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OCTOBER EVENT LOG
TRICK OR TREAT?
As Fall settles across the land, blanketing it in shed leaves and the start of frost, change is in the air.
The Starfallen are able to return home. The Guardian Alliance is putting forth a united front for the sake of the people, but beneath its polished surface a storm is raging. The Society is ever scheming, yet many of those schemes seem to be taking on an almost altruistic slant. And those unfortunate enough to be Unaligned are finding themselves maligned by the media, blamed for the misfortune that has occurred over the last year.
The crisp fall air feels charged. As if everyone is on the cusp of something new.
BOLDED & UNDERLINED text indicates a key piece of information. This is something players can interact with. Nothing within these events is firmly set in stone, and so feel free to get creative with these elements. You may also be able to investigate some of them after the event.
The Starfallen are able to return home. The Guardian Alliance is putting forth a united front for the sake of the people, but beneath its polished surface a storm is raging. The Society is ever scheming, yet many of those schemes seem to be taking on an almost altruistic slant. And those unfortunate enough to be Unaligned are finding themselves maligned by the media, blamed for the misfortune that has occurred over the last year.
The crisp fall air feels charged. As if everyone is on the cusp of something new.
BOLDED & UNDERLINED text indicates a key piece of information. This is something players can interact with. Nothing within these events is firmly set in stone, and so feel free to get creative with these elements. You may also be able to investigate some of them after the event.
HOME WE'LL GO; Central City
The formal call goes out early Monday morning. Dimensional travel has been restored, and after rigorous testing, they are not capable of doing it en masse. All off-world metahumans, or "starfallen" as the media has started to call them, can proceed to the Guardian Alliance headquarters and request a transport.
Perhaps you are a skeptic, here to see for yourself if they're telling the truth. Perhaps you're here to dissuade a friend or loved one from leaving... or perhaps you're checking out other prospects. Not everyone is so keen to return home. Regardless, the lobby is well stocked with snacks and food and people are oh so eager to talk about where they came from. Will you share the world you've come from as you wait to be seen?
This process involves a quick scan by Guild personnel to determine your universe of origin. A scan, or a spell, and they have it.
The portal itself is a marvel of technology and magic. It's a circular window into another world, radiating soft blue energy. They advise that you'll return to the moment you left, and if you need to take anything to avoid an untimely demise, they suggest you do so - but they cannot guarantee it will make the trip with you. They also state that people can opt to travel to a different world than their one of origin, however the person whose world they're going to must walk through the portal first to calibrate it. Staff will also provide a small emergency return device, in case their calculations are off.
At the start, the Guilds assert that this is a one-way trip. Once goodbyes are said, barring an emergency, you'll never see this place again. However two weeks in, they find this is not the case. It appears that the forces that brought you here won't let go so easily. All of the Starfallen return to this world, falling from the once more. The longest recorded stay reported is a mere fourteen days.
It appears that this is not over.
As a reminder:
➢ Characters will find themselves back in Meta after a max stay stay of two weeks.
➢ You will have to fill the form found HERE on the player plot post.
Perhaps you are a skeptic, here to see for yourself if they're telling the truth. Perhaps you're here to dissuade a friend or loved one from leaving... or perhaps you're checking out other prospects. Not everyone is so keen to return home. Regardless, the lobby is well stocked with snacks and food and people are oh so eager to talk about where they came from. Will you share the world you've come from as you wait to be seen?
This process involves a quick scan by Guild personnel to determine your universe of origin. A scan, or a spell, and they have it.
The portal itself is a marvel of technology and magic. It's a circular window into another world, radiating soft blue energy. They advise that you'll return to the moment you left, and if you need to take anything to avoid an untimely demise, they suggest you do so - but they cannot guarantee it will make the trip with you. They also state that people can opt to travel to a different world than their one of origin, however the person whose world they're going to must walk through the portal first to calibrate it. Staff will also provide a small emergency return device, in case their calculations are off.
At the start, the Guilds assert that this is a one-way trip. Once goodbyes are said, barring an emergency, you'll never see this place again. However two weeks in, they find this is not the case. It appears that the forces that brought you here won't let go so easily. All of the Starfallen return to this world, falling from the once more. The longest recorded stay reported is a mere fourteen days.
It appears that this is not over.
As a reminder:
➢ Characters will find themselves back in Meta after a max stay stay of two weeks.
➢ You will have to fill the form found HERE on the player plot post.
DO THE MONSTER MASH — SUNSET FALLS
The veil between the natural world and the supernatural grows thin as October stretches on. Excited whispers begin to sweep the streets of Sunset Falls, spreading tales of the occult and its growing power. Magic users may find their power feels ever stronger, while those with quiet potential may feel that spark come to life as the month goes on. This isn’t always a good thing - accidents happen to those who are inexperienced, after all, and not all forms of the occult are, ahem, friendly.
The street festival will go ahead as planned, though, as will trick or treating. The festival will begin in the early afternoon and finish well into the next morning - come costumed, come merry. Most of all, come prepared: some say that this old tradition began as a way to allow the town's more supernatural residents, and those who may slip through the boundaries between worlds, to enjoy themselves freely among their human neighbors for one special night.
The veil is thin, as it usually is, but it appears to be thinner still in the aftermath of the multiversal crisis of the months prior. Those who have contact with spirits, including people living in the haunted Guild lodgings, will hear from their dearly departed friends that things on the other side have grown disquiet.
Parts of the veil may be tearing - those with the senses for it can feel the misaligned energy slowly beginning to seep into the world of the living.
The tears begin slowly at the beginning of the month, and become more widespread as Halloween approaches. Most people can't tell they're happening. Anyone with the misfortune to cross paths with this energy will find themselves transformed. Characters will find themselves taking on the form of monsters, either one that they were already dressed up as or a random one. While this effect begins in Sunset Falls and is centralized there, it's possible for one or two stray wisps of energy to slip through in other locations and affect people there.
It's up to player discretion how extensive the changes are. These things affect everyone differently. Maybe one person just grows wolf ears while another becomes a full-blown werewolf. They can also be merely cosmetic, or extend to the mental as well. A character can look like a vampire without actually experiencing a thirst for blood... though others may not trust that this is the case, because some people are definitely becoming monsters in earnest.
Characters will transform back to their regular selves when October ends.
The street festival will go ahead as planned, though, as will trick or treating. The festival will begin in the early afternoon and finish well into the next morning - come costumed, come merry. Most of all, come prepared: some say that this old tradition began as a way to allow the town's more supernatural residents, and those who may slip through the boundaries between worlds, to enjoy themselves freely among their human neighbors for one special night.
The veil is thin, as it usually is, but it appears to be thinner still in the aftermath of the multiversal crisis of the months prior. Those who have contact with spirits, including people living in the haunted Guild lodgings, will hear from their dearly departed friends that things on the other side have grown disquiet.
Parts of the veil may be tearing - those with the senses for it can feel the misaligned energy slowly beginning to seep into the world of the living.
The tears begin slowly at the beginning of the month, and become more widespread as Halloween approaches. Most people can't tell they're happening. Anyone with the misfortune to cross paths with this energy will find themselves transformed. Characters will find themselves taking on the form of monsters, either one that they were already dressed up as or a random one. While this effect begins in Sunset Falls and is centralized there, it's possible for one or two stray wisps of energy to slip through in other locations and affect people there.
It's up to player discretion how extensive the changes are. These things affect everyone differently. Maybe one person just grows wolf ears while another becomes a full-blown werewolf. They can also be merely cosmetic, or extend to the mental as well. A character can look like a vampire without actually experiencing a thirst for blood... though others may not trust that this is the case, because some people are definitely becoming monsters in earnest.
Characters will transform back to their regular selves when October ends.
THE REALM OF THE DEAD.
Founded on the crux of several leylines, Sunset Falls has always been a magnet for the fantastical and otherworldly. Yet it was not truly cursed until a highschool was built atop its very weakest point. The one most closely connected to the underworld. A hundred years of frenzied teenaged emotions, an ambitious cult, and skyrocketing metaengeries formed a pit known only as a Hellmouth.
