MISSION: THE SUN NEVER SETS ON AMARYLLIS GROVE

[ximilian]

● ● ● M I S S I O N   1 7 . 1

UNIT-Y • PLEASANTVILLE • AFTER DARK • FYI

// INTRO. UNIT-Y  

Over the course of the station’s downtime, even the least astute observer will notice the sudden influx of crewmates aboard the station. Before you can further inquire and investigate this anomaly in your usual routine, your earpiece will ping! with the familiar sound of a newly received mission file. Viveca’s voice immediately follows.

// VIVECA

“Hi everyone, you’ll find details for your next mission are ready. This time the orb has been located somewhere in a town called Amaryllis Grove, and based on my research, the best way to start looking for it will involve blending in with the towns-folk who live there. Just like our last mission, those of you who don’t have natural humanoid forms will have Degar’s potion available for you to help with that. See you on the platform tomorrow morning.”

After reviewing your mission file and gathering all of the necessary supplies and clothing options, those who are well prepared might have enough time for a decent night’s sleep. If you aren’t the sort to sleep before a mission, well … carry on.

When morning arrives, you’ll make your way to the teleportation platform to join your fellow crewmates. Viveca and Degar are already standing by, the latter passing around the aforementioned potion to those who will be needing one. Finally, when the entire crew has assembled, Degar starts to speak.

// DEGAR

“You might have noticed by now that there’s a few more of us than usual – there’s a reason for that, and it’s good news! I think. You see, according to our readings of all the orb shards collected so far, we’re actually coming up to the last couple of orbs. That’s pretty amazing, isn’t it? For that, we’ve been getting a few more crew members to provide a little more support as we near the finish line. But we can talk more about that after you guys get this orb back here.”

Viveca nods from her place.

// VIVECA

“Good luck, everyone. I know some of you will have questions, and we’ll be here when you get back to try our best to answer them.”

Degar lifts both hands to give them all a cheesy little thumbs up. Without further ado, the hum of the platform, as it begins to power up, grows louder and louder until it’s impossible to hear anything else but the machinery thrumming in your ears. Soon enough, you’ll feel the familiar tug at the pit of your stomach as you’re whisked away from the station and towards your destination. But for a moment that feels both too short and too long, you hear it: whispers, echoes, voices that speak to you in several tenors at once, all of them providing you with a goal in exchange for their help.

Before you have a chance to answer, your surroundings begin to paint a clearer picture. You’ll be found in your usual place of choosing: whether that’s your own household, the park, or one of the several locations in and around town.

Welcome, Orbers, to Amaryllis Grove.

TOP

// PART I.PLEASANTVILLE  

On the day of the Orbers’ arrival, the weather is crisp and sunny, the trees still lush and green with only the barest hints of the leaves beginning to yellow and redden at their tips. As the summer months slowly transition into cooler autumn temperatures, the entire town feels pleasant, even cozy. The clouds in the sky provide gentle overcast conditions and you might think to grab a light coat, or wear a longer sleeve but it is by no means chilly enough to feel anything but pleasant.

Depending on where you decided to arrive, you’ll want to begin your explorations and familiarize yourself with the Grove, which will be your home for the next little while.

1.0   The town of Amaryllis Grove will feel spacious and sprawling while also being cozy and compact. Cleanly paved streets wind in and around residential pockets and cul-de-sacs, threading through the community’s amenities, goods, and service buildings. The community centre, the library, the government offices, and the Mayor’s office can all be found in the main core of the Grove. The police station and television station (playing news and sitcoms in classic black and white) are situated nearby, and are all within walking distance of each other, and the neighbouring retail streets are located just past the block. This includes clothing boutiques, restaurants, coffee shops, grocery and general stores (which will sell all manner of hardware, cleaning supplies, and simple, household magical items). Having a vehicle will certainly help to get around town if you’re in a hurry running any errands, but a bicycle works just as well, and the walkability is pleasant for those wanting to take a stroll.

Everyone here is well-dressed in crisply ironed slacks and button-downs in neutrals, or colourful A-line skirts and dresses with delicate detailing for their tops. Children and teenagers are likewise found in school uniform consisting of dark blue pleated skirts or slacks, and white shirts. With the weather beginning to cool, a well structured jacket may also be a part of the ensemble.

