INTRO LOG: DECEMBER

[inthenightmods]

INTRO LOG: DECEMBER
IF I HAD A HEART

characters: everyone.
location: the harbor, as well as the rest of town.
date/time: december 1-3.
content: beacon's newest batch of residents arrives on the ferry. robin posts a bulletin.
warnings: n/a.

welcome to beacon.

It's dim, and the room won't stop swaying, gently rocking you back and forth. A loud sound startles you fully awake, a deep, moaning call: a foghorn. As your eyes adjust, you note faint red light streaking through the room from a tiny, round window.

You've found yourself in a private room, lying on a bed. The last things you remember are the events that led up to your death. Beside you is a folded tablet and a lantern glowing with a healthy flame.

You're on a ship. And that ship is docking.

Making your way to the deck, and eventually the pier, you find only moonlight to greet you, and a dark forest beyond. There are other people here, each with their own unique lantern, and many of them look just as lost as you are. On the ferry you've just disembarked from, the speaker system begins to play a song.

In the distance, across the waters of the lake, you can see the tall silhouette of a lighthouse, its red light slowly turning.

•••
The ferry has barely docked when everyone's tablets will ping: A new weekly bulletin has been posted!

...Aaaaaanyway, luckily for all the newcomers, the tablet and the town have some resources available for getting acquainted with their new situation! In fact, as soon as they're prompted to enter a network username, an app containing all sorts of useful welcome information will launch. Newcomers can always check out the weekly bulletins and the records in town hall as well, and everyone's welcome to get in touch with the NPCs through their inboxes.

ooc.

Hey there, wonderful players, and welcome to In the Night! You've happened to come at a chaotic time, as we've just wrapped up a rather large event. Half the town was stuck in a dreamland version of past Beacon, where they explored for clues about the town's history. The other half stayed awake and defended the town from a brutal onslaught of green-eyed, hallucination-inducing forest spirits. The town's pretty haggard after all that, so hey, there's a conversation starter! It'll be good to have some fresh faces around to help with the recovery process.

You can check out the various Enter Mr. Sandman event posts in the OOC and log comms if you're curious, and plenty of the details will likely come up ICly, as well! The aftermath is just beginning, and we're so glad to have you along for the ride. :)

DELIVERIES

The following packages can be found in the cargo hold:

• The monthly store restock
  
• For Eliot: A carton of cigarettes
  
• For Prompto: 17 pairs of reading glasses
  
• For Eleven: A pair of walkie-talkies, and enough batteries to last for 3 months of casual use
  
• For Aziraphale: 12 drums, 11 lead pipes, 10 pairs of shoes, 9 wilting corsages, 8 bottles of milk, 7 taxidermy swans, 6 goose eggs, 5 stale onion rings, 4 bins full of duck armies, 3 dead chickens, 2 turtles, and a whole tree, though it's long dead... and strung with lights and garlands and holiday ornaments!
  
• For Kol: A book
  
• For Crowley: Peppermint extract, cream of tartar, a candy thermometer, a tin of cocoa, graham crackers, a generic bottle of red wine, a t-shirt with a crown logo on it, a book of love poems, and the goods
  
• For Eleven: An assortment of wrapping paper, gift tags, ribbons, bows, and gift bags.
  
• A lot of medical supplies. The supplies are plentiful enough that everyone may handwave finding common first aid supplies that will help to triage injuries sustained during the Enter Mr. Sandman event. The supplies won't immediately cure wounds, but they will help to prevent infection and ensure proper healing. There's even an assortment of painkillers, ranging from over the counter pills to IV morphine (though, hm, it seems each character will only be able to find one dose of the hospital-grade stuff, no matter how hard they search)

If you submitted an item request last month and we've missed it here, let us know!

QUICKNAV
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Comments

MEWTWO | OTA

[mewtiny]

i. wake up, number 47

[As it has numerous times before, Mewtwo wakes up and knows nothing of where it is. The gentle rock of the room is both calming and frightening. It remembers what happened. It remembers the destruction of the machines meant to subjugate it, remembers dying there on Mt. Quena with its will intact. And that should have been it. Nothing should have followed that.

Unless...

It's lying in the same prone position as it fell, but there is no earth underneath its digits. It pushes itself up in a panic and feels a strange new weight attached to it that throws it off balance. Like a cat, it pivots, trying to see what's weighing it down and its giant, muscular tail twitches in response, bearing a lantern tied tightly to the end. It glowers at it, reaches out to remove it, and then stops. Something tells it that it shouldn't remove the device. Like it might be important.

