logsinthenight | EVENT LOG: ENTER MR SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

Entry tags:

EVENT LOG: ENTER MR SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

EVENT LOG:
ENTER MR. SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

characters: those who signed up as defenders for the event
location: all around Beacon
date/time: november 16-29
content: the defenders attempt to drive off a spirit invasion
warnings: lots of horror! body horror, psychological horror, gore, violence, etc.. please cw all threads where appropriate! mods will do the same

in your closet, in your head.

It all happens in a matter of moments. Your friends, your companions, and even some people you aren't all that fond of; everyone who took so much as a bite of the spirits' feast suddenly collapses into a comatose heap. Which is bad enough already, but the worst, by far, is yet to come.

Before anyone can really figure out what's happened to the sleepers, the woods surrounding the town come alive with sound. Rustling, screeching, clicking, howling, and under it all, the characteristic hoots and whistles of the forest spirit tongue. But these aren't the friendly creatures that set up the banquet in the first place, and they aren't the familiar faces (or masks) from around Beacon. As they begin to emerge, bursting forth from the trees, these spirits reveal themselves as a horrifying army of terrors. And sprinkled among them, distinguishable by the emerald glint in their sockets, are the infamous "green eyes", the dangerous spirits that appeared once before.

Attempting to talk to these spirits is a moot point, made obvious by their immediate assault on anyone they get close to. They attack with claws and teeth, with limbs far stronger than they have any right to be, and the green eyes, as they are wont to do, will try to get into your head. Somehow, they seem to know what it is that scares you most, and they don't seem too hesitant to use it. It's not clear what they want— are they here to eradicate you? To frighten you? To send a message?

Whatever the case, one thing is very clear: you and everyone else, sleeping or waking, are in serious danger. Are you ready to defend Beacon?

QUICKNAV
comms	\|	network • logs • memes • ooc
pages	\|	rules • faq • taken • mod contact • player contact • calendar • setting • exploration • item requests • full nav

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You should see the stuff me and my buddies manage to get into."

Not that he likes those situations, and he doesn't like this one either, but he can't do much about it. And while he can choose to stay in the Invincible right now, he also wants to have access to weapons and Riku happens to be going that way.

"I'm used to it."

Besides, he's done pretty well so far, with a heavily scraped (and hastily wrapped) arm and a few claw marks on his face and neck.

It's cold and Riku isn't dressed for the weather in his waders, gloved bracers and v-neck shirt, there's a shiver on his exhale and it plumes in the air. That can't be helped when he was absolutely adamant that Daylight's winglets be protected by his newly acquired jacket and the sleeveless, hooded one he usually wears over his shirt.

Once they get moving, it'll be even colder. That's probably why he pats the portion of the bike seat behind him, completely serious. It's not all bad, Prompto - at least you have a meat shield, and room to aim if it comes to that, except... oops. Ammunition is a tough thing to come by, isn't it?

At least Riku took the time to exchange names - or at least gave his own.

"Tell me about it when this is over."

When? There are no guarantees they'll make it at all, with half of them dropped like flies and completely vulnerable, but it's a hope he chooses to stubbornly cling to, "I've got a first aid kit under the seat. Least I can do is look at your injuries when we get to the place. Help me look out for trouble."

Normally, Prompto might crack a joke about Riku's terrible choice of clothing, but he can't really say anything himself, as he's wearing a t-shirt, with his jacket tied around his waist. There had been a scarf somewhere in the ensemble, but he'd lost it somewhere between the feast and here, and wasn't about to try to go retrieve it.

"Definitely. Pictures, too."

Definitely when, too. They'll make it through this in some way or another, banged and scratched up more than they'd like, but...yeah. He climbs onto the seat offered, pulling his gun out and quickly checking to make sure he's still got the 8 bullets he thought were in there. He can reload them a couple times a day, but he doesn't know this yet, and so will use them sparingly.

