Log - Catch-all for July/August - Open

[graveyounglady]

Who: Mercy Graves & OTA
When: Throughout July and August
Where: Around Gloucester
Summary: Mercy tries to find a new building to expand housing into, checks out the Wolfe family artifact, tries to buy liquor for Johnny's bar, and reunites with a loved one.
Warnings: breaking and entering/illegal activities, underage drinking

I. Housing
She'd made a promise to Steve that she would prioritize finding everyone new housing just as soon as they had settled the problems in Wolf Trap. Zyrian Steel is dead and another apocalypse has been averted. She intends to make good on her promise. There are logistics to attend to in moving those who wish it away from ADI while keeping them all together and sustainable. First and foremost is shelter.

There are more than a few buildings of questionable integrity in Bonnie's neighborhood, and this weeks' mission is to inspect them... with or without a realtor present. Mercy's enlisted the assistance of like-minded individuals or just strong-armed someone into joining her for the company.

"You keep a lookout. I'm just gonna... let us in." She pulls out what is very obviously a set of lockpicks as she stands with her fellow in the entryway to a derelict-looking apartment block that stands a few buildings down the street from Bonnie's.

II. Artifact
Mercy hasn't been back to the Hammond Castle since ADI's disastrous Thanksgiving party there last November. The news articles have caught her attention, though. Wolfe. Given the situations they've dealt with in Wolf Pen and Wolf Trap, it might be a complete coincidence, but it doesn't feel like it. "You think it's strange, something turning up for a family named Wolfe that's connected to Dogtown when we just been putting down a problem in Wolf Trap?" she asks her companion.

"I ain't one to suspect everything, but that seems like a coincidence that keeps happening."

III. Liquor
"Hey, there, friend! You know I'm 21, right?" Mercy directs the question at the first familiar face she sees in the liquor store, trying to flag them down. "Season's been turning more than a little while for me here. Just forgot that ID I got. Mind telling this fellow I'm old enough to buy?" She gestures to the vexed-looking cashier who's clearly been arguing with her for several minutes and getting nowhere. Mercy's all smiles as she stands over the cash of liquor on the counter, relentless in her cheer and attempts to wear the man down. She could probably use the assistance of someone who is actually 21 according to whatever identification they might have received from ADI.

IV. Wildcard
Hit me up for more specific plotting at switalia!

Comments

For Aelwyn

[graveyounglady]

The little apartment room at Bonnie's has been preserved as it was before Aelwyn's departure with no other roommates crowding in on the space. Mercy had offered it to Rue and Hob, but the pair had never taken her up, which means her lover's things had remained where they are. Tended to, tidied, and cleaned. There's an in-progress dress set on a dress form that features fiery colors. Oranges, reds, and yellows, the hues of autumn that Mercy dreams of approaching soon. It always was her favorite season.

The heat of July swelters as she works at her sewing machine, the window for the room open to let what breeze there is in. Mercy's in just a tank top and short-shorts, content to be dressed down when alone. She's not expecting anyone today. Not for a while, at least.

[dangerousmind]

She had been delaying this, in all honesty. Not for too long, certainly not enough that the guilt can reach past her burning core into the remnant of whatever vile humanity she still has, but she hasn't been sure how to talk to Mercy now that she's... different. Transformed. From everything she's studied and everything she's experienced, giving oneself to the Desolation involves burning away everything holding you down.

But in many ways, Mercy was the reason she burned in the first place. The door doesn't move when she steps into the room. It doesn't need to. She watches Mercy, the embers of her heart lighting up. It's been so long. Far, far too long. And seeing her now makes Aelwyn feel a sharp hunger down to her core.

So she approaches, and puts her hands on Mercy's shoulders and brings her lips to her ear, "Guess who, sweetness."

[graveyounglady]

Hands that are just a touch too warm, a voice that sets her mind ablaze. "Aelwyn!" Mercy nearly jumps out of her skin, as well, but the jolt of terror is quickly replaced by excitement. She drops her sewing and twists in her seat as she brings her hand up. She goes for a kiss immediately. Whether that's Aelwyn's cheek, lips, or whatever else she can reach.