As the citizens are besieged by costumes made flesh, those determined to hunt the source will find the trail of energy leads them to the heart of the city. Beneath the floorboards of the basement in the school, a pit yawns wide. The energy radiating from it is like a frigid blast, touching it chills you to your very core. Yet it is that which makes you feel certain that this is the cause of the chaos.
Do you lower yourself into the pit? Or do you turn and advocate for caution?
The drop is miles deep, yet feels like only a short jump. Above you are a set of magnificent doors, unconnected to anything. Curled in front of them is the mighty Cerberus. The beast is fast asleep.
What will you do? Do you creep by? Perhaps you know him from his last venture to the surface and approach, eager to wake him from his slumber and see if he still recalls you. Or perhaps you woke up today and choose violence, opting to simply bang pots and pangs together to startle him awake and into frenzy.
Regardless of approach, it’s clear that the problem is not easily solved. Mending the cracks in the gate with any traditional means doesn’t solve it. Any spells cast won’t hold it for long. You’ll need to go deeper.
The River Styx is where your journey begins. The waves lapping against the shore curl like pale fingers, and with a sudden chilling jolt you realize that’s not metaphor. There is an ocean of souls flowing through the river, and they reach for you. A skeletal ferryman watches you from the docks. If you choose to approach him, he holds his hand out for payment. Have you the coin to pay the ferryman? Or are you now left to your own devices, needing to find your own way across? Those that fall into its waters rarely leave - they’ll find themselves dragged down into its depths. Hopefully you’ve got a friend along to help pull you out, because Charon’s not so helpfully inclined.
However you managed to get by, the first place you’ll find yourself is in Elysium. You’re not certain when the cave above your head transitioned into a bright blue sky, but it did. The cold stone gives way to lush greenery. All heroes rest and relive their greatest victories in this land, feasting upon the triumphs of their lives. Elysium is the most tranquil of the Underworlds realms, built to honour the fallen heroes of yore. Some of its denizens may challenge you as you attempt to make your way through. Every day there are contests of strength and agility, and the heroes will goad you into joining them. They may also grab you and throw you up onto the podium, demanding that you tell your greatest tale to the captive audience.
Asphodel is where the souls of the ordinary reside. Its structure is a kaleidoscope, shifting between time periods as you walk its streets. Castles and cobblestone streets give way to highrises and pavement. The denizens here are common folk. Not heroes, not villains, but the mortal. The souls here are eager to share who they once were, what they once loved, though they are slowly losing their shape. Giving bits and pieces of themselves away each time they tell a tale. Stop here and listen, find yourself transformed. If you opt to share your own stories, you’ll find your outlines beginning to blur. Are these your memories, or your neighbors? Who are you? Who were you? Share too much and you’ll be woven into this tapestry, all you are merged with all there ever was.
It’s only natural to lose yourself in these edges.The River Lethe serves as a natural border between Asphodel and the next realm, Tartarus, the waters of the Lethe are dark and oddly sweet-smelling. It might be tempting to take a drink. You’re so thirsty after having come this far, aren’t you? Wouldn’t a sip be nice! Yet a touch of the water to your lips is enough to erase a day of your life. The more water consumed, the more slips away. What is your name? What was your purpose here?
If you have forged this far into the land of the dead, the final leg of your journey is through Tartarus. Guarded by the Furies, those who linger are easily mistaken for just another soul sentenced to toil for eternity. However, the nature of this place may have a negative effect on those already touched by the Underworld; people who have already experienced monster transformations may find themselves driven further into a monstrous state of mind, desiring to join the Furies in punishing the evil souls who reside here - though they, too, may not always be able to distinguish between those souls and those of travellers. Are you one of the frenzied beasts? Is your mind addled with the waters of Lethe? Is your soul blurred due to how much you’d given to the hungry souls? Your ego bloated from the applause of heroes?
This is the hardest test.
Should you manage to make it to his throne room, you will find Hades awaiting you. The God of the Underworld is a well-dressed older man. Tired, as someone is always dying. They are not always his to claim, but there’s still paperwork to process regardless. He is plainly surprised to see any travellers from the world of the living, but he is polite about the intrusion. In his estimation, anyone who’s traversed the underworld on foot has earned some respect. He’ll talk and answer any questions you may have, and provide you a place to sit down and rest a while - though he will not offer any food or drink. That would bind you to this place, after all, and quite frankly he doesn't want you sticking around that long.
