EVENT - THE BLACK CITY

[faileas]

Event Log: August, The Black City

A STARLESS SKY You feel like you're floating. Around you, colors and sounds and smells swirl as if trapped in a whirlpool, vibrancy and hue ever shifting. The more you watch them, the less solid they are; they only become clear out of the corner of your eye. The area around you begins to feel more solid as well, until your feet are on the ground, the taste of smog and fog heavy in your lungs - and you know one thing, and one thing alone: this is a dream, and an incredibly realistic one at that. Unlike the last time this shared dream happened, only familiar faces of your fellow mirrorbound appear around you; and unlike the last time that flavor of dream happened, those native to the city of Aefenglom are nowhere to be found. Instead, an impossibly tall wall raises in front of you; along it run small windows with people peering from the edges, arrows shimmering with the tell-tale glitter of magic peeking from the darkness, with more figures standing guard or patrolling the top of it. The wall itself is made of a dark, onyx-like stone - it's reflective in the smoothness of its bricks, painting all who look into it in clear darkness, and the effect is similarly found in the wide moat that surrounds the city, the faint sound of a river feeding into it the only thing to hear in the tense silence. Only one massive door stands as the entrance to the city, chains hanging across it with the protective runes of a barrier some of you might be familiar with by now. With a groan the chains begin to pull away, the door lowering across the moat as a bridge, and a party of Witches - for they must be Witches, the pins on their cloaks the same as those found in the Coven in Aefenglom - urges the group inside. Monsters find it easier to obey the orders - compelled to, even - but perhaps that's the safety of the city calling out to you, and nothing more.

