☆ Event: Fright Night

[moustre]

Event Log: October, Fright Night

I. The Mist It starts in the middle of the night. As the bells chime for 3 am, a slow fog creeps across the city from all four cardinal directions, swirling low to the ground, shining purplish in the light of the twin moons. It goes without notice for a while, an oddity, easily brushed off as too much rain and the changing temperatures turning it to mist over the cobblestones. The first ones to get caught up in it are the night workers, the drunks leaving the bars, the sailors returning to their ships, anyone out on the streets when it begins. In most cases, the effects are not instantaneous - it takes a little time to sink in before… a. The Transformations Even if you don’t find yourself out on the streets in the middle of the night, the mist creeps its way into buildings through cracks and openings, until exposure is almost guaranteed for everyone in Aefenglom, and even some just outside the Bright Wall in the Outer City. Though a lucky few, Mirrorbound and citizens alike, will find themselves wholly unaffected by the substance and will retain their physical forms and their own right minds, many more find themselves bent to its whims, changing in ways that could never have been predicted. There is little rhyme or reason to what changes occur or how - some simply wake with new parts, uncomfortable, while others run from their homes, panicking as wings tear painfully out of their backs or claws burst forth from their hands. The mist does not discriminate. Humans and Witches find themselves gaining the parts of Monsters, or even creatures that live outside the Wall. Monsters gain parts that don’t match up to their species - Arachne with wings or gills, Turnskin with antlers and Merrow tails, Puca with the teeth and claws of predators or the horns of unicorns or the scales of lizards, such strange sights become more and more common as morning approaches slowly. Mirrorbound may find that they can even gain the features and mannerisms of creatures from their home worlds. It all seems to happen wholly at random. These parts may not even last; plenty of citizens lose their new additions after just hours, only to gain new ones in the meanwhile. In the dark, wee hours of the morning, the city erupts into chaos. b. Widespread Chaos There’s no chance of peace tonight. Some may be lucky enough to escape the mists or its effects somehow, but the vast majority of the city hasn’t -- and it’s telling, from the sounds of people in the streets, that no one’s particularly happy about the turn of events. Many are in pain, many are blind with panic and upset. How could this happen? What’s going on? Many of the shouts attribute blame to the Coven allowing the practice of at-times experimental magics, while others turn it into anti-Monster sentiment, claiming the Monster population wants them all to suffer the way they do. Other tinfoil-hat-ists spread their conspiracy theories loudly, laying the blame squarely on Dorchacht - retribution for the Monsters the Mirrorbound stole from their city. This is an attack, they shout! The actual truth remains to be seen, however. There are plenty who don’t care about the truth and pay little attention to the rumors. They’re opportunists at heart, and a city in chaos is good for lining pockets. Some less-affected and less-moral citizens take to the streets of the Shopping and Aristocratic districts, throwing rocks through windows, banging down doors, looting shops and the houses of the wealthy of whatever valuables they can carry with them. Even a gang of kids from one of the orphanages in the Harbor District, sporting their own mismatched new features, can be spotted roaming the city, looting stores and homes, stealing from people incapacitated in the streets. They can’t pass up an opportunity when they have so little to begin with. c. State of Emergency Parliament, in contact with the Coven, is quick to declare a state of emergency in Aefenglom. A magical announcement rings out all through the city, loud and impossible to miss. Those who can keep it together are called upon to help find some sort of order before things devolve too badly and more damage is done than can be fixed. People will get hurt if things continue like this, they could even be looking at casualties. Those who have learned healing magic are asked to report to makeshift first aid stations scattered around the city to help those dealing with more violent, bloody transformations. Anyone with prior law enforcement experience are tasked with helping contain and stop the looting and the muggings. More still are called to try and figure out some way to get rid of the mist, or reverse its effects. None of the assignments are mandatory, plenty are unable to assist as they deal with their own afflictions, but any help is greatly appreciated.

II. Damage Control The chaos of the first night dies down somewhat by noon the next day. The air of forgiveness and cleaning up for the new year that was present at the beginning of the month is gone as the violet mist still spreads, wreaking havoc with the citizens of Aefenglom. Human citizens take it worse than the Monster half of the city, but one of the side-effects hits the Monster community harder. It quickly becomes apparent that the effects of this never-before-seen magic are not only physical. Fights break out over anything from minor slights to things worth fighting about, blossoming from a few thrown punches to all-out brawls that spill into the streets. Anger and agitation increase in most affected citizens, and you can cut the tension in the air with a knife. Relief efforts have to be redirected. Some can keep it together just enough to go about their daily lives as best they can with their new ‘additions’, but others rapidly start to lose their minds in ferality, even those with strong Witch-Monster Bonds. Miss Nessie is quick to whip the Coven into action to help preserve the peace as much as possible. There isn’t enough room to contain so many feral citizens, but they try to make do. All available Mirrorbound, Witch and Monster, who are able and want to help contain the people of Aefenglom or each other are taught a simple knock-out spell, or given slips of paper enchanted with the same, to literally knock some sense into the ferals. It won’t hurt them in the long term, but it will give them a time-out and help pull their minds out of their pits of animal instinct. Plenty of citizens will be thankful for this. That doesn’t mean everyone is happy to see the Mirrorbound around town. They may notice that they get more scowls while they’re out and about, more whispers and dirty looks. They come from humans the most, but especially the wealthier people of the city, dealing with their own share of terrible transformations, who mutter under their breaths words like, “Knew they would bring trouble with them. Knew it right from the start.” Known Mirrorbound may find themselves being kicked out of higher class shops in the Shopping District, or even spit on in the streets. Poorer citizens, especially Monsters, see things differently, however: they’ve seen the refugees from Dorchacht, they know what was done for some of their kind. They’ll admit that the Mirrorbound have brought trouble with them, but a little trouble isn’t always a bad thing - sometimes you’ve got to shake things up and disturb the status quo. Though they’re dealing with bizarre changes and an increased risk of going feral, they have faith that the Mirrorbound will help solve this problem. Of course, this difference in opinion just means both sides argue louder and fight harder.

III. The Refugees For those who’d found themselves rehomed, mostly Monsters and what few Witches came with, this is not what they had expected from a “full moon”. They’d been warned that certain urges would be stronger, that magic could wax and wane like the moons themselves, but this? This rampant disorder, the odd turning present in so many citizens and Mirrorbound alike, the Coven and Parliament’s bid on attempting some sort of damage control--? Is this what they left Dorchacht for, from one far too controlling city to one that didn’t seem to have any control at all? They aren’t in chains, at least. They can choose their Bonds if they’d like one. But it’s put them on edge enough that some linger by the docks, both wanting to leave to someplace “safe” in their eyes and wishing to stay. The latter wins out in most cases, seeking to help the Mirrorbound as they were helped themselves, though they may be suffering from the mists themselves... oddly, they seem to be more aware of themselves in a way that the natives are not, likely learned behavior leftover from Dorchacht to keep themselves in check; the compulsion spell had only helped compulsion, after all, there’d been a genuine want to remain secure and safe in their minds even with the situation as it was. Unfortunately, there’s plenty of locals who see the refugees as part of the problem -- before the Mirrorbound, before Dorchacht, Aefenglom had been fine, and in continuing these thoughts, they’re not... the friendliest to outsiders. Some are more likely to retaliate violently with new-found additions to their physiology and skillset when the refugees attempt to help, with whispers, conspiracy theories, and nasty rumors all the while spreading at a rapid pace. As bad as Dorchacht had been, maybe they had a point about the strange, suggestive magic used across the city. Maybe it’s something Aefenglom should look into too, during the fuller moons, should this be the beginning of something worse as the new year rises at the end of the month. But hopefully -- and this is the hope of all -- it simply remains a one-off, freak happening at the end of the year, and they pray the new one fares better.

IV. The Aftermath Thanks to quite a bit of Mirrorbound assistance, the city is still largely in one piece by the end of the day after the full moons. The mist, an unstable alchemical compound, eventually breaks down into nothing after a day or so, and the effects all fade or reverse, leaving everyone in their normal bodies and feeling clear-headed as the moons start to wane again. There are issues of property damage, stolen goods, and political discord to deal with, but the hardest to handle is perhaps the guilt of those who went feral and attacked their friends and loved ones. Samuin preparations continue with an unusual gloom hung over the city as clean-up and reparations commence. While before, though, humans and Monsters could often be found on the bridge over the River Temese, making amends with one another, the activity almost entirely ceases, leaving the bridge empty most days from now until Samuin.

Welcome to October's event log! This event takes place ICly on the 12th, 13th, and 14th. The Questions thread can be found HERE! Please help us and other players out by putting the subject(s) of your questions in your header! Investigation briefs will be going out soon on the OOC Sign Ups thread to the teams who were chosen by RNG, so keep an eye out for that. 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.

Comments

[twoplayergay]

[ Oh. That's a feeling. A sort of tingling that travels out in waves from Connor's hand. Michael is used to casual touch-he does it to Jeremy all the time- but something about that specific gesture feels... intimate in a way he can't put his finger on.

He doesn't consciously process any of that, really, he just feels the tingles and blushes a little more, extremely aware of his own hands and no idea where to put them. Oh right, Connor was talking to him. ]

Oh... yeah. They're really itchy, actually.

[plasticasshole]

Don't make yourself sore scratching them.

[He says it mildly as they walk, noting Michael's blushing and finding himself charmed by it.]

I'm sure they'll stop itching after a little while.

[Connor walks close, rubbing his thumb idly over the cloth of Michael's hoodie.]

If you need a distraction, I'd be happy to offer a few.

[twoplayergay]

You can't tell me what to do, you're not my mom!!!

[ He teases, but it is good advice. He shouldn't scratch his scalp off, but damn does he want to rub his head on stuff. He does reach up to rub at a particularly uncomfortable spot. ]

Oh, yeah? You got somethin' to do while we wait out the chaos? I'm kinda bored without video games or tv, to be honest with you.

[ The implications ------------->












Michael's head. ]

[plasticasshole]

[Whew, Michael is a tough one. As soon as they get to Connor's cottage he has to let go of Michael to open the door, but then once they're inside he rests his hands on Michael's sides and leans in.]

I can think of several things we could do.

[All of them filthy. The only thing holding him back from jumping him at this point is respect for Michael.

Though he should probably make his intentions more clear. He leans in and brushes his lips along Michael's ear.]

We have the house to ourselves.

[twoplayergay]

[ Oh wow that sure is a kind of intimate way for Connor to be greeting Michael to his home... that sure is Connor kissing his ear

Michael's little brain just goes absolutely blank for a good five seconds. If you look deep into his eyes you can see the windows crash screen. ]

Oh... I... Um... I didn't...

[ Help he doesn't remember how breathing works. ]

I didn't realize... you thought of me like that......

[plasticasshole]

[Connor smiles against Michael's ear. The stammering is cute.]

Is it a bad thing?

[He moves a hand up to Michael's jaw, rubbing his thumb along it.]

I can stop, if you like.

[He's horny, not entirely inconsiderate... even if he'll be incredibly disappointed if Michael tells him to stop.]

[twoplayergay]

N-not necessarily-!

[ Just... just give him a moment. Breathe, Mell.

His face is so hot Connor's hand feels cool against it and that's just even more embarrassing. Stupid sexy android.

It's awakening something in Michael that had been vying for attention off an on, though. The desire that's been eating at his stomach ever since the horns appeared.

His hands find unsure purchase at Connor's sides and his brain attempts to make coherent thoughts or string words together. ]

I'm not... Used to... uhm, attention like this.

[ Read: nobody has ever come onto him before in his life. ]

[plasticasshole]

I find that surprising.

[He wants desperately to kiss him hard, to initiate more than just light touches, but he doesn't want to scare him off. So he just moves his lips to Michael's neck, kissing very gently. If he's patient, hopefully it'll pay off.

He starts backing Michael up against the wall, hoping that more direct contact between their bodies will help.]

Do you like the attention?

[twoplayergay]

[ There are a few protests, explanations, disseminations, but they all die in Michael's throat. His remaining brain cells are all too busy coping with the very new and incredible sensation of being kissed like this.

His back finds the wall and a thrill flutters his heart when he realizes what Connor is up to with that. ]

N-not a lotta.... gay guys... in my part of Jersey...

[ S w a l l o w. ]

Yes.

[plasticasshole]

[Connor smiles, letting his teeth nip gently at the skin before moving his lips to Michael's.]

And you have no objections?

[He presses a soft kiss to his lips, resisting that urge to get forceful with the gesture again.]

[twoplayergay]

[ Michael gives a tiny little yelp at the feel of teeth. Electric heat travels right down his body and settles in his groin. He has never been so turned on, or so fast, in his life.

Nerves still flutter around in his tummy, dancing a salsa with his arousal. ]

No...

[ He breathes, almost as if he's scared of the answer. His tongue wets his lips, nervous, curious. ]

Not yet.

[plasticasshole]

[It seems like he has no choice but to go gentle here, as much as he really wants to be rough with someone. He's not in the habit of pushing people beyond their limits anyway, and he does like Michael.]

Well... I'll be sure not to do anything you don't want me to.

[He kisses him again, letting it linger this time, giving Michael a chance to react to it.]

[twoplayergay]

[ Sorry, Connor. He's babie. It's very sweet how Michael's softness is bringing out that nuturing in Connor, even in an altered state.

Michael's sure gonna have a time processing that once he realizes. ]

Mmm-hmm....

[ He has nothing more intelligent to try to say, and he's too busy being kissed to try. React to it Michael does, humming softly and smiling a bit at first, which he realizes quickly doesn't really help matters. So he tries to relax, to soften his face.

There we go. He meshes into the kiss, wrapping his hands more properly around Connor's middle. ]

[plasticasshole]

[Connor presses flush against Michael and kisses softly for a little while, before parting his lips and hoping Michael gets the hint as he does. He’s starting to get the feeling Michael doesn’t do this often. Which is fine... he can take care of him. It doesn’t quite occur to Connor that it might be Michael’s first time going further than kissing, but virginity means nothing to him anyway.

He can feel Michael pressing against him through his pants, and he moves his hips out of the way slightly so that he can slip his hand between them, rubbing his palm against him slowly to encourage him.]

[twoplayergay]

[ Michael gets into the little soft kisses, giggling a little in the sense of fluttery giddiness that fills his chest.

The pressure of Connor's body against his own is good and Michael is ready to lean into it, to just bask in the press of bodies. He doesn't really know what to do, even if he knows what Connor is searching for, so he plays it shy and safe, just the lightest brush of tongue against the android's lips.

Then he feels Connor move, and there's a hand on his boner and Michael yelps into the kiss in surprise. It sends sparks of pleasure through him, he can't deny that, but he's also smol and anxious. ]

S-Sorry. I'm... I've never... uh...

[ His breath hitches and he turns crimson, unable to meet Connor's gaze. ]

I'm nervous.

[plasticasshole]

[Continued here]