"Thanks...let's get there first. I'll try to keep the baddies away and lemme know if you need something to keep your arms from freezing off." He'll totally give up his jacket, but if it comes to that, he's also super hoping that Noctis forgot to remove the camping supplies from their trip from the armiger storage, since there should be at least one blanket in there.

Edited 2019-11-18 19:42 (UTC)

Pictures too, he says. Less dire circumstances might have made that curve a smile at the corners of Riku's mouth, might've softened his expression for the reminder of how pictures came to be closely associated with how his friends could share their fond memories of the experiences they had while they were apart. To make each other a part of their disparate adventures.

It's neither the time nor place, but it feels like a pleasant promise to keep in his back pocket, proverbially speaking.

"I'll manage. We won't be going very fast," he nods his head to the side, indicating not just their floating cart of slumbering friends, but there's the fact that everything else is pitch black in the forest, the scant starlight and moonlight insufficient. He knows the way, but not well enough to go tearing off blindly into the night.

There's a torch there at the armory. Riku knows because he put it there shortly after the group he was with (technically leading, but Riku doesn't think of it as his group) discovered the camouflaged building. It had been at Rastus's request, a useful gesture in thanks for everything he'd been doing for them.

As tempting as it is to peel away, a more moderate pace is required, and Riku more or less rolls them out at a more subdued speed. Pretty anticlimactic, which is probably why he doesn't announce their departure with something like let's move.

Prompto hopes that Riku's friends have taken lots of pictures of their adventures--he says this as someone who likes documenting his own friends' adventures and as a photographer who wants to encourage other potential photographers--and shared them with each other, even the embarrassing and ridiculous ones. Especially the ridiculous ones.

He wishes he could take better pictures here, but the lighting is always awful anywhere that isn't near a torch or the bonfire, so everything appears as blackness or just indistinct dark shapes. It's very disappointing.

"Mm, probably not a good idea when it's this dark. It's too bad this place just swallows light so fast."

And too bad they couldn't have brought the gacha machine. From his experience with it, the thing can produce a decent amount of light...in bursts, anyway.

Edited (I can't words) 2019-11-19 08:00 (UTC)

Out of the core trio of his friends, it was Sora who was the prolific picture-taker. He didn't have the artistic mastery Prompto had but made up for it in sheer enthusiasm. Riku's Gummiphone is full of pictures Sora sent him, but Gummi tech being what it is, it only recharges in the presence of happy faces.

One can imagine how many of those they get around here.

The problem isn't lighting up - some of them even have abilities that can generate that visual effect - the problem is the light doesn't illuminate, unless it comes from the bonfire, their lanterns, or the lighthouse (which is just a really big lantern). It's got Riku thinking about those old spelunking lamps people used to use back home.

If he only could find reflective material and enough magnifying lens to make one, he's pretty sure he could fashion a workable headlight for use with a torch.

"Agreed, but we should stay quiet for now."

A few years ago, Riku might have been less gentle about that, but he's done a lot of growing since then.

Clearly Sora just needs some training, if he ever shows up again here when Prompto's still around. If he's up for it, of course. But since he isn't, that potential project will remain hypothetical and unthought of.

However, in terms of current potential projects, Prompto himself would be interested in headlights. He's not an engineer by any stretch, but he's sure he's retained enough knowledge from high school science class to help piece a working headlight together. Anything that helps push back the dark is worthwhile.

"Right. Shutting up then."

He's got a point, and so Prompto doesn't say anything after that, even though he feels it makes everything just a little more creepy and awkward.

If he ever shows up again, he might also have to deal with Riku being the worst helicopter friend. He lost one bestie to a totally preventable happenstance, he's not keen on losing both because he didn't keep a close enough eye on him. Riku probably needs therapy. They all need therapy.

Besides that, Prompto sharing his love of photography with others is good and pure probably also too good and pure for this world. (Never let that stop him.)

It's a long trip to make in the dark, with just their lanterns to guide them; Riku had collected the lanterns of their passengers, too, and together the provide a bit more light to see by, gently clattering together with a cord threaded through their carrying rings. He doesn't risk going faster than he can potentially react. It's still faster than jogging the whole way, and fortunately, their combined weight on the bike is carried by the bridge without trouble. If not for the anti-gravity device on the cart carrying Daylight, Wanda and Coraline, he's not sure it would've withstood the additional strain.