I. THE CITY ITSELF While Aefenglom is known for its dusk-hued skies, made of lustrous pinks and purples and blues, this city is dreary to the core. The streets are covered in a perpetual fog, not unlike the city you hail from, but thicker, denser, tinged with the flavor of industrial smog from the factories whose spires you can see in the distance. Magitech lights - lanterns above doors, street posts, flickering in the windows you pass - illuminate everything throughout the entire day, as if the sunshine can't reach through the foreboding fog nor the onyx walls. Even the windows are barred, offering a paranoid protection against the outside world. Doors seem hardier, and each building is reinforced and protected in a way that may feel familiar to those that have encountered the protective magic wards. They're heavier, leaving an almost ominous presence that causes unease to hang just as heavy in the air as the smog. The people of this city are just as dreary as the streets, though they do mill about with the same frequency as any city. Unlike the citizens of the dead Aefenglom that were encountered just the month before, however, these are real, living people. They can be spoken to. They can be touched. They interact with wariness and caution towards the strangers that have been heralded into their walled in world, especially those that show what they presume to be monstrous traits. Because it becomes quickly obvious that the majority of the citizens that answer a call, a question, a touch to gain their attention... They're human. a. OBEY AND SUBMIT Monsters that can be seen on the streets aren't few and far between, however. Their presence is subtle, in the fog and amidst the passing crowds of passing faces, but they're there. On a surface level, most of them seem to be fairly at ease. Passive and unfazed by anyone that tries to interact with them, as if they're disinterested by their mere presence in a way that isn't reflected by their human counterparts. A closer look shows a strained pinch to their faces, a tenseness to their bodies, a glazed look just at the surface of their eyes. Too many attempts to interact with them will cause some humans to emerge from shops, or ask that you leave their business; these are the ones that are... employed, most often seen in the shopping and industrial districts. But their movements are almost robotic in repetition, and they never speak to anyone even when addressed - even when a keen eye might take note of the sturdy leather collars around their necks, reinforced by metal and with visible places to attach a leash. Some in the industrial district can be seen with these leashes, powerful chains to keep them attached to carts, to keep them from swimming down the river, from flying away and out of the black walls of the city. All Monsters present in the city are clothed, though it's the ones on the clearly decorative leashes with the more delicate collars that are the best dressed. They accompany humans throughout the city, the same placid blankness present much like their busier counterparts. These are the aristocrats and their so-called "Bonded," though implying the same tone one would take in Aefenglom here will net a deep set of disgust. Attempting to rouse these Monsters does very little, and may even result in them jerking away and cowering behind their human company. b. GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE At one end of the city is a massive pavilion, one made of the same stone as the wall, giving off the same oppressive foreboding. Humans come and go from this peculiar town square with a casual air, an intent the same as a stroll through the stalls on the market street. Because that's, essentially, what they're doing. Monsters young and old put on display to show their abilities and strengths, tasks that range from the physically demanding to performances of artistic abilities. Some seem to be just at the surface of awareness, their glazed expressions refocusing at times with a sort of strained fear that's visible even at a glance. Many don't even react outside of doing the tasks they're ordered to do, going through the motions as a barker speaks at length about them, their abilities, how much their labor goes for and what they cost. These Monsters are purchased by the humans of the city at each display, many of them never wearing more than their basic clothes and the customary collar, a chain to keep them tied to their station with a generous enough reach. Most come and go with very little struggle, but some... it becomes obvious that they've broken through the surface and are coming up for air for the first time in a long time. Wooden posts where the chains are connected can be heard splintering with the force of their struggle, metal bending under pressure, the anxious energy of something about to happen. But the fights never last long, as attendants wearing Coven pins on their cloaks swoop in to attend to the situation - and many dreamers might notice a familiar Witch filtering in and out of the events, speaking to the auctioneers before departing for another selling. It's difficult to recall their face later, no matter how clearly one saw it before, but one thing is certain: while not necessarily prim and proper, this person is someone with a steel spine and a sharp eye. And they saw you, just the same as you saw them. c. AT BECK AND CALL With enough observation, or perhaps even experience, it becomes apparently how this is happening: any command or order issued to a Monster is taken to the most literal, and Monsters have no choice but to obey. Many Monsters employed as workers are so deep in the compulsion that they won't obey any additional commands, unless it comes from the person they have this most warped "Bond" with. Others will accept commands from anyone, even the mirrorbound Witches that have come into their city. Even the most asinine command is one that they'd obey, and one that maybe even you'll obey, too. Having a friend playfully tell them to shut up? They're forced into silence until told that they can speak again. Told to jump off a bridge? Best make sure you specify that you don't want them to jump off of a very high one, if you really want them gone that badly. Handstands, cartwheels, jumping jacks - but also, hurting someone, hurting themselves... one has to hope the Monster in question has a strong willpower, or it's a command that goes against one that's already been issued to them. But something of note is that mirrorbound Monsters of Aefenglom will find that they're also effected by this, though they're better able to fight the compulsion. Those with weaker constitutions may need help snapping out of the command, especially as a powerful command will be painful to fight against, and Witches will have to watch their words. Take care that your friends, your peers, the strangers you've arrived with, don't find themselves attending the auction block - it's a very real possibility in this place, with an unknown Monster unattended and uncollared. It should all be harmless, though. After all, this is only a dream... isn't it? No NPCs are available for this log - unlike with the midsummer dream, they're nowhere to be seen. No Nessie, no Mhairi, no one. Which means that there's no one to counsel them as they find themselves exploring the setting, and discovering that they're just as susceptible as the people in the dream...

