MISSION: GHOST GIRL PART 2

[ximilian]

● ● ● M I S S I O N   1 . 2

THE GREAT ESCAPE • THE MONSTER SANCTUARY • THIS PLACE BECOMES OUR LAST • IT'S TIME TO BE BRAVE • FYI

// PART I. the great escape!  

There is tension in the air for the next few days that follow, and there are too many questions and too few answers, and less that anyone in the palace is willing to give. The Orbers have been separated into two camps, with the sick and infected locked in a wing that cannot be accessed, save for the snatches of conversation exchanged through communication devices, and the rest kept in the dark with watchful eyes guarding their every move. But the team won’t sit down and accept their fates, and certainly not the fates of their newfound friends. Plans are discussed and carefully plotted between them, away from vigilant ears, and it can’t come soon enough.

1.0   Jim, Bucky, and Sam have been tasked with getting people in the infirmary to band together to knock out the guards, tie them up, and then escape. Syrlya will help the team from the outside, providing a portal to quickly help the infected escape the palace unseen. They will attempt to unlock the doors from the inside, and once unlocked, The Darkling can cut through the entire door, bringing it down; Daisy will help him. In the meantime, to keep the guards from alerting the rest of the palace, Richie will be tasked with distracting them, keeping their attention away from the infirmary.

2.0   Once the team has escaped through the door, Sabriel can help put the guards they come across to sleep, as well as disorient any servants they don’t want to catch leaving. Erik will be shielding them from any guards who try and stop them. It will be difficult for the infected to keep their wits about them, but they’ll have to remember who they are and focus on what makes them them. Finn will be the only one who can help the infected with the changes that affect the mind, so those who find themselves hallucinating, lashing out at others, or are struggling with any number of other changes may require some help to escape. From the outside, any other Orbers may join the escapees on their way to Yuryeong.

3.0   While the great escape is occurring, Clara, Hermann, and Clarke will have to try and convince the guards that they don’t support the escape and reassure them that they are on the side of Gyeongje’s rulers. In the end, will you escape to the outside and help as best as you can from the outer city? Or will you remain within the palace walls and hope that the guards don’t suspect you?

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// PART IIA.the monster sanctuary  

The knowledge of the way to Yuryeong leads the infected and those escaping with them deep into the forest, along a path covered in thick underbrush and a shelter of trees above. Eventually the group will notice a golden glow shining through the thicket of foliage and will be led to a small shrine made of stone and half-covered in moss; it seems old, almost abandoned, yet before it there is an altar bearing signs of offerings recently left upon it.

Once they approach, there’s an unearthly glow around the shrine like sunlight emanating from within; something seems to slowly be reaching out to envelop each escapee. Those familiar with magic will recognize it as a barrier spell of sorts — it inspects them, reads something inside them only visible to the spell itself… but whatever it’s looking for, it must be successful because the forest around them begins to blur.

When their surroundings refocus again, the small shrine has been replaced by a much larger one, and the trees around it carry red ribbons of prayer waving slowly against the wind. The entrance to the shrine is shrouded in darkness — though it’s not entirely natural, as becomes evident when the shadows start to move and a tall form emerges.

“I see you’ve followed my sister’s call,” the shadowy figure speaks with a man’s voice. Now in the light, his form becomes visible and a gruesome sight: his chest is hollow, the bones of his ribcage plainly in view. He lifts a shadowy arm and moves it in an arch towards the door behind him. “Well, Otherworlders, welcome to Yuryeong. Make yourselves useful, my sister will speak with you soon.”

4.0   When you follow him inside, you’ll be surprised: instead of the inside of a shrine, the door is less a door and more a gateway. Behind it is what can only be called a small village: there are tent-like houses that stand on shaky foundations, made from leftover wood and harsh, hard fabrics, partially held up by the trees nearby; pathways that cut through the grass; a large area outside where pots are held over fire, the smell of stew wafting in the air. And all around there are monsters: different forms moving, speaking to each other, some around the fire, some emerging from their tents, and some ducking under the flaps to disappear into them. Perhaps more surprisingly, there are also people: some are dressed in clothes not unlike the citizens in the merchant district; some bearing the uniforms of the guards, mingling with the monsters with ease.

The shadow-man disappears into one of the tents, unmarked from the rest, and when he reemerges, he is not alone. So-Yeon’s white clothes stand out from the rest like a beacon and she slowly approaches the team members where the shadow-man had left them.

SO-YEON

Welcome. I have been told you are in the process of finding a cure for the curse. If that is so… then please: know that if you can help my people, you will have all the assistance I can give you. But even if that is not so, you are still welcome here. The enemies of my enemy are my friends. You will be safe here, the palace cannot reach us now. There are empty houses you may rest in and food you may eat. Be at ease — if you wish us no harm, you will come to no harm. And if you need anything, ask me or Seung-Hyun. He manages most of the affairs here.

She nods to the shadow-man — it becomes clear the similarities between them; this is her brother — but anything more she wants to say is interrupted when one of the guards runs to her side, tugging her arm. It’s an emergency, they say urgently. She looks at the team, mouth half-open, but then turns away swiftly to follow the guard into one of the tents… She reassures you that she will speak with you later.

5.0   If you follow her suggestion, you’ll find that there are a few empty houses to occupy — though inside, they are barely furnished, mostly consisting of hastily-crafted wooden desks and spare clothes or sheets on the ground making what appears to be a bed. In general, all of Yuryeong seems less like an established town and more like an emergency encampment, and those who are not infected may want to do something about that. Perhaps you want to help make the “houses” more comfortable, or perhaps you volunteer to hunt and forage for food — with so many new mouths to feed, it’s clear that whatever supplies exist won’t be enough. Or maybe, having assessed the desperate situation, you decide to sneak back into the city, avoid the guards there, and come back with supplies.

If you are feeling inclined to do a little cooking, there are few pots and pans scattered about by the fires. Just be sure to leave some of the meat uncooked as some of the infected seem to require it raw.

Those who want to explore will find a graveyard in the woods near the shrine — there are nearly a hundred graves marked with stones bearing crude carvings. Those who walk among the markers might find some spirits of the deceased still lingering, dead townspeople, either killed in attacks or by the infection.

6.0   As the days pass, the infected will find that their changes have reached the end and have come to the completion of their transformations; and though they are not entirely losing their minds, thanks to Yuryeong’s barrier, the mental effects do persist. With the team progressing through a working cure — So-Yeon is there alongside the team members focused on the cure and readily provides what help she can… though pushing the orb’s power out of her and into the cure often leaves her anywhere between tired to half-conscious, carried back to her tent by her brother on numerous occasions.

Eventually the time comes for the cure to be tested… after all, while in theory it seems to work on the cells of the infected, reversing their mutations, you never know if it works in practice. The particularly brave or daring will be the first and necessary test patients — and indeed, the cure does not work without some hitches. Those it’s tested on find their transformations receding and then returning again, and unfortunately once the changes begin to be undone for good, it does not come without considerable pain.

But endure that pain and finally, finally, after countless hours of work, science and magic together, the cure will start to work. The infected team members will slowly start to change back to themselves.

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// PART IIB.this place becomes our last  

The members of the team who choose to stay within the palace walls will have to convince the Lord and Lady of Gyeongje that they are there on the basis of believing the rulers are just and right in their thinking. And, sure, it takes some doing, but eventually it is the Lady Jeung-Sun who nods her head. It seems she believes you when you tell her and Lord Suk-Ju that you condemn the actions of your fellow teammates, that their siding with the Ghost Girl is to declare themselves enemies of the palace and its people.

That’s good, right?

7.0   For the remainder of the late afternoon, there appears to be a sense of camaraderie between you and the rulers of Gyeongje. You’ll be welcomed to tea and food, to be seated in the main room alongside the captain and some of the higher-ranking soldiers. At one point, the captain is beckoned to the main table where she leans in while Lord Suk-Ju appears to be relaying some important information he doesn’t want his wife to hear. (Lady Jeung-Sun remains none the wiser while she sips her tea, watchful of her company.) The captain nods, and then she nods again, and her eyes roam over to where you and your teammates are enjoying tea and bite-sized foods and other things. She straightens and approaches your tables, her expression solemn and unreadable.

You might be curious by this point, or perhaps you’re beginning to suspect that you’ve overstayed your welcome. But before you can utter a word of warning to the rest of your team, if you’d had any of the tea and foods, your tongue might start to feel a little strange, slippery to match the way your brain feels like it’s sliding out of place inside your head. If you decided to abstain from the offered sustenance, you’ll notice your fellow Orbers start to look quite unlike themselves: lethargic and a little overheated; some might start to babble confessions to questions they might otherwise have kept to themselves.

The next thing you know, you note the captain raising her arm, shouting for the guards to arrest you and the others while the truth serum is still in effect.

It’s time to go.

8.0   It’s not without some fussing and possibly a brief scuffle before you manage to get past the guards and back out into the palace grounds. Your heart is beating so fast and it’s difficult to remember where you are or how to get out; the palace has been built like a maze. A figure seems to emerge from the shadows and she’s alone. “Trust me,” she whispers as she ushers you and the others down a path you don’t recognize, “I’ve helped one of you already.” But before you’re about ready to call her out, you see the exit up ahead. You’re almost there. You’re almost free.

There are others waiting for you right outside of the gates, and they lead you towards the merchant’s district, a comforting sight to those of you who have explored it, and familiar enough to those who haven’t. There are shouts in the distance, difficult to discern but it’s easy enough to hear the displeasure, and more importantly, how they’re in pursuit of you.

You’re led into a home with a dimly lit hearth and there’s enough space to look as though this might have once been the residence of a large family, maybe even a well connected one. The wood walls, painted red, seem dull now, the colour flaked and chipping away from the worn structure. It has seen and faced time and disuse. There are thick curtains covering the windows and trinkets left on a table facing a mirror. Everything is covered in a light layer of dust.

A strong, stout woman with her dark hair piled high atop her head comes from the next room over, followed by two other women, both much younger than her. Her daughters, perhaps, or maybe the daughters of her neighbours. Either way, they seem simultaneously protective and obedient to the older woman, moving to stand behind her while she and the guard who initially helped you escape exchange words. You can make out the words ‘Listen to them, they speak the truth’ — and then the guard nods in your direction and slips back out of the house without another word, leaving your fate in the hands of this unfamiliar woman who looks as though she might have boxed a few ears in her time.

“I’ve been informed that you can tell me exactly what is happening to our city and why we are made to suffer as we are,” she says. “You may call me Aunt Min-Ji. Which of you will speak?”

9.0   Not all of you will have been led to Min-Ji’s home, or perhaps you’ve simply decided to find your own way. Maybe you’re keeping guard from nearby, opting to protect the others during the quiet, informal council. Either way, the sound of the palace’s guard is louder, and there is commotion and flickering firelight reflecting against roof tile and cobblestone as Lord Suk-Ju’s search parties have entered the outer district with the intent to silence you before the truth gets out.

Use your wits and your weapons to protect this area and defend it from the guard. Those with abilities to snuff out flame might be especially useful at this time, as wood doesn’t exactly do well against fire, and the guards have come equipped with torches in hand.

10.0   It’s becoming clear that the palace guards were never going to allow you and the others to exist in peace, not while the Ghost Girl and the Infected were still at large. You’ve now been declared a threat and an enemy to Gyeongje and must be stopped at all costs. If you run into the palace guards, you’ll be met with a fight, and you must try and defend yourselves and the merchant’s district to the best of your ability. If you aren’t much of a fighter, you can still be useful. There are always other ways of tricking a guard or disarming them — just, you know, use that clever brain of yours.

Even while you’re in the midst of a tussle, you might notice a suspicious party moving past the commotion. There are a cluster of guards surrounding a dark wood box suitable for one, lifting it by its formidable poles. The palanquin is concealed by fabric curtains but a shift of wind reveals a man’s figure within it — he looks panicked and harried as he urges his entourage on. You know that face, you saw him only moments before he called for your arrest. Ah, yes, it’s none other than the Lord of Gyeongje, himself. But where is he going?

And while staying within the city has quickly become dangerous, there is some good news from those in Yuryeong...

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// PART III.it's time to be brave  

The cure is administered to the Orbers first, and with very little complaint — “Our people are still wary,” So-Yeon explains when the rest of the compound hesitates, “let them see the success of this first.” She seems to pause, her expression thoughtful before she adds: “Besides… I have a plan.”