It is a long trip, and Prompto's not someone who's good at dealing with silence in long stretches. Capable, yes, but not great at it, so while they're making their way, he's occupying himself by attempting to peer into the darkness beyond the light of the combined lanterns, checking and double-checking the unconscious passengers, and mentally trying to work out how exactly that anti-gravity device works. He's pretty unsuccessful at the last bit, since he's never seen it before today, and has no idea where to start with it.

He also starts softly humming. Probably not loud enough to be heard by anything or anyone not on the bike or being transported by it, but Riku can likely hear it, being right in front of him.

Prompto makes every effort to keep himself occupied, and Riku's constantly aware of it, appreciative of his attempt to minimize noise even if it keeps his shoulders and back a solid line of tension, his knuckles white beneath his gloves.

It's cold, and the longer they travel through the dark, the more frequently his steadfast posture trembles in brief fits and starts of shivering.

They have to be getting close. Perhaps soon he'll see the torch he left to mark the location. He'll have to take it down, bring it into the Armory, Riku doesn't want it to lead the spirits to their location--

Prompto is humming. For a moment, he thinks about Daylight singing on the shore of the lake, while all those lanterns were set to float on its placid, mirror-like surface.

"..." Riku has turned his head to glance at Prompto questioningly, but he doesn't tell him to stop. The truth is... it's kind of-- nice. He swings his attention forward again, his jaw tight so his teeth won't chatter. Their lanterns do give off some small amount of heat, but it's not much in the open air.

Prompto is humming.

At least until he isn't, trailing off when he happens to turn from yet another check on the forest--just as dark as ever--to find Riku giving him a 'what are you doing and why are you doing it?' look. He knows that look when he sees it.

"S--" he starts, but Riku doesn't scold and ultimately turns back to focus on the path ahead. Huh. Prompto's not complaining, and he soon starts back up again with a more upbeat tune, though still just loud enough for the two of them to hear.

Prompto's starting to get cold himself. He's got a little more on than Riku does, but his arms are still mostly uncovered and the warmth he'd generated from moving around earlier's evaporated. The jacket tied around his waist is still there--loosened in his need to fidget--and he debates putting it on.

Hopefully it won't startle Riku too bad when the jacket's draped over his shoulders instead.

Edited (haha I broke my html spectacularly) 2019-11-24 05:31 (UTC)

Something warm envelops his shoulders. It isn't quite the invisible mantle of magicked warmth that Ambrose once conjured up for him, when he and others were dredging the lakes cold depths to rescue their sunken supplies, but the similarity of the situation isn't lost on him. It's a selfless act of generosity, unprompted, unsolicited.

Riku doesn't move but his eyes do, flitting between the way forward and over his shoulder, sometimes down, as he tries to decide what to do about this.

About all of it - that Prompto's probably as cold if not colder than he is, that he's given him his jacket anyway, that the humming is oddly calming.

At a time like this... he hasn't given in to despair.
He's still trying.
That's something worth holding on to. That's something worth encouraging.

"Thanks."

Hopefully it doesn't startle Prompto too much, when Riku's left hand reaches under his right arm, seeking out Prompto's right, to try to pull his arm around his middle under the warm shell of his jacket.

Or the fact he trades hands on the steering to do the same with the other.

That's fine.

He did tell Riku to say something if he got cold. Riku's the one transporting everyone, so he's the captain of the ship and therefore gets first priority for warmth. Or something like that, that seems like a good a reason as any.

Besides, once they get to the armory, he can just take the jacket back.

"No proble--huh?"

There's something reaching for his hand, and it doesn't come to him immediately that it's Riku's hand and he jolts in surprise before hesitantly taking it.

And oh...he's being pulled in closer...for warmth? Hmm, he can live with this.

"Mm, didn't think of this. Maybe I'll get some sleep."

