middaeg | You will hunt Beasts

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You will hunt Beasts

Who: Lady Maria

whomthebelltolls, a special guest appearance from a Doppelganger that is here for you, Good Hunter, and OPEN
When: Juril
Where: Aefenglom, Dorchacht, and the Northern Outpost
What: Juril Quest and General Open Log
Warnings: Maria handling the Doppelganger thing poorly.

[1: Suspicious Activity]

[The Haunted Mansion isn't exactly the most friendly, and inviting place. Even though the hedges and lawn and front garden are immaculately trimmed and maintained, there's still an unfriendly, foreboding feeling - purposefully - around the whole place.

So it's no wonder that the first time the cultists visit the front door, they're scared off and into the night by the seven foot tall, pale as a ghost monstrosity of a woman that answers. They barely get off a word about sin and repentance that makes her glower at them yet harder before they lose nerve, but it's enough for Maria to get a sense of what they're about.

They don't return to the Haunted Mansion, but that doesn't mean Maria couldn't find them... elsewhere. Actually, now that she knows what to look for - and that the City Guard has put up notices to be on the lookout for them - she sees them almost everywhere.

It's one evening that she's heading back home from a stint at Diplomatea that she sees them knocking at the doors of the Haven. Perhaps it is your characters'. Perhaps it's simply a friend, or neighbor's. Either way... Maria steps up to them.] ... These again. You! What business have you in this area?

[They turn, and startle, but they're not quite as chased off. Not yet, but soon they launch into proselytizing about purity and sin and redemption, and with every word about how unforgivable everyone is, and that none shall ever be free of sin, she gets visibly more agitated... until she teleports forward, grabbing the first cultist she sees on getting out of it, and lifting them by the front of their robes until they're eye level with her. She bares her fangs, lips curling up on the last statement-] And what know you of sin?

[This is bad. Either help the cultist - the poor youngster is just flapping his arms and squawking in a wordless way that makes his voice crack - or come scare them off with Maria!]

[2: Doppelgangers]

[a:]

[It... looks like Maria; the same height, the same pallid skin and fair hair, a similar manner of dress. It sounds like Maria, but somehow... even softer. There's a warmth to its voice that just... isn't quite there when Maria speaks, and maybe that's the first clue something is amiss.

It's sitting in one of the little parks near the city center, chatting - amicably - with a Monster couple that had decided to have a picnic nearby; a fluffy bison faun and a pit viper naga. They part with smiles, and laughs, and the not-quite Maria steps away to go sit under a tree nearby. She kneels, then sits, watching the world around her, humming a soft tune to herself as she watches. Soon enough, a stray cat wanders by, and it entices the cat over with a bit of food - likely given as a snack from the picnicking couple - and soon enough... there sits someone or something that looks like Maria - with a cat in its lap, humming softly to itself, watching the world go by with a warmth in her usually icy eyes.

Clearly, something is very wrong.]

[b:]

[This was bound to happen eventually. Ever since the doppelganger got out, Maria had been searching for it, and finally, she has found it. And it found her. And the reunion is a bit... awkward. Because Maria - the real one, with all the spite and ice in her eyes, and the curl of her lips baring one of her sharp upper canines - looks to be on the ropes. The doppelganger is approaching slowly - and there's an unnerving amount of boldness to the way it seems to utterly ignore Maria's clear discomfort.]

Of course not... [The doppelganger laughs, a clear difference between the Hunter it has pinned down with its movements, and then... it steps in, and embraces Maria. Arms wrap around her, it settles its head on her shoulder. Its voice is as soft as Maria's, but anyone close enough will be able to hear what it says-] I was created to love you. So of course I do, my Hunt-

Your-! [And that little indignant outburst is courtesy of Maria, who stands stiffly, handling the hug somewhat poorly. She seems to be too afraid to move quickly, now that she's in the grip of the doppelganger, though, like she's half afraid it's going to rip her into pieces where she stands. She scans the crowd, looking for a familiar face, and once she sees one - whether she actually knows the person or not, she knows the faces of most Mirrorbound, she motions a bit toward the thing gripping her.] You, come here!

