"it's only fair. i let you warm up... now it's your turn to let me cool off." like alvie hasn't gotten anything else out of that, either. like max hasn't! but none of that is important. "so come on and cuddle up, cold cut."
"What if you're all sweaty?" he protested, rolling his eyes. "I swear if you get any body glitter on me..." For all his grumbling, he's quick to pull Max's head into his lap. Icy fingertips gently circling the mutant's temples. "Try not to melt into a puddle, devil."
Jiro didn't want to stomp on this Van Meter like he did the other, neither did he want to stampede through Leon's library unlike the destruction he sought for the other one. Jiro must have misheard fission, "nuclear vision." At this point Jiro neither knew what he or Leon were talking about, so, he just went for the next request. "Can you turn concreate bricks into lego bricks? Someone told me I needed a new outlet…"
"Alchemy is not the magic of fairy godmothers, young man. It's, it's grounded in science. Concrete lacks the necessary carbon in order to--" Leon pinches the bridge of his nose, cutting his explanation of elements short. "Have you ever taken a chemistry class?"
"years? what the fuck are you talking about, it's been, like... 12 hours since I last saw you!" yes, she's more defined than most of the things he sees and yes, she hasn't been making him paranoid either. she's actually pretty chill. he doesn't mind her. "oh my god, woman, calm the fuck down! you are in my head! I'm the one that's supposed to be freaking out!"
"Right, people are usually afraid of ghosts. I knew that," she said, mostly to herself. Summer's spectral form swooped across the room, so she could stand face-to-face with the councilman. "But I'm not a real ghost," she said. "I'm not in your head, either. So really, there's no reason to freak out! You've have to believe me!"
Rook took a swig of homemade moonshine from a flask. "I've got all my limbs 'cause I believe there ain't no such thing as a bad beastie," he said, sullenly. "This killin' 'em business, now it sure as hell ain't the way to go!" He slammed the metal flask against the table, and it's loudness made him wince sheepishly. "Sorry, man, I got supercharged out there," he sighed. "Been cranky ever since."
It'd become a hobby of sorts -- watching other people's televisions. Summer floated in the living room, more engrossed in the commercial break than the documentary. "Crap, there's finally a decent outlet sale," she said. "And I'm still stuck in bunny slippers."
see, he wouldn't mind the occassional hallucination in the corner of his eye. it's fine, he's used to it. they sit on the couch without much of a fuss, and maybe he even likes it. he's not alone, at least. well... not in his mind, in a sense. when the hallucination starts talking, however... now that's a completely different kind of crazy. "ay coñ--" the bowl of nuts he's been snacking on goes flying as he does some weird maneuver and jumps up and away from her. he should know, though. they are everywhere. they follow. "not now, please... fuck me, I got a big day tomorrow, I can't have another episode! where's my m-- have you seen them? no, shut up, stop talking. where are they....?"
"You can see me?" she said. The ghost soars into the air, hands clutched to her chest as she flips like a fish in a tank. "You don't understand -- it's been five freaking years!" she squealed. "I had to take up talking to myself, since nobody was ever listening. I mean, do you have any idea how lonely that is? I had to start haunting and possessing to get some human interaction, or else I'd go crazy. Are you a thousand percent sure you see me right now?"
"Aagh-! Get off me, goddamn it!" The man's face is beet-red and pushed so hard into the table that his voice is muffled, but even with a jarred wrist and one leg streaming with blood, apologies evade him. His breath is booze-and-hate-scented as it steams against the table and he watches Seth from the very corner of his eye, quivering with pain and rage. "Okay okay, get your fuckin' dog, Seth! I'll pay it, I'll pay double, just get him off!"
Seth straightens back up to full height with the knife in his hand: the throw was feeble and the weapon hadn't even made it to him, only clattered across the floor to his feet instead. He examines the thing, appraising its weight in his alloy hand before approaching. "Double," he repeats, almost thoughtfully, his heavy boots scraping the blood-spotted ground with every step. "A for effort, but too fuckin' little, too fuckin' late, huh? You treat my girl rough, you skip bills, you bleed all over my goddamn floor, and then you don't even have the sense to apologize for it when you have the chance?"
Seth stops at the table, bending so that his shoulders cast a shadow across Alvie and his seething prey. "I'm afraid it's not a money issue anymore, baby... it's a brain issue." Abruptly he raises the knife and plunges it hard into the man's hand, driving its tip through all that flesh and bone and wood with a meaty thud. The man howls; Seth speaks low into Alvie's ear, intending for his order to be heard clearly above all the suffering.
