Post by Lucas Chevalier on Dec 31, 2021 0:35:45 GMT -8
Lucas wasn't sure how much time passed before he found himself laying on the floor of whatever room he had ended up in, staring up at the ceiling, with an empty flask of whiskey next to him, and his sports jacket was completely wrinkled. It wasn't even that he was completely wasted--although he was properly sauced at this point--it was he was so tired. The temptation to close his eyes over and sleep through the rest of the evening resonated with every cell in his body. He had managed to stay awake for a year, that was good enough, right?
His eyes fluttered between being open and closed as his depression was welcomed like a favorite jacket. Even if it was old and wasn't as effective as newer jackets, it was a familiar comfort. The tension in his body eased as the weight of the season pressed down on him, shushing away the anxious thoughts with the promise of nothingness. If he slept deep enough, he might be able to escape his nightmares for at least one night. The amount of whiskey in his system would aid him in that endeavor.
"What am I even missing?"
He murmured out loud since no one would be able to hear him. The past several months had been dedicated to saving his soon to be Monarch who discarded their friendship like it was nothing more than an annoying sliver that got caught in the Dragon's dreadful claws. How could he swear an oath to such a being? The malice that radiated from Golden Boy threatened to chase Lucas in his dreams if he thought about it too much. Instead he turned his thoughts to more soothing memories. Eurydice had promised she wouldn't leave him because of his SAD escalating this year. It was a nice thought but he wasn't going to hold her to it. She would be mortified if she found him lounging around like this. Dani had promise to be there for him whenever he needed it, all he had to do was give her a call.
His thoughts were loose and all over the place as he found himself briefly wondering where his phone even was. Oh, right, he had brought it along with him but he wasn't sure how much battery life was left as he hadn't bothered to charge it before going. The Fairest soon found himself laughing as the one thought that kept drumming in the back of his mind and refusing to let him fall asleep was of his obnoxious little bird. When it came to all of the people in his life, it was easy for him to justify how they would be better off without him if he withdrew and hibernated for the rest of the season. Luther, on the other hand, depended on him. His feathery friend needed him to clean up his cage, feed him, sing to him at night, soothe him when he got fussy, and help him learn how to control his volume. If he didn't look after Luther, no one else would. Mildred's family couldn't take care of him and reached out to Lucas to take care of him. How could he abandon his faithful companion or risk neglecting him after all the little guy had been through?
"Unngh, fuck."
He muttered as he pushed himself up using his elbows. The room began to violently spin as the whiskey in his stomach caught up with his head. He brought a hand over his eyes to protect them from the light and try to avoid upchucking all over his outfit. God, this wasn't any way to live either. Something needed to change in order for him to make it through the rest of the season and remain awake. Joining a court was supposed to bring about a sense of belonging not alienation. He could barely find any strands that connected him to the rest of his court other than the old adage of "misery loves company". The court here was so different than what he was used to in Detroit. He had never taken the time to reflect on why that was until now. If he really thought about it--which he was doing at this point--it all came down to how each Freehold's courts were built around their seasonal patron. His eyes darted down to his hand that had touched oblivion. Heh, maybe it wasn't oblivion he touched after all...maybe it was his patron.
The more he thought about it the more sense it made that the titanic force that had broken through his protective magic was his own patron. He dropped his hand from his eyes so he could stare out the window. His patron was out there tonight, soaking in the power of the season, and likely the lives of those who were out there trying to gather the relics. That was his best guess anyways. No one was going to give him the answers. If he wanted the answer--if he wanted to know the ultimate truth--he needed to go find it for himself.
He laughed again, thinking to himself: How very fall of me.
Despite his legs feeling unsteady, he managed to stand up from the ground and continue to stare out the window. The ethical hypocrisy his court espoused when it came to who was selected to go fight the good fight outside left a bitter taste in his mouth. They didn't want to engage in what they deemed as assisted suicide but they were fine with sending kids on missions to rip the heads off of their siblings. What a complete and utter load of bullshit. He dragged the back of his hand across his lips to get rid of the remaining taste of whiskey.
If tonight was a celebration of that mattered then he was going to celebrate by finding the answers that would help him maintain some sense of self-agency. There was still some goodness left inside of him that he feared was going to be wiped out entirely if he continued down the current path his court was going. There were things worth dying for and saving ones soul from becoming rotten was one of them. He drew in a deep breathing, making his final decision; he was going outside.
