CMO 2018 EDITION

[eonflamewing]

I am, once again, in hell.
»		«
the rest of the gang is here
» Feel free to request OCs, I'd be glad to provide writeups about them if needed. » I am generally a slow tagger due to RL/workbut I'll get one out every 2-3 days at the latest. » Pick a prompt and get the ball rolling! Or post a comment and I'll brain something. » Long PSLs are my jam, hit me up on plurk or discord if you'd like to do anything similar ;) » This CMO is sfw but if you want to write nsfw stuff that's also on the table....... WISHLIST ☐ >>>> FATE/ AU <<<< ☐ hair brushing ☐ reincarnation au ☐ mercy killing ☐ royalty au ☐ masquerade party ☐ mermaid au ☐ 'city in the sky' au ☐ long airship journeys ☐ space jockeys
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[hollowbutnotempty]

Unfortunately for Eve, Doll hadn't finished their translation efforts before falling across realities -- but at least Doll's able to work on the last bit of what text they'd copied out while Eve catches up on what was done so far, even with Doll peeking over to see Eve's reactions to the book so far, and to make sure that if the other had any questions, they'd notice.

And then almost to the climax, most of the way through the mystery, Eve finds a unicorn.

Doll was sitting contentedly after replacing the last few lined pages in the notebook to watch Eve enjoying the story and perhaps even reread some of it themselves. They smiled more and reached for the device they'd set down between the two of them for ease of access, just in case, and typed a simple word: unicorn. A brief pause to glance up at Eve, just checking that they'd read it, and then the toy switched functions on their little device to bring up an image -- a painting, it looked like. A high fantasy, magical sort of woodland scene with a young lady dressed in a long light blue dress, a tiara on her head, some sort of fairy herself with giant rainbow-tinted insect-like wings, sharing a sweet little nuzzle with a unicorn. In the picture, it was a bright white horse with a wild, luxurious mane with multiple colors' highlights in it, well fitting the image's otherworldly theme.

The paper version was a much tamer, much less detailed little paper toy thing, its own impressively-colored finish aside.

Doll looked up to Eve after loading the image on the screen, and their hand went to a pants' pocket to pull out a few pieces of similar paper: shiny squares in various colors, one a pearly white, another a rainbow black. A few that bore something of a glittery look, one that was simply rainbowed. Doll took a shiny pink square, set it in front of them, and made a quick series of motions, folding it and unfolding it, tucking it around, turning it over, pulling out then-hidden pieces....

....And then picked it and the unicorn up and held them up together to recreate the scene: a winged humanoid figure, missing face against the missing face of the unicorn that'd been tucked into the book.

Doll reached down to tuck both pieces' feet into the crack of the book, so they'd be held together like that, facing each other, and then typed, origami.

They looked back up at Eve again, smiling. Did that explain things well enough?

[abgrund]

[ This is a dream.

This is a dream, for the forest's road stretches on into the distance and folds into a sea. This is a dream, because the sky is purple and filled with blue stars, a world inversed yet still obeying a certain beauty. This is a dream, and the dreamers must journey to its end, so that they can wake and return to the living.

This is a dream between realities. He's here sometimes, in these bubbles that touch the surface of the void, as one would examine a passing cloud. He's just projecting here, so there need be no risk of the dark miasma polluting this dream with darkness.

It is a beautiful dream, he thinks, in the way that flowers hang upside down from the trees. An illogical logic.

— ah, but he's not alone here, is he? ]

[oneirism]

[Lapis's brows furrow just slightly, glancing over at the other witch when she speaks - hoping the spirit's answer will help them figure out what kind of spirit it is.

Only to then find herself blinking at its words, humming softly as she rests her hands on her hips. Surely it must've come from somewhere, then, even if it doesn't have a home...]

Then... Do you have a family, or anything like that?

[oneirism]

[Lapis had met Sen a few weeks ago, a chance encounter with a fellow medium - one that had led to a quiet friendship growing between them. A friendship Lapis was incredibly grateful for - both due to her loneliness as she grew up, and also due to how encounters with a certain other medium have been less than pleasant. She had at first tried to reason with Elliot, tried to speak to him and find out why she sparked his ire so, but a bullet to the shoulder was enough to put an end to her attempts.

Encounter after that were less violently, but their most recent one changed that pattern - a bandage across her cheek and on her arm signs of the fight that occurred between them. It made her feel less bad about using the power of her ghosts to burn him. But right now, she doesn't want to think about that - instead heading to where Sen works.

Sighing softly as she steps in, perking up when she sees the other woman at the counter, her uninjured arm raising in greeting before she takes a seat. There's still some lingering pain from her injuries, but it's easy enough to ignore - keeping her injured arm cradled to her chest as she turns her eyes to Sen.]

Good afternoon, Sen.