Hades is also capable of lifting effects from your journeys, if you have any companions who got a little lost in the Lethe or Tartarus. But for a service like that, the God asks for an offering. It’s nothing too dramatic. Your soul is yours to keep - he can’t claim what didn’t originate here, what didn’t die believing firmly in him. But it can get very dull down here, managing the affairs of the dead, and it seems he’s already heard tales of the lost souls of other worlds who’ve wandered into this one. He’s intrigued. A story of your home and your travels will often suffice. Tell him of life and death in the world you hail from.
Time in the heart of his kingdom is funny. There is no linearity to the conversations had with Hades. All can happen simultaneously. The result is the same, of course: he will see to fixing the cracks. But the journey you take to get him there is entirely up to you. Do you threaten? Charm? Attempt to wound his Godly pride? Bid him to make you his paladin, so you may usher new death to your foes?
Go on. He’s listening.
As the citizens are besieged by costumes made flesh, those determined to hunt the source will find the trail of energy leads them to the heart of the city. Beneath the floorboards of the basement in the school, a pit yawns wide. The energy radiating from it is like a frigid blast, touching it chills you to your very core. Yet it is that which makes you feel certain that this is the cause of the chaos.
Do you lower yourself into the pit? Or do you turn and advocate for caution?
The drop is miles deep, yet feels like only a short jump. Above you are a set of magnificent doors, unconnected to anything. Curled in front of them is the mighty Cerberus. The beast is fast asleep.
What will you do? Do you creep by? Perhaps you know him from his last venture to the surface and approach, eager to wake him from his slumber and see if he still recalls you. Or perhaps you woke up today and choose violence, opting to simply bang pots and pangs together to startle him awake and into frenzy.
Regardless of approach, it’s clear that the problem is not easily solved. Mending the cracks in the gate with any traditional means doesn’t solve it. Any spells cast won’t hold it for long. You’ll need to go deeper.
The River Styx is where your journey begins. The waves lapping against the shore curl like pale fingers, and with a sudden chilling jolt you realize that’s not metaphor. There is an ocean of souls flowing through the river, and they reach for you. A skeletal ferryman watches you from the docks. If you choose to approach him, he holds his hand out for payment. Have you the coin to pay the ferryman? Or are you now left to your own devices, needing to find your own way across? Those that fall into its waters rarely leave - they’ll find themselves dragged down into its depths. Hopefully you’ve got a friend along to help pull you out, because Charon’s not so helpfully inclined.
However you managed to get by, the first place you’ll find yourself is in Elysium. You’re not certain when the cave above your head transitioned into a bright blue sky, but it did. The cold stone gives way to lush greenery. All heroes rest and relive their greatest victories in this land, feasting upon the triumphs of their lives. Elysium is the most tranquil of the Underworlds realms, built to honour the fallen heroes of yore. Some of its denizens may challenge you as you attempt to make your way through. Every day there are contests of strength and agility, and the heroes will goad you into joining them. They may also grab you and throw you up onto the podium, demanding that you tell your greatest tale to the captive audience.
Asphodel is where the souls of the ordinary reside. Its structure is a kaleidoscope, shifting between time periods as you walk its streets. Castles and cobblestone streets give way to highrises and pavement. The denizens here are common folk. Not heroes, not villains, but the mortal. The souls here are eager to share who they once were, what they once loved, though they are slowly losing their shape. Giving bits and pieces of themselves away each time they tell a tale. Stop here and listen, find yourself transformed. If you opt to share your own stories, you’ll find your outlines beginning to blur. Are these your memories, or your neighbors? Who are you? Who were you? Share too much and you’ll be woven into this tapestry, all you are merged with all there ever was.
It’s only natural to lose yourself in these edges.The River Lethe serves as a natural border between Asphodel and the next realm, Tartarus, the waters of the Lethe are dark and oddly sweet-smelling. It might be tempting to take a drink. You’re so thirsty after having come this far, aren’t you? Wouldn’t a sip be nice! Yet a touch of the water to your lips is enough to erase a day of your life. The more water consumed, the more slips away. What is your name? What was your purpose here?
