EVENT LOG: WE ALL STILL DIE (PART ONE)

[nextnightmods]

EVENT LOG:
WE ALL STILL DIE PART ONE

characters: everyone.
location: around town.
date/time: june 14-15.
content: make masks, play music, and enjoy the festive atmosphere!
warnings: n/a. please cw tags appropriately.

success is a song of the heart

Hear that? When you awake, or first go outside, there's a constant, cheerful chatter outside from the spirits. Their excitement is infectious as they babble to each other - and to you - while dragging around logs, clearing empty spaces on the ground, ripping the sheets off of beds, and then converting the open spaces around town into what looks like a very wild crafts fair.

Piled high on these surfaces are strips of bark, colorful stones, grasses and branches and some of May's strange flowers. Among them also are things that might once have been owned - scraps of clothing, broken ceramics, discarded jewelry, and more from the things swept out of buildings during the flood. There's paint, too, though the spirits look like they're mostly smearing their hands (and tails, and noses) all over rather than using brushes as they create examples for you all and line them up alongside pan pipes, simple flutes, blocks of wood to beat with sticks, and empty cans full of pebbles. Instruments, to go with the masks!

What are they doing? One or two who get the gist of the questions point at the fire, and then at the sky, and mime huge circles with their hands. Big! Bright! And then point at the lanterns and swipe fingers in the air as if sealing the cracks in them. This is a party to bring back the sun - or in its absence, a party to celebrate the arrival of summer! And some have even heard that a group went out to the Doctor's house deep in the forest and that you may finally be able to fix lanterns, and if the sun doesn't deserve a party, that sure does!

There will be a big spectacle in a couple days and everyone will get to celebrate together, so get your masks ready and practice your best songs and dance moves! Have an impromptu jam session, have a picnic with what remains of the meager food supplies, and put your best creative self forward.

You may not even notice the smallest, slowest changes yet although they begin to take place. The more you wear that mask, the more you want to wear it. The dancing and music are addictive, aren't they? It's not so bad here in Beacon, in the dark. It's kind of starting to feel like home.

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Comments

[legalcy]

[Minimus Ambus is not a "fun" guy.

He hates the idea of doing something pointless. You sit around drinking until you are unable to process your thoughts? Embarrass yourself in front of others? Make something you'll never use again? He could be going over supply lists, clearing up roads, or checking the buildings for signs of damage.

But no, he's here to make sure no one gets hurt. Parties are often times where people get hurt, and as long as someone stands back to chaperone, the atmosphere will be generally safe.

Minimus refuses to join in on the mask-making, preferring to stand back and watch the group participate in festivities. Somehow, these people are enjoying it and talking with another, unafraid to practice art on these masks. Well, not everyone can take the time off to relax.

So the 9-foot-tall robot stands to the back, arms folded, watching the fire sternly, half watching for signs of tomfoolery...half curious. He wouldn't enjoy participating anyway, he reminds himself.]

[catholicisms]

( Matt is apparently not much of a fun guy, either.

he can't help but look at all this and think that something is bound to go south fast. Elektra is enjoying herself, and that's... good... but he's nervous there's a shoe just waiting to drop.

and it's bound to be a big, dangerous shoe. that's just how things go around here anyway.

he does take the tree spirit along to town square to make a mask for him. it's splayed with an ungodly amount of branches, and vacant eyes covered blacked out with cloth. not that he needs to see, he supposes. Matt wears it on the top of his head, which seems to content the spirit well enough. after his explore with Minimus he can track the huge metal man well enough, and with Treeby off having fun, he joins the solemn stern figure to say hello. )

I can't be the only one thinking this is going to go horribly wrong. ( he's guessing from the lack of involvement, Minimus might agree with him. )

[legalcy]

[Minimus gives Matt a long, judging look at the mess of a mask. The angles of those attached branched could not be safe at all.]

Did you make that?

[It is painful at which to look, even though Minimus does not have the same pain sensors as a human.]

In my experience, the greatest danger comes when we are complacent. A celebration doesn't negate that fact that we are in hostile territory. [He looks at the group of spirits.]

