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Post by Fawkes on Apr 7, 2021 18:20:09 GMT -8
The white digits of the mannequin's fingers tap out the layers of audio that consumes his attention. Nerves are electric, feeling the tingle through tendons and sinew that he isn't entirely sure are there anymore. It's very humanizing; the texture of his jacket where he can get lost in the thread pattern and the ridge of each stitch, pulse syncing with a soundtrack rather than a scraping, frenzied torrent that made his skin feel like a prison cell. God he had missed this. The background is muffled through the plastic and silicon shoved in his ears, but the hot rage and bitter metal from the argument radiating one the deck below warms him like the sun; the metal of the rail cutting off his circulation and the fraying edge of the forgotten cigarette reminded him he was somewhere. Drunk from the chalice between reality and madness where the Lost walked the line. He tilts his head as his phone buzzes, parting the vibrant haze of city lights and thousands of echoing waves. He can see the air swirl around it, bright eyes tracking the movement with renewed interest. The phone buzzes again. Oh.
Right.
He removes the earpiece, opening the hotel door to the group of strange he hated and loved at the same time.
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Oren
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written by Hiver
Posts: 242
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Post by Oren on Apr 8, 2021 15:11:38 GMT -8
He could do without the curtains (they weren't his favorite shade), but it would be suitable. Oren felt that he should be more concerned with the interior decorating of his psyche, than the upholstery anyway. Hm...no briefcase. No suits. No Leonardo DiCaprio. This wasn't Inception at all! He pouted to no one in particular before taking off his jacket and making himself comfortable, but not before pulling out a crystalline bottle of Islay dry gin, offering it to Fawkes. " Are you squeamish about germs? I didn't bring any glassware."
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Post by Kai Rose on Apr 8, 2021 17:58:41 GMT -8
Kai followed with Oren, a little black rolling bag trailing behind her. She had a smile on her face and looked like she was actually kind of excited to be here, even if her skin betrayed some apprehension along with her determination to find the truth. "Hey, Fawkes. How are you?"She placed her little tote against the wall and found a seat on one of the beds.
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Post by Mitchell Carr on Apr 8, 2021 19:14:57 GMT -8
Mitchell arrived last, hair still a little damp that he kept unconsciously fixing from the rushed frenzy. He hadn't meant to be running late, but he also wasn't used to nodding off in the shower. Perks of having a key to the studio was that he didn't have to obey any time restraints when one of his ticks didn't let him move on from a routine. Five hours later of making sure not a single muscle twitch was out of place for the practice run, he definitely drove the vehicle beyond what his skill allowed to be deemed safe. Not late though! It was the little things. He had a clean pair of joggers and a workout shirt in his locker, shouldering the gym bag as he removed the shoes and put them aside in a manner where everything was lined up neatly. The Fairest beamed at the group on reflex, the complete lack of colour in his mien offering no hint to his collective physical and mental exhaustion. "Sorry," he said, unnecessary. He was right on time. Right? He had checked. He checked again as his eyes wandered to the electronic clock, before they rested on Fawkes and noted the Elemental seemed a lot less stiff than he expected. "How's everyone?"
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Post by Fawkes on Apr 8, 2021 20:58:26 GMT -8
"Hey Oren." The bright blue eyes of the mannequin automatically click to hands disappearing, before it was shown to be just a bottle. He actually chuckled a bit. It was dry, and he covered his mouth absently as he mused on some private joke about oaths with Blightbents and being a Cleaner.
"It's a hotel. There'd be glasses in the kitchen cupboard if you're worried," he said, voice sounding a little smoother than the sharp, flat pivots and pauses. He didn't make a move to grab a glass himself, not much caring either way. It wasn't like his motley had cheaped out; sticking to one of the nicer venues on the Strip in the heart of their society rather than a thin-walled motel out in Naked City.
Normally Fawkes wasn't a drinker, but he was still doubting his regular issues of insomnia would just dissipate with the added stressors.
He gave Kai a silent wave, attention flicking to his hand for a moment like he was noting something. "Got here yesterday. I've done a general sweep and made sure no one's going to bother us." It was a sort of non-answer, or he just had a hard time shutting off Work. He shockingly didn't reek of smoke, at least.
