murdery | an sample post for awash

[ 1 | whose woods these are etc etc ]

[Henry's never seen woods like these before, and he's seen a lot of weird things! Neat.

If the impulse to continue on the path is strange, he doesn't seem to notice. Or, well, he does, but it's simply no concern to him. If he's wading into certain danger, then... 1) sounds fun, 2) he's gotta give whatever monster's at the end of the trail major points for creativity. Who is he to mess up a perfectly laid trap like this?

His ambling down the path is downright cheerful. What's up with the lack of color, anyway? Heck if he knows, but it doesn't seem like it's hurting anything, does it?]

[ 2 | a new friend ]

[Aww, look who's gotten lost! Poor thing, sitting all alone and forgotten by her owner. Henry knows that feel.

Well, he's not one to repeat past mistakes! So rather than actually explore the house, he elects to sit beside the lonely little doll and keep it company, heedless of the riddle she's holding. After all, if he's not taking anything, what's the problem?

And there's no point in just sitting here waiting for nothing to happen, either. So instead he... picks up the doll and moves its little limbs to make it dance.]

[ 3 | who's a good boy ]

[It's a monster chicken. But it is still an animal, and Henry likes animals. And he's no stranger to blood loss and fowl-related trauma. This shouldn't be too difficult, right?

Wrong, apparently. The chicken guards its hoard like its eggs are solid gold. To be expected from a new mother, really.

After the second time he gets bit--this time it draws blood--Henry actually pouts like he's five years old.]

Aw, come on, be nice! You won't miss one or two eggs, will you?

[ 4 | hey baby what's your sign ]

[Okay, this will be easy.

He doesn't know what laptops are, but he sure can read! And those are clear instructions as he's ever seen! This will be simple.

By which he figures the best way to accomplish this is to stand on a street corner and call out to random passersby.]

Hey! Tell me something about your childhood!

[Eggs don't matter one blip when you're a mostly immortal queen of darkness. The only thing present on the scene looking like a snack to Marceline is the sweet, sweet ruby elixir dripping out of Henry's finger.

She levitates in a cruise around the human-vs-chicken battleground, snacking on her metaphorical popcorn. It makes for a better meal deal if he bleeds just a little bit more.]

Hey! Brainlord! I think this chicken only lives for the thrill of combat. Know what I'm sayin'?

[Henry's face falls as much as it ever can, which isn't much.]

Aw, I don't have to kill it, do I? Though I bet all the feathers would make for a pretty good explosion.

[ She gets in close. Like realclose. Furry paws tipped with sharp claws settle in nice and comfortable over his shoulders. They’re pals, right? She’s so clearly trustworthy.]

Oh man... you don’t know about these? You’ve like, broken its code of honor. That chicken won’t rest until you or it are taking the long bus ride home.

Edited 2018-03-05 04:00 (UTC)

For real? Then I guess it will just have to be the chicken.

[Sucks. Sorry, dude.

And, with a quick mutter under his breath, the chicken summarily explodes in a spectacular fashion. Feathers do indeed go everywhere, as do entrails.]

There you go. Eggs for days!

[ No questioning or anything? Guts shower on a snap? That's... kinda cool. Or it would be cool, if he still didn't seem like such a dweeb.

Marceline circles around to face him, careful to float just high enough that she doesn't touch the cutlets all strewn and sticky. It's still gross. ]

You won't get any eggs now, genius, you turned that chicken into hot soup.

[And more importantly, he's not bleeding any more than he was to start.]

Yeah, but we get all the eggs she already laid!

[Wasn't that the point? He sucks on his bleeding finger, contemplative, apparently unaware of Marceline's own fixation on it.

Did the chicken die for nothing? Oh well.]

And we got a good show.

[Ugh! Why is she even wasting her time trying to be slick? She doesn't want the grimy splatters all over the dirt, what she wants is—]

Listen. I don't care about the chicken. Or the eggs.

[Her voice rasps, sharpens, and echoes from somewhere else that is not quite her mouth.]

I'm only hungering for what's in your veins.

What, blood?

[He's happy to share. He extracts his bleeding finger from his own mouth and extends it to her, as an offering.]

You want some?

[What is this dudes deal? She drops the act, pulls back a little bit with an eyebrow up.]

What, just like that? Are you used to vampires or something?

[Humans never react like that. Like never. It totally kills her usual angle.]

Never heard of 'em! I can just understand a healthy appreciation for blood, that's all.

[This is normal.]

[This is so not normal. For a moment she just stares, letting his words roll all around inside her dome...

Marceline grins, shiny white sharp teeth all shown off.]

You might not be totally lame. You're not a vampire, or a demon, or a cannibal [she can tell] so... why blood?

Why not blood? It's a pretty color, and it tastes good, and it spurts real nice when you curse someone's head to twist off.

[SO. NORMAL.]

That’s pretty hardcore.

[Like yeah, they are definitely on the same flying carpet of understanding. Except for the twisting peoples heads off? She’s totally left that life behind (except when she’s hungry).]

Is everyone into blood where you’re from or is it just you?

