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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Conan had been about to protest. Being sent to bed would interfere with his own plans to keep an eye on Vermouth. But that issue was rendered moot when she went off to bed herself. In a sudden capitulation he simply yawns and puts his book down.

"Okay, Ran-neechan. I'll see you in the morning."

He walks toward the cot in her room, fully intending to fake sleep until she wasn't paying attention.

Hopefully if her parents are in earshot, they'll take the -neechan as a child's quirk. Ran spares an anxious thought towards it, then shakes it off. There are bigger things to deal with.

Possibly she should have questioned how readily he went, but for the moment there's only relief. Arguing with him about it is one less bit of stress in her already preoccupied mind.

TV still blaring and unwatched, she waits for him to finish his routine and sleep -- time that also gives Christina time to slip into dreams as well. Only then does she flip the set off and slide off the couch, padding slowly towards her room. She checks first on Conan just to be sure he's asleep, watching the rise and fall of his sides in the dim light from the hallway. Then, closing it, willing her stomach to stop flip-flopping, she heads for Christina's room. She's conscious of moving towards it, but her limbs somehow feel disconnected from her body, numb. She doesn't even feel the door handle under her fingers, though she can see her hand resting there, watch it turn.

The sliver of light falls on the blonde-haired woman in the bed. Here Ran watches too -- waits for the steady rise and fall of her "aunt's" breathing. Any sound, any sudden movement could likely have sent her out of her skin at that moment.

Thankfully, there's nothing. No movement, no sound except for the soft breath of sleep. Ran bites her lip, glancing at her phone again, then slips inside.

Can Christina hear her heart pounding? Ran's almost sure it's loud enough. She watches the bed in the darkness for a moment more, then eases down to the floor at the foot.

Sleep is out of the question, at least naturally. Fortunately Luci planned for that. She watches the hypnotism app until it lulls her mind, slipping her off into sleep curled on the carpet.

He waits for the sound of Ran's footsteps walking toward the guestroom, then slides off the cot and follows. He gives it five minutes before entering the room, to give Ran time to fall asleep.

And then he enters, making sure to close the door behind him. He frowns a little at the sight of Ran asleep on the floor. That couldn't be comfortable, but as he was now there was no way he could move her to the chair. Instead he pulls an afghan down and puts it on her.

Then he stretches out on the floor himself and uses the hypnotism app to put himself to sleep.

As they drift off into sleep, the two will find themselves waking up in a luxurious hotel room. The sheets are soft and silky. Vases of roses have been placed on the bedside dressers. The room looks immaculate with the exception of a vanity, tucked away in the corner and covered in paper clippings. Above it a dartboard hangs from the wall.

The hall and bathroom doors are currently closed. If they listen closely, the sound running water can be heard from the bathroom. It would seem their target is close by.

As for the other door... Well, streaks of blood can be seen on the carpet under it with closer inspection.

She awakens into the dream with a gasp, sitting straight up on the edge of the bed. Her eyes whisk over the room around her -- all directions as quickly as possible, only releasing her breath when she's certain she's alone. From the other room -- the bathroom -- she catches the sound of the running water, breathes the faint scent of warmed water and soap. For the moment, at least, it looks like she has time to try to collect her thoughts, figure out what she's going to say -- and what she can possibly do.

Easing from the bed, she stands, taking in the room anew. She's in the clothing she wore before, she notes -- the clothing that appeared when she summoned Zepar, back in the hallway with the rats. The ribbons dangling from the winged visor brush her shoulders as she turns her head. Quietly she's thankful for the breastplate. At least dressed this way she feels a little more prepared . . . not quite as recognizable, and more prepared to confront whatever lies beyond the bathroom door.

Though nothing prepares her for the blood on the floor, and the twist of her stomach that comes with it. Her teeth knife into the inside of her cheek.

Probably she should look . . . but oh, god, she doesn't want to.