[3: Branching Out!]

This should be the place... [The center of it, Maria thinks. Yarglweed, they called it. Watch out for the needles, they'd said, so Maria had brought her full Hunter gear, with all its thick leather. Clearing it out shouldn't be too bad with that, until she hears the growl from behind her. With a sigh, Maria turns. Right. It attracts animals, too.] ... It looks like the local beasts don't much appreciate our intrusion to their food supply.

[4: Don't Make Waves]

[... A lake. A lake, Maria can do. It's not so large that it makes her nervous, but it does look deep enough that she has trepidation in actually just diving into it. She doesn't have Alex here and... honestly, that's probably for the better at the moment, but that also means she's without an easy underwater breathing spell.

She toys with the hilt of her sword as she considers a plan of attack.] ... Are you a strong swimmer? I am not, but if we can lure it closer to the surface... I do practice lightning magic. [You know, after they clear the water.]

[5: Wildcard]

[Here is the open prompt for anything else! If you'd like other starters, I can put them below; you can also hit me up via PM, via Reslari or via Discord Reslari#9561 if you want anything else to do for the month that isn't the intro or quests!]

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[Edelgard had paid attention to these little troublemakers, as well. It was hard to not notice the fliers left out, and she'd even been pestered by one particularly bold one in her own home. Something about being a purveyor of sin and vice by importing alcohol from Dorchacht, but she hadn't given them the opportunity to do more than that. She'd slammed the door in their faces and called the guard.

That said, she's decided to take a professional interest in them as the Guard had mentioned they wanted them gone. She'd been tracking this lad silently from a rooftop for a few blocks now, moving as a bat, hoping that would take her towards their central congregation area. Of course, Maria has to go and spoil that, but ever one to seize an opportunity, the Emperor moves forward. Mist swirls behind the youth, and a cold hand settles against his shoulder, preventing him from running.]

...Yes, I would like to hear this. Tell us, young man, what do you know of sin?

[And so he launches into the screed - that no one is without it, but that all sin must be purged. That they are around to spread the word to people to live more pious lives, and that this here, especially is a great sign of why the world has gone to ruin and what kinds of things should no longer be tolerated.

Maria merely shakes him once, his head snapping back and forth like a doll, and making him wince with the sudden motion of it.]

I don't know, Edelgard. It sounds like there is no way to be free of sin, but the only way to be rewarded is to be free of sin. What a pointless ideology.

[And what a particularly touchy subject for Maria.] Unless you can think of a way in which redemption may be fully achieved, when every action invites some sort of punishment.

[Really, if they can figure it out, Maria is personally invested in the entire idea.]

[Edelgard quietly lets the two of them talk, though she fully intends to stop Maria before she seriously injures the boy. He's a teenager, at best, and he's probably about to wet himself. A pair of vampires this close has to be unsettling.]

I'm curious to know that as well. Is there a way to redeem oneself, or is this merely a faith that only those born into it at the beginning can be fully embraced by?

[Religious exclusionism is something she's deeply concerned about, after all. She has a personal stake in ending it.]

[ Well if a spear was good for anything, it could definitely pry people apart. Honestly, were it anyone else, Scathach would have taken a moment to enjoy a good laugh or two at their misfortune, but she knew Maria well enough by that point that she wasn't about to add insult to injury. She stepped from the shadows of the alley she'd been in into the light, letting out a soft sigh. ]

I'd heard these were becoming an issue. Yours seems particularly so.

[No, no, the youth tries to explain, in a strained voice. Everyone has sin! Even he and the others. The point is to live every day trying to excise it. That only the most pious of lives can be saved. That redemption and penance must start immediately.