If you have forged this far into the land of the dead, the final leg of your journey is through Tartarus. Guarded by the Furies, those who linger are easily mistaken for just another soul sentenced to toil for eternity. However, the nature of this place may have a negative effect on those already touched by the Underworld; people who have already experienced monster transformations may find themselves driven further into a monstrous state of mind, desiring to join the Furies in punishing the evil souls who reside here - though they, too, may not always be able to distinguish between those souls and those of travellers. Are you one of the frenzied beasts? Is your mind addled with the waters of Lethe? Is your soul blurred due to how much you’d given to the hungry souls? Your ego bloated from the applause of heroes?
This is the hardest test.
Should you manage to make it to his throne room, you will find Hades awaiting you. The God of the Underworld is a well-dressed older man. Tired, as someone is always dying. They are not always his to claim, but there’s still paperwork to process regardless. He is plainly surprised to see any travellers from the world of the living, but he is polite about the intrusion. In his estimation, anyone who’s traversed the underworld on foot has earned some respect. He’ll talk and answer any questions you may have, and provide you a place to sit down and rest a while - though he will not offer any food or drink. That would bind you to this place, after all, and quite frankly he doesn't want you sticking around that long.
Hades is also capable of lifting effects from your journeys, if you have any companions who got a little lost in the Lethe or Tartarus. But for a service like that, the God asks for an offering. It’s nothing too dramatic. Your soul is yours to keep - he can’t claim what didn’t originate here, what didn’t die believing firmly in him. But it can get very dull down here, managing the affairs of the dead, and it seems he’s already heard tales of the lost souls of other worlds who’ve wandered into this one. He’s intrigued. A story of your home and your travels will often suffice. Tell him of life and death in the world you hail from.
Time in the heart of his kingdom is funny. There is no linearity to the conversations had with Hades. All can happen simultaneously. The result is the same, of course: he will see to fixing the cracks. But the journey you take to get him there is entirely up to you. Do you threaten? Charm? Attempt to wound his Godly pride? Bid him to make you his paladin, so you may usher new death to your foes?
Go on. He’s listening.
IN SUMMARY...
- Characters will start to go home, but will find themselves back within fourteen days.
- A fix will begin being researched, but until then trips home are not permenant.
- Monster transformations will begin around Sunset Falls and may spread further afield.
- Characters can travel into the Hellmouth to ask for an audience with Hades, but will face a perilous journey on their way there.
- All will return relatively to normal by early to mid November.
Please note that replies from Hades NPC's will be delayed until Sunday 10/23.
no subject
[Potential threats to the Emperor had always been treated with dire seriousness.]
You don't look fine.
[Is animal blood enough? He looks sick.]
no subject
Is it that obvious?
no subject
Obvious to me, but I should be able to see that, you know?
[He's calm about the entire situation, though. Certainly there's no judgment, despite how strange it is that Dylan's suddenly turning into a vampire.]
The animal blood isn't giving you enough. I can feel a severe nutritional deficiency in you. I'm not saying we should raid the nearest blood drive, but if I had the equipment and a donor, I could at least give you some vials safely. And maybe we can figure out just how much you need to sustain yourself.
[Will just hopes the answer isn't five liters or there will be some major issues.]
no subject
[And all for what?]
[His friends back home had taught him there were better people than Belos to put that kind of energy into. Ones that are actually worth sacrificing something for.]
[People that are kind.]
[He's not sure how much of it's real because he's still getting used to actually being able to judge character. His sense of it is so skewed. But he thinks Dylan seems genuine in his kindness.]
I can donate.
If he needs human blood, witches are...they're similar to humans. The biggest difference is the ears and that they have a magic bile-sac. It produces the spell phlegms that let them do magic. But I'm different. I was born without one.
[A lie, but it's covering up the truth that he might be more compatible, not less. That he's probably copied from a human.]
My blood might work. We could always just try a little and make sure it doesn't hurt him, right?
no subject
He can't. This is a craving that's been eating away at him for the past week. With an offer suddenly on the table, he can't bring himself to refuse it.