Of course, he isn't, but Riku will just have to find out that much himself. In the meantime, he'll just accept the offer of shared warmth and keep his arms clasped around Riku's stomach.

Edited 2019-11-25 08:01 (UTC)

Riku wouldn't have blamed him if he did. He's caught his own share of naps in the Gummiship with His Majesty, the King Mickey at the helm, he knows how important those little, stolen moments of reprieve are.

It's enough that he clasps around his middle without complaint.

It isn't about what Prompto needs or what Riku needs, individually. Together, they can stay warmer, they can go longer. They can fight harder, when the moment demands their best. So Prompto quips that he might get some sleep and he'll hear no complaint or protest from Riku, who will keep steering them straight for the armory.

The only time he stops is to take the torches along the way, and finally, to disembark at where he believes the camouflaged armory is, to find their way in and deposit the torches there.

"We're here."

Prompto ultimately doesn't nap. it's nothing against Riku, but while he's certainly warm and suitably snuggly, he's not Noctis or Ignis or even Gladio and they're not riding in the Regalia, so he's not 100% comfortable taking even a power nap at the moment. He does take advantage of the shared warmth while it lasts, tightening his grip just slightly with the lack of threats.

The area around the armory is vaguely recognizable--he's been here only once so far--and he detaches himself from Riku so he can take one of the torches himself, leaving Riku with his jacket.

"You think they'll try to attack here, too? They--mm, nevermind." The trip's been uneventful so far, and he doesn't want to be the one to jinx it. "We should get them inside first, right?" Their cargo. They're the most vulnerable.

Good thing, too. Riku is depending on Prompto to help keep a look out. With the concentration it takes to steer the bike in these conditions, with so little light, Riku can't guarantee he'll catch a subtle sign of being followed, of an impending ambush. He'd be worried if Prompto fell asleep chiefly because it might seem like he isn't taking this seriously, or that he trusts readily enough to be a liability.

His breath plumes in the dark as he looks around, climbing off the bike and setting the kickstand. One hand is slightly raised, and after long moments of looking around, he speaks quietly.

"I don't think we were followed, at least," he agrees, "Let's start with the smaller people. Day's gonna take some extra care. I'll handle it." It isn't that he doesn't trust Prompto, it's more that he feels like, since he understands that these metallic edges and stuff are part of his body and therefore sensitive, Riku has an obligation to take particular care with him.

"Here, take Coraline first." The girl who looks like she's dead? Riku disagrees, apparently.

"I don't think so either. Cool."

He honestly wouldn't blame Riku for not trusting him with anything, since they're effectively strangers who happen to know each other's names at this point. If either Noctis or Ignis were on the cart, he'd put himself in charge of them. Besides, Day looks potentially hazardous if Prompto were to move the wrong way while carrying him, so it's just as well.

Coraline definitely doesn't seem to be alive, though, and Prompto gives her a skeptical glance, as well as a worried look in Riku's direction. Corpses aren't something he wants to deal with, even if they're of friends of friends.

"She's...alive, right? I mean, it's not a big deal, I've still got her." And indeed he does, scooping her up carefully and peering more closely at her face. Maybe she's just a really, really deep sleeper.

"She's alive," Riku assures him, "She's different from you and I," which, he realizes, is stating the obvious, but he thinks under the circumstances that's not the worst that could happen in this conversation, "Just trust me when I say she's sleeping." It's still an easy mistake to make; Riku's not sure he would have been able to tell if not for his sense for the Darkness.

Not that she's exactly the same thing, it's more like... well. He can't really put a finger on it. It's close to what he understands of the darkness, but different enough to matter.

Riku reaches for Wanda, carefully folding her into his arms.

"Go in first, I'll pass Wanda to you next. I don't wanna leave them out of sight."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

EVENT LOG: ENTER MR SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

4a

no subject

no subject

embarrassing boys

that they are

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

ok prompto 1/3

you know WHAT 2/3

this means war 3/3

XD oh my god 1/?

2/2 Ridiculous boys

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject