tornheart | APPLE ORCHARDS AND TORN DREAMS [OPEN]

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APPLE ORCHARDS AND TORN DREAMS [OPEN]

Who: Open Log (All)
Where: Around the city (one prompt at the Green Valley school
Summary: Welcome Ceremonies, Dreams, Stirring a shadow hornet's nest. No big deal.
Warnings: N/A

"Are you ready my black lambs? Let's get to work..."

Apple Picking (General Prompt)

As September begins, the apple orchards of Greenfield Valley school are bursting with thousands of apples of various flavors and colors. There's even an experimental breed that's blue!

Those who have been attending the school know that this means a few important things. The first (and most important of course) is that it means that fall vacation is coming in just a few weeks (despite school having started just a few weeks ago), the second is that the school's menu is going to have a high number of apple-themed dishes until winter, and finally, the opening ceremonies.

The opening ceremonies are - well - one would consider them mostly boring for typical schools. And truth be told, Green Valley is not an exception. A single camera posed at the school's main gymnasium, a large podium in the center. For those who can't be physically there, the school's televisions all synchronized to a live broadcast as does the audio feeds. You can't quite escape it. Yet most people don't - after all it's one of the rare times of the year where the principal appears to wish students good fortune.

The person who stands in the front, Ms Michelle Andersen, is the very definition of an ice queen. Her face is perhaps locked forever into an emotionless stare. Bright blonde hair with blue eyes, both contract to her orange and black outfit.

Behind her, three men, the vice principals, who tend to play the good cops to her bad cop routine and insist that most students call them by their first names unless something really bad has happened; Norman (the most average man on campus that no one would know who he was if it wasn't for his name tag), Jeremy (the tallest staff member standing at over 195cm, thin, a bit of a lisp but he always means well), and Felix (possibly the hairiest man on campus as far as the rumors go, muscular, and a black beard that matches his scowling face when he isn't laughing - which is usually all the time. In fact, he's holding back himself from doing so when Ms. Andersen speaks.)

The presentation is short, as the Principal wishes all the students a great year, gives a bit of data on the number of students (they are up 300 new students from last year), the number of important guests that have passed, then as quickly as she was there, she leaves, explaining that there are additional meetings and events she will explain in greatest detail in the upcoming months.

Afterwards the students are treated to the vice principals singing a welcome song (it goes as well as one would expect it to go), telling the students that they are free to pick as many apples as they want as long as they all get eaten, but everyone is limited to two of the new apples and report to the hospital wards if any of them feel anything unusual after eating them. Just in case.

When the ceremonies are done, students and staff can return to their day...although some of the staff can be heard commenting that the Principal seemed even more...cold this year. Of course asking them for details would just cause them to shoo anyone away and pretend they didn't say anything.

[OOC: Players are welcome to speak to themselves or go have some apples. It's a general school mingling prompt! Additionally, it will be possible to email the vice principals during that week should the characters want to talk with them or ask school questions. Typical school stuff.]

Sound the Rebellion

(Special Prompt for the Unawakened, Monday the 4th)
The school's opening ceremonies aside, the Unawakened’s Monday was rather...strange. The night was plagued with restlessness as they heard the voice of someone laughing. Waking up feeling 'odd', although that differed between all of then - some would feel sick, others have a headache, or some just deciding that wearing a piece of clothing they haven't wanted to worn would look great right now. Perhaps they got a few comments from their relatives about how strange they were acting that day, or a worried glance if they felt sick. It might get dismissed with a wave of a hand.

After all, how can you explain that when they sometimes look upwards, they hear the sound of a child laughing and briefly see a symbol above their heads? Or that this somehow feels...fine?

Maybe in their new state of mind, they might not even notice the people that keep following them around...

Better than a GPS

(Awakened prompt, Monday 4th, day and night.)
"Alright Lambs, time to get to work."

Luci's voice echoed in their phone, laughing. Was he doing a peace sign?