II. THE COVEN Unlike with Aefenglom, there isn't a proper Parliament. A little investigation will lead to the discovery that the Coven of this city is the main governing body, which may explain a great deal about why there's such a massive presence of magic here. Located at the center of town - all roads lead to the Coven, a massive stone building with sharp looking spires - the grounds are notable in that there's nothing even remotely similar to the Looking-Glass House that everyone has come to know, despite its secrets. Should one gain entry to the main building of the Coven itself, they'll find that all the mirrors are within. Their main focuses of magic, rather than the more broad spectrum/free-to-study policy that Miss Nessie encourages, are enchantment and abjuration - for control, primarily. They're also heavy studiers of runes, visible across the city and with an even heavier influence in the wards of the Coven itself. They are, regardless, fairly welcoming to eager young minds wanting to learn. So long as the Monsters are left behind. But who's to say that you can't disguise a Monster? a. STUDY TIME Those curious about the Coven's library are welcome to investigate it for themselves, the Witches all smiling faces as they usher their visitors in. But they'll soon find that they aren't really left to their own devices; a member of this Coven branch is practically around every corner, and while they try to be subtle about their observation it becomes quickly obvious that they're not there for their own studies. They're stationed around the library to ensure that their guests don't make off with any of their resources, or try to get into any forbidden sections of the expansive library. Where the Coven library of Aefenglom - as well as the Undermael College's library - plays devil's advocate, with accounts and studies conducted from both sides of the anti-Monster sentiment and attempt to expand upon outdated knowledge... these ones have a decidedly anti-Monster lean in every regard. Any attempts to find otherwise will be met with bemused amusement by the Coven members, and a note that they don't carry such things here. After all, they're certainly not Aefenglom. They would never carry anything that could put their citizens at risk in such a way. Nevermind those horrid Bonds that Bell goes on and on about - it's no wonder that they're always at odds with their government. If only they'd wisen up, hm? Perhaps these new arrivals would like to transfer to their branch, instead, to better guarantee their growth. b. THROUGH THESE HALLS If one manages to slip away from the library without having somebody tailing them, they'll soon discover that the chilled atmosphere doesn't simply linger in the city itself. The halls are cold, the runes unwelcoming unlike the homey feel that Nerissa Bell's charms offer. Certainly home isn't perfect - and there's no denying that the sentiment is shared by many - but the smiling faces of the Black City's branch are at odds with the feel of their magic, the caged in weight pressing down on everything, including your shoulders. The halls are dimly lit by flickering lights, enchanted lanterns with a constantly burning yellow-white fire. Plenty of nooks and dark corners afford even large Monsters the ability to sneak through the halls, should they be snuck in for better investigation with their peers. Take care, however; there are Witches coming and going constantly. An empty room might lead to a study, a classroom, a bedroom. Locked doors don't yield easily, even in a dream, and may need to be abandoned. But a terrible, foreboding feeling emanates from large double doors that are rigidly locked. Hushed voices speak from the other side, and it's almost like the cold feeling that spreads throughout the Coven itself finds its source behind those doors. Periodically, sounds of pain escape from within - but they die out to whimpers, then silence, before they can ever get too loud. A crisp voice speaks only one word, clear even through the wood and the magic: "Again."

III. THE DARK UNDERBELLY There's always more to a city than the streets that you can see at the surface level. If you're looking, it's not hard to spot the signs. There are runes that mark walls and cobblestone streets like graffiti, and a studied eye might realize that they're not the same sort that have subjugated the more monstrously inclined of the Black City. These are intended to dispel magic, and the moment that a member of the Coven notices it - it's swept up as soon as possible, scrubbed clean or scorched off with magic. People take to the streets in small groups, standing their ground and raising their voices above the muffled din of a foggy city. They carry chains and collars that have been broken, but many of them are undeniably human as they confront something that has so obviously become the norm. Break the chains! they demand. Break the spell! Monsters go missing from the auctions with a well-placed distraction - perhaps you're one of the individuals being freed from the pavilion, or someone that's realized that there are people coming and going through the crowds, wearing the same cloaks as the Coven but without their iconic pins, dressed as aristocracy, from all walks of life... smuggling the Monsters away at the first chance. a. PARTY TO PROTEST Not every uprising can be swept under the rug at first sign, however. Witches take to the streets, looking surprised to see the mirrorbound arrivals from Aefenglom - and it's not the same wariness that most would give them. This is the calculating eye of someone assessing whether the person they've met will help or hinder, and some of them decided that you're to be help. Enchanted slips of paper are pushed into hands, runes are taught as quickly as possible in a hushed whisper and explanation, locations given out to Witch and Monster alike with a word of caution. Use the paper on a surface, any surface, and you'll see. Use the runes to break the compulsion - you might have to do it twice, thrice, however many times it takes to dispel the magic. Don't be caught. Using the enchantment as instructed - pressing the paper against a wall, the ground, a post, anything - will result in glowing runes overtaking the surface. It's the same as the runes that are taught to Witches, used to ward against the magic in place just as much as it is to create a statement of protest. If one goes to a location that is whispered to them, they'll find that they've joined an organized protest. It's small in size, a mixture of Witches and unleashed Monsters. Due to the size and frequency it's easy enough to find them, but the guards are very quick in putting them down or hiding any traces of them from the public eye, despite the protesters' best attempts. There's nothing amiss in the city, and nothing for citizens to worry about. b. REST AND REGROUP But they can't find every source of the resistance. It isn't hard for dreamgoers to find themselves swept up by these protesters. Any help is welcome, and those that show an inclination towards helping the Monsters of the city - or their Monsters that they know, regardless people that shouldn't suffer this way - will be taken into the fold. Entrances to their secret routes can be found in places that are hidden in plain sight. A storefront tended to by a Monster with eyes in sharp clarity when they look up from their robotic work welcomes a group of people in and behind the counter, to where a hatch door is hidden in the floor. A manhole cover is pried up, where people are smuggled down below. A portal is prepared, a different and darker destination on the other side. They all lead to the same location. The sewers are vast beneath this city. Much like the labyrinth that many faced in the Midsummer nightmare, it almost seems winding, endless, and the water is cold when it's crossed. But even with the stank of the runoff, the musty and moldy air, there's never the sense of dread, of death. Instead, there are signs of when you're going the right way - runes that shimmer only when looking at them out of the corner of your eye, or when you know what to look for. Three stars together - sometimes overlapping, sometimes circling each other, but always three, and always five points. While they appreciate the help, the mirrorbound aren't invited in by the revolutionaries to the main hideout. But it becomes obvious by charm bracelets, necklaces, piercings, tattoos, embroidery and stitching on shirts; this symbol, and its presence, is integral to their world beneath the city. But many are welcome to mingle throughout their circle. In the sewers, the shops, the small park where a rune gives secret announcements to those who know where to look for it on the third bench, even the homes of people that certainly don't look like revolutionaries, let alone anyone that would be a protector.

