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apocalypsehowcomm2023-07-29 02:52 am
rainestorms) wrote in apocalypsehowcomm2023-07-29 02:52 am
LOG | July Catch-All | OTA/Closed Prompts
Who: Raine Whispers, Kate, Carter + OTA
When: Throughout July and the beginning of August
Where: Around Gloucester and the ADI
Summary: Raine pokes around the Christmas party, makes a bet about eating spicy food, looks and feels TERRIBLE, and does some light confrontation.
Warnings: supernaturally caused feelings of depression/isolation/loneliness, mental/physical health degradation, panic attacks, anxiety, drug abuse, more will be added if needed.
Holly Jolly
Raine didn't really understand the Christmas in July thing, but they were thankful it made Pam happy. She’d seemed so glum since their encounter in the park, and Raine did feel bad for stealing from her. Even if it was perhaps too easy.
Raine decided that they'd help Eda set up for the party when they're needed, as an unheard thank you. After things kick off, Raine can be found mingling around the restaurant, puzzling at the food (or decorations), or perhaps even trying to find the other half of their strange bauble. It looks a bit like a pig’s back end.. or maybe some sort of bird? Or maybe something holding maracas. The bard doesn't know.
Heating Up
Despite what the spookily dressed teenage workers claimed, Raine was not dead. In fact, they were doing fine. Maybe a little too fine. They'd loved spicy food since they were a kid, and having tasted some of the other spicy things, they had their eyes on the challenge: The Bowel Buster.
They contemplate it, alone, and will offer to do it with somebody if approached about it. To sweeten the deal, Raine might suggest that if they both successfully eat the chips, whoever finishes first gets both people’s prize money.
Lone Digger (Closed to bossyboiler/Kate)
“Kate,”
Raine sits down across from Kate, coffee cup of… whatever sounded good at the moment on the menu. They didn’t exactly understand what a latte, or cappuccino, or Americano was- Eda had explained all of them a while ago, but with everything going on Raine had only really retained the statement that they were “different ways to drink the same bean juice,” and that she was “banned from several coffee shops in Gravesfield” for trying to pay with raccoons.
“I’m glad we could sit down together, outside of the ADI.”
Raine flashed a polite smile. They didn't want to hit the ground running with asking Kate questions about the Glamours- it would seem too needy.
“It feels like as of late things have been.. Well. You know.”
Come Back Down To My Knees (closed to setthetone/Carter)
(tw: drug use)
Raine had spent some of their time using the medallion to spy on Carter- steal a few of his papers here, look through files and eavesdrop on conversations there. They'd been gathering information not just on him but on what he'd been hiding.
A stroke of boldness told the bard that they could confront him about it. Convince him to give over what they wanted if they could frame it the right way, as a safety thing. Because it definitely was.
Raine knew Carter was going to be at his clinic near Dogtown around this time. They'd followed him to it a few times, both to get a good sense of the clinic itself, and to keep tabs on who he was seeing.
So they strode into the clinic, as seriously as possible, violin on their side just in case, as they called out:
“Carter?” No sign of him yet. “I need to talk to you about, uh, what we discussed the other day.”
I Think I Could See The Beach, Just Don't Look Underneath Us
(tw: mental and physical health degradation, anxiety, depression, isolation.)
Things had changed around the ADI. Raine, unfortunately, is no stranger to being a part of this change.
Around mid-July, Raine begins to lose their normal cheery exterior. Dark circles under their eyes as if they've not slept, and a sort of sluggish energy that can be taken as them being tired from the recent attempt to stop the apocalypse, or one of the various other horrors they’ve dealt with.
