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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[if he was sober, this outcome would have obviously been the only one which could result from his actions. unfortunately he isn't and the sudden press of warm lips against his own throws Vincent completely off guard.

he doesn't know what to think, let alone do. this certainly hadn't been his intention, and yet...it was nice, wasn't it? the way their mouths seemed to fit so snugly against one another. without thinking his arms loop a little more comfortably around Kit's neck now, less pull and more rest.

there's no push to deepen this unintentional liplock, but neither does Vincent attempt to pull himself away. he just...lays there, taking in the comfortable feeling as his brain shuts down and reboots with agonizing slowness.]

[When no pain followed the meeting of their lips, no sharp teeth or fiercely delivered elbows or knees, Kit's mind shuddered back to life again.

There were dots. He drew a line between them — between Vincent and himself. And the resulting picture was clear. He wasn't sure he understood it, but for a moment, no part was hidden from view. Like a puzzle, their pieces fit perfectly together. This felt right. It felt warm.

...but Vincent didn't even know Kit knew his name, and he still wasn't sober, besides.

That alone stopped Kit's hand as it came to rest at the hemline of Vincent's shirt, fingers just barely tucked under and against his flesh, rising and falling with every breath he took.]

We can't...

Scared?

[he whispers the question with a breathy laugh, the puffs of warm air drifting across the other boy's skin. it was impossible to tell what was happening here, but Vincent could at least be certain that he wasn't particularly interested in stopped it. the other boy's fingers were pleasingly cool against his bare skin, almost tickling at it.

as far as he could tell, there was nothing holding them back. who was there to stop them?]

[He was scared, wasn't he? But not for the reasons he knew Vincent had in mind. In their current states it was easy to want, but it wasn't wise. If they acted now on impulse, if they gave in to their desires, there would be nothing but violent regret later on. Kit didn't want that for himself, and he didn't want that for Vincent. Whatever problems they had with each other, that seemed like an awfully cruel way to repay him for having his back before.

And besides, once all of the intoxicants were out of their system, it was very likely that neither of them would want this. Whatever attraction they felt for one another, this was just a perverted form. It wasn't real.

His correction was quiet as he slipped his hand back out from under Vincent's shirt, his flesh already missing the warmth of the other boy's as it planted again on the cool floor beneath them.]

Not scared. Just smart.

[he laughs quietly, lubricated just enough not to take offense at being turned turned for some undefined act even he couldn't quite grasp. still, it didn't stop Vincent from offering up his opinion on the whole thing.]

You're going to overthink yourself to death one day.

[as if sensing the regret in the other boy's mind, one of his hand slips down from around his neck and covers Kit's on the floor. his mind is too turned around to push the bigger issue, but he can at least continue laying here. it was more comfortable than any kitchen floor had the right to be.]

Then at least I will have known I did all I could.

[His smile was fleeting, and when it had gone, he entwined their fingers, slipped off the other boy, and pulled him into a sitting position with him. It was much more difficult a thing to accomplish than he was willing to admit. But doing the right thing usually was.]

Are you tired? You didn't get to sleep for very long before I came back with the food.

[And perhaps if he slept more whatever this was would be a long forgotten episode and they could move on when they woke up next as if nothing had ever happened. Or nearly happened, as it were.]

Why the hell would I be tired?

[he grumbles defensively, as if he hadn't just been in a knockdown drag-out brawl and downed half of a twelve pack of beer an hour or so afterwards. that was nothing. any run of the mill asshole could handle something like that without a problem, let alone someone as dogged as him.

so he insists, even as his head bounces gently off of Kit's chest for a moment or two after he's been pulled up. the handholding seems to please him, at least, as even when he levels a dour look the other teen's way he's careful not to disturb the connection.]

[That was how he was going to be, was it?

Very well...he could work with that and still not break his honor code.

Kit slid his free hand around back of Vincent's neck and pulled him against his chest, fingers fanning out in the short ends of his hair. The rhythm of his heartbeat was slow and steady betraying none of his earlier indecision or alarm.]

