EVENT LOG: ENTER MR SANDMAN (DEFENDERS)

[inthenightmods]

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

Comments

[worthallthis]

"This doesn't seem like a bad place," they admit. Reluctantly. "Door closes well. Not many windows. Lots to barricade with. Magic moving furniture." Which probably isn't a quality of the furniture. Does Misty have magic, like Crowley and Aziraphale do? Crowley made furniture move, too. That will... maybe not make the Soldier worry less, but still be a little comforting. A little.

"Most people are at the Invincible. Off and on. We've closed up the windows. Got a bad on the door, barricades in the stairs. Patrols." Trying to make the place "with crowds" sound a little better. This might not be a bad place, but it's not someplace right under the Soldier's own watchful eye.

[shadowsran]

The intent is clear, and Misty strays toward a more steady smile.

"That are all probably necessary." Because it could be attracting more attackers, or those meant to guard might abandon a stranger to help a friend if a split second forced such a choice. People, as a whole, are not to be trusted in these circumstances. She's certain. Patting his arm, just the once, she shakes her head.

"And I'm glad to hear it'll be working well for everybody. Been lucky here so far, I don't see any reason to fix what isn't broken, you know? You could come here."

[worthallthis]

That. Shit. Christ, that'd be a hard order to obey. There are so many people at the Invincible they care about, and others they don't care about specifically but who still need the backup of someone like them. And yes, all of them together do make a tempting target, and though there hasn't been a mass attack yet, the Soldier wants to make sure they're there just in case there is one. There are good fighters among the defenders there, but none of them are the fucking Asset.

But Misty. Not just as a handler, but Misty. They want her safe as much as they want Crowley and Scarlett safe, and more than pretty much everyone else.

The Soldier shifts their feet uncertainly, looks aside. "Do you. Want me to. I will if you want me to. You need to be safe."

[shadowsran]

Soldat.

"I'm already safe," she counters gently, "You don't have to move anyplace. I'm just saying - I don't think I'm about to up and change course, either." However reliable he is, the town is emphatically not. Can't endanger herself, or Matt, or Ivy. There's sympathy enough to look more than reassuring, at least. "I mean it, really, I'll manage."

[worthallthis]

Look, they're not used to having multiple protect targets, let alone having opinions about them. This is a mission they literally gave themselves, and while said mission is pretty rock-solid, "protect everyone" is also very... broad. This is yet another new experience for the Soldier to learn how to navigate.

"I'm protecting the inn," they say after a pause, looking at her feet. (Helping protect. Same thing. Ain't alone, pal. I'm still one of the best there. I can't deprive them of that if she's safe in here.) They can't bring themselves to completely disappear on her, though, either. "But I patrol, look for supply. I can come by every day. Bring you food." Then she can stay inside where it's safe, and they can visit and lay eyes on her and know she's still safe, and still help without making either of them abandon home base. Compromise?

[shadowsran]

"Don't risk anything that you don't have to," she warns, mind already full of preventable injuries accrued in the name of bringing her something as mundane as bread, "You can, but only if it's no trouble. No big mid-attack heroics."

As it stands, she feels comfortable with her ability to provide. Never too proud to accept more assistance when offered, but Soldat's idea of acceptable or necessary risk likely differs greatly from her own.

[worthallthis]

She knows them so well. Risk is unimportant, and the Asset is the best-trained thing in this damn place. The order barely even registers: keeping Misty safe means any risk is a risk that they have to take. Just not the one that keeps them here all the time, without being able to help the rest at the inn.

So the Soldier shrugs, decision made. "Already running supply to the inn, and the museum. Can just add the library. The attacks aren't constant. I go hours without seeing a spirit, sometimes. It'll be fine."

[shadowsran]

The urge to ask into his certainty is strong, and useless. Fair enough.

"How is everyone else? The town? I don't look around much when I leave, haven't exactly had time for small talk either." All these other people you're helpfully protecting, hmmph.

[worthallthis]

She shouldn't be leaving. See, this is why she needs protecting. The Soldier gives her a Look of clearly worried disapproval, but only briefly. The answer to her questions makes it melt away, and instead they actually give a little sigh, crouching to retrieve and reholster their gun. "Tired. Afraid. But all right. No one's died, no one too badly injured. We have fourteen people asleep at the inn. Including Aziraphale." Since they know Misty and Aziraphale are friendly. "One at the museum. A few in the village. Now one, here. The spirits-- the friendly ones, from the inn and store, and the nearby woods-- they're all missing. That one--" They nod in the direction of Ivy. "--is the only one I've seen. And I looked."

[shadowsran]

A reflexive smile. There's just no helping it. So odd a thing, to be receiving Looks.

"Nobody?" The surprise goes unveiled; Crowley at least would have bit it by now, by her estimation. Kudos, Beacon. The rest of this news is alternately comforting and distressing. She nods.

"Not sure if I'd call it good news or bad. I noticed the Librarian, but figured - I don't know, hiding or something."

[worthallthis]

Not for lack of fucking trying. The Soldier is working double-time keeping that idiot alive, it feels like. They almost feel... insulted by her surprise, though. Like she might doubt its training, skill, and devotion to this mission. "I am a good protector, Handler Misty," they say. "And I know how to withstand a siege."

Technically, the Sergeant knows how to withstand a siege, but somehow they never did get around to telling Misty about him. (Now's probably not the best time. No, we're not bringing that up right now. Or ever. Aw, buddy, do I embarrass you? Shut up, Sergeant.)