But they become less responsive and more anxious. Their attempts to reach out to coworkers or friends dwindle, and texts go unanswered. Though they do come to work, or go shopping, they spend time doing what they're needed, and then go home. Small talk is unusually kept to a minimum. Questions of spending time together aremet with awkward admissions that they'll have to see if they're busy. Any attempt to ask if they're okay gets a gentle smile, a hand wave, a nervous laugh and a soft reply that they're just feeling a bit under the weather, or something vague.
i) I Can Admit, I Am Not Fireproof
(tw: prev+ perceived haphephobia)
Raine’s love language has always been physical touch to those whom they were close to. A pat on the shoulder here, a gentle hug there if both parties wanted it. But touch in the oncoming weeks is a sudden and new challenge for Raine.
They hesitate to take things from people’s hands. They try and keep distance in conversation. Any touch that they aren't expecting Raine will flinch from. They try to brush it off, but.. there's a sense of unease from the bard. That coming into contact with somebody is something to be afraid of.
ii) I Hope I Don’t Murder Me, I Hope I Don’t Burden You.
(tw: prev + descriptions of panic attacks.)
Raine tries to hide the way their anxiety has twisted into something severe. They disappear during work when they need to, In a bathroom, an office, behind bookshelves, in their room when they think they're alone.
The racing of thoughts and the pounding of their heart returns. The sound of heavy breathing and feeling numb fingers becomes normal for them again. At its worst, violent, ragged sobs that choked on desperate apologies with no recipient. The terror of being alone, of being unseen and unheard, but also of being seen, of being questioned for acting in a way that was off-script. It was so different here than in the Boiling Isles.
There, it was manageable.
There, Eda wasn't involved.
When: Throughout July and the beginning of August
Where: Around Gloucester and the ADI
Summary: Raine pokes around the Christmas party, makes a bet about eating spicy food, looks and feels TERRIBLE, and does some light confrontation.
Warnings: supernaturally caused feelings of depression/isolation/loneliness, mental/physical health degradation, panic attacks, anxiety, drug abuse, more will be added if needed.
Holly Jolly
Raine didn't really understand the Christmas in July thing, but they were thankful it made Pam happy. She’d seemed so glum since their encounter in the park, and Raine did feel bad for stealing from her. Even if it was perhaps too easy.
Raine decided that they'd help Eda set up for the party when they're needed, as an unheard thank you. After things kick off, Raine can be found mingling around the restaurant, puzzling at the food (or decorations), or perhaps even trying to find the other half of their strange bauble. It looks a bit like a pig’s back end.. or maybe some sort of bird? Or maybe something holding maracas. The bard doesn't know.
Heating Up
Despite what the spookily dressed teenage workers claimed, Raine was not dead. In fact, they were doing fine. Maybe a little too fine. They'd loved spicy food since they were a kid, and having tasted some of the other spicy things, they had their eyes on the challenge: The Bowel Buster.
They contemplate it, alone, and will offer to do it with somebody if approached about it. To sweeten the deal, Raine might suggest that if they both successfully eat the chips, whoever finishes first gets both people’s prize money.
Lone Digger (Closed to bossyboiler/Kate)
“Kate,”
Raine sits down across from Kate, coffee cup of… whatever sounded good at the moment on the menu. They didn’t exactly understand what a latte, or cappuccino, or Americano was- Eda had explained all of them a while ago, but with everything going on Raine had only really retained the statement that they were “different ways to drink the same bean juice,” and that she was “banned from several coffee shops in Gravesfield” for trying to pay with raccoons.
“I’m glad we could sit down together, outside of the ADI.”
Raine flashed a polite smile. They didn't want to hit the ground running with asking Kate questions about the Glamours- it would seem too needy.
“It feels like as of late things have been.. Well. You know.”
Come Back Down To My Knees (closed to setthetone/Carter)
(tw: drug use)
Raine had spent some of their time using the medallion to spy on Carter- steal a few of his papers here, look through files and eavesdrop on conversations there. They'd been gathering information not just on him but on what he'd been hiding.
A stroke of boldness told the bard that they could confront him about it. Convince him to give over what they wanted if they could frame it the right way, as a safety thing. Because it definitely was.