And if I said I was tired? Would you lay with me?

[He brought their clasped hands between them, gaze falling upon their laced fingers. He had to force himself to think about other things, not the way they fit so perfectly together, or the unremitting heat that radiated off Vincent, but all the work that would be left for when he could finally get the other boy to sleep. The kitchen was a mess, food would need to be put away or disposed of, and there was the matter of the beer that was still left out...]

[that's really rich considering what you're going to do to him in a couple weeks, Kit.

for a brief moment he thinks the hand at his neck is the prelude to another scuffle, but is swiftly (and pleasantly) proven wrong. Vincent shifts the rest of his body so that he can rest against the other boy's chest more comfortably, enjoying the soothing beat of his companion's heart. it was as steadying as its master seemed to be in daily life.]

You'd have to ask nicely.

[even with his body screaming for release after all the exertion he'd foolishly put it through, Vincent can still find the presence of mind to be a brat about the things he sincerely wanted. some things never changed.]

[Wordlessly, Kit tugged his fingers free of Vincent's and pushed him gently away. And just as it seemed he'd been getting comfortable there, too.]

I'm not asking. I'm inviting.

[He was careful as he pushed himself to his feet, taking the chair with him but not the other boy. Or so it seemed at first. After pushing the piece of furniture back in to the edge of the table, he turned and held his hand out to Vincent, an offer to help him up off the floor.]

Are you coming or not?

[Kit receives a long, flat stare from the other boy over having his comfortable position stripped from him. it's offensive enough that he even considers having a sulk about it and turning down the invitation, but eventually thinks better of it.

he doesn't take the outstretched hand to get up, however, even though in his state it would doubtlessly have been faster. once he's upright and his head has recovered, he reaches out to gently take the other teen by the wrist.]

If you're that lonely, I guess.

You're just that warm.

[It wasn't a flawless victory, but in the end Vincent's cooperation meant things were going according to plan. Kit allowed his wrist to be held and, with a nod and a teasing smile, he led the way to his bedroom. There was a fresh breeze filtering in from the open window near the bed, but the world outside seemed fairly quiet otherwise. It would be the perfect setting to lull someone to sleep.

In theory, anyway.

As he crawled onto the bed and tugged Vincent with him, Kit was careful to push the other boy closer to the wall, leaving himself the edge of the bed for when he would inevitably slip away undetected after. He wouldn't be drifting to sleep himself, after all. Even if the idea did sound faintly tempting.]

Or you're just cold.

[ha ha, you know, like the analytical way he approached the world. you are so funny when half of your brain is unconscious, Vincent. your friend here is definitely rolling internally at your wit.

truth be told, he was completely exhausted by now. much as the remnants of his pride wanted to make things more difficult for Kit just on principle, he simply didn't possess the energy for it. he drops down onto the bed obligingly, therefore, pulling the arm in his hand up so that it's now draped over his back.

with a soft exhale he shifts in close enough to be able to hear that heartbeat again and then falls still, staring quietly at the other boy through half-lidded eyes.]

Maybe I am.

[In fact, Kit knew he could be, and that was why whatever humor he found in the other boy's words was short-lived and subdued. Not that it seemed to matter. Not long after they settled onto the bed, it seemed Vincent wasn't interested in telling jokes.

His closeness momentarily caused Kit's heart to skip a beat, but with a breath or maybe two, its rhythm became controlled again, much like his every thought. He was still focusing on routine rather than the pleasantness at hand, things that kept him from lingering on the comfortable way Vincent's head pressed against him or the way the other boy's gaze made him feel. There was only homework assignments he had coming up, extra shifts at work to see about picking up, and a routine check-in with his foster parents in the future.

Such things allowed him to pull Vincent closer, to even hook his ankles around the other boy's and hold him against him without dwelling upon the implications...]

