logsinthenight | EVENT LOG: ENTER MR SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

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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?

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[Xayah didn't even notice that Crowley was standing there so she almost jumps out of her skin when he speaks up.

She doesn't protest but is reluctant for a moment before she finally gives him her hand, even though she knows he can heal. She's not sure why though; the slash on her palm is deep, cut right through the handguard she has on.

The drink looks tempting, but she only pulls it to herself and stares at the liquid.]

...Aziraphale?

[Crowley takes her hand with a gentleness that his demeanor would say he doesn't have in him, and he focuses. He's been doing quite a bit of healing lately----this comes a little easier, he's able to see the gash, focus on mending layers of skin.

These things keep hurting the people who matter to him. None more so than Aziraphale.

At her question, he shakes his head.]

Bait that's good food and company? If I didn't know better, I'd say they were trying to lure him in specifically.

[Her gaze shifts from the drink to where Crowley is trying his best to mend her wound. There's a sense of deja-vu, a brief flash of Rakan and her, sitting like this hidden in a small cave, tired from fight, and yet he's still using last bits of his strength to heal her up.

The wound stings and promptly brings her back, making her hiss softly, then sigh. She speaks in lowered voice:]

It happened before... a party like this. Spirits wanted to make it for us, as thanks for leaving them food and trinkets. [Her fingers twitch a bit.]

Some snuck out to reconnect that Keeper to the network, managed to do it but... all hell broke loose. We were attacked like this- but it lasted for several hours. This time it's worse.

This time they've incapacitated half the town. Perhaps forever.

[Crowley says it impassively, but the thought chills him to the core----the thought of Aziraphale never waking up. Not dead, just there, asleep and helpless. Totally helpless.

Layers of her skin knit back together and he releases her. The healing isn't totally smooth and perfect, Crowley's healings rarely are, but it's definitely not a bleeding gash, jut a pink mark.]

We need to figure out what they poisoned them with, try to find an antidote. Wake them all back up.

[She flexes her palm a bit- it's tight, there's some numbness, but way better than before. She can use it again for fighting.

Crowley talks about antidotes, and she hears him "with one ear", her mind not completely here. With a queasy feeling in her gut, she reaches for her inner pocket and she pulls out her device and tries to go on the network.

Only to be greeted with stattic.]

....where is she? Why isn't she trying to recall them...?

[Is she really trying to reset them?]

Edited 2019-11-18 15:20 (UTC)

Because she did this.

[Crowley doesn't even sound a little surprised.]

And when I get my hands on her, she'll see what a demon can do up close.

[She shakes her head, not wanting to believe that. Not because she trusts Robin, but because she doesn't want to accept the fact they all might get erased.]

Last time, there was some kind of horn. A loud horn. Before the spirits attacked.

[Right. Antidote. Antidote... Crap.]

Did anyone check that store for the medicine? We use plants back home to make antidotes, but nothing grows here...

They're talking through the network now. Did they do that before?

[Crowley doubts it. Everyone seemed so surprised.]

There's a scientist here. I haven't seen her since the attack, but I'll find her. We can get her to help figure out how to wake everyone up. She's clever.

No. Not a beep. [She glares, a non-healthy dose of rage bubbling up in her and she sneers.] I can't wait to see how she'll try to wriggle her ass out of this.

[A... what now?]

Scientist? I thought they make poison.

[At least, that's what they do in Zaun...]

She's not going to succeed.

[he sits down across from her and leans in]

I'm going to go find her. Get her to stop this. I need you to protect Aziraphale.

[She was about to agree with him- until she hears that last part. She leans forward as well, a bit frantic-]

Are you out of your mind!? You won't last even ten minutes out there all by yourself! Especially with those green-eyed spirits causing hallucinations.

We are outnumbered- by far. Half of the people that inhabit this place is asleep. We can't afford to lose more. We need you here, and alive.

I'm not a threat to them. Most of the time, they don't even attack me. I can just fly by them. Over the trees, get to the Lighthouse.

[He takes in a breath]

This town is lost, Xayah. We're not going to win this fight. We have to get her to stop it, it's the only way.

[Thanks for healing her hand because now she can use both to grab you by the shirt and actually lift you from your chair, Crowley, as she stands too-]

You won't be able to avoid them! Are you that stupid?! THAT DENSE!?

[She's pale from rage and her eyes wide-]

They will tear you apart, limb for limb!!! We won't win the fight, but we will never win war if we keep losing people.

[She gets into his face-] You walk out of that door, and I'll kill you myself- at least I'll be able to revive you later, [-and then lets go of him, waiting to see what he does.]

Edited 2019-11-18 16:08 (UTC)

[When she lets go of him, he falls back into the chair, immediately affecting complete relaxation and nonchalance. It's his security blanket, this nonchalant look, and he'll wrap it around himself]

So how are you going to stop this, then? Just fight them until they're all dead? A whole planet full of these things?

Because you know as well as I do that it's not going to work. The Lighthouse is the key.

[She stares at him angrily, pinning him with a glare of "don't you dare go outside". Once she's sure he won't do such a stupid thing, she relaxes a bit.

And starts pacing. Because she has no idea what to do. She agrees with Crowley that Lighthouse is the key, but they can't reach it. They couldn't reach it even when everything was calm. Now, all the spirits are out after them, so the Lighthouse is out of the question.]

We have to wake up the others. Soon. If we want to reach Lighthouse, we need everyone we can get our hands on.

[She runs hands down her face in frustration. For the first time, Xayah actually has no viable plan.]

Fine. I'll get the scientist, I'll bring her here. Then I'll go. She won't send in the cavalry if it's just me. She won't even suspect it. And I'll stop this.

[What's on his mind may or may not be revenge. He may or may not be thinking of Aziraphale sleeping on the floor and Xayah's injuries and the human soldier person and that may or may not make his demonic blood boil over.

Revenge is a decent motivator, isn't it?]

[She would appreciate the compliment of being considered something of a friend, but since the feelings on that aspect are returned, she will regard Crowley with another stare.

Then click her tongue.]

Alright. Since you have such massive suicidal tendencies, get up. [She summons a blade.] I'll grant you the wish.

[She looks serious. If he tries to go through that door in her presence, she will stab him. Maybe break his leg. Knock him out. But he's not leaving the Invincible while she's around.]

[Crowley turns to look at her, and slouches back in his chair, ever the nonchalant asshole.]

Do you really think you could stop me, if I want to go?

[She's just trying to help, he tells himself. She's showing him she cares, he tells himself. His eyes flick to the wound on her hand. But he has to save them his mind reminds him, and he can't let her stop him. He has to go out there, he has to figure out a way to stop this, to stop all of this.]

[She tries to look passive, but there's an edge in the corner of her eyes that's giving out her sadness and disappointment.]

No. [Xayah fiddles with the ripped-off piece of her armguard.]

But I can stop talking to you and leave. [It wouldn't matter to him anyway, right? He's not heeding her warnings or accepting the advice or even wanting to discuss why it is a bad plan because he's stubborn.]

[Crowley thinks, briefly, of Aziraphale. Of standing in that airfield, the angel holding his flaming sword, and thinking that he was definitely going to strike Crowley down. And then Aziraphale said he would never talk to him again, which was a pretty pathetic threat, but meant the whole world to Crowley.

This is, oddly, not unlike that. She's being tough and that doesn't really affect Crowley at all, but when she says she'll just leave, that settles so wrong with him. He tries to tell himself that creatures like her have such short lives anyway, that it doesn't matter if she doesn't talk to him---but it does. He's come to truly care about Xayah and oh my god that is so incredibly annoying.

He reaches out to touch her arm.]

I have ways of being totally unseen. They won't even know I'm in the woods. You can hold onto my lantern, you'll see how I am.

[She doesn't know what's going through Crowley's head but she knows one thing- she doesn't want to see him torn apart by forest spirits. He's still stubborn, adamant to leave. Should she ever try to persuade him anymore? Everything she says seems to fall on deaf ears. Perhaps his plans as a demon worked in the human world, but this is different.

Way, way different.

She raises one finger,] One, the spirits will sniff you out. Two, [she raises her second finger,] I cannot hold your lantern. If you give it to me and leave, you'll die from separation from your light. And three, [she lifts her third finger,] if you go through that door, you won't find me here if you come back.

And where will you go, Xayah? The whole town is crawling with these things. The onslaught isn't going to stop unless someone goes up there and puts a stop to it. Since everyone else here is caught up protecting what's left of this place----

[Crowley is not a self-sacrificing sort, but he can't see any other options.] You don't need me. All I've done is heal a few people and---[he gestures]---mope over Aziraphale. He's not waking up. He's not ever waking up. Not unless we stop this.

[And even then, Aziraphale might never wake up. Crowley knows this, but he's not going to let himself say it. It's better if it isn't said.]

Anywhere where I don't have to see you being torn limb for limb.

[There's a pained expression on her face and her hands are in fists as they rest atop of the table in the inn. She can see his point, she understands not being able to sit in one place but, going to the Lighthouse is suicide.

And she wishes she could stop him.

She opens her mouth to say something, but all it leaves is a heavy sigh.]

...do as you wish... [she says quietly.] Don't let some half-bird of twenty-something summers stop you. You know the best... [Xayah stands up and turns to the people laying in the back corner of the inn. She walks over and crouches to check for their vitals.]

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EVENT LOG: ENTER MR SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

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