[A cultural difference from the humans she knows, obviously. Or he’s just a freak.]

Seems like it's just me for some reason.

[He doesn't seem bothered by this idea at all, however.]

Their loss, though! Nya ha!

[ He manages to make eye contact with the girl at Hey, but once the question is laid out, she looks. A little perplexed. Looking at him. Looks behind her to see if there's literally anybody else he could be talking to (please). Looks back.

Uncertain, she gestures to herself. ]

Um... are you talking to me?

Well, yeah! Pretty sure I already know all about my childhood.

[He just keeps grinning. Grinning forever.]

Here, I'll start. When I was a kid, all my friends were animals!

Animals?

[ Processing... ]

All your friends... were birds and dogs?

[ Maybe if she just asks about him it won't... get weird... ]

What was that like?

Yup! Crows and wolves, actually. But close enough.

[Too late, it's gonna get weird at record speed.]

They were the best friends I ever had! Too bad they all died. Anyway, your turn.

Oh... I'm sorry...? [ She's not sure why, but something about the way he says it seems... weird?? It seems weird. Oh well.

The redirect has her instead looking a little flustered, her attention dropping elsewhere. ]

... I don't remember.

You don't remember?

[His brow actually furrows, like he's concerned.]

Like you got hit with an amnesia curse, or what? I bet I could reverse it. They're not that complicated.

[ This changes everything. She gasps in shock at first, hands shaking. ]

I don't know what's wrong with me. Anything before waking up in the well is a total blank.

You can get my memories back?

[If Henry actually has any reaction to this, he doesn't show it. Instead he just prattles on cheerfully like they're talking shop about hobbies.]

You woke up in a well? That must have been rough. Mildew and everything? Nya ha! Anyway, if you give me a bit I bet I could whip up the best cure for amnesia you've ever seen. I'll even make it taste nice, just for you. No maggots or anything.

[He does not appear to be kidding.]

Or I can help you make up new ones instead, that's always fun.

[ He's definitely weird, but she doesn't think he's lying. Well. She HOPES he isn't lying. What do people look like when they lie? She doesn't know. ]

I'd like to get my old memories back first, even if there are maggots. How long does it take?

Dunno! Never done it before. I gotta try a few things first, but I'll let you know once I got something for ya.

Never? Then how do you know it'll work?

[ She wants it noooowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ]

Why wouldn't it work?

[Patience Terra gosh!!!]

So I'll need something from you to get started, though. Got any fingernail clippings? Dead skin? Organs will work too, if there are any you're not using.

[A strand of hair is also fine, but where's the fun in that?]

[ She frowns, brow furrowing. She's pretty sure she's using them all (though it's not like she'd know if she wasn't), but the first two didn't seem so impossible.

With only that brief moment of pause, she withdraws a dagger from a sheath at her hip. She flips it into an easy forward grip in one hand, the other lifted with palm up, fingers stiffly folded. The blade is quick, and — oh, okay. She doesn't have any fingernail clippings handy, so she's just whittling shards of nail from her fingers and letting the pieces fall into her waiting palm.

Hope they didn't need to be in perfect half-moons, guy. ]

[They don't need to be half moons, apparently! He's delighted just to receive this much.]

Wow, thanks! People usually don't want to cooperate for some reason. It's like they think hexes just happen for free!

Edited (forgot 2 backspace) 2018-03-09 16:13 (UTC)

[Woah... childhood. A little heavy for the new geek she’s picked up. Her diary and her sick jams are the only place she can really express herself. ]

When I was a kid, I had this teddy bear named Hambo

[Still have. As in her room, here, now.]

He was my best friend.

[Is.]

(extra prompt from here)

[Oh hey, another person! And he's just... staring at the water. Weird.

Just let Henry pop up literally right over your shoulder.]

What'cha doin'? Gonna go for a swim?

[looking into the water, gran is sure of a few things here. for one, he absolutely has no intent of ever diving in there if he can't help it, and two, water should be flowing, or showing some signs of change in current... even associated to phases of the moon if it comes down to it.

what he isn't sure of, is, however, is how to keep his calm when he's jumped upon like that, and he nearly has enough sense to stop himself from falling over into the stream at the apparition of this mage.]

AHH!

[holding his water logged finger to his chest, still, he tries to calm his heart rate. any closer and he would've ended up in the canal.]

You... I...

[nonplussed, for a second-]

Hey! You don't just walk up to a person at a river and startle them like that! [finally, he catches sight of henry from a more proper angle.] ... Are you a mage?

[Uh, yeah you do, Gran. In fact, Henry just did.

But he moves smoothly along with the change of topic, his eyebrows shooting up in interest.]

Sure am! Why, you need somebody cursed? I bet I could whip up whatever you need!

[this... was not what he bargained for when henry chanced upon him at all. raising an eyebrow at him, he waves his one (good) hand in front of his face to discourage the opportunity to start casting hexes left and right like this is a shooting range.]

What?! No, I didn't mean it like that. I just assumed, since you're wearing robes like that... that you'd be good with magic.