The plan, it seems, requires returning to the city. Everyone in Yuryeong is gathered in front of the shrine where So-Yeon speaks to them all, her voice easily carrying over the crowd with renewed strength.

“Everyone! Finally, we are returning to Gyeongje! We will take back our home and show everyone the truth. We will expose the lies once and for all!”

11.0   Her words are met with a roar of approval… and whether you agree or not, you’ll find it difficult to stop the infected citizens from leaving. One after another, they follow a procession through the door of the shrine, disappearing through the barrier that has protected them all these months — none look back.

The journey back to the city from the dark woods is deceptively easy but everything seems to change the moment the group reaches the edges of the outer district. Armed guards are waiting for them patiently as though they were prepared for their return — it is an army by the looks of it, assembled to pursue the monsters instead of protecting the palace.

But just how did they get there…?

12.0   Those in the city may have an answer for that. The signs of the guards mobilising are impossible to miss: their presence on the city streets is suddenly gone, like they have dropped all efforts to search for the team; instead, they can be seen dragging heavy carts full of arms to the palace.

It is possible, too, to see some of the guard sneaking back into the city, knocking on the doors of houses where some of the team have taken to hiding. There are whispers between the cracks of the doorways — It’s finally happening, the captain has called for us to go to war, it’s the Lord’s orders, what do we do —

But it’s the noticeable presence of the full force of the guard leaving the palace the next day. They form an impenetrable wall around the border of the outer district, some perching on rooftops in the merchant district, all alert, their backs straight … all of them ready to fight at their captain’s command.

13.0   And a fight does ensue the moment the Yuryeong forces arrive. Just as before, in the palace courtyards, hesitation ripples amongst those of the guard who seem yet again unwilling to fight — but most of them, it seems, have gathered their resolve. They aim to target everyone equally, human or monster; and in the midst of it all, the captain calls her forces to her.

While some of the guards wield regular swords (one or two), some have equipped themselves with sabers or bows and arrows — all are strong, capable in combat, and are clearly using the magical arts to help them fight. A single jump might take a soldier from the street to the rooftop or higher still into the trees. Some will fight with talismans, using them to freeze their opponents in place, to bind them, or make their weapons burn fire-hot. Some guards may also have their own special weapons: whips of pure energy, fans that create unnaturally strong blasts of wind, or arrows that — when they hit a target — neutralise any magic their target might have for long enough to leave them vulnerable for further attack.

As the fighting inevitably spills from the edge of the city and into the streets of the residential district, brave civilians begin to join the throng in an attempt to interfere. Further still are the innocent bystanders unaware of the fighting or the reasons for so much violence near their homes. Without weapons or the skill to defend themselves, they’ll need someone to protect them — they’ll need you.

● ● ●

The fight is heated on both sides, the cries of metal and magic ringing through the air amidst shrieks of the fearful citizens, and when it feels as though casualties are unavoidable, it’s So-Yeon’s voice that rings out over the city that has quickly transformed into an ugly battlefield.

“Stop!”

The barrier that kept Yuryeong hidden slams through the city with a staggering force, and So-Yeon, with her face seeming greyer than just moments before, sways on her feet before taking a step forward.

“Guards of Gyeongje, stop fighting! You cannot harm us now, and we have no desire to harm you. Instead, I ask you listen. I ask you watch. Come with us to the marketplace … there we will show you the truth of us and the truth of this plague.”

There is a palpable hush among the crowd, surprise and wariness spreading across the faces of the Gyeongje guard in equal measure. Some of them quickly gather their wits about them, making attempts to push against the barrier that has suddenly materialized between the infected, the orbers, and the palace’s guards like a wall. But the others seem noticeably relieved, and others still are curious. Hesitant whispers ripple over the army. Many are unsure what to do next.

One, however, refuses to be silenced — as she pushes herself towards the front of the forcefield, the captain raises her voice to those under her command.

“Guards, don’t listen to her! She’s just trying to stall us, to —”

Her words are cut short, and shadows that seem to slide like liquid from darker corners of the city gather towards her, wrapping themselves around her arms and her legs and her mouth, binding her to keep her from speaking any further. Like the shadows themselves, Seung-Hyun’s form glides next to his sister, motioning to one of Yuryeong’s guards to take the captain away.

“To show that we have no desire for a fight, we will not harm her,” So-Yeon says reassuringly. “All I ask is that all of you follow me to the marketplace, and soon you will know the truth.”

Without waiting for anyone’s permission, she begins to follow a path leading directly into the marketplace, the infected moving quietly after her, a procession of ghouls and ghosts made flesh. With no one to command them otherwise, their captain silenced, the Gyeongje guard slowly lower their weapons, watch for the Ghost Girl and her army, and follow.

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F Y I

• The events in this log take place during the first two weeks of August.

• The conclusion of the first mission will be revealed on August 14, and the team will return to the station then.

• If you have questions about anything in this log, please direct them here.

• Soundtrack for this log (parts I, II and III): ♪ ♪ ♪

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▶ NAV

Comments

questions

[ximilian]

For any questions regarding the events or information on this log, ask them here.

If you end up having any search requests left over from log 1, please also direct those here as mods will no longer be responding to the previous search requests thread.

[chronosynthesis]

In terms of foraging around Yuryeong, what kind of plants are available?

[groupiedrifter]

Very random question that has no bearing on this log whatsoever, but I need to ask for important future plans -- does this city have tattooists??? If ya boy maybe gets something while he's here after everything calms the fuck down??? ╰(*°▽°*)╯

Re: questions

[bindsthedead]

Is it possible for characters to capture some of the items the guards are using (Like the wind fans and magic neutralizing arrows) and take them with them?

And what form will the cure eventually take? A physical object, medication, or just the characters involved refining their technique enough to fully reverse the changes.

[softmouth]

Just a quick question to verify - since Dusty avoided the Infected round-up and therefore the draught that put the others to sleep, would he still have received the vision of how to get to Yuryeong the next time he slept?

Relatedly...when Dusty followed the unique scent out into the woods previously, would the trail he followed be the same as the path to Yuryeong?

Re: questions

[callada]

Psst - in this thread, how many guards are there and what are their positions? What are the exact surroundings like at this point?

Re: questions

[hikae]

Small question regarding the population of monster sanctuary: are there children among the monsters/humans?

YURYEONG: npc threads

[ximilian]

ARRIVAL: closed to BUCKY (@starer)

[ximilian]

Eventually, the flap of fabric masquerading as a door is pushed aside and So-Yeon steps out. Outside the tent, she pauses to take some deep breaths, hands smoothing over the front of her white robe — but as soon as she notices someone watching her, she straightens, stands a little more like a leader and less like a tired girl.

"Did you want to talk to me?" she says, walking closer, head slightly tilted.

CITY: npc threads

[ximilian]

MIN-JI: closed to JIANG YANLI (@soups)

[ximilian]

( following the log )

A strong, stout woman with her dark hair piled high atop her head comes from the next room over, followed by two other women, both much younger than her. Her daughters, perhaps, or maybe the daughters of her neighbours. Either way, they seem simultaneously protective and obedient to the older woman, moving to stand behind her while she and the guard who initially helped you escape exchange words. You can make out the words ‘Listen to them, they speak the truth’ — and then the guard nods in your direction and slips back out of the house without another word, leaving your fate in the hands of this unfamiliar woman who looks as though she might have boxed a few ears in her time.

“I’ve been informed that you can tell me exactly what is happening to our city and why we are made to suffer as we are,” she says. “You may call me Aunt Min-Ji. Which of you will speak?”

Finn | Star Wars

[hatejakku]

I.2.0// the great escape

It's weird to find more relief in breaking into an infirmary-turned-prison than it is to sit in his room quietly, staring at the walls. But the relief is unreal.

Finn was practically the head of the pack, one of the first people to reach the infected and find out just how badly this whole thing has progressed. If there was any doubt about what happened to the missing citizens of this city before, it's impossible to have any now. But there isn't time to stare inappropriately and panic. They have to get the hell out of here.

Though he is really eager to find the guy that had a bite taken out of him in his place, Finn's a lot more concerned with getting everyone to safety before he starts searching for particular people he knows. So he's moving about and helping people along, trying to rush them while also respecting whatever pain they may be in, and some of them are in visible pain.

While he isn't sure about his power yet, he'll use it if it means saving someone's life and getting them out.

[ ooc: So if you're infected, Finn can heal your character of the mental side effects for a very short amount of time. His uses are limited, and I've already plotted out who is taking the bigger doses, so to speak, but I figure everyone should have a shot at it. So if you want your character to become horrifically lucid for a minute or two, hit him up. ]

IIA.4.6.0// the monster sanctuary

They've made it. Honestly, Finn doesn't feel much better about it.

But he keeps himself busy. Once they arrive and So-Yeon is ushered away, Finn focuses on making sure his people are comfortable. Any of the infected that may need help, he's there for them, getting them their own tent, finding food, whatever they need. If they're in pain, there's not much he can do except linger and sit with them if they desire it.

Once his new power officially fizzles out, he feels completely useless. So, naturally, he only tries to help more. Hunting for food, patching up tents, checking on the infected until he's teetering on the brink of annoying, etc.

Much sooner than expected (but not before an eternity feels as if it passed since they left the city), a cure is finally found. Finn's there during the testing. Where else would he be? But he's also there when the final product is complete.

Don't be surprised when he's trotting a dose over to an infected person. It's likely that news has gotten around already but- "Hey. They finished it. I won't lie, it's going to hurt like hell..."

[ ooc: Finn will probably still be able to use his powers at the start of their stay in Yuryeong, so feel free to hit him up then, too. Otherwise, feel free to catch him at any part of this trip. He's going to be all over the place. ]

III.13.0// it's time to be brave

Finn really wishes that he was surprised to find an army waiting for them. Even without probable intel from the people left behind in the city, this wasn't too terribly hard to guess.

With a frequency that he's uncomfortably used to, Finn's thrust into yet another battle. This isn't like when they were protecting the palace, though. That had been a misunderstanding, and he knew the ones he was fighting weren't in their right minds. This? This feels way too much like home.

He fights with his blaster until he can't anymore, the gun getting knocked out of his hands on a particularly wide swing of a saber, but he's good with close combat, too. Not a few minutes later, he's armed with the same sword that's done hell to his palm and wrist. He's gotten better with one over the years, at least.

So if you're cornered and a flash of metal ends your attacker with a spray of blood, that's just Finn. And he doesn't have a whole lot of time for pleasantries. "Civilians are getting involved. We need to protect them." And he'd also really like to get to the palace before things get worse.

XXVI.0.0// wildcard

[ ooc: Have another idea? I'm up for it. You can PM me or something if you like. ]

monster sanctuary

[winscenario]

For the most part, Jim's managed to cling to his own sanity, or at least enough to be able to break the group out of the infirmary. Some were disoriented after getting out, a few even needing a push through the portal, but in the end he's managed to avoid getting that cure just to be able to make himself useful.

He's still hoping to avoid it, honestly. He knows for a fact that Finn will be looking for him, wanting to give him that respite as some kind of apology for the sacrifice Jim's made, even though Jim has never expected any kind of repayment for what he did. Besides, there are so many infected here, so many people Finn could help.

Unfortunately he's not always in his right mind. And right now, having found shelter in one of the makeshift homes, he's curled up on top of the covers serving as a bed, shivering and letting out soft whimpers, long, uneven arms folded over and clawed hands covering his own ears. Eyes shut tightly, he keeps mumbling to himself, not expecting anyone else to be there. "No, no, please... please shut up, please... leave me alone..."

Sans | Undertale

[skelepun]

PART I | THE GREAT ESCAPE!

It's easy to pack light when you don't have much to start with. The pockets of his hoodie were full enough; a small carving of a frog he'd bought in the merchant district, some official documents from home he hadn't gotten around to getting rid of, a sandwich nicked from the kitchen. Those few belongings, alongside the bracelet that hung heavy against his carpals, were all he had to his name in this place. Everything a man might need on trip into the unknown.

A strange melancholy flickered in his soul as he looked out over the dusty old room that had been his makeshift home for the last month. He knew, as much as anyone could know, he wouldn't be seeing it again. It felt like an ending of something. Or maybe, more frighteningly, the beginning of something else.