"You- when did you get back into town? Oh, heart, you been gone a season!" And what a season it's been. She has so much to tell the other woman.

[dangerousmind]

"Only a few hours, sweet," Aelwyn lowers her hands to Mercy's hips, squeezing them and bringing her - so human, yet so blackened by death, it's intoxicating - closer to her heat. She kisses her back, trailing kisses down her lips, face, neck, and she smiles against her skin.

"I would have called ahead. But I wanted to surprise you."

There's some things she knows already. Some things are hard to avoid. But she's been dormant in her coccoon for too long. Now she has her beloved. "I'm sorry it was so long. Things got... complicated. I thought I'd be back a lot quicker."

I.

[setthetone]

If Carter had a dollar for every time he got roped into breaking and entering despite his lawful good uppityness, he'd have... a couple of dollars, for some reason, and it's weird that it keeps happening. But shelter is important and it aligns with his own motivation to provide support and resources for those around him, so here he is, feeling the diffuse horror of rule-breaking and looming threat of getting in trouble.

He's, honestly, a terrible lookout. Too stiff, bouncing slightly on his heels while leaning pseudo-nonchalantly against the wall to keep an eye on the street around the corner. It's cool. He's cool. Nothing to see here.

"Any minute now."

Muttering gently through his teeth with the approximation of a relaxed smile.

"Not to rush or anything but how much longer are you gonna beeee..."

[graveyounglady]

"Mm..." Mercy mostly ignores the nervous man hovering nearby. "You gotta take your time with a place like this, doctor. Wouldn't do to go breaking the lock you're trying to pick. You got the anxiety about it, why don't you tell me what you see around here? Anything that looks like one of them police officers, you give me a pat on the head and we can run."

A pause as she breaks off to look up at him, maybe a little more dubious than before. "You got running in you, aye?"

[setthetone]

His brows knit together at her question and he looks a little indignant about it.

"Yes? Yes, of course I can run, I just, I'd rather not run from the police. If we can avoid it."

But he follows the suggestion and glances back around the corner once more, scrutinizing the people that are up and about.

"Coast is clear for now. Some commuters, some shoppers, but there are some people that looke like they're heading this way."

Wildcard > Mercy's room at Bonnie's

[defendwhatremains]

No one had called him, he certainly wasn't anyone's keeper, nor had any interest to be, but...Mercy was probably the closest person here to being a 'friend' and he had heard down the grapevine through some of the shallow contacts he'd been making that a girl fitting Mercy's description had been seen getting arrested. At a liquor store. One Johnny was fairly sure was on the list to procure supplies from for the Lounge... So he buttons his smoking jacket and heads out to check on her.

When he gets to Bonnie's, he takes a moment to pause and offer polite greeting to the owner of the establishment before heading up. Perhaps he'd say hi to Eda as well, while here...he'd think about it.

Johnny gives a quick two-rap knock and waits for the door to open while his fingers fidget with his lighter in the pocket of his slacks. "Mercy? It's Johnny...have a tic to spare?"

[graveyounglady]

It's a moment before she answers the door, dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Mercy opens the door wide for Johnny when she sees him, smiling wide. "Hey, there, Mr. Johnny! How you been doing? I got some things I was planning to bring your way soon."

Behind her on one of the tables in the room is a collection of liquor bottles. There are also... several nice pieces of jewelry laid out next to them. They look like proper gold with real gemstones in them.

Or maybe it's just costume jewelry. Who can say?

[defendwhatremains]

Mr. Summer, a man of intentionally refined tastes and an eye for when a woman is flaunting her wealth and when she's pretending to still have it, feels fairly certain he's looking at real gold and gemstones on Mercy's table. Marcy who most assuredly is not the type to flaunt or pretend in that manner.

Normally, he'd be polite enough to wait for an obvious invitation, but between that and his reason for coming over at all, propriety is momentarily hung. He doesn't go far, simply takes a step inside and lingers by the door to cast his gaze over her assembled spoils. "I'm doing quite well, all things considered. The lounge's opening is right around the corner and things are going smoothly and I've been told no one on our side died while everyone was away."