Before he did, he wanted to say his good byes because even with all of his combined skillsets which included unique skillsets, there was still a high chance he wasn't coming back. He couldn't risk bringing along others because they wouldn't be able to see the sentries and whatever else was happening in twilight like he could. He also had a small time frame to work with. The magic they invoked all had loop holes. So maybe the Wyrd or his patron would reward his cleverness for using a loop hole for not celebrating by the hearth; Winter did not have a monarch. The crown had yet to manifest.
He reached inside of his pocket to send off a couple of texts.
The first was to Eurydice:
Eurydice, on this night where we celebrate and remember all that's important to us, I wanted to thank you for opening your heart to me. The time we have spent together over these past few months has brought me great comfort. Your courage, grace, relentlessness, and warmth makes me want to be a better man. There's something I need to do to be the man I want to be and it comes with a great risk. I know you'll be mad at me for going outside. I'm sorry for the trouble this will likely cause you as well. My hope is you can at least appreciate the pursuit of ones desire. Love is what keeps me here in Vegas more than anything. Not just romantic love, but all the different ways you can love another. If I don't do something tonight, then my heart will end up in a place where it can no longer feel love. Please forgive me if I don't make it back and look after Luther for me. You're the only I can trust to reign in the little guy.
The second was to Dani:
Dani, thank you for your friendship. Ever since I was taken, I've never been someone's best friend. Being your best friend has helped me feel like myself again and like good things can still happen even if we have to sit alone in the dark for awhile. I'm so grateful that you came into my life even if it has been under the strangest circumstances. I've got to do something that may lead to extended radio silence from me. Please look after my fish, Mr.Bubbles and yourself. You deserve kindness, love, and respect, even if your anxiety tells you otherwise.
The last one was to Sedna:
Sedna, I'm going outside. If I make it back, I'll give you a full report. Wish me luck.
On the off chance he somehow completely fucked up the ritual, the responsible thing to do was to give his Knight the heads up so she could be vigilant for any strange occurrences that followed.
Once he felt the power of Arcadia flowing through him and both his fear and depression wash away, he turned his attention towards the window.
"And away we go."
He ran forward before jumping and sailing through the wall to the outside world.
Investigation: Wits +investigation=6 extended rolls
+2 bonus for investigation kit
Roll 1) 3
Roll 2: 1
Roll 3)2
Roll 4) WP Spent: 2
Roll 5) 2
Roll 6) WP Spent: 4
14 successes total to investigate what's going on outside while in between the skin world and twilight.
His eyes fluttered between being open and closed as his depression was welcomed like a favorite jacket. Even if it was old and wasn't as effective as newer jackets, it was a familiar comfort. The tension in his body eased as the weight of the season pressed down on him, shushing away the anxious thoughts with the promise of nothingness. If he slept deep enough, he might be able to escape his nightmares for at least one night. The amount of whiskey in his system would aid him in that endeavor.
"What am I even missing?"
He murmured out loud since no one would be able to hear him. The past several months had been dedicated to saving his soon to be Monarch who discarded their friendship like it was nothing more than an annoying sliver that got caught in the Dragon's dreadful claws. How could he swear an oath to such a being? The malice that radiated from Golden Boy threatened to chase Lucas in his dreams if he thought about it too much. Instead he turned his thoughts to more soothing memories. Eurydice had promised she wouldn't leave him because of his SAD escalating this year. It was a nice thought but he wasn't going to hold her to it. She would be mortified if she found him lounging around like this. Dani had promise to be there for him whenever he needed it, all he had to do was give her a call.
His thoughts were loose and all over the place as he found himself briefly wondering where his phone even was. Oh, right, he had brought it along with him but he wasn't sure how much battery life was left as he hadn't bothered to charge it before going. The Fairest soon found himself laughing as the one thought that kept drumming in the back of his mind and refusing to let him fall asleep was of his obnoxious little bird. When it came to all of the people in his life, it was easy for him to justify how they would be better off without him if he withdrew and hibernated for the rest of the season. Luther, on the other hand, depended on him. His feathery friend needed him to clean up his cage, feed him, sing to him at night, soothe him when he got fussy, and help him learn how to control his volume. If he didn't look after Luther, no one else would. Mildred's family couldn't take care of him and reached out to Lucas to take care of him. How could he abandon his faithful companion or risk neglecting him after all the little guy had been through?
"Unngh, fuck."