Welcome to the Black City! As a reminder, this takes place on August 18th - or rather, 3AM on the August 19th, much like the midsummer nightmare. If you have any questions or need any clarifications, you can ask them here! And as always, while we do encourage you to use this log, you can feel free to thread things out on your own log or elsewhere. Characters are allowed to try and start fights in the city, create prompts based on the information given instead of using the ones given exactly, and poke their noses where they don't belong - we encourage it, actually. But regardless of what you choose, we hope you have a good time!

And as a final parting note: If a character dies in the dream, they'll simply reappear at the beginning rather than waking up like normal.

Comments

[interlucere]

[ There are things about the Black City that remind her of what she's heard of Zaun, or what she's seen from the Noxian outposts. Dark spires disappearing into a miasma of choking smog, magitech lights offering paltry light in a world bathed in shadows, it feels like something she's never known before. Suffused with magic just as Aefenglom was, it feels oppressive rather than optimistic. This is the sort of place her people feared when they whispered of the evils of mage-kind.

But there are some things that remind her of home just the same;l, and that fact turns her stomach more than the putrid fog ever could. She only hoped that their stay was temporary; Lux could keep her head down only so long... ]

GOING ONCE GOING TWICE.
[ The market place is no place for a lady like her—which is precisely why Lux is here. Dressed the part of an aristocrat in the city, she watches as a young harpy is dragged up to the block by her chained leash. The feathers around her neck are worn away to the down, plastered to her skin underneath in layers of red-brown gunk—either rust or blood, or some mix therein.

As the rise of shouts begin, eager aristocrats calling out bids in a cacophonous chorus, Lux stands silent. It's all she can do to keep herself rooted to that spot, pressing her feet down in her boots in order to keep herself planted there. This is sickening, but she can't do anything like this. While she manages to keep a neutral expression, watching as the young harpy stares out with eyes that can't see past the haze in her head. On the outside, Lux may be smiling, but inside, she's screaming; her nails digging into her palms as she clenches a hand at her side. ]

STUDY HALL.

[ She can only stomach the markets for so long, and the library has always been a sanctuary for her, an escape when she so desperately needed it. She definitely needs it—but there's a different reason for her cloistering herself here. Pulling down tome after tome, by the afternoon, she's amassed a tower of books, all focusing on two important subjects: history, and rune craft. The latter was never her strong suit; and the former, while likely to be extremely selective and heavily revised, should give her a glimpse into where this city's roots are.

Perhaps by combining the two, she can figure out how things came to be this way. Judging from the pages and pages that she's filled with notes, she is trying to leave no stone unturned. Anything could be a clue.

But she's reached a road block, either in her history analysis, or in her runic studies. Staring down at what she's written, looking back at an open book, then pursing her lips together, Lux looks toward the closest person. ]

Sorry to bother you, could you explain this to me?

WILDCARD.

[ If you have an idea for a prompt, or want to plan something out, feel free to hit me up on Discord or Plurk, or post a top level here! ]

Study Hall

[proficience]

[Even though Dazai could very well be reading his how-to manual on suicide anywhere, he'd discovered that there was a library in town and ended up reading it there. After the incredibly stressful day he'd had thus far, what with being chased down, caught, and put up for auction, he needs this moment of relaxation. And only he can deem reading about suicide as a method of relaxation.

He's a little lost in reading a specific way to drown when he hears a voice ask him something, and he turns his head slowly to look at the source. He smiles and closes his book, and then shifts so he can lean in and look over the passage in her's that she's asking about.

Truth be told, he knows none of this.]

Well~

You're reading over the history of this city? I can't say I can figure any of this out upon first glance, either. [Sighing, he tugs on the myriad of bandages that are wrapped around his face. He'd -- well, disguised himself after the auction debacle, and now looks akin to a pale mummy. His eyes are exposed, as well as his mouth, but that's about it.

He looks terrible.]

But I can look over this book a bit with you, if you'd like. I've read mine hundreds of times by now, anyway.

Who let you out of your tomb, Dazai

[interlucere]

[ How did she go so long without realizing the mummy man sitting nearby? Lux knows it's impolite to stare, but she can't help gawking at him a bit, looking at him with a fluttered blink.

Ah, right. Her book. Somehow that feels unimportant at this point. She can try to work it out later. ]

What are you reading?

[ What could a mummy possibly be that interested in? She has to know. ]

he just crawled right out on his own!

[proficience]

[He's aware that he looks absolutely ridiculous right now, but to him, this mummified look is far better than the pale vampire look he'd been forced to don. Besides, he's already a fan of bandages, so what's a few more wrapped around his face?]

Hm? [Oh. His manual. Sometimes (read: most of the time,) the reaction he receives to showing his manual is very poor, oftentimes resulting in the other person leaving. But, he can't simply say he was reading nothing. The manual is still in one of his hands, after all.]

Oh, just a manual I carry around with me. It has over one-hundred ways to die inside!

[He smiles, knowing that the 'poor reaction' is probably about to happen.]

won't be the first time she's dealt with that kind of thing...........

[interlucere]

[ At first, Lux doesn't react. Maybe she's too stunned by his... everything to come up with a proper response. Perhaps the idea of some undead lich or whatever he's trying to be talking so openly about his death manual isn't all that weird. This whole place is unsettling and bizarre, this is probably just a day that ends in Y.

She blinks once, twice, staring at him for a moment before: ]

Pardon?

[ There it is. See! Clearly she didn't hear him! ]

hahaha

[proficience]

[He's still smiling, since in all honesty, he's far too used to these poor reactions. They were a daily occurrence for him, almost a ritual of sorts.

He wouldn't be Dazai if he didn't get to experience them at all.]

I'm a man fascinated by death. This manual satiates that fascination! [He doesn't want to die any longer, but --

Habits are hard to break.]

Going Once Going Twice

[overworker]

[ The sentiment is shared by another young witch in the crowd. But she's a lot less capable when it comes to forcing herself to keep up pretenses. The paper thin smile she'd put on her face to come in was torn to shreds. It helps very little that she can't separate in her mind the idea that looking at that harpy up there reminds her that it could just as easily be Rean there. While he hasn't undergone those drastic changes yet, she remembers the way he'd looked in the last dream. It only serves to worry her further.

But she knows better. By herself there's very little hope of doing something that doesn't risk the well being of other innocent people, including the very one she'd like to help get off that stage. Acting recklessly would do no one any help. Biting her lip, her eyes drop as she tries to think-- and then she notices Lux, struggling the same way she is.

Towa reaches over a puts a gentle hand over the other girl's, noticing how tense it is. She understands all too well. ]

I didn't expect to meet you here.

[interlucere]

[ Thankfully, the Illuminators never asked her to go undercover during the protests back home. She was too recognizable, and breaking up the rabble was a job that the Mageseekers took gladly. But that doesn't mean that Lux doesn't have experience slipping into and out of tense situations unnoticed.

