westwhere | open | oh it's a mad, mad world, i'm drowning in

Entry tags:

open | oh it's a mad, mad world, i'm drowning in

WHO: Anyone wanting to find lamp oil, other oils, and the Remembrance's new hideout.
WHEN: After the TDM event! Before the next game event.
WHERE: In the Mouse House.
WHAT: In the spirit of adventurers the worlds wide, people go hunting for more lamp oil, only to find... dark water barrels, and the Remembrance's attempts to establish itself again.
WARNINGS: They're trying to make those womb walls again at the base; there's a potential at all times for violence; language potentially explicit.

You can find plot information or ask questions here! Keeping it simple, but here's a vague timeline of some possibilities:

Meeting outside the orphanage and searching through abandoned homes and businesses for lamp oil. Or sneaking into not so abandoned places and making off with some supplies.

Discovering a series of seemingly abandoned warehouses, and finding a means inside, with light. Much of what's there is junk. Be amazed by what you find.

In at least one warehouse there's large barrels! Which might be oil! These turn out to be dark water when opened.

Within minutes of the dark water barrel discovery, members of the Remembrance enter from an underground walkway, and confront the people by the barrels. Playact as part of the movement ("wake up!"), or else prepare to run.

If you played like you were part of the movement, be drafted into helping cart the black water barrels to the new safe-house, where it's apparent the black water's being used to recreate the womb walls of the former Remembrance headquarters. Or you might be tasked with chasing after one of your fellows who failed their acting chops.

If you failed to play along with the Remembrance, run, run, as fast as you can, and try not to get lost in the warren of paths. Or end up meeting a Rodent Of Unusual Size, which may or may not be wearing a paper crown.

Find a way back to the orphanage with whatever spoils of the day you managed to keep your hands on. Share information. The Remembrance is rebuilding, just as weird womb wally as before.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Licyn grimaces, nudging against Izumi's side as the Remembrance members direct them to help along with the rest in moving the barrels. There's a trap door down into a cellar that leads out again, and the heavy containers need to be rolled and lowered into the cellar, before they can be further taken away to...

... the searing base, which is not something he looks forward to.

He smiles anyway, expression otherwise flat. )

What I would have given for any of these to be nothing but pure vegetable oil.

( To be something other than this dark water, this black water, this nonsense of horror that spawned the last room with its womb-walls and the sack dolls that were its what, creation? )

Imagine all the fun ways you can use that much cooking oil.

[Honestly, either they have the best luck or the worst, because how can looking for simple lamp oil land them directly into this town's Big Bad?

...Are they the Big Bad? They're something. Specifics aren't important.

But Kanesada just helps roll this current barrel where directed, not even glancing at Licyn. This is their new job and they need to do it well. Not because they actually want to join these lunatics, but the two of them have eyes. It's just simple espionage. Information-gathering.]

Man...you could fry so much food.

[...Crap, now he's hungry.]

( the town's Big Crazy, and stormstruck luck it is to be here now. Licyn stares down the line and into the trap door, and the consuming dark below. one light flickers in its glass: ironically, that at least does run on oil. )

Fry dough, fry bread, fry chicken... fry chicken skins...

( hungry is a great place to be imagining things which are edible, but a terrible place to be abandoned in. the duo in front of them roll their barrel forward, ropes tied on so the lowering can begin. )

[This was a mistake. He could go for literally anything right now and Licyn isn't helping.

Of course, Kanesada kind of started it. Oops.]

I haven't had good rice in so long. Or hot pot.

[BIG SIGH. But they still have a job to do, so he stops talking long enough to help get their current barrel lowered into the hole.

With that single light, it's hard to see how many barrels they've collected, but he can make out more than a couple.]

Okay! Time for another, yeah?

[Or at least time to pretend to get it and actually get the hell out of town.]

( the remembrance guy shakes his head, gesturing down the ladder. )

Time to get them rolling along, so down you go. Those two have the last barrel, nothing more to do up here.

( licyn's eyes narrow a touch, and he sighs, slinking forward as if utterly unconcerned by anything that's happening. )

Still going to be more than one trip back to roll out all the barrels, love, won't it?

( there will be time to run later. take their moment for now, pretty boy izumi )

[Going down into the dark scary hole is not the greatest idea ever, but...sure. Okay. If it keeps them from looking suspicious, then they'll do what they must. Besides, it should earn them more information to take back to the others.

He glances at Licyn and gives him a quick smile. No problem.]

Many hands make light work and all that.

