bookbrawler: (Grr)
Jacob Stone ([personal profile] bookbrawler) wrote in [community profile] apocalypsehowcomm2021-08-04 08:50 pm

LOG: It's a Seally Good Time

Who: Jacob Stone and you!
When: August
Where: Apartment A3, the General's Store, the Docks/Arcades
Summary: There's an angry seal in the middle of the living room, a saga in three parts. Exploring the town, plus dealing with the consequences of magic and entities
Warnings: Body horror, fear-feeding for the Eye with terror, paranoia/stalking, will update if necessary




A. Warranty Void if Seal is Broken - OTA and to anyone who pops by Apartment A3 -

So he'd managed to hang onto the seal skin. He's not Jones, he's not a thief (stealing artifacts is necessary in their world, okay), but he knows that if this gets confiscated he's probably never gonna get any answers. Besides, Cassie probably would like to get a good look at it, too. Just when he's done studying it. Admittedly he's kind of excited about it, even after the awful experience. It's a real selkie skin, from real selkies! He could learn a lot from this, even if he leaves the science stuff to Cassie...

He closes the door to his room and sets the seal skin out on his bed, and starts writing down the dimensions in a notebook, sketching it out on paper, and making general notes.

The skin starts to curl a bit and he wonders if maybe he should keep it wet, maybe. Will it decompose on its own or is it fueled by magic? His fingers brush the edge of it, smoothing it down, when suddenly it grapples over him, like a venus fly trap snatching up its prey.

"Wh--"

Is the only sound he manages to get out before the skin drags him back into itself, his body all twisted up to fit inside it and he makes a very undignified, high-pitched barking noise. The notebook and pencil tumble onto the floor and he sort of...rolls off the bed, landing with a thump on the ground.

He has to get out of here, find someone to cut him out of this thing and--

...he closed the door to his room, didn't he.

After a good, long, frustrating struggle he manages to open the door with his mouth and galumphs his way over to the living room in search of help.

One might find Jake literally perched on the couch, looking like the world's grumpiest seal. One might find him sprawled out on the floor, barking squeakily in some sort of indignation spiral. One might find Jake trying to sneak into the bathroom because he's supposed to be in the water, right?

He is a very smart Librarian, he swears.

B. The General's Store - OTA

Historian wants to check out a historical sight, news at 11. Jake finds his way over to the store, taking in the architecture and occasionally muttering something to himself about steep roofs and gables and Cape Cod versus Dutch colonial.

If you're unlucky enough to wander close enough to him, he might actually engage with you and start pointing up at the building.

"You know, this reminds me of the Aptucxet Trading Post? The Pilgrims built it to trade with the Wampanoag tribe and the Dutch. It's actually first permanent settlement on Cape Cod. 'Course the building itself isn't original, it's a replica built in the 30's. Did you know that--"

He'll probably keep talking if not gently directed to enter the store.

C. The Docks/Arcades - OTA

The touristy part of town is nice and Jake wanders down here, checking out the restaurants and the kitschy shops, looking to see if any local artists had a shop that he can chat with. And old-timey arcades! He loves those! He'll chatter excitedly to anyone about the history of skee ball and pinball and try out some machines for himself.

In the middle of walking down the docks, he stops in front of a shop with some sad-looking plants in cheap, gaudy painted pots. There are some drooping succulents and the world's saddest aloe vera plant, a rose bush's attempt to live without leaves or flowers, and a ficus bonsai that's barely clinging to life.

"Aw, man, don't--don't do that, does anybody know how to water their plants? Hello!?"

There's an itch in the back of his mind and the longer he stays here the more it's pissing him off. He can almost feel it, how close they are to death, and it's like he can feel how bad off they were. It reminds him entirely too much of being one with the Grandfather tree, when he could hear the voices of the forest. Is he using magic? He can't use magic here, but how can he stop this--

"Can I help you?" It's an older woman who approaches him, friendly and smiling, looking like someone's grandma, and the first thought he has is that strange, buzzing need to scare her, to feed off that fear and he must have looked like all the blood drained out of his face because she looks concerned, moving forward. "Are you all right, dear?"

"Your--you need to water..." he waves a hand at the sad plants almost frantically, backing up, running into another tourist and mumbling sorry as he hurries off into the crowd. He rubs his face, his fading connection to the plants seems to have only made him...hungrier. He can feel it, like a gnawing pit, though in his mind and not his stomach. No, he can't, he can't, it's just gonna feed it, and he can't be part of this.

He stumbles into another person, accidentally spilling the drink they were holding, too wrapped up in his own problems.

"I'm sorry--man, I'm so sorry--"

"Hey, wise guy, thanks a lot!" The dude shoves him, tossing the rest of the cup and its contents on him.

Damn.

Don't do it. Don't do it--


"You really think that's smart? I said I was sorry, and I was even gonna offer to give you a couple dollars for the drink but no, you just had to do somethin' about that, didn't you? I'd warn you about pissin' off strangers. You never know who they might be. They might just be angry enough to jump you when you least expect it. Days later. Could be when you're gettin' back in your car after a trip to the bank. Or maybe at the gas station, gettin' a cup of coffee."

