Player Plot: The Salvation of Geardagas, Part II

[faileas]

Event Log: February, The Salvation of Geardagas: Part II



CW: This plot has a general content warning for kidnapping, torture, experimentation, violence, drug use (incl. aphro), infection/disease and potential death. This is entirely opt-in.

Spirited Away, Part 2 i. Hypothesis One moment, you were free. The next, you wake up in a cold, dark room with eyes on you and the cloying smell of decay all around you. Characters who have been kidnapped are being kept in the lower floor of Alder's estate, which is a labyrinth of rooms and corridors. Without exception, the way out is always either locked or heavily guarded. All kidnapped characters have been infected with the Cwyld (sometimes by proximity to botanical materials, sometimes by being directly exposed to the violent Shades they already have imprisoned) and are being used to further the Evergreen Circle's research into the nature of the plague. The details of these tests is expanded on in the plotting post and, needless to say, their capturers have very little interest in their wellbeing. They're needlessly cruel, often pitting victims against each other and forcing them to infect newer arrivals as they turn up. Subjects are allowed a few hours of sleep at a time and a small meal- assuming that they're not being purposefully deprived of either- and are locked together in cramped cells. ii. Alternative Theory Some characters, however, escape this particular cruelty in favour of something else just as dehumanising. If a member of the inner circle has taken a liking to someone, they'll take them out of the pool of tests subjects and move them into their households. Servitude is ensured by a strong enchantment that scrambles memories and replaces them with the false knowledge that they've been working there all along. These brainwashed servants might also be forced to participate in the torture and testing of the others.

Initiation The night of the initiation party is here. If you've managed to ingratiate yourself with the cult- or at least a member of rank- you'll have already received an elegant envelope with an invitation and all the details. Or maybe you stole one or put together a convincing forgery. Alder's estate is handsome, with a small courtyard lit up with strings of lights and servants at the double doors to greet guests. Inside is just as grand. The hall and ballroom are impressive spaces with vaulted ceilings painted with elaborate star maps and broken up with marble columns that wouldn't look out of place in a palace. Drinks tables are lined up against the walls and there are several smaller drawing rooms off to the side, all of which are full of guests. Throughout the first hour or so, Alder himself flits from person to person, congratulating them and making smalltalk, but he seems different somehow. Excitable. Eager. Of course, there are other ways one might get in; while the front entrance is closely monitored, the side one leading through the kitchens isn’t. In the hustle and bustle, you might slip through unnoticed. i. Cavorting and Cruelty It isn't long before things take a turn. Alder takes to the head of the room and, with his signature voice amplifying enchantment, addresses his audience. He greets everyone and gives a fairly standard speech thanking guests and welcoming initiates to the Evergreen Circle proper- and then it happens. Servants begin to wheel in cages and tanks, all containing individuals infected with the Cwyld at various stages. Some look to have been drugged, others are wide awake, but the regulars seem delighted by their presence. They whisper and titter and applaud. Some of the more docile victims are even taken out to be showed off like animals at a fayre. "Tonight, let us enjoy the fruits of our labour! Witness the progress we've made and share our blessings among yourselves! Fear will only blind you to taking the next step. Indulge, open your minds and take the first step towards your salvation!" What he means by this quickly becomes apparent. While they're not discussing or mocking the imprisoned witches and monsters, the other guests are partaking of vice the party has to offer. The drinks flow freely and there's a manic energy in the air. Those with sharp senses might recognise that some of it has been artificially crafted by enchantments. Furthermore, if you're looking for missing loved ones, you'll no doubt spot them among the "test subjects" or servants. Good luck trying to snap the latter back to reality, though: their memories have been tightly sealed and it might take some work. One of the drawing rooms has been half curtained off and a woman at the door skittishly offers the curious an aphrodisiac-laden draught, though some might have accidentally had some already. Within, guests are draped over every surface in varying states of undress, though there are partitions up to allow for more privacy. What better way is there to spread the Cwyld and strengthen bonds than intimacy? ii. Midnight Show Things reach a fever pitch around midnight. Once more, Alder calls for everyone's attention. "There's one more thing. I know all of you are loyal, true believers- but everyone must be tested," he says, gesturing to several larger bodyguards, "and we have to protect ourselves. There are those who don't understand us and seek to undo our work. Therefore, we need to tie up loose ends." One by one, the least aggressive Cwyld-infected subjects are dragged from their cages and any remaining individuals are brought out, all restrained. One of the bodyguards is carrying a large ceremonial dagger, which he presses to the vampire at the front’s throat. "Rest assured, their deaths with not be in vain: we have learned much and they will make for the perfect offering to the beings who gave us the Cwyld's blessing!" The knife flashes, ready to cut already decaying flesh- - a blood-curdling scream echoes through the room and glass shatters as a Shade breaks free from its prison. It ploughs into the guests, howling with rage as it tears into anyone and everyone that stands in its way, and others soon follow. At some point during the chaos, Alder appears to realise that he’s been caught. He, along with his inner circle, set to work trying to cover up their actions, setting the basement floor alight and using magic to bring down supports to block doorways completely. If you want to gather evidence, it has to be now, else you can focus your efforts on a rescue mission or chasing the cult leader himself down.

