Halloween GP

[londoncallingmods]

The weather today had been fairly pleasant, a mostly sunny day wedged between fairly grey ones. It wasn't warm, but the chill was minimal for this time of year, and there wasn't a drop of rain in sight. As night crept in, however, the streets slowly faded from sun kissed and painted in autumnal colours, to foggy and damp. An odd thing, really, since the forecast had predicted a clear and pleasant night.

It wasn't normal fog either, it was denser, thicker, and it carried an distinct scent, like cinnamon sugar and chestnuts. It was so thick it seemed to drain the streets of their colour, leaving the wold desaturated and grey. More importantly, anyone with a bit of magic in them would sense, quite quickly, that it wasn't of this world. It crackled quietly with power, dark and heavy. Unfriendly.

It was around nine pm that the local police stations began to receive calls, things they assumed were pranks at first, but soon began rolling in so quickly and frequently that it seemed something more was afoot. The evening news spoke of mass hysteria, warning people to stay indoors. Conspiracy blogs were lit up with chatter of chemical warfare, and some 'airborne drug'. There were reports of people seeing everything from long dead loved ones, to killer clowns.

Though despite the nervous chattering of talking heads and twitter addicts, most people were paying the supposed danger no mind. Clubs and bars on every block were blasting music and throwing costume parties, people were out with friends, wandering the streets and looking for a fun time. It may have been Monday, but that didn't seem to be stopping many people from enjoying the holiday.  

For the most part, everything seemed fine. ...The crowds and groups remained oblivious to the danger of the fog. ...It was only those who slipped off on their own, to have a quick smoke, to get some air or head home early. They were the ones in danger, they were the ones who's darkest fears seemed to emerge from the thick fog. 

Around 10pm, reports started to come in regarding a body found in Whitechapel, cut open wide and left to bleed out. No prints at the scene, no signs that anyone else had even been there. The CCTV footage had somehow been rendered useless, glitched out and blurred. A trouble echoed by every other security camera on the street. It was enough to set twitter and the internet off all over again, with talk of how the things seen in the fog might, somehow, be real.

(Happy Halloween! The fog is bringing fears and spoops to life! You can make the creatures and fabrications of the fog as personal or general as you like. Whatever works best to spook your pup. If, for any reason, you don't want your pup to see any spooks, that's totally fine too. It's not a required plot. Unlike last year, this time around the creepy things your pup might see can harm them and do real damage. Though they will vanish in the morning. If your pup is sensitive to magic in any way, they might sense that this magic is distinctly fae. If you have questions about what you can or can't do, just ask in slack! Though really, the only limit here is your imagination. Remember to check with other players before doing anything that might seriously hurt their pup, ect, ect, and have fun!)

Comments

[willysilver]

Vines cocooned the form of the fallen figure and Willy walked to Curnen with the same lazy stride he always had. She was clearly going nowhere, there was no need to rush.

But once at her side he dropped to one knee and laid his hand on her back.

"You have done a terribly brave thing tonight, Curnen Overbay," he said gently. "You have the strength of giants."

[wispofathing]

Curnen flinched instinctively when he touched her, but when she realized that hand was there to comfort rather than harm her at first she only cried harder and curled up even smaller. Still, when she did this she was curling towards him rather than away.

"You knew?" she asked in a tiny croak of a voice when her body all but forced her to stop crying for a minute so she could catch her breath.

[willysilver]

"Yes, little one. The Tufa are all but a memory, but I carry that. I was young when my mother banished your kin," he said, his voice as warm and gentle as his touch.

[wispofathing]

Curnen's voice went very quiet. "Did you know I was his?"

[willysilver]

"That I did not know," Willy replied. "Kin, yes, but his...no. And now that I know I think I should have given you a warmer welcome to London."

[wispofathing]

That was too much, and Curnen gave a laugh that bordered on hysterical before she started to break down. "I am so fucking stupid, Bliss is gonna kill me." The words only questionably made it out of her mouth before being lost in a mush as her sobbing started all over again.