The hand on hers startles her, and she starts to bring her other hand to grip Towa's wrist tightly. Her countenance shifting as she realizes who it is, Lux stops herself; but the tenseness remains in her shoulders. She briefly focuses her attention on Towa. ]

I could say the same thing. [ But she knows exactly why Towa is here. Still...

Looking forward again, she presses her lips together into a thin smile, watching the dead-eyed harpy stare out into the crowd. ]

I've heard that she's one of eight being put on display today.

[ It's abhorrent, and Lux finds it difficult to keep venom from seeping into her voice. ]

[overworker]

[To hear just how many there are-- the unease in her stomach churns. This kind of behavior is beyond disgusting. Everyone around them looks so happy but in a hateful, proud way that makes Towa uncomfortable to watch. Standing there, the witches of this city truly thought they stood so far above the monsters being forced on stage only to be sold off into a life they know will be nothing but the same horrors day after day.

No matter what these people might try to say about their way of life, there was no way that Towa could ever accept the things they've done, even in the short amount of time she's been here.]

They must expect to make a great deal off of such a large showing.

[Her eyes remain firmly planted on the actions on stage, as if she's just begging them to go one step too far.]

It would... be a shame... if something happened... and ruined the event.

[It's abundantly clear that she means exactly the opposite.]

[interlucere]

[ You're playing a dangerous game here, Towa... although Lux likely wouldn't be much better if she hadn't experienced the truly abhorrent herself. It's taking most of her willpower not to let that delicate mask she's wearing fall. But dream or not, they can't show their hand. Not here, not now. ]

It would be.

[ There isn't a note of irony in her voice, her tone almost conversational; the only indication of how unsettled she is shown in the way her thumb works against her other fingers. She's planted herself here, and refuses to look away. ]

But I've been told that showings like this have been quite popular, for better or for ill—which might explain why so many from the Coven would be here. I doubt you'll see a single one make a bid today.

[ Towa can take that as she will. No doubt she must have noticed how many silent onlookers there are among the masses, clothed in similar-looking hooded cloaks. ]

Study Hall

[wordsinthesoul]

[In amongst all the information that's contained in here- Thancred can't help but feel that there must be something. Something that they can use, to explain this situation- perhaps even make a change.]

I'll do my best. Show me what it is you've found?

[interlucere]

[ Lux slides the book over, letting it sit between the two of them. Written on the page is an intricate array of runes. ]

I believe that this is supposed to repel something, but don't understand the relationship between the runes to figure out what they're dispelling.

[ Lux, you're asking the absolutely wrong person. ]

[wordsinthesoul]

An active barrier- that falls under the purview of adjuration here, doesn't it?

[…yes. He does wince a little, but- he's still going to try.]

Which parts do you understand?

[interlucere]

I believe so, yes, although adjuration has never been my strong suit. [ Although getting anyone here to confirm that has been an exercise in futility. Anyway. She traces a finger through three runes, in a vertical line. Two more runes extend from the center. ]

I believe that these three are relate to a singular entity. What that might be, I can't tell. An object, a person, a spell—I don't know. The one in the center is used to amplify a specific effect, but I can't tell what that might be... not to mention what the correlation between the other two here.

[ She lets out a quiet, exasperated sigh. ]

Of all the times to not have my notes with me...

[wordsinthesoul]

Three to build and maintain power, perhaps. There must be one part that starts it, then, the rest causing it to fall into place…

[this. seems to make sense to him, at least. But he rather wishes he'd sat in on some classes about runes, reaching up to rub his face for a moment. He's done his best to cover up, but- he does have talons, if she's looking.]

It does make having the important things on you at all times make a little more sense, doesn't it?

Going Once Going Twice

[futhark]

[ Now that's how you blend in. Caster hadn't really talked with Lux, but he had seen her in the corridors and in Haven just often enough to realize she is not, in fact, one of the aristocrats. Caster's druid attire has been modified enough at this point to pass as a strange Coven robe.

Though in this city, it is no surprise some of the Aefenglom Witches decided to throw away the emblem.