He finally looks over to her and brings a hand up from his jacket pocket to sweep a loosening strand of hair back into place. "I'm more concerned about you. A little birdy sang me a rather concerning song about a young woman being arrested at the liquor store..."

I.

[worthallthis]

Winter and Yelena have been checking out houses lately, too, so this is hardly a stretch for him. He looks maybe vaguely amused at her lockpicks. "I didn't know you could do that," he comments.

He can do that, too. Which is why he's surprised he didn't know.

[graveyounglady]

She offers a wink and a tap of her nose. "Gravekeepers is got all kinds of skills. What happens if someone dies in their home and it's all locked up?" Her tone is absolutely chipper. She has an explanation for her skills, even if that's not where its primary application has always been.

"Bet you got some skills that'd surprise me, too. Mr. Steve's mighty fine with drawing, even though he's a fighter. And Mr. Neal did some of the murals at the flophouse 'fore he went away. Didn't think that's where his real talents lay, but he could've been an artist, aye."

[worthallthis]

Did she really call him Mister Steve? That's actually kind of hilarious. Winter might have to toss that at Steve sometime, just to make him laugh.

"Well, I can pick locks, too," Winter says. "Though I did it to sneak in and kill people. So. Your reason is better."

iii.

[ruevealing]

"I am all too happy to back up her claim."

Look, withstanding Mercy's bright charisma may be a near impossibility, but being able to withstand the both of them? This poor cashier has no idea what's coming.

"Here." They add their own purchases to the countertop, a few bottles of a crisp, white wine and a ridiculously expensive whiskey, before digging around for their own ADI-issued ID, all factually incorrect, and handing it over to the cashier with a beaming smile.

"I'll purchase hers too, just to make your job easier."

[graveyounglady]

The clerk stares at Rue, looks down at her ID, up at Rue again. His face says he did not come into work for this today. "Ma'am, it's illegal to purchase alcohol for a minor." A long pause. "And I'm going to have to run your card past my manager. You don't look- Tell me what year you were born." He keeps hold of the card in his hands. No peeking to check for Rue.

Unfortunately, Mercy has no earthly idea how old Rue is supposed to be, either.

[ruevealing]

Spirits, they are about to be arrested for reals.

Rue positively bristles as being misgendered, that warm charisma replaced with a cold stare almost immediately.

"You can see with your very own eyes that she is not a minor! If she were a child, she would be much smaller! All of the children I've seen in this realm barely come up to my hip! They seem quite simple to identify, even for someone so unfamiliar with their kind, so perhaps that is on you."

As if any of that made any sense.

"For your information, I was born the year of Bountiful Delight under the Twice Cherished Full Moon."

Do not blame Rue for never checking the actual year printed out on their fake ID. They never knew they would be quizzed on it!

II

[musicdied]

While the frequency with which wolves turn up in relation to ADI's interests may be a coincidence, the fact that Yelena is visiting Hammond Castle at the same time that Mercy's looking in on the seal definitely is. She hitches one shoulder in a careful shrug - the other is a mottled mass of fading yellow-green bruises, arm supported by a stark black sling.

"It's a fitting theme. Wolves and hounds." She glances from the seal to Mercy, and back again. "I'm thinking it might be a good idea to look at the history of the other towns."

[graveyounglady]

"The ones near Gloucester?" Her gaze flits briefly to those healing bruises, and Mercy can't help a slight frown. It's good Yelena is healing, but also concerning as to how she got those injuries in the first place. Then again, this place is dangerous. Mercy thinks it probably got a lot more dangerous now their group at ADI has fractured.

"Oh! What about that spot that had the strange steps up from the graveyard? That was a ways out... not really a proper town anymore, mind. But I wonder if it's gonna become something like Dogtown one day."

[musicdied]

Yelena's quiet for a moment, brow knitting as she considers the possibility, before finally shaking her head. "It seemed too much like one thing," she says. "Dogtown's like someone decided to stitch together a quilt out of nightmares. But it could still turn into a bigger problem, if people keep feeding it."