[catholicisms]

No, I didn't. ( to be honest, it'd probably look even worse if the blind guy made it. he does his best, okay, but there's just some things beyond his capacity. ) I have a spirit friend that made it for me.

( and being a good dad, Matt loves it on principle. it's like macaroni art, and instead of the fridge, it's on top of his head.

on a more serious note, he sighs. ) It seems like we've been here before. Some sort of celebration, and then it all goes horrifically wrong. I'm just wondering what the horrifically wrong is going to look like this time.

Rosinante | OTA

[callada]

Mask

The spirits are as strange as ever, and Rosinante is never quite sure what to make of their attempts at festivities. But making a mask with their help is kind of fun, admittedly, and he's content to go along with it if it keeps them happy, so they don't have to shove too many scraps of bark in his direction before he sits down on one of the unfurled rugs and starts fumbling with twigs and flowers and paint.

When he's finished, he puts it on and grins behind the wooden beak and the ring of black flower petals. "What do you think?"

It would probably be intimidating if it weren't for the hearts on the cheeks, and the splatters of paint all over his shirt.

Music

Once the mask is on, he's happy to leave it on. It's actually kind of fun, and he's never been opposed to eccentric dress-up anyway. Normally he'd contentedly stand back and enjoy the colorful creations everyone is sporting, but the music strikes something in him he can't resist. Toes tapping turns to dancing if he can get away with it - apologies if you get stepped on a little.

His own ocarinas from the general store always end up broken after a few days through his usual clumsiness, but if you're playing an instrument he'll come striding over, looming a little with that mask of his. "You're pretty good," he comments. "Is that a song from home or something you made up here?"

Mask

[scarsolderthanyou]

Stone leans back a little to get a better look. "You look like one of those flightless birds from my world. The ones that are nine feet tall and have beaks that can tear your heart out." A pause, then a grin. "I like it."

His own mask is a mess, because he can't see clearly up close, and also, Aeriat Raksura are notably unartistic. It's got lots of bits of bark and leaves glued to it in no particular pattern, though the colors at least mostly look okay together.

[callada]

A nine foot tall bird is very appropriate, and he chuckles at the comparison. "I'll leave people's hearts intact. Wish my old coat was in better shape to complete the look."

But that tattered feathery thing hangs in his closet now, and is best left as a memory rather than outerwear. He did try to wash it, but if it wasn't black it would probably still be thick with bloodstains. He just can't quite make himself get rid of it completely.

"Yours is cool. You could blend right into the woods and we'd never find you."

[scarsolderthanyou]

"Ha. Only if your eyesight was as bad as mine," Stone counters, but with an amused grin. "Aeriat Raksura are not known for our. Artistic talents. You should have seen Moon try to draw a boat. It looked like a rock with a triangle on top of it. No idea how the rest worked out that's even what it was supposed to be."

But his voice is fond. Moon is someone he does miss, from time to time. More than his species in general, which he misses all the time, Moon was special.

music

[ultraviolents]

[ she's not sure why she's feeling compelled to dance after this many years, but there's something that feels good about it now. she's been trained in multiple forms of movement and has exceptional control over her body, so when rosi stumbles into her she goes with it, arms swinging out to catch him. he's bigger than her, so they still almost fall to the ground, but she laughs in spite of it, in a better mood than she's been in in weeks. ]

We've got to stop meeting like this.

[callada]

Do we?

[He's laughing too now, and reaches to try and help stabilize her.]

Sorry about that. I just haven't gotten to dance like this in, hell. Years.

[ultraviolents]

[ it doesn't take much work to do so; her balance is generally really good if external factors don't throw it off. once she straightens she's still smiling. ]

Neither have I. Did you used to do it often?