[ ooc: More information about the event can be found on the plotting post along with comments for questions, and an IC vote concerning Alder's fate! ]

Comments

[oathkeeper]

[He remembers all the panic attacks, the bad dreams... Those haven't happened in some time now since Sora has been close with Vanitas. But now Sora thinks he sees a glimpse of that old pain resurfacing thanks to all of this. Sora has always accepted every single scar that Vanitas has. But will he be able to soothe this open wound...?

There's so much darkness in their bond amongst the aching reaching for each other.]

Yeah... Last month. We decided it would be a good idea to renew our vows. It was just you and me. A whole year together. It was a little chilly outside. But it was sunny.

[He'll continue to try and reach out with their connection. Soft reassurance and worried care flickering closely. Even is Sora sags against the bars as he tries to stay close.]

[darkcharge]

[ Those episodes are few and far between now. The Bond has done a lot for Vanitas over the course of a year and then some. He has been in such a better place. But now, as Sora wonders, can all of this be soothed over again? How long will all of this continue to haunt Vanitas even though it's over? Sora should know something of it now, having been kidnapped himself.

But he tries to focus on what's being said instead. It's right. Sora and he went out last month to do just that. Vanitas hadn't told anyone about it. Doesn't think Sora had either... ]

Sora...?

[ Is this wild little creature latching onto the bars really Sora? Can he really dare to hope that? ]

[oathkeeper]

[It was a day all about them and for no one else to know about. That is why Sora tries to focus on it because no one else would be able to tell Vanitas what happened that day except for each other. His voice is slowly tempering off to his usual tone. His anger subsiding for now for this gentle wanting need for the other boy.]

We slept in a little but that's because I didn't wanna get out of bed. Like usual, you tried to get me up with food.

[He smiles sadly. Still watching his bondmate carefully.]

When we finally got to our vows that day... You told me you always want to make sure I get what I want and need. That you wanna be the person that completes me.

Vanitas, do you remember that?

[It's him- Vanitas!]

I want do to those things for you too, you know.

[darkcharge]

[ Right about now is when Vanitas closes his eyes. Not because he doesn't want to see Sora, but because his eyes are playing tricks on him. It's easier to focus on the continuous reaching out of their Bond and to the voice. If he does that then he doesn't see shadows that aren't there. Focusing on the Bond means turning out voices that aren't there.

And these are things that he knows. That Vanitas remembers. ]

Floating pancackes.

[ Because Sora had insisted on a cuddle session before actually eating. Funny what things the brain latches onto - just like the part of the vow that he had said. Sora really took what Vanitas said to heart, huh?

That's when he knows. It is Sora, despite what his eyes and head want to tell him. That's when Sora's hit with a wave of relief and recognition. ]

Get... Get me out of here.

[ His voice cracks as he speaks - trying to be tough when he's in a great deal of pain. ]

I can't -

[ Van swallows his words. He can't do this anymore, Sora. ]

[oathkeeper]

[He doesn't have to hear those words twice. Sora is practically a thunderbolt as he cracks at the top of the cage with his claws. He attacks the cage with a suddenly angry attack and slashes at the lock that it snaps with a loud screech of metal.]

Floating pancakes-!!

[... Yeah.

Sora is pulling apart the metal and the cage as much as he can but it might still be a bit of a squeeze for Vanitas to get out. When there's enough to squeeze through Sora reaches his hand in.]

I'm here, Vanitas. Let's go home right now.