"If somebody does that--if you do that, I'll knock you out!"

"Will you?" Jake says, in that strangely calm voice. "Are you that confident in your own fighting abilities?"

"Course I am! And I got my phone! I'll call the cops!"

"Mm, sure. Let's hope you're fast enough."

It's faint, very faint, but he can feel it. Fear, fueled by some paranoia. The man's too angry to think hard enough to be afraid, but it's there.

And it feels good.

It feels horrifying.

Jake freezes, then quickly turns around without another word.

D. Wildcard - Anything goes! Let me know at [profile] indymica or PM!
earthshine: (there's always a problem)

A!

[personal profile] earthshine 2021-08-07 02:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ shiro’s minding his own business ok. it’s been a trying couple of days and while he appreciates the fuller wallet for all his troubles, he would very much like to have a day void of strange happenings. the apartment is supposed to be the safe haven. keith mostly keeps to himself and jacob -- he seems like a nice enough fellow. as far as shiro can tell, the living arrangement is going to work out fine between the three of them.

… but then there’s a repetition of noise. sounds like… someone banging against a door?

shiro’s got the middle room, wedged between keith and jacob, and while that can sometimes be less than ideal, he does appreciate how it makes it easier to discern what room sounds come from. so when a door opens down the hall, he has no question about who is moving about. except… instead of the familiar set of steps he’s come to know as jacob’s, there’s a rubbing? dragging? flopping?

frowning, shiro swings his legs off the side of his bed and stands up, simultaneously setting his phone down on the bedside table. the plan is to ask jacob what’s going on, maybe even offer his assistance if it’s needed. however, upon opening his door and finding a seal in the hall… ]


… You’re kidding me.

[ isn’t this seal business supposed to be behind them?? ]

( ooc; hope it's ok i do brackets hfkjhf it's just easier for me. we don't have to match tho!! )
earthshine: exasperated (oh you're one of those people)

[personal profile] earthshine 2021-08-08 10:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[ … so. there’s a seal in his apartment and it’s waving at him. shiro was, unfortunately, privy to people being cut out of seal skins, so it doesn’t take much for him to put two and two together. ]

Jacob. [ tone flat, shiro sounds about as done as he looks. ]

Why would you keep one of those… [ right. seal. he shouldn’t be asking questions that require more than a head bobble or shake. still, it’s alarming that one of those hollowed out skins could activate without kelpie interference.

… he’s assuming there aren’t any kelpies here. couldn’t be. though, give him a moment to stare down the hall and strain his hearing for any tells. no, okay, nothing seems amiss… other than their apartment turning into a knock-off sea world. he huffs and cross his arms over his chest, once again staring down at those big, black eyes. ]


You probably want me to cut you out, huh?
earthshine: (yeah no)

[personal profile] earthshine 2021-08-11 09:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[ and that’s a yes, obviously. so that’s his cue to retrieve the butcher knife and start carving, huh? shiro’s already grimacing at the idea of cutting through that thick layer of blubber. but he’ll do this task, because he’s all about helping those in need, even those who bring the ruin upon themselves.

… he just won’t do it right now. ]


I’ll cut you out later.

[ here, have one last judgmental look and then shiro turns away, heading down the hall toward the common area. maybe some mind-numbing television will serve as a good distraction. ]

Once you’ve properly learned your lesson. [ listen. it’s important seal-man learns not to bring questionable or dangerous things into their home. ]
earthshine: (ass to grass or get off the squat rack)

[personal profile] earthshine 2021-08-12 08:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ah. it sure is nice having legs. shiro’s down the hall and out in the common area in short order. he can hear the steady flopping chasing after him though.

oh lawd he comin’.

shiro will just be snatching up the television remote and thumbing the power. going to increase the volume by ten too. ]


Bark all you want -- [ sits down on the couch. ] -- I’m not cutting you out right now.

[ but please, don’t actually bark. he doesn’t want a volume war. ]
earthshine: (um no. not having a carb bomb)

[personal profile] earthshine 2021-08-13 08:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ huh. the television is broken. he can’t seem to get it to change from this really annoying seal channel. shiro does make a valiant effort of looking around the chrome dome to catch snip-its of some baseball game he has zero interest in.

… those eyes though. don’t make direct eye contact. don’t make direct eye contact. don’t make -- ah, fuck.

shiro recoils with a wrinkle of his nose and a tight press of his mouth, leaning as far back as he can into the couch cushion. harassing your roommate is not conducive to “learning your lesson”, jake. but fine. if a staring contest is the name of the game, then shiro can win this.

… okay, that blink didn’t count. and the one nine seconds later doesn’t count either. okay, cutting his losses and grabbing the throw-pillow at the other end of the couch. fitting name btw. ]


I will throw this at you.
earthshine: (reevaluating all life)

[personal profile] earthshine 2021-08-21 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ increase the sadness in those pitch-black, soulless eyes? don’t guilt him. jake brought this upon himself. and know what? shiro’s more inclined to smack jake just to get those eyes away from him.

so. place your bets everybody: shiro versus a seal. ding ding.

wielding the pillow in one hand, corner tightly clasped, shiro huffs and very maturely, whips it ‘round, flinging it right at those damn eyes. ]