2.0   Once you’ve explored some of the town, familiarizing yourself with the backstory and family history you and your fellow crewmates have corroborated together, perhaps you’ll want to explore your house. Lined up in rows of pleasant, homogeneous pitched roof structures, each house in the neighbourhood will come equipped with all of the necessary spaces to live a perfectly suburban life, the most ideal environment to raise a family and grow old amongst generations of familiar faces. Each one-storey house, in either brick or ship-lap siding and in various colours, will have 3-4 bedrooms, an attached garage for the family car, a living room, bathroom, spacious kitchen, and enough yard space to require both a lawn-cutter and a green thumb for the garden. Interiors have already been furnished with all of the up-to-date items for the time, resembling Earth’s 1950s era to an almost eerily accurate degree.

Say hello to your neighbour when they greet you or wish you a pleasant day. Many will look perfectly human, while others may seem more alien with vibrant skin, an extra limb, antennae, gills, and the like. Some also possess magical abilities which is not seen as strange or abnormal here; however, the magic used in Amaryllis Grove consists of simple household magic to aid with cooking, cleaning, and keeping the house perfectly pleasant – otherwise known as ‘petty magic’. Whether you’re used to such sights will likely depend on where you’re originally from, but no matter who lives next to or near you, they seem friendly enough. They may even invite you over for dinner, or inquire when you plan on hosting your next party.

You’ll cook, clean, sleep, and host parties and dinners with your neighbours of Amaryllis Grove within the walls of your quaint abode so it’s best to get to know the space that will undoubtedly become second nature to you.

3.0   While the concept of ‘Halloween’ does not exist in Amaryllis Grove, other such Autumn festivities are highly anticipated, namely the annual gathering of the harvest. It is otherwise colloquially named ‘the Harvest’. It won’t come as news to any of the residents, as the season ends and food is plenty, the Harvest has been a long-standing tradition to celebrate the closeness of the community, and to express one’s gratitude for the people that you surround yourself around.

Your neighbours may inquire whether you’ll be bringing the same mash potatoes as last year, or perhaps the spiced meatballs that the Alkherns simply couldn’t get enough of — they were just so delicious! Either way, you may want to start coming up with a special dish to bring to the community gathering or find someone to snag a recipe from, as it’ll gain you admiration or admonition, depending on the popularity of your offering.

TOP

// PART II.AFTER DARK  

Sunsets are beautiful, picturesque moments that conclude the end of a perfectly spent day, and the sunsets in Amaryllis Grove are certainly no different. As the town winds down and residents return to their homes for the night, you and your fellow Orbers will follow suit – as is the way of things. The nights are a little overcast during this time of the year, with cloud-cover masking out the stars and the glow of the moon. It’s quiet. Only the sounds of night-insects chirping can be heard, and the soft, occasional coo of a bird asleep in its nest.

4.0   Perhaps you’re catching up on some late-night reading, or grabbing a late-night snack or a night-cap. The last of the evening hours are usually spent in the comfort of your own home until a new day begins, although there is a town speakeasy that remains open until late, if you can find it. Once you climb into bed, there really doesn’t seem to be a reason for anything other than a soundless, well-deserved rest.

You’ll be tucked up in your own bed, or perhaps the bed you share with your backstory-spouse, when you hear a shrill scream that wakes you up from your sleep. High on the adrenaline, you may want to don a robe and your slippers and step outside past your front door where you’ll be joined by other neighbours on your street. They exchange glances with each other, and then may meet eyes with you, and they look scared, with their wide eyes and clenched fists, some of the husbands and wives holding each other’s hands for comfort. It isn’t outside of the norm for such a startling cry. The house in question will be fully lit, with Mrs Myrsdin sobbing into her hands, mumbling, ‘I told him not to say anything! I told him to keep quiet! It came for him–’ as the AGPD (Amaryllis Grove Police Department) approach her, one of the officers patting her shoulder in consolation. Another officer moves towards a cluster of concerned neighbours, assuring them that this will be taken care of, and when they spot you, they’ll tell you the same.

