November Mash

[galambs]

Who: Open Log (All)
Where: City and Velvet Room
Summary: A small log before things get a little darker...
Warnings: N/A

One would think on the darkest night something terrible would happen. You would think wrong. Perhaps it was a sort of irony that caused Halloween and All Hallows' Day to happen without incident, but a strange feeling tells you that something might be up soon enough...

... however right now the city is in celebration, and honestly even Luci and at least one of the Velvets are encouraging celebration.

SPOOKY SCARY PUMPKINS

A-1
As the last days for crops slowly come to pass, Pont-a-Tarte lives up to its name, hosting a gigantic pie competition. While the main attraction is, of course, the giant pumpkin pie made with over ten gigantic pumpkins, there are booths selling maple, sugar, apple and pecan pies as well. Sometimes said pies are thrown in someone's face...but all in the name of good fun. You signed up for this, right?

A-2
A pumpkin carving contest is also underway! There are monetary prizes, but originality is what the inhabitants are looking for the most. The stranger (and spooky!) the idea, the better the prizes.

A-3
There are costume contests as well and a carnival at night. Will you join in? Maybe you'll take inspiration from your own world? However... you may notice something rather strange - at night you'll be able to change into your rebel costume when no one is watching. Not stuck in a dream is strange enough, but the fact that others wearing costumes don't seem to think odd of it means it truly is some sort of magical night... Too bad you can't use your personas or move around with the usual dexterity.

A-4
The only one who seem to really care are the numbers of cats around...most of them start rubbing on you the moment you are in your “costume” and it becomes difficult to move around. The minute the costume disappears, they move off,

Coins and Pranks...

B-1
Not to be outdone by the city, the Rebels’ phones will ring on November 1st, asking them to bring the pumpkins they might have done the day before so that they can be judged. Of course the Velvets are very... strange, so what might have won first prize might just be seen as a feeble attempt. However, there are prizes to be won, so it might be worth even to carve a new one! To be honest, they seem pretty pleased with anything...

Well... William seems pleased. Mary may seem a little lost with the whole affair, but soldiering on with her usual straight-laced efficiency.

(OOC - Pyro Jack’s/Jack Frost’s coins will be award to anyone who participates. Keep these in hand... they might be useful later. On a somewhat strange note the outside, while covered in bluish foil, peels to reveal a piece of chocolate... however, the layer of chocolate is very small and it's actually a golden coin inside.)

B-2
Not to be outdone by the city and the Velvets, Luci's asked the rebels to participate in his fun little contest too -- by which he means, “show me where you leave your rotten pumpkins and prank someone in the city.” But are you sure you even want a prize from him?

OOC - This is a small, fun log, but brace yourselves as plot logs are coming soon and a few new announcements! Use this as a small breather and have fun!

Comments

[secretmakesawoman]

[It pains Vermouth more than she’d admit to see Ran so distressed. She can hardly be shocked by the reaction though. Far too often their run-ins have put Ran in danger. Fear was almost inevitable.]

[That’s part of the reason Vermouth was surprised Ran would bother to see her at all.]

[The older woman stands still, her gaze away from Ran. The silence is deafening until finally, finally she breaks it.]

And yet here you are.

[Despite her even tone, Vermouth can't help but feel a swell of fondness at the thought. This determination in the face of fear, she knew it to some degree, but Vermouth made a point of only doing so when she stood to gain from it. Yet here was Ran, who had little to gain from her but danger, for some confusing yet inspiring reason.]

[Finally she turns to face Ran again.]

Very well. The door can stay unlocked, but only if you are willing to keep watch.

[singlefaith]

[There's no reassurance in any of those words. But Christina isn't going to protest the door remaining unlocked, and that, at least, is something. Dipping her head in a nod, Ran stays where she is, the door cool against her back. It's comfort to her, and no one will be opening it with her there.]

[In the back of her mind, she can't help a flicker of thought about why the woman is bound to the idea of the door being guarded -- but maybe a woman who is willing to hold a gun, to shoot it towards another human being, has cause to wonder when a gun may be turned on her instead.]

I had to come. [The words are still soft.] Whatever happened at home, we're still supposed to be related here. Luci told us we're supposed to stay as normal as possible here to not attract attention.

[Blue eyes flick back up to Christina's face.] We need to find a way to still be family. Though . . . there's something I need to know.

[secretmakesawoman]

[Oh, she don't have to wonder when someone will aim a gun at her. It's already happened and will likely happen again if Gin keeps getting irritated with her. Which he will, given his complete lack of trust and humor.]