Maria frowns yet deeper, a tension settling into her shoulders and arm. She might very well harm this one, and soon.]

And what sins could you possibly carry? [She growls this at the youth, as her grip tightens even more. There's a violence in the tension of her motions; it'a close to unwinding, explosively.

She's getting a bit off-topic, obviously, but this keeps rubbing a sore spot raw.]

An issue [Despite the fact Maria is clearly uncomfortable with the physical affection, the doppelganger is signficantly less so. It seems content to keep its head leaned against Maria's shoulder like a lover, at least until Scathach speaks, and then lifts it to look curiously.]

Yes, a problem. [Maria concurs, snarling the words between her teeth, and looks from the doppelganger, back to Scathach, and then back. The doppelganger follows suit, then reaches up to brush the backs of its knuckles over Maria's cheek

Maria looks all the world like someone who woke in the middle of the night to use the restroom and stepped in a house pet's mess on the way.]

I'm sorry. [It says, and then drops the hand to the side.] You're very warm... and your presence soothes.

You can be soothed over there. [Maria replies, and looks back at Scathach, though she continues to stand tensely, as though afraid to make any sudden moves. She clearly has no idea what kind of threat this thing poses, but if it's anything like her own threat... she really shouldn't be here.]

[Momo did see the request for people to take the doppelganger potions, it just so happens that he wasn't prepared to deal with another one of himself considering how uneasy he tends to be about just one of himself. That said, Lady Maria is a hard figure to miss when he's out and about in the city, let alone two Lady Marias, and he pauses to stare for a moment as the double embraces the original.

He's an inch from laughing at the original Maria's reaction when she gestures to him, but manages to keep it to a grin as he comes closer, looking at the double with brows arched.]

I'm gonna guess that doubles potion wasn't quite as accurate as advertised? You don't strike me as a hugger, that's more my thing.

[Though he does tend to consider whether the people he's doing it to are prepared for hugs before engaging, at least, which this double sure doesn't seem to be.]

[If Mikasa was being honest, and was ever forced to admit it. She'd kind of been hiding from the tall witch since her drunken confessions about her life. She'd let more slip than she'd wanted to. All the things she'd mentioned had been complaints she'd made, but internally.

While Maria seemed like she wouldn't talk about it to anyone. The fae was still nervous. Not that she'd been thinking about it as she walked Tater, the little liondog pup(cub?) was a nice little distraction. Something to dote on, she didn't have to worry about upsetting someone by taking him home. Her embarrassing rambling was the last thing on her mind.

Until the fluffball let out a noise and started pulling. Of course, she indulges him, letting him waddle over to find-

Even if the puppy was happily wagging his tail, and tugging to get closer to sniff the other animal. The fae doesn't budge. Large black eyes only stared at Maria in...A dress and wearing a bonnet? With a cat?

And had obviously seen her...well shit.]

...I didn't know you had a cat.

[Crisis averted!?]

This is stupid.

[Edelgard can definitely sense the tension in Maria, and so she takes the youth by the arm and wrenches it free from the Witch's grasp, not caring that she's doubtless going to bruise the boy.]

Your philosophy is misguided. A waste of breath.

[Her eyes lock onto Maria's, serious now, and trying to break her focus away from harming the lad.]

And I think you should consider, perhaps, that pushing the notion that people are sinners will get you hurt, young man. I would think very, very carefully about continuing down this path.

The world has no use for lovers that don't hear 'no', my lady.

[ Scathach didn't particularly fear the clone. Besides, if it became violent, that served her ends just fine, given her own itch to fight anything remotely strong enough. She had little qualm with reaching to physically grab her and pull her away from Maria, sparing little of her strength. ]

[Honestly, she wasn't sure what she was doing when she signed up for this, but now she definitely has a few Regrets.]

Oh, it certainly created a double. [And good gods, this is the most uncomfortable thing.] And what gave you that idea? Is it the fact I've been trying to get out of this thing's grasp for minutes now, but I don't want it to attack me?

Attack you? Why would I do that? I was created to love you...

[Maria blanches. Somehow, that is way worse.]

Momo, could you help me get this thing off me?

Oh, hello. [Apparently, completely oblivious to people walking up to her, is what this Maria is doing. Which is weird point #1. After all, Maria is almost never caught unawares - she's almost hypervigilant, by nature, in fact.] No, it's not my cat. It's simply one that decided to spend some time with me.

[Then, she smiles up at Mikasa. There is Weird Thing #2.] Can I help you with something? Or did you simply want company?

[It is stupid, but Maria's too laser-focused on the youngster in front of her, and the ways she's trying to keep herself from seriously injuring him to concur.

So it's almost a relief when Edelgard tears him out of her grasp, because it wasn't going to be much longer before she made him regret a lot of decisions he's making.

Instead, Edelgard seems to do it in a more calm way, with her words.

He at least seems to nod, looking between Edelgard and Maria, clearly intimidated, and scurries off while Maria is distracted with Edelgard's attention. There is exactly one person in this entire world that Maria shows deference to, and Edelgard isn't it, so that eye contact goes on very long indeed.

Finally, once the moment is over, Maria turns back. Any other cultists in the area have also since fled. There's something still agitated, but suddenly distant in the way Maria looks in the direction the youth fled.

Finally, she takes a steadying breath.] ... We need to root them out.

Yes. But not to enact violence upon them, Maria.

[Edelgard's voice is adamant, even a little stern. She doesn't care what Maria does and doesn't defer to, she is simply doing her duty as a council member.]

These people could be trouble, and we do need to deal with this, but you...very nearly hurt that boy. I won't condone such acts unless they are absolutely necessary.

Actually, it's mostly the look on your face... [She's not exactly hiding her...how does he even describe that party of negative reactions on her face, really. It's pretty obvious she's not having it either way, and he can kind of see why when the double says that. It'd probably be creepy as hell to have a version of yourself that was so radically different from...well, yourself.

Momo frowns a bit, because if Maria thinks attack is a real risk, he doesn't want to jump right into it. But getting her to let go might be a bit troublesome otherwise.] If you're worried about attacking, I don't want to be too sudden about it. Though if she wants someone to hug, she's welcome to hug me instead. Don't suppose you'd be willing to swap hug targets and give your original some time to breathe?

[He directs that last sentence to the double specifically, offering her a friendly grin. Might as well make the obvious attempt before he completely discards that plan.]

[It pulls away easily enough, though it seems to have Maria's sense of physicality and balance, for as it stumbles, it still retains its footing until it is, passively, dragged a safe distance away.

Maria, for her part, relaxes, visibly. At least she looks less like a cat with something stuck to its face.]

I'm sorry... [The clone says, and clasps its hands before it, lowering its head. Maria's expression of discomfort turns to a totally different one. She has no idea how to handle a very passive version of herself.

She makes a sort of disgusted scoff, looks the thing over, and tilts her head.]

... What am I to do with this... thing? How do you suppose we get rid of it?

[The doppelganger looks up, vaguely alarmed for a moment, then tilts its head, like it's not sure what Maria means.]

[She is calming, by obvious measures, and she tilts her head a little.] No, but we must be rid of them.

[If that means physical violence, she'll do it, but she'll talk them down, first.] I don't think they're as committed as they pretend to be to their cause. But if they need some sense knocked into them, I will do it.

[With or without Edelgard's help. Not the least of which is because they rubbed so hard against one of Maria's sorest spots right now, and that's the most grating thing. She'd be far more likely to handle things better if she wasn't in such a poor mood.]

[Maria is not a fan of idealized waifu versions of herself, to be honest, and if the actual Plain Doll ever showed up, she'd be in a world of weirdness.