[for Vincent's part, the pleasantness of the current situation was all he was thinking of, any other subject simply too weighty for his beleaguered brain to handle right now. with a proper bed beneath them this was even more comfortable than the nap they'd taken together on the couch earlier, a fact that doesn't escape him when their ankles gently tangle together.

he slings an arm across Kit's waist, allowing his hand to rest on the small of his back. everything about this felt exactly right, as if he were where he ought to be for the most blissful sleep possible. through it all his gaze never wavers, completely at peace with its present objective.]

Try not to melt.

[it's the continuation of teasing, but something about it rings strangely sincere. as if Vincent really were afraid that his companion would disappear, taking this tranquil moment along with him. perhaps that's why his free hand latches onto a handful of the other boy's shirt, clinging to prevent such a grim future.]

[If Vincent was fire and he was ice, he really would need to beware, wouldn't he? But Kit had confidence in his mental acuity. As charming as the other boy was, as unexpectedly gentle as he could be, it wouldn't be enough to break down Kit's walls.]

Don't worry, I won't.

[No, the real problem was much worse.

As Vincent's hand settled into the small of his back, fingers kneading into the fabric of his shirt, Kit thought his demise would be much more violent if he wasn't careful. If he allowed himself to forget what this was all about and became caught up in trivial feelings instead, he would burn out like a star in Vincent's grasp. Brilliant, bright, and deadly. They wouldn't survive it. Probably, nothing in their vicinity would, either.

So the line remained drawn between them, even settled as closely together as they were. Vincent watched him, and Kit watched Vincent, but their expressions were like night and day, much like their thoughts. Vincent's mind was too beleaguered for heavy contemplation, and it was because Kit's was in a similar state that he needed the weight of what was truly important to ground him.

The haunting feeling. The headaches. And those strange flashes of another life. It all meant something much bigger than this. Something Vincent and he were caught in the middle of. The more Kit knew about everyone involved, the easier it would be to figure out what came next...]

Good. You've ruined my clothes enough for one day.

[Kit doesn't seem prone to pulling a vanishing act anytime soon, nor does he shy away from being held closer. these both seem to reassure him that this was allowed to be a fully satisfying rest, and despite himself Vincent's posture relaxes even further.

he'll drift when he's ready, he thinks; the steady rhythm of the other boy's heartbeat was far too soothing for any other end. but in the meantime he was determined to drink in as much of this view as he could, drunkenly map out the lines of his companion's face and try to put a specific shade to the green in his eyes.

he was laying in bed with a demon who wore hideous sweaters. the thought jumps into his mind unexpectedly, and he can't help but laugh at it. it sounded like the perfect start to a song.]

[Don't ask. Whatever you do, don't ask.

But he was going to ask, wasn't he? There was no way around it. Unable to extricate himself from his current position without also rousting Vincent, his choices were between saying nothing, saying something completely off topic, or inquiring after whatever it was the other boy found so amusing.

Which wasn't really much of a choice at all, or it didn't seem like it. Perhaps if he'd been better rested and not still fuzzy from drinking...or much too comfortable to completely keep up his guard. But that wasn't the case.]

What are you laughing at...?

You're a song.

[and a damn good one, the fact he was able to hold onto this thought at all in his woozy state proof of that. Vincent can hear the melody in his head even now, fingers tapping out the beginning against the other boy's back. soft but menacing, restrained but passionate. it was all there.

it's so pleasing that he makes absolutely no attempt to hide his smile, although after a few moments his brain considers that his previous statement may need a little extrapolation. whoops.]

Because your clothes are so goddamn hideous.

[...nailed it.]

[...as Vincent went on to explain, Kit was glad he'd withheld from saying anything.

To think, he'd almost been touched!

Although, considering the way the other boy had been laughing, he really should have known better from the start. At this rate, if he was touched at all, it was in the head for thinking Vincent might actually have been sincere about anything. Never mind the drumming beat against his back. For now, he was going to pretend that didn't exist as he closed his eyes and sighed quietly.