The others must be starting their rescue operation any second now. Successful or unsuccessful, Sans' preferred avenues of escape would be closed once the palace learned of their heaven-sent warriors' shifting allegiances. He'd put things off as long as he possible could. It was now or never.

With an unnecessary breath, Sans shuts the door and promptly disappears.

2.0 | i'll meet you in the pit (closed to eddie kaspbrak)
[ Sans reappears beyond the north-most wall of the outer ring, not far from where he first met So-Yeon. He holds up his wrist, finally allowing himself to be led by the mysterious force within it. It wasn't clear where it would lead him, but Sans had gambled on much more for much less.

But hey, it wouldn't be a tense moment of personal growth without the distant sound of profanity interrupting him.

Sans considers ignoring it. Were it two weeks ago, he almost certainly would have. Unfortunately for him, a few of the more... pointed rebukes from the team were still rattling around in his skull.Setting aside the tug of the bracelet, Sans follows voice instead. ]

Hello? [ Following the sounds, the voice sounds more and more like someone in trouble. It was also starting to sound familiar. He raises his voice a little to try and be heard. ] My name's Sans. I wanna help ya out, but you gotta help me find you first.

PART IIA | THE MONSTER SANCTUARY

4.0 | i bet i've got a knock knock joke you haven't heard before (ota)
[ With a wounded man in tow, Sans arrives in Yuryeong a day later than he planned. And in his eagerness to get Eddie to a doctor, their arrival isn't the only thing Sans feels himself wanting to delay. The circumstances of where they were, the wear and tear of each ramshackle house, the magic thrum of the barrier... it evoked a sense of dark, creeping nostalgia that was more aching than pleasant. Focusing on it felt too big, too strange. Determined to do anything else, Sans busies himself with the mundane task of making the best of this temporary home.

Distracted and a little out of step with those who had a full day to adjust and get to work on their mission, Sans wanders down the row of available housing indicated to him by one of the monsters. He picks one that looks even more abandoned than the others, pushing the door open without much thought.

Of course, as luck would have it, the home is already occupied by someone. Someone who (presumably) isn't expecting a surprise privacy violation from a skeleton man. ]

5.1 | what's the harm in one more cook in this kitchen? (ota)
[ Back home, in the aftermath of the fallen human's journey through the Underground and his brother's ascension to the throne, the task of feeding the surviving citizenry was a complex one. The challenges that came with limited resources were one Sans understood well. The plan he and his brother came up with wasn't perfect. No one ever truly felt full, but no one went hungry either.

Granted, in the Underground it was his brother doing the cooking while Sans reviewed rationing policies until his eyelights blurred. Here in Yuryeong, the chef's toque was gonna have to be on the other skull. ]

Hey! Yeah, you. [ Standing at the border of the Yuryeong clearing, Sans waves down the first person he sees passing. Hooked under his arm is a small basket, laden with flour, an egg, and... snails. So many snails. ] Wanna help me out?

[ If you approach, Sans gestures up at a nearby tree. Sure enough, there was a small crop of mushrooms clinging to the bark of the tree halfway up the trunk of the tree. The tree wasn't terribly difficult to climb and a tall individual could probably grab them by hand without too much difficulty. ]

Think you could get that down for me?

5.2 | what is a star? can you eat it? can you kill it? (ota)
[ In all his life, Sans had never seen a graveyard. His people had funerals, yes, but his people didn't dig holes or burn remains. He knew about them, sure, but as an abstract concept. Something humans did, not monsters.

Walking around this place, clearly that rule didn't apply everywhere. Here, monsters and humans were buried side by side. Sans even caught a few glimpses of their spirits moving between gravestones, only to disappear in a shimmer of magic if he stared too long.

Sans comes out here most nights, picking different spots to sit and stare up at the sky. The trees were open to the sky here, providing a view of the stars that was nothing short of spectacular. Whether you come across him on the first night he spends here or his last, he greets the chance intrusion of another alive person with quick smile. ]

Oh, uh, hey. [ He doesn't stand, but does straighten up a little. Impropriety wasn't really something Sans concerned himself with, but far be it from him to show flagrant disrespect for the dead. ] I wasn't expecting to see anyone else out here.

[ To anyone who's spoken him before, his demeanor is notably strange. If it's the first time they've crossed paths, Sans appears to simply be a man with a lot on his mind. ]

PART III | IT'S TIME TO BE BRAVE

13.0 | don't forget to take your calcium supplements (ota)
[ The march from Yuryeong to the city was a grim one, plagued by set backs and unpleasant surprises. What started with lowlevel uneasiness in the pit of his metaphorical stomach quickly grew to outright dread with each new set back and violent clash of palace guards and monsters.

People were going to get hurt. People were dying. And for all Sans wishes he could find somewhere safe to hide and wait out the melee like the last time, a few persistent, nagging voices (ones that sounded remarkably like the people he'd met here) wouldn't let him.

And so here he was (shudder) participating. He doesn't stay in any one place too long, all too aware that a single shot from those magic disrupting arrows would explode his body into dust on contact, opting instead to disappear and reappear around the battlefield. Outcroppings of bones jutted out of loose earth, aiming to trip rather than skewer. Every now and then an attacking might fall suddenly to their knees, movements slowed by a push of some external force. They weren't the strongest attacks -- more annoyances than anything -- but it was a sustainable pace. With how long the battle had raged so far, sustainable was all he could shoot for.

Disappear, reappear, turn a soul blue, toss some bones around. It worked. He was making it work. And it might've kept working, if not for what he comes face to face with on his next disappear, reappear.

One of his teammates -- be it someone he knows from afair, one who he's frustrated to no end, or someone he's begun to consider a friend -- beaten back and cornered. The specifics of this teammates circumstances may be varied, but the consequences of Sans not acting are very singular. He's sure of it.

So much for sustainable

Whoever is about to meet their end first hears the shout of their own name (or, if Sans does not know their name, a simple shouted reassurance of hold on), followed immediately by a strange sound. Overbright blue light fills your vision, followed immediately by the screams of the guard about to land their killing blow. When the light fades, the silhouette of a large animal skull can be seen suspended in mid air for a scant few moments before disappearing along with the last of the light. ]

C'mon! [ Directly underneath where the ghostly skull disappears is Sans, motioning for you to get up. The attacking guard is badly hurt but not dead, already rallying to finish what Sans interrupted. ] Move.

(( ooc: please let me know if you would like a custom starter!! i can be reached over DM and at safelybeds!! ))

5.2

[chronosynthesis]

[It's probably the crunch of Syrlya's boots to the ground that alerts Sans, on the first night he spends by the graveyard. Although Syrlya doesn't seem to be directly approaching him--his direction just a bit too left. He's here to see the graveyard, too, folding his arms as he looks out at it.

But he didn't miss Sans there, having found his way to Yuryeong although he wasn't around for the escape. When Sans speaks his gaze shifts sideways, and his face scrunches into a dour look for a moment before he turns back to the graveyard.]

I thought it would be best that some stay awake in case there's a call from those still in the palace tonight.

Yzak Jule | Gundam SEED/Destiny

[coordination]

01. Honest to a fault

• [ One doesn't have to know Yzak for very long to realize that he's both 1. short-tempered, and 2. honest. You know you'll never be bullshitted by him when he speak to you, what you see is what you get and he is so unapologetically himself. And when he feels a certain way about someone or something, if he's not letting it be known through his (loud) words, it'll be clear as day in his expression. However, in a life where one has dealt with many chains of military as well as the obnoxiousness of the political sphere, he's obtained some tact. He knows there are times where he needs to be wary of his words and his actions for the sake of himself, his team, and his friends. Where it could be a life-or-death, mission ruining situation.
  
  This is one of those times.
  
  So Yzak is courteous, professional, the way he speaks to the royals and the guards at the palace is perfectly practiced so easily believable. Of course, as mentioned, Yzak is also short-tempered, so there's only enough of this he can stand before he wears down and starts getting cranky and wanting to punch someone in the face. So he never overstays in a conversation, and if he doesn't absolutely need to be somewhere, he won't be.
  
  He's stalking back to his room at some point, alone, looking pretty impatient. He doesn't like being in these moments - ones where he can't act, even if he completely understands the importance of them. That's why he stayed back at the palace - enough people headed out who were perfectly capable of defending themselves and the people around them. He wanted to make sure that if anything went south here, they wouldn't end up completely fucked. ]

---

02. The truth will set you ... up for some trouble

• [ He is not in the mood to partake in tea and snacks and assumed idle chit-chat, so Yzak politely declines the offer, deciding instead to "head back to his room." It's not a total lie, he does stop by, but overall, he's feeling like a caged cat waiting for something to happen, waiting to hear from the team outside about what's going on. Thankfully his less-than-beaming expression doesn't give him away, because there are plenty of reasons for an Orber to be mad - upset about this situation turning as messy as it has, one could even assume he's mad and feeling oh so betrayed by those who escaped! He does idly wonder what he'd be doing instead at this moment if he had decided to head to Yuryeong after all...
  
  So of course that exact moment is when he hears the sudden commotion from nearby.
  
  And whether or not it's during the scuffle, during the escape, or when they're finally safe enough to relax a little, Yzak is doing his duty of incapacitating guards and dragging one of his more lethargic allies, any who are currently under the truth effect, out of harm's (and jail's) way. ]
  
  Ugh ... sneaky bastards...
  
  [ And there's bound to be some chit-chat between them during all of this (or after all of this, whichever!). So you know, maybe since this truth effect is still going on, they might let something personal slip to Yzak that they might not have wanted to while they talk. (please hit me up if there is something specific you want and we'll make it happen somehow hehe) ]

---

03. Can't silence the whispers

• [ After they've conversed with Min-Ji, it was time to take various actions. ]
  
  
  A.
  [ First, was getting into contact with those who left for Yuryeong to update them on the situation. ]
  
  Hey.
  
  [ Someone he knows and trusts well enough on the team will hear his voice through their earpiece. ]
  
  Things over here have started to go to shit.
  
  B.
  [ Second was ensuring everybody on his team, as well as those in the district who were helping them, were safe and/or ready to fight or defend themselves. Yzak is one of the Orbers who is on protective duty and defending areas from the guards. Whether with brains or brawn, nobody can do it alone, however, so some teamwork absolutely makes the dream work when dealing with this. ]

---

04. A Major in bravery

• [ It always ends like this, doesn't it? Conflict slowly building up more and more into a frenzy of fighting. The only upside to experiencing it more than once in his life is that now? He's in his element. He didn't climb the ladder to become a commanding officer for nothing.
  
  Yzak doesn't make moves to kill. But he's also not being too overly careful in his actions, either. He knows how this goes. Go easy on your target, and they'll absolutely take advantage of the opportunity you give them in doing so to strike at you. He's quick, movements smooth and trained, at a speed and edge a cut above that of a normal human.
  
  When some of the civilians get involved and try to help them, he looks apprehensive at first - these are the people he doesn't want to get hurt more than anything. But much like his own reasons for joining and staying in the military, Yzak understands their determination well enough. They have things they want to protect, and it's in these moments where that becomes clear. So he quickly barks out orders to them with an authority fitting of a Major, in hopes that by following his lead they'll stay safe. ]
  
  And don't get yourself killed! [ He calls to a couple of them after pointing them to one of the nearby buildings to give some extra rooftop aid from. It sounds more like an order than a suggestion, coming from Yzak.
  
  There are guards, too, that he can be heard arguing with while they fight. All of his pent up aggravation from laying low at the palace coming out. ]
  
  Are you really this fucking stupid!? Try thinking a little for yourself instead of just accepting whatever you're told to do! You really think we're here because we wanted to waste our time fighting with you idiots!?
  
  [ He gets told to fuck off or is ignored completely by a couple of guards, but as the battle continues, one might see a guard "casually" look the other way when he notices someone coming in to incapacitate his ally. One might see one of their allies hit by one of those strong blasts of wind from a talisman and get knocked over a couple of feet, but then realize seconds later they were just in the line of another guard's sword. Maybe there's some merit to Yzak's brutal, angry honesty and calling people dumbasses straight to their faces. ]

---

05. Wildcard

• [ Throw another idea at me! ]

---

OOC

• Have at! Don't hesitate to tag something here if I've already tagged your top level, or to comment here twice if you want to do more than one prompt with me! I love doing more than one thing at once with people! I'm at gaignun, Tara#1768, or PMable here for any questions/plotting!

