i'm the drudge that goes again and again [open]

[hauntedsavior]

WHO: Anna Lehmann and you!
WHERE: All around the city
WHEN: Throughout June
WHAT: Birthday stuff, event stuff, it's a catch-all, who knows
WARNINGS: Swearing, weed drugs, alcohol, monster blood, slight body horror but more psychologically?, will keep this updated

a. upload me to the robot brain [apprassage, 6/4, closed to Astin]

Come over.

The message gets sent out early, maybe around 7:00AM, when Anna wakes up and it feels like her legs have completely fallen asleep. She can't even kick out of her sheets. Fine, god, she'll do this the old-fashioned way—

And she sees it. It's started. Her legs look fucked up, unnatural, and she bends forward at her waist and runs her hand over the smooth black material on her right leg and the patches of skin on her left and her breath hitches because she still has breath to hitch. It's not done.

Her hands reach behind her and fumble for her phone. Shortly after the first message, she tries pulling herself up to a sitting position on her futon and her legs just feel like dead weight. None of it's really hit her yet but it's sure as hell going to. Another desperate text gets pounded out.

Not a request.

b. loosen up, time to drop [apprassage, on and around 6/16]

Christ. 27. Well, she can't say she expected to make it this far. She's taking the entire 16th as a personal day, staying inside and only leaving the complex if she absolutely has to go out and get something. She's been pushing herself far too hard lately and she just needs time to relax so she doesn't burn out in a different way. Maybe Astin's on their way over. Maybe Rose, maybe somebody entirely unexpected. She doesn't know and frankly she doesn't really care.

At least by now she's mostly used to being part robot. There's still... feeling in her legs, and her brain is starting to connect the dots there and register them as her own. It doesn't hurt, and she can walk just fine. Hell, she feels like she could walk for miles without even getting tired. But she could still use some time to unwind. Which means getting impaired to her comfort level and trying to relax.

c. the robot's here if the robots paid [all districts, all month]

This is her city. It's always going to be her city. And if Retrospec needs her help to bring it back to the way it should be, it's an easy fix. She's doing everything she physically and emotionally can, based off Zee's suggestions, in each district of the city. Catch her in Enprise delivering packages to people on her own two (robotic) feet, or run into her shoplifting in Chata! Sneak up on her doing some vigilante gardening in Viea Village! Challenge her to an eating competition in Tisse! The choices are yours and yours alone.

((if it's in blue or green, that's definitely something she's doing this month and is totally open to jump into. yellow ones will need some OOC discussion, and red are things she wouldn't be caught dead doing.))

d. fuck shit up, don't forget about it [outskirts, all month]

The problem with getting a couple new limbs—well, replacement limbs—well, one of the problems—is that they really need some breaking in, don't they? And lucky Anna, because she's fixing to break some things. She'll more likely be on the paths that would normally lead to Pesgare or Magatus, taking out some of her extremely complicated emotions on the encroaching monsters there. It's not often that a bloodstained swordswoman with what appears to be way-too-high black stockings shows up and starts killing things, starts severing limbs. But hell, if it's a war they want, she's good at that.

?. nonagon infinity opens the door [additional top levels to come as things happen]

Comments

a.

[unreasons]

Astin is sleeping. Of course they are. They're not an early riser and having their phone bug them at seven in the morning makes them grumpy. They fumble for the bedside table and grab the phone to look at it with sleepy eyes. The content of the message (and the sender) seem to shock them awake and Astin is out of bed and dressed before they really know what's going on. Anna wouldn't message them like this if it wasn't important. When the phone buzzes again with an even more insistent message they pile out the door on the double.

They barge into Anna's apartment without knocking, loose hair flowing behind them.

"Anna? Anna, you okay?"

[hauntedsavior]

"In here!" she says from her bedroom, and she's really glad that she remembered to close her windows last night because this could get really embarrassing. She's successfully pulled herself to a sitting position, though she hasn't been able to get up to look any more decent. Hope Astin doesn't mind that she's not wearing pants, but she doubts, somehow, that that'll be the first thing they notice.

When they get into her bedroom, she's looking at the door wide-eyed and gesturing at her own legs. They're mostly a black material that feels like some kind of high-quality plastic (but she can't tell because it's not registering that she's touching her leg when she does it) mixed with patches of skin that look and feel exactly like her own—though her brain still can't recognize that it's actually hers when her fingers press into it.

Her mind feels as numb as her legs as she tries to think of the right words and the right way to process all this. But it's so unlike anything she's felt before, and all the preparation in the world couldn't have gotten her ready for this.

"It's happening."

[unreasons]

Astin comes barreling into the room with all the energy you'd expect and the air of a knight coming to the rescue. Then they screech to a dead halt, staring. It takes a moment for them to process what's happening and then they scramble up onto the bed next to Anna.

"Holy crap. What happened to your legs?"

c, cleaning recolle square

[steadycourse]

Oh, hello Anna!!

[Ishida waves at her with a bag and trash picker in hand. He's honestly a little surprised to see her here, but it's a good sort of surprise! Another good citizen of this fine city trying to contribute and complete the tasks that have been set forth. Of course, he's not too happy with Retrospec in general, but cleaning the city is something he'd volunteer for anyway!]