[ she'd had ballet lessons in addition to her extensive martial arts training. she'd hated them at first, but came to appreciate the help they offered her balance, form, and flexibility. ]

elektra natchios | OTA

[ultraviolents]

MASKS

[ elektra's never been artistically inclined or all that eager to participate in the spirit encouraged festivities, but with only minimal convincing from the spirits she starts to work on one. if nothing else it's a welcome distraction, and she finds that she's enjoying the process more than she'd expected.

it takes a fair amount of time and patience and a lot of trial and error, given the materials they've been provided with, but with some wire, scraps of clothing, beads, and stones, she manages to make something akin to this, albeit significantly more rustic. still, she's pleased with it and holds it up to model it for whoever she's sitting nearby. ]

I took a few liberties with mine. Think they'll mind?

MUSIC

[ there's a part of her that knows this is strange, the fact that she's willing to participate in the celebration and that she's stayed at it this long. that part of her recalls the shared dreams half the population had had of beacon's history while the rest of the town fought off a prolonged attack from the green eyed spirits, how that had also started off as a celebration, but it goes quieter and quieter the longer she stays and the more she keeps her mask on.

it's been a while since she's danced, especially for fun, but something about the music is compelling. maybe the enthusiasm of the spirits is contagious, maybe it's that it feels good to be a little more carefree when so much of her movement is so precise. whatever the reason, it's hard to stop once she's gotten started. she'll dance alone, but if she notices you watching she'll try to get you to join her. just be careful, in case some of her dance moves start to resemble her fighting moves. ]

WILDCARD

[ if you have any questions or feel like doing something outside of what i've outlined, feel free to hit me up on plurk at vdova! i can write up a separate starter or roll with whatever else you've got in mind. ]

Masks

[legalcy]

I...can't say if it will or will not be accepted.

[Why are you asking the guy pointedly avoiding the activities? Minimus' optics flash as if to glance to the side. Alas, he can't avoid all social contact.]

It fits the definition of a mask.

[ultraviolents]

[ because he's close enough for her to pester, duh. elektra smiles at minums from beneath the mask before pulling off and examining it again, apparently deciding it needs some finishing touches. ]

Good enough for me, then. Hopefully they're not holding a contest.

[legalcy]

They won't disbar you from the festivities if you don't make a mask. Javert and I are still here.

MUSIC & MASKS

[catholicisms]

( exactly how delighted Elektra is by this is ... a little difficult.

after all they've been through, he wants her to be happy. surely she deserves to take her mind off of everything, and Elektra has always dealt with stress a little flippantly. Matt supposes that's easier for her.

still, her airy acceptance to the festivities still strikes him as strange. Matt is trying to bite his tongue, though his expression shows his worry more than his words do. yet. when Elektra presents him with the mask, he gets a sense of it before he gingerly takes it to feel the details. )

Are these horns? ( it's a half-hearted joke. he's distracted enough that he doesn't quite notice she's tugging him closer to the music. )

[ultraviolents]

[ it's strange, the compulsion to participate and celebrate, but elektra hasn't thought to question it. it feels good, almost carefree, and it's been a long time since she could say that she's truly felt carefree, especially in this place. if he were to ask she'd just tell him it feels good, wonder why he doesn't feel the same, try to get him to feel it, too. he carries so much with him every day, he deserves to feel this kind of joy. that had been part of the fun in taking him to steal cars and break into houses and buildings to indulge in whatever they could. even before she really knew him, there was something that felt good about seeing his face light up as they sped through traffic and shrugged on an expensive shirt she'd procured for him.

she hasn't seen that look on his face in a very long time. ]

It's an orchid. [ which shouldn't surprise him at all. she takes his hand as she starts moving them towards the dance floor, dragging it over the outline and then over the fine details. ] Mostly red, but with a spotted pattern in white.

[catholicisms]

( he had a discussion, once, about how art required honesty more than all else. for starters, Matt is not a particularly honest man. and secondly, he doesn't care what Vanessa says, working eyeballs do make it a lot easier.