Whispers; A

[bindsthedead]

What?

[In her cot at Yuryeong, Sabriel stiffens, her drift toward slumber suddenly halted.]

Yzak, what's happening? We're making progress towards the cure here, what's happening on your end?

erik stevens / killmonger | mcu

[scarcastically]

( i. a good defense )

[ he didn't want to break out the golden jaguar suit so soon. it reveals a little too much, but it couldn't be helped. too much was riding on this and it's better to take control of the narrative instead of letting their omnipotent overlords decide when he should reveal himself for a "personal goal". erik adjusts the necklace around his neck and lets the suit wash over him like a second skin.

he swings his swords idly, not that he needs them. he'll be relying on his kinetic energy to push the guards back. a few of them whack him with spears and swords, but it doesn't pierce the suit. erik grins before slamming his palm on the ground, sending the guards flying back.

with that, he sheathes the sword at his back before gesturing for the rest to follow. ]

C'mon, time to move your butts.

( ii. monster house blues )

[ though erik is a city boy, he's always made sure to accumulate as many skills as necessary. and once he hit his army tours, it became more than necessary to learn how to manage in the wilderness. cooking is not one of his favourite things to do, but the menial, repetition of skinning and salting animal meat and preparing stews was easy enough to do without thinking much. he sits in front of the pot, watching the stew bubble as he cuts little cubes of meat and vegetable and dropping them in.

if anyone approaches, erik gestures to the rough-hewn bowls nearby. ]

Help yourself. Or peel some potatoes because they ain't gonna prepare themselves.

( iii. gravestones in the night )

[ he's not sure why he came here. it's not as though he knows anyone buried here. these people's problems were not his problems. erik had no responsibility here. these were things that ran through his head as he sits, looking out at the graveyard. deep down, he knows why he came here. like this place, erik carries graves upon his body. every life he has stolen to reach his goal.

he has no regret there. only respect and solemnity. regret would only cheapen himself. he was fully cognizant of what he was doing when he set upon this path. and now the path has turned to naught. he still wonders what barnes' connection to wakanda was. if wakanda has changed.

if it still had the same sunset.

reaching into his collar, erik pulls out his father's ring, catching it in the moonlight. the vibranium gleams silver. erik huffs, letting it drop, the necklace swinging around his neck. ]

Looks like I'm still a little lost.

( iv. I fight pain and hurricanes ) cw: violence, death

[ erik is suited back up, moving with lethal precision. it seems like the guards have upped their ante, so erik needs to respond in kind. no room for doubt on the battlefield. his blood throbs. this is what he was made for. this is the kind of weapon he is. swinging his sword, he cuts a swathe in the guard, making quick work of them. one guard deftly knocks his sword away, lashing out with a magic whip that makes the vibranium itch around his skin. it cuts across his cheek and erik feels the blood slide down his face.

he grins and launches himself at the guard, digging his claws into his shoulder making the guard cry out in pain. with his grip loosened, erik takes the whip easily before slashing his neck.

straightening, erik whistles, eyeing the whip. ]

Oh yeah, I'm keepin' this.

( v. wildcard )

[ got a prompt in mind? dm / hit me up @ timmtams / hit me up @ my plotting comment ]

III

[winscenario]

[ Jim knows exactly why he's here; it's quiet, mostly deserted, and dark. Even if his sanity seems to come and go like a tide, he has enough presence of mind to know that he just doesn't want to be around others. He's afraid, even, in the moments he's plagued with his hallucinations that he'll become violent and hurt someone; and also, he can't help but loathe his appearance, and he doesn't want the few people he's grown closer to to see him like this.

Luck would have it, then, that it's exactly Erik who comes by the graveyard, while Jim sits among a few graves, partly hidden by some greenery. The sound of a voice makes him move, though; not enough to reveal himself completely, but enough for him to see Erik, and definitely enough for Erik to notice someone there. ]

Newton Geiszler | Pacific Rim

[groupiedrifter]

I. THE MONSTER SANCTUARY

[Arriving at Yuryeong is a bit nerve-wracking for Newton, to be honest. After all, there's one monster here that is more than willing to tear his head off and shove it down his windpipe if he fails to deliver on his promises. But... well. In for a penny, and all that. He marches in, and says, with confidence: "I'm Doctor Newton Geiszler, but you can call me Newt! I'm gonna help cure you guys." They all look at him with that familiar old expression of doubt that Newt's been used to his entire career; after all, most scientists scoff at the sight of a short, hyperactive guy in black nail polish, patch-covered pants, and scuffed-up rocker boots walking into a lecture hall and proclaiming himself the leading PhD on xenobiology.

But he doesn't mind. He does his work, and he does it great, and everyone'll learn sooner or later that he's more than the hot air he's probably more literally compromised of. He spends part of his time nervously watching Seung-Hyun, his own shadow twitching strangely from time to time. Don't fuck this up, Newton.

To unwind, he ends up sitting huddled with a small group of the infected; they ask him eagerly about cures, to which he explains everything he's been able to figure out so far. Somewhere in the topic, he ends up discussing his work in artifical tissue replication — explains that his work in that field had made it much easier for him to navigate this strange, new virus. It seems the teacher comes out in him, in that moment — he begins to talk about this and that, and someone walking by might hear him as he holds up his fist, making a heartbeat gesture.]

The heart pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood every day; that little guy's working overtime. I'm talking over 110,000 beats a day, which comes out to... oh, somewhere around two billion times in a human's lifetime, if they're one of the lucky ones. Just make sure you don't come down with broken heart syndrome — especially you, ladies. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is no joke.

[At some point, when the adults have scattered to the wind, Newton will proceed to gesture wildly and act out the entire Godzilla movie, Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster to a group of infected children; condensed, of course, but still! if you happen to see drawings of Godzilla or Rodan or Mothra around from the kiddies, you know who to blame.]

II. THE FINAL STRETCH

[Newt isn't quite so cheery toward the end of their work. Not because the cure isn't developing, of course, but for an assortment of reasons: one being that he's worried about Hermann and Clara and the others who had stayed behind. Another, for how the last round of testing had gone today — which is to say, So-Yeon had to be carried away by her brother. Newton sits with his tie hanging down by his knees as he slumps forward in an outdoor chair, kneading his temple. He's got an uneaten bowl of soup next to him and looks a bit... stressed out, probably needing to wash up and actually get some sleep.

The sun's setting on another day, and they're closer and closer to the final product. But he can't help but sit up and stare blankly at the stars in the sky. Maybe he should call up Herm or Clara, see if they're up for starwatching, too. Or maybe he should sleep, because a rested mind is a capable mind... Pffft. Him, sleep. That's funny.]

Man, I kinda wish I had a cigarette, right about now.

[It's been a while since he smoked, but sometimes his fingers twitch around an imaginary butt.

When he's gotten tired of starwatching, he doesn't relent to sleep; he just gets up and goes to make sure the infected Orbers are doing alright; he'll be ready with a medical kit in hand, hoping to provide them what little comfort he can while they're still enduring those horrible transformations.]

III. THE CURE IS ADMINISTERED

[The cure is completed — and is administered, and when it's finally administered to each and every one of their people, Newton can finally breathe again. Honestly... he wasn't sure how he was gonna deal with it, if he couldn't help to get everyone back to normal. Well, if he survived getting off the planet in the first place, anyway. He wanders around from Orber to Orber, raising a hand in greeting and smiling.]

Hey there, all you beautiful Orbeez! How're you liking having normally functioning arms and legs again?

Any weird aftereffects? Any concerning issues I should know about?

IV. IT'S TIME TO BE BRAVE | cw: anxiety attack symptoms

Wait a second here, fellas, are we sure this is a good idea? C'mon, maybe we shouldn't go wandering into enemy territory here — [Newt slips between the monsters, wandering through the crowds that move toward the barrier, toward the exit; most of his words seem to fall on deaf ears, and they politely nudge past him to continue their walk. Newton kind of just ends up floating along with the crowd, the swell of them carrying him off a bit before he even realizes just how entangled in the group he is.

Swallowing hard, he just... walks with them, a short little fellow half-vanished in a sea of shadowy and strange-looking monsters, a pinpoint of almost comical normalcy among the groups. He grips the strap to his black satchel nervously as he goes, looking left and right, unsure if anyone else is coming along. Maybe he should be waiting for others from the Ximilia...? Maybe he should consider that the last time he was in the middle of something like this, he got his shit rocked?

One of the monster people turn to him, and parrot back, voice rough like gravel: "Remember, Doctor Geiszler...? Fortune favors the brave."]

Hey — don't use my own words against me! C'mooon...

[He shifts nervously, swallows hard, and feels that heart of his constrict (110,000 beats a day, 2 billion in a lifetime — if you're lucky). The monsters shift to Chinese citizens in his mind; the pathway to town becomes the Bone Slums; the guards up ahead become Otachi and her searing hot breath. He feels needles in his hands and feet, squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head.]

Don't freak out now, Newton, don't you freak out now.

[But his mind throbs with the memory of it, of his body being lead along by other bodies. He was a coward, then. He was scared and ran around like a frightened toddler. He panicked and flailed and begged the citizens for help in that dark, damp bunker, waiting for the kaiju to come — to find him. He saw through her eyes, he remembers. Tinged with kaiju blue, he could see himself in the monster's vision, shrinking back, and he could hear her thoughts (their thoughts) as they whispered: We will take him alive. Newton Geiszler, we see you.

turn and run away, go back, leave them to die, they aren't your problem, they are inconsequential, their mission is not ours

His temples ache, a drop of blood rolling down one nostril, as he walks, pale like he's seen a ghost.]

V. WILDCARD

[Would you like to run into him during the big fight at the end? Contact him via earpiece? Talk to him outside of these prompts, or have something in mind for a starter? Hit me up via pm or via plurk at simpledog! ♥]

II

[hatejakku]

[ As much as Finn has been going around and making sure the infected are sleeping and eating and being generally comfortable (as much as can be expected or possible), he hasn't mother-hen'd everyone else too much. He'd be the ultimate hypocrite if he did. Stars know that Finn isn't sleeping or eating or even remotely comfortable with anything right now.

So when he finds Newton by happenstance, he doesn't get the urge to lecture and fuss about, but it does make him a little worried. And a little tired. Today was hard. It's more than likely just going to get harder. ]

What's a cigarette? [ He approaches casually enough, trying to give off the air that he can stay or leave, whatever Newt wants. ]

Daisy Johnson | MCU

[morethan084]

THE GREAT ESCAPE

1.0

[A plan has been formed, well, two plans. One is to get out of here and the other is to steal the orb from So-Yeon. Daisy knew that the only way to see her mother again is to steal it, Nathaniel told her so himself. He knows someone with the ability to bring her back. What she can’t realize, thanks to being infected, is that he’s not even here. It’s all in her head. But for her? It feels real, and that’s more than enough motivation for her to get out here at any cost.

Even if it means messing up her arms.

She can’t quite remember when it happened, but the guards took her gauntlets from her, and as a result, when using her powers, it hurts her arms. What doesn’t make sense despite not having her gauntlets. Is that her powers are all over the place. The only reason that might be is--]

You did this to me.

[Daisy says through gritted teeth, staring at Nathaniel. To everyone else, however, no one is there. She uses her powers to try and knock him back, but she only ends up grabbing her arm in pain.

She needs to focus. They need to get out of here, and when it’s clear it’s their turn, Daisy steps up to help Kirigan take down the magical barrier. Her powers aren’t nearly as strong as the last time they fought together, and Kirigan, well--

Somehow she knows it’s him, even if he doesn’t look like himself. Nose scrunching up in pain, Daisy pushes herself even harder to get as much force out of her powers as she can.]

I’m trying.

THE MONSTER SANCTUARY

5.0

[Finally, they make it to Yuryeong, and Daisy is on high alert. Taking in everything to try and get some idea of how hard or easy this will be in her attempts to steal the orb. She can’t just rush in and do it, she knows that much. Unaware of just how paranoid she looks, Daisy thinks the only reason people are looking at her is that there are parts of her arms that look as though they’ve been eating away. She probably should be more concerned about that, and yet any show of concern given by others is brushed off.]

I’m fine.