"If they are hiding, they are hiding well. I tried to find my contact, but they didn't respond, and I couldn't find them at their home territory." Yes, the Soldier has a spirit contact. Kind of sort of friend. They got give the spirit head-scritches and coffee, okay, that's friend-behavior.

[shadowsran]

Less a reflection of the quality of protection on offer, Soldat - however fantastic, she refuses point blank to believe any one person would manage to corral as many individuals as are currently populating the town, let alone keep that many safe. Plenty are doing fool things to endanger themselves or insisting on sticking it out alone as she is, at similar or terribly low levels of advantage.

"Your contact?" Whomst?

[worthallthis]

The Soldier may have slightly unrealistic expectations about their own ability to do just that. Or at least, in their ability to corral the ones using the Invincible as their home base. The ones outside their purview don't get the same assurances.

Except Misty, of course.

"Contact. Spirit. This high--" They hold their hand up almost as tall as they are. "--head and hands like an owl, dusty suit. Likes coffee and being scratched under the feathers on the back of their head and. Me, apparently." The Soldier shrugs, a little awkwardly. "They answer questions and give me warnings. But I can't find them, now." It might be inferred from the Soldier's faint expression and tone that they're worried about this particular spirit.

[shadowsran]

Friend, he means. He is describing a friend. Her nod is thus suitably sympathetic to this level of emotional investment, however aware all parties are.

"They're probably fine. Whatever blowup happened before we got here on the ferry, the nice ones were still around after, right? They might just know a better hiding place than us."

[worthallthis]

Honestly, they're aware, even exchanged the word to make it official. They just haven't had the greatest reaction from people when calling a spirit a "friend", plus it feels more personal than calling Crowley or Scarlett a friend. "Contact" is safer all right. "Maybe. I hope so. There are other possibilities." Worse ones, like they're being forced to fight somewhere, too. Or changed somehow, over the course of the events. Or killed. Spirits can be killed. The Soldier has been doing it for two days.

The Soldier shakes their head. "If they come back after, I'll ask them. For now, I'm not going out into the woods to look harder. I'm not stupid. And I have work to do here."

[shadowsran]

"How much, exactly?" Her eyes don't narrow, but she's curious. "You're not getting saddled with more than your share, are you?" He'd volunteer, certainly, but as far as she's concerned that means it's simply on other people to politely refuse him. One spectacular person need not get themselves killed for others' convenience.

[worthallthis]

The Soldier blinks at her blankly. "I don't understand the question. I'm not too busy. Or tired. I feel. Useful." For the first time in weeks, maybe even since they got here, it feels like they're actually making a difference. Doing something that actually really helps keep people safe, using their training for something good.

[shadowsran]

"You could be eventually, and this is how you set yourself up for people expecting a lot of you when you should probably be taking a little breather." It could take very, very little - return or no, she's not keen on the notion of dying.

[worthallthis]

They still don't really understand, but they're not going to argue with Misty when they've only just found her again. And it's not particularly comfortable to be lectured for doing exactly what they want to be doing, for once. So they nod once, a little hesitantly, and say, "I'll be careful. I'm not the only one on patrol. And I am eating well to make sure I'm in optimal condition." Since she worries about them eating enough, like Crowley does, she ought to be pleased by that, at least.

[shadowsran]

It's something, at least. She knows entirely too many stubborn people who could do with resting on one out of a hundred laurels considering how small her pool of reliable contact is. A nod.

"Who else patrols?"

[worthallthis]

"Javert, Rosinante, Kuai, Cao Pi, Akira, Lunafreya, and Elle. A few of those are not reliable." Cao Pi keeps doing his own thing, Lunafreya is more useful as a healer, and Elle needs lots of breaks. The Soldier is going to try to help enforce those for her, now that they know (a little) about her powers. "Xayah does fly-overs and helps snipe if there's a problem, and the medic person keeps slipping out for supplies." They need to work on that, keep her staying put while letting the Soldier manage supplies. (And that's going to be fun, because they aren't sure they can make themselves talk to a doctor.)

The Soldier focuses back on the question, and finishes, "Crowley is not allowed outside alone. A few others are in the area, and make their own paths, but not specifically around the Invincible. I try to keep track of them." Look, the Soldier is not a leader in any understanding of the word, but knowing where the various resources are is important.

[shadowsran]

No one ringing any immediate bells, as she knows Eleven by no name other than that, and thus less to worry about. Though, "Medic person?" Nothing she's heard of, nobody vocal about such power unless they're quiet themselves.

The work ethic on display here is at least unsurprising. Worrying, but unsurprising. Not worth arguing.

"And how often would I expect visits? Need to know when I'm allowed to worry."

[worthallthis]

It's not even Eleven, it's Ellever, so still not someone to know. El and her group are largely over in the village, mun thinks. Misty might have heard Javert's name before, as the Soldier's other current handler, but only in passing.

"I can come by once a day," they offer, skipping right past the whole "medical person" conversation. Doctors make it nervous. "Regular time. At the start of my patrol." Already they're getting ideas about bringing over some hot soup and grilled sandwiches and pasta. She has nothing here to cook with. She needs something warm to eat.

[shadowsran]

So nonexistent is the familiarity!

The skip is noticed, but not remarked upon. Filed away. Interesting.

"Any chance you'd stick around for lunch? Nobody else here is much for conversation." Ivy manages quite a bit nonverbally when they're so inclined, of course, but they've been quite firmly set to mope and fuss.

[worthallthis]

That earns a smile, small but pleased. "Guess you really must be bored. If I count as conversation. I'll stay a while." As long as she wants, really, within reason. They duck their head, wait for Misty to move to wherever she's keeping her food or places to sit or whatever it is she wants them to do.