The fingers of her good hand scrub briefly over the heavy denim covering her hip, as though she's trying to rid herself of some unpleasant sensation.

"I meant Wolf Trap and Wolf Pen," she adds. "But it wouldn't hurt to dig into the places closer to home. Whatever displaced the people from Dogtown...they wouldn't have all settled here, I don't think."

IV. Wildcard - Scheduled Video Call - un: ceasetherain

[wewillwewill]

[ It began with an invitation. Elidibus took a moment to consider those he had encountered within the twisted server room of the Avatar and set upon one. A.... trial if you will, before delving into a wider pool.

There was still a bitter taste at the back of his throat for missing the information Zyrian Steel must have possessed. So he would seek one of the next best things. What might those who explored or got caught have seen within the maze?

Thus he had made a request of Mercy Graves, explaining he would like to speak with her about her experience at Wolf Trap in a video conference using the newly established network. It was explained he intended to approach others as a more formal request but this first was to establish a method that would suit such a varied audience. They did after all come from so many different worlds.

Elidibus will not mention that as one of the longest established 'outsiders' he has personally spoken with, Mercy calls to a darker part of him that urges he consider her ripe with knowledge in general. Because of course you don't admit to things like that.

He is ready at the agreed upon time of the meeting and signs into the call. It looks as though he is in an ADI assigned apartment. There were plenty of reasons to have stayed and many more ways to assure privacy. Having laxed restrictions on the use of 'supernatural powers' has its perks. ]

"Thank you for agreeing to this meeting. I trust you have managed to recover some since our return from Wolf Trap?"

un: mercyme; video

[graveyounglady]

[Mercy offers a simple smile to the man on the other end of the line. It seems... strange to do this over the network, but she assumes this is some method of preserving the record.]

"Aye! About as recovered as a body can be, sir. And yourself? You didn't get hit too bad with anything in that server room, did you?"

[wewillwewill]

[ In a way it is strange. But there are a couple of lessons Elidibus thinks he learned. One, his native gifts to simply replay memories can cut off at any moment. Very inconvenient. Two, one learned LONG before this world. Memories are... transient. And can so easily fade.

Well. It's good to have a backup. Just in case. ]

"Hm. Thanks to my comrades, my physical condition is back to what it was. And the memory of any discomfort fades with each passing day." [ He smiles. ] "At least the deed is done and the threat Zyrian Steel himself represented seems to have been dealt with."

[ After the exchange of such pleasantries, Elidibus is willing to move on to the purpose of this meeting. ]

"As I said in my request, I want to glean the overall mood of those who experienced the core of the Avatar we had just faced. Those who navigated the corridors of its lair. Those who were drawn into its digital reality."

[ Whether or not that reality was 'real' is not for Elidibus to judge. ]

"Are you still willing to speak on the matter? I cannot promise these questions will be easy to answer. Or painless."

II

[edalyn]

Eda isn't all that inclined to go back to the castle herself, but this seems worth checking out—not that she's really sure how much she'll be able to tell just by looking at the thing.

"There's Wolf Pen too. Keep getting the dang places mixed up, myself." She already wasn't terribly familiar with the local geography, and the naming conventions here didn't help.

"It seems like an awfully big coincidence to me, but... maybe people just really like wolves here? Or really like trapping them and putting them in pens, I guess."

[graveyounglady]

"Controlling them." Mercy rubs at her chin. "So, then who's trying to control the Wolfe House? Each time we come up against a Wolf, Trap or Pen, it seems like it's got that bend. Appalachia, it was them folks trying to trick us about what was going on. Virginia, it was Mr. Steel trying to keep ADI in a stranglehold."

She frowns. "It's just... odd timing. You think that seal's cursed somehow?"

[edalyn]

"That's... a good point," Eda agrees. She'd sort of been joking with the comment, but the control aspect has occurred to her before, mostly because she's getting really damn tired of it.

"I think I'd be surprised if it's not cursed." And she's only sort of kidding about that. It really feels like a bad idea to leave it here without checking, though. She leans in to take a closer look at the seal again, like that will tell her anything new.