His head ticked to the side as the Season of Spring manifested a random swallow that dove through the room, while Mitch organized himself and resisted the urge to fix the other shoes. It faded from reality before it could be considered disruptive, but the Elemental was always a little jumpy. He was still getting used to the Bishops new addition of colourful fractal light patterns, getting quit vibrant with Kai's Summer intensity.
"People tired yet?"
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Oren
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written by Hiver
Posts: 242
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Post by Oren on Apr 9, 2021 4:08:41 GMT -8
Oren knitted his hands together, stretched out his arms, and swayed from side to side. Normally, you would expect the bones in the shoulder to crack, pop, or snap in protest. There is merely the scraping of smooth stone, the rush of cut water, and the clink of polished china. "I didn't sleep last night, so...yeah, I could go for a nap." Kai's voice was lovely. Having Mitchell in his mouth was bittering, but being so close let things bubble to the surface.
Muscle memory, carved in ivory.
He spent the night in mourning. His face still itched. The Mask felt especially tight, but he was sure it was simply a matter of character bleed rather than anything to be actually concerned about. "Sure, they haven't booked the room across from us...or bought the whole floor. But what's to stop them from following the Yellow Brick Road?"
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Post by Kai Rose on Apr 10, 2021 22:46:49 GMT -8
"Tired, but not the sleepy kind. Not yet. I'm sure we could get there. Calisthenics before bed are a pretty good way to get a good night's sleep," she joked. She was plainly in an okay mood, a little bit of apprehensive brown veins crossing through her otherwise gold coloration. She beamed at Fawkes, a hint of curiosity on her features as she considered the whole 'been here since yesterday, making sure it's all good'. Why would anyone bother them? She supposed a spot of paranoia in his line of work wasn't all that weird.
"As for how I'm doing, Mitchell, all good. I've got questions, and I'm hoping that maybe tonight we piece together an answer or two."
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Post by Fawkes on Apr 11, 2021 10:23:28 GMT -8
Fawkes absently took a pull from the gin bottle as the others chattered, forgetting for a moment that he was supposed to be leading this whole escapade. He heard his own voice thrown back at him from Oren a second time, brow actually pinching as the mien scissored micro-cracks across the flexing porcelain.
"No. Oren. I didn't think the Gentry would occupy the hotel because we're stitching together a dream pattern," he said mildly, red starting to trickle from the expanded chips while the mien struggled to accommodate his animation. "Unless you've been cutting weird fucking deals with with hobs. The Others shouldn't have access to your Bastion. You roll the dice everyone time you sleep. But Mordecai explained the Skein is infinite and this is the area in Vegas with the highest concentration of consciousness. We swear a Dreamers Oath for the added protections."
Kai had worked with the Sun Banisher in a situation that was arguably far more stressful than an adult slumber party. His reputation for being careful seemed to be dipping into some unreasonable territory. Maybe it was the fact that the Strip was a communal Harvest ground and he was worried about other Lost?
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Post by Mitchell Carr on Apr 11, 2021 10:38:06 GMT -8
Mitchell had nodded the affirmative in terms of exhaustion, listening to the conversation bounce around as he blinked in surprise to see Fawkes drinking. A quick read of the room informed him the others didn't know, so he opted to keep quiet on the topic.
At least, that's what he told himself as he listened to the Onyx courtier's change in cadence to faster run-on statements, jumping from one topic to another. The Dancer saw his opening to address multiple flags without directing the Torrent.
"Everything all right?"
He floated the quest to both Fawkes and Oren, trying to couch between the comment of not sleeping. He also glanced at Kai, intending to utilize her own talent to keep the situation as relaxed as it could be.
"This is the sort of thing people do one on one or with a motley pledge," he added, sitting on one of the beds closer to the Wizened. "If we go in with a stack of negatives, I don't think it's going to go as great as we would like."
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Oren
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written by Hiver
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Post by Oren on Apr 11, 2021 10:53:52 GMT -8
Inside Oren there were multiple torrents clamoring to be seen and felt. Two managed to billow in his chest, occupying the most amount of space, pushing themselves to the front of his thinking.
Yet, he was split.A part of him knew that he needed to be candid; that their little Dream Quest needed all the support it could get, and that if he couldn't ante up where it mattered, he would only have himself to blame for it falling apart.
"I'm fine.", he smiled.
Oren did not trust Mitch. But he could look at him. He could take his voice. He could even say a few words. "Things work themselves out. Especially when those things are given the time they need."