Perhaps heavier than he would have liked, but not so grumpily that it could be mistaken for being annoyed rather than tired.]

Go to sleep.

[He was sorry he'd asked.]

[he makes some incoherent protesting mumbles before nuzzling his face up against Kit's chest. the other boy wasn't nearly as warm as he was, but there was something soothing in that very fact; it was as if a cool cloth was keeping his constant fever in check.

shifting slightly to get a little bit closer to his beloved heartbeat, he mumbles again - only this one's actually possible to make out with some effort.]

...I'll tell you when it's finished.

[Kit's song. his essence, meant for music, boiled down into its purest form. he deserved to be able to hear his true self as soon as he could.]

[Uncertain of how to respond to that, Kit nodded, his cheek brushing the top of Vincent's head. A song about him? It might have been a nice gesture if Vincent hadn't seemed inclined to write it at his expense, and completely without asking him, besides. Then again, Kit could have just as easily told him no...

He wondered why he didn't. Was it curiosity or masochism? Punishment for letting down his guard and letting things spiral so far out of control?

It seemed like it, although...if he was honest with himself, he wanted to hear the finished song, too. He'd only ever seen Vincent's lyrics so far. What did his band even sound like? And would Styx even know who the lyrics were about?

...that was a thought that tugged at the corners of his mouth more than he cared to admit, the smile even causing his arms to tighten a little around the other boy. He could permit something unflattering to be written about him so long as he was allowed to be present when Styx was told the truth. The look on his face would be priceless.]

[his companion's thoughts were as impenetrable to Vincent as his were to the other boy. unaware of the mental images his declaration had conjured he merely revels in the closer hold from his companion. it was far more peaceful than any blanket could ever hope to be.

he fights petulantly against sleep solely because Kit had instructed him to nap, but the alcohol coursing through his system is too strong even for his bullheadedness. little by little his eyelids droop until they finally close completely, mind already floating down into the warm abyss of unconsciousness.

his grip on his literal body pillow remains as strong the entire time. it seems that abandonment is something written into Vincent's very DNA.]

[Unfortunately, for how determined Kit was to think about everything besides his and Vincent's current position, he'd failed to conceive a plan that would actually allow him to untangle himself from the other boy's limbs and tightly locked arms. In a sense, he'd walked willingly into this snare and while thrashing might free him, it would also bring the hunter down on him.

He was too tired for any of that, his thoughts leaving him dizzy as they bounced from the warmth feeding into his chest from Vincent's body to the questions he ought to ask Reimi when he saw her next. From the research he still had to do on some of the things he'd seen or the names he'd heard in those visions, to the soothing sound of Vincent's breathing as it reached his ears...

...a sound which lulled him to sleep before even he was aware.

When he awoke next it was dark out, a cool breeze blowing in through the open window. He couldn't see his clock from the angle he was at, but by the quiet of the neighboring dorms and the campus outside, he expected it was late. More importantly, between the fresh air and hours of proper sleep, he was sober. A fact that made the way his limbs were tangled so intricately with Vincent's all the more alarming and inevitably triggered a short sequence of events.

A sharp shove, meant to push Vincent away from him. Which instead resulted in sending him backwards over the edge of the bed. And for the grip Vincent had kept on him while they had slept, bringing the other boy with him and down on top.]

[and this had been one of the most comfortable naps he'd ever taken in his life up until now, too.

that contentment is instantly chased away when he finds himself rudely awakened by crashing onto the ground. his eyes fly open in alarm, trying and failing to sit up thanks to the mess of limbs they'd created during their slumber. there's probably a lot of accidental poking going on at this time, but it stops as soon as he realizes he's not moving for the time being.

what the hell had happened..? he's sober now, but it still takes his mind a moment or two to rewind and piece together the events that had occurred just before sleeping. even with this new information in hand, things didn't quite add up.]

The fuck is your problem!?

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this is actually the dream log but i'm responding anyway so that mistake lives forever