Raine knew Carter was going to be at his clinic near Dogtown around this time. They'd followed him to it a few times, both to get a good sense of the clinic itself, and to keep tabs on who he was seeing.
So they strode into the clinic, as seriously as possible, violin on their side just in case, as they called out:
“Carter?” No sign of him yet. “I need to talk to you about, uh, what we discussed the other day.”
I Think I Could See The Beach, Just Don't Look Underneath Us
(tw: mental and physical health degradation, anxiety, depression, isolation.)
Things had changed around the ADI. Raine, unfortunately, is no stranger to being a part of this change.
Around mid-July, Raine begins to lose their normal cheery exterior. Dark circles under their eyes as if they've not slept, and a sort of sluggish energy that can be taken as them being tired from the recent attempt to stop the apocalypse, or one of the various other horrors they’ve dealt with.
But they become less responsive and more anxious. Their attempts to reach out to coworkers or friends dwindle, and texts go unanswered. Though they do come to work, or go shopping, they spend time doing what they're needed, and then go home. Small talk is unusually kept to a minimum. Questions of spending time together aremet with awkward admissions that they'll have to see if they're busy. Any attempt to ask if they're okay gets a gentle smile, a hand wave, a nervous laugh and a soft reply that they're just feeling a bit under the weather, or something vague.
i) I Can Admit, I Am Not Fireproof
(tw: prev+ perceived haphephobia)
Raine’s love language has always been physical touch to those whom they were close to. A pat on the shoulder here, a gentle hug there if both parties wanted it. But touch in the oncoming weeks is a sudden and new challenge for Raine.
They hesitate to take things from people’s hands. They try and keep distance in conversation. Any touch that they aren't expecting Raine will flinch from. They try to brush it off, but.. there's a sense of unease from the bard. That coming into contact with somebody is something to be afraid of.
ii) I Hope I Don’t Murder Me, I Hope I Don’t Burden You.
(tw: prev + descriptions of panic attacks.)
Raine tries to hide the way their anxiety has twisted into something severe. They disappear during work when they need to, In a bathroom, an office, behind bookshelves, in their room when they think they're alone.
The racing of thoughts and the pounding of their heart returns. The sound of heavy breathing and feeling numb fingers becomes normal for them again. At its worst, violent, ragged sobs that choked on desperate apologies with no recipient. The terror of being alone, of being unseen and unheard, but also of being seen, of being questioned for acting in a way that was off-script. It was so different here than in the Boiling Isles.
There, it was manageable.
There, Eda wasn't involved.
I Can Admit, I Am Not Fireproof
She spots them standing near the door, but they seem... exhausted. Utterly so. Mercy reaches out to try to tap them on the shoulder. Just a light touch, really. "You feeling okay?"
no subject
"Uhm- I- Sorry," they stammered, and tried to smooth out their messy hair and disheveled clothing. "I'm, um, I'm fine. Just, ah, tired."
They tried to put on their most convincing smile. Needless to say, it probably isn't overly convincing.
"And maybe a little jumpy..."
no subject
no subject
"Sure, why not," They finally responded, though they're not really sure what they would talk about. The few interactions they've had with Mercy she seems like a kind person, but Raine wasn't in the business of sharing what they'd been up to. They didn't know who they could trust.
Raine pulled a chair into the kitchen anyways, though and sat down.
"What're you making?"
no subject
"Ain't seen much of you around headquarters lately. Must be working different shifts, aye? Or you been busy elsewise?"
no subject
"Maybe I am.." They murmured, almost as if it was meant for just them. They looked back up at Mercy, a little surprised by her question.
"Oh, I've been.." They briefly searched for the right words.
"I've just been very stretched thin, I think. A lot to do. It's like home, but harder somehow. There's no magic to help with tasks. And I have Hunter to worry about now too.."
no subject
no subject
"Hmm.. I'd have to think about it, honestly, so let me get back to you on that. But Hunter is a great kid, and I have Eda to help with him.." They trailed off, and sighed. Eda was a whole other matter. "She's been stressed too, though. I try to let Hunter have some space to do what he likes. I'm not his real parent, so.."