[Then he descends the ladder and immediately tries to get used to the dim light. He's not the best at seeing in the dark, but he's not the worst, either. It shouldn't take him more than a minute to really adjust. But for now, he'll just keep the current barrel rolling.]

( Licyn snorts, fluttering his lashes as Izumi looks away. )

Light hands make happy work, love.

( Then he's down, blinking twice and sidling up along Izumi, barely offering a toe to keep the barrel rolling. Leaning in close, he murmurs: )

Give the slip once this sets down, wherever that is?

[...What does that even mean, Licyn?

But he notices his companion in crime here is hardly working, so he reaches to grab for Licyn's wrist to at least make him pretend like he's helping. Light hands may make happy work for the one not doing any of it, but some of them are trying to blend in.

Still, he rolls the barrel a ways past the nearest Remembrance member and leans in to answer.]

Yeah. Were you able to get a count on how much is down here?

( watch licyn helpfully try holding izumi's hand instead of using it to push and instead using his foot to push the barrel forward, which it does go, quite happily. )

Seven up above, three already below.

( More than three ahead, but they weren't the first barrel down, he'd just noted what was present and waiting to move before it'd started in the process. )

What do they want this much of that for?

( He may not have allowed himself to remember the burlap doll sack birthing moments. At all. )

[He tries to tug Licyn's hand down to the barrel, but...well. Now that would be a little awkward, wouldn't it? And Kanesada would force him into working if it wouldn't cause a little ruckus and draw more attention to them than necessary and...fine. Fine! You win, Licyn! Ridiculous man.

Kanesada still huffs in displeasure, but doesn't pull his hand away.

Anyway, by Licyn's count, that's at least ten barrels of that black water tar stuff, which isn't a huge number, but that's still ten barrels and far more than what they should probably be allowed to have.]

Nothing good. These guys are stubborn with whatever their plan is.

[If losing one headquarters doesn't deter them very much, then it just goes to show that they really believe in whatever they're doing. Not great news for everyone else, probably.]

( He smiles, a small quirk of his lips at Izumi's huff and tugging, then sees if he can entangle their fingers. Tugs on the hand to bring it up towards his lips, though he speaks by his hand, rather than kiss it. )

Getting lighter up front, I hear more voices. You're not feeling unwarrantedly heroic, love, are you?

( their barrel comes to a rest in the lineup, two ahead being pulled up and shoved through to another cellar, to the left and halfway up their current tunnel's wall. )

[Kanesada submits his hand to whatever Licyn wishes at this point, as long as it's nothing really crazy. So entangled fingers? Sure. Not quite hand kisses? Okay. Those aren't the things they need to be paying attention to right now.

This little factory line of barrels seems to keep going and going, though. Where is the final resting place, he wonders? He also wonders just how complicated it's going to be for the two of them to make their escape.

Still, he leans in to keep their voices hushed.]

I can resist the urge. You just wanna walk our way outta this?

( Licyn flutters his lashes up at him, not for his companion's sake so much as the Remembrance members casting them errant glances. At least one snorts, another scoffs, and so their barrel is being hefted and they're ushered into the same room. The scent of bodies in enclosed spaces is stronger here, along with the fresh air let in through doors visible up a narrow staircase. One stands fully open, the other halfway. )

Walk or flirt. No one's going to spend too much time thinking hard on what two besotted fools wander off to do with each other, radical movement or no.

( That said, this time when he lifts their hands, he does press a light kiss to Izumi's knuckles, figuring the man can take it out on him later should he feel so motivated. )

Up with you both, sweethearts, don't get distracted now. We need the barrels all rolled in proper, keep to task.

We're all set to stay properly awake, not a worry. How's a man to resist a face like this?

( Licyn sighs, nodding up at Izumi, his smile growing more obviously fond. )

Couldn't dream of a more handsome one.

( A roll of their eyes, and he makes a show of letting go of Izumi's hand to help shimmy the barrel forward onto the platform used to lift them up to the top of the stairs. )

[...

Ohhh, now he gets it.

Kanesada still takes a moment to let it all sink in, though; while he's had to adapt to spur-of-the-moment situations before, he's never had to do things like flirt. But he can't say he's entirely upset with Licyn's improv, either. Because he is rather handsome. Obviously. It makes sense, too, so Kanesada swallows back his own inexperience and follows Licyn's lead.

So...what is it that people in relationships do? Besides hold hands or whatever. Time to wing it. He smirks at Licyn and reaches out to gently poke his cheek.]

Relax, after this, you'll have me all night.

[He doesn't look to see how any of the other Remembrance members react, but he can hear some groaning. That's promising.]