[wow, way to stereotype.

and he realizes that before smiling and trying to dismiss any suspicion he's already aroused.]

I mean... I don't really need anything cursed! I'm... not sure if I ever will, but if I do, you'll be the first person I go to. [where is this going?]

A-anyway, I was hoping if you could tell me if this water's been affected by magic.

[Oh please. You're looking at the master of smiling doofishly to cover up a misstep. Henry sees right through you.

Nevertheless, he bends over the river like it's the most fascinating thing he's ever seen. In a way, it kind of is!]

If it is, it's not any kind of magic I've ever seen! Which is pretty impressive. Not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty good at the whole magic thing.

[gran might not have a plethora of magic abilities or extremely large weapons to wield, but damn, seeing through that sheepish grin is just about as disarming as an arrow to the chest. his facial expression changes from inquisitive to serious business as the other starts to lean over, just as he had done just a few moments ago.

only this time, hopefully a second copy of henry isn't about to appear out of nowhere and scare the both of them into the water.

he has one eye behind his shoulder, just in case.]

Are you a master mage? [which makes him somewhat sad, thinking of Io, wherever she is, without him to be there and keep watch over her.

well, maybe it's more... keeping watch over the crew and hoping she doesn't do anything to them. he gets a similar vibe from henry.]

I put my finger in it and it's still cold, even after I pulled it out. I wonder what would happen if someone went in there.

[You'd be surprised, Gran. Henry's definitely dabbled in cloning magic before. For purely academic reasons, of course.]

I don't know about that! But yeah, probably.

[And hey, Gran has the right mindset for the scientific method himself.]

Wanna try it out?

[he holds his hand forward, out toward the water, eyesmiles and charm abundant.]

Yell if you need some help, alright?

[go on, henry.]

[The curve of his eyebrows indicates he's shocked. Shocked, I tell you!]

What, me? But I'm wearing so many clothes! I'll drown!

[Which would just be such a shame.]

[is this going to be a war of who can be more polite about the other going in? because gran is all for this game and he's not backing down. he stands his ground, humming softly and taking a step back from the water.]

I promise I'll keep them dry! They're in absolutely safe hands with me. I'll even fold them for you neatly.

[For science!

For discovery!]

Hm... I wonder what that shining object is at the bottom, though. Maybe it's a magic crystal!

[Damn, Gran is good at this. Henry feels like he has to concede, even though he really doesn't want to go in.]

A magic crystal? Gosh, you think?

[Magic crystals aren't even a thing.]

Maybe it's there to preserve the serenity of the pond!

[to be fair, gran has no idea whether or not the item at the bottom of the river is a small gem or just a coin that's rusted and caught the reflection of life beaming down at the surface, but it's all the same. it's interesting, and he wouldn't be much of an explorer if he wasn't curious to know what exactly it could be.]

Or maybe, it's a plug to the drain. If you tug on it, the entire river will empty and we use it to travel and see where it goes.

[less likely.

but the world is filled with possibilities, isn't it? like washing up in a well in a world without color. gran places his chin between his forefinger and thumb, and nods.]

But if it does preserve the serenity, then maybe it's an item that can cause any sort of rushing liquid to become perfectly still. Think of how useful that'd be if we wanted to explore more of this place!

[ah, but first-

he holds out his arms to make clotheslines.]

As promised, completely dry!

Wow! I guess I have to go in now.

[He says, with obvious reluctance. After all, Gran just ruined his excuse.]

If I die, tell my mum I love her.

[Pause.]

Just kidding! I actually don't.

[But before the conversation can continue, he wades into the river.]

[all in all, he didn't really expect henry to just... jump into it. he sees him start to move, still somewhat skeptical, as if, at the last moment he'd back out, and gran would eventually be the one to have to go in. he's impressed, and.

wow, a little sad. who doesn't love their mother?]

Are you okay!?

[oh god, this isn't going to end well, he can just feel it.]

'Course I am! It's just water.

[Of course, he'd just intimated he'd drown if he went in moments before. Eh, details. Obviously he's not drowning now.]

But I don't see any magic crystal. Are you sure that's what you saw?

[gran's somewhat surprised- his recollection of getting a finger in the water was met with excruciating coldness that wrapped around his entire appendage. which makes him think... was it just him? or was he being a baby.

nah, definitely not being a baby.]

Hm... honestly, I don't know what was down there, but it looked kind of shimmering in the right light.

[gran approaches the canal, looking down to see if he can find it, and- yep! there it is. still softly wavering under the water, although a little harder to see now that henry is wading through and making waves.]

Right... there. Okay! A few more steps in and you ought to be able to see it.

[It's not you, Gran. He's just got """nerve damage."""

In any case, he doesn't seem to be trying very hard to look.]

You know, since it's hard to tell with the weird colors and all, it'd be pretty funny if this wasn't actually water.

an sample post for awash

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[ 3 you're a good boy! yes you are! yes you are! ]

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ten years later with starbucks (4)

shotguns all of it while never breaking eye contact

nice

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[4... ish. ONCE AGAIN WITH FEELING]

@jay

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