"There's only a few but they'll be useful. I want you to find them and see what you can do. Who knows! Maybe you might be better at this than me, although I doubt it heh heh heh…Now remember what I said! You have to get them to fall asleep...but there's no real rules for that!"

For the Awakened, the symbols above the Unawakeneds’ heads will be as clear as day - Luci will even go so far as play little musical tunes when the characters are close by or distract them using electronics. "Come on! Stop wasting time and do something!"

For the Unawakened who have a relative, it will be somewhat easy. It is the others that will be a pain. Maybe that's why Luci asked for help. Or maybe he just wanted to see his 'lambs' struggle. "Get them to bed! It's not that hard! If you have trouble, just show them the program I've put into your phone and toaster! Or knock them with your toaster first if you want, I don't care! Just go in teams when you go after them, got it?"

It's obvious that 'sleeping' as far as Luci is concerned, is when someone is unconscious - he seems to almost want someone to knock an Unawakened out and then drag him into a room and let themselves go to sleep.

Once the task is done, and the place is secure, the characters will have to do the same. While the hypnotic wheel from the program is the easiest way, there's no hard rule about knocking oneself out either.

MINDJACK
Once the characters get inside, they'll be in the person's mind and dreams. Eddan's memories are predominant, and the unawakened will be standing there wandering around. It will be up to the Awakened to peel back the fabric of reality, much like curtains and show them the true memories of their past...

But beware. Shadows lurk here, and transforming will be necessarily. And if a character dies in someone else's dream...they might never wake up. So be careful...

The main mission is to showcase the person a few memories. Give them an idea that something might be amiss...it can be a little or a lot. Just be careful that the more memories, the stronger the shadows become... When both are done and awaken, ten minutes will have passed. Perhaps it will be time for question afterwards.

[OOC:The Unawakened characters need to be isolated for the program to run, and so do the players, so half the 'fun' will be setting up the traps so that the characters will be alone.

Awakened might decide to have someone stand on guard while the others go to sleep with the Unawakened, or just all stupidly go together, or find an area where they won't be disturbed - everything is up to you.

The dreamscape can be anything the Unawakened desires! It could be good memories of their time in Eddan or bad memories, a mixture of both, or just silly dreams. Whatever it is, the Awakened will need to 'peel' those memories away - for example showing them that their mother was someone else in their other life, or even directing the person to a mirror so that they can see their true selves. But for each memory - both good or bad, shadows will start to attack both the Unawakened and Awakened. Be careful and let the mods know if a mission goes REALLY bad.]

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Leaning close, he falls quiet as he takes in the picture. That girl... He's pretty sure he's seen her around before. By no means is he an acquaintence of any sort, but enough time spent in a place means certain faces become familiar. After a moment, he straightens up again.

"That's good... It's a good picture." Slowly, his head quirks to the side. "Maybe she'd be interested in the project as well... I'll be sure to keep an eye for her..."

[Kit obviously didn't want to consider anything of the sort. In fact, as one hand curled into the front of Vincent's shirt, the other still resting against the back of his neck where his fingers could slide into the ends of short dark hair, it seemed that for once he was far more content to act than to think at all.

Or in this case, to sleep for as long as his position would allow.

If it weren't for the light stirrings of his hair, he might have drifted off into a deeper slumber against Vincent, but there was something much too pleasant about the feeling to sleep through entirely. He lingered on the edge for some twenty minutes more, soaking in the warmth, the intoxicating smell of the wild, and the affectionate way Vincent's fingers played across the surface of his back...

...and then he sat suddenly upright, hands pulling back as if they'd been touched by fire.

What were they even doing.]

Oh. The food is probably cold.

[He should go reheat that...]

[for his part, Vincent remains in the waking sleep that many a college student would know all too well. he could easily have shuttered his eyes once more if it weren't for the extremely important tasks he was expected to continue performing. he's rewarded for his diligence in being allowed to notice, even through his inebriated haze, the way that their breathing slowly begins to sync up. it's such a pleasant feeling, their chests rising and falling in time with one another.

and then Kit practically does a tactical roll off the couch.

he grunts and makes a choked sound of alarm surprise, because without the careful angling they'd performed to make this position work the other boy is kind of heavy leaning on his diaphragm like this. he struggles to sit up, purely to try and retrieve the ability to fucking breathe.]