( His brow climbs a touch at the poke to his cheek, but he turns and nips at the offending finger, for it had given no offense at all. )

Gasping, moaning, crying? Can't wait.

( It's a wink and the grumbles or one sharp laugh from the rest, and he climbs the narrow stairs to join in the winching of the barrel up, up, and to a clanking, shuddering stop.

A clap to his shoulder and the wishing of Good Night Swift Come, before Get On With It, and they're directed out the doors, barrel rolling, and into a barren room. Then out, again, and: )

For storm's sake, please tell me that isn't what I think it is.

( Because across a stretch of dirt path, another door looms open, and beyond, a room, and a room, and a darkness, and the black water's moved into buckets and carted inside. Still moving forward, and these are people at work grafting terrible, terrible things. )

[These words shouldn't have any effect on him because they don't mean anything in this situation, but Kanesada can feel his face start to burn.

What the fuck! What the fuck!! Hijikata was popular with women back when he was alive, why can't Kanesada keep up with this one guy when they're just bluffing? He lets out a little laugh before gently shoving Licyn onward, trying to ignore any looks or well-wishes they're receiving now.

Thankfully he has a few moments to collect himself when they continue on their way up and out, ever just another cog in this culture machine. But then they make it to their next destination and...yeah. This is some serious shit now.]

...That's way more than just ten barrels.

( Licyn, who'd mean every word and does in the sense of if even now, is at ease with the byplay, and less at ease with what they're seeing now. He reaches for Izumi's hand once their barrel comes to a rest with the unopened ones, lacing their fingers together.

He leans into him, smiling up and lowering his lashes. )

Talk to me in a lower voice, keep looking flustered.

( He murmurs, tugging Izumi along with him, edging around the barrels to the wall by the outer room. He can smell it, the same scent from that other room, feel it with how his skin crawls.

He doesn't want to stay here. Lifting his free hand, he tugs at Izumi's front, then pats down the fabric, smoothing it over. Still moving, then all but nudging him up against the wall and leaning in so close he's practically breathing on his neck, holding just enough distance between them to be kind, albeit not seeming to from outside angles. )

Ask if they need any more help moving things right now, or if they can spare two sets of hands. You have a demanding lover; claim I'll whine.

( He's shorter, he knows people are oddly more inclined to think shorter males want pampering more than taller, larger ones. )

[Later on, after they get out of this place and back to relative safety, Kanesada will have to really ponder how he got himself into this sort of situation with Licyn. Not the whole stumbling upon cult activity - though that definitely isn't what he thought would happen when he woke up this morning - but this very sudden intimacy with a person he doesn't even know all that well. A friend? Maybe. An ally, for sure.

So the flustered look? Yeah, that doesn't exactly take much acting right now. And when Licyn gets handsy, well. This isn't in Kanesada's wheelhouse. But he does his best to follow Licyn's advice, leaning in to speak quietly even as he's pressed up against a wall.]

Ah...you're sure that'll work? They'll probably just double down and tell us to shut up and work harder.

[That's a terrible possibility. Kanesada can't help the way his lower lip juts out in a little pout. Which one of them is supposed to be the whiny one again?]

I don't wanna work harder, especially not for these losers.

( he an tell the flustered isn't taking much, and it's part of why he's playing nice, by his rulebook. he smiles, more lips than teeth, and pats izumi on the chest, a small, reassuring sort of there, there. )

The amount of drugs down here, not just the opium, means they'd rather a clear head than one too distracted. Who's to say we're not a little high?

( he laughs, that sort of throaty rumble which sounds more bedroom appropriate than safe for public consumption. )

Keep pouting, love, and I'll be tempted to kiss you.

( giving a squeeze of their interlaced fingers, and lifting his brows. )

Ask while it looks like I'm playing with your belt. Waistband. Whatever this is.

( his other hand drifts down, looking like it's tracing izumi's waistband, because... it is. only he's not really trying to get in there, he's playing up the idea that there are place he wants his hands and mouth on, now. they even merit one lazy whistle, and a gruff call for playing nice. )

Ask, love.

[How did he get into this situation.

But, okay, sure, what Licyn says kind of makes sense. Maybe he needed a little more time to sort things out in his head, but Kanesada gets some sort of excuse ready, something to get the ball rolling on their exit strategy. When he sees someone he assumes is an overseer of sorts, he raises his free hand to wave him down.]

Hey, Boss -

[Which is, of course, when Licyn "starts" to try to "undress" him and Kanesada immediately retracts that hand to keep it from actually happening, capturing Licyn's wrist.]

Hey, stop.

