Lotus Eater
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Presence (4) Capable |Rigid Mask | Winter Mantle | Status (Licensed Security) | Autumn Goodwill (1)
Posts: 74
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Post by Lotus Eater on Feb 14, 2022 8:24:38 GMT -8
Lotus had stepped away from the bar moments for the sudden explosive entrance caught her by surprise.
She glanced up, following Golden boy to the ground. Her face was almost expressionless as she scanned the crowd for their reactions to the bombastic display of the crown. After her last conversation, the coincidence of timing was not lost on the silent Wizened. However, she found more concerning the mortal now in the king's arms.
She arches an eyebrow as she puts together the consequences of this. She sighs, glancing down at her drink that she had not touched yet. It was, of course, the first step to "go nuts," but after that entrance, she felt a wave of trepidation.
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Post by Henley on Feb 14, 2022 13:34:08 GMT -8
The humble bard's eyes widened a bit as he clocked Anthony Cartwright moving through the mirror. This was going to get complex the second Ivory and Kai Rose saw him present, and there was no time to do anything to prevent that from happening. Henley scooped up his drink in one hand and took a long sip as he tried to consider what the fuck he was going to do with this. The kid was now fully, entirely ensconced in their bullshit. Protected, to be sure, by one of the most powerful individuals in the Freehold, but that didn't stop what could be coming.
Fuck.
This was going to be shitty, because the only way he could mitigate this was to weather a confrontation. Slipping through the crowd, he went looking for Ivory.
"His Desires are his own; but my duty is to bear responsibility for the consequences of supporting a Desire that I feel is righteous. If you're angry at anyone, it's on me."
Here it comes. Public shitstorms sucked, but he'd wear it chin held high. This was the responsibility of any Spring. You didn't process the feelings by running from them.
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Post by Krakenbox on Feb 15, 2022 9:28:13 GMT -8
The Pale Dragon's glowing eyes are brighter in the club's lighting, skin almost purple with the reflected hue. She was dressed similar to last year, in a lace silver body suit that almost blends with the rest of her scales and high cut shorts that showed off her model worthy height — likely not an outfit she was excited to chew out her ward in, serving to only feed her anger.
As Henley cuts in, she throws up a hand in a sanctimonious dismissal until she recognizes the Ogre who had agreed to the internship arrangement. The Fairest had to lean in close for Henley to hear her over the bass, hissing in his ear. Henley shook his head, speaking fast as Ivory seemed to override and speak over him before being caught off guard and finally stopping to engage whatever discussion they were meant to have, sharp teeth flashing under the black light as she held her fingers to her temple. Henley seemed to weather the waves of confusion and anger, making placating gestures and offering alternatives with all the negotiation skills he had picked up across Faerie. At one point he even got her her laugh, but her ire was on her face as it turned back towards Golden Boy, directed at the original target, before Henley seemed to offer one final suggestion, and she broke off from him to cool off (and maybe find her motleymate among the sea of bodies and mirrors).
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Post by Aster Blau on Feb 15, 2022 17:30:16 GMT -8
From her secluded spot at the bar the Viper watches, Golden's entrance easily stealing her gaze as the conversation with Lotus Eater comes to an end. The entrance is loud and prominent, but the aloof expression stilling Aster's features easily showcased her lack of amusement. Indeed, Imbolc was a time to cut loose, but it was swiftly becoming apparent to the Viper that she was one of few who aimed to stand tall and watchful.
Aster considered the manner of Golden's entry, her mind sifting over what little Occult knowledge in attempt to find an answer.
However it was the appearance of a mortal at Imbolc that seemed to concern her most. The Beast visibly tensed, but, as her reactionary surprise faded, she appeared more confused than anything. Was this allowed? She didn't know. Thus, the azure gaze of the Viper roamed, looking for a familiar face that might provide some explanation.
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Post by Wayland on Feb 16, 2022 14:56:52 GMT -8
After her conversation with Henley, Wayland had wandered towards one of the quiet corners, trying to drink and trying to process. Did she want to process? Did she need to? Part of her wants to just strike back out onto the dance floor and forget about everything that was just said. All her disappointments. All her anxieties. All her fears. But that’s not what Imbolc is about, is it? It’s not a Spring festival, it’s not about feeling good. It’s about buried feelings coming to the surface.
“Fuck-!” the word comes out a hissed whisper, strangled and wet, as she tries to reign herself in. Or is reigning herself in wrong? Is it going to disrupt the ritual? If she truly lets everything loose right now, she’s going to be a wreck. She takes a sharp breath, and then a big swallow from her drink, not sure if the Winter concoction is going to help or hurt her here. Not that she’s not already hurting. She’s been hurting for months.
Before she can reach a conclusion, before she can dwell on her despair, there comes the crash. Throat thick, she swallows, pulling herself together a little as she looks back towards the main floor of the event. What the actual fuck? There’s a new Winter sovereign? And this is how they introduce themselves? And who is that with them? Someone with a hardened mask? Why?