He awakens within the dream suddenly, blinking at the helmet that had once again covered his head. A moment, and then he was already climbing to his feet, assessing the pattern of the streaks of blood on the floor and walking towards. The long fabric of his cape rustles quietly as he walked up behind her.

Attuned as she is, senses on full alert, she catches the soft rustle of fabric, senses the presence at her back . . . and doesn't even think. Snapping into a pivot, her heel arches back and lashes out, aiming to take out the intruder before he gets the chance to take out her.

He doesn't have time to think. It is reflex that sends him ducking under the kick, in a practiced move that he'd used dozens of times throughout their childhood.

Her eyes widen sharply as he dodges; she's used to having her strikes land. But training has become second nature at this point, and she doesn't even pause for her surprise, flowing towards the next strike with barely a thought --

Until suddenly she recognizes who it is and cuts herself off mid-kick. "Ah -- you!"

From the hallway -- he'd taken out a rat about to launch itself into her. Stayed with her beyond that as the rats closed in around them. Vanished without a word, without ever saying his name.

"I'm sorry, I didn't--" Suddenly remembering where they are, that this can't possibly be casual: "How--?"

Her brain works to catch up to the rest of her.

He'd already decided that there was no point in keeping this disguise from Ran. Not when she already knew that he was somewhere nearby.

With a deliberately casual gesture, he unlatches the helmet, and lifts it off his head.

"I guess it's been a while since we've been face to face."

"Shinichi . . ."

Like her hand on the door handle of the guest room earlier, she's conscious of the movement of her body -- of saying the name, of hearing it aloud -- but it feels far away from her. For the moment there's only his face hanging in her sight. Everything else is secondary, negligible.

"Shinichi." Unthinking, her fingers reach out to grasp his wrist -- as though to make sure he isn't a dream of her own. Her eyes are half-hidden, but her face is bare, absolutely open to all thoughts flitting through her mind.

Her fingers tighten. Are you here?

Please don't disappear . . .

He watches her carefully, still not sure how she would react. That was the thing about Ran. Every time he thought he knew how she would react to something, she surprised him.

He allows her to grasp his wrist, not making any move to remove it.

"Sorry it took me so long to get here, Ran."

Again, she doesn't think. Right now she's all impulse, all raw feeling, no thought. In a moment she's in against him, her arms wrapping around him, face burying into his shoulder.

She releases a breath she didn't even realize she was holding in -- had been holding in for some time. It quivers as it comes out, shaky on the air.

He is stiff at first, his arms held awkwardly out of the way and his expression more than a little flustered. But after a moment he relaxes and wraps his own arms around her.

There had been times when he'd wondered if he would ever be able to do this as himself.

There is a slight click as the bathroom doorknob turns. The door opens, and Christina steps into the hotel room. A bathrobe is tied over her nightgown, perfectly sensible outfit for staying in a hotel. Very unlike the armor worn by the two lovebirds currently embracing.

She stops in her tracks, staring at the scene in bewilderment. Christina doesn't think she was expecting company, but then again, she isn't quite sure. Dreams have a habit of making the strangest things seem normal. She would roll with it, but that is a little difficult when stumbling upon such an emotional display.

Christina coughs gently in case they haven't already noticed her.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Shall I excuse myself?"

He's holding her.

Briefly -- all too briefly -- she's conscious of his arms closing around her, of the warmth of him surrounding her. Likely for that moment he could feel her respond, muscles releasing tension as she yields herself to the embrace.

But it cuts out too soon at the sudden sound of Christina's voice. Ran stiffens and tugs back at the intrusion, eyes wide and yellow-gold behind their dark visor and shooting towards the woman in the doorway. Her cheeks flush as though she's been caught doing something wrong.

Maybe it's good in some ways. It spares Shinichi (for the time being) from the approaching moment where she realizes that he could have told her who he was when she first saw him. Instead, she's yanked into the present moment. The woman confronting them now could be a very real threat . . . and Ran still has no idea where to begin.