He looks to Will again, hoping maybe he can insist it's a bad idea so Dylan can have an excuse to refuse. ]
no subject
Which is why he speaks up before Will’s good sense can steer them away from this plan. ]
If you’re an empousa- sorry, vampire - you might starve if you don’t get real blood. And Will and I are off the menu because I am not finding out if demigods are extra tasty to monsters in this world on purpose.
Will can keep an eye on Hunter, and I can make sure you don’t take too much. Don’t make me make sure.
no subject
He tries to meet Dylan's eyes. Despite his own discomfort, Will maintains a look of calm.]
Nico has a point, and I'd rather not make this harder for you than it already is. That being said, it's all kinda moot if you're not comfortable enough with this plan.
[Gently, he adds:]
None of us will judge you if you really don't want to go through with this, but all of us here wanna try to help you as best we can. So, it's up to you if you wanna try this.
no subject
[He's trying to reassure Dylan so any hesitation is because of Dylan's own comfort, not concerns about Hunter's.]
It'd be different if there weren't people who could help make it safe, but you have help.
I don't know how we'd have to do it, but I used to be in the Emperor's Coven. You have to be tough to even survive initiation. And I'm not exactly squeamish about seeing my own blood. I used to have to patch myself up all the time.
[This really isn't that much of a difficult thing to deal with and at least this time it'll help a friend. Instead of all being done to gain the approval of an actual monster.]
scene change!
At least... at least it's just blood. At least it's something that can be donated with ease. It's not like how the Venom symbiote needs brains. Hunter can come out of this with minimal damage.
Though even through his hunger, the part about the Emperor's Coven sticks out to Dylan. The more he hears about this Emperor, the less Dylan likes him — and his opinion was low to start with.
Dylan closes his eyes and sucks in a shaky breath. ]
Okay... okay.
[ And so, after paying for their food and leaving the diner — Dylan ordered some sausages to go, for Hunter to snack on after donating — they took the party to a more secluded location where they wouldn't be disturbed (or disturb any passers-by.)
As they get settled and try to work out the logistics, Dylan's sure to make a couple things clear. ]
Will, you can tell when I need to stop, right? If I... if I don't stop when you tell me, you and Nico can pull me away. Attack me if you have to.
[ Kneeling on the ground, looking Hunter over, Dylan's stomach is doing flips in anticipation for this meal. He's ashamed at how excited he is about this, and tries not to show it — Still, when he looks at Hunter, there's a hungry look in his eyes that he can't suppress. ]
So how should we do this? I know the neck is traditional but I don't really know the logistics of it.
no subject
[ Some arteries bleed so much faster than others. ]
If we have to pull you off, there’s a lot less that can go wrong with the wrist, so there’d be more time to heal Hunter.
[ Ideally, Hunter is the only one who will need to be healed. Nico’s confident that he could handle someone like Dylan in a battle, but it’s not someone like Dylan. It’s Dylan, and Nico doesn’t have the stomach for what really attacking him would mean.
… especially since he can already see how close the chance of death is. Maybe it’s because he’s a vampire? Gods, he hopes that’s all it is. ]
Vampire curse aside, are you a normal human, just with tentacles? Kinda need to know what your weaknesses are if I have to attack you without hurting you too much.
[ Without killing him or getting anyone else hurt. ]
Your dad turned to goo - if I hit you in the head with the hilt, Will it knock you out?
no subject
[ Coming from a world of superheroes, Dylan knows two things are sacred knowledge: A hero's secret identity, and their weakness. Given the nature of heredity, Dylan knows that sharing his own weaknesses would also mean sharing those of his family.
But he trusts everyone here. It's only been a few months, but they're the closest friends he's ever had. He can share this with them. ]
High pitched noises. I... don't know the exact pitch, but something loud and piercing should be enough to incapacitate me long enough to get Hunter to safety.
[ It won't render him a puddle of goo like it might for a normal symbiote, but he's always been sensitive to noises like that, even before his symbiote side became more... prominent. ]
Maybe pull up a sound on your phone and have it ready?
no subject
Yeah, I'll let you know when to stop. Hunter, it's gonna be critically important that you tell me when you start to feel faint. Too much blood loss could do damage that I can't heal.
