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 Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:31 pm
The dossier was thin, containing a wiki-esque summary of the area, the town, and the recent event that had drawn notice. Except for the latter it was fairly unremarkable, not one of the regularly active areas of strange fogs and phenomena that keep them perpetually on click bait lists. Last year Hemlowe woods was recorded by at least 4 tourists via social media with nothing unusual. However last week one young man returned and took new photos of a section that had since undergone a change. Attached photos feature oddly curved tree trunks, almost as if the middle has begun to melt and sag. A note mentions the civilian had reported it through "the usual means" and would not be interfering or drawing notice. It would, however, be only a matter of time until someone else did. The bending of the trees is not unique to this incident. The public know of one such forest in Poland, and several other small ones are on Deus record. But they've never found one so recently altered, and more, the civilian had found the page of book. It was all in a Latin variant that was legible, but strange enough to possibly contain some further nuances that merited investigation. A photocopy of the book page was included in the mission folder, along with instructions to see about finding the rest of the book as they went about the mission. Stormy and Ever, after a fairly quick briefing, would find themselves met at the mission portals by a Life tech named Wallace. Lean and pale, the tech greeted them with a tight grin. "You guys drew the lucky straw. This one's going in the training library." Which meant they'd be followed by a relatively unhelpful cameraman and forced to give brief interviews that would later be seen by any hunter curious enough to look into the training archives.
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Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2015 5:08 pm
Usually, Ever had an easygoing kind of energy to him: an openness that left him unafraid of talking to anyone or looking like an idiot, and that should have made him more than willing to give all the stupid interviews and answers to dull questions that anyone could ask. Unfortunately, though, they'd handed him that hard-to-decipher bit of text. Mediocre-ly xeroxed, it meant that since Ever'd gotten his hands on it, it had been almost the sole focus of his attentions, with the shabby frames low on his nose and his expression...intense. Words washed over him. And if Stormy wanted a look at that page, she'd have to climb him like a tree to snatch it out of his fingers. Only at the portal did he blink up a bit, perhaps surprised by the change in their surroundings, and shoot a look back over his shoulder to the young cameraman, then down to Stormy. Maybe his rudeness sunk in just a little. His mind went to the mostly-ignored brief, to his poor packing and planning, the tousled mess of his hair. He made a sound, prepared to apologize, but before he went through teh portal he had a simpler question -- "Does anyone have a pen?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 7:23 pm
Both were doomed to be turned inward at the beginning of this mission: for this was Stormy's first relatively big mission in a long while. The last time she had tried one, she had to drop out from anxiety attacks and a lack of focus that, to be frank, was beyond unprofessional. But her moods, while low, had been steady for the most part lately. Maybe this time she wouldn't give make such an embarrassing example of herself--if she did, well, now there were cameras. She tried very hard not to think about it.
Happy to maintain the silence between them until it was necessary to speak, she pulled out a pen from her pocket and wordlessly handed it to Ever. In tandem with her stalking shadowing habits, she liked to make observations and notes of her quarries for future references.
Then she took a deep breath before following it up with a thumbs up at the tech. Runics, artifact, Thane's rattled hiss...Quiet and nervous as she was, it was the most prepared the Mist could be.
"Can you read any of it?" she asked Ever curiously.
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Posted: Sat Dec 19, 2015 10:08 pm
It was like coming out of a fog -- his eyes settling on Stormy from under an unruly fringe of hair that probably needed to be trimmed back again, and slowly coming back into focus. All at once, it made him smile, some of himself creeping through. Perhaps it was the realization of how rude he was being: there were too few of them for him to wander off. Something would step out from the trees and bite his head off and he'd never even realize. Or worse, hers. A breath in, then, out, and he closed the file. "Not enough of it. Words, here and there, I wish I had my dictionary with me. My vocab's rusty; too much time spent on Welsh recently, I guess. Um. Some stuff about darkness, was about all I could catch..." And he looked to the camera, briefly, just to see if they were recording his awkward explanation. "It'd be easier with more. So we'll see if we can find the rest."
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 10:16 am
"Welsh, hmm..." Had that been what Lex had been checking out earlier? She remembered something about going on a mission north for Grendel-related investigations...Although was that even Welsh?
Gripping the ends of her sweater until her hands were covered, she took a glance about. "I've never heard of melting trees before," she said. "If the book's in latin, maybe it's a demon's curse?" Working under Ami had at least given her that sort of leaning in thought.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2015 11:13 am
"Do real demons use Latin?" She caught his attention fully with that, at least; Ever fidgeting with his scarf to get it tucked up fully under his chin, bright points of color already blooming across his cheeks. He was so pale it stood out starkly, made him look -- well. A bit crazed. Just a bit. "I thought that was just something Dante invented." He raised his eyebrows, distracted and considering. "I mean. It was just the time period when all that stuff was written, before it was better kept secret. I'd assumed they had their own languages like the horsemen..."