[darkcharge]

[ The cage really is kind of like some kind of tin can lid to Sora, huh? Vanitas finally opens his eyes, bleary. Tired. He looks up as Sora peels it away and - ]

I can't.

[ He's going to need a bit more assistance than that. Vanitas still holds the arm against his body as if bracing it there. He only has one good one. ]

Sora. [ As if something has just occurred to him. ] M'infected.

[oathkeeper]

What?

[... Infected. That explains some of the deliria. But if that's the case Sora suddenly isn't sure what he's supposed to do. It isn't like there is some sort of protocol for people who get infected. Usually, that person would go find a capable witch at the coven but... Sora isn't a witch.]

Where else does it hurt?

[He glances at Vanitas' wrist and how he holds it. It's broken...?]

[darkcharge]

S'what they did to us.

[ Infected them. Vanitas can't understand why. But he's still just listening to their bond more than anything else. Focusing on that so he doesn't drift again.

Again, his shirt is tattered. Sora can probably see bruises and scrapes here and there - especially on his face. But there's a tattoo branded on a shoulder blade that will need removed at some point. ]

Arm.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora swallows hard. He tries to think what would be the best way out of this without agitating Vanitas' arm or wrist even more. And the infection? Sora knows he can't let it touch him but in this case, is that really something he can avoid?]

We're gonna need to find a way to hold your arm in place and for you to be able to hold on to me.

[It's going to be a painful escape. But what else can Sora do? He starts pulling at the cage again, opening it as much as he can with a growl.]

[darkcharge]

[ Right. If they can brace the arm then it won't move. Then there will be no pain. ]

Chains... Get the keys.

[ This is all well and good but Vani is still chained in here. One problem at a time? ]

[oathkeeper]

[Where is he supposed to get KEYS. Sora frowns and looks around. He's so tense right now he really just wants to touch his bondmate but now he has to turn to look to see where the keys to the chains might be.]

I don't want to leave you here!

[Some keys might be on one of the dead bodies he left behind...]

... Just hold on, okay? I'll go look for them.

[darkcharge]

[ That's actually what Vanitas has been about to suggest - picking it off of the dead bodies. One of the dead guards has to have it on them.

And as reluctant as Vanitas feels about being left alone, what other option is there? ]

Hurry.

[ He hates sounding so weak and miserable. Hates pleading. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Parting is literally painful. But he pushes himself to scamper away to see if he can find a keyring or two. Along the way, Sora has to fight another cultist that gets in his way and is gone for some time... But eventually, he does manage to find a single key in the pocket of one of the cultist robes.

So he runs back towards the cage as fast as he can and hopes that no one has noticed that Vanitas' cage is practically ripped open.]

Vanitas!

[He'll start to half climb into the cage so he can get to the shackles to unlock them.]

[darkcharge]

[ It's not just painful for Sora either. For Vanitas, feeling his bonded his mate slip away hurts. That grip he's had on reality begins to wane. Sora had been the only thing he had been focusing on. With that gone or distant, it's much harder.

He'll be shaking again once Sora returns. His control and focus hanging on by a thread. ]

[oathkeeper]

[When he sees the shaking that is the last straw for Sora. His body literally cannot stop itself. Cwyld or not, he doesn't care.

Once he's practically inside the cage himself and unlocking the shackles he then reaches out and puts both his hands on Vanitas' cheeks very gently.]

Vanitas. Hey...

[He coos softly like they're alone. Then only if Vanitas lets him he'll bring their brows together.]

[darkcharge]

[ The shackles have also left marks on Vanitas. Places where the skin is bruised or rubbed raw. Just more places that are in need of physical healing. For Vanitas, it is as though a weight has dropped from his shoulders.

Then Sora's grabbing his cheeks. Vanitas' gaze is hazy, as if there is a fog there. ]

...Sora?

[ It's him again, right? It's Sora? Van's good hand shakily reaches out for one of those ears. Maybe even brings their foreheads together, yes. ]

[oathkeeper]

[He wishes he had healing magic. He wishes he had something he could do right in this very moment to take all the pain and hurt away. But he can't. This is all he can do right now. And that is breaking him.

He ignores the way the burning starts on his own skin. He only stays where he is, touching Vanitas and wiggling one ear so that those fingers can keep touching.]

Right here. [He chitters softly again. A soft nuzzle of nose against nose.] Don't worry, I'm not leaving again. We're gonna go home.