Fine, then. There's other things more important. It isn't bound so it exits the room it had found itself in, paying no attention to surroundings. A white-and-purple blur whips across the lower decks and then breaks free onto the deck, hovering in mid-air as it gets its bearings.

This is not Mt. Quena. This is not some cage constructed by Giovanni and his followers. This is something else. Somewhere else.

But no matter- if it hasn't died, then it needs to return. The other clones need it. It gives one last look at its surroundings before it attempts to shoot up into the sky and leave this place behind, only to hit twenty feet up and feel weakened, unable to fly further. Panicked, it drops back down like a stone, catching itself before it ends up tearing a hole in the ferry with its landing. The result is an awkward superhero landing, coupled with this monstrous six-foot humanoid-shaped cat monster shaking in confusion and barely suppressed rage and panic.]

What have you done to my powers?

[The echoing baritone voice echoes in the minds of everyone nearby, demanding everyone and no one to answer. Mewtwo remains, crouched on the deck, eyes narrowed and focused on the ferry's destination.]


ii. the bonfire

[Mewtwo is capable of absorbing and comprehending a great deal of information, so naturally between the guide and the logbook, it now has all the information. What it doesn't have is an understanding and that is the key. It's not natural to this or any world. What does this one mean to it, especially when it's own is likely in danger of being destroyed? Why should it care?

Surely, these humans are better equipped, more honorable, more inclined to protect a world. Why bring it here?

And so it stands on the outskirts of the bonfire, shadowed and barely in the light at all, looking almost like one of the spirits when cast in the shadow as it is. Maybe this is where it was meant to be- a shadowed world. Maybe bringing it back to the light will prove something about itself.

It chuckles, mentally, the sound echoing in the minds of those nearby by total accident. Mewtwo's just... not really great at not talking "out loud." Telepath problems.]

I will decide my own role in this. [It's a very offhanded statement- again, projected OUT LOUD- but it's all it can say about its confusing, racing thoughts and its indignation at being forced to accept a destiny rather than choose it.]

II;

[originallutece]

[She thinks it a spirit at first, honestly, and for that reason gives it a wide berth. She's already missing her left eye, covered in a patch and the gash below neatly stitched together. She doesn't want to risk losing another limb. But when it lingers near the bonfire-- when it speaks, the noise echoing in her mind-- her desperate need for knowledge overcomes her wariness.]

That was . . . from you, yes?

[Just, like, making sure.]

There aren't very many roles here. It's simply survival.

[mewtiny]

[All things considered, it wasn't expecting to be responded to. It does have an excruciatingly bad habit of telegraphing rhetorical thoughts- something it doesn't plan to correct anytime soon. The downside is that it now means that it has to have a conversation. With a human.

Which, is to say, that as erudite as it is, it's a bit out of practice and not precisely trustworthy. Its stance isn't threatening or tense, but it doesn't seem all that comfortable.]

And that is everyone's intent here, regardless of who and what they are? [There's a pregnant pause.] I find that difficult to believe

[originallutece]

Really? Survival is a very basic instinct. Nearly everything alive, not to mention sentient, wants to survive.

[She tips her head.]

Or are you different in that regard?

[mewtiny]

No. That is, indeed, something we all share. A desire to survive and to find reason to believe we deserve to.

[That last bit may be more of a personal problem, but eh.]

What I doubt is that it is the sole purpose of everyone. That human and otherwise will all unite under that common goal with no further motives guiding their actions.

[a beat. a slight cant of the head.] Survival does not preclude betraying one another.

ii

[onlyeverdoubted]

[There's nothing at all wrong with the sentiment. Quite reasonable under the circumstances. Admirable, even. Bodhi hasn't quite gotten that far himself in a month.

No, it's not the thought, it's that it echoes in his head. Pure bad luck that Bodhi is a walking psychic wound, freshly torn apart internally by what's called The Force where he's from but does more or less the same thing. For a second, the unassuming human is just stunned, staring and blinking and trying desperately to reconcile the way that... reverberates? Doesn't exactly hurt, because it's not physical, but, oh...

Nevermind. An expert at tucking pesky thoughts away where they're not wanted, he straightens and turns toward what he thinks is the source of... of that.]

Th-that seems, um, smart. You just, uh, just g-got here, yeah?

[mewtiny]

[Empathy is not a natural part of Mewtwo's creation- that would get in the way of the purpose it was built for, loathe as it is to even think in those terms. It's learning and given it died a martyr, it's learning quickly. Then again, it always was a fast study.