[Daisy doesn’t sleep much. Her mind is occupied by the goal she’s been given. She does, however, take advantage of the spare clothes. Doing her best to clean herself up before changing into the clothes provided for them. She takes the sheet and rips it up to try and wrap up the parts of her arm that are exposed.

Sitting by the fire while others cook, her mind is preoccupied, and she doesn’t even notice someone is offering her food until the bowl is right in front of her food. There are dark circles under her eyes as she reaches for it with bruised hands.]

Thank you.

[She takes a spoonful of whatever it was she was given and sips at the broth gingerly, thinking about how she’ll put her plan into motion later tonight. When everyone is sleeping.]


Closed to Finn

[Daisy isn’t sure what time it is, but she knows it has to be late because it’s a lot quieter than before. This is her chance. Without any sleep so far, Daisy gets up from her spot on the ground and, as quietly as she can, exits the house to go to the tent she remembers So-Yeon being led into before. Walking barefoot through the forest, Daisy’s on high alert, so the moment she hears movement behind her, she whips around with her hand out in front of her.

She doesn’t relax when she sees Finn because directly behind him is Nathaniel.]

What are you doing?

[And why is he with Nathaniel? Is he working with him? Her jaw tenses.]

6.0

[The cure has finally been made, but Daisy isn’t willing to take it so easily.]

I know what you’re trying to do, and I’m not going to let it happen again.

[Daisy speaks through gritted teeth. The hallucinations are at an all-time high now. In her mind, she believes that this ‘cure’ isn’t a cure. It’s Nathaniel wanting to do experiments on her again. She failed her mission, and that, along with losing her mother, is her punishment. Anyone who tries to calm her down will be met with her making every attempt to get away. Even if that means using her powers on them.

This is going to take some convincing. Or, you know, finding a way to knock her out.]

IT’S TIME TO BE BRAVE

13.0

[Finally feeling like herself again. Daisy is ready to just finally put an end to all of this. She has some sleep she still needs to catch up, and her arms are still a mess, but none of that is stopping her from getting involved in this fight. This fight is just as hard as the last, if not harder. Her powers have done a number on her arms as she doesn’t have her gauntlets, so as much as she wishes she didn’t have to, Daisy tries to limit the number of times she uses her powers.

Whether it’s fighting to protect herself or others, Daisy doesn’t hesitate to go in fist first. Or, if she’s lucky enough to find one, a sword. Spotting someone on the ground, Daisy rushes over to them. [Her hands hover over them, not quite touching them just yet but ready to help them up if they need it.]

Come on. You need to get up.

[As if fighting monsters wasn’t hard enough, they seem to have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. She isn’t sure how it happens, but suddenly she’s frozen in place. Instantly she’s trying to use her powers to break free, but it’s far from painless, and she’s struggling. A little help here?]

WILDCARD

[Have something else in mind? Feel free to write it below or send me a message on punkchica321Here is a link to my plotting post as well in case anyone is interested.]

[hatejakku]

[ Yeah, Finn's not sleeping. Not a big surprise considering everything that's going on, but he's kept himself up doing a patrol around the area. Which is when he spots Daisy moving around.

He had seen her before, during the escape. She looked rough but not as bad off as some of the others. His attention had mostly been on those who needed help getting out and those who needed something to ground them in reality. So, unfortunately, he hadn't had a chance to single her out.

Now's a good a time as any, seeing as how he's wondering why she's going to So-Yeon's tent this time of night. Nefarious intentions never once crosses his mind.

But when she turns to see him and doesn't let her guard down, his hands go up. He's been on her bad side before. It sucks. ]

Hey, easy. I just wanted to know what you were doing? You okay?

Sabriel | Old Kingdom

[bindsthedead]

Escape

[Ranna's song is a strange accompaniment to their desperate circumstances- the bell's song is a soft, sweet lullaby, sending guards yawning and stumbling towards them before lying down to sleep, uncaring of the chaos that's starting to unfold.

Sabriel's sword stays sheathed at her side, this time. The whole point of this is to avoid bloodshed, after all.]

Hurry!

[With her free hand, she grabs at whoever is in reach and seems to be lagging behind, urging them onward, holding Ranna by its clapper to keep it from unwanted sound, even as its echoes keep sounding through the hall, and Sabriel has to fight back the urge to yawn.]

We need to stay together if we want to get out of here!

Yuryeong

[Sabriel doesn't spend much time socializing when she gets to Yuryeong- instead, she spends most of her time either working on the cure or sleeping. She can be found in the large tent that's become the headquarters of sorts for such efforts, working with others or just scrawling notes onto whatever scraps of paper she can find, sleeping at odd hours.

But despite all this, Sabriel seems- not happy, but confident. They're on the right track, they're making progress, and she's sure the solution is within reach. Magic users who've made the journey to Yuryeong may find themselves being approached and asked for assistance, to try to pour more power into the spellwork, or just try to evaluate what Sabriel has so far, golden marks hanging in the air, arranged in a complex array and radiating power.

Occasionally, she can be found in the graveyard, working to lay the Dead to rest, the echoes from her bells lingering in the air.]

Figuring out the cure

[They're making progress- testing out each iteration of the cure, taking samples for Doctor Geiszler to examine, then waiting to see if the cure sticks this time before trying again.

Sabriel tries to stay upbeat through the whole affair, offering a tired but reassuring smile as she readies their latest attempt, drawing the last few marks out of the Charter and easing them into place.]

Just let me know when you're ready to start.

Administering the cure

[Finally, finally, after sleepless nights and countless hours spent working out theories, refining her spells, and multiple rounds of trial and error, they've got it- a permanent cure for the corruption affecting both the citizens of Gyeonje and the Ximilia's crew.

And Sabriel is ready to deliver the good news to each and every infected crew member with an exhausted but triumphant expression.]

We've worked out the cure. It's not painless, but it's permanent this time.

Fight

[Sabriel does not want this. Not now, not when they're so close to achieving their goal and leaving.

Still, there's a problem in front of her, so she'll deal with it. Sabriel's fighting defensively, countering the guard's spells with her own, whistling notes to turn back the wind they conjure with their fans and doing all she can to dodge their arrows and help protect the people of Gyeonje who've chosen to fight with them.]

Just stop! We don't want to hurt you, we have the cure for the plague!

[And if not all of them heed her words, it's enough to get at least some of them to waver for a moment, to give Sabriel enough time to drag innocent bystanders out of the fight.

There's been enough death in this city, and Sabriel has no desire to add to it unless she has no choice.]

Who do you really serve- the people of this city, or Lord Suk-Ju?

Wildcard

[Have another idea? Reply here, DM this journal, or PM me at sarahthesilent.]

Figuring out the cure

[chronosynthesis]

I'm ready whenever you are. [But he gives her with a look of concern.] Do you not need to rest for a moment?

[For reasons he hasn't quite figured out, Syrlya's magic hasn't been proving as effective to fuel the spell. They've tried, but after the most recent struggle to elevate the power of Sabriel's marks, he's getting a little concerned.]

eddie kaspbrak | it

[respirations]

• 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗘𝗦𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗘

( For once in these last few days Eddie is grateful.

As it becomes more and more clear that things are spinning wildly out of control within the palace, he begins making sure that he is packed and ready to move at a moment's notice. He packs up the supplies that he has gathered up this past month including, as much as he hates it, the dagger that he had so far only used once and hopefully (God, he hopes) it would stay that way.

Yet as things continue to fall apart from under them, Eddie starts to worry that it might not be that simple because when had it ever been simple? Even in the nearly three decades that he had been living blissfully unaware of his childhood and the horrors his life had not been simple and just when things had been making a turn toward something brighter— he died, bled out in some cave underneath Derry without the chance to live how his life properly.

He wasn't going to let that happen again. With everything that's happened, everything that he's remembered— Eddie wasn't going to let this second chance go to waste. )

• 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗜𝗔 — 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗔𝗥𝗬

𝟦.𝟢 —

( Admittedly Eddie is a little lightheaded by the time they reach the shrine. The cut on his leg from his fall into the spike pit has been tended, disinfected and bandaged there is still enough pain that he can't quite just ignore it and the warmth of blood bleeding through the bandage and down his leg as he continues his walk through the forest. Not that he has a choice in the matter, returning to the palace wasn't in the picture and he wasn't going to fucking sit down in the woods and wait for the all clear. It's perhaps why he is most grateful for their communication devices, it keeps him connected to Richie and having his voice is a comfort that Eddie can't remember feeling in quite sometime.

So although he's looking a little pale by the time they pass into the village, he keeps a stoic look on his face up until So-Yeon takes her leave of their company before he settles into a seated position.

Immediately, he sighs and tugs the leather jacket (two sizes to big on him clearly) further around his body and curses quietly. )

𝟧.𝟢 —

( He's never been good with graveyards yet Eddie finds himself drawn here anyway. It reminds him of his childhood, far to young to really understand why his dad was sick and not getting any better before ultimately having to learn the hard way that his dad would never be coming back. It was a breaking point, Eddie thinks, for his mother and his serious illness afterwards just added to her decline into what she became up until she also died from cancer.

Standing here though he doesn't think about his parents or even himself and how he wonders if he'd have a headstone like his family. Maybe he'd just live on his friends' memories and that would be that but more than that he hates that he'd never pay his respects to Stan. It's a thought that hurts more than he's willing to admit and as he stands there, in the midst of lingering spirits, he feels his heart clench uncomfortably. )

You'd have all this shit figured out if you were here.

• 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗜𝗜 — 𝗜𝗧❜𝗦 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗕𝗥𝗔𝗩𝗘

𝟷𝟷.𝟶 —

( The roar of the crowd is near deafening in his ears and without thought— Eddie finds himself gripping his dagger tighter. There's so much going on but he focuses solely on the reaching Richie. He closes his eyes, breathing in and fighting back that raise of panic that he feels building in his blood that threatens to constrict his lungs with wheezing breaths.

He fights the urge to pat himself down for his inhaler but reminds himself that he doesn't need it. He's never needed it and takes in a gulp of air, shaky but determined as Richie's words from before entering Pennywise's lair rings in his head. )

Come on, Eds. You're braver than you think.

𝟷𝟹.𝟶 —

( Eddie doesn't expect this to be easy and brave or not— it doesn't make up for the lack of skill he has in a fight. He's used to fighting New York traffic but this is something else and it just goes from bad to worse when magic becomes involved. He isn't even sure if it is magic but there really isn't time to think or consider it when he's being thrown near halfway down the street by a gust of wind seemingly summoned from nowhere.

A stray cart is what suddenly ends his flying lesson, crashing hard and knocking his head against the wood hard enough that Eddie is sure that he sees stars. Flexing his hands tell him that his dagger is gone and he can feel pain radiating up from his wounded leg which says nothing of the blood now steadying dripping down his forehead.

He gives a harsh cough and feels his lungs seize up, a shaky wheeze escaping him as he dizzyingly tries to find his enemy through blurry vision. )

• 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗗

( For anything not mentioned above! Feel free to hit me up through PM or on plurk at kaldwin if you'd like to set up a specific scenario. )

4.0

[bindsthedead]

[They're here. They still have work ahead of them- they might have a path to the cure, pieces of the solution, but they don't have a cure yet. And some of their number are still back in the city, hopefully keeping an eye on things and the authorities sufficiently mollified that they won't end up in prison.

Then Sabriel spots a man who looks... well, more tired than her, with a freshly bandaged leg that Sabriel looks at with concern.]

How bad is it?

[She should probably be resting, gathering her energy for work on the cure. But refusing to help when there's a problem in front of her is never something Sabriel's been good at.]

Syrlya (Pact Commander) | Guild Wars 2

[chronosynthesis]

[1.0 | Great Escape]

[Days of coordination are about to be pulled off. There are a dozen and one things that could go wrong, but after going over everything with Jim, Finn, and everyone else involved he's reasonably confident. It's a more solid plan than his last breakout, anyway.

He's out of his room early, missing since dinner, so that he can prepare the exit of the portal askew from the exit of one of the servant tunnels. It's the closest one he could find to where their teammates are locked up, so that he can take the straight shot back into the palace and prepare the entrance nearby those doors. He should have his timing right, so that when he exits the tunnel and turns down the halls to the mock infirmary, it should be just in time to...

He turns the final corner in time to see the door get blown right open. There are much less guards around it, so Syrlya picks up the pace to beat them from investigating.]