He finds a place near Lux and just stands there in silence for a few long moments before he asks quietly. ]

Are you being a witness— [ Of the horrors of this city ] or are you holding a vigil?

[interlucere]

[ Potential riots aren't usually her scene, but Lux knows how she should be according herself—even if she wants to fight, with every fiber of her being.

She noticed him approach, making a note of his presence before focusing on the block once more. He's dressed differently, so it stands to reason that he isn't with this city's Coven, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Her gaze briefly flicking towards Caster when he speaks up, she doesn't let her attention linger. It almost seems like she might ignore him. ]

I'm biding my time.

[ To bid, or to act—she'll let him fill in the blanks. ]

And you? You're from the Coven, aren't you?

[futhark]

Yeah, but not from the Coven here— [ There is a mild tone of revulsion when he specifies his allegiance (or rather lack of it) toward local Coven. ] Guess it makes me a tourist on a sightseeing tour?

[ The slave market is the worst place to pick for that. But he is looking for someone— ]

That's not a show I'd want to see though. [ Even if he has it a lot easier with accepting the idea of slavery — it was a thing back in his times — it doesn't mean he agrees with the subjugation going on in this city. Still, the tenseness in Lux posture, her focus. It could be interpreted as someone desperately looking for "perfect goods" to bid on. Only if you squint, but Caster chooses to egg her on ] But to each their own.

[ What are you really biding time for, girl? ]

[interlucere]

[ Lux never specified which Coven she meant, but the confirmation is nice to have. He did look a bit familiar; but dreams like this were complicated matters, and assuming things would only get her into trouble.

They wouldn't act before the first deal had been made. There's still have time—even if it's taking most of her wherewithal to stay planted in that spot. She's here for a reason. ]

From what I've heard, you wouldn't be the only one. [ Casual, conversational, but still extremely pointed. Again, he can interpret that how he pleases.

Subtly turning her shoulder in toward him, Lux keeps her eyes on the stage as her voice lowers slightly. ]

What sort of show would you want to see? I'm curious.

the wild card has arrived 🃏

[scaling]

[ Now he's gone and done it.

Akira has been making it a point to stick to the shadows, further shrouded by the smog, as he makes his way around the city. Dream or not, he can't stomach the idea of being caught and ordered around like the rest of the Monsters out there. It's hard enough watching it all take place, but if his work back home taught him anything, it's that suffering this widespread usually has a source all the way at the top. Steal the heart and the rest of it can't survive.

So he knows that it would be pragmatic to just gather whatever information he can. It might not prove to be of any use in the waking world—who knows if this city even still exists—but Akira can't just huddle somewhere and ride out this dream without taking action.

Still, that knowledge doesn't stop him from trying to step in when he sees one of those cloaked Witches on the verge of striking a harpy that seems to be fighting the magical compulsion. Quicker on his feet than ever before, Akira manages to make it out in time to yank the Monster out of the way, but all of that ire turns on him immediately. Well then. He didn't think this far ahead; he can only steel himself against the fog that begins to invade his mind when the Witch orders him to let go.

He does, but it's only partially thanks to his body's sudden impulse to comply. His teeth dig into his lip into he can taste blood. The small but sharp jolt of pain pierces through the veil of the magic's grasp, offering enough clarity that he can ball a now-free hand into a fist. The beginnings of claws dig into his palm as his muscles tense slightly, ready to strike. This Witch will probably give him another order any second now, so maybe with this tiny window… ]

[interlucere]

So this is where you ran off to!

[ The other Witch won't get the chance.

Lux intended on swooping in when she saw the scuffle start, but realizing that the one in the middle of it all was her housemate makes this more pressing. She speaks (airy and light) to give Akira enough warning before grasping for his wrist; middle and index finger unnaturally warm as she presses them gently against his skin. a spell, lying in wait for if they might need it.

She looks much different here—her hair swept back in a delicate bun rather than left long and flowing, and dressed in a dour black dress. Hopefully he will recognize her like this, and won't fight back against her grasp. With a huffed sigh, like this is something she's had to deal with all too many times, she smiles up at him sanguinely. It's not hard for someone who knows her to tell how fake it is. ]

We're you out causing trouble? What am I going to do with you? You're going to make us late. How many times have I told you, violence in the middle of the street like this is disgraceful. [ She directs her attention to the Witch and the harpy both. ] I'm dreadfully sorry, he gets so worked up sometimes. I believe he and I have a few things to talk about in private before our appointment, please excuse us.