No… It’s a mortal.
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Post by Henley on Feb 17, 2022 16:35:46 GMT -8
As Ivory went off to take a second to breathe (and perhaps find the Squire of Scales), Henley let out a long, slow sigh. Still, there was an old adage: 'a thug in motion stays in motion'. You didn't manage situations by being idle.
Now was his time to get a word in edge-wise. He found his way over toward the orbit of the new Winter Sovereign - and more importantly, his Bargain. He kept a respectful distance, his hands open and clearly visible. You know. For the bodyguards he could see, and the ones he couldn't. He offered a bow to the King from that place, flashing Anthony a friendly smile.
Maybe Golden would speak with him. Maybe not. That was up to the King.
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Post by Anthony Cartwright on Feb 19, 2022 22:22:29 GMT -8
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Post by Loki on Mar 3, 2022 18:24:14 GMT -8
As Winter's collective thaw is interrupted by the hiccup of the King's arrival, the events flowed back into its natural tapering of intense conversations, outbursts and catharsis. Clarity was managed quietly by designated courtiers, along with the control of time shifting any uncontrolled meltdowns onto a better timeline of managed public processing. It might have been disturbing to watch as an Outsider, where the Lost of Vegas held cult rituals to maintain their society, but the participants felt the safety of Oaths and powerful magic of a shared experience.
Loki starting a fight would have been normally overlooked, but by the time the Masked Elemental had flipped the third intervening Winter courtier to crush into an LED screen without the Freehold Oath responding to his violence, a few heads were starting to turn. Why he skinned himself as a human was the smallest detail on the list.
Someone fired off a gun.
The crush of dancers started to blink in dazed confusion as fear rolled through the wave of drugged hallucination like a fever dream.
There was no small amount of Masked Lost, and the event felt like the attendees had surged in number.
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Lotus Eater
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Presence (4) Capable |Rigid Mask | Winter Mantle | Status (Licensed Security) | Autumn Goodwill (1)
Posts: 74
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Post by Lotus Eater on Mar 3, 2022 18:42:20 GMT -8
Lotus hadn't gotten much into the dancing when the gunshot went off. The sudden burst of adrenaline sharpened her mind and made her thankful she hadn't just gone full out with the drinks this evening.
Nothing like a gunshot to back up your paranoia.
Her eyes dart through the party, moving from face to face trying to assess the situation quickly. She had a good idea where Golden Boy, King of winter, was but didn't know who or why the gunfire had gone off. Or why so many people's masks were up.
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Post by Blaze on Mar 4, 2022 1:56:55 GMT -8
The gunshot pulls her out of the conversation and directs her attention to the main gathering. However, Blaze is unable to get an accurate read of the situation, the crowds and flashing lights preventing a good assessment. And what do you do when you can't see shit, can't hear shit and for all intents and purposes can't do shit?
That's right, you keep your head down. Blaze weaves an enchantment around herself that will give her that extra edge if bullets start flying in her direction, looking for a spot from which to observe the crisis better, even as she attempts to pull Nott down and shield her as much as possible.
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Post by Aster Blau on Mar 4, 2022 13:59:04 GMT -8
This is why she had maintained her vigilance.
The shots fired came as a shock to many, but, while Aster was disturbed, the Viper was ready. Clear headed and determined, the Beast shot her gaze across the crowds attempting to identify where the shot had come from. When the answer became clear to her, Aster began to move towards the commotion, signaling for others to move out of the way as she traversed.
Aster's goal was not to shield others, it was to act. The Viper aimed to confront the offender, whoever it may be. Fighting was common, but using a gun was just dirty.
As she moved, Aster quietly spoke of her athletic prowess and success, invoking the Wyrd to boost her own defense should the gunmetal sights move to rest on her form instead.
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Post by Wayland on Mar 4, 2022 14:44:09 GMT -8
What. The actual. Fuck.
The gunshot startles Wayland. She likes to think of herself as someone who’s cool under pressure, someone with the reflexes and training to respond quickly to the unexpected, to danger. And that might be the case, if she hadn’t already downed several of the boozey concoctions Winter has been handing out.
And why shouldn’t she have? This was supposed to be safe. There were so many steps along the way to emphasize that Imbolc is a save place to feel your feelings, to let go a little. She’s not wearing her gun, she’s not even wearing a knife, and she’s more than halfway towards drunk because this is supposed to be safe.
Gunshots are never safe.
She stills, watching people as they move, trying to locate where the gunshot came from. Information is power. But you know what else is power? Not getting hit by a fucking bullet. Bullets travel. Bullets pierce through things and hit other things. Wayland hears the voices of numerous friends and colleagues in her ears telling her to stop standing there like an idiot and get down! Even if nobody’s shooting at her, she doesn’t want to catch a stray round!
She takes a small step backward and lowers herself into a crouch. Unable to find the shooter in the crowded, loud, panicked room, she instead tries to find something to take cover behind.
God, what the fuck!
