(no subject)

[recollecters]

Happy New Years, users. I'll cut to the chase; the barrier we instilled a few months ago is decaying quickly and we're sorting through the new data as fast as we can. This barrier was originally designed to contain a rogue error. There are several of you who have taken care of this issue and from here we will handle the rest...thank you. The influx of data will help us decode our next steps. As mentioned, we've spent December tracing several magical sources that are coming up in our readings. We're doing the best we can to trace Clarence--Mr. Vanderweele, and corral the effects he's altering in the city. I believe we're ready to tear down the firewall and begin exploring further. If our information is correct, we're really breaking the boundaries of the layers we've discovered lately! It's exciting, don't you think? The only information I can offer is that we will need you to be strong no matter what happens. We believe things have changed outside of security measures we've set in place, though we will need more data to understand the best way to stabilize the city from his control. We understand if you cannot and do not wish to help, but please know we're doing everything we can. Please take care. Joanne Wiseman Technician 2nd class Retrspec Incorporated Characters' display names are the same as whatever has been previously chosen and are permanently locked in! Please feel free to use this post as a network mingle. Every toplevel can be considered a new post, and threadjacking is permitted. No NPC response will be given. As a friendly reminder, you may also claim one of this month's freebie by submitting a thread from this mod post. This thread must be 10 comments from you and submitted before AC closes.

Comments

un: Elliot Craig 🎻

[fiddlestick]

Well said.
Looks like we were right about Vanderweele still kicking
Unfortunately.

[usurpers]

Thanks. Hope he sees it.
It took them long enough to confirm it, but better now than no time to. We’re capable.
If not all of us, then the ones who are ready.

[fiddlestick]

Yeah, I hope that's true.
Can't deny I'm a little nervous about what's going to be thrown our way next.

[usurpers]

It’s alright to be nervous. I’m shaking inside.
Just don’t lose faith in yourself. We’ve been through more than enough to prove that we’re ready everyday.

[ oh. and. ]

I heard you have a new power.

[fiddlestick]

...Thanks Eren. That means a lot.

[and he means it too! especially hearing that Eren is nervous too, since man he's good at not showing it]

Yeah...guess the magic's reached my violin playing now.

[usurpers]

[ we all show nervousness differently bae

for eren, it’s wanting to do something crazy like punch his enemies out of the stratosphere ]

You don’t sound excited.
How is it like?

[fiddlestick]

It's...weird.
Flowers and birds appear if I play happy music.
Things blow up if I play eerie music.

Of course I'm not excited.
What if this means I can't play violin without magic going off anymore?

[usurpers]

Oh.

[ he didn’t think that one out. ]

Is it with your actual violin or the one you fight with?

[fiddlestick]

Huh?

Well...I guess I did it with my staff.
Do you think that'd matter though?

[usurpers]

I think we need to try it.
Still need help with that pole?

[fiddlestick]

Okay, I'll try it. Though I'm pretty nervous.

No, Rean and Crow helped me call it into the police.
I don't think the police suspected me.

[usurpers]

Good. I don’t think they’d suspect anyone with a staff-violin to just destroy a street pole. Much less you.

I’ll pick you up for a trip to Rec woods, sound safe? And on the condition that I get to see both.

[ 👀 ]

[fiddlestick]

Okay, I just left Crow's place so pick me up there?

...And fine. Just for you.

[usurpers]

👍👍👍

[ he can’t wait ]

ACTION

[usurpers]

[ and let’s fastforward a little bit: after the initial pick up and on their way to the woods. eren makes sure to park the car some ways away and picks out a spot for them to test things out.

trees can fall here and eren could fix them 👌 ]

Test any boundaries you want to out here. [ eren claps his hands together. he’s excited. ] It’s better to know your limits now than when it’s too late.

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot meanwhile is less excited and much more nervous. It's been awhile since he's had a power that was unexpected. And the idea it was affecting his violin playing? Made him even more uneasy about it]

R-Right...

Should I use a normal violin, or...?

[usurpers]

[ it’s better to rip off the band aid and get the facts straight, right? although eren looks between both staff and violin (staff, he looks a little harder, because he really wants to see but), he sees how nervous he is.

he tries an affirming smile, anyway, and holds his hands out to hold the instrument elliot would put on hold. ]

Get it off your chest. We’ll figure out what to do after that.

[ you 👏 can 👏 do 👏 it!!!!!!!!!!! ]

[fiddlestick]

[Which would be the regular violin. Because that was both his hope and his source of fear. What if the theory was wrong? What if it caused magic too? Would his dream of becoming a famous violinist be over? He was fine giving up public singing, singing was never his true voice, but violins...

He gulps, but takes the violin Eren knows him too well]

A-Alright. Here goes nothing...

[He'll put the violin to his chin, a so familiar position. Yet for the first time in years, he feels his fingers shaking while holding it. He was truly nervous about this, but...eren was right, he had to find out.

So he'll start to play a melody. A light cheerful one, that doesn't really reflect his true feelings at the moment. Still, it's a skilled piece, the music rings out in the open air.

And...

Nothing else. No magic. No flowers. Just beautiful music. Elliot hasn't noticed, since he has his eyes squeezed shut as he plays.]

[usurpers]

[ time to become one with the audience, except eren is the audience. he watches elliot unfold at his own pace, and even as the notes play, nothing comes up. nothing crazy magical that eren knows to look for.

instead, his smile runs deeper with relief. that’s one myth busted, and why not?

he loves to watch him play. goo eyes activated. ]

[fiddlestick]

[Well then enjoy watching him play, because he'll play through the whole melody, just to make sure. He doesn't feel anything magical in him stir, but he couldn't be sure.

Finally, the melody will come to an end, and slowly he'll open his eyes at look at Eren]

A-Anything...?

[usurpers]

[ eren gets up then and walks over with the staff in his hands, nodding. there was definitely something. ]

A beautiful musician playing beautiful music.

[ fLIRTS ]

[fiddlestick]

[Okay, that gets him to smile just a little and for his cheeks to turn a little pink. Eren you flirt...]

Aha...anything else?

[usurpers]

I can’t say the rest out here.

[ eren - 2, elliot - 0, BUT SHEEPISHLY, he’ll go quiet and rub the back of his neck. ears red. sorry!! sorry. not sorry. he’ll stop playing-not-playing. ]

— No magic. You’re safe.

[fiddlestick]

Eren-

[We can out here to test magic, not seduce the violinist!! He'd get flustered, but then Eren drops that last part]

Really? Nothing at all? [SO HOPEFUL SOUNDING]

[usurpers]

[ he’ll remember that you go flustered 👌 he’s remembering and basking in it as we speak just look at eren’s face. ]

Nothing. [ eren holds out the staff. ] Now you can separate things.