[He's been very fortunate to have been on hand in time to stop brain damage from occurring in the past, and he wants to continue that trend for as long as possible.
At Dylan talking about a loud, piercing sound being his weakness, Will glances at Nico and smiles slightly. There's no real humor in the smile, but there's a certain irony in this.]
Happens to be one of my few musical talents. I can at least stun you long enough for Nico to get a handle on you. Though, it'll suck for everyone else, too.
[Hopefully Hunter doesn't have that same weakness or this will be awkward. Will pulls out his first aid kit, making sure he's got enough gauze on hand. No tourniquet, but he's improvised those before when necessary.]
I think we're as good to go as we can get.
no subject
I'll tell you when I can't take it anymore.
[He looks at his arm, trying to figure out a place that would work well.]
The wrist has tendons that can be hard to heal.
[He thinks hard about what he read in some human anatomy books here. He's been so curious, wondering how it all compares, and wondering how much of it might apply to himself.]
[One thing that is the same is a lot of the circulatory system. There's really only variation around the bile-sac and the placement of the heart. Humans have hearts that are slightly more to the left, where the bile-sac would be.]
[His heart has always felt strangely off center. His uncle had assured him it was probably because their family was born without magic bile-sacs.]
[It's similar enough to witch anatomy that he can use what he knows about the latter. He'd read anatomy books as far of his Coven Scout training, because they were useful when giving yourself first aid, or figuring out what injuries wouldn't be incapacitating to assess a duel tactically.]
[He rolls up his sleeve and taps the inner crook of his elbow, and area he knows is relatively safe regardless of how much his anatomy skews witch or skews human.]
The inside of the elbow has some veins and the tendon there protects the arteries.
It'll be fine as long as you don't bite too deep.
[Not that he knows it but that area is one where humans often put in IVs.]
[He tries to arrange himself comfortably. Ultimately, what feels like it'd be the most comfortable is sitting next to Dylan but facing the opposite direction. It means he can stick out his arm in his face.]
[He tentatively holds his arm out.]
I'm ready.
no subject
[ He’s only saying it because he doesn’t want Dylan to get spooked by someone looming behind him (if someone barely hitting 5’7” can loom). Nico moves behind Dylan, carefully picking a spot that leaves Nico half in shadow.
Giving Will a wintry smile, Nico turns to Hunter. ]
This is by group consent. If anyone says stop, then it stops, okay? You don’t have to do anything.
[ It’s a gruesome, but necessary, plan. Nico just wants it clear that Hunter’s going to be fine. ]
All set.
CW for blood drinking
There's a warm, steady pulse beneath his thumb, and the sensation hits him like the smell of a turkey in the oven. Dylan's thumb grazes down Hunter's arm, finding the line of the vein, and he can feel his mouth start to water. He glances up at Hunter with one last apologetic look before leaning down and lifting the arm to meet his mouth.
His lips are a hundred times more sensitive than his thumb. When they graze the skin, the pulse beneath them seems to unlock something in his brain, some kind of instinctual vampire knowledge. Right here, right here, it tells him. With a shaky breath, Dylan brings his lips down and closes them over the target area on Hunter's arm. With one last sweep of the area with his tongue, Dylan confirms the vein's location, and brings his teeth down.
For a split second, Dylan is worried that the skin won't give way, that he'll have to bite harder and harder until it finally breaks, but he's wrong; His canines are far sharper than he'd realized, and they sink into Hunter's skin like butter. The bite itself is over in less than a second, and he feels the warmth of blood oozing from the wounds.
As the blood touches his tongue, Dylan sucks in a sharp gasp — through his nose, as he's careful not to break the seal of his lips on Hunter's arm. Even with only a few drops of blood, the metallic taste floods his senses, as if his mouth was full of pennies.His eyes are wide at the sensation.
It's like cracking into an ice-cold soda on a hot summer day.
Up to this moment, Dylan had been terrified of how he'd react to the taste. He's seen a good chunk of his relatives in a feeding frenzy, and it's not a pleasant image — Would symbiote instinct somehow mingle with the vampire urges, turning him into some kind of vicious predator? Dylan had been haunted by intrusive thoughts of himself tearing into Hunter's arm, injuring him beyond what even Will could fix.