The hunt is about taking what should be yours. Subduing the warm flesh that is denied to you. Drawing out the liquid life that sits brackish and still within your own veins. Defying your eternal punishment as hot blood brims in your mouth, slipping down your lip corners faster than you could swallow.
Alvie makes the process hurt.
The heady scent of fear -- a spike of hormones invigorating as peeling a citrus fruit -- excites him. The stronger the man's fear, the deeper the vampire's teeth sank. Alvie knows those pulsing veins by heart -- knows how to drag it out, to get the most of his newfound toy's screams. He exceeds the threshold for a comfortable amount of venom, as it grows into a poison scorching his victim's veins. By the time it reaches their heart, the pain will be unbearable.
Alvie shivers. He drinks until their screams weaken and then, pulls away because a little snack isn't the same thing as a kill. Blood smears across his face, staining his teeth and seeping between his gums. He rests his head against the table, so that he could gaze into the eyes of his victim. "I could hurt him," he said. The vampire brushes the back of his hand against their face, claws grazing their undereye. "I could hurt him good."
His cheek is squished against the wood as he rests there, almost affectionate towards his would-be kill. Alvie glances up at Seth, an involuntary whine for permission escaping him. "For you, Mr. Van Meter," he said. The decorative chain at his collar drapes off the table edge, swinging like an empty noose.
The buzz of fresh blood is ecstasy, but so is taking orders. Seth handles those pesky, moral quandaries that make his head ache. All he had to do was forget the outside world, listen to Mr. Van Meter's voice, and act on instinct.
Summer & Your Choice (tagging @sassyspiced, but you can use any character)
"Oh, that's a big beastie," she said. The crowd rushed, a tangle of screaming bodies pushing and shoving each other. Summer followed the flow of people. But having become a ghost in a pair of bunny slippers -- well, she quickly fell behind. "Wait! Wait for me!" she shouted. The mutant's giant foot crashed down and to an observer, the woman should've been flattened like a pancake. Only, when it lifted its foot she stood perfectly fine in her semi-transparent form. "Right. Intangible means unsquishable. Almost forgot because of the sight of this thing's nasty pedicure."
Summer's intangible hand pushed through the computer screen, scrolling through extremely confidential patient histories. But it was alright -- she was invisible! Well, until she wasn't. Her invisibility faltered, allowing the semi-transparent spectre that was her ghost form to be found at the scene of the crime. "Ghost patients...ghost patients...ew, that's one way for ectoplasm to send you to a hospital," she mumbled. The screen glitched out. A rainbow of pixels zigzagged across the glass, the computer's fans hummed on overdrive, and the outlet flashed with a single, bright spark.
It'd become a hobby of sorts -- watching other people's televisions. Summer floated in the living room, more engrossed in the commercial break than the documentary. "Crap, there's finally a decent outlet sale," she said. "And I'm still stuck in bunny slippers."
"You are testing the...the limits of our recent miracles," he said. "What you're asking for is nothing short of nuclear fission. I'm afraid I can't help you, unless your next request is to transmute iron into gold."
( anthony head, 65, cis man, he/him ) — Look who it is! If you take a look at our database, you’ll find that LEON VAN METER is a an ACADEMIC LIBRARIAN that works in SECTOR 5. According to the file, they’re a mutant with the power of ALCHEMY. That must be why they’re PRAGMATIC and UTILITARIAN. If you ask me, they remind me of a gold lion's head topping a cane's handle, the grind of mortar and pestle, stacks of occultic reference books, glinting crystals in a sterile laboratory . They are affiliated with NOBODY.
basic information:
character name: Leon Van Meter
nickname (s): He'll whack you with a stick Yoda-style if you shorten his name further. God god, it's only four letters!
face claim: Anthony Stewart Head
mutation status: Gen I (Physical mutations are a lion's eye on his right, a lion's tail, and a chimera-looking hand on his left that he keeps concealed in a leather glove. It's noticeably larger and more lion-looking than the normal human hand on his right. Very Aslan coded!)
how do they feel about living in sol city? have they always lived there or did they travel from another settlement?
Leon has always lived in Sol City, unfortunately. And is, unfortunately, a son of a Van Meter. It's all extremely unfortunate if you ask him -- and please do, since he likes to decry how shitty his father was.
do they trust the council’s leadership? why or why not?