Gently, Maria reaches up to try to pry the doppelganger off herself - and it seems to work, somewhat. Luckily, it does step back, and clenches a hand over its heart, before bowing its head somewhat.] I'm sorry. I was created to love... I don't... know anything else.

[Fun things to make Maria's skin crawl: That. Woo, she is not a fan of seeing something that looks like herself acting that way. Especially since Momo is right, Maria isn't exactly the hugging type.

The Doppelganger looks at Momo.] Would you let me love you?

Could we not speak like that!? [And that? Is Maria, piping up indignantly, but the best she can do is look helplessly between Momo and the Doppelganger.]

No, they're children playing at having faith.

[Which is both dangerous and amusing. There's plenty wrong with this situation.]

I would just prefer we abstain from causing more havoc than necessary. I believe that we can simply terrify them, honestly. I doubt they anticipated the Mirrorbound taking interest in them.

Hold now. She may be a construct, but that doesn't mean you should condemn her just yet.

[ Scathach shook her head, righting the clone and taking a moment to make sure she was steady before turning her gaze back to Maria. ]

Where was she formed?

[While Momo understands the reaction, he'll take his wide open opportunity where he has it and make this possibly the lesser of two awkwardnesses for Maria. He's figuring the doppelganger latching onto someone else is probably less unpleasant than having it entirely focus on her, so he gives original Maria an apologetic grin before opening his arms to the double for a hug.]

Being loved is part of my job! So you're welcome to love me. [He's not even kidding, considering how idol culture is. It's not usually quite so direct, but hey, he's the kind of person who kabedons his juniors as a distraction, so hugging a double of someone he considers himself on decently friendly terms with is hardly a strain for him.

That said, the clone's apparent self-awareness (limited as it may be, if it can "only love") does make him curious.] How long is this potion supposed to last, by the way...?

[It's almost like Ozymandias' disappearing kitten clones, but kind of harder to wrap his head around.]

We cannot be sure if they're all children. They may be impressionable youths being manipulated by one they look up to.

[She figures there's a leader... and that one? That one she wants to punch. There's always a leader for these damn religious things.]

I don't think so, either. And he didn't seem to be buying too strongly into it. Perhaps it is a new faith? Then it would be wise to nip it in the bud. Nothing good can come from religion feeding moral superiority.

I was talked into taking a potion from some... shop selling all manner of interesting knick knacks. [Dildos. They were dildos. She's not about to talk about that, though.] She'd gotten away from me at one point, and once I found her again...

[Maria waves a vaguely agitated hand in the air. This. This happened.

The doppelganger merely stands, passively, watching with a sort of interest, hands clasped in front of her.]

She's a physical being well enough, but I suppose she wouldn't bleed if you cut her.

[You know what, she doesn't know who she thinks is crazier: The doppelganger, or Momo.

Still, the doppelganger's eyes light up as it looks at him - it can apparently achieve its purpose - and it steps forward. The embrace isn't really sexual - despite where it came from - it's almost more matronly.

Maria shakes her head.] I know not. I didn't want to ask too many details, considering where it came from. I assume it cannot last longer than a day or two.

[Seeing Maria on the ground had grabbed Kaede's attention first—did she need help? It was a bit early to be pulling her out of any ditches, but Kaede was good at being quiet and discreet about those things. It was going to be a bit harder to get away from witnesses in a park, but. The Chimera approached after the Faun and Naga had gone.]

Hey, Maria.

What are you do— [wait. Was she holding a cat...?] —ing?

[Kaede stopped, abruptly, one foot still partially in the air. Maria had always seemed more reserved around animals before; her horse was well tended to, the petalwolves got occasional ear scratches, and the hyenas had no complaints. But animals' attention didn't seemed like something she specifically sought after.

And Maria's hat was nowhere in sight, though Kaede was sure she'd seen her wearing it earlier. Her swords were nowhere to be found either.

The Chimera put her foot down finally, tailtip swishing behind her.]

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You will hunt Beasts

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