There was perhaps a small twinge of sadness at the last part of their statement.
no subject
"It's a lot of work taking care of folks, though, that's for sure. Especially ones young enough to still need lessons. I know ADI's minds the grown-ups like us, but I wasn't too sure how they handle younger folk."
no subject
Not to mention the break up with Eda. And everything that came with being in the Bard Coven. Nevertheless, Raine returned the smile.
"Well, they gave him an apartment, but I don't think they're being put through any sort of school. I don't think he has a job either.. but he's a kid. I wouldn't expect him to. He should be doing.. Normal kid things. Like learning magic, or playing Grudgeby. Not.. fighting monsters," Raine relaxed back in their chair, eyes half closed.
"Eda and I asked Hunter to come live near us because we thought it might be good for him to be around other Witches, and.. Out of ADI housing. I'm glad we did, now that half of the apartments are gone and are now.. A bar."
cw: mention of underage drinking
cw: mention of underage drinking
"It's not.. Common for very young witches to drink anything alcoholic.. But Emperor Belos doesn't like Witches drinking anything in general. He says the Titan doesn't like it. Says it makes Witches act like we're from the savage ages if we drink too much of it."
They waved a hand around at the word savage, and grimaced.
"But I think that's about as true as anything else he says, which is to say, it's not. But I wouldn't know. The Coven system's been around for a long time now. Since I was a kid, at least."
no subject
"What is it like, growing up like that? Sort of like your separate faiths? That's the... system we got in my world. Everyone worshipping the proper gods. The king's outlawed some of them in Leigland."
no subject
"None of the kids my age knew anything different. So, I guess it was normal for us."
Raine shrugged.
"We all had magic education tracks with the expectations that we would join the coven associated with that track. Kids aren't punished completely like adults are for using magic but.. The moment you're old enough to join a coven.. If you're resistant, things change."
Raine shifted in their chair, and sat up a little straighter.
"I didn't know that the Emperor emphasised coercing witches to join the covens until after I joined the Bard Coven. It made sense, though, that it's what he wanted. Belos claims he can speak to the Titan, and claims that the Titan told him 'Wild Magic-' magic used freely, without a coven-was bad."
Their eyes lingered on the red harp-shaped sigil on their arm.
"So he branded us with sigils that took away our ability to do magic that isn't part of our coven. 'Unified' us under lying about the Titan, that the covens were needed because without them we're savage. Any straying from the acceptable means you get sent to the Conformatorium, disappear, die, or you're petrified. Which is.. The same as dying. If there's magic to reverse it, we don't have it anymore."
Raine was quiet for several minutes. They hesitated to mention anything about Eda, or becoming Head Bard. Things were complicated. Very complicated.
"It's hard to know anything different when your entire life has been being fed lies by somebody who's been in power for fifty years. He has all the power, all the influence, and until right before I left? Nobody had even seen his face."
no subject
"How did you and Ms. Eda meet, though? She seems like she's a wild sort and someone who wouldn't follow a covens rules, even if she did join one." Just... saying.
no subject
"Eda never joined a coven. And the Emperor definitely didn't like that." There's only laughter in their voice. Raine liked that about Eda.
"But we met when we were both still in school, before I joined my Coven. We were two kids at an extracurricular event ran by a.. very unfortunate woman.
Unfortunate was an understatement.
"We became very fast friends. Neither of us wanted to be there, but both of us had a tendency towards mischief. After the game of Covens vs Wilds where neither of us wanted to capture the other and I lost my scholarship, I moved to her school. It was a lot of fun to go to school with Eda."
no subject
no subject
Raine frowned. Saying it out loud to a stranger not from the Demon Realm felt... different.