You left it out?

[it's the only vaguely coherent thought crossing through his mind right now, so he throws it out and hopes for the best. at least his irritation is sincere.]

It's fine, it's fine.

[How long had it been? Just a little over an hour, it seemed. Judging by the clock on the wall. And with the dorm's current temperature (which was decidedly cooler now that Kit thought about it, making him almost long for the other boy's body heat all over again) the food wouldn't have spoiled. The trip down to the quad hadn't been wasted. He hadn't suffered through incessant conversation and queries about how he'd injured his hands for nothing.

Still, to think he'd been so distracted by the other boy that he'd done something like that...no. It was the alcohol and sleep, those were to blame. Vincent had nothing to do with any of it.

Quickly picking himself up off the couch, Kit busied himself with collecting the empty beer cans off the coffee table, as well as the empty beer case, and proceed to the kitchen with them. Each was rinsed out before it was crushed and put back in the box, and after washing his hands, he put one of the plates of food into the microwave.]

[judging by the grumbles following him the entire way to the kitchen, it was clear that Kit's guest didn't believe a single word of his reassurances. taking a moment to make absolutely certain that nothing vital had been crushed by the other boy's fat ass, he slowly hauled himself off the couch at last and padded along after him.

he really needed to look into getting himself a heated blanket if he was willing to use someone like that for a little additional warmth.

there's a moment when he reaches the kitchen where Vincent considers ducking under the other teen's arm in order to position himself immediately in front of the microwave in order to pilfer the oncoming food, but the nap has cleared his head just enough to veto that idea. instead he scrambles, with much difficulty and pain, to sit on the kitchen counter and wait impatiently.

...this was the longest microwave cycle in the world.]

"I doubt it." Ciro's shrug is slight, and he steps further in since it doesn't seem like it'll be an objection. "The main reason I went to him first... is because he helps with the Gardening Club sometimes. Another source is good to have." Going through his bag, he takes out a notebook.

"The goal is to have a student organized and run cafe... Promoting things like events, or produce from the club, local businesses... Things like that."

She claps in delight, unaware of Conan's current acting.

"Wonderful! I'll let your teacher know."

She holds out a hand to him. "I'm Ms. Ivybrook, by the way. What's your name?"

He eyes her hand cautiously, but reaches out and shakes it.

"I'm Conan Hartwell. I'm in the first grade here."

[The uncertainty is not terribly surprising. Her life here has not been the easiest, though a pale reflection of her true, forgotten past. Christina tries to forget, to move on. Usually she can. But something has stirred up those thoughts again.]

[She nods with a tired smile.]

It'll be difficult. The work is worth it though.

Christina freezes in place at Ran's orders, her face lined with fear and worry. It feels so wrong leaving this to her niece and friend, but what can she do? She has no idea what's going on.

The Shadows dissolve upon impact, leaving the two victorious. Shinichi has good instincts to check for more though. Another handful of figures emerge from the dark corners to replace their fallen comrades. This time they lunge all at once.

The unfortunate thing about being a Navigator is the inherent weakness in the position. Chikusa has had plenty of time to pick up on the differences between them, guiding from behind instead of being on the front lines. It's even worse for him. Astaroth's positioning doesn't enable him to move as quickly as he might want to. It's an enormous snake, curled tightly around him, and dodging takes some forethought.

Forethought isn't something that can happen during a sneak attack.

Gritting his teeth, Chiksua can only really do one thing even as his gaze jerks down towards the ground: he hauls himself onto Astaroth's massive body. Without the Navigator himself to grab, all that's left is the Persona itself... which might as well be the same thing. A massive hiss leaves the creature, and Chikusa's normally bland expression contorts. It doesn't stop him from aiming his weapon down at the hand, firing off another round.

