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vestigelogs2021-01-03 10:00 pm
vestigemods) wrote in vestigelogs2021-01-03 10:00 pm
(january catch-all) 2021 IS OFF TO A WEIRD START
JANUARY CATCH-ALL
► AT LEAST YOU FINALLY GET TO REST?
- Though the new year starts off uneventful enough, with sunny skies and an inch or two of snow melting away with each new day, that good fortune lasts a whopping two whole days. At 5 AM on the 3rd, those slumbering fall into an even deeper sleep, and those still awake (or already awake, you overachievers) find themselves struck with an abrupt and insurmountable wave of exhaustion. It's all you can really do to lie down deliberately rather than collapse altogether, let alone making it to any sort of bed. And this is how the population of the containment zone remains for fourteen whole days, dead to the world (figuratively, of course) and to anything which may or may not be occurring around them.
Then, sometime throughout the 16th, you wake up - though the ambient ache in your neck, back, and joints may make you wish that you hadn't. It's almost as if you slept wrong, or... y'know, slept on the floor, apparently. (At the very least, those who were outside at maintenance time were moved indoors for the duration of it, though they were moved to the nearest available building so... have fun waking up in someone else's cabin, I guess.)
The first time you notice the date (on your phone, or maybe someone else breaks the news in their own confusion or panic), you probably struggle to believe it. Two weeks that you've been asleep. It doesn't feel like two weeks - you're clean, only mildly hungry or thirsty, with only a faint weakness in your muscles as you stand. It almost feels more likely that the Technicians adjusted the date overnight to alarm you. Perhaps you might even believe it, but for the evidence otherwise. The milk in your fridge has expired. The snow outside your door is fresh and untouched, with no sign of your passage supposedly yesterday. And the animals are gone, as well. Perhaps not a sign of how long you've slept, but certainly a sign that something isn't right.
If you expected an explanation, you aren't going to get one. Unless by 'explanation' you mean 'goddamn blizzard'.
A GODDAMN BLIZZARD
- Because that's exactly what sets in on the 20th, a gale-force blizzard with increasingly limited visibility. Here's hoping you were smart enough to set out for home as soon as it began, because you aren't given more than a couple of hours before navigating outdoors is damn near impossible, between the visibility issue and the rapidly-deepening blanket of snow. As the afternoon fades to evening, it only seems to be getting worse. Those cabins with appropriately-slanted roofs find that the snow slides down to pile heavily against the cabin's exterior walls and door. Those cabins with a flat or gently-sloped roofs, on the other hand, are at strong risk of a part of their roof (and thus ceiling) collapsing under the weight of all that snow. As if having a blizzard outside the cabin wasn't bad enough.
And then things get just a little bit worse. Just before sunset, the cabins' electricity starts to flicker - just a little at first, but increasing in intensity until it finally goes out altogether a half hour later. This lasts through the night, and while it may seem promising that electricity within the town itself remains steady, that too goes into a blackout just before dawn.
This blackout lingers through the 21st and into the 22nd, cold seeping in through the windows and cracks as you huddle near the fire or generator-run space heater and hope for the best... But even the best isn't pleasant in the slightest. The lack of internal heat lets the doors and windows freeze shut, and snow piles high enough around the house's exterior that you'd have to climb out an upstairs window in order to exit. Not only is it cold as hell, but everyone's more-or-less trapped in it for now.
But not even the cold and the dark can last forever, and the blizzard lets up to a light dusting of snow mid-day on the 22nd. That evening, the power flickers back on as well, but some cabins/apartments/buildings may find that it's less consistent than others, continuing to flicker dangerously throughout the next day or so. But that doesn't mean the ordeal is over yet. The snow may have slowed to an almost laughable sprinkle and the sun may shine warm and bright in the rapidly-clearing sky, but that still leaves each cabin or building piled up with snow nearly as deep as you are tall (except you, Vivi - it's about twice your height). Might want to start digging yourself out, since it'll take nearly the rest of the month to melt down to reasonable levels if you don't.
► MOD NOTES
- This is the January Catch-All Log, for all log top-levels throughout the month. Large gatherings (parties, meetings, etc) are still encouraged to post their own logs for organizational purposes!
- This log also encompasses both Annual Maintenance (Jan 3rd - 16th) + Hey, Who Turned Out The Lights? (Jan 20th - 22nd), discussed at the bottom of the January Bulletin.
- Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with identifying information like the IC date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment), and be sure to clearly indicate event prompts.
- ( ! ) For the sake of organization, a top-level has been provided for all Annual Maintenance shenanigans and exclusively those. Please put any shared dream prompts under the top-level for the sake of organization, while any non-dream prompts should be posted as a regular top-level as normal.
- Cell phone signal does work during the blackout, but inconsistently! If you'd like to play with the trapped/isolated feelings, feel free to say they can't get a message out/in (or that it takes a long time to do so) even if others are able to more easily.
- Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.
January 19th, lakeside, OTA
(he still adamantly refuses to consider Virginville, not even in honor of Luusi's unfond remembrance).Jiang Cheng is standing there, Blossom the quickly growing puppy taken off her leash walking nearby sniffing here and there or chasing after a snowflake and paying heartily little attention to him. Jiang Cheng, meanwhile, is looking increasingly exasperated as he goes ignored. ]
Blossom! We are here to be practicing! I know Wei Wuxian found you, but you'll never become a proper companion for night hunts if you don't outgrow his attention span!
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Waddling about in the snow in the snow jacket he'd found, plus a nice scarf and mittens, Vivi's voice is a wee bit muffled as he calls over to Jiang Cheng.]
Jiang! Hello!
[With a wave he heads on over, stopping a little away if only cause he's not sure how this Blossom might handle someone new.]
Blossom? That's a really pretty name. I don't think I've ever seen a dog quite like her.
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[ Jiang Cheng looks up from berating the dog, who is currently sniffing at an empty trash can and utterly unconcerned with the chiding. At the new voice, the dog too looks up, ears perking up in interest though she doesn't approach just yet.
Jiang Cheng takes a step towards her, not to shield her but simply to reassure, if she proves shy of strangers. ]
Wei Wuxian, one of the other cultivators here, found her a while ago. She must have been one of the strays. It was during that rain that sliced you up, she had been wounded in it.
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Oh no... I'm glad your friend Wei found her. C-Can I pet her?
[Vivi takes a cautious but hopeful step closer.]
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If she will let you. Go ahead.
[ He whistles, catching the dog's attention, and jerks his head towards the boy. Blossom's little tail wags as she finally has permission to walk towards the stranger and sniff at him if he will permit it. ]
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When Blossom comes over Vivi stands mostly still, but offers out a mittened hand for her to sniff. He probably smells pretty strange to a dog, this tiny being cobbled together with magic and souls to be a weapon. Luckily he's got a good heart mixed in with that.]
Hiya, Blossom. You're really pretty.
[When it seems like she's decided he's okay, he'll carefully pet her head, gaining confidence each pat to squat down and get both hands involved.]
Are you a good dog, Blossom? I bet you are, Jiang is very nice too, mhm.
[Vivi giggles when he gets a friendly nuzzle against his face.]
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Nice. Bah! ]
She is a very good dog [ he says then, and okay, maybe the friendliness in his voice isn't exactly proving these claims of niceness wrong... But it's hard to be ill-tempered when you are talking about dogs. ] But I'm still teaching her to follow commands. She is very excitable and playful.
[ Which, yes, the puppy goes and proves, placing her front paws on Vivi's legs and trying to climb him so she can give his face a tongue bath. The best way to greet new friends! ]
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Hehehe, Blossom wait-!
[He's small, she's small, but still in her excitement they end up toppled over in the snow. If Vivi's laughter indicates anything he doesn't mind.
After a moment of making sure the tiny mage has been thoroughly kissed, he's able to sit up. He'll wipe at his face, but again seems happy to make a new friend.]
Are you gonna teach her to play fetch and give her treats for being a good girl?
[Vivi makes sure to give her pets while taking, it would be a crime not to.]
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But he does laugh at the sight of the boy and the puppy rolling around in the snow, and his face softens into something wistful and affectionate at the sight. ]
Of course she's going to get treats [ he reassures Vivi, a little grin on his face. He approaches the two of them and offers some dog biscuits to Vivi. ] Would you like to give her a treat, too?
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Yes please!
[Taking one of the treats Vivi gives it to his new doggie pal, petting her head as she munches away.]
You're a good dog, make sure you listen to Jiang okay? He'll take care of you.
[And he happily gives the next treat over too.]
She really likes them!
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[ Despite the grumbling, though, he is already handing over another handful of dog biscuits, much to the excitement of Blossom who is already pawing at him begging for more food. ]
Do you have pets? At home, I mean. You have no fear of strays.
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[Vivi sounds amused. Clearly Blossom knows how to get what she wants. Smart!]
Oh, no. No, I've never had a pet of my own. I just feel bad for them, being so sad and hungry... I guess I'd hope someone would help me if I were like them too.
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(eeeeeeeeEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE)
There's suddenly a flash of gold as the robotic woman scoops up the dog in her arms. ] Hello! [ she greets, beaming. ] Aren't you just the cutest little thing? Yes, you are. Yes, you are.
[ She rubs her nose against the canine's wet one while cooing happily at it. Blossom seems to appreciate the attention and snuffles back at the AI and paws playfully at her head of blond hair. ]
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He ends up just staring, not even protesting as his dog is scooped up... and then it's pointless anyway since Blossom is obviously enjoying the attention.
He rolls his eyes and scoffs in amusement. ] She is so greedy for being the center of attention.
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Of course, she is! Look at her, she's gorgeous. She deserves all the attention she gets. [ R.O.S.I.E. will put the canine back down on solid ground. Blossom playfully paws at her, but the blond looks up at Jiang Cheng now. ]
What's her name? How old is she? Where did you get her?
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[ He crouches down and Blossom zooms back to him, putting her paws on his knees and giving him kisses, which he endures without complaint. Once the doggy tongue bath is done, he wipes at his face, turning back to the woman. ]
Someone... close to me found her during that terrible rain and wind in autumn that kept going for days, where even leaves could cut you. She was soaked and scared and bleeding when he brought her to me.
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[ There's an almost wistful tone to her voice about it. She remembers being just booted... Simpler times.
She mentally catalogs that interesting pause when he refers to someone 'close to him.' Something to investigate. ]
I'm glad she found a loving home, in the end. She seems well cared for.
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[ Blossom's attention is wandering back to the woman and Jiang Cheng, smiling good-naturedly, shoos her along to bound back to her new friend. ]
She likes you. She will want more of your attention. Do you have any pets?
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You might as well give them a home, I agree. [ As the pup comes bounding back up, R.O.S.I.E. is ready with open arms and hands out to give lots of pets and scritches. She even wiggles her fingers a little on the ground before pulling them away quick and watching Blossom fumble to try and catch them. ]
I'm happy to give her all the attention she could want. But no, I don't have any of my own. I... can't. I'd be afraid I wouldn't be able to care for all its needs since I don't have any.
[ Robowoes. ]
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He shakes his head a little. ] It's not that hard. You give them food and water and you walk them several times a day. And they need to be trained, which is the hardest part, but you could probably find a book about that in the library... which I should look for myself, I've been improvising.
[ Which might be why Blossom is such a wild puppy. But she is a Jiang dog! That is his excuse and he is sticking with it. ]
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[ A rare moment of vulnerability. Humanity. There's a flicker of static behind her eyes at the hint of a glitch surfacing along with the strange surge of- No. She doesn't have emotions.
Hm. She's not sure she likes what this place is doing to her already. ]
Knowing things, in theory, isn't the same as applying them. For as much as I know, sometimes I feel like I don't really get a lot. Does that make sense?
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Yes, it does make sense. [ The smile is gone when he looks at her again but his voice remains uncharacteristically kind. ] But sometimes we have to simply try. There is no waiting until you are perfect. The day will never come, there will always be someone who is better than you. You have to go out and try your best anyway, even if you fall short.
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Or is it the idea of operating outside of her directives? The idea of doing something for herself because she wants to rather than something she must? There's a twitch to her left arm as she glitches again; her right hand moves to steady it. ]
I know there's merit to trying, but- What do you do, when you fail? I'm not sure I like the idea of it, but maybe... Knowing how others cope might help.
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He shrugs unhappily. ]
You have to keep trying anyway. There isn't really a choice, is there? You can't give up. Other people rely on you. Not trying at all is even worse than failing.
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It's much easier said than done, she's sure, but she does take it to heart. Okay, well, she doesn't have a heart but- Still. ]
I hadn't thought of it like that, I suppose. Alright. I'll do my best to just... try.