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Post by Krakenbox on Mar 8, 2022 23:27:46 GMT -8
In the concentration of magic and unbound emotion, Bedlam was firing off left and right. Emotions hit in waves where it ceased to have meaning — frightening adrenaline, joy in the chaos, the thrill of berserk offense, uncontrolled selfishness, to exhaustive lethargy to give up and cry. Everyone was sweating as they dispersed to their collective goals or took a moment to collect themselves with dips and highs that self-corrected with the next wave of Arcadian madness cancelling it out.
Bodies moved around Blaze as the crowd surge was manipulated by blessed terrain, her outline diffusing with the mirage of heat.
Lotus' attention briefly followed the King, noting a confrontation emerging near the bar as an Ogre hauled on his companion and was threatening to snap the kid's neck where he had somehow gotten his hands on an Uzi. It looked like some Lost had gotten it in their heads that he was to blame, with Golden's small retinue holding back escalating violence.
Glass was starting to shatter in fantastic pulses, the music trying to cut more than once as someone wrestled with the sound system. Aster wove through bodies as her scales slid through liquid fate, catching snapshots of Lost enacting violence on the Masked as accusations of Fetches flowed through the cacophony. Heads literally flew as motleys spotted a double and sprung without hesitation, while others gawked in pale shock at the bestial actions of their peers. Some froze, mentally unprepared and being threatened with trampling as they fell to their knees or curled defensively, while other hands reached to pull them up and hurry them along. Finally, the viper broke to the ring that had formed around the source of the gun shot to see Benjamin Murphy frowning down the sights of his cocked rifle to the mauled corpse of his double. He didn't seem particularly happy about the situation, limp as people tugged and asked questions, but holding tight to the weapon as more than one tried to tug it from the Oracle. The Fall motleymate of the She-Wolf calmly repeated that he didn't know anything, and had just reacted to a vision. The confusion seemed genuine, alongside the disturbed nature of what the hell he had just murdered. As the Beast takes in the surrounding information, Aster gains a rapid, instinctual understanding of what she was dealing with in the scope of limited context.
The hushed voice of a Whisperwisp cut spoke directly in everyone's ear. "Members of the Freehold, the shooter is no longer active. Make your way to the nearest exit and refrain from Portalling or using the mirrors. It is dangerous and unstable. They are not Fetches. Proceed in an orderly fashion and refrain from firing weapons. Proceed to the nearest exit. We repeat: they are not Fetches."
Upon seeing the Maker crouched, a Fall Wizened with a metallic sheen to her skin and a bronze eye stopped and calmly encouraged her to follow. The Ogre had seen the woman sometimes perform, having an inkling that she was a talented singer with a friendly reputation, even if she didn't immediately recall the name.
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Post by Aster Blau on Mar 9, 2022 17:13:11 GMT -8
The Viper stood still as she beheld Benjamin's kill eyes flicking from the corpse to the Oracle himself as the Viper began to put two and two together. Not a fetch and the people were not to exit via mirror portaling...
The warrior spirit within screamed for her to seek out her own, if it existed. All the while, the gaze of the serpent remained on Murphy as Aster collected thoughts. Claws dug deep into palms as the order was given to the refrain from violence. Aster's frustration was clear, Wrath rolling off her form as she grappled with indecision.
Realizing her stare had rested on Murphy a little too long, the Viper linked.
"I don't like this," she offered by way of explanation. Then she averted her eyes, looking towards the exit.
Aster had no power here, however. To most, the serpent was a low ranking Summer with a penchant for violence. She wasn't even vassalized, so she didn't have the influence of a patron to lean on in order to find out more. Aster was, as she had long been, alone.
Thus, with her disgruntled comments offered only to the Oracle, the Beast turned and walked away.
Good soldiers follow orders. Right, Bell?
The inner voice's mocking demeanor elicited a frown from the serpent, but she nonetheless obeyed and began her exodus. As she moved, the Viper would ease the tense grip of her fists, observing the droplets of crimson on her palms to ensure the damage was nothing more than superficial.
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Lotus Eater
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Presence (4) Capable |Rigid Mask | Winter Mantle | Status (Licensed Security) | Autumn Goodwill (1)
Posts: 74
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Post by Lotus Eater on Mar 13, 2022 12:40:06 GMT -8
The shooter was handled. And it sounded like these doubles werent fetches? Than what? Her stomach twists at the implications. A worry for another time.
Lotus eyed the situation near the king, she couldn't get the details but it seemed to be handled. She wouldn't be of service there, and stepping in to help might complicate the situation further.
She quickly scans the crowd pulling a familiar face, Wayland. She hurried over towards the Ogress raising a hand to be seen.
“Wayland” She calls confidently.
“Are you hurt? Can you help me?” She asks pulling her dress up a little and tying a knot to give her legs more movement.
“Help me sweep the perimeter, look for stragglers” There were enough drunk, high and hallucinating individuals here, that someone was bound to get lost or hurt. As a winter courtier she had an obligation to insure everyone got out safely.
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