yet, to think that it's just going to be in a cage...]

[He shakes his head. There's a buzzing in his pocket, but he ignores it, far too conflicted over the whole situation. Mateus wants to be free. Penelope wants to help prevent others from getting hurt.]

Penelope... [He lifts his head, his eyes slightly wet.] Are you sure there's no other way to solve this...?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject