Event Twelve

[awashmods]

I am a reaper whose muscles set at sundown. All my oats are cradled.  But I am too chilled, and too fatigued to bind them.  And I hunger.

ou know what's probably amazing? Waking up to your previously normal front door suddenly being covered by a huge, autumn-themed wreath. Or perhaps you're close enough to the center of the Town to look out your window and get an eyeful of that effigy, staring soullessly at you? The point is, there's a festival going on! The Town's been decorated accordingly (don't trip over sudden bales of hay), and towards the center of the Town, there are all sorts of fun games, tables of food, and other amazing things set up. Go prance onto the stage, sample some of the amazing food, convince one of your friends to play one of those bobbing for apples games... Enjoy it! There doesn't seem to be much of a catch this time. (At least, not until you eat the food, and then you'll figure out just what that "catch" is.) Welcome to Awash's twelfth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to start your own posts or logs for this event as well. If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Comments

[hydrokinetics]

a.

[Cool. So this is probably mostly normal and not as traumatizing as memory shares. He can get behind that. He can also get behind free food and while he should find it suspicious he’s pretty much given up on trying to predict anything here. Percy can be found with a caramel apple in his hand for a majority of the day as he works on it, chewing on it slowly to make it last as he also walks through the patches of decorations. Upon passing someone though, he’ll wave with the stick of the apple.]

We’re not going to find out who made all of these, are we?

[He doesn’t seem to care though.

Alternatively, you can find him with a cup of cider later in the day. He’s sitting on a bale of hay out of the way, observing the festival and nursing the cup. He’s truthful and he’s blunt most of the time, but there’s plenty he doesn’t say. However, if anyone joins him or lingers nearby too long, he’ll speak up.]

We probably shouldn’t let this distract us too much.

b.

[Even without wanting to be distracted, Percy finds himself perusing the games and such, too. He can be found carving another pumpkin just to give himself something to do. This one has an owl design in it, and he doesn’t seem to mind focusing on that.

At other times, he can be found hanging around looking at the bobbing apples game, watching whoever’s playing. Is it you? He waits until you come up from the water before he grins slightly.]

How’s that working out for you?

wildcard

[Hit me with anything you’d like!]

A - Cider

[troubadamsel]

[Maribelle had been about to grab a cup of her own when he speaks, and she pauses.]

I think we can allow ourselves a little bit of rest and relaxation now and then, don't you think?

[hydrokinetics]

[Hello Maribelle. Percy just gives her a half-smile since at least she's someone familiar and someone he likes well enough, but he's not sure if he fully agrees.]

Yes and no. [There's another sip before he explains though.] I think it's nice that this showed up. Better than the stuff that's been happening month after month. But are we losing time in figuring stuff out here?

[troubadamsel]

What could we do today we haven't been doing every other day? If you spend all your time worrying, you'll wear yourself out. Even our captors know that, apparently.

[mari says relax, bro.]

[hydrokinetics]

[Okay, fair.] Well when you put it that way... [There's a hint of a smile because yeah, alright, he sounds a little too uptight about things. That's not his style, and he knows that, but it's hard to shake off.]

Is that why things are different from month to month? So we don't burn out here. Our captors or whoever are the ones in charge of what happens every couple of weeks aren't they?

[troubadamsel]

It's possible. We have to think of what their end-goal is, and us being wiped out physically and emotionally wouldn't do them any good for whatever their purpose is.

[hydrokinetics]

And they think taking away people would? [Is he annoyed? You bet he is.] I get that they keep bringing in new people but do they really have to swap them out for someone else?

[troubadamsel]

[She sighs, definitely understanding that frustration.]

Believe me, I'd love to understand their way of thinking... after I beat them senseless.

[hydrokinetics]

You usually solve everything by introducing people to the end of your staff, don't you? [This is 100% not a bad thing, he actually thinks it's hilarious.]

[troubadamsel]

Of course not. I am a lady. If I can try to end a situation with proper dialogue, obviously I'm going to.

... But our captors have clearly shown that not to be an option.

[hydrokinetics]

[Maribelle, as far as he's concerned, reminds him of both Annabeth and Piper simultaneously and that's a combination he was never sure he would see. It makes sense though.]

Our captors haven't really shown much of anything else either, but that's unsurprising. Most higher beings don't. [Which is still obnoxious.] It's been months. When are we going to get a chance to talk to these guys?

a (cider)

[interpolating]

[ Elizabeth also has a cup in hand, but this has definitely been after staking out the cider stand for a while. She's a little too cautious at this point to just go take a cup without seeing what it does, but truthfulness is much more subtle to spot. So. She thinks it's perfectly innocuous, and therefore okay to have as a small treat.

And of course, Percy might even think the person approaching him is someone new at first, but her facial features make it much clearer that this is someone familiar. Her hair is much shorter, she looks tired, and there are some remainders of cuts and bruises on her skin. But still, she does give Percy a little smile that's almost apologetic, since she can guess that the topic will quickly shift.

To herself, she does think that maybe she was brought back here yesterday for a reason. It does make it a bit quicker to explain her seemingly sudden change in appearance and demeanor, since she can just spend the day explaining it rather than having to spread it over weeks. It's partially why she had approached, since when she saw someone she knew, she thought it was probably better to say hello and get the questions out of the way. ]

I don't think so either. It's... [ She glances back to the festival with a shake of her head ] It's not bad, I guess. Or it doesn't seem to be.

[hydrokinetics]

[Well, she's not wrong. She's definitely not wrong that it's probably better to do it this way because at first there's a curious look before it clicks who he's actually looking at. It's why it's easier to match the smile, still interested in what exactly happened and also not quite able to avoid looking a little concerned at the sudden new (they must be new) markings.

...come to think of it, when was the last time he saw Elizabeth? It's been a while. Man, it's hard to keep track of people here, he thinks.]

You're right. It's kind of harmless if you ignore the weird straw man. That's nicer than most things I can think of right now. [Memory sharing was a problem. Sirens were a problem. Stupid island adventures with equally stupid protags were a problem. But that's not really a thing that needs a lot of detail.

...how to bring this up casually...] The haircut looks good.

[#nailedit.]

[interpolating]

[ Elizabeth nods, since the straw man is definitely the most concerning thing here, if only because effigies usually aren't like. Associated with good things. Elizabeth's experience in Chroma may be largely positive, but she's heard enough about the misfortunes other people have suffered to not trust that effigy... She hopes no one tries to light it on fire.

She's about to speak to that, but the compliment surprises her away from the topic. Her surprise is quite visible, so clearly she wasn't expecting that at all, and she reaches up to absently toy with some of the ends. She hadn't exactly cut it off to look good, so is he just being nice? ]

Oh-- Thank you. [ Even so, her thanks is quite warm and genuine. Considering why she'd cut it off, she appreciates the compliment a lot. ] It was an, um, impulsive thing to do, so I'm still getting used to it.

[ It's been a while since she's talked to Percy, even without her trip back to Columbia, so she nods to the hay bale next to him. ]

Do you mind if I sit with you? It's been a while since we've spoken, and I'm tired of walking around for now anyways.

[hydrokinetics]

[Normally Percy would flat-out assume somebody was going to destroy the thing by the end of the day, but one of the things he's come to find about Chroma was the weird sense of camaraderie and the fact that most people got along and were in agreement with one another without argument. It was almost as if there was an unspoken rule that nobody was going to torch the effigy.

That's probably more than he could say for how his friends would handle it.

Still...even if it was a cover to try and ease into the subject of Elizabeth's very drastic change, the compliment's sincere. Percy isn't usually the most observant person, but with a lack of Annabeth and an addition of two kids he feels somewhat responsible for, he's trying. It means paying attention to important things and changes.]

I've come to find that most impulse choices actually work out better than plans anyway. It's a pretty big change, but I don't know. It suits you. [He looks a little surprised when she asks and he suddenly nods, shifting to indicate she can join him and also giving her his full attention while balancing the cup of cider in his hand.] Have a seat. I've been sort of people-watching for a bit so...the company would be nice. It's definitely been a while.

[interpolating]

[ meanwhile, sebastian highly considering torching the effigy, it's fine ]

[ Her smile warms a little more, and there's absolutely a touch of gratefulness in it. Honestly, considering the whirlwind of traversing through Columbia, she hadn't really had time to pause and think about how her hair looked. It was really only being in Chroma again and standing in front of a (cracked) mirror that had made her admittedly cringe a little bit. Maybe a haircut wasn't the most reasonable way to get rid of blood.

She doesn't respond immediately, just taking a chance to sit on the hay bale and take a sip of her cider. Admittedly, she does enjoy that there's at least tasty things here, though she's only made it to the cider so far. ]

You're probably right. About, um, impulsive choices, I mean. I used to daydream about elaborate plans of leaving my tower all the time, but when it actually came, it was just impulsive chance.

[ And that makes her laugh a little, because even with Songbird bearing down on the tower, she sure hadn't hesitated to leave with Booker in tow. ]

[hydrokinetics]

[Hm. Bad.

Once she's settled he doesn't rush her to speak or anything. It's a nice companionable sort of mood and he follows suit in taking another sip of his own cider. He seems to be half-watching her and half-watching the rest of the festivities, constantly on alert in case he has to move. It's just how things are these days.]

It never really works out the way you plan it to, does it? But getting the results you want is the most important part. I'm just glad you managed to leave at all. [He doesn't know much about the situation, but it's enough that he's still a.) impressed by her and b.) unhappy it had happened at all. Sometimes Percy forms opinions a little too easily.] ...Annabeth's always the one who makes our plans and battle strategies. I usually just start swinging and talking my way out of everything while I can. It's worked out so far.

...what actually happened when you left anyway?

[interpolating]

[ It at least gets her to laugh, and she nods in what's clearly agreement once she speaks. ]

I understand. I'm the same way, as it turns out. [ She might have thought she was the brainy, strategizing type while she was in the tower perhaps, but once out of it? Well, she'd scarcely been out of it an hour before she'd kicked someone in the balls, so. Maybe not, as it turns out.

Though even if that's definitely brighter, she does look down at her cup at the question. He might mean two different things. Probably the tower, she thinks, but she might as well ask and also dip into the topic of her new appearance. ]

...The tower, right? Because- I don't think I would say I left Chroma. But I was taken away for a few days, it seems like.

[hydrokinetics]

[God bless Elizabeth. He can appreciate people who settle for fight instead of flight, and in a way it's admirable. But as it turns out, yes, she's correct. He means the tower though now that she's brought it up his curiosity kicks in and he has even more questions.]

Yeah, the tower, but now I have more questions about you disappearing from Chroma and coming back. Do you remember everything?

[interpolating]

The tower is at least easy to explain.

[ She smiles a little, not minding that this question essentially doubled. In fact, when she explains it, there's a little sarcastic humor in her voice. It's probably a little bit of dark humor at this point, but she can't really feel all that bad about how her tower was destroyed, even if it was her home. ]

When I left... I started running. Booker was—is helping me, since... [ She makes a difficult noise, then shrugs ] Well, his reasons are complicated. But it doesn't really matter. We had to find a way out of Columbia, and that meant fighting our way out. I'm... valuable.

[ She doesn't like using that word, but unfortunately, it's correct. Comstock was willing to do anything to keep her, willing to throw seemingly endless people at both her and Booker just to die, so Booker was right, as always. There were a lot of people willing to do a lot to keep her in Columbia. She's valuable. It's definitely the succinct version of events, but she keeps it that way more out of not wanting to get into a long, complicated story more than wanting to keep it secret. With another question asked, she just gets to that. ]

As for Chroma... I do. I haven't been back long, since I only returned yesterday, but I've still been doing everything I can to make sure of that. Impossibly, it seems to be exactly the same one I left. Everyone I've met remembers me. And I at least feel like I remember everything.

[hydrokinetics]

[He still frowns when he hears Booker's name because, like, he's not entirely impressed with the man still based on what Elizabeth's said. It's even worse when she phrases it that way because it means that someone out there (multiple someones, even) sees her as something less than her own person.]

Can't they get somebody else? [To be valuable. To use for whatever they would want Elizabeth for. He knows he's making assumptions and wild guesses but at the same time he remembers all of the bullshit he and his friends went through solely because Gaea wanted him alive just to use him to awaken and then kill him herself.] They can't find you here, at least.

[Chroma is strange that way, and he nods even as he relaxes just a hair.] I've been trying to understand the whole thing myself. Time's frozen here, or something like that, so people might not remember Chroma when they return to their own place. It's like there's some kind of barrier around the town itself keeping all of its secrets inside. I want to know what Chroma looks like from outside of that.

a - apple

[umbraportation]

[ Randomly appearing food is just like mealtimes at camp so Nico is not nearly as suspicious as he should be. So even though he avoids the tarts and pie, he is having some of the caramel apples. At first he was just going to give Percy a nod as they passed but then the other demigod decides to stop and talk. ]

Considering how people have been on the alert for those skeletons trying to make their way into town, I doubt it. Or maybe whoever did it was invisible.

[ Without realizing it, he moves to stand closer to Percy. Closer than he has in a long while. ]

[hydrokinetics]

[They're both weak, it's fine. While he's used to magic food and magic...everything, he still has questions. It doesn't stop him from what he's doing though. He's about to answer Nico when he notices the younger demigod suddenly steps in closer, invading personal space in a way that kind of reminds Percy of when they first met and Nico was all over the place with questions.

That dumb enthusiasm isn't there, but he can't say he's not surprised.]

I would definitely buy that whoever did it is invisible. It'd explain a lot of things about this place. [He's still just giving him a curious look though.] They're not bad. I haven't had one of these in a while.

[umbraportation]

[ It is somewhat suspicious and Nico is waiting for the other shoe to drop during this whole thing. As far as he's aware, about a month has passed since the last big event of memory sharing and it feels like it could be October. Which means he's expecting some sort of Halloween related horror to pop out on them.

Right now he isn't aware of just how close he's standing to Percy. ]

Wouldn't be the first invisible god-like being I've had an encounter with. [ An eyebrow raises as if silently asking what? ] It's nice to know that not all of the things this place does is terrible.

[hydrokinetics]

[The temperature's dropping, the festival screams Halloween, and Percy wonders just how close they are to Christmas and if he'll get whisked away somewhere else this winter par for the course. Still, he raises an eyebrow back? What yourself, di Angelo? He still doesn't comment but he's also not moving away, almost like a challenge.]

Eidolons. [It's said with annoyance but that's just because he doesn't particularly like being possessed, thanks.] It's possible, but even that's on the low-end of annoyances here. [His expression relaxes though because...the town's not as terrible as it could be.] Sometimes I think the town wants to help us. People sometimes wind up with things from home, or things are easy enough to ignore. It has a whole other agenda in mind.