What surprises it is how it has no real connection to this human, but it's still faintly amused and more specifically curious that he seems to be intimidated. That's a natural reaction, but one it's never actually gotten without doing anything to earn it.]

Yes. I have read as much as I can about this place. I understand that there are expectations on us. This... Robin. This Lighthouse Keeper... Has asked us to save this world and should we fail, we will also surely perish again. [Its tail twitches, the lantern swaying gently as it does, casting shadows.] I prefer not to be told what to do. I would make my own choices. Does that not seem more reasonable or do the humans here simply follow her lead?

[What a switch that would be.]

[onlyeverdoubted]

[Don't be too flattered. He's intimidated by everyone.]

I, um. Honestly? There are a lot of arguments about what we should do? I'm kind of--I'm too new to have much of an opinion, but, uh, I also have no idea how any of this is supposed to be saving any world. So.

[mewtiny]

Nor do I, but I have only just arrived myself.

[It looks to the side, in the direction the lighthouse would be if it could actually see it from here.] I thought to challenge her directly, but there is an odd sense of foreboding in that direction. I did not dare to cross the defenses, however lacking they might have been.

ii

[withsadness]

I like your tail.

[Apparently, Mary doesn't really care about his brooding sentiments. Or anything strange about him. He's so big and he should be intimidating. But, well, she's always been a child with an odd way of accepting things.

She reaches out as if to touch it, absolutely forgetting her manners.]

I wish I could hold my lantern like that. I hate carrying it.

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo, having never been touched or had anyone to have reached out so innocently without immediate fear of it (that it can remember- though there is something about this that strikes an odd chord and it quickly dismisses it, because what it can't place has no bearing on its immediate problem- which is that there's a human child and she is in its space).

It moves its tail out of her reach, very much like a cat, the lantern swaying a bit. It's not a malicious or anxious gesture- it looks almost like instinct. It's got an amazing poker face, but even so, it seems... confused.]

It is more difficult than it looks, young one.

[Have you ever tied something to a cat's tail? It is taking all of Mewtwo's dignity not to spin in circles trying to remove it. But there's a more pressing matter here.] Are you not afraid of me?

[withsadness]

No, why?

[It's so matter-of-fact to her. He looks funny, but then, a lot of things look funny, and she still likes them. A lot of her brothers and sisters don't look normal, either, and she still likes them. Mary giggles at the way his tail moves. She has the urge to chase after it, but realizes that would probably not be particularly polite. So, instead, she curtsies.]

My name's Mary. What's yours?

[mewtiny]

[It really, really hates feelings of familiarity with no real logic behind them. It's mind is a steel trap. It recalls everything and most of those things are terrible, so why does this girl with her strange ways trigger something that it can't get a hold of? A memory that fades like dust through a sieve, leaving only fragments.

Miracle of miracles, it does not direct the frustration at her, but it is only growing more confused. The curtsy doesn't help.]

I am Mewtwo. [Yep. That's a name all right.] The most powerful Pokemon in my world.

[Which serves as an introduction and an answer as to why she should be afraid.]

II

[worthallthis]

[The Soldier is the next best thing to dozing, sitting on one of the benches around the bonfire, watching the flames and what little attention they have left beyond staying at least partly awake focused on tracking the other people around without actually watching them.

The chuckle wakes them up the rest of the way, though, because... well, it's not the first time they've heard a weird voice in their head. But the familiar voice isn't usually chuckling for no reason. (Sergeant? Not me, pal.) The words don't sound anything like the green-eyed spirits, either, though that doesn't really reassure much.

The Soldier lifts their head and look around, baffled and wary.]

What.

[mewtiny]

[Mewtwo notices the man shifting about in surprise. Ah- so it spoke that out loud. Well, that tends to happen. When all of your speed is telepathic, you tend to not differentiate between what's spoken aloud and what is thought. It's all the same to it.

If it were truly capable of apologizing for something that wasn't a natural disaster or a cruelty, perhaps it would do so. It is not, however, so it doesn't. It merely offers an explanation.]

I am speaking directly to your mind. [Because that much wasn't fucking obvious, Mewtwo.

[worthallthis]

[Not that obvious, really. The clarification is pretty helpful, as is Mewtwo actually looking their way when it speaks again. The Soldier blinks, frowns once, then nods.]

Okay. What role did you mean?