"It's a little violent. Probably not something kids should be playing... But the normal IFWOT wasn't like that at all. It was pretty boring normally, actually. The Head of the Plant Coven, Terra, was in charge that year."
cw: mention of child death/injury
"Glad you had fun with Ms. Eda. And that you got to spend time together. With her not joining a coven and you doing it, seems like it'd be hard for the two of you to get together. Is that... Are you together? In love, I mean." Maybe that's too forward, but she's been curious.
no subject
"Oh, this is very good," They hummed. Human food was still quite alien to them, but anything that happened was hearty Raine enjoyed.
"I know. I wasn't always around them, but I sometimes taught kids back home. I don't.. I don't think kids need to be fighting in rebellions."
Eda's certainly didn't need to be.
Raine's surprise wasn't exactly easy to hide. They pressed the flat of their fist against their mouth and looked away as they thought about what Mercy had said. The answer was obviously yes- they were absolutely in love with Eda. It was almost overwhelming how strong the feeling was, and Raine always worried it risked either of them dealing with trouble- especially since they'd been dating again.
But, on that note, the key was again. Things were complicated between the two for a very long time, (and arguably even now) but Raine wasn't quite sure how much of that they wanted to air out.
Still, they can start with an honest, albeit abbreviated answer.
"Yes. We.. We are. We weren't always together at home; in fact, we weren't when I joined the Coven but... Now we are. And it's been nice. I spent so much time working and trying to stop Belos that I'd almost forgotten how much I missed her."
no subject
"Maybe in spite of the Dread Powers, but it is. You got Ms. Eda. I got my Aelwyn." Whenever she returns... "And we're gonna save this world. Already have at least the once. Seems like its' a place that could do with clever witches." A pause. "At least until we get the chance to go home. You think you and Ms. Eda are gonna take it with Hunter when we get it?"
He's determined they are going to get it. It's only a matter of when.
no subject
Raine fell quiet, and focused on Mercy's words, head nodding along until they added:
"I won't go home until I know that things here are safe, but...I do want to go home. I'm just worried about what things will look like if I ever do. The Boiling Isles weren't in great shape last I left them."
Raine fell quiet again, hesitating to continue with what they'd planned to say. They maybe shouldn't be spilling a lot of the things they'd learned, but Raine surmised that the ADI had no clue how to get any of them home wasn't much of a secret. Nor would it be something suspicious to think.
"But. The ADI doesn't know how to get us home. I don't have much faith that'll be happening anytime soon even if I wish it would."
no subject
"I know you're not the only one with things waiting at home. Good or ill. And I mean to get anyone who ain't a human somewhere they'll be safer than this place. You been followed by any of those vans lately?"
The witches aren't the most visibly inhuman members of ADI's non-human contingent, but they're still distinctly unusual to look at. Especially when Eda's in her owl form.
no subject
"Maybe. A lot of signs seem to be pointing to Dogtown. I just worry that people are going to do more needless harm to themselves going in without help, or a plan. I want to go home, but I think staying here and making sure things go right is the best option for all of us at the moment. I do miss the Boiling Isles but.. I'm not sure what they'd even look like."
They grimaced to themself, though Mercy's question was enough to at the least pull them out of thoughts about if they led their own little investigation.
"...Vans..?"
Raine honestly had to think about it. They seemed to become lost in thought for a moment- they watched people more than people watched them as of late.
"Maybe one or two." They shrugged off the question, before they pivoted to the question they had for Mercy.
"What is home like for you, Mercy? I assume not anything like The Boiling Isles. Most people here seem to think where I'm from is very strange."
no subject
Best to be simple and talk about how home was.
"It's a place in Leigland called Evergreen. I grew up in the abbey there. My family runs the graveyard. It's a simpler place than this one. We ain't got electricity or running water, 'cept what's running in the rivers. We're up high in the mountains, too. Coming here was the first time I ever seen the sea."
(no subject)
(no subject)