If his brother managed to become a councilman, then he knows this city has questionable leadership! Leon doesn't find the council any more egregious than the politicians of any other sector, but he is skeptical of at least one member's qualifications.
if they chose their sector and profession, why did they make that choice? if they didn’t, why not? were they happy with their assignment or not?
Leon did not inherit the life's work of his father. He was too rebellious at the time -- and perhaps, that old man had looked into his son's eyes and knew he'd burn it down to collect the insurance money. In a sense, that freed him to make his own choices. He went into academia, found himself a fulfilling job as librarian of an elite university. Leon settled into a role as a special collections librarian, curating and managing rare materials to assist researchers.
what’s one object that they always keep on their person?
He uses a cane as a walking aid, so that's always by his side.
(mutant only section)
what is your character’s ability (or abilities)? Alchemy
are they gen i or gen ii? Gen I
what can your character do? what are their strengths?
Alchemy: Leon's alchemy allows him to transmute materials, altering their form or deconstructing them into individual elements. It can breech into the world of medicine at times, but that requires more preparatory work and experimentation. Some applications of his alchemy could be to deconstruct the properties of a liquid, so that it releases a harmful gas. Or, he can transmute raw material in his enviornment to create structures (provided there's enough material for him to work with) like extending bridges or creating spikes from the ground.
what can’t they do? what are their weaknesses?
Alchemy: Leon cannot stray too far from legitimate chemistry. (Despite the mun having failed chemistry, I'm sure it'll be fine! :D) So while he can transmute lead/iron into silver/gold, he can't just snap his fingers and make a gold bar out of your deodorant stick. He can't make something from nothing, and for the alchemy to be stable he needs a solid understanding of the materials he's working with. He's also getting older, so the extensive use of his abilities taxes him more than it used to.
is there anything else you’d like to specify about them?
His home got avalanched in the snow storm, so now he's roomies with Seth! Trying to rebuild their sibling bond, but ending up bickering the whole time!
( shannon thornton, 38, cis woman, she/her ) — Look who it is! If you take a look at our database, you’ll find that SUMMER NICOLE is an INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST & that works in SECTOR 5. According to the file, they’re a mutant with the power of GHOST PHYSIOLOGY & OBJECT TELEPORTATION. That must be why they're BRAVE and SELF-RIGHTEOUS. If you ask me, they remind me of the still of night when you're alone with your thoughts, a spilled inkwell blotting out secrets, a haunted computer sparking and going haywire, a pair of watchful eyes that fade like blinking stars. They are affiliated with NOBODY.
how do they feel about living in sol city? have they always lived there or did they travel from another settlement?
Summer has always lived in Sol City. However, she has a unique perspective in that she's seen how the city behaves when they believe nobody is looking. She's unsure of what's caused her disappearing act, but the past five years had rendered her completely invisible and intangible to the people around her. While she's recently become visible, she still can't become corporeal. After she's seen the lies and corruption of the city, and is set on a mission to expose it, she's afraid if she becomes physical again that she won't be able to go ghost again -- and her expose days will be totally over.
do they trust the council’s leadership? why or why not?
Summer has a sneaking suspicion that the council conceals pretty hefty secrets. However, she's more concerned about the city's factions -- the jaguars, the syndicate, the damned. She's bookmarked snooping around the council for later, when the right opportunity arises and there's a mystery with her name on it.
if they chose their sector and profession, why did they make that choice? if they didn’t, why not? were they happy with their assignment or not?
Summer fell into her profession first, then fell in love with it. She's never been the best at the sciences (her chemistry beakers in high school tended to go boom) or math (crying at the kitchen counter over statistics core!). But, what Summer always loved was a good research project. When she wanted to know something, she didn't stop until she found answers. She had a warm, fun personality that built rapport with people and they trusted her with their stories.
what’s one object that they always keep on their person?
She currently can't keep objects around her -- that pesky intangibility thing! -- but, she does like to scatter her missing person's notice around. Maybe one day, someone will see her again.
(mutant only section)
what is your character’s ability (or abilities)? Ghost physiology & object teleportation
are they gen i or gen ii? Gen II
what can your character do? what are their strengths?
Ghost physiology: The abilities associated with your traditional ghosts: she can walk through walls, disappear, and fly! Summer's much more unique than the other--(I watched too much Danny Phantom as a child tbh). Most noticeably, she can sort of "haunt" objects and ghostly possession tends to make electronics go haywire.