It might seem difficult now to head back to sleep, but the crowd disperses and the AGPD lead Mrs Myrsdin back into the house. The lights remain on for another hour, maybe two, and then the entire block quiets again, the AGPD preparing to leave for the station once more. It seems there’s nothing else to do but get as much rest as you can before the morning ... but everything about this doesn’t sit quite right. Maybe you'll linger behind for a moment, see if you can ask a few questions, gather a bit of information, as it seems that after the brief moment of shock none of the residents seem to be particularly surprised by any of this.

5.0   The skies are blue and the sun is bright, and as Amaryllis Grove wakes up to a new day, everything feels as though Mrs Myrsdin never screamed into the night, with no signs of the AGPD having visited, and not a whisper to be said of Mrs Myrsdin's husband disappearing. If you try to investigate what happened at the house last night, Mrs Myrsdin will conveniently be absent, and any neighbours around you may either greet you with the most firm, reassuring smiles, or an outright aloofness to ignore anything you say. They’ll interject by telling you about the Harvest festivities, or make a comment about the weather. Some might sound snappish and dismissive. One thing’s for sure: everything feels tense.

But as the skies gradually shift to an overcast, one of your neighbours may gesture to the sky with another plasticky smile, commenting about the brightness of the sun. ‘It sure is bright today,’ they might say, the comment seemingly so off-handed. It’s casual, polite, and a little strained. ‘It’s got a far reach.’

It’s too bright to stare directly into the sun without damaging your eyes, but as you glance up just past it, you might notice that the sun looks a little … too close. And it doesn’t look a whole lot like a sun either, though it is bright but it looks like a large whitish sphere with a piercing, golden iris and it seems to be watching. This certainly wasn’t in the morning’s weather report.

6.0   As you continue to settle in Amaryllis Grove, you may begin to pick up on other strange things that you hadn’t noticed before – not surprising, considering the whirlwind of events that have taken place in such a short period of time and having to grow accustomed to the daily lives of the residents in Amaryllis Grove.

There are figures that resemble people scattered around town in all shapes, sizes, and races, replicated with excruciating detail, all the way down to their expressions and poses. In their everyday wear, they stoically fill in corners and take up empty spaces, and while it can’t possibly be true, their eyes seem to follow you as you move past them – even with the empty gazes of their glassy eyes. They’re made of metal and clad in something soft and pliable to make up their skin. Once you know what you’re looking for, they almost start to make themselves more visible to you. But if you study them for too long, you may begin to feel a little nauseous and queasy, and temporarily experience vertigo. Or you may start to have feelings of paranoia settle in, making you short-tempered and twitchy.

These figures can be found almost everywhere around the town, but they will mostly be populated in and around the residential blocks, looking as though they’re busily living their lives in passive background poses. They’re easy enough to miss if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for, and they’re so life-like you almost feel rude staring for too long, in case they turn their heads towards you.

And on the next night, you might catch the glimpse of a dark, stationary silhouette of a man in the Myrsdin house just before Mrs Myrsdin draws the curtains closed.

TOP

F Y I

• The events in this log take place during the month of October.

• If you have questions about any of the prompts or the mission in general, please direct them HERE.

• To explore a specific location or speak to any of the NPCs, please submit your search request HERE.

• And finally, your soundtrack for this log: ♪ ♪ ♪

TOP

▶ NAV

Comments

[dispassioned]

As the mayor steps back from pecking their cheeks, Arisu puts an arm around Chishiya. To show a united front, a picturesque happy couple. He’s definitely not subtly asking Chishiya to behave after having his personal space invaded by someone he only just met.

Fortunately, Chishiya agreeably plasters a pleasantly bland smile on his face. "Ah, well, this was really all Ryohei's doing," he tells her, letting Arisu take the credit because it’s true, actually. Chishiya has been working at the town medical clinic most days as the household breadwinner. Aside from grocery shopping and a little help with the onigiri and noodle bars, Chishiya wouldn’t say he’s done much.

Arisu laughs a little, bashful but glowing at the praise, "I’m still learning. I hope I can get better before the Harvest," he perks up suddenly as though something just occurred to him, "Hey, you don’t have any tips about that, do you? I’d really appreciate any advice the mayor could offer me."

Chishiya hums in thoughtful agreement, "Or if there are any traditions you think we should keep in mind."

They are absolutely trying to cozy up to her a little bit by appearing to be earnest, well-meaning newlyweds who very much want to make a good impression on their community.

andromache | the old guard | ota

[oiorpata]

PART I. PLEASANTVILLE
1.0 🗡 THIS TOWN THAT DON'T EXIST

[ since the invention of it, andy has always hated the suburban style of living. the uniformity, the gossip, the othering of outsiders. she would rather a life not contained by a picket fence. yet here she is, but it brings her a small amount of delight to say she has a wife. skirts elude her once again, with andy sticking largely to slacks, vests, and button downs in another personal vendetta that doesn't have the same effect it would have back home. ]

[ she does a cursory exploration of the town, mostly lingering in the grocery and general stores, trying to gauge what she thinks she needs versus what suburbanites think they need. ]

All this shit is so fucking new. [ she mutters it under her breath. she thought she escaped the 1950s. and yet here they are, at least in aesthetics. ]

[ she likes abbey park well enough, spending a lot of her downtime when she's out of the home wandering its trails on a walk or jog, using it as a temporary escape from the cookie cutter hell. sometimes she stops to listen to some of the music shows, to just hang out in the park and try not to think about what degar said before they departed. she pulls a flask from her pocket and takes a sip (bottles, presumably, would be a little more suspect). ]

2.0 🗡 THE BIBLE OF NONE OF THE ABOVE

[ if andy must suffer suburbia, she is going to make the best of being outside. the house she shares with daisy and noah is just like the rest of them, but when she's home alone she's often in the yard. she prunes and weeds the gardens, both of the vegetable and flower variety, and even if it isn't perfect, it's alive. the important part is the veggies are edible. she comes around with a basket full of them and gives a sarcastic wave. ]

I'm making soup for dinner, if you want to come in. Apparently we're supposed to invite people over, but you can just take a tomato or two instead.

[ the worst part is mowing. she does it, mostly. one day the lawnmower sits off to the side, the grass only partially finished, but andy has temporarily given up and simply sits down at the curb of the sidewalk, pulling a flask from a pocket and knocking back a sip. hopefully anyone walking by is an orber and not a local, lest her alcoholic reputation begin anew. ]

I hate lawns.

[ the grass should be NATURAL and BOUNTIFUL. of course andromache the scythian would be anti-lawn. ]

2.5 🗡 STEADY DIET OF SODA POP AND RITALIN

[ one thing andy does know how to do is schmooze. does she enjoy it? sometimes. but a 1950s style dinner party sounds like a personal hell, one that is best served with alcohol and a nice suit. who ever owns the house or is throwing the party, andy's decent enough at mingling to make a good impression, though always with a glass in hand. she can be very personable if need be. ]

My wife and I are fine, thank you. [ and she exits the conversation with Mrs Whatshername under the guise of getting more food to bring to the wife, because they have some of her favorites here! that's the excuse, at any rate. otherwise she socializes with a breeze, charming her way through conversations with husbands and wives and occasionally any children that might pop up. ]

PART II. AFTER DARK
4.0 🗡 HURRICANE OF FUCKIN LIES

[ andy is awake when the scream pierces the neighborhood, because she might prefer following the sun for time, but it doesn't mean she sleeps with regularity. like any good neighbor, she runs out of the house at the sound and joins the congregation in the streets, though she's forgotten to throw on shoes or a robe. at least she's wearing pajama pants this time, though her sleep shirt tank top probably leaves much to be desired. ]

[ the entire exchange is nothing but suspicious, but somehow the crowd's reaction seems like a standard one for a town like this. ]

What is this, the fucking CIA? [ the utmost suspicious organization she can think of! they kidnap and disappear people all the time. ]

6.0 🗡 CITY OF THE DAMNED

[ she's riding her bike and paused at a crosswalk when she catches sight of one of the odd figures at the other side, like a placeholder person. the more she sees them, the more she hates them, and given she's stuck here for a few moments, andy finds herself really staring down the figure. they're strange enough to warrant some kind of investigation, but it seems a little tricky given what happens bodily. ]

[ the vertigo hits her unexpectedly, and she isn't even drunk. she stumbles, only just so, and catches her balance on the handlebars, closing her eyes even as the light changes to allow a crossing. ]

Fucking knew it would be haunted.

PART III. STEPFORD HOUSESPOUSES
0.0 🗡 DOING SOMEONE ELSE'S COCAINE

[ hit me up for wildcards, closed starters, etc! communism or romanitas @ disco! andy is a nebulous part time job/part time housespouse idk we're working on it. ]

2.0

[oiorpata]

[ andy lets out the most melodramatic, annoyed sigh. she was probably not the best candidate to be a suburban parent to a child who knows nothing of suburbia, and yet here they are! ]

I don't find it normal in the slightest, but there are those who do. Some towns get designed this way. On purpose.

[oiorpata]

[ andy's riding her bike through town when she spots chishiya setting the scene for a bonfire, only on the sidewalk. she climbs off and walks the bike closer with an amused sort of curiosity on her face, but when he sets in fire she can't help but laugh, even though she probably shouldn't. ]

[ this kind of life was made with capitalism in mind, fuck that shit indeed. ]

As a good upstanding citizen, I should probably call the cops, but between you and me I agree with the sentiment.

2.0

[oiorpata]

[ she holds up her hand to wave at joric before she realizes he's calling her over, so she steps from the sidewalk and across the lawn towards the shed. there's a path she should have taken, but she's being stubborn and spiteful in small ways she can without drawing too much attention to herself. ]

[ it takes her a second to realize he's asking about the lawnmower. ]

It's for cutting the grass. [ she says so with Disdain. ] Start it up, push it across the lawn.

1.0

[oiorpata]

[ andy shows up in similarly in shorts (just not as short), given her usual leggings preference for a work out would be out of place. they can handle slacks on women in this universe, but apparently not tight stretchy pants. ]

[ she sets her water down and starts in on some of her own stretches, lifting and twisting her arms. ]

I'd wolf whistle for funsies for you pulling that off here, but I don't think it'd go over all that well in this town. [ something about marriages. ]

Patrolling the town

[singlelogbridge]

[The town reminds him horribly of Forsythe Heights and for that reason alone, Wei Wuxian doesn't trust anything about it. It doesn't have the same heavy feeling of resentful energy poisoning the air, but the architecture, food, and even the dress is remarkably similar. He can't admit his intentions and misgivings anywhere near as openly as he did on that mission, but he keeps his guard up higher than is usual for him.

It's rare that he truly feels uncomfortable on a mission, ever fascinated by the cultures and peoples of other worlds, but there's something about the false niceties and unnatural perfection of tis town that sets his teeth on edge. Going on runs helps to deal with all of the tension that builds in him during the day which is why he's out on the streets in the middle of the night.

He sees Carver right away when he turns a corner and spots the man a few paces ahead of him. With a soft huff of amusement, he picks up the pace and calls out to him.]

Hey. Nice weather we're having, hmm? [He jokes, mimicking the pleasantries that he spends all day exchanging with the locals.]

[dispassioned]

[Chishiya is observing Aleksander from the noodle buffet, critically. With a hefty amount of side eye. If Aleks thought Chishiya was annoying before, he will definitely only get worse if he makes Arisu sad.]

If you’re not a fan of jelly desserts why did you take it?

dinner

[oiorpata]

[ andy catches sight of the drink tossing and mourns the loss of the alcohol. it would be far better served in her rather than in a plant! ]

[ so before more of it can be lost to the shrubbery, andy sidles up to the offender with a casual motion, like there's only a pleasant conversation to be had. ]

You can toss it in my glass instead. [ they aren't serving nearly enough for her here, and asking for more probably breaks a social barrier she's trying to be decent about. ]

Daaaaaad, Cthulhu's under my bed 8(

[astudyinviolet]

[ The knocks make Sherlock sit up in bed, but he doesn't go to the door. He can't hide the puffiness of his eyes or his tear stained cheek that quickly. He can't ignore that Jarrus is on the other side of it either, though he does wonder how long he can get away with not opening it. ]

I'm, I'm fine. Apologies for disturbing you, Mr. Jarrus. It was nothing.

[ As good of an actor as Sherlock can be, there's little hope in masking his shaken nerves. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ They're both hiding sleepless nights with cosmetics. Sherlock doesn't comment on it because he wouldn't have a decent enough answer if the same attention is turned on him. Although, Sherlock had removed his for the night as he didn't want to wake up with it all over the bed or getting into his eyes from his tossing and turning. He'll reapply it after his morning ablutions. ]

Perhaps we should. I wouldn't want to disturb him.

[ He's relieved that he didn't disturb her sleep. This time, at least. How long could get last between now and his next bout of sleep? It's hard to tell.

If allowed, Sherlock will take the cups from Dyer and carry them to her room. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock gives a small bow to the crowd and leaves the gazebo stage, so the next musician can play. He recognizes the young man from the station and walks over. ]

Thank you. It's far from a concert from home, but I think I pulled it off considering the circumstances.

[ He has no concert experience beyond an attendee. In fact, he could count the number of people he played for on one hand before this mission, though not for reasons of stage fright. ]

I'm Sherlock Holmes, and may I ask your name?

[alternatives]

( in a similar fashion, where arisu would usually turn around to give chishiya privacy, he just ... doesn't. he forgets to. or maybe he gets distracted in the middle of it. instead, he stares at the slope of chishiya's back with candid interest, head tilted, watching. weirdly, it almost feels like a shame arisu gave him a shirt at all — a thought he quickly shoos away, on account of it sounding like it came from a caveman instead of a fake husband. anyway, he doesn't notice he's staring until the shirt comes fully on and chishiya turns back to him, but arisu doesn't really fluster in the way that's become expected. he just kind of shrugs, a little shyly. a yeah, if you're going to change in front of me, i'm going to watch type of shrug.

flopped back on bed, arisu very decisively takes a spot in the center of it, just in case he got any smart ideas about not cuddling him further. very rich, when arisu was the one hesitant about sharing a bed to begin with. )

I'm better with small groups. If I didn't have booze I'd be like, staring at a wall somewhere right now. ( in a weird way, that feels like the most honest thing he's ever told chishiya. he rubs a hand on the back of his head. ) But being around people again is really — special. I'm glad I could share it with you.

[dispassioned]

[When he turns to find Arisu watching him, Chishiya pauses. And blinks once. And then smiles, slow and definitely cat-like, just like Arisu described on their first day in town. Undeniably pleased. Honestly, if he’d known Arisu was watching he might have turned around earlier.

When Arisu flops back in the middle of the bed, Chishiya doesn’t object. He follows, crawling shamelessly up Arisu’s body to join him, the t-shirt Arisu gave him sliding off one shoulder.

But then Arisu is talking. Saying things. Emotionally honest things, which Chishiya has never been much good at, even drunk. I'm glad I could share it with you, he says and he means it and Chishiya can feel the flush creeping up his neck.

He doesn’t know how to respond.

He pauses and his gaze shifts to Arisu’s mouth. The instinct to kiss him is there, but Chishiya realizes he’s not sure if it’s acceptable. He’s not so far gone with drink that he's unaware of the risk that would come with it. A risk of ruining something he doesn’t actually want to ruin.

He sighs and flops down next to Arisu. Still close. Almost partially on top of him, really. The cuddling seems to be acceptable, at least, so he does that. He pushes a lock of Arisu’s hair (messy from running around and entertaining guests all night) out of his eyes.]

You did good.

[When you’re too emotionally stunted to say me too, praise is the next best thing. Right? He’s pretty sure Arisu likes praise.]

[deaddrop]

Let's. Before someone small without your tolerance for the cold gets chilly.

[She hugs herself as she starts walking, through it doesn't have anything to do with the temperature.]

The Winchester Girl

[singlelogbridge]

[He's heard the rumors about her. They aren't hard to miss in a small town like this where anyone stepping even a little out of the line catches attention, and there were only so many red headed teenagers that they could be talking about. He talks himself out of retaliating for the sake of the mission (for now) but it means he's not even a little surprised to find Ziggy hanging out in the park when she should be in school. Granted, he's always taken that "Should be" with several grains of salt.