[Vermouth is far more concerned that someone might overhear the conversation. Depending on how this turned, that could be quite troublesome indeed. She doesn't want knowledge of the Organization from spreading, but silencing an onlooker is a hassle she would rather avoid.]

I see. [That does match her own thinking, at least partly. Vermouth had figured acting the part of Christina would be smart, at least until she had a better grasp on her current situation. Christina was familiar to residents here and far less threatening. An excellent cover for blending in.]

[However, she didn't quite know how to approach her fake family. Vermouth had not experienced normal familial relations in quite some time. While she still could feel residual positive emotions towards them, that only served to push her further away as her instinct to protect them with distance took hold.]

It would be better for us all if you could keep away. No good will come of being involved with me.

[Her words and gaze are unusually serious, despite the slight heartbreak in her eyes. She sighs, before shifting her focus sideways.]

If we must, though, I suppose there is no choice. I'll contact your father this evening. [With an adequate excuse for her absence.]

[She does not comment on the unspoken question.

[singlefaith]

[Ran isn't going to give up on it, though. Before any of this proceeds any further, she needs an answer to it.]

Would you hurt them? Or Conan-kun?

[The words tumble out, almost too fast after Christina finishes her sentence. Her hands are tight behind her back, balled against the door.]

I have to know. I need your promise.

[She had asked Chikusa this question not so long ago. It's imperative to her, vital, even if asking it sets every nerve to race with electricity.]

[secretmakesawoman]

[Despite remembering her fearsome reputation, the sudden questions leave Vermouth visibly taken aback. She blinks as her stoic mask slips for a brief second.]

That's what you were worried about?

[Of course Ran had seen that side of Vermouth. However, she had not considered how far her 'niece' would think she'd go.]

I have no intention of harming Conan-kun or our family. Even if the memories are fake, I hold no ill will towards them.

[singlefaith]

[Honestly, Ran is glad to see that sense of being taken aback in Christina's face. It means that it surprised her, which further means she hadn't considered it. Though she doesn't ease, exactly, a degree of tension seeps out of Ran's muscles.]

[Softly,] Thank you.

[Swallowing, she presses her lips together, then pushes onward:] You know us, don't you?

[The pictures on the table in the dream -- what reason is there for her to collect them if she doesn't know them?]

How?

[secretmakesawoman]

[Vermouth falls silent once again, this time for much longer. An uneasy cloud settles back over the room as she deliberates.]

[There is no hiding what's been seen. Yet how can she answer that without endangering her beloved Angel?]

Does it really matter?

[singlefaith]

I think so.

[Ran's eyes shift away a little, focusing on a point in space beside Christina's arm.]

I can't help thinking . . . it had something to do with why you didn't shoot. Back then.

And maybe why you're bothering to warn me away now.

[secretmakesawoman]

[Part of Vermouth, a very small part, longs to tell Ran all. To spill the true reason for her interest and eternal gratitude. Perhaps it was her Angel's honesty that made it so tempting.]

[Yet that would not do. Any information revealed might be considered too much by the Organization's standpoint, placing Ran in grave danger. That couldn't happen. It was bad enough that her father had caught their eye, even briefly.]

[Oh, how she would like to deny it all, to pretend that the first time they met was when Ran decided to protect Sherry. Yet that would only lead to more questions, which spoken or unspoken might be dangerous.]

[After a long and uncomfortable pause, she chooses her words. Slowly, almost uncertainly trying to find a middle ground.]

Once... you and Shinichi showed me a great kindness.

[singlefaith]

So . . . we did meet before. [That much, at least, can be gleaned from the words.] You know us. Well enough to know our names.

[The way she says Shinichi's name, too . . . no honorific, bare in confident intimacy. Her mind flashes back to the dressing table in the dream before Vermouth awakened, all the photographs and articles piled onto the surface.] We . . . must have made an impression.

[And yet . . .]

But I don't remember meeting you. [The words are confused, wondering, almost a little helpless, her brow puckering. Her memory for faces has always been so good -- and Vermouth is so distinctive. How can she not remember such a person?]

[secretmakesawoman]

You could say that. [She answers, though vaguely.]

[While yes, the two have definitely earned her respect, that was only half the reason for her lack of honorific. Vermouth rarely used honorifics at all, unless a disguise required it. Perhaps her time in America developed the habit, or her current cover as the rude and stand-offish Chris Vineyard.]

[Vermouth is slightly relieved at Ran's words, yet slightly disappointed too. However, it was quite likely the only think saving her was the serial killer's disguise she had wore back then.]

I'm not surprised. [She plays it off casually.] It was some time ago. Many things have happened since then.