[cmbr]

[ Sen works at a small restaurant, hired by an old couple as a backup cook for when the lady couldn't keep up. She soon gained a reputation of being skilled at grills, one that she didn't bother to dispel - because it was true. With the help of the Flame Soul, she was able to control the food preparation process to an exquisite degree. What better way to hone her powers than to do what she loves?

The restaurant is empty at this time of the day, so Sen is seated behind the counter with a cup of iced tea. Her attention is half on her phone and half on the door (to take orders), so it's a pleasant surprise to see Lapis pushing the door open and stepping in.

— Wait. Something's wrong. ]

Hello! Are you okay?

[ Brows furrow at the obvious bandages on Lapis' arm ]

[oneirism]

[It was pure coincidence that brought her to this restaurant, but she's glad she stumbled across it. Lapis really can't remember the last time she was able to just... talk to someone, that wasn't her sister or one of the ghosts that drifted around her.

Though that also means it doesn't feel right trying to hide this from her, Lapis's brows now furrowing as well as she glances down at her arm.]

I... [A pause, and then a deep sigh.] I bumped into one of the other mediums around here. He doesn't really like me.

[cmbr]

[ Usually, she would have offered Lapis some iced tea by now, but this seems to be something more serious. ]

And he punched you?

[ That's terribly rude. ]

[oneirism]

Yeah. And got one of his ghosts to slash at my arm.

[Elliot is very rude.

Though Lapis seems pretty calm, despite how serious this is - mainly because panicking or getting upset won't really help. She already did enough of that when he shot her before.]

One of the ghosts with me set him on fire, though. So at least I was able to get at him in return.

[cmbr]

[ She'd ordinarily approve of the fire, except: ]

Is this the first time?

[ They can't make a police report, but this is troubling. ]

[oneirism]

[It's times like this where Lapis really wished mediums like them were common knowledge.]

No. He's shot me before. [Her uninjured hand reaches up to rub her shoulder, still remembering the pain of it.]

I've tried talking to him, but he won't listen to me.

[cmbr]

[ Sen folds her arms. ]

Well, then clearly we have to do something about it. If he harasses you again, just come to me.

[ She doesn't need a ghost to burn someone. ]

[cmbr]

[ There's a longer pause, before: ]

Not anymore.

[ Crim almost sighs. Clearly, the solution is presented to them thusly, but she's not sure of her own ability to enact it... ]

That's okay. You can stay here for now.

[ She casts a glance at Lapis, silently asking for affirmation ]

[cmbr]

It's ordinarily a bit hard to judge Eve's response towards things, considering the homunculus' limited expressions - but it makes an effort to convey acknowledgement nevertheless, nodding as Doll types away on their device and tries to communicate. It does not have a device of its own, so it either has to write, or demonstrate by way of its actions: slender fingers pick up a piece of paper left lying on the table, and it tries to mimic the movements that Doll had done...

.... only to find that the paper doesn't quite obey it the way it obeys Doll's touch. Eve gives it a few tries before unfolding the paper again, a slight frown on its pale face as it regards Doll with a confused look.

[oneirism]

[Golden eyes blink at Sen for a moment, quietly surprised that she's willing to help. Though she can't shake the guilt of getting her involved in her issue, especially considering how... volatile Elliot can be.]

If you're certain. He might get more aggressive, if the innocent act won't work.

[Because it seems like that's his default tactic to anyone that knows Lapis. It still makes her skin crawl that her sister thinks they're actually a couple...]

[hollowbutnotempty]

Doll watched what Eve did with the piece of paper, then took another to put it in front of themselves. A look back up to Eve, and down to the paper, and Doll made a simple, slow, deliberate fold, turning it into a triangle, and glanced to Eve, checking that the other was following so far.

Another fold. Turning it over. Fold, unfold.... Doll looked back to Eve briefly at every step, just to see if the other were watching, or even following along for themselves, so they knew how to pace what they were showing.

It wasn't the hardest pattern, honestly, and Doll was careful to make their motions clear, using the top of their fingernail to lightly press the folds into sharpness and pointing out which lines and points were being used as guides by which to match parts of the paper up for the next steps....

And in short order, Doll had made a butterfly.

They held it up, taking it gently by the head, their other hand putting two fingers under its wings, and "flew" it over to sit it on the book as well, then looked up to Eve again with a smile.

Origami butterfly, get!

[cmbr]

[ There's really a lot to unpack here, really. ]

Of course I'm certain. Why does he hate you, anyway?

[oneirism]

[Another heavy sigh, before Lapis rests her chin in the palm of her still-working arm.]

I'm not really sure. We had talked at first, he was a bit stuck-up, but nothing bad. But after a while he just... Snapped. He had told me he ran a company, so at first I thought it was that getting to him.

[A huff, as she slouches more against the counter.]

But I don't know what his issue is. He's technically the stronger medium, so it can't be anything related to that...

[oneirism]

['Not anymore'? That's a bit... worrying to hear. What happened to its family?

Clearly this is going to be a bit more than just healing a spirit, but for now there's the issue of where it could stay. Already glancing over at Crim, quietly hoping she'll offer - and finding herself relieved when she does.

