☆ Event Log: Snatched, Part One

[faileas]

Event Log: January, Snatched - Part One

I. The Fires (14th) Though it began this month with petty vandalism, before long, things escalate. On the evening of the 14th, when many are settling down for the night, fires blaze to life simultaneously all over the city, though they seem to cluster in places that Mirrorbound and refugees frequent. Homes, businesses, market stalls, the Barracks, the Residential Districts, they could pop up anywhere, but the worst of them seem to hit different locations within the Haven. The refugees stand to lose a lot in the fires, everything they've built up since arriving here at the end of September, and Mirrorbound stand to suffer damage to the homes or businesses they've built in Aefenglom. No doubt everyone is quick to catch on, but with so many locations burning at once, help is thin on the ground. As soon as they're alerted, the Coven sends out a call to all Witches, Merrow, water-based Dragons, anyone who can manipulate water or ice to help put out the fires across town before they can spread. With the city plan so tight and buildings so close together, it's a real worry. They'll accept all hands, even those with no particular water-based talents - anybody can carry buckets, after all. Bucket brigades made up of mostly Monsters form from the River Temese out to pass water to where it's needed most. Others with fire magic or resistances are asked to search the buildings still on fire for anyone still trapped inside. On the streets, more set up stations to treat burns and smoke inhalation, and to check people over for worse injuries. It takes a couple of hours to put out the last of the flames, but thanks to quick action, no lives are confirmed lost. The City Guard is present at the sites of the fires in the hours afterward, questioning witnesses and determining the sources with both magical and Monster-ability-based methods, but as the chaos calms down, it quickly becomes clear that 1. this is a case of purposeful arson, and 2. not all witnesses are present. Maybe it's your friend, or family member, or just an acquaintance you know you saw go into their house at the end of the day, but they're conspicuously absent from the crowds gathered on the streets. Those who are Bonded to a missing person feel it first, though - a horrible sensation like a pillow over the face or a tightening in the chest, smothering their Bond to barely anything, except the very rare flicker of something, a tiny spark lost to the darkness as soon as it's felt. The sudden absence of them is like a case of phantom limb, something that should be there suddenly isn't, but yet it isn't quite an annullment or breaking of the Bond. It's still there, just muted and tamped down. It feels a little different for everyone, maybe painful or maybe just uncomfortable, or maybe, in the cases of new or less-close Bonds, it simply feels as if it never existed. Regardless, those Bonded can't be found through Bonds. It's like those loved ones have vanished, without a trace. The City Guard and Coven representatives alike will seek to make a comprehensive list of all who have gone missing, but Mirrorbound cooperation will be needed for that; they would know better than anyone, because the missing ones are all Mirrorbound or refugees.

II. The Lost Souls (14th - 20th) CW: Torture, captivity, restraints. You were spirited away in the middle of the night. Maybe you were out, or maybe you were safe in your own home, but either way, someone managed to get the drop on you. Upon waking, everything is fuzzy, until clarity returns suddenly and violently. It's possible to remember a struggle, an enchanted darkness that might have enveloped you, maybe even a glimpse of the face of the human or Witch who grabbed you, but now you're stuck in a small, stone cell, the only entrance covered in shiny new bars thick enough to hold back a rampaging Dragon. The hall beyond is also stone and dimly lit by sparse magitech lights and the soft, runic glow of spells drawn on the walls and floors. There are more cells like yours, filled with more Monsters and Witches like you. What's worse, maybe you're alone, or maybe another poor soul is trapped with you - the space isn't exactly large enough for two, but the comfort might be nice. Witches will find their magic restrained, tamped down with a spell similar to the Coven's punishment for lawbreaking. Monsters' restraints are more traditional - muzzles, chains, manacles, and particular weaknesses that differ from Monster type to Monster type, such as silver or iron, water, or the lack of water. Even if, by some small mercy, a person finds themselves with their hands free, all of the captives' Watches have been taken, along with most other belongings on them. The uncertainty of your new location doesn't last for long. It's only a matter of time before people pass through the cellblock in pairs or trios, talking to each other and ignoring the captives behind bars, checking up on the spells that line the room. Those with keen memories will realize - these are not the same people who took them in the first place. All are human, and they all share a familial resemblance - black hair, violet eyes, pointed noses, and unpleasant sneers. Over time, with observation (and what else are you going to do, while you wait for the worst?), maybe frequenters of the Coven will pick out a familiar face, a haughty, unpopular Witch named Constance Rathmore who refuses to associate with Mirrorbound in classes, or those familiar with the law might pick out a mid-ranked member of the City Guard named Godfrey Rathmore, who perhaps looks the other way when refugees are harassed. As the hours tick by, it becomes obvious that there are maybe 22 of the Rathmore family, the only ones with access to this corridor. Other voices, maybe familiar from the kidnapping, can be heard outside the main doors at times, but they never enter, and seem none the wiser as to what is actually happening. a. The Torments And what is happening? Something sinister. It's usually a different set of family members, a pair of cousins, the daughter or the son, occasionally even the matriarch and her son and daughter-in-law (who may be recognized as long-time members of Parliament). Their methods and motivations may be a bit different, but they share one thing - innate cruelty, and a hatred for those they see as a plague on Aefenglom, those harbingers of unwanted change. Sometimes they inflict pain on captives right there through the bars of the cells, with nasty spells or physical instruments, but more often, they choose a victim or two to remove from their cell, still in restraints, to take down the hall, through the heavy door at the opposite end from the entrance. The wide room at the end is a place of horrors: instruments of torture lining tables, heavy restraints, and glass jars to receive any bits or blood they might separate from the original owners, to sell on the black market. The runes on the walls and floor in this room are different as well - this is advanced, forbidden magic, practiced by the daughter Constance on brand new test subjects. When the family members have grown bored or tired themselves out, they return their current playthings to a cell - not always the same cell with the same cellmate, not always with the same restraints, but every time they ensure that it will be difficult to escape or fight back. b. The Whispers While the Rathmores do not often speak directly to captives, they speak to each other quite a bit, as do the others who occasionally pass outside the heavy door at the entrance and simply seem to serve as watchmen outside the corridor. It's easy to get snippets of conversation between the horrors. What else are you going to do, besides wait, and listen, and plot your escape? "Shame about Uncle Rodolphus. Scarred by the mist, his Black Market business raided." "None of it would have happened if they hadn't provoked Dorchacht. It was Drummond's Witch in our city who unleashed that awful gas, as retribution for what they did over there..." "...-Destabilizing a whole city like that, and there are only a hundred of them give or take. Imagine what they'll do to Aefenglom if we don't stop it." "They'll all want to leave after this, surely. We'll go for another batch in a couple of weeks, once Godfrey convinces the Guard to stop looking." "Good. Maybe Dorchacht will take them. Them and their brutal revolutionaries..." "...-Father thinks we can control them if he manages to get in touch with his contact in Dorchacht. They had that spell, you know? Like the collars, but better. Maybe then we can sell them off, make some money back to cover our losses..." "...-All this pushing for equality. The whole economy will collapse. Everyone has their place in a functioning society, right, sister?"... "...-heard from Mr. Rathmore himself they're doing magic in there. A spell to send the Mirrorbound home, and the refugees along with them." "Then why did we have to grab them like that? You'd think they'd want to leave." "The Coven wants them here, obviously. It's a power-play, there's no way they'd allow Mr. Rathmore to do this..." "...-I don't know about this, the Rathmores always seemed a little extreme-..." As a reminder: while this prompt contains a general content warning for torture, please make sure to leave decently specific content warnings in your headers for anything that may be uncomfortable for other players to stumble across. The level of torture experienced by each character is up to the individual players - please respect each other's limits!

