OPEN POST: THE ANNIVERSARY

[gentleidealist]

THE ANNIVERSARY

[It's been exactly two years since Mithos took over Paradisa. That's two years of delightful massacres, scaring people into the Dead Zone, and manipulating former friends with the ageless face of a Kharlan hero. Two years of your character struggling to hold onto life as they know it while under the shadow of a fearsome ruler from another world. Two years of scraping to get by, cowering in the Dead Zone, waiting for a chance to go home or a death that Paradisa can't-- won't-- give.

There is nothing planned for today, though there are a few whimsical sort of changes that Mithos called for. The angels are on security detail as usual, policing the grounds; however, Mithos and his closest subordinates may be stepping outside. There is a grand feast set up in the ballroom... but angels don't eat, so it's really just for show. The place has the air of a graveyard party where even the dead decide not to attend.

There is an undercurrent of anxiety tonight, a breath held in anticipation. Something is about to happen, and even the insects are quiet.]

CASTLE GROUNDS
INSIDE THE WALLS
THRONE ROOM
BASEMENT
THE OUTSKIRTS
TOWN
DANY'S CAVE
DEAD ZONE SETTLEMENT
THE FOREST

[ooc: HUGE OPEN MINGLING POST for characters who either reside in the castle as angelic little zombies, or people who are returning for whatever reason. Please don't threadjack something without notifying the muns in advance!

You are free to make your own sections if you'd like and I'll add them to this post :)]

Comments

INSIDE THE WALLS

[angelzombies]

[There's a banquet full of delicious, Castle-granted food just sitting in the ballroom waiting for you to take it.

Unless, of course, you're going after the personal belongings you left behind while fleeing in a hurry.]

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd can smell the food halfway across the castle, but it does nothing for him anymore. He's a seraph now, as his father was. He walks through the castle at a quick pace, searching for someone. Or maybe he's running. It's hard to tell.

There is a small canvas bag tied to one of his belts, half-hidden beneath a sword sheath. He touches it every once in a while to make sure it's still there.]

[spongetastrophe]

[who knows why Peter actually went inside the castle. Maybe he was looking for food, maybe looking for a fight. He's here now, whatever the reason, and seeing someone else in the halls catches his interest. Especially if that someone is moving so quickly]

You in a hurry?

[gentleidealist]

[Truth be told, Lloyd heard him coming a ways away, but he was trying to give the guy a chance to flee rather than approach him. Peter must not have survival instincts. Lloyd spins to face him, translucent wings appearing in a blue-green flash.

He is obviously one of Mithos' lieutenants-- and not just that, it's Lloyd Irving himself.]

You shouldn't be here! [he says in a harsh but hushed tone.] If they see you, they'll kill you or worse.

[spongetastrophe]

[survival instincts? What are those? Peter barely flinches when he sees the wings. Of course he recognized Lloyd, but it doesn't matter to him. If a fight starts, all the better to him]

Thanks for the warning, but I can handle myself against your friends.

[gentleidealist]

[He winces inwardly at that term. He does not, however, move in to attack.]

Then get lost. I can't be seen talking to anyone.

[spongetastrophe]

Sorry, can't. I have things to do. If they ask, we never saw each other.

[gentleidealist]

[He sighs and shakes his head. He's not about to risk being seen dragging someone out.]

They're not going to ask. They'll just kill you-- or worse.

[He looks at Peter for a long moment, frowning, and then he turns to leave.]

[selfless]

[Colette rarely wandered far, not unless she had been given a task. These last few days she had been particularly stationary, cycling the first floor but little else. If someone didn't know her situation, they might think that she was looking for something.

But she pauses in her wandering, almost as if she hears something. Whatever alerts her, it's a short distance away. She stops walking, does nothing for a moment, then turns and begins to walk in a completely different direction.

A little while later, Lloyd might hear footsteps following him. Despite his hurried pace, Colette manages to keep up with him. She doesn't make any attempt to catch up to him, but continues exactly at his pace at about a yard's distance.]

