𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙸: i hope none of you were planning on going anywhere because this snow is here to stay. plows haven't even made it out of their own driveways yet, so if you're unlucky enough to be stuck at work, you better start deciding who you're going to kill first for sustenance. i've got my blanket —
𝚂𝙷𝙴𝙿: and i've got my pot brownies —
𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙸: and we'll be here all night, playing tunes for the stranded ohioans until the plows free us from the station.
NOTE, all employees are effectively snowed in to the strip. cars are buried under snow and there is a white-out of falling flakes; while the doors still open and walking home is technically feasible, it's dangerous. plows will not be able to clear everything and rescue staff members until the following afternoon at 4pm - leaving the crew stuck together for almost a full 24 hours ( plus their shifts beforehand ). due to the inclement weather, THE STRIP will be closed for the following two days for recovery.
TIMELINE,
10pm: someone notices all of the cars are snowed under and the doors are barely able to be pushed open.
11:30pm: victor and easy break into their apartment from the limerick access while everyone is looking for food.
12:15am: shane's birthday cake from jodi is found buried in the deep freezer; he decides that a talent show is the only fair way to decide who gets to eat the cake.
1am: the talent show is held.
10:30am: easy provides ( kind of shitty - he's very low on groceries ) banana pancakes to the weary staff members.
when she opens her eyes she is greeted by an ornate hand held mirror. she’s never seen it before, but it bears the Fraser rose insignia. it must be antique, and made of real gold. it’s weighted, yet her freckled wrist holds it at eye level as she scans the glass.
the reflection of the looking glass projects the finest of silk gowns upon peach toned skin. cheeks are warm and sun kissed by the setting beams in the sky. lips are brushed with a sweet pollen of pale pink oleander blooms, and her eyes are lined with almond-cocoa colored stibnite. she is in the wildwoods, she notes, she can smell the perfumes of the many flowers in the fields, but this nothing like the wildwoods. it’s calm and serene, and unmarked by any darkness. it’s a figment of her imagination tucked away with serene meadows, and wisteria hanging over the trees. behind lengthened mascara lashes there is not a tear in sight. and if she is quiet enough she can hear a family of meadowlark begin to grace her with a beautiful tune. sequined rays on gilded silk tulle netting give shape to long legs as the thin straps of her dress gather to accentuate a bust that is often puffed out to compensate for the shaky core she hides.
there is twitch and snap in sprigs behind her and that’s when she feels it ––the coldness.
something is not right in the stiff air. the plants don’t bring forth oxygen, and the sun is too bright in it’s setting. her lungs are too scared to inhale as if they know something’s wrong before she can fully comprehend. the illusion is beginning to shatter, and there is something in her tightened chest which tells her that it’s time to receive her tiara. a tiara– a title– a leadership she’s never truly asked for, but one she’s receiving without choice. anticipation crawls upon her skin like little puckering lips leaving kisses upon their grace. the handheld mirror is too heavy for her to hold any longer, and from clammy palms it falls to the ground– shattering against bare feet in signature gladiator sandals. but even glass in her feet, she stands tall. she hears another break in forest branches and a voice finally speaks to her in distorted vocal fry.
𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒎...
she’s craved this sound since the day it left the earth. she looks around, following the feathered yet contorted tone. bloodied toes navigate towards the sound that leads her into the darker parts of the wildwoods. the sharp rocks and sticks on the ground keep her from running, but she’s insistent on meeting that ringing that pulls her in so deceptively. it’s beautiful, light, almost ethereal. she passes the singing meadowlark on her way to meet her mother’s voice. the shaded trees hide any true light, but she smiles as she makes her way deeper into the forrest. it reverberates against logs and tree bark. it almost sounds the same as she remembers it. it even carries the same disdain as the voice often called out to its daughter when it was alive. a warm tear falls upon her cheek as she closes her eyes to focus on the sound of her mother’s voice. the regal words of Lady Silk pull her into even more darkness.
𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕...
it coos, and soothes, and it swaddles and nurtures. the daughter squeezes her eyes shut but her actions don’t stop the tiny tears as they continue to break into more grieving sobs. the air wraps her in a delicate sway, as a mother should. in that moment she is tender. she is loved. she is no longer alone. the warmth of palms ghosts her face–– she can almost ignore how cold it is against her skin. there is a maternal sting to how hands glissade and curve the rounds of her cheeks. she’s foolish to lean into the touch. she’s foolish to let her tears fall onto such foreign palms. she should know better than to cry in her mother’s embrace. and yet she thinks she can stay there for years in that dream. that she could drill little holes into her eyelids to keep her from waking up. that slumbering and re-meeting her mother was better than any life she could ever fail to live up to.
but the nightmare is just beginning, and the voice garbles into a new sound as her mother’s words twist into a horrifying peal she’s never heard in all of her years––
𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒎, 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 ! the voice mocked.
eyes fly open in horror to meet the absence of a face– the absence of a body– the absence of touch. its unnatural, made of shadows, and infectious. she can feel the darkness penetrate her skin, causing the hairs on her arms to sway in a death-like trance. she opens her mouth to cry for her mother, but not a sound escapes her shaking throat. even so, the most merciful being in the world couldn’t rid her of this nightmare. she tries to summon her own Kudzu bow, but all the mana in the world was lost against the figure before her. she is helpless. her palms are empty. her mother is not there. she is caught by something formless, infinite, and full of discord. her body continues to shake as it speaks.
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓, 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖? 𝑹𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒔. Misty hands made of shadows and nebulae slid down the curves of the Cursed Blood’s face. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒑𝒐𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈, it cooed. 𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉, 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆...
and the wildwoods grow even darker. the smell of blood is thick in the air, as winds whistle in their tiny vortexes. her mother’s ability to manipulate tornadoes live again, as harsh winds lash against her face. the clangs and clashes of screaming clans grow louder in her ears. the death tolls rises as bodies pile to be burned in campfire wood. she can hear the ghostlike cry of children as they scream for their mothers. she watches as flames engulf villages. there is a serious of slaps she feels against her cheek as she questions each life taken by the hands of her mother. her memories scatter within the trees of the wildwoods, but one stands out in particular...
she hears the sound of the sharpening of a blade, as she dances around in the new dress her mother requested to be made for her on the day of execution. the sun is high in the sky as the clouds part for near perfect weather. the breeze is strong, with a slight smell of roasted nuts ( refreshments were served before the act was to be completed ) still teeming in the air. her tiny young arms reach up for her father so that he may place her on his shoulders. she wants to watch. the sound of her own voice is grating as she begs him to do as she says. she uses mother as leverage to get what she wants, with an added tiny foot stomping her sandals in the ground. she is on the brink of a throwing a tantrum before she’s scooped up. a gleeful cry leaves her lungs as her father fills her requests. the back of her sandals kick at her father’s chest as she claps for the man as he’s escorted to his place. she asks again, “What’s an execution?” as the man is asked for any last words. she shushed with a tiny crowd– advisors of her mother, followers of House Fraser, and others watching the example be made. as the sword cuts the neck clean the little cherub keeps her eyes open. she knows she’s not supposed to look away. but it hits harder than anyone could have ever warned her. her smile fades, as her father claps for his wife’s achievements. her stomach sinks to the ground, and Seraphim hides her tear for the Vanitas boy. she doesn’t wish to be scolded later.
as a little girl she was obedient, but even now, her palms tense up as that familiar feeling of sympathy settles within a heart that is missing. a dense fog settles in the atmosphere, so thick it grows harder to breath. the vegetation of the wildwoods loses its color– wisteria vines turn white and fade, their petals fall from the sky and disintegrate into ash. black ichor seeps from the cracks and wrinkles of every surrounding tree. the smell of rot and decay replaces the perfumed bushes and sprouting blooms of the meadow. the pollution is heavy, but the voice carries on in a million tiny echos with every brush of the wind against leaves.
𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚, 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒅𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒐𝒍𝒇 𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒔 𝒖𝒑𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒆? Like a thick blanket of fog, the entity darted through Seraphim. It stained her clothing with a noxious sludge.
she is paralyzed as the golden gown upon her skin grows rotten and rancid, attracting maggots as she trembles in fear. the thick sludge covers her skin in bright scarlet hues and shades. it’s putrid and smells of mildew. it stings the bridge of her nose as she is reminded of the decomposing animal that she is. a howl in the distance cries out for her to hear, but once the song is finished, the meadowlark come to feast on the vermin upon her skin. sharp pecks of lark beaks nip and strike at her gown. they nuzzle in the crown of her head in search of all of her rotten parts. they pick and bite and lick her clean as they make her bleed golden blood. she fails to fight them off, hides her face, and releases an inhumane sound she’s never heard leave her lips. she screams in pain but they are hungry and relentless and their chirps sting against raw flesh. her own howls, are no match for their songs, but once the maggots are gone, so are the larks. the dress she wears is no longer gilded, but tattered, and torn. it’s no fit to match a gilded tiara... she quakes in her own rot.