[ She gives his arm a tug, hoping to make it out of here without causing even more of a stir. ]

[scaling]

[ The haze of the magic, the fight-or-flight instinct pumping adrenaline through his veins, and now that familiar voice piercing through all of it saying things that don't make any sense at all... Akira is momentarily disoriented to the point of even allowing his gaze to stray away from the current threat—towards the source of the voice and now the hand on his wrist.

It is Lux, only she doesn't look at all like she usually does. It's almost like this city chewed her up and spit out this dreary version. The fake smile is what finally tips him off, along with the magic humming in her fingertips. The subtle jabs as she continues speaking help too, of course. That part is familiar, although her scoldings usually come in a much warmer manner than this.

So he doesn't have to exercise much acting skill in order to play along. Anger has his cheeks slightly flushed and his lips pulled tight together, but that can play off well enough as the result of being reprimanded in public, as is the way he drops his eyes as he tries to think.

She's trying to bail him out, but he can't just leave that harpy here... But trying to resist might force Lux to do something she doesn't want to, either. It could risk blowing this cover she's created for herself and put her in danger as well.

There's some resistance at first as his feet remain glued in place, but Akira soon begins to step behind her. Reluctance lingers in the tiny lines of his otherwise blanked out expression. ]

[interlucere]

[ He would be right to assume that this was all a carefully-constructed rouse. Lux may have the benefit of anonymity here, but even still, she has to work in order to make herself blend in as much as possible. The best tactics were to either blend into the walls, or do everything possible to stand out and draw attention away from anything else. Clearly her intent is the former—it makes it easier to drop in during situations like this and pluck any unchained monsters out of danger. Finding Akira this way had been completely accidental; but heavens, she was glad to have found him when she did.

Feeling resistance when she tugs at Akira's arm, her stomach knots. She knows, and there's a part of her that wants to do something, but that would put the both of them at risk. But she does have an idea... one she'll have to apologize to him later. Pulling him to face both the Witch and harpy, she raises the wrist she's holding, having him wave farewell along with her.

Wave—and commit as much of what they look like to memory as possible, in the few seconds they have before both parties depart.

Continuing to hold his wrist, her grip tightens as soon as they manage to escape from the tense situation. The tapping of heels on cobblestone is the only sound she makes for a moment, the forced smile on her face easing once they're out of earshot. She slows her gait to keep him close, while still appearing like he's being led. But to where..? ]

Are you all right? You're not hurt, are you?

[ Heavens help that Witch if he is... ]

[scaling]

[ Deep down, he knows there must be some angle here at she forces him to wave at the two. If Lux really wanted to force him, she could do it with a single command. He can tell she's specifically avoiding that with carefully worded sentences. Still, Akira feels his skin crawl with a sense of defiance as he resists the urge to yank away, somehow keeping his limbs loose.

It's over in a flash. Akira lets his gaze linger over his shoulder for just a moment as they retreat, trying to note if the other pair heads off. The fog hazes them out before he can tell for sure. ]

I'm not hurt.

[ He's really not, and he would've been fine even if Lux hadn't chosen that moment to step in. Akira is confident he could've pulled it off. Her intentions were good, however, so he bites down on that frustration the same way he did his lip earlier. Unconsciously, he flicks his tongue against it, tasting the faint hint of blood there. ]

But that harpy isn't okay. We can't leave her there.

[interlucere]

That's good, I'm glad.

[ Lux wants to avoid giving him any commands—no, she refuses to. Even when she feels his arm go somewhat limp, and guilt settles in, she won't tell him what to do. Won't even suggest it. She won't rob him of his free will.

Hearing the conviction start to flood into his voice, it reminds her of that night. He did most of the talking that time, and all she did was label herself as the type to keep her head down and refuse to fight.

But this isn't her home. ]

Did you get a good look at them?

[ The question might not make sense at first; nor why she suddenly quickens her pace, pulling him toward a nearby alleyway. She glances back towards him, her smile finally falling away as she makes sure to meet his eyes. ]

Because I did.