Matt still patiently lets Elektra lead his touch over the details. he'd known it was a mask, and he could feel and sense the protrusions off the top. still, the details are too fine and narrow for him to get a proper sense of the design. the colors were ridiculously beyond him. Elektra's description helps. ) Makes more sense than the horns, ( he decides. yeah, the horns are sort of his territory... thank god he doesn't have that dumb outfit here.

meanwhile, her leading has finally been noticed, and his agreeable gait in the same direction stalls a little. to be honest, he doesn't really feel like dancing. Elektra is probably right that he's been killjoy incarnate lately, it's just hard to let his guard down around here. ) You go on without me, ( he suggests, offering a weary fragment of a smile.

he can be way more of a killjoy if he wallflowers on the sidelines, Elektra. c'mon, this is textbook stuff. )

Fitz Kreiner | OTA

[rereremembered]

Music

Between cleaning and poking around the lab, Fitz has been scrounging supplies from the junkyard, rubble piles, and cast-offs from construction sites and has made himself a guitar. Nothing like his beloved '53 Telecaster but similar to something else from the TARDIS' extensive collection: a hubcap guitar.

It sounds a bit like a twangy steel guitar and he's been fiddling with it from time to time in the Invincible's bar, playing a few classics and Kreiner originals, but today the spirits seem extra delighted to see him with the instrument. With an appreciative chirping, hooting audience he picks a corner of the market and goes through a repertoire of mostly 1960s rock, and a few tunes from the turn of the twentieth century. Usually he'll sing along, sometimes he'll ditch the guitar for a recorder-like flute, and always he'll give a showman's smile and wink to other lantern-bearers.

"Any requests? Or you could join in, we can jam." That'd be ~groovy.~

Masks

It's not all music, there's crafting to do as well. Fitz has learned it's best to humor the natives wherever one goes, so if the spirits think all this might bring light back? He's not one to argue. Besides, what harm ever came from constructing masks for ritualistic purposes using local flora and the trinkets of people swept away in a flood?

He holds his creation - leaves on a twiggy scaffolding - up to his face and makes an uncertain noise. "Does it need some flowers? A dab of paint? I'd like to keep up the mystery, is all."

music

[callada]

That is one cool little instrument. It's not just the spirits are delighted! Rosinante steps in toward the accumulated group while trying to scrub paint off his hands with a rag. With his mask already on, he's really best identified by his towering height, probably.

"Wow, you're good. I don't think I'm qualified to join. Did you make that yourself?" he asks, nodding to the guitar.

Re: music

[rereremembered]

"Ta." Ah, praise beyond hoots and squeaks. That's Fitz's cue to grin and shrug, pass it all off as no big deal. "And yeah, sort of copied one the Doctor had. It's not perfect but..."

He plays a riff which may or may not have been from Inna Gadda Da Vida, acoustic and very tinny but there.

"It'll serve, I think. At least until I can get an electric."

[callada]

"That'd be cool." Electric anything is exciting, in his experience. Far rarer, certainly, in his own world.

"You traveled with a doctor, then?" he asks, because he can't imagine any of the doctors here (and really, is there even more than one that's going to come to mind at this point in time? no) are the type to teach anyone music.

Masks

[vampirella]

Carmilla is really not a crafty girl. So the fact she's here, fussing over what looks like a cat mask in the making, is a bit of a bad sign. It's something to do, maybe. Bored minds do benefit from something to distract them.

Still, arts and crafts... the fact she's even bothering is a big red flag. She's gingerly working at ribbons with all the urgency of a cat in a sunbeam when Fitz wonders what his is missing. "Depends on what you're going for," she says with a shrug. Yeah, c'mon, Fitz, what's the theme???

[rereremembered]

Fitz smiles, completely unaware of flags of any color, and lowers the mask. She looks young, and the cat mask and ribbons enhance that assumption, but he can still turn up the charm.

"Mythical wildman of the wilderness," he replies easily. "Like Baucchus or Jim Morrison. Sort of an abstract...twiggy camouflage."

[vampirella]

She does look young, eternal youth will do that to you. She hasn't been bothering to apply her usual razor sharp eyeliner, either, which did a great deal to make her look older. Depression is delightful, and also it's full dark here all the time. Who cares if she has eyeliner on?

She tilts her head, taking in his creation into mild consideration. "Flowers. Definitely." Mythical wildmen of the wildnerness needed softness as much as twigginess. No toxic masculinity in these woods!!!