and even in her afflictions there is a quick nod to the last suggestion– it was far more appealing than the town realizing her true nature. it was far better to be feared than loved, but even better than to rule with fear. the squeal against that first suggestion echoes as she nods again, quick little agreements as her flesh crawls. the figure speaks of a plan that was already thought of, already formed by her mother’s wishes, already in her destiny. it’s what Lady Silk would have wanted; House Fraser overthrowing every other house– every snippet of royalty– ruling with obliteration and without question. she’d be a legacy of legacies– she could look down on them all, and smile in her own destruction. Seraphim would be completely foolish to deny that.
but then come words she’s never heard–
𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕...𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒊𝒆𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖, it whispered.
a catch in her breath halts her cries. she trips upon her own breathing, as an enthralling gaze searches the darkness for understanding. she’s curious to know why. amber eyes wish to know, what could she offer? what was she worth if this darkness desired her? and was her mother always right about her? was she always destined for this greatness?
she nods a final time. already having made her decision. when was the last time anyone– anything wanted her anyway?
An outstretched hand reached for where Seraphim’s heart should be.
her eyes follow the hand– and she stands very still. she is ready for a shadow of a palm to enclose around that organ, but even she questions if she was born with one–– she takes her steps forward, willing to seal this deal. she can already see what the two of them could do for this cursed world. she could already feel the glory, and she wanted it to. it buzzed within her toxic veins– all she ever wanted was to make her mother proud.
𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒕 𝒔𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒅𝒍𝒚, 𝑰 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒉. As if stung, The Boundary recoiled back. It slowly disintegrated into darkness, leaving her alone in the nightmare where illusions and old memories lurked around every corner. 𝑾𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖...𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓?
but it recoils. it fades. it leaves her, and once again she is alone. a pained whisper verbally agrees as she shuts her eyes, hoping to summon the creature back. “Yes. I accept.”
but when she opens her eyes she is greeted by an ornate hand held mirror...
What a strange night, the building was strange, the vibe was strange, just everything felt strange. Surreal even. Like a dream. Carter wasn’t sure what she thought or how she felt yet, most of her wanted her suspicions to be true; that something supernatural or miraculous was going on. But she also couldn’t wrap her head around that completely, her logical scientific mind wouldn’t allow it.
She had gotten up half-way through the awkward dinner, some of the girls were talking amongst themselves— it seemed not everyone here was a stranger. Though there was one or two faces she recalled, that she had never seen before. Taking her leave to go to the bathroom, she wandered the darkening halls in search of the place; old paintings of the towns mayors staring down at her ominously. Finally she managed to find it, quickly doing her business before promptly washing her hands.
Carter couldn’t help the sigh that rose into her chest, as she stared at her reflection, wiping delicate slender hands on a handful of paper towels. Leaning forward she examined herself in the mirror, fixing her bangs here, wiping away smudged makeup there, tightening her ponytail etc. An idea flashing through her mind, someone needed to get answers, someone needed to say something. They all needed to have a chat together, to figure this out, was it a prank? Was it real? Was it an accident? Did they all receive a book? Did no one have see who delivered the package or invitation? Turning to leave, the bathroom door suddenly swung open, almost hitting the dark-haired woman.
“ tonight could go nicely if everyone can put aside their differences to get along , “ judith paused. “ so there’s a thirty percent chance that will happen. “ she look around the room. “ even less , in fact. “ hunters and supernaturals mixing together ? it was never a good sign.
Strange things have started to happen around the academy. A handful of students have disappeared, and students were harmed in freak accidents happening (i.e. Cassidy being gunned down). People aren’t sure what has happened to them. The Supreme, Faculty and Students are just assuming that there is just an influx in crime, but something has been feeling off about this idea. Why would people be only hurting the witches? Why were only witches disappearing? Caleb Cromwell, a teacher with a strong gift of divination, had been sought out to help find out if there was a true danger coming. Sadly, his vision proved there was. This caused some high alert when told to the supreme, but it was kept in close ranks not to insight hysteria amongst the students anymore than there already was. As days went on, one of the younger witches, Carlisle St. Clair, had a feeling of his own that there was danger coming for the witches. So, he began to spread the word amongst the classmates, but no one seemed to believe him. It was as if they didn’t think there was a chance of even a real threat. Almost a week after the thanksgiving holiday, the school decided it was time to throw a small party of their own. Something to welcome all the witches back into the school from time away, but as the party raged on, the witch hunters began their biggest hit yet. There was a sound of screeching tires flying away as one of the witches walked to the front gate to find a young James Germain slaughtered and tied to their gates. Hung as a warning, and in that moment, it became clear. The missing students were dead, and the witch hunters were back. It was now up to the Supreme and teachers to prepare a battle plan to save their coven before it’s too late.