At the sound of the all too familiar voice, Shinichi hastily steps out of the hug and moves in front of Ran. He coughs once as he tries to recover his composure.

"Christina, was it?"

Christina is the least threatening person in this room at the moment. She isn't even mad or alarmed by the sudden company. Currently she feels more puzzled than anything else.

"Yes, that would be me."

Her eyes narrow in concentration before stepping forward. "Your face..." she says to Shinichi slowly. Something seems familiar, though it feels so vague she can't be sure. "Were you in the newspaper?"

There was something very unsettling at seeing confusion of any kind on that face.

But even in this situation, Shinichi knew better than to trust that she was harmless. He holds his position between Vermouth and Ran.

"That's unlikely. If you know my face, it isn't because of the media."

Focus. She has to focus. Ran's eyes flick between Shinichi and Christina, frowning slightly at the words. There's an implied connection here -- but how could Shinichi know her?

Unless . . .

Maybe that case that he refers to, the one that keeps him away. Could that possibly . . . ?

Again, maybe. Certainly he's been to a number of cases, some that she's never been to. She can't jump to that conclusion.

But still. It seems plausible.

Though quiet, she remains intent on the answer. For the moment, everything else can wait.

Christina closes her eyes for a moment, then smiles. Her brows are still knit with confusion though.

"I suppose I was mistaken then. My apologies. I could have sworn..."

She rests a finger on her lip, still deep in thought. Absentmindedly, Christina starts to walk towards the vanity. It feels like she's drawn towards it. However, the two cloaked heroes are in her path.

She pauses once she's a foot away. "Excuse me," Christina says as polite as can be. Despite her puzzled state, her manners are warm as ever. "May I?"

As she approaches, Shinichi takes a step back, bringing himself closer to Ran. It was just enough to stay out of arm reach from Vermouth.

"Perhaps you're mistaking me for someone else."

They've dismissed that moment of familiarity, both of them, but Ran can't help the strange sense that there's something there.

It's only when Shinichi steps back closer to her, still between her and Vermouth, that it clicks: This movement, the fact that he placed himself between them in the first place, is protective.

Ran knows full well that all that Christina has done so far can't be classified as dangerous. (Even though she doesn't trust that it will continue.) The significant thing here is how Shinichi knows. Why he's come there in the first place in a situation that by its setup can't be casual, why he's placing himself between them now. It's like in New York, when he placed himself between her and the gunman, like in the shiragami case where he slid between her and the killer who ultimately had a gun. He can only know something about Christina and why she bears warding against. He wouldn't do this otherwise.

She stares at his back for a moment, eyebrows knitting slightly. There's something here, and it's important that she learns what it is.

For the moment, though, there are other things at stake. She reaches out to touch his forearm to draw his attention, catching it beneath his cloak. Waiting for him to turn, she dips her head quickly towards the blood on the carpet.

Also, it doesn't seem like a great idea for Vermouth to head towards anything with drawers. Slipping around Shinichi, hoping to draw the woman's attention, to distract her and give him time to look: "Do . . . you know me?"

The dark visor hides her eyes, but not completely. They're the wrong color, but the lines of her face are unmistakable to someone who knows them well.

Christina stops suddenly as Shinichi steps back, her eyes widening in surprise. She has no idea what she did, particularly, but it would seem she has overstepped their boundaries.

"Possibly. Either way, I mean you no harm."

Her attention is drawn towards the other knight as she addresses Christina. The older woman stares, considering. The outfit seems completely unfamiliar, but that voice...

"...Ran?" Christina steps towards her slowly as if in a trance. "Ran, darling, is that you?"

Shinichi casts a glance back as Ran touches his arm. His gaze follows hers to the blood stain, and he nods slightly. He'd noticed it already.

He stiffens as Vermouth addresses Ran, but chooses not to say anything for now.

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