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2015 6:57 pm
Personal Interview There's a blurred close-up of something pale that soon resolves into Wallace's cheek, then the rest of him as he finishes adjusting the camera. "Right so...mission...stuff. Things?" He trails off awkwardly and the ducks his head with an embarrassed laugh before trying again. "I'm Wallace Bartleby, Life Intermediate. We're here as the lovely..." He leans out of view, briefly revealing the tank of a toilet before sitting back down. "Blue Bunny Lodge, just outside Hemlowe, Massachusetts. I'm with Mist Hunter Stormy Ortega and Life Intermediate, Ever Ambro.... sia?" Another laugh. "I'll get it right next time, I swear," he reassures the camera before continuing. "This is the first afternoon, all of us are further familiarizing ourselves first with the mission details, then the area. The town isn't very big and we're fortunate enough to have come during mild weather. There's plenty of people out on the street today to ask about any local lore, strange happenings, the usual." There's a pause and it's obvious he's not sure what else there is to say. "So that's what we'll do next? I think? So far the other two seem to know what they're doing, it's looking really good." and be blue Feel free to have Ever and Stormy do personal interviews (reality tv style) and to also go out and ask locals questions.
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 9:54 am
"Some use them," Stormy explained. "Maybe because of Dante. I think it comes with the creation, and with a lot of people being God-fearing Christians..." But perhaps that was neither here nor there.
---
Quote: A small cough. She looks into it with her droopy, scarred eyes and small bundled body, almost doll-like despite the imperfections, and appears almost in a trance. Another cough beyond the peripheral of the camera. She blinks, sits up, and wiggles the end of her sleeve hello at the audience. "Stormy Ortega, Mist hunter," she begins. "I've been here for..." Her sleeves come together idly, rubbing hands, making herself smaller. "Three years, I think? Four? I don't pay much attention anymore. But I hope this video can help."--- Boots crunch in the background. Outside it is partly cloudy. "Interviews can be fun. Be curious but inconspicuous," she tells them, eyes skirting left and voice growing soft like it was a secret. "Like a tourist. The less we disturb, the easier the clean up is after. If you want, you can make a cover story to help tie everything together."She looks to Ever. "How d'you want to approach this?"and be blue hopefully i'm doing this right dlfgksj
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2015 9:09 pm
Ever's opening interview was brief as well: Quote: His hair is tousled, halfway pulled up into a messy tail at the back of his face, and Ever's expression -- as always -- is dominated by a wide flash of a smile that's there so often that it's hard to tell if it's genuine or not. Nerves, perhaps. He swipes at his face, folds arms over his chest, and shoots one last look off-camera in search of Stormy -- "Ambro- di- el, actually. Julian Ambrodiel but I'd rather Ever, if you don't mind. And I've been here shorter than her, a year and a half, maybe a little more? It gets confusing, time sort of blends, I spend a lot of time in the life labs basement --" He waved it off just a little, one spindly hand rolling in the air and one shoulder hiked in a boney, crooked sort of shrug. "Sure. Right. I'll ask some folks questions but I don't see how much good that'll do. Generally the locals seem confused by anything aside from the norm." A pause, and the smile again, sudden and sharp and a little devious. "Plus, they're from Massachusetts. How do you talk to Massholes? Give me New Yorkers any day." ----- Of course, in the field he's less certain of himself -- trailing Stormy with his hands in his pockets, oddly letting her take the lead. Only when she asks the question does he wake slowly and peer around them, eyebrows knitted. Maybe he should be a little bit more active. "Middle aged woman. Look for a middle aged woman, that's my bet. They often like to not tell you anything in a way that successfully tells you everything." He smiles at her, too. It's just what he does. "...or maybe a hot guy in that skin tight ski-wear, but that one just for fun..."
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2016 8:47 am
Quote: She nods but doesn't quite understand. Such is the way of a hunter anyway. "Lead by example, Mr. Ever," Stormy tells him with a small gesture, hoping she looks encouraging instead of indecisive. It's not her first mission, they're barely out the front door--why did she have to feel so nervous of every action? "It's your promotion."and be blue a week for just that im so sorry............