[Because going to the trouble of talking in someone else's head probably means it meant to do so, right? Which suggests the role has something to do with the Soldier.]

the bonfire

[marmoron]

[though the strange creature certainly catches keith's attention as he settles by the bonfire, keith's seen his fair share of aliens and doesn't comment one way or another. what he isn't used to? voices in his fucking head. though he'd been sitting comfortably, the sudden chuckling has him immediately grabbing the handle of his knife. a keen eye would observe that the movement is fluid and well practiced. while he doesn't draw it, his eyes are narrowed as he glances around the bonfire.]

Who's talking?

[mewtiny]

[Wow. Maybe it should really watch where it's projecting its thoughts.

Nah.

A pulsing blue light forms in Mewtwo's hand, dim as it is in the darkness, but eyecatching, nonetheless simply because any source of light ends up being quick to catch eyes and turn heads in this place.]

Here. I am projecting my thoughts directly into your minds. It is habitual.

[And none of that is an apology.]

[marmoron]

[yep that definitely catches keith's attention alright as he looks from the pulse of blue light to mewtwo's face. the latter is purely instinct, the alien's mouth is clearly not moving during any part of that explanation.]

You're a telepath. [not something he's personally, but narti comes to mind at least peripherally. there's a beat anf then:] ... if you're in my head, can you read my thoughts?

[that's not uncomfortable or anything.]

bonfire

[evulsed]

[ Process of elimination brings Vanitas around to who speaks. The yellow of his eyes sweep the immediate area and rule out first any familiar faces, and then anyone that looks remotely perplexed. There may not be intent on this one's face, the tall inhuman shape of it, but it doesn't need to be in the expression — it's all in the eyes.

Vanitas is much shorter than it, but that doesn't stop him jutting up his chin to look directly into it's face. Unlike most people here, Vanitas too isn't entirely normal, and he doesn't make any effort to hide it. The Darkness in him, the constant turmoil of negative emotion, it comes off him in waves.

And he can feel some of that coming off this creature. Vanitas is no telepath, but the very nature of what he is means he can feel, to a certain extent, the complex discomfort this individual is under. It isn't empathy that drives him to engage. ]

Will you?

[mewtiny]

[It's like looking into a psychic mirror. Then again, Mewtwo's curbed most of its negative emotions, but it's still a roiling black mass of them. Empathy isn't its strong suit, but it sure as sunshine developed it like a skill that had to be learned. All it took was a family of clones and the sacrifice of a ten year old boy, and now it can kinda get a bead on things.

It doesn't need to straighten to keep looming, but it still stretches its neck up a bit, looking down with indignation and pride.]

I will. This is not the first time I have been told what to do, and then denied it.

[evulsed]

[ Now that his suspicion has been confirmed, Vanitas turns more fully to face the creature. It's very tall, particularly in comparison to Vanitas, who doesn't have much height to begin with. He needs to raise his chin to look it in the face, and does so without showing any sort of nervousness.

There aren't a lot of individuals in this town that feel familiar in their Darkness— especially not like this. ]

You can't deny your existence.

i.

[vampirella]

( this experience has been pretty wild so far. waking up in the dark, scuttling around a crappy boat ride in the dark. getting an off-brand tablet with a dozen little voices and messages, some sort of hint of what the hell is supposed to be happening here. still, for all that, watching a giant bipedal cat rocket off into the sky only to return shortly about a minute later, with a jarring enough landing that the entire boat seems to shake...

okay, yeah. that tops it. )

It wasn't me, ( she says defensively, from where she may or may not be clinging to the guard rails after that superhero landing. she might be two times dead now, but she isn't really looking to try three on for size. that does not seem to be something she wants to tangle with — from one big cat to another, doesn't sound fun. ) Have you looked at that tablet we woke up with? There's some info on there. Maybe an answer to the powers problem.

( also, internally: wtf this is grumpy cat at LOW power? #yikes )

[mewtiny]

Hmph.

[Yes, it can easily mentally project Shounen Antihero Sounds of Dissatisfaction.]

I have not. [Because we're not about to have a very special episode about how it uses a fucking tablet with those meatball fingers.] Who is controlling this craft? Have you discovered that?

[vampirella]

( in Mewtwo’s defense, that’s a very important noise to be able to make! psychically or otherwise. how would an anime character emote otherwise???

maybe there are psychic cat accessibility features. this is important content. as for who is in control of the ferry... )

I found a door to what is probably the control room, but it’s welded shut. Apparently someone else had that bright idea before. ( she didn’t really hear anything in there, which doesn’t really imply there isn’t anything, but the fact the room is inaccessible makes her think, ) Probably controlled remotely. Or magic. Pick whichever option you like better.