The moment she sits down across from him, his entire face lights up and he rises from his seat to make a shown of pulling her into an (embarrassing, obnoxious) hug that is thankfully brief. Unlike the warm meaningful embraces they've shared, this is entirely meant to be annoying and his grin makes it clear.

He doesn't answer her question either, instead declaring loudly]! Ah, my day is wonderful now that my favorite niece is here! [And he beams at her some more.

Let those nosy gossips complain about her all they liked, Wei Wuxian hopes they realize that she has people here on her side.]

You're just in time for me to take you to lunch. What do you say? [Can't get in trouble for being out of school if she's with her (favorite) uncle.]

[deaddrop]

[Truly a mystery how these are less scandalous than yoga pants.]

There are a lot of fun things that don't go over well here. I'll go ahead and pretend you did, though, just between you and me.

[Natasha stops with her hands on her hips, catching her breath.]

They do seem to take this whole perfect community thing very seriously.

[dispassioned]

Being upstanding got boring here pretty quickly.

[He managed not to cause any scenes at the house party he hosted in spite of how quickly it depleted his social battery and Aleksander Kirigan being in attendance, he should be praised.

In a way he’s grateful that his personal goal is, essentially, to cause problems. It’s a useful excuse to blow off steam when he starts to feel restless and frustrated.

He shifts his gaze back to the fire.]

I probably should have brought marshmallows.

Picture perfect family, a.

[cruelyethuman]

[The first few days happen the way the start of missions always go- learning the streets of Amaryllis Grove, so he might navigate them in the dark. Learning the ways of this world, the rules that are ever-shifting when they leave the station. And he learns so well, from watching the families around them. Absorbing the adoring glances between spouses, the illusion of warmth spotted through glowing windows and he doesn't think.

Not for days.

But it happens, the way it never should. A random morning with Yennefer cooking breakfast in the kitchen, the children already dressed and ready, talking quietly to each other the way children are wont to do - a world of their own, that adults leave behind- and Aleksander had looked up, his hands already reaching out to her, settling on her hips from behind-- how he could have had this.

Once.

In their bedroom, he blinks down at her, her hands brushing his throat at random as she puts him together.]

The quiet is making me suspicious. [Hiding in the mission, when he made a promise and he quirks a smile] It feels... normal.

How are you, Yennefer?

[Waking up every morning with him wrapped around her, nose buried in the back of her neck]

[cruelyethuman]

It crossed my mind- [His gaze slides right over the stains and the apron, settling on Arisu's] but it keeps moving.

[The jello wiggles as if to make a point, or it could be Aleksander's hands shaking a little. He was not afraid of an entree, even if it had an air of nefarious purpose about it.]

Did you make this?

[unjedi]

[ she chuckles in good humour. ]

No. I'm pretty sure you can find it anywhere.

[unjedi]

[ she reaches out to gently touch his shoulder. ]

We've all made deals. To come to the station.

You're not alone in that.

[cruelyethuman]

The jelloed shots on the station were delicious.

[And just perhaps, he had been distracted when he took it. Too distracted to see just what he was putting on his plate, and he was now regretting that choice.

Eyes narrowing at Chishiya over his plate of... this, Aleksander pokes his fork in it and the salad makes a run for it, sliding across the plate until he viciously stabs it, cutting a small corner off.]

I'm sure this will be too. [the fork of jello if lifted, poised near his mouth and he looks up at Chishiya as he slips it in to his mouth, chewing a lot more than he should.] Mmmm, it has a very interesting taste.

[Slimy, with a too-sweet aftertaste and right in the middle of that whole experience, there's the crunch of salad.]

[offseers]

It's Noah.

[ there should be a last name, but he doesn't know what it might be. the concept of last names are new to him. there are a few people who have them (ethel silvercoat, monica vandham . . . but he was just noah) ]

What's a concert?

[offseers]

For . . . security?

[ it's so linear. more linear than any army. but that's the only place he can make a connection to. ]