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Post by Kai Rose on Apr 11, 2021 18:28:03 GMT -8
Kai nodded to the Bishop's idea, adopting a calm tone. "There's something to that, yeah. Keeps us focused," she shrugged, looking to Fawkes. "What do you think, man?"
You didn't shove Elementals. Rather, you let them come to their conclusion.
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Post by Fawkes on Apr 12, 2021 7:06:45 GMT -8
The mannequin's attention clicked to Mitchell, "If I was worried about this fucking up that badly. I wouldn't have suggested it. What you're rooting around for is unrelated to this. But I guess now that I think about it it's probably adding to my usual."
The Fairest smiled mildly, dragging out the pause. The tactic never really worked with Fawkes, the Elemental content with staring at you and making you more uncomfortable that he probably was. Rather, Mitch was tiptoeing around the mire of the multitude of problems that was probably causing the Sicario to feel the need to exercise every ounce on control he had over his environment. "On my honour, I Promise not to share anything without your expressed permission that serves your best interest, unless you pose a danger to yourself or the Freehold without intervention," he rattled off, the air of the room stilling with the Wyrd as he threw Glamour into his outstretched hand.
"Oh fuck off," Fawkes growled.
But still shook anyway.
"This isn't anyone's therapy session. I'm well aware that I'm coming off as a little crazy. Can you just trust me. There's a lot of weird shit going on in the Freehold right now that you don't know about." He took another pull from the alcohol, "So. I'm going to do what I need to do. To do the things I want to do."
Another beat passed, Fawkes shifting in discomfort, "I want to try. But I don't like everything that I have to do to get there." His tone wavered, trying to spell out to the Fairest that maybe it was literally just as basic as not wanting strangers in his head; not wanting to sleep around strangers; and not wanting strangers touching him. The fact that the Onyx courtier was even entertaining this escapade was because he had worked with all of them in situations that earned a baseline of trust.
"Also. You," he said, head swiveling to Oren. "Stop. I thought I made it clear I don't find it funny. I know I have a thing. With how I talk."
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Oren
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written by Hiver
Posts: 242
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Post by Oren on Apr 12, 2021 9:56:05 GMT -8
"Oh shit. That sounded like you? Weird."
It was strange. He was trying to sound like Mitch. It must have...gotten away from him. "Sorry...it just happens sometimes. I sort of pick up on it and it just spills out."
"I trust you."
There was something in him Oren understood. He hoped that Fawkes could see that in his eyes and hear that in Oren's voice. It was probably the most honest thing he's said all week. And with that, he kicked off his shoes and leapt onto the bed, fanning out like a starfish. "Ready when you are."
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Post by Kai Rose on Apr 12, 2021 10:31:40 GMT -8
"Anything we can do to make it easier?"
That seemed like the pertinent question at this point. Oren had handled the guy's concern effectively.
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Post by Fawkes on Apr 12, 2021 19:45:08 GMT -8
Fawkes actually did seem to relax a bit, reclining a bit as he rested his chin in his hand and considered. It wasn't just his Seasonal allegiance that made the Elemental slow to pull things from silence.
"I meant earlier. Oren. But it's fine." He suddenly chuckled, the scissor of cracks blistering from the corner of the smirk. "We're good for the Pledge. Just one thing though about you two. I'm not going to pry too much into your business. But I'm not super stoked on whatever soap opera issue you have spilling out all over my Bastion."
Mitchell bulked, equal parts surprised and confused. "I'm not-"
"Yes you are. You're just as fucked as the rest of us Carr," he laughed again. "Maybe stop bitching to my motley mate when both of you get trashed so I have to listen to Eurydice's gossip the next morning. Be an adult with yourself for once. Like I said I don't know the details but figure it out. You're not teenagers."
The Fairest looked mortified, causing Fawkes to continue laughing into his hand like he was witnessing one of the funniest things he had ever seen, having to wipe the red pooling in his eyes. The ringing caused the windows to hum with the frequency, before the high Elemental breathed himself back to calm.
"Sorry," he sniffed, rolling the scarlet sand between his finger tips. "I find this more annoying than rage inducing." He was mostly focused on Mitchell as the source of an anxiety, rather than Oren. He was very familiar with the man's issues that often bled into his own life by proxy; thanks to the Dancer's chaotic relationship with the former Sage Escort that numbered among Fawkes' motley.
You're not perfect, and I find that hilarious.
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