[The overseer approaches them and crosses his arms while he waits for Kanesada to go on, clearing his throat when an answer doesn't come fast enough. Kanesada, face burning again, laughs a little shakily while trying to keep Licyn's hands away from any place dangerous.]

Yeah, hey, sorry. I know this is awkward and all, but I've really gotta get him home or else he's just gonna be totally useless the rest of the day. Like, you think it's bad already? You don't even know, ahaha. He gets loud. Whiny! I mean. Not like...

[He clears his own throat to get off of that insinuation.]

Again, real sorry about this. We'll be back tomorrow or the next shift or whenever you need us. It's just...today isn't working out.

( he doesn't mean to smile, but izumi catching his wrist and looking as flustered as he does pulls a quirk of his lips out of him anyway. he changes expression, looking back over his shoulder and managing to look utterly bothered in a pouty way at having been halted. )

He means like that. ( you dug that grave, izumi, he fed you a script, this is what happens when going off it. ) You should see when he tries gagging me—love, can't he come with us?

( here's the full force of his supposed puppy eyes, turned on izumi, with the buried amusement that helps him keep from freaking out over what the womb room means.

the overseer clears his throat and waves at them both, not looking happy, but also looking resigned. licyn leans on izumi then, not fighting for control of his hand or pulling their joined hands anywhere contrary, just making himself seem that much more useless.

he's surprisingly heavy for his height; he's also far more muscular than his stature tends to make it seem. enjoy. )

You're mine for the night, don't forget, no sharing. Unless you want to share? Do you want to share.

( licyn casts a look over his shoulder again at the overseer, who outright rolls his eyes and coughs into his fist, excusing them with a muttered statement about the rest of the barrels already coming over, no more of this nonsense right now. he's almost immediately distracted as one barrel tries to roll the wrong direction, with the one rolling it chasing after it as it heads back toward where it had just been pulled out of.

now's their moment to go. licyn hefts himself back off izumi, keeping his hold on his hand and letting him keep holding his wrist if he should so desire, but backing them toward a narrow gap between the buildings. )

[Licyn really has just dragged his ass into the deep end now, hasn't he. What a mess. What a disaster! Farewell, pride, you were good while you lasted!]

G-Gagging?!

[He sputters and stares very specifically at Licyn as he continues talking.]

Of course I have to gag him. He never shuts up.

[Stop adding fuel to this dumpster fire!

...He mentally says, before doing just that. Kanesada glances up at the overseer apologetically and then releases Licyn's wrist to wrap his arm around the shorter man's waist, tugging him closer. Then he leans down and, still speaking loud enough to be heard, continues despite the flush to his skin.]

No, he can't come, you know I don't like anyone else seeing you like that. Now, let's go.

[It seems that whole debacle is finished, though, and Kanesada heaves a sigh of relief when they're far enough away from everyone else. He tries to clear his head of all the embarrassment he's just undergone, as well, in order to make sense of the whole operation the Remembrance is up to in this new location.]

What the hell are they making?

( licyn is all lazy smirks and ragabone limpness at izumi's side as they leave, until they're two turns out of eye-line and he untangles himself, all tension, nothing of the flirt in evidence now. he doesn't stop moving, seems to have a sense of where to go that comes with his deep inhalations and a near itching unease over all this.

keep up, izumi, he's not waiting. )

The womb room. Where the sack doll people were crafted, they're rebuilding the whole searing thing. Where in the seven stormstruck skies did they find more of this black water? Where is it coming from?

[Despite not quite knowing how to react to a very clingy and flirty Licyn, the moment he all but wrenches himself away from Kanesada leaves the sword feeling almost lost for a short time. He still follows, though, jogging to catch up when Licyn gets ahead.

A lot of what he says doesn't make a lot of sense to Kanesada; he wasn't involved in any of the previous Remembrance shenanigans. But something about the black water feels familiar.]

I think they had black water in Ke-Waihu. I didn't mess with it, though, so I can't say for sure.

( He shivers, lips pulling back from his teeth momentarily, before he smooths his expression out. )

The island you all were leaving when we were on the ships with the pirates.

( He hardly meant to leave you hanging, Izumi, but also he has no idea he left you hanging. In fact would prefer to be back in that space instead of antsy and anxious, as he's inching toward now. )

Wasn't there something of it down deep, at the trenches, where we sailed? The mermaids spoke of it? Or the dead sailors, come back to lust after our lives. Hideous. As bad as that island we stopped at, the one with nothing on it that breathed air. Now there's these, the sack dolls, they're worse than the walking dead, who at least had the decency to be born of two living souls, not forced magic.

3 and 4 mix giving us...

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