[willysilver]

Willy wrapped her up in a solid but gentle embrace and his magic shielded them in a bubble from the fog. He said nothing, but instead hummed a tuneless lullaby he seemed to have always known, letting her weep all she needed to.

[wispofathing]

Curnen clung to him. She didn't mean to exactly only in that moment she was so overwhelmed that she put her arms around Willy's neck and shivered like a scared rabbit until her crying finally subsided.

When at last she had some control back, she took a few deep breaths trying to calm herself. "I'm not in trouble?" she asked in a small voice.

[willysilver]

"No, little one. Not with me," he promised her. Willy gave her a squeeze, then relaxed his hold.

"I do believe we ought to get inside now. This fog is dark magic. I can feel it. Come, if you can't walk I will carry you."

[wispofathing]

Curnen nodded, wiped her eyes, and pushed herself to her feet, pushing away her meltdown with the gesture. At least until she was somewhere safe, at which point she had no idea what would happen. "I can walk," she said.

She'd have to call Bliss. Tonight, preferably. It was still early in Tennessee, and even if it hadn't been she knew Bliss would rather Curnen wake her in the dead of night over something like this.

[willysilver]

Willy kept his arm around her narrow shoulders to steer her through the fog. Nearby there was a chip shop open and he took her in. Inside was warm and bright, the fog pressed right up against the windows but held at bay by the glass.

"We can spend some time in here. And then we shall see what happens. If we must make a stand against the magic or if it will fade..."

[wispofathing]

Curnen let him keep her close, taking comfort from the proximity. And for a moment when they entered the chip shop she just tucked her body against his, instinctively seeking that shelter. "Where's it coming from anyway?"

[willysilver]

"I do not know. It is fae, but not Unseelie. I am unfamiliar with this sort of dark magic," he replied. "Best to be on guard, I think."

[wispofathing]

"He shouldn't've been able to be here," she whispered. "He shouldn't've been able to sing."

[willysilver]

"I doubt very much he was here, Curnen. Whatever that was was not the Rockhouse of the tales," he said. "Frightening, and powerful, but whatever happened at home has likely stayed there. Not that that is any comfort tonight."

[wispofathing]

It wasn't comforting, and Curnen started to quiver. This was stupid, and she hated it, but the fear and the anger washing through her were so powerful for a moment that she couldn't breathe.

She closed her eyes and made herself start again, even if the attempt was shaky.

[willysilver]

"Now, now,"he said gently, wrapping a protective arm around her again as if he could hold off her fear and worry. "Breathe slowly, little one. Count the seconds as they pass."

[wispofathing]

So Curnen did.

She made herself breathe for a count of eight in her head, in and out. Her heart, hammering though it was, obeyed and slowed down until it was calm and she could breathe normally again.

She nodded when she felt at least somewhat steady again. "I'm okay."

[willysilver]

"Good," Willy replied. He rubbed her back gently and then let his hand fall away so he could go to the glass and peer out into the fog. It was so thick there was little to see.

He was on alert and his ears shape became more pointed and his eyes supernaturally green.

"We must be calm because we may yet need to fight again before the sun rises..."

[wispofathing]

Curnen was not a fighter. Not like Bronwyn Hyatt. Even without magic, Bronwyn'd taken out ten Iraqis before being captured. Curnen had never done anything half so violent.

But she'd survived Rockhouse's curse for fifty years, living as barely more than an animal. She'd outsmarted him, avenged herself against him, destroyed his power. If that thing in the mist had not been him, she knew now that she could face the monster of her life. There was no way anything out there could scare her worse (Except needing to talk to Bliss, maybe).

Willy wouldn't let anything happen to her. She could at least try to return the favor.

They were getting funny looks, so Curnen only gave her best Tufa grin over her shoulder and poured all of her persuasion and charm into the words, "Don't mind us."

[willysilver]

Her charm worked wonders and the few mortals that were in the shop turned away from the pair to go back to eating and talking. Willy kept watch out the doors.

"Do you want to sit and have some tea?" he asked her when nothing immediately emerged from the soup.

[wispofathing]

"Yeah," Curnen raked her hand back through her hair nervously. "Yeah, might be good."