Hard at work I see!

[hauntedsavior]

[oh, hey, it's this dude. she nods at him.]

Yo. Been a while. Thought you might've burned yourself out faster than I expected.

[she's got a bag that's only maybe a quarter filled herself, but it's not her first. and her neck certainly appreciates the break from looking down and scanning the streets for garbage.]

How you holding up?

[steadycourse]

[He points at Anna with his trash picker, huffing slightly in the process.] Don't underestimate the energy of youth! I'm still going strong, even now! In fact, I can fill more of these trash bags!

But I'm doing well! After this, I'm going to complete more tasks before returning to my dorm to continue studying for my finals! I'm not just going to waste this nice day doing nothing!!

[He's definitely going to burn out someday.]

Anyway, how are you?!

D: Pesgare

[standalonehuman]

Admittedly, Togusa had been looking for an excuse to run into Anna. But he couldn't have predicted the way in which it would happen. He still has a protective urge towards both this city and Pesgare. So when he can see that where the sea meets the land is one of the weakest points around the city? He has to be there.

He is met by two of the Crab Worm Larvae, large purple crabs that are burrowing out of the sand to make their presence known. Togusa remembers these things, and he finds a section of the boardwalk dock to hide behind. They can spit that green stuff further than one might think.

[hauntedsavior]

And guess who just straight up does not care. She's dealt with a few of these by now—this is her first time to the area, but Anna is good at picking battles. Her sword and normally all-white hair are both flecked in their blood, which isn't a look she appreciates, and she'd honestly be a little embarrassed to run into anybody.

Unfortunately for herself, she catches someone whose face she vaguely recognizes taking refuge from the latest crab worm attack, and she's on it faster than even she's used to. Her engine blade goes snicker-snack and the threat is neutralized pretty quickly, if not necessarily cleanly. Her breaths heavier than she expected, she relaxes her stance and touches the tip of her sword to the ground.

"You good?"

[standalonehuman]

Togusa's eyes widen, and he jumps out of cover, one hand extended as he tries to warn, "Watch out for the-!" Acid? Well, looks like she's on it. Quite handily, too.

Togusa stares in shocked, stunned silence for a second, before he finds his voice again. "Yeah. Didn't even touch me." One hand leaves his gun, and he runs that hand through his hair to smooth it back.

"Uh." A pause, and he looks at her with cautious recognition. Wait, he can't be right, can he? "Oh! Anna? From- the network? Hitori Togusa." Hell of a way for them to meet.

d.

[quiet_storm]

Whoa.

[Holding a pair of bizarrely broad, four feet long, oddly-shaped swords and thinking he was going to be the only person out here, Cloud stops in his tracks.]

Do you want me to stay out of your way? Or maybe I can join you?

[hauntedsavior]

[oh, cool. Anna gives this new person a look, paying more attention to the swords than the rest. she's been sweating and her face is a little dirty, but so far she's been avoiding getting bloody.]

Depends how good you are with those things and how much of a death wish you've got. Mostly been dealing with the smaller shit on my own, but there's stuff a little further down that I know I can't handle on my own.

[quiet_storm]

[He shrugs with a slightly bitter smile.]

Somewhere between pretty good and really good. As for having a death wish? Maybe I do, but these days it's going to take a lot more than wishing to pull it off.

for Clover

[hauntedsavior]

e. bring the spooks to the beer-soaked glade [tisse, second week of June]

Of course Anna had known Clover's birthday had been coming up, but she'd had something a little more pressing come up on the actual day, and she'd hoped Clover would have understood. After shooting off an apologetic text, she'd made plans to head down to one of the bars in Tisse and treat her to a drink or two the following week, sort of to celebrate both their birthdays.

Which brought her to some hole-in-the-wall bar that she didn't care about the name of (something about amber?), and every third or fourth step she'd taken was still a little shaky, but at least nobody was around to stop her or cut her off. And once she was in, she didn't have to get her ass up from the bar, and her legs could stay covered under black jeans, so even if anyone else were around she wouldn't have to reveal anything she didn't want to.

So Anna sat there nursing a pale lager she'd drawn herself and waited for Clover to show. Like an adult.

[servileness]

Like an adult. Neither of them are put together enough to be competent adults no matter what they want and no matter how hard the try. More and more, it gets easier for Clover to say to going out for drinks. At least this time, she has the guise of birthday celbrations and "helping out Retrospec".

She knows Anna's birthday is near, too, but Clover's life hasn't been as organized as she's liked for months. Despite being a hot mess, she's still always prompt. A hole-in-the wall isn't her ideal place, but beggars can't be choosers and they both aren't rich.

"Anna," she says for a greeting, sliding onto a seat next to her. "Happy birthday."

That's a good attempt at being some kind of cheery.

[hauntedsavior]

"Likewise. Sorry I missed the day of." She's not going to open with what happened; that's really more of something that gets gently led into. Her lager is mostly gone by now, but even if it weren't she'd be ready for more.