III. The Ones Left Behind (14th - 20th) Meanwhile, out in the city, the atmosphere is a new kind of tense. The papers pick up the story pretty quickly, so before long, it seems that everyone knows about it. In the days since the fires, repairs seem to be on the backburner; the remaining refugees especially worry for their missing friends and loved ones, and the missing Mirrorbound. The graffiti stops entirely, as do nasty comments in the streets. The upper-class, when they come into contact with the remaining Mirrorbound, cannot meet their eyes, or even react with genuine sympathy, a rare few even saying in hushed murmurs that they hope they find their people. Vandalizing their property is one thing, it seems, but people simply vanishing, Bonds being smothered... that's another. Even if they don't worry for the Mirrorbound, they worry for their own safety in Aefenglom now. On the other hand, residents of the Western Residential District, primarily Monsters but including a fair few humans as well, stop by the Haven more often, bringing food and kind words, and asking after the disappearances with real concern. The City Guard is an increased presence on the streets, trying to track down witnesses who may have information, but without warrants, their hands are tied in a lot of cases. Some Mirrorbound are asked quietly by the Lead Investigator if they wouldn't mind looking into some of the sources of the fires, and trying to track down anyone who might have seen something - they can operate a little more loosely, not being bound by the same bureaucracy as the Guard. They're promised Guard and Coven cooperation and support in this. The demand for artists increases in the days after the abduction. Many of the refugees especially will seek out anyone who can draw to help them create fliers about the missing people to post around town, to raise awareness. Maybe they want to make posters of another refugee, or maybe they want posters made of particular Mirrorbound faces who helped them in the past. They're distressed, but they're pulling together as a community - and it's clear they consider all the Mirrorbound a part of it, judging from how they'll try to pull anyone in to their efforts to put the 'missing' posters up around the city. The Coven, too, is in a flurry of worry, second only to the refugees, who are missing some of their own as well. Many of the regular classes are disrupted and become impromptu Divining sessions, circles of Witches holding hands and chanting in rooms filled with incense smoke, making concentrated efforts to determine the location of their missing fellows. After all, many Mirrorbound are their classmates, and they want to see them returned safely. Anyone passing through the Coven may get pulled into one of these sessions - Witches to lend their magic to the circle, Monsters who know any of the missing to act as foci. Unfortunately, nothing concrete turns up in the fleeting visions they do get, and the backlash is immense, resulting in splitting migraines. It's magical interference for sure. Luckily, Miss Aerianna, the middle-aged Arachne caretaker to the Dreamers (who, she'll say, are currently unreachable - they're trying to suss out the missing Mirrorbound as well), is well-versed with Divination headaches, and is around distributing her supposed cure-all, which smells like swamp-water and tastes twice as bad. At least it works on the headaches. While the part of the city who wanted to see the Mirrorbound gone have quieted down some, the part of the city that welcomes them has grown louder, providing what support they can to try to find those lost souls who have vanished. The investigation briefs will be posted under location-specific headers down below! Feel free to thread underneath them with others investigating the same area, or collaborate with other teams to share information. We decided to go ahead and allow for everyone who signed up to investigate whichever area they're interested in rather than splitting characters into mod-decided teams, but we encourage working together!

Welcome to Part One of January's event, Snatched! The sign-ups thread is here - it's not too late to get involved. Only the kidnapped characters who will escape on the evening of the 20th is closed out to new sign-ups. Headers for the investigations are here. Part Two of this event will be posted on the 21st and will include the escape, rescue and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

And a note for all! If your character does anything significant during Part 1 or Part 2, we want to hear about it on the city tracker! Make sure your submissions are in by Feb. 3rd, because a special aftermath post will go up on the 4th.

Comments

[plasticasshole]

[Connor can put two and two together, and despite his situation he still has enough room in him to feel sorry for Mettaton.]

I'm sorry.

[He would return the smile, usually. But that's something he doesn't think he can manage right now.]

I only gained the ability to feel emotions and think for myself a day or so before arriving here. I had never wanted it, but I'm still glad it happened.

[Even if it means he can feel fear now.]

It's not easy, is it? Emotions can be difficult to manage.

[glitzandglamour]

[Conner's interpretation of Mettaton's words intrigues him, and he leans in, fascinated by the suggestion that emotions are what's new to Connor. His restraints are hard on him, all iron sticking into him where he's grown soft, but his eye's wide with curiosity.]

You didn't have emotions before?

[Right. This kind of thins is probably a normal experience for a bona fide android, not a ghost possessing a machine. Too late to start pretending he never had feelings now, though. Not that he would.]

I can't begin to imagine what that must have been like. Emotions... Are difficult to manage. If I might be so bold, I'd claim it's more difficult to manage than sensation. To have lived without, only to gain them...

[Yes, he imagines some of the emotions he's been feeling in here. Fury. Disgust. Worry. Heartache. Fear. The possibilities are endless, and having to navigate that...]

I've always had emotions. I have an advantage, in that regard... I don't envy you, darling. But... On your behalf, I'm happy. Happy that you see its beauty.

[plasticasshole]

You've always had them?

[Connor doesn't know that Mettaton is a ghost inside a machine, so now he's trying to work out why someone would build an android with the ability to feel emotions right away. It's easier to try to think about this than it is to focus on the pain.]

Why?

[An odd question to ask someone, perhaps... but he's always been the curious sort, and the type to ask questions.]

[glitzandglamour]

[Whatever exists to distract the both of them is all for the best. Mettaton smirks at the innocent question. "Why?" He's prepared to explain such an existence without disclosing the fact that he existed before his body did, fortunately.]

It's a long story. One I couldn't imagine telling, as we are now. [In pain. Kind of hard to keep it straight.] But... One of the purposes behind my creation was to test the ability to house a soul in a soulless body. And with a soul... comes emotion!

[A pause. Mettaton searches Connor up and down, knowing that trying to determine if Connor has a soul is futile. He hasn't been able to see anybody's soul since his arrival.]

Though, if you have a soul... I can't tell. Not anymore. It used to be something I could do.

[plasticasshole]

[Connor doesn't know enough about souls to come to much of a conclusion, either. But Mettaton did very plainly state that he had a soul before a body, even if Connor can't determine what he used to be. Can souls just wander, without a form, until they're housed in a body? Was that what happened to Mettaton?

In any case, Mettaton has also made it clear that he doesn't want to go too much into it, so Connor alters the subject a little.]

Is it possible to... develop a soul?

[He sure wasn't built with one, right? Or else he would have always been able to feel.]

[glitzandglamour]

My. That's a deep question... And not one I can answer, I'm afraid. However. Having a soul isn't the foundation for feeling or loving, or even being, darling. Just as there are plenty of souls who are callous and unfeeling...

[Like the Rathmores, which goes unsaid. Mettaton's eyes dart toward the door where they left from, a nonverbal suggestion as to what he means. He tries to shift in his uncomfortable restraints, and lets out a slight grunt when he's treated to needling pain instead.]

...I'd be willing to think that there are those who are soulless, yet fully living. Mechanical parts or no.

[plasticasshole]

[Connor's gaze follows Mettaton's, and he nods a little. He winces with sympathy when the other experiences pain, wishing he could help.]

Someone once pointed a gun at me and asked what would happen to me if they pulled the trigger. If I don't have a soul... would I just cease to exist?

[It feels relevant right now, since he doesn't know if he'll die at the end of all of this. Maybe if their captors get bored. And Connor knows he fears death... that nothingness that he believes comes after it.

He pauses for a moment, then closes his eyes.]

...I'm sorry. We're hardly in a state to debate this.

[He rests his head back on the table, tail twitching with the pain he's enduring.]

I guess I'm just afraid to die.

[That's what it comes down to, in the end.]

[glitzandglamour]

You won't die.

[Bright eye fixed upon Connor, Mettaton speaks suddenly and without thinking. He's convinced of their survival, and he's not about to disguise his passion.

Still, Mettaton glances down — when he does, it brings attention to the pink, heart-shaped core in his body. That's his soul, odd as it seems. If he were to have it destroyed, the result would be the same as Connor fears for himself. Mettaton's gaze softens.]

... If you were killed, and if I were killed... Isn't it possible that we'd both simply cease to be? Having a soul doesn't change that outcome. [Mettaton shakes his head.] But don't worry about that, darling. We'll both continue living, won't we? I would rather tear out my limbs, and break this body... Than go down without a fight. You'll do the same, I hope.

[plasticasshole]

[It's easier to believe it when Mettaton says it that way. And he does nod, eyes drawn to the pink heart when he opens them again. He'd just assumed that if he'd had a soul, maybe he could at least exist the same way Mettaton did without a body. He's still not sure how it all works though, so maybe that's not possible.]

Of course.

[Even with a battered tail and a low supply of Thirium, Connor would muster up everything he had to keep fighting.]

And we know people will be looking for us. They'll find us, sooner or later. I won't let Hank find my corpse instead.

[He shifts slightly on the table, or as much as he can while still bound to it. The slight movement of his tail causes him to hiss in pain, as fresh blue blood drips down the scales.]

[glitzandglamour]

[Ouch. That looks like it smarts... Why on earth does he bleed blue? Mettaton quietly wonders, his speech caught in limbo as he acutely sympathizes with his pain.]

... That's right. They're looking for us.

[Finally, somebody who believes in somebody beyond these walls! Mettaton doesn't know who Hank is, but it's reassuring that Connor believes that he'll find him, one way or another.

He smirks.]

No matter what happens to you, remember that. And if you lose faith in that, think of me! And how I'll never lose hope. That's the same as giving in, and I'm no quitter.

[BOY, is that going to be tried in this place. How many days has it been? How many more will come? It's impossible to say.]

[plasticasshole]

[Connor smiles weakly at that. He doesn't know how, but Mettaton's belief that they'll escape really does help.]

Of course. Hank would never give up on me, so I can't give up on him either.

[He tries again to send something to Hank, but it's no use. Hank will just have to find him the old fashioned way.]

Who is looking for you?

[There has to be someone.]

[glitzandglamour]

[Good question. He'd say his fans would, but he'd be the first to admit that he's only trying to sink his claws into this place — having no theater and no TV makes that difficult. His easiest answer is obviously,]

My creator... and one of my fans. They come to mind.

[Alphys and Papyrus. Alphys, who he doesn't realize is cooped up with a terrible illness, and Papyrus, who he doesn't realize is a fellow captive. Amadeus would be his next thought, but he already knows he's here with him... Mettaton shakes his head, giving Connor a smirk.]

I'm a pretty difficult person to miss. And if I'm missing... People are bound to notice, even if I don't know them. You don't realize who misses you while you're gone.

[The same goes for Connor. Even if he thinks Hank's one of the few, MTT's certain his presence goes missed by many, in smaller ways.]

[plasticasshole]

[Connor tries to imagine if his creator was here. Would Kamski be all that bothered if he went missing? Probably not.]

I guess...

[He wonders who does miss him, of the Mirrorbound still free. Would L? Niles? Most of the people he feels would care the most have left. Maybe it's a good thing... they were spared this.]

You have fans?

[glitzandglamour]

Of course I have fans. I'm an entertainer! But the person I'm thinking of in particular is Papyrus, if you've ever met him.

[Fondly, Mettaton smiles. Not even for a second does he think Papyrus is here, enduring the same torture. It's for the best. He's only so familiar with Papyrus, but his sunny, cheerful disposition, innocent as he is... How would he take this experience? He can't begin to imagine it. He shakes his head, disengaging from the thought.]

With so many people missing so many of us, each individually... It forms a collective of people distressed by our capture. We will be rescued by that force.

[plasticasshole]

Papyrus? I've met him.

[Once, at least... but Connor remembers. The good-natured skeleton. He thinks on the idea of being rescued for a moment before speaking again.]

What do you do as an entertainer?

[You know, besides entertain people.]

[glitzandglamour]

Haha. Well... I do anything that strikes my fancy! Being an entertainer is the same as being an artist... So I do what I think would entertain. Nothing's off the table for me!

[Really, nothing. From the mundane to the violent. Basically, he... entertains. Doing whatever, making it an unhelpful answer, in some respects.]

If I wrote myself a job description, I'd qualify myself as a figure who inspires others. I give the people someone to admire. Something to look forward to. [And he smiles, kind of smugly.] Pretty good, right?