In a way, it's interesting to watch the shift, which Chikusa does from his peripheral. The differences between Ciro Bonavida and Chikusa Kakimoto had been almost minimal in a way. When it all came down to it, they were both quiet intelligent boys with a limited social circle.

Yet it's obvious how Natsu's expression warps from open energy to something cool and reserved that her true self must be incredibly different. Even the anger she'd displayed, all passionate rage... It seems pretty out of place with the cool look she sends him now.

Chikusa presses his hand against Astaroth's scales, thinking carefully."You should wake up.... in just a moment."

And, right on cue... the dream ends.

Too many.

Way too many all at once.

For a bare moment Ran's mind jolts back to the rats, swarming and hissing, diving for her with bared teeth. Panic surges through her nerves until she cuts through it.

"Zepar!" Her voice rises, sharp. "Cleave!"

A woman, winged and enormously tall, emerges from empty space as though stepping through a misty curtain. Her face is impassive, eyes blindfolded, her hands folded over a massive, heavy broadsword set with a great, gleaming eye. At the word, the sword sweeps into movement, the blade hurling down on two Shadows. They shriek once, dissolving into dark clouds of mist.

Zepar folds her hands over her sword as before, vanishing with a last gleam of sword-bound eye and smoldering feathers.

Ran is already after a third Shadow, ducking under his pipe and diving her fist deep into his stomach. But that still leaves at least a couple bearing down towards Shinichi.

I agree.

We're teachers and we have to do everything to teach them what the world awaits them.

Shinichi turns quickly, sending the soccerball at the first approaching shadow. He spots two more, approaching too quickly for him to react with his preferred method.

Reluctantly, he gropes for the spells lying at the bottom of his mind. He hated having them there, and he hated having to rely on them. But when it came down to it, he was too much of a pragmatist to ignore them when there were few other choices.

"Andromalius!" he calls out. "Dormina!

An immense dark hound coalesces out of the shadows behind him, a snakelike tail hissing behind it. It lashes out at the approaching shadows, casting the sleep spell at them. As they waver and fall, the hound howls and vanishes again.

Christina leans back against the vanity as she watches the battle. Her alarm only worsens at the appearance of the Personas. Too much, this is too much. What on earth is happening??

The incoming tide of Shadows stops for now, leaving only the remaining yet sleeping foes.

[Kit's focus remained steadfastly on the microwave timer and not on his companion as he struggled to find a seat on the counter. He was determined not to laugh at the scene he could see playing out in the corner of his vision, the only indication he was even remotely aware being the way he deliberately did not look at Vincent. At least, not until the microwave cycle finished, it beeped hideously at them, and he removed the plate from inside to offer to the other boy.

It was stacked with more food than the other plate that went into the microwave after, which was obviously one Kit had picked up for himself.]

I hope you're hungry. As requested, there's a little of everything.

[his balance may have been a little precarious getting up there, but there's no evidence of that now as Vincent immediately snatches the laden plate out of the other boy's hands. he makes no attempt to get down or even so much as wait, digging in before Kit can even finish his sentence.

he does at least have the consideration to look up when he answers, a third of a sausage screaming for help from his fork during the pause in his rampage.]

I told you before it's stupid to waste things, didn't I? Don't worry about it.

[hell, he'd finish off Kit's plate if he had to. free things deserved to be appreciated.]

You did. It's one of the few things I think we agree upon.

[So long as nothing slipped from Vincent's mouth and landed on the floor, Kit would have no complaints about where he sat or the way he ate. Kit even trusted him to devour both plates of food if that's what it came to. How bottomless the other boy's stomach truly was had already been proven.

Nevertheless, when his food was finished heating, he made a point to sit down at the far side of the table as if silently inviting Vincent to sit opposite him.]

If there's any toppings missing, there's condiments in the fridge. Unless you polished those off already, too.

Probably.