Quickly, over here! [He skids to a halt a few feet away, the swirling purple circle of the portal's entrance forming right below him. With the connection made he steps to the side, sliding his shield down to his arm.] Come through the portal!

[5.0 | Hunt and Gather]

[As everyone settles into the makeshift encampment in Yuryeong, Syrlya is among those taking up the duty of collecting more food. They have a lot more mouths to feed until they have a reliable cure.

So he has a borrowed basket and he's further into the woods, crouched by some berry bushes growing in the clump. They've begun to fruit, but instead of reaching for that Syrlya puts his hand around some of the dense branches.

And shortly after he does so, the bush quickly starts sprouting flowers, which then turn into berries at a greatly accelerated pace. It's a little odd seeing weeks of growth happen in the span of minutes, the bush rustling with the effort.

But once it's done there's a plentiful crop of ripe berries that Syrlya plucks off into a pile in the basket. One he pops right into his mouth, chewy slowly and gauging if it's a flavor he finds familiar.]

[13.0 | Final Fight]

[Syrlya really hates fighting in city streets. Too much collateral damage, too many people endangered. Knowing how much they're being misled, he'd been hoping to minimize the death this time. But this doesn't make it easy.

He's all over the place during the fighting. At any point, he may be defending other orbers and the infected with magic barrier to deflect arrows, spells on the ground that seem to slow down the guards that walk into them, and pushing back and disarming them. His sword is drawn, but he seems to prioritize an offensive with his shield.

There's also the citizens who actually live here. In addition to defending them from straying violence, he'll be trying to clear a path for civilians to escape through down alleyways--or at least into buildings if they can't run out of the area.]

[Wildcard]

((Feel free to reach me on the plotting post or at monochromic to plot anything else around the event!))

great escape

[winscenario]

[ Jim doesn't really know much about what the plan is once the door is open; all he knows is that they'll have the way cleared for them, and that's really all he needs to hear. It's down to blind faith from there, and a desperate desire to get himself and everyone else out of here, away from the Palace's hold.

So when the door's blown open wide, he looks around immediately, panicked at first but quickly relieved when he hears a voice calling out to them. Rather than rush towards it, he turns to the rest of the group instead, urging them on the way to the portal. ]

Go! That way!!

[ Not all of them are in their right minds, and Jim finds himself rushing to those more affected by visions and voices in their heads. He tries to guide them slowly, talking to them until he can get their attention for just long enough, then gets them going. It's halfway through his task that he ends up plagued by his own hallucinations, the yelling voices in his head making him wince and fold slightly in on himself, shaking his head in a futile attempt to ignore them. ]

Edward Elric l Fullmetal Alchemist

[chrysology]

Escape:

[Given the way his auto-mail is decidedly not cooperating with him with this transformation. Well. Edward is one that will decidedly need assistance in even walking let alone attempting to flee once the infected are able to get out. At the least it isn't like he has much if anything in the way of personal effects. Mostly just his trademark coat, his pocketwatch and Winry's earrings, which those he had transmuted into his auto-mail leg so he didn't lose them before he saw her next to return them to her.

This being why he pretty much just remains on his bed, waiting and frustrated at his inability to do much if anything in the way of helping in the escape attempt. Let alone dealing with the change in his appearance. His features becoming more lionesque, his hair getting longer and more mane like. He grumbles, fumbling in his attempts to try and tie it back or braid it. Eventually succumbing in asking for help with it and in helping him leave once they are able to do so.]

Gimme a hand here?

The Monster Sanctuary:

5.0

[Ed will opt to be helped into one of the tents. He would certainly offer to help out more. To hunt or something. To try help with figuring a cure. He's just. Well. Not as physically capable of doing so at the moment. What with his arm and leg not cooperating. He sighs, raising a hand through his more unruly than usual mop of gold hair. He wants to do more. It's just difficult even to walk or do his hair, to feed himself like this. It's somehow even more frustrating than dealing with going around with just one arm and leg. At least that way he could hop along and just his left arm for whatever he needed to do.]

I could help with hunting or maybe figuring a cure but. I'm not sure how much help I'd really be like this.

--

6.0

[Ed grits his teeth at the pain. But it isn't like he isn't used to hurting. To injuries that had been more painful than this. To what he could only imagine Alphonse endured in having his whole body taken by the Gate in comparison to his arm and leg. So he grits his teeth and bares it. Telling himself, possibly aloud in the midst of it, that this was nothing. Nothing. Compared to Alphonse, compared to being impaled. Compared to when he lost his arm and leg all those years back.

But eventually, eventually, he comes right again. Flexes his arm and reaches to feel his face, his hair seems back to normal and he grins.]

Finally!

Time To Be Brave:

[Ed is as keen as ever to help out and do what he can. So of course, naturally, that means he is probably right in the middle of the fighting. Which some might argue with him about perhaps, given he's so much younger than most others here. Perhaps, for as quick as he is, he's smacked with a talisman from behind, or one of the arrows. Or he's fighting, having transmuted a blade to his auto-mail arm in extending it to be able to use offensively if he has to. The thing is, Ed never aims to actually kill. Others he is fighting might not show such mercy.

Or maybe Ed's trying to focus on helping the civilians. The kids that happen to be in the area as the fighting nears their homes. He claps his hands together, emitting pale blue sparks as a telltale sign of transmutation as he slams them to the ground and creates a small wall to shield the children from being harmed in the fighting.]

Watch it!

Wildcard:

[For if you want something else in between these things? If you want something set in the station with the aftermath? Feel free to pm or hit me up on Plurk @ caprican.]

The Monster Sanctuary; 5.0

[hikae]

[ Ever since the teeth grew out (too damn big for his mouth), Majima preferred to keep himself to darker corners of tents and houses. He saw his own face once in a reflection, and that was enough. Wherever a shadow could be found, it was made his favoured spot. No different this time.

When he's joined by the limping, younger Orber, it's not all that easy to figure an answer on the spot. Nor speaking the words ]

Afraid of bein' useless?

[ It is a scary possibility, no lie ]

Figurin' the cure means less walkin' fer sure. [ He's speaking every word slowly, carefully, ] There are other ways ya could help.

Dusty Fields | Original

[softmouth]

// PART I. THE GREAT ESCAPE!

0.o ︙ In Hiding

[It hadn't taken long after the injury for Dusty to recognize the scent of it, and how that scent had matched the scent of the "monsters" that had inflicted them. It hadn't been a big jump for him to tell which way the tide was going to turn shortly - he'd spent as much of his life as he can remember "infected" with a transformative condition that made humans call him a monster, made them want to confine him or kill him or both. Almost immediately, he'd transformed into a wolf and made his way out of the Palace, found a spot in the Outer City to hide out and ride through the first onset of infection.

It wasn't very pretty. The wounds had started to turn dark and smell even worse, and then he'd started getting chills and spent the night in wolf form, curled up into a tight ball with his nose tucked under his tail. In the morning, he'd sent a message to Newt offering samples and gone back into the city, cautious and only with the cover of Newt pretending Dusty is his dog.

After all that had been sorted, Dusty is spending most of his time cautiously holed up in one room or another, abusing his wolf senses to keep himself well hidden from any nosy guards or court members who might catch the faint scent of his wounds.

When he's lying on an empty bed in one of the rooms in wolf form and hears someone approaching, he recognizes them as being someone from the ship, someone who doesn't belong on this planet, and instead of skittering under a bed or out a window, he just heaves out a deep sigh and drops his head onto his paws again. After resting just a moment, he slowly and more painfully than usual, transforms back into a person, still lying on his stomach with his head cradled in crossed arms, breath a little labored.]

Hey.

[It's a little listless, and he only moves to lift a hand and rub at his ear, a little self-comforting gesture.]

How are you holding up?

2.o ︙ A-Marching We Will Go

[Travelling for a long time, the way they have to, would usually be far easier in wolf form. Even injured the way Dusty is, wolves have so much more endurance and energy than he has in human form. The transformation hasn't been easy, every scent and sound seems ramped up to 100 until he feels like his head is going to explode, and it's getting harder and harder to keep the wolf inside him contained. Usually it isn't that hard, even when he's stressed out and tired and homesick and upset, but right now it's like a wild animal crouched inside him, injured and ready to lash out at anything that comes too close.

But there are people here who are probably worse off than him who might need him to carry them or their supplies because he's big and still has a decent amount of his strength no matter how much he's shaking.

Don't fight the good wolf. Make friends with the good wolf or the bad wolf will get you. Make friends with the good wolf and the bad wolf will go away.

He chants it over and over in his mind. It might sound a little ridiculous if anyone could hear it, but it's the way that his brother had taught him to keep his head as a terrified five-year-old with barely-healed werewolf bites on his shoulder and neck. It's something he falls back on when things are hard and he can't think or act with more eloquence than a little kid.]

Hey...you, uh- you need a hand with something? I can carry your bag for a while if you need it.

[As he speaks, he offers a shaky smile, a little pale despite his warm light-brown skin.]

// PART IIA.THE MONSTER SANCTUARY

5.o ︙ What Dusty Does Best (cw: description of infection/physical grossness)

[The transformation had completed for Dusty long before everyone got to Yuryeong and quite a while before any of the others had completed their transformations. For the first time, Dusty had started to consider his lycanthropy to be a problem instead of just part of who he is. It's disturbing, to hear and smell everything so intensely that it makes him want to cover his ears and bury his head underwater or lash out at the people making the noises and the smells, all their chewing and coughing and fidgeting and the smell of their sweat and perfumes and infected wounds. It's even more disturbing to feel like his grip on the wolf is slipping more than it ever has before in his life. Occasionally, he finds himself walking with his shoulders hunched, his eyes narrowed and golden, growling under his breath while he looks for prey, his mind fully wolf while his body stays human. Even worse, sometimes he finds himself transforming without meaning to, going into a wolf form that looks mangy and sick, with patches of fur falling out of wet infected wounds and exposing corpselike black skin.

The only plus about the whole situation is that when he goes wolf, he can hunt, and just like when he'd hunted to bring food to the homeless villagers, the hunting is useful. Inevitably, the first animal or two he takes down, depending on the size, gets torn up and mostly eaten by the wolf - but there's only so much the wolf can stomach and he ends up returning to camp after each transformation carrying freshly killed game. A deer that he drags along while growling with effort at every tug, a few rabbits held gently in his mouth, even squirrels and fowl and animals he doesn't quite recognize.

None of it goes to waste.

Whenever he brings back a deer or rabbit or anything else, he forces himself to turn human again, he cleans the animals, he makes giant pots of stew or soup, uses the broth bases to make a semblance of sauce to drizzle over uncooked slices of venison or rabbit for those who have to eat it raw. He forces himself to smile as he hands over a dish of it, calls it 'tartare' and tries to pretend he can't smell blood and flesh and sweat and smoke to the point he feels like he's going to be sick.

The whole thing is a special breed of misery that he tries to work his way through, and any distraction is welcome. Whenever he sees anyone who might be willing, he asks if they want to go hunting and foraging with them, promising that they can go wherever they like because he can always smell the way home. Whenever he sees anyone show interest in the cooking, he asks if they'd like to help, teaches them how if they don't already know, struggles to resist the urge to run away into the forest until they find a cure and he doesn't have to hear everything anymore.]

6.o ︙ Guinea Pig

[When the cure is getting closer to completion, Dusty is eager to offer himself up as a test subject.

And because his transformation was quicker, because all of it is accelerated by the interaction between the virus and the lycanthropy, he's a relatively useful test subject. The whole process is sped up - the cycle of his transformation receding and then returning painfully is quicker than it might be in others, showing whether or not a given version of the cure will work just that little bit faster.

But it isn't really easy either. Every time it feels a bit more painful, all his nerves rubbed raw from the transformations and his emotions rubbed just as raw as hope rises and then is dashed every time he tries something. Eventually, it's too much, and he looks up at whoever is testing him.]

Sorry I- sorry, need a break.

[It's a bit breathless, and he offers a weak smile. He looks paler than he had earlier in the day, with dark smudges under his eyes and his limbs trembling a little. Walking stiffly over to a stump by a fire, he sits down heavily and rubs at his face, exhausted and raw and at the end of his rope.]

// PART III.IT'S TIME TO BE BRAVE

13.o ︙ In Hiding

[Dusty isn't exactly a pacifist. He's had to fight on many occasions to protect his brother or his family or his pack, had to put himself in danger in order to keep the people he loves safe. But he isn't the type of person who enjoys fighting or fights for no reason.