@idsaeran, season’s change music festival ( event, +5 exp, +5 skill free-choice )
they’re near one edge of the large stretch of stage. there’s another group or two taking up space in different areas. a few memebrs here or there looking to get a feel for the stage, to run through dance remixes before they actually have to practice for sound check. san is, of course, among them. he always is. there’s something obsessive built up inside him. a fury that points toward perfection. a fury that turns back around on him when he can never seem to reach that peak. he knows, logically, that it’s not possible. but it’s been instilled in him. planted like a seed in his psyche by his mother. past the point of sprouting like a clod of weeds. it’s a tree, roots embedded deep inside of him.
it’s not a gift he’s ever learned to appreciate. there’s a logical part of himself that hates it despite everyone around him feeding compliments into wildly unhealthy behavior. his company loves it, his body does not. it’s easy to predict who wins out when it comes to san (that winner is never himself). he doesn’t miss her. she’s not exactly cut out of his life, but if there’s one thing he appreciated when he just debuted as a teen was being ripped away from his mother’s side.
not that there weren’t people there to pick up the slack. that would simply be asking too much of the world. saeran had seemed comfortable enough slipping into that role without quite realizing what he was doing at first. or maybe, at this point he has. eight years means you pick up on details of the lives of your group. even if you hate them. even if you linger near the outskirts willing yourself to disappear. something antagonistic inside of him. condescending, snide. that particular way where he could get underneath san’s skin and burn at him like salt pressed deep into wounds. not always. but sometimes. sometimes when he forced his way into san’s head. when san’s overworked, underfed, desperate. moments like that and he’s easier to topple than most might think. he tries to keep it guarded. he doesn’t want to be easy to force him to his knees. he wants to be made of stone. unmoving. uncaring. unfortunately, he’s simply a man.
saeran’s usually right alongside him at moments like these. attempting to play catch up in a race they’re already leading. he wishes he could yank himself away, practice their song on his own. but it would be stupid, they need to perform together. so san steps through his moves with loose limbs. not entirely serious, rolling through the motions, shadowing reworked choreography in lazy steps. no point in wasting too much energy when they need to spend it all later. besides, they’re olympus’ songs. he knows them like the back of his hand. what he really wants to do is nab milo and rehearse a less than familiar routine. “sharper. that move.” it slides out to meet saeran’s dancing before san has time to remind himself that engaging saeran in anything even mildly critical is probably more effort than it’s worth.
𝚂𝙷𝙴𝙿: good evening and happy monday, ohio. it is a brisk twenty-eight degrees this evening and everyone in town seems to be bracing themselves for snowfall; everyone, it seems, except for the employees over at the strip.
𝙻𝙾𝚁𝙸: yep. local band 2ND HEAVEN - comprised completely of beloved managers - has just left on their midwestern tour. they'll be gone an entire month, leaving the employees with only their assistant managers for guidance. what do you think, shep? is it going to be business as usual, or will the strip burn down within the week?
𝚂𝙷𝙴𝙿: i think they're just going to ****ing party.
2nd heaven has just left for their first big tour - aka whatever local spots they can drive to outside of colossal - which means it’s time for the assistant managers to step-up. their first order of business ? throw an after-hours basement party, of course ! the food, alcohol, and folding chairs have been purchased, smuggled in, and distributed, so now all they need is for it to hit closing time ( 7pm ! ) and the festivities can begin. limericks might be closed on monday, but the bartenders won’t be missing out on the festivities - especially since everyone else will be begging for custom mixed drinks with lemons swiped from the basement cold stock. wary of the impending snow storm forecast for the evening, many have carpooled and lugged in some extra blankets, but most are only focused on one thing: finally letting loose without the managers breathing down their backs.
OOC INFORMATION,
welcome to our opening event! this event takes place JAN. 26, 1999 but will last ooc from JAN. 24 to FEB. 11. there will be a plot update on JAN. 27. we are open for plotting today, and starters may be posted after 12pm est tomorrow !
please place all threads during the event or slightly before ( you can set a thread during their workday ). any thread made before the plot update MUST take place before 10:30pm.
all characters must be present during this event, so if your character wouldn't be caught dead at a party, get creative about their reasons for having to stay.
if you have any questions, just shoot us a message on the server or through the main <3