And so once the other witch glances over, she gives her a nod - smiling for a brief moment, before her eyes flicker over to the spirit.]

You'll be safe here with Crim. And if there's any issues, she can call me and I'll be over quickly. [Though, there's one more thing to clear up - ]

Though, do you have a name? [Some spirits do, some don't. It all really comes down to their preferences and cultures.]

[downloadable]

[Indeed, he isn't.

Androids don't dream. Or rather, they weren't programmed to. Switching to standby mode wasn't the same as falling asleep. A machine is comprised of software and hardware, merely imitations of organic material. Even if they bleed, their blood isn't red. Even if they can "sleep," they have nothing to dream about. After all, a machine finds fulfillment in accomplishing its purpose.

It's like falling into the zen garden. A brief flutter of the eyelids, the gentle sensation of falling, and, when Connor opens his eyes, he finds himself in the strangest forest. Bellflowers dangle from tree branches like overgrown vines, swaying gently as if they were wind chimes. Surprised, he reaches up and pinches a flower to gauge the realness of the simulation.

... this is a grave error. If Amanda realized what was going on, she'd have Connor immediately decommissioned. He looks about to gather his bearings when his eyes land on a strange, strange man sliding among the trees.

On a sudden impulse, Connor yells:]

Excuse me!

[It may be the hacker. It may be another glitch. Only one way to find out.]

Who are you? Identify yourself.

[abgrund]

[ — what a loud sound, that interrupts this dream. The silence shatters like glass - if he had ears, he might have winced a little in pain; but he does not. Idly, he wonders who else may have visited this dream. Do they not know how quiet they should be?

Dull emerald eyes alight on a human. Ah, but he does not resonate like one, not quite. He aligns his fingertips together, an oddly contemplative gesture.

Who is he? His mind leafs through several names: Herrscher, Azrael, ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ — ]

— who are you?

[ Human, yet not quite a human. Loud. Alien, in this dream. ]

[cmbr]

[ Sen shrugs, the motion sending some of her hair backwards. It's a rather nonchalant gesture. ]

I can't claim to understand that kind of men either. Maybe he's just crazy.

[ How... unfortunate. Unconsciously, her free hand clenches into a loose fist. ]

We'll deal with him together.

[cmbr]

[ Its name? The spirit blinks for a moment, before answering. ]

Ain......

[ Crim nods, affirming that she's heard. Maybe she can do some asking around to see if any other witches knew spirits with this name... and certainly, there are spirits with this name. The person who knows one is right next to her.

She peers curiously at Lapis, if she sees any sign of recognition on the other witch's face. ]

[cmbr]

Eve isn't a fast learner, so it takes the homunculus a few tries to follow each step - but when it does get the step right, its motions are very careful. It holds up the butterfly in its hands, turning it over once or twice.... there's a bit of confusion in its eyes, and then understanding.

It sets the butterfly next to Doll's - and it doesn't smile, but its eyes crinkle a little, artificial skin shading mirror-glass eyes. A smile, as much as it can make. Then, it lifts a finger, traces letters out on the table in lack of a pen:

thank you

[hollowbutnotempty]

Doll smiles more when it clicks for Eve, and when thanked, turns their body a little more to face Eve, to put the side of a hand, flatly-open palm up, fingers together, against their lower chest, and dip their down head slightly -- it's a more subdued mime of taking a bow, but if Eve has seen a more pronounced one, perhaps with a stage performer involved, or even the lesser head-only bow, the smaller gesture is surely rather self-evident. The toy takes their little device, still sitting there on the table roughly between the two of them, if slightly set aside for space reasons, and sets it where Eve had used a finger to write. They point to Eve, and then to the device, giving a nod.

Eve was welcome to use it too.

With that being the seeming end of that, Doll reached for another piece of the paper, and looked to Eve again. A little gesture to the butterflies they'd made, and a head-tilt in question. Another? Practice, and learn this somewhat simple design a little better?

Or Eve could use the device too, to ask Doll to demonstrate something else. In comparison to the butterfly, the fairy maiden and unicorn were madly complicated designs, but surely there were other simple ones, if a repeat of the butterfly wasn't going to hit the spot?

Almost absently, Doll pulled out another couple sheets of the thin square paper, perhaps more than a dozen, it was hard to judge, and added them to the few still on the table, for more color and finish options. Patterns, colors, glossy, matte, rainbowed, plain, iridescent, metallic, pearly, sparkly, solid....

[oneirism]

Ain?

[Now there's an obvious change in Lapis's expression - eyes widening as both recognition and surprise sets in. She certainly does know another Ain, considering one currently lives with her.

Does that mean they're similar spirits? They're so completely different though, both in appearance and personality...]

Do you... know about any other spirits with the same name? [The question is directed to Ain, golden eyes glancing over at Crim before her attention settles on the spirit once more. Maybe now they can get a better idea of what kind of spirit it is...]