Object teleportation: She can summon objects she's come into contact with. But if she's intangible, the objects will slip through her fingers.
what can’t they do? what are their weaknesses?
Summer's biggest problem is that her abilities are unstable. She's not sure how it happened -- hell, it's kinda hard to remember what happened -- but, she stopped being able to physically interact with the world. Then, she became completely invisible to the human eye. This left her trapped, roaming a city she couldn't interact with. The intangibility sounds great at first, but once you realize your punches travel harmlessly through other people & if you go invisible they can't hear you...you're kinda at a stalemate.
Although her ghostly form radiates heat, it also makes electronics glitch-out and it's made trying to contact people an absolute hell. Recently, she's become visible again and is trying to unravel what's happening to her. In an ideal world, she'd be able to switch between a physical body and ghost body on the fly.
is there anything else you’d like to specify about them?
Ngl I wanted to write what would happen if buffy anne summers had danny phantom powers LJKFDSKJFD that's it, that's the post
⸻ ( chai hansen, 33, cis man, he/him ) — Look who it is! If you take a look at our database, you’ll find that ROOK NARAVIT CHANAPAI is a PLANT FARMER that works in SECTOR 2. According to the file, they’re a mutant with the power of ASTRAL CONDUIT MAGIC & ANIMAL EMPATHY. That must be why they’re TENDERHEARTED and DISORGANIZED. If you ask me, they remind me of a cigarette pinched between a tattooed forefinger and thumb, a slowed walk for the stray mutt scampering at his heels, croaking frogs tucked into overall pockets, the friendly tip of a dusty cowboy hat, broad shoulders hoisting hay barrels, curious eyes following the spirits whispering in the eaves, gentle hands in a haunted house. They are affiliated with NOBODY.
ARMAGEDDON’S TASK 001: INTRODUCTIONS
for our first task, we’re keeping it simple. this is a mandatory task that will help you introduce your character(s) to the group. there is no set deadline to complete it, but sooner is better.
how do they feel about living in sol city? have they always lived there or did they travel from another settlement?
Rook has always lived in Sol City, raised by his grandmother (Meemaw!) since he was a young boy. His parents were essentially killed from meddling with mutations they didn't understand, and pushed him to develop his powers & turn away from humanity. Their belief system was ruled by fear, whereas Rook's worldview as an adult is ruled by love. Day-by-day, he wants to make Sol City a better place.
do they trust the council’s leadership? why or why not?
Rook doesn't trust the council out of principle. He doesn't like people in suits making decisions for a healing world they don't understand -- one they don't take the time to listen to.
if they chose their sector and profession, why did they make that choice? if they didn’t, why not? were they happy with their assignment or not?
Rook enjoys working with his hands, physical work, and being connected with nature. It only felt natural to work in agriculture, where he could put his farm sensibilities to good use. He's an expert in sustainable farming, a valuable skill in a world of rapidly dwindling resources.
what’s one object that they always keep on their person?
His hat!!! Rook's never without his cowboy hat! It's great for when he's working in agriculture, but also because he just looks ~~so damn cute~~ handsome in it!
(mutant only section)
what is your character’s ability (or abilities)? Astral conduit magic and animal empathy
are they gen i or gen ii? Gen ii
what can your character do? what are their strengths?
Astral conduit magic: Rook is like a radio antenna that tunes into otherworldly frequencies. 📡 The energies of different planes of existence can pass through him, manifesting as supernatural occurances in our world. Most of these can be pretty horror-movie coded for the spooky shenanigans! As Rook describes it, he has a working relationship with spirits/forces on the other side. Mostly for premonitions or handy-dandy floating. But if he digs deeper -- if he reaches for power older and stranger than what sits on the surface, he could become a real force to be reckoned with.
Animal Empathy: Rook can form bonds with animals, including the freaky mutated ones! He can understand their emotions and to an extent, somewhat communicate with them. He's learned that he can calm agitated creatures down, as his own laid-back emotions travel through their empathetic link. The problem is, however, that he's too attached to feral beasts that can't be subdued unless he's around. Not too many people in Sol City are keen on getting eaten by giant beasties!
what can’t they do? what are their weaknesses?