He muttered as he pushed himself up using his elbows. The room began to violently spin as the whiskey in his stomach caught up with his head. He brought a hand over his eyes to protect them from the light and try to avoid upchucking all over his outfit. God, this wasn't any way to live either. Something needed to change in order for him to make it through the rest of the season and remain awake. Joining a court was supposed to bring about a sense of belonging not alienation. He could barely find any strands that connected him to the rest of his court other than the old adage of "misery loves company". The court here was so different than what he was used to in Detroit. He had never taken the time to reflect on why that was until now. If he really thought about it--which he was doing at this point--it all came down to how each Freehold's courts were built around their seasonal patron. His eyes darted down to his hand that had touched oblivion. Heh, maybe it wasn't oblivion he touched after all...maybe it was his patron.
The more he thought about it the more sense it made that the titanic force that had broken through his protective magic was his own patron. He dropped his hand from his eyes so he could stare out the window. His patron was out there tonight, soaking in the power of the season, and likely the lives of those who were out there trying to gather the relics. That was his best guess anyways. No one was going to give him the answers. If he wanted the answer--if he wanted to know the ultimate truth--he needed to go find it for himself.
He laughed again, thinking to himself: How very fall of me.
Despite his legs feeling unsteady, he managed to stand up from the ground and continue to stare out the window. The ethical hypocrisy his court espoused when it came to who was selected to go fight the good fight outside left a bitter taste in his mouth. They didn't want to engage in what they deemed as assisted suicide but they were fine with sending kids on missions to rip the heads off of their siblings. What a complete and utter load of bullshit. He dragged the back of his hand across his lips to get rid of the remaining taste of whiskey.
If tonight was a celebration of that mattered then he was going to celebrate by finding the answers that would help him maintain some sense of self-agency. There was still some goodness left inside of him that he feared was going to be wiped out entirely if he continued down the current path his court was going. There were things worth dying for and saving ones soul from becoming rotten was one of them. He drew in a deep breathing, making his final decision; he was going outside.
Before he did, he wanted to say his good byes because even with all of his combined skillsets which included unique skillsets, there was still a high chance he wasn't coming back. He couldn't risk bringing along others because they wouldn't be able to see the sentries and whatever else was happening in twilight like he could. He also had a small time frame to work with. The magic they invoked all had loop holes. So maybe the Wyrd or his patron would reward his cleverness for using a loop hole for not celebrating by the hearth; Winter did not have a monarch. The crown had yet to manifest.
He reached inside of his pocket to send off a couple of texts.
The first was to Eurydice:
Eurydice, on this night where we celebrate and remember all that's important to us, I wanted to thank you for opening your heart to me. The time we have spent together over these past few months has brought me great comfort. Your courage, grace, relentlessness, and warmth makes me want to be a better man. There's something I need to do to be the man I want to be and it comes with a great risk. I know you'll be mad at me for going outside. I'm sorry for the trouble this will likely cause you as well. My hope is you can at least appreciate the pursuit of ones desire. Love is what keeps me here in Vegas more than anything. Not just romantic love, but all the different ways you can love another. If I don't do something tonight, then my heart will end up in a place where it can no longer feel love. Please forgive me if I don't make it back and look after Luther for me. You're the only I can trust to reign in the little guy.
The second was to Dani:
Dani, thank you for your friendship. Ever since I was taken, I've never been someone's best friend. Being your best friend has helped me feel like myself again and like good things can still happen even if we have to sit alone in the dark for awhile. I'm so grateful that you came into my life even if it has been under the strangest circumstances. I've got to do something that may lead to extended radio silence from me. Please look after my fish, Mr.Bubbles and yourself. You deserve kindness, love, and respect, even if your anxiety tells you otherwise.
The last one was to Sedna:
Sedna, I'm going outside. If I make it back, I'll give you a full report. Wish me luck.
On the off chance he somehow completely fucked up the ritual, the responsible thing to do was to give his Knight the heads up so she could be vigilant for any strange occurrences that followed.
Activate: Binds the dead
Occult +Wits=5 + 1 G
1 suxx
Activate Heart of ice: 2g
Activate Whispers of Morning: Meets loophole requirement of wearing no armor.
Occult +Wits=5 + 1 G
1 suxx
Activate Heart of ice: 2g
Activate Whispers of Morning: Meets loophole requirement of wearing no armor.
Once he felt the power of Arcadia flowing through him and both his fear and depression wash away, he turned his attention towards the window.
"And away we go."
He ran forward before jumping and sailing through the wall to the outside world.
Investigation: Wits +investigation=6 extended rolls
+2 bonus for investigation kit
Roll 1) 3
Roll 2: 1
Roll 3)2
Roll 4) WP Spent: 2
Roll 5) 2
Roll 6) WP Spent: 4
14 successes total to investigate what's going on outside while in between the skin world and twilight.