[he mumbles sullenly, finishing off the sausage and starting in on one of the burgers perched invitingly on the plate.]

Your taste in food sucks.

[aka why are there so many vegetables? what the fuck?? you can't eat like a hoover throughout the entire day with available food like that. it was practically a crime against humanity...he thinks as if he hadn't eaten nearly all of it regardless.

the amount of trouble it had taken him to get onto the counter makes Vincent incredibly reluctant to depart, but after he finishes his current barbecue item he makes the perilous journey down to the empty chair. it just seemed more pleasant to be closer to Kit right now, for whatever reason.]

[The smile Vincent offered when he finally joined Kit at the table was small but not uninviting. In fact, he seemed pleased to have the company, even if he still didn't seem to have much of an appetite and hadn't made a dent in the meager portions he'd procured for himself.]

Eating healthy is important.

[He shrugged, taking a small bite of his hotdog and sucking a stray drop of ketchup from his lip.]

I would prefer to keep any on hand food simple and prepare from scratch anything more complex. And meat is always bought fresh.

[That was the best way to ensure he wasn't putting garbage into his body, and the best way to ensure he was always in peak condition. Vincent ought to understand that. It wasn't a difficult concept to grasp, was it?]

Is there something specific you're craving? If you ask nicely, I might make it.

[Kit must still be outrageously plastered if he thought in even his wildest dreams that his guest had the sort of money to sate his appetite with that sort of cooking strategy. the hell did he look like, the frontman from Slayer?

speaking of eating, however...after a little while Vincent notices that his companion isn't really making the best use of his already pathetically-sized plate. without even really thinking about it he starts reaching over to steal morsels from the other boy's plate despite still having a sizable amount of food remaining on his.]

You'd need to go shopping again if I did.

[because, uh. the metaphorical cupboard is a little bare after what he'd done to it.]

[Kit frowned at the stolen morsel, and then shook his head and pushed his place closer to the center of the table with a sigh. He was willing to share. If Vincent was that hungry, it would be better for the remaining food in his dorm if he didn't withhold portions.]

It isn't like you to care about inconveniencing anyone.

[...that was true, wasn't it? Though Kit wondered at the statement after it left his tongue. They hadn't known each other very long, but it felt like one of the most accurate assessments of Vincent he'd ever made so far. The other boy was someone who existed fiercely and seemed ready to throw down anyone in his way. There wasn't a place for manners in that kind of lifestyle. There wasn't very much room for consideration, either.

But he was surprising sometimes. Kit recalled waking up in his bed at the Leviathan Habitat and not in the hallway where he'd lost consciousness. Truly, he was a living contradiction.]

I don't mind. But it's up to you.

[Vincent certainly was full of surprises. as soon as the other boy gives in and slides his meal within better reach he frowns and withdraws back to his own plate. the theft had less to do with a desire for more food (although if it remained there after he'd finished his own he'd certainly clean it off) and more a desire to push his host a little. in that way it was a disappointing reaction.

he doesn't make any attempts to combat the accusation - if anything he seems to take a faint sort of pride in that statement. but the dissatisfaction mingles with the alcohol to produce a response that is far more genuine than he'd have allowed in normal circumstances.]

I'd have to make it myself.

[what he wanted, what he always wanted in some vague subconscious way, he knew that Kit wouldn't be able to make to a satisfactory degree. there was no way he had the skills for it.]

[The plate did, in fact, remain positioned between them, though less because Kit felt like doting upon his companion and more because what he'd said had distracted him.

Was it his skills that Vincent had a problem with, or was he unwilling to let someone make something for him? It seemed a strange thing to worry over after having let Kit venture down to the barbecue to procure them both some food, or in Vincent's case, a stacked plate. So...was it the former? That was almost insulting!

But Kit was much too curious to take offense for real. He lowered his hotdog, eyes fixated on Vincent even as his head canted ponderously to the side.]

Why is that? Is it difficult?

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APPLE ORCHARDS AND TORN DREAMS [OPEN]

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