"What's your poison?" she asks instead, wasting no time. Her elbows are on the bar and she looks about ready to clamber up over it if she has to get to something that's back there and out of reach—or to walk around the bar like a regular human being would, but she's only half of one of those.

"Feel free to splurge. You deserve it."

c !! gardening in viea village!

[reaquila]

[ Nanashi sneaks up behind Anna and pokes her in the back with his crutch. ]

Hey! Long time no see, Anna.

[ He misses speaking to her and he's glad that she's still around. ]

What's with all the soil? Are you growing some flowers down here?

[hauntedsavior]

[she's down on her knees getting her hands dirty, and though she didn't have the foresight to tie her hair back, there's at least an inconspicuous pair of bobby pins keeping it out of her face on either side. it does mean her face is dirty and sweaty, but she doesn't mind. that's a new sensation, being poked in the back like that, so she jerks her head up and grimaces—before she hears the voice.]

Yo, Nanashi. [it takes her a second to push herself back up to her feet and turn around, but other than the way she clearly looks like she's been working, she seems pleasant. concerned, in fact, as she looks at the crutch.]

You doing okay?

c is for cookie (cw for weed cookies)

[1620]

[ she might not be a literal neighbor, gamzee lives somewhere by the beach, but anna’s just as much of a neighbor as the ocean was, regardless!! he’ll hit her up with a message or two to meet at viea village, because he’s got something for her— today, his face runs clean of any of that crazy skull make up he likes, dawning good old fashioned skinny jeans and hoodie.

wandering into hollingberry field with a guitar case slung across his back and a paper bag that says anna :o), gamzee strolls. he’d find her eventually, if he didn’t get too distracted. honestly, he didn’t know about most things going on, almost like a distant story that he was a part of and also too distant from at the same time. he’s playing a game, just doing what’s being asked and finding wonder in it. sadly, his head’s in the clouds. he doesn’t get the gravity of the situation they’re in at all. ]

[hauntedsavior]

[haha, holy shit? she was not expecting to see her dealer of all people on the app (since she's figured that part out by now), but Anna's delighted. her entire stance relaxes, suddenly walking with a different purpose than just "heading home after a long day of gardening". she's got a few packets of seeds that never got planted in her purse and wonders, idly, if that's the kind of thing that would count as giving flowers to someone else.]

[her stance changes as she comes to a stop in front of him, and even right now as she's dirty and sweaty she feels relaxed as all hell.]

Gamzee? What the fuck, dude, when did you get the app?

d

[sanephiroth]

With Zephyr, the return of his super strength and sword skills plus the encroaching monsters means that he's taken a more active role in slaying monsters every once in a while. He blinks when he comes across her taking out a monster quite effectively.

He meanwhile is dressed in a simple shirt and baggy pants (no sense getting expensive clothes dirty) and is holding a seven-foot-long sword.

"I see the area's well protected," he remarks once she's done.

[hauntedsavior]

Anna turns around after taking out the last of these latest beasts that threaten her city, and even though she feels cool and has a dramatic bloodied sword and flecks of red in her hair, she takes a staggered step backwards as her eyes open wide.

"Holy shit, that's a big sword." Eloquent as always.

C. apprassage- Guide a museum tour

[blondferret]

[Derek walks into the Recolle History Museum in hopes that someone will give him a tour. It's something on the list that Zee gave them and Derek's not in the mood to give someone a tour.]

Hello? Anyone here?

[hauntedsavior]

[this was one of the jobs Anna used to do, so yeah, she knows everything she can about this whole tour. it makes perfect sense that she should be spending some time hanging around the museum, wandering through the foyer and hanging out mostly by the front desk to address anyone who might come up. and when she sees who is here, the already-fake pleasant smile on her face gets wiped off immediately and a more comfortable, genuine, flat look takes its place.]

Oh. It's you. Course it is.

b.

[blacksong]

[As promised, Rose will be showing up right outside Anna's door unannounced and without any real warning. Thankfully she's not a walking, talking giant flower, but she did at least have the sense to come with booze and a small cake that says "Happy Fucking Birthday." When the decorator asked her if she wanted to write a personalized message, that felt more appropriate than anything else honestly.

She knocks on the door, but she doesn't even wait before she calls for Anna too.]

Hey, Anna! It's me!

[hauntedsavior]

[Anna's already on her way to pulling some pizza rolls from her microwave (just to get some food inside her before she really starts with the booze) when she hears the knock, and she barely has time to put the plate down before she hears who it is and all the memories of that gay as fuck text conversation from last month come flooding back to her.]

Hold up!

[she shouts it and knows the walls are thin enough between where she is and the door that she can probably be heard. leaving the "food" where it is, she heads over to the door, opens it, and feels a smile threaten to light up her face (even though it doesn't reach her eyes). she's only in her gym shorts and a tank top because it's June and she doesn't have anyone to fuckin' impress, but that does mean that Rose can get a damn good look at Anna's robot legs. it's probably fine.]

This "in one piece" enough for you? [and while she's stepping aside to let Rose inside, her eyes catch the message on the cake and she barks out a laugh.] Fuck. I knew you'd go above and beyond.