[darkcharge]

Home. Right.

[ With Mira. With Sora. Sora and their bed and their too many blankets and pillows. With Sora and his needing to always try to get one more blanket into their bed. His bed. Their bed. Vanitas wants to be there and never get back out of it. ]

Shirt. Off.

[ His own actually. To make a brace so they can get out of here. They need to while Van's head is clear. Before the exposure infects Sora as well. ]

[oathkeeper]

Okay. [Sora moves to help Vanitas out of his shirt. He tries his best to be so careful with that broken wrist. Then he'll help use the fabric to make a decent sling out of it. Once that's done it's a matter of helping Vanitas out of this cage.]

Just hold onto me, okay? Are you ready to move?

[darkcharge]

[ Ah... Sora's already figured out what Vanitas had been thinking. He can't really do much to help the Puca though. But Sora is so careful about how he removes Van's shirt and there's only a hiss or two. Van is also useless at getting the shirt secured as well. However Sora seems to have done a decent job. ]

Don't want you to get infected...

[ His good arm is looping around Sora anyway. After this no more touching! ]

[oathkeeper]

[This is the best they can do for now until they can get to a proper healer and then into bed to rest. Then Sora can figure out all the other details later... If ... he can. There's this uneasiness in his heart. Wondering if he'll be able to do enough for Vanitas this time. This is a lot. But he pushes those thoughts away for later. Right now all that matters is getting Vanitas home.]

I'll be fine. Don't worry about me.

[He even smiles at Vanitas. He really doesn't care if he gets infected.

With Vanitas close to his side they can start to limp their way out of here... Time to move. Slowly.]

[darkcharge]

[ Other details can come later. No doubt a healer can deal with the infection too, if caught early enough right? Vanitas just isn't thinking too clearly about all of these things. He just knows he's sick and that it can easily spread upon contact. Yet at the same time this is his bondmate. He wants to be near. Wants the pain to be over and done with. ]

Sora...

[ He needs the other to think about himself too. Van's vows include this. But he's too tired and weak to really fight the Puca on this for too long. So he allows himself to lean against his bondmate. Permits Sora to start to take him out of here. ]

[oathkeeper]

[Sorry, Vanitas. In this case, he just really can't juggle the fact that Vanitas is so hurt. Over his own wellbeing, Vanitas is absolutely the priority. Some habits just die very very hard. Or maybe that's just love.

When they manage to hobble their way out of the chaos of the area, stone rubble everywhere and fires still crackling, Sora takes them as far away as he can manage. Where the others from the city are conglomerating the rescue efforts. It isn't long before a set of healers comes to them to try and give them some relief. Vanitas' heavy injuries are treated for now and Sora's minor cuts and cwyld burns treated.

Sora barely lets go of Vanitas the entire time.]

[darkcharge]

[ As if Vanitas would let Sora go anyway. There are a couple of times the healers attempt to do this - because it's easier to work if the bondmate is close by but not holding onto the patient. That doesn't go over so well, considering Vanitas would immediately start to throw a fit and become violent. So Sora has to stay. Has to hold onto the Witch somehow. Some way. It's needed because Sora is one of two people that can bring him back to full focus. That he trusts completely.

It probably takes them longer to work on Vanitas because of this. Because he has to calm down between fits before they can proceed. By the time they are done, he is completely exhausted and worn out. There's concern about releasing him in this state.

But Vanitas doesn't care. He can't... He can't be in a place he doesn't know. Around people he doesn't trust. So he's going to try to slip off of whatever surface he had been resting on before semi collapsing on the spot. Just... Take him home? ]

[oathkeeper]

[It's quite the display each time but Sora is there for as long as he can be. Reaching out to grasp Vanitas' hand or arm or even at one point hugging him from behind and resting his head on Vanitas' shoulder. All to just keep the other as calm as possible without anything escalating too bad. But it seems like the healers are fairly used to this reaction from the others too. It was a hard night for everyone.

Eventually, there is a time that they finally get released to go home. Sora looks at Vanitas and feels that uneasiness in his heart again. But he moves to help Vanitas up quickly when he almost collapses. This time he's moving to give Vanitas a piggyback ride. Helping to pull him onto Sora's back!]

Vanitas-! I got you...

[He can just sleep on Sora's back as they head home.]