Astral conduit magic: Rook has a limited understanding of his ability, and as such has only scratched the surface. The forces of the astral plane travel through him on their terms, of their own volition without his effort. As a result, supernatural spookiness often happens to him -- rather than being something that's purposefully summoned. He uses his animal empathy, which he knows much more about, as a model framework for how to communicate with spirits. He tries to form a mutual bond of equals, rather than acting as a commander, and this has inconsistent results. He's unaware of how deep these forces go, and has not fortified himself mentally, physically, or spiritually against ancient, powerful forces in deeper planes of existence. It leaves him extremely vulnerable, essentially a gateway for them to exact their will on earth. Likely, it'll be a power he has to take responsibility for and train to master in order to keep his loved ones safe. Unfortunately, he's probably betting on illegal mutant-toad racing and smoking weed in his underwear instead of training.
Animal empathy: Rook cannot remove an animal's free will or force them to make decisions. Bonds can be strengthened and worked on, but the fragile trust he builds through the empathetic link can be destroyed by the meddling of others. Communication may improve the more time he spends with an animal, but he'll have to survive the rough initial stages of bonding with a wild beast to get there.
is there anything else you’d like to specify about them?
Please, he loves his critters 🥺 !!!! Give him critters to love!
by CLICKING THE SOURCE LINK of this post, you will be redirected to #103 gifs of DEVERY JACOBS (1993) in OH. WHAT. FUN. as donna. please reblog if editing/using in any way.
"Fill it with whatever you want," he said. "Make it yours." His cold fingertips work deep into the muscle. Max's body rests against him, and he feels the heat lick his undead skin like a flame. "Don't forget that list," he said. He does miss it -- the indiscriminate hunting, the satisfaction and completeness it brought him. Alvie could still get some action through roughing up visitors for Seth, but it wasn't the same. "Like a dog with a bone, I can bring you every item on it," he said. "You'd be doing me a favor, handsome. I get worked up without action to blow off some steam."
"hmmm..." his eyes fall shut, enjoying the hands and gentle murmur of the vampire both. "that sounds like you're coming onto me." who can really blame him? max knows that he's a catch—and even more so now that he's not so mangled anymore. "all for some stupid list? you really do want to get your hands dirty. i can see why seth likes you." he finishes with half a snort, but without the usual derision. "keep kneading like that and you might just get what you want. believe it or not, i'm pretty good at helping people blow off steam."
"Does it? I've always leaned into the hot-blooded types," he murmured. Or more accurately, any grown individual with a heartbeat. There's a thrill that courses through his unmoving chest, when Max admits that Seth does like him. "I have needs," he says, like he still had a shred of pride to cling to. "They might be different than yours, but I still need them fulfilled. There might be a few we share." He works his hands deep around a knot, no matter how badly he wanted to toy with the man's hair instead. It's an interesting exercise -- he can't bite Max, not without scorching his damn tongue off. So the twisting knot that made blood, sex, and violence entangled into one had some semblance of separation in the mutant's presence. "Some common ground."
"Until you want them to concern me," he said, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "A man doesn't expect endless eyeball skewers and entrails a la carte for free," he said. "What will it be? Give you an oath of loyalty? You want me to swear on my undead flesh and blood?" Alvie understood little about the rules of his mutation. He knew he'd shrivel up in a thousand year sleep without live blood, he knew hunting kept him from restless pacing like an animal in zoochosis-- the basics. But, he'd never gone as far to be a flesh-eater before. His instincts rang an alarm that it was taboo, but his insatiable hunger was satisfied by a palate cleanse. He tilted his head at a brainy-looking entré.
elias savors another bite of his meal before he speaks again. "unless i want them to concern you, that's exactly right. at the moment, none of them need removing in the way you specialize in. although," his eyes flicker up, careful and shrewd; "there may be some use for your talents yet. i trust you to keep your claws sharp for the opportunity." another few bites in and he's already feeling better—he isn't someone to trifle with when hunger is on his mind. "what i want more than anything is your discretion. i don't care for payment, save for one: when i call, you will come to my side."
"Discretion is a given," he said. Alvie cast his gaze down at his empty, porcelain plate. A flicker of emotion crosses his face -- it's something like shame. "Right, these lunches never happened," he said. "When I walk out the door, I'm back to redemption." He picks up the nearest dish, not caring or minding what it is, and stuffs it in his mouth. The flavors are neutralized by the cooking, the blood too faint to make a difference. It sits like ash on his tongue. "Being a good guy is harder than it looks," he said, through frustrated chewing. "Everyone deserves a cheat day!"