So when the fighting breaks out as the infected return to the city and he's back to himself, feeling strong and in control for the first time since he'd been infected, he doesn't exactly jump into the fray to fight the guards. He finds it hard to arbitrarily decide that all the guards fighting the infected are evil in some way or even that they all believe in their heart that the infected are awful monsters in need of killing. Dehumanizing the enemy, assuming that everyone of a group that he doesn't understand is exactly the same and all have bad intentions - it's just not the way he thinks. Especially not after spending most of his life as the type of creature that people make blanket judgements on.

Rather than jumping into battle and attacking the guards, he stays on the defensive. Transforming into a wolf makes that easy. Even the best fighters seem slow and clumsy compared to the wolf's quick reflexes and well-honed senses, or at least they do when they're not using magic. That throws a wrench in the works, and by the time he's been dodging his way through battle he's taken more than a couple of hits, with a large burn down his flank and a deep gash across a shoulder.

It's only when he sees innocent people, people who have no involvement with any of this, unarmed civilians who don't deserve to have their homes destroyed and their lives put in danger that he gets really angry. Jumping in front of a terrified teenage girl and a child that could be her son or her little brother, he bares his teeth at the person coming towards them holding a weapon, whether it's a guard that he needs help taking out or one of his own teammates at risk of dealing friendly fire.

He may be in wolf form, but he can communicate his intentions just fine without any words. Letting out an angry-sounding barking snarl, his hackles raised until all the thick fur around the base of his neck has fluffed up, he stands his ground in front of the civilians even as they're joined by more innocents that feel safer behind him than in front of him.]

// WILDCARD

If none of these prompts strikes your fancy or you need something more specifically tailored to your character for any of the prompts on the log, please feel free to send me a PM or reply to my comment on the plotting post. I'd love to write a custom starter for you or hit up your top-level! Alternately, feel free to write me up a random starter for something that's not in my top-level. As always, Dusty is outgoing and will talk to even the most antisocial people so don't worry too much about a hook!

//closed to Newt Geiszler

[softmouth]

[As soon as Dusty has sent his last message to Newt, he drops down to lie with his belly on the ground, head resting on top of his folded front paws, staring blankly out at the street. All he can see from this angle is people's feet and shoes as they move by, and he passes the time by trying to identify if someone walking along is from his own team or a native planet-dweller wandering through the market.

Everything is so intense that the silly game he's playing is the only thing keeping him mostly sane. He hasn't gotten used to it yet, the way every sound and smell seems to be multiplying somehow until it's so intense he can barely think. It makes him want to run away, to find solitude somewhere quiet, makes him long for the deepest woods where things smell fresh and there's only the rustling of trees. For a few moments, he lies there feeling so incredibly homesick he wants to just give up.

But after a while, an interminable time during which he tolerates existing with his teeth grit, he hears the sound of his name, a familiar voice calling out to him as if he were a lost animal.

Getting shakily to his feet, he pads out into the street, looking around for the source of the voice.]

[unclesam]

✪ // PART I. THE GREAT ESCAPE!

[ CW: Body Horror ]

[ The attentive people among the Orbers will quickly realize Sam's in pain. If adressed, he initially waves it off - must have twisted his back or something. No really, he's fine.

That sentiment lasts until he has to double over, until over the course of a violent few hours his spine seems to extend outwards, ripping through flesh and skin on his back. Bony protrusions unfurl eventually, like wings of bone grown straight from his spine. Sam does not pass out - too battle hardened for the pain alone to do him in. He can still move, but not comfortably by any stretch of the imagination.

Still when it comes time to escape, Sam's there - horrific bone wings on his back, eyes glazed with pain. Not quite steady on his feet, but Redwing's in the air.

The plan is deceptively simple. Redwing is a combat and recon drone. Sam talks about it like it's a pet more than a lifeless drone that acts on his command, but the gist of it is that through his own visor and Redwing's scans, he can track heat signatures, foot prints, and use Redwing's inbuilt laser to melt through locks. Sam doesn't mention the limited firepower Redwing has - the plan is non-lethal, and he intends to keep it that way, instead use the recon functions to help direct people to take down guards without having to kill them.

Sam's unable to wear his wingpack, but he's got it with him, same as the shield. He is, however, visibly in no condition to fight. Instead he lets himself become their eyes and ears in the palace, helps navigate them through. At one corner, he grabs the nearest person to him, holds up a hand. His voice is a quiet, strained whisper: ]

Three around the corner... you gotta... [ He makes a small motion in the direction of the corridor. ] I can't.

---

✪ // PART IIA. THE MONSTER SANCTUARY

[ CW: hallucinations, PTSD/Trauma, references to corpses, references to loss/grief ]

[ Sam's a friendly, open sort of person. In the beginning stages of the infection back in the infirmary, it didn't seem like he was all that bothered - good at hiding his worry, good at keeping it together for the sake of others. That changed once the infection progressed, and by the time they're in Yuryeong, his eyes glaze over every time someone speaks to him as he sees them dead or dying instead of as they are. Many of the familiar faces become charred and bludgeoned, like someone who went down in flames and broke apart on the ground after a long fall. Sam eventually can't help but flinch everytime someone speaks to him and he makes the mistake of looking.

It's not like Sam to withdraw, yet once they're in Yuryeong, that's exactly what he does. For once, he's not exactly the first in line to help out around the encampment, seems to actively avoid situations in which he'd be around others unless they specifically seek him out. The one exception is the development of the cure. He volunteers himself a test subject, though makes it clear he doesn't consider himself a priority to be cured - just wants to help the process along for all their sake in whatever way he can.

The way his spine has split through his back and extended into bone wings makes it impossible for him to move, stand, sit or lie down without considerable pain. Sam still tries to crack jokes and act like he's fine when someone insists on speaking to him, he still gets involved in tasks if someone asks him to or tells him to, but he can't quite hide the immense mental and physical strain. He tries not to sleep, not while the cure hasn't yet come through - dodging nightmares and the physical horror of trying to get into any sort of position that won't feel like his body is ripping in half.

Stometimes he can be found by the graveyard, perched awkwardly, the bone wings looming large. There's something to be said about the sort of grotesque figure he strikes in this setting, perhaps. There's usually not many people here - which makes it the perfect respite for him. Even here, Redwing is now a permanent fixture, hovering over Sam's shoulder, and Sam doesn't take off the flight goggles anymore. If someone approaches him and makes to speak, Sam mutters a soft: ]

Please don't.

[ And if the person insists and keeps talking, a small red light shines on them as Redwing scans them. Sam looks like he's staring at something far away rather than at the person, the reflections in his visor giving little away other than that Redwing seems to be giving him a readout on some form of simple vitals. Sam doesn't seem to care, at that moment, if he's not been given permission to scan someone like that, but it's the only way he can assure himself the person is actually still alive, that he's not reliving Afghanistan, that he doesn't see someone dead or dying, over and over and over again until he can't take it anymore. ]

---

✪ // PART III. IT'S TIME TO BE BRAVE

[ CW: violence, blood ]

[ Here's a fun fact about being able to fly: People will target you, even if there's little chance of them hitting you. Especially then, actually. Sam's used to flying through RPG fire, weaving through explosions as if they were harmless clouds. He makes it look easy, like he's untouchable.

Tonight, he's in the air with the specific purpose of drawing fire. With the infection cured, he can finally strap on his wings again. They unfold from his pack, large and sturdy, made from a metal few would be familiar with, and Sam flies them like he was made to be in the air, to draw ranged fire towards him and the shield that is painted like a bullseye for this very purpose. Redwing, his drone, is up in the air with him, and Sam busies himself using his shield to block arrows, sometimes throwing it or using Redwing's grappling hook to yeet archers off their high perches.

The wind fans are a concern, but not a major one - Sam gets blasted back a few times, but that just means he lets the wings fold back into the thruster pack on his back, allowing himself a dizzying freefall to the ground in order to dodge the wind, and snapping the wings back out just before eating dirt, allowing him to physically slam into a few guards with his wings to take them down before swinging back up into the sky.

The energy whips are more of a concern - Sam relies on technology to remain airborn, and pure shocks of energy does not tend to mesh well with that. A whip wrapping around his leg is painful as hell and a tug of war of a person against a jetpack, but at some point a whip hits his thrusters, causing them to splutter and give out on him. Wings folding back in, Sam drops like a stone onto the nearest roof, hitting it hard and tasting copper in his mouth. He spits as he picks himself back up, wipes the blood off with the back of his hand. Redwing's flashing some warning onto his goggles - yeah yeah, he's grounded for a little while, his tech's rebooting. But if he's a menace in the sky, he's no less competent on the ground, alternatively using the shield to block incoming attacks and letting it fly to knock people down and out. Sam is strong, but also light and quick on his feet - that is unless a talisman manages to freeze him in place, the shield clattering to the ground loudly. Redwing chirps an angry alert and swoops in with cover fire - but help would very much be appreciated until the spell releases Sam from its hold.

More than anything though, as a former pararescue Sam considers himself made for the rescue much more than for the fight, all competence in that area aside. And while he knows there's no talking individual guards down here, he doesn't forget his fellow Orbers while he's soaring through the skies, or about the non-combatants, the civilians caught in this situation. If he sees someone in danger, Sam's going to abandon his fight to help them, personal goals be damned (forgive him, but he will not abandon those in need to bring back one person he couldn't save), either by grabbing them and flying them to safety or by quite literally shielding them from harm with his wings and his shield.

At any of these points, feel free to join the fight with Sam, help him, let him help/save you, or help him save some civilians. ]

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// ✪ WILDCARD

[ If none of these options strike your fancy, feel free to hit me up with something of your own. Sam's also happy to chat on the network with anyone who stayed behind!

I tend to post brackets, but if you prefer prose, feel free to tag in with prose, and I'll happily match format!

For more plotting, you can reach me at inkcharm, or on my OOC Plotting Post. ]

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[chrysology]

[Back home, he's used to the shadow of Al's armor often claiming him as the younger Elric uses that armor to shield him from attacks. This would hardly be the first time. But he's well aware that Alphonse is not here with him. He blinks, only to find Sam there with the wings and shield protecting him this time. From an attack he was too distracted to see coming from the other direction.

That. Could have been a close one. Ed really needs to be more careful. To remember he can't rely on Al being there to back him up like usual. That's going to take time to really adjust to, if he ever entirely does.]

Sam.....? You okay?

[Because. Yeah. He's still not necessarily aware on just how much that shield can take. Or the wings for that matter. He doesn't want Sam to be hurt from taking the hit for him.]

james t. kirk ➢ star trek aos

[winscenario]

I ➢ THE GREAT ESCAPE

[ Having a purpose is actually the best way to keep Jim focused and feeling like himself. The hope of an escape provided by a solid, sound plan, the effort they all put into teamwork to get them all out of here, gives him the strength he needs, helps him keep his wits about himself.

Still, it's with no small amount of difficulty, even though breaking out of the infirmary itself proves to be a quick job, and the portal to get them out of the palace isn't that far away. His changes are all the clearer now, and right now the voices in his head are the worst part, when he's trying his best to focus on leading the group on a way out.

So he may need a hand there, when the accusations echoing in his head become too much for him to bear. He winces first, knees giving slightly, longer arms folding as he tries to cover his own ears and ignore the voices in his head. ]

II.A.1 ➢ MONSTER SANCTUARY

[ Even if it seems worn down, and the small houses are more like tents than anything else, the sanctuary is more comforting than anywhere in the city, and it definitely beats being locked up in the palace's infirmary. At least here he's free to go wherever he wants... not that he really wants to go anywhere mind.

In fact, he spends most his time either hiding away in his tent, or sitting alone in the graveyard, ashamed of his appearance even though he knows it's not his fault. Besides, sometimes he's plagued with those hallucinations, and he vastly prefers there not to be anyone else around him when those happen.

Other than that, he feels... well, useless, honestly. He wants to help clean, cook, or hunt, but his limbs are too big, his gait too uneven, he wastes too much time focusing on putting one foot after the other without knocking anything over every time he's even walking from one place to the next. Even then, he might fail; maybe he'll bump into you, or knock over some pot with food you were preparing, for which he'll immediately sink down to help pick everything up. ]

Sorry— my balance is a little off.