Yet with this first taste of blood, the effect is the opposite of everything Dylan had expected. As he swallows that first sip, it just... hits the spot. He closes his eyes, letting out a soft sigh as he relaxes and starts to steadily suck at the wound. He feels... content, like he's digging into a bowl of mac and cheese, or some other comfort food. Here, surrounded by friends, he's safe and secure with food available. There's no need for any kind of vicious attack. In fact, he feels like he could follow up this meal with a long nap.
As Dylan continues gently feeding from the wound, the hand cradling Hunter's forearm slips closer to his wrist, grazing his fingers along the skin. When he reaches the hand, Dylan brings his palm to meet Hunter's, interlocking their fingers and squeezing gently. He's not entirely sure why he does — It just... feels right to do so. It could be a vampire instinct, to encourage Hunter to flex those muscles and increase bloodflow... or it could be the instinct to comfort his friend, a signal that he's here, that he's still himself.
That he's still in control.
He's safe, but more importantly, his friends are safe from him. He relaxes further with a soft, contented hum, wondering if he might get his fill before Hunter signals to stop. ]
Re: CW for blood drinking
[ This isn't even close to how much he's sometimes gotten hurt in the past during his coven guard training. Just one small injury on the arm. ]
[ When Dylan clasps his hand, he holds on tightly and squeezes back. It's meant to be reassuring, it's meant to say: Yes, I can tell you're on control. It's okay, I trust you. I'm also okay right now, too. We're both okay.]
[ It's not overwhelming, it's not impossible to take. He can tolerate it. It's okay.]
[Definitely slightly painful, uncomfortable, and weird, but okay. It feels like undergoing a little hurt to offer some rations to another coven scout that needs it.]
[And it stays okay for a while. He sits there, eyes closed, just breathing. Trying to make sure he's staying in touch with his body, so he can tell when he's getting too lightheaded.]
[He's able to let him feed for quite a bit, able to tolerate even more than someone might donate at a blood donation. He's always been tough, always been able to function through pain or being impaired. He'd had to be.]
[But he still has limits. Eventually, the limit is reached. He's getting woozy, his face starting to get a little pale, and his body breaking out in a cold sweat. He knows he might lose even more blood if Dylan has trouble breaking it off and needs to be pried off. Now's the safest time.]
Sorry, I think this is all I can do.
[He looks at Dylan. His voice is gentle.]
I need you to let go. If you can't, though, Nico will help you.
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He stops the sucking, holding his tongue against the wound to try and pause the bloodflow, but there's an urge to resume almost immediately. Dylan tries to focus on the hand in his, and with another gentle squeeze, pulls his head away from the bite.
Dylan pulls his hand away from Hunter's. The bleeding wound still looks incredibly enticing, so Dylan turns away and scoots off to the side, grabbing the takeout he'd gotten at the diner. ]
Thank you.
I should... I should probably stay over here until you're bandaged up.
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You should be fine by tomorrow, but let me know if you're still lightheaded by around midafternoon. You might need to eat a little more than normal for a day or two as a side-effect.
[Speaking of which, he looks over at Nico.]
Just in case, could you hand Hunter the food? I don't know how sensitive vampire noses are, and I didn't completely close the wound.
[Will stands up, paling subtly as he does so a little too fast. His healing power does take a bit out of him, which is why he usually uses it for emergencies. This definitely constituted as an emergency in his books. Still, he takes a seat nearby and gives Dylan a reassuring smile.]
How're you feeling?
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Good job. He was never close to death.
[ Reassurance accomplished, he jogs over to Hunter and crouches down next to him. Tosses him the bag of food. ]
You better eat most of it. You don't want to cross Doctor Solace.
no subject
Nico knows this very well.
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He keeps his distance, but can't stop himself from turning around and watching Will tend to the bite. Hunter looks so much paler now. Even with the comfort and relief that feeding had brought him, Dylan can't help but feel guilt sit in his gut like a cold weight. ]
I'm feeling a lot better. I don't know how to thank you all.
I don't know how vampire instincts work, but... I think something about knowing I was safe and surrounded by friends really influenced them. Nothing inside me told me I needed to get vicious.