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Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2016 10:40 pm
Ever, at least, wasn't afraid to approach strangers -- hadn't been, not in a long time. As far as he was concerned, at worst case they'd ignore him or walk away. The real worst case was probably a ski pole to the face, but they could take that. Hunters were durable. He'd had worse. So, instead of hesitating, waffling or worrying, he started reaching out where he could, trying to get a few words, at least, out of the locals: Quote: She is, as he requested, an older woman -- clutching her shopping in against her chest and watching the pair of them with a wary, tight-lipped kind of expression. When Ever smiles at her, her eyes narrow and rake him up and down, determining that he's probably not worth her time but too much hassle to drive off. But when he asks about the trees, it gets her mouth going: an easy stream of information about some government conspiracy, of course, the democrats really are driving everything to s**t, and the trees are as bent as some of the -- His eyes glaze over as she rants. He regrets his choice. Another, then. Younger. Quote: He's not a local. He's visiting, instead, a man of maybe thirty-five, with very bright eyes and a very expensive coat. It's easy to see that Ever's flirting: leaning in just a little in a way that's probably unintentional, just habit, smiling a lot, bobbing his head in a nod. The young man doesn't seem to notice, though. Instead he's telling a story about the failure of his barista that morning to wrap her head around the concept of plain coffee, black, and while Ever doesn't really empathize, he does continue bob his head agreeably. He forgets to ask questions for a bit, then finally drags himself in, "...seen anything else strange around here, though? I mean, I heard some things, more things than just clueless baristas..." And it makes the young man's expression sober up, close down a little wary. "Well. Some people have said there are strange sounds at night, but I think they're just trying to spook the visitors, eh?" The tone is blustery and casual. But he makes his way off shortly after. "One more, then I'm making you try." Ever muttered it to Stormy, maybe grumpy that he'd forgotten to get a phone number, too. He rubbed hands down the side of his pants, all of him chilled to the bone right now, and hiked the scarf up over his nose. Quote: The last man he finds seems professorial, and this appeals to Ever as well -- but in a different kind of way. The tweed that peeks out from under the man's peacoat draws Ever's attention in, makes him go more serious, trying to find a question that he can ask of someone who is so clearly a local -- a writer, no less -- that could get them information about what they needed without sending him off. Or making him laugh. His choice, in the end, is inspired: Ever smiles at the man and asks, "Are there any good local legends?" A good question and a bad one. Because there are a lot of local legends. In a place like this, where it gets cold, piles of snow, there will be stories of monsters, of course, but it's also Massachusetts, filled with stories of witches and ghost hunts. Sheltered, out of the way, he'll tell more stories than they can really keep a grip on, but maybe one of them will hit on something they can use. medigel it's okay!! it's been busy for me too crying lizbot and I hope it's okay I just made up a bunch of people, ahaha
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Posted: Mon Feb 15, 2016 8:57 pm
It was oddly tiring, all things considered: gleaning bits and pieces from people passing by, talking to strangers who thought they were filming a reality show or writing a book, several who thought they were the news. Most of them were boring, or confused; a couple were hot, but in general they seemed to be average, everyday people. Some folks were better at hiding their crazy than others. It was sometime around dinner that, finally, they'd run into someone who seemed less than average: a young man who worked in the local grocery, who looked shaken by the mere fact that they were asking him any questions at all. Ever wasn't much at pushing, but between the two of them, Stormy and he could be intimidating enough to shake the kid up. Unfortunately, this meant that neither the young man, nor his two friends who showed up to haul him off, shooting them dirty looks, had anything to say other than that they should let it lie. Hilariously, that was the first thing that made Ever think that maybe they shouldn't, and that maybe something was actually going on here. He shrugged, faintly questioning, as he looked down at Stormy. "....should we push, or leave it til tomorrow?" It was starting to get dark.
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Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 7:57 am
Stormy shared a similar exhaustion, but it wasn't as draining as if she had been doing it with friends. She only had to worry about a temporary pretense rather than her own being, and not even the various looks shot at them over the course of the day (appraising, skeptical, bored, hostile, curious) was quite enough to make her want to put it to an end just yet. There was a job to do, after all, and if there was one thing the Mist had learned over the course of her years at Deus, it was that there was always a new limit she could push herself to if need be.
Being intimidating, for instance. Quietly so, but her scars and unphased gaze seemed to do a number on some of the civilians despite her height. Ever could pass for a quirky college student, but she wondered what she looked like now...
(She would have been in college now herself, she realized. English major, creative writing concentration, maybe a Minor in teaching--)
"We could go over what we've learned," she answered, tilting her head up to Ever. "See if there's a pattern we could follow up with tomorrow. But in my experience, things like to strike in the dark. I'm okay with doing more canvassing or heading back, if you're tired."
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 9:56 pm
"So we'll take a sleep on it." He rubbed at his eyes, shrugging as he peered back down at Stormy -- and at least Ever didn't seem at all concerned about her scars, or the look in her eyes. He didn't see her as anything other than what she was. For just a moment, he tipped his head -- considering, distantly -- and then he turned to lead the way back. "Did they seem a little scared of us? I'm not sure if that's just, um, us, or if it's --" He trailed off as they approached the hotel, eyebrows pulling together. He thought he saw something in the dark, a flicker of movement that disappeared, but he disregarded it with a soft sound and got the door instead. Maybe he shouldn't have. Because when he stepped into his room, there was a carefully written note folded in half and placed at the foot of his bed. It simply read, 8pm tomorrow.
Birch trees @ SE corner of forest. He held it up quizzically to show Stormy.
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2016 11:15 pm
"It's me, I think. Normal response when you're not used to it." She tried to shrug it off and gave Ever a rare, if still small, smile. "Or maybe you're just too good of a detective." Or people were just spooked in general, which was understandable as well.
Stormy was just beginning to forage for her pack of cigarettes in one of the drawers when Ever emerged with a piece of paper. A quick scan had Stormy pursing her lips in thought before glancing about to see if any of their windows had been left unlocked.
"I kinda miss the days where you could say this stuff was a sour tasting prank," she sighed. "Someone knows where we're located, probably why too." She handed the note back to Ever. "Trap or lead, you think?"
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