[ For lack of anything else to help with, he'll join others who are foraging for food. It's a less demanding task and he can keep mostly to himself while picking through some fruits and other plants. He might get stumped on a few, though, looking them over and trying to figure out whether they're edible or not. ]

II.A.02 ➢ A CURE

[ Jim doesn't even need to think twice about offering himself as a test subject for the cure. All he needs to know is that there will be enough to heal everyone if it works, and then he's more than willing to be tested on. Not just willing, but eager about it. He looks more excited than he does nervous, nodding reassuringly if whoever's administering the cure looks worried about it. ]

Do it. I'm ready.

III ➢ TIME TO BE BRAVE

[ While he's very relieved to finally feel like himself again, just as he is looking forward to getting back to the city, he's also very apprehensive too. People can be unpredictable, all the more so when they all come from different realities, and lived from different experiences. With his crew, he'd always know what to count on— among virtual strangers, he doesn't know who might be a loose cannon that may cause more damage than good.

Still, he agrees: there is no other way, the people need to learn the truth, whatever they may decide to do with it. He doesn't have his phaser on him, but it's no matter. He's been practicing with a sword and he hasn't done too badly at it either, and if all else fails, he can still fight with his own bare hands. That said, once the battle starts, his focus is solely on protecting the civilians, and those not involved in the fight. After it starts, it's not long before Jim's focusing on gathering helpless people instead, particularly families and children, sword in one hand while he carries a child or an injured person with his other arm, trying to rush them anywhere that's safe.

But he may just find his way blocked by some of the guards. Hesitant though they seem to attack when he's helping civilians, they don't seem to back down, and Jim prepares himself to fight back, even on his own. A little help definitely wouldn't be unwelcome. ]

( iii ) cw: violence

[scarcastically]

[ a whip shoots out of nowhere, pulling the spears from the guard's grip as erik appears. he breaks the speak over his knee before tossing it aside and speaking in a low guttural voice. ]

If I were you, I'd run.

[ the guards look fearful, but don't budge. he takes a step closer. ]

[testgasm]

i. 2.0

[As with many things, Wheatley is in a little bit over his figurative head. He’d escaped infection (probably thanks to being a robot, if you were to ask him what he thought about it), but otherwise hasn’t done much to contribute to the unraveling of the mystery, outside of beating monsters to unconsciousness with his own metal ball self. When the call comes to escape the palace and head to Yuryeong, he’s not quite sure fi he can trust what’s happening, but he’s not sure he wants to stick around the palace, either.

He isn’t of much help during the actual breakout, but once everyone is on the move, he can at least make sure everyone is heading in the right direction. ]

Yes, that’s it. This way! Follow the—follow my voice!

[Or the glowing, floating blue light. That works too. If at any point the journey gets particularly dark and treacherous, Wheatley might even dare to turn on his flashlight. Most of the time, he attaches himself to someone who seems competent, but if there’s one thing he’s good at, it is leading people along.]

ii. 5.0

[Wheatley doesn’t need to eat or sleep, so at least he’s not using up any valuable resources. That said, he doesn’t have much to contribute to this scenario beyond visibly cringing at the state of things, and at all of the monsters. It’s possible that he’s waiting to be mauled, and he doesn’t discriminate between the monsters that are already here and his unfortunate teammates.

Possibly he’s having a hard time trusting any of this! He floats around a little aimlessly, but he’s small enough and oblivious enough that he’s eventually going to bump into someone.]

Ah!

[Were you, a monster person, feeling badly about your current appearance? Here is a robot who is all but screaming at the sight of you. Just give him a second.]

Oh, god, well, that’s. That’s awful. I mean, sorry this is—this is happening to you. Are you—how are you feeling? Holding up there all right?

iii. wildcard

[Anything you want! Wheatley is going to Yuryeong and then returning with the rest of the group. You can hit me up on plurk at whitticus.]

2.0

[cruelyethuman]

[Motor-control slips, his hands skittering uselessly against the doorway as the Darkling sways on his clawed feet. The boots he pulled on just this morning are lost somewhere in the ruins of the infirmary, not that it matters since he would never be able to fit them. Not with the claws growing longer with what feels like every step.

He gasps, grabbing for purchase because more names carve themselves in to his skin, visible only on his face and hands. For now. There's a quiet kind of judgement in them, in all of them, and he knows every name. Every story.

But that's for later, when they're all out of here and he's finally found a way to end this. To get the orb and get back to the station. The sound of a voice pulls him closer and without anything else to go on, he listens (past the yelling from the guards, the crush of people and the commands from further ahead) for that voice-]

Where?

[There's nothing there, just blue lights that feels like knives when he opens his eyes.]

clara oswald | doctor who

[bossily]

THIS PLACE BECOMES OUR LAST;

7.0
[Clara doesn't dare eat or drink anything given to them. She's been on edge ever since the rest of the team made the escape, and she's becoming increasingly aware of the fact that her paranoia might be a good thing to listen to. She can't put her finger on exactly what makes her uneasy, but the fact that all of the remaining team members are in one place and seem to be presented with a good time puts her on edge.

As it turns out, she was right. As some of the others fall victim to whatever is in the food and drink, Clara rushes to their aid. There isn't time to really help them, unfortunately, as it seems like their impending capture means it's time to run.

Clara grabs hold of the first hand nearby and takes off in a hurry. There's a time to fight, but this isn't it. They've got to get out of the palace as fast as they can.]

Think we've worn out our welcome. You've got your running shoes on, I hope.

8.0a
[Shortly after arriving to safety, Clara reaches out to those she's spoken with before. If she considers you a friend, and you chose to head to Yuryeong, she'll try reaching out to see how the group there is doing.]

8.0b
[OR, if you are on the portion of the team that's decided to stay behind with her, she can be found pacing in Min-Ji's home. This is the time to try and figure out how to reunite with the others, and it's definitely going to require some planning. They have a fight ahead of them.]


IT'S TIME TO BE BRAVE;

OTA:
[As the others begin to make their way back through the city walls, Clara's prepared for a fight. She doesn't have a weapon on her beyond a rusty old morningstar she's managed to obtain, but is willing to do whatever it takes to defend her allies and the innocent people here. She's chosen to stay toward the back with a group of children, telling them stories to distract them from all that's going on around them.

But the fighting wages on, edging in closer. Guards have trickled away from the wall and Clara ushers the children to stay quiet and hidden. She locks them safely inside before making her way out, her old pointy weapon at the ready. She manages to wind up cornered only a few minutes later, her attempt to fend off the guards met with a hit to the head.]

Yeah, you do that again, and you're gonna regret it.

[They're the last words she makes out before her knees buckle and her vision goes dark. Help a girl out?]

Closed to the Doctor:
[The cure's a success, and the rest of the team has found their way back in. And thankfully, she's managed to survive the fight with only a minor head injury. There's hardly any blood involved either, which is amazing, all things considered. As So-Yeon manages to capture the attention of the guards and the people, Clara shifts from worrying about defense and protecting civilians to finding the Doctor. He's sure to be here with the others.

It's with increasing anxiety that she darts and slips through the growing crowd, until she manages to catch sight of him. She calls out his name only once, grinning ear to ear as she hurries to tackle him in a tight hug. Their team hasn't won yet, but she'll allow herself this one victory. Reunions with people you've missed terribly are always worth celebrating.]

IT'S TIME TO BE BRAVE as discussed

[unclesam]

[ Sam has two advantages when he can operate at full capacity in the air - not only is he flying, out of reach of many of the attacks that could be fired back at him while still being able to throw the shield and lay down firepower, but he also has Redwing with him, on the lookout for threats and keeping an eye on his allies to make sure they're okay. It also means he can very quickly assess where trouble is brewing - and a cluster of guards surrounding what looks like a single person looks like plenty of trouble.

Sam doesn't even think any further than that, just folds his wings in and goes into a freefall, letting himself drop headfirst over the scene. He snape the wings back open close to the ground, catching himself and swinging his legs in beneath himself to kick one of the guards away from the body on the ground, knocking the man into a wall. The shield goes flying in the same motion, metal cutting through the air and striking two more guards with a melodious sound before bouncing back for an easy catch on his arm.

Sam sees the crackle of an energy whip, and he knows those are trouble for him when they strike his thruster pack - he wins a tug of far despite the pain if they catch his legs, but earlier one of those whips caused his wingpack to shortcircuit. No thanks to that. The whip draws back, and Sam steps backwards, crouching over the body, ducking and bringing his wings forwards and around, letting them form a dome over himself and Clara. The whip strikes the wings themselves without issue, energy crackling like lightning over vibranium while Sam gives Clara a quick once over, just to make sure he won't damage anything by lifting her up. ]

Alright, time to get you out of here.

[ And gathering her into his arms carefully and securely, with the routine of someone not doing this for the first time, Sam unfolds the wings and lets the thrusters kick into gear, flying them straight up into the air. ]

Redwing, find us somewhere to take cover. [ And then to Clara, not quite sure if she's conscious or not: ] Hey, you with me?

Hermann Gottlieb | Pacific Rim

[bijective]

Part I The Great Escape

3.0
[Deception is an art. One that Hermann doesn’t take too much pride in but, regardless, they have a mission to complete. Not that the task was difficult in the first place. It’s how he got through all those tedious years working alongside his father.

Now that they have practically created targets on their backs, even the slightest creak of flooring is enough to pause for caution. They are stuck inside a quiet wolf’s den.

Following Newton’s advice, Hermann finds himself in front of the door of a different Orber. Whoever is still around, even having one person around, makes this mission less daunting.

He quietly knocks at their door.]

Part IIB. This Place Becomes our Last

8.0 (Content warning: Serious Injury, Mentions of Non-Consensual Drug Use)
[Everything hurts. They were halfway into having tea with the Gyeongje rulers, suddenly, and Hermann was swept away by a whirlwind of sharp pain and a bleary mind.

He lays in bed with an arm splint and enough sweat to fill a small glass. A majority of Hermann's clothes, except for his trousers and socks, are propped up on top of his head as a makeshift pillow for a smidge of extra comfort. The only thing covering his bare torso is a very thin maroon sheet.

Laying on his back gives Hermann some stability, but it doesn’t exactly lull his nausea and dizziness. No matter how many glasses of water he consumes, it only makes his throat drier and thirstier for the next glass.

It’s utter misery.

His mind is yelling at him to get out of bed. Whatever happened back at the palace means that they won’t be safer here for long and he will soon become a burden for the rest of the team. Using his free hand to pat the surface of the nightstand next to the bed, he uses that to anchor his weight to push himself out of bed. All the colour on Hermann's face is long flushed away, making him appear pallid and ghostly.

As ridiculous as it is to get out of bed before a full recovery, there’s no time to rest.]

Part III It’s Time to be Brave

13.0
[Hermann isn’t in top fighting condition, let alone any condition to be away from his rest bed. But the guards are closing in on the villagers. It would be utterly foolish to allow himself to be helpless in their situation. He too has a duty to protect their team and the people of this city. As long as he is of sound mind, then there might be a shot for them to weasel their way out of here.

He stands guard by the side of the door as he clutches onto a broomstick. You can hear almost every struggle happening outside.

Nervous. Anxious. Afraid. All those emotions have balled themselves up into a tight grip. Any one of the guards can charge their way into the household and he needs to be ready at a moment’s notice.

So if you open the door, you might be met with a swift hit to the head.

Or

Alternatively, you have dodged said hit. Either way, you are met with an apologetic scientist who is on edge.]

13.0

[hatejakku]

[ The situation is falling out of control fast. Their group is a lot more organized now since their last chance at combat, but the guards are a lot more armed and willing to kill than the 'monsters' they fought before.

So, Finn's trying to get things done quickly. His first plan is to find the piece of their group that stayed behind. He thought they were in the palace before he caught a flash of a familiar face in this general direction. Not Hermann but definitely someone from the station.

He happens to open this particular door, looking for more of their number, and... nearly gets brained by a broom handle.

Finn catches it just in time, nearly lashing out with the sword he stole borrowed. It doesn't mean he's particular graceful about any of this. The broom's got him pushed against the door frame, his hand caught between it and his neck, while his face is nothing but wide-eyed shock. ]

Whoa! It's me! I'm from the station!

[ He's... here to rescue you! Clearly. ]