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd turns to face her, not bothering to hide the bag that's attached to his belt. It probably won't rouse much attention, anyway. His expression wavers as he tries to keep calm. How long had it been since he'd told her that maybe, maybe this wasn't the ideal world they were looking for?]

There you are.

[And now he was making a break for it. And that meant-- that meant...

He approaches her without fear, and without asking, gently takes her hand. There is a trembling that wasn't there before. He wonders, faintly, if she'll kill him before he's able to leave the castle.]

[selfless]

[No reaction, of course. When he stops walking, she stops walking. But when he approaches... she doesn't back away, she simply remains still. It had always been a peculiar thing-- even so long ago in Aselia. Renegades would approach her, and she would immediately defend herself. But Lloyd, Lloyd was an exception.

Wasn't he always?

As he holds her hand, the tips of her fingers curl slightly around his. It's the most subtle of gestures, barely noticeable against her stiff frame and blank stare. But she doesn't make a move to hurt him, she only watches]

[gentleidealist]

[He notices. His bottom lip twitches as he looks into her eyes, lifeless and nonjudgmental. He covers their clasped hands with his free one.]

Colette, I'm going away for a while. It'll be dangerous, and I don't know if our friends will take me back after what I've done. But this is something only I can do.

[He is trembling noticeably. Trying not to cry just because she can't.]

I'll come back for you. I swear it. I'll bring you a new crest, and then we can turn this place upside down.

Wait for me.

[selfless]

[if she hears his word, there's no reflection of it in her face. He's leaving, talking about rebellion... things that she has surely been instructed to stamp out at one time or another.

When he finishes talking, her other hand moves and is placed on top of his hand. It remains there only for the briefest moment, before she turns abruptly, and begins to walk in the other direction.

Some part of her might realize that if she followed him, she would see him leave. And if she saw that, she might be forced to help stop him. Or maybe it was time that she had to go elsewhere, there was no way to know for sure--

Please go, Lloyd. I'll be okay.]

[gentleidealist]

[Lloyd looks at the hand on top of his, wide-eyed. He reaches out for a split second, but she's already gone-- already out of his reach, floating down the corridor. His arm falls back to his side, his hand clenching into a fist.

He steels himself, then turns and leaves.]

[heliotroping]

[Everything is quiet, but it doesn't hurt to be too careful. If Django wasn't, anything more stealthy than he would easily get the drop on him.

He has a small bag and the intent of retrieving personal belongings that others asked for. Of course, even if they didn't, he was still going for things in his room. He got tired of having one gun with only one setting.]

[doyouneedsomehelp]

[Hey hey Django. At some point during your quest in the castle, a paperclip on a floating parchment paper seems to appear near you. Is this one of Mithos's guards, a resident or a figment of your broken mind? Who can really say....]

It looks like you're trying to loot the castle! Would you like some help with that?

[heliotroping]

[He pauses momentarily.

Dear Sol he is losing it, isn't he?

But then again this is very... Otenko-esque]

No... Go away...

[doyouneedsomehelp]

[You may never knooooow; it also seems to ignore your request]

Have you considered trying the doors to see which are unlocked?

[Yea. because that is helpful clippit. Really.]

[heliotroping]

[He's going to... reach out for that paperclip right now]

[doyouneedsomehelp]

Hey- ow!

[You got him in one of his eyes!! You jerk! ]

[heliotroping]

[Chance!!

He seizes the paperclip!]

[doyouneedsomehelp]

[And he is seized!!]

Wha--!

[heliotroping]

[He strangles the paperclip!

..he... is strangling a paperclip...]

[doyouneedsomehelp]

[Yeah which you know, doesn't really...do much since he doesn't have wind pipes...or organs]

Heeeey! I just want to help with your looting and letter writing tasks!

[heliotroping]

[...You know what, he has a better idea.

He's unfolding the paperclip now]

Those two don't even go together...!