Encounterlogs
Ashes Odd Encounter Sr Lanaeis 250303
Ashe's unexpected showdown in a serene guest bedroom against a mysterious cult, known as The Black Flame, unfolds with nail-biting tension. The cult, believing Ashe to be a pivotal sacrifice for their dark rituals aimed at summoning eldritch horrors, dispatch black-robed assailants equipped with tranquilizer guns. Ashe, undeterred and practically reveling in the thrill, prepares to evade capture with her typical blend of cunning and audacity. As the confrontation escalates, Ashe ingeniously utilizes a vial of blue liquid to create a diversion, allowing her a momentary edge to attempt an escape through a window. Despite her agility and the temporary confusion she inflicts on her attackers, the cult members manage to subdue and capture her, but not before Ashe considers the potential excitement of the unknown, showcasing her fearless and curious nature.
Meanwhile, the interaction between Lilian, Benjamin, and the unexpected octopus fae intrusion serves as a mix of horror and comedy. The arrival of the octopus in their home, through supernatural means, leads to a chaotic scramble as Lilian and Benjamin react to the bizarre and slow-moving threat. Despite the initial fear and confusion, Lilian's quick thinking and Benjamin's improvised weapon choice highlight their adaptability. Their encounter culminates in an almost comedic chase as Lilian salts the retreating octopi, sparing only one that manages to escape. The ordeal ends with an awkward tranquility, punctuated by the aftermath of a salty battlefield and Benjamin's sufferings from the octopus fae's numbing touch, all underpinning the unpredictable and often strange occurrences that befall those entangled with the supernatural.
(Ashe's odd encounter(SRLanaeis):SRLanaeis)
[Sun Mar 2 2025]
In a guest bedroom
The spare bedroom is a serene and welcoming space, bathed in natural light from skylights overhead. The room features a comfortable queen-sized bed with crisp white linens and a cozy quilt. A minimalist design is complemented by a few tasteful pieces of furniture, including a small wooden nightstand with a reading lamp, and a sleek dresser for storage. A soft, neutral-toned rug covers the hardwood floor, adding warmth and comfort. A single armchair in the corner provides a quiet spot for reading or relaxing, with a small stack of books on the floor nearby. Potted plants add a touch of greenery, making the room feel fresh and inviting, perfect for guests to unwind and feel at home.
It is afternoon, about 37F(2C) degrees, and the sky is covered by dark grey stormclouds. It's snowing outside.
(Your target has been noticed by The Black Flame. They have been marked as a potential convert or sacrifice for their dark rituals. The cult believes that your target has a critical role to play in hastening the arrival of the eldritch horrors. They will stop at nothing to capture your target. This will become clear when the target and their allies are confronted by black-robed figures who are surprisingly well-prepared to deal with the supernatural.)
Ashe is putzing about in the guest bedroom of the house she's squatting in. Told it was up for rent still, she's not expecting anyone to walk in but keeps her worldly posessions packed in a duffel bag just in case. Text this person, watch that video, nothing too fabulously exciting as she drys off from the recent shower she took.
The house is quiet, a good thing considering Ashe squatting here. Outside, the snow falls lightly to the ground, flakes of white spinning past the window. Having just finished her shower, Ashe has had the opportunity to lounge for a bit. To her ears, there is not a sound to be heard in the building. It comes as a shock when suddenly, the lights in the room go out, and Ashe's phone blacks along with them, leaving the light from outside as the only illumination. In fact, the electrical hum of the house has gone completely and eerily silent.
Ashe gives a sigh "Awww, already? You'd think the power company would take longer to notice this stuff." she comments, assuming that the unpaid power bills are to blame. With nothing else to do though, she pushes up off the bed and heads to the window to look at the snow outside. Of course the powerbill doesn't pay for her phone she realizes, looking up and down the block to see if there might be other houses without power.
As Ashe peers out the window, she can see that no, all the other houses seem to still have power. However, what she does notice, is a black van parked across the street. This wouldn't be an alarming addition if it hadn't been for the fact that it was not there earlier. Standing next to the van are two figures, both gazing up at the house... right at Ashe in the window. They wear all black, with hoods over their heads, and a matching pair of featureless masks. They don't appear to be moving, but Ashe can feel their eyes on her. One pulls out a small object, lifting it to their mouth before slipping it away a moment later.
Ashe practically squeals with delight, but she's played this game enough not to make a sound. It's time for 'tag, you're coming with us ma'am.' Her second favorite game in the whole world, after scavenger hunts in other people's houses of course. She packs light, afterall she plays this game an awful lot, though usually her partners wear more blue.
Grabbing her duffle bag and putting on her shoes, she quickly departs the room. Front door is probably out, but likely there's a window. Maybe not a fire escape on a residential building, but a tree would do.
Ashe goes to open the door. Swinging it open, she comes face to face with a towering figure in black, wearing a featureless mask just like the ones worn by those by the van outside. In one hand the intruder holds a revolver, and the other, what appears to be a tranquilizer gun. Behind the figure are three more intruders, all wearing the exact same black outfit and mask combo, and all armed with tranquilizer guns, save the one in the back who holds a shotgun. One of the figures near the back pulls out a small handheld radio. "Contact with the Sacrifice has been made. Engaging." The figure in the lead levels his tranquilizer gun at Ashe's chest.
She had a story prepared, as well as an offer, and finally an act, all ready in case Ashe had to talk her way out of a jam. But it doesn't sound like they want to punish her, to retrieve anything from her, or really have any interest in her personally at all. She's a body to be offered up to some eldritch being, just as good as any other perhaps. Words aren't going to help; So instead she has another offer.
Unzipping the duffle bag, she palms a blue liquid as she uses it as a shield, then throws the remainder towards the man with the gun. It's mostly clothes, but quite a few mysterious vials also might spill out of the open bag. How many will survive? Who's to say.
Ashe makes to quaff the vial of blue liquid as she ducks back into the room. Out the window it is, if she can make it.
Ashe throws back the liquid in the vial, fleeing towards the window. The sound of darts being fired fills the room, and several go speeding past Ashe. "Sacrifice is escaping. Be ready." The one with the radio says from behind Ashe. The window is a drop, but with Ashe's acrobatic ability, she's pretty sure she'll be able to manage the fall.
With the effects of the drug, Ashe gives a laugh of glee. Like a herd of tortoises chasing a gazelle. Fortunately the effects are still warming up, and she's the presence of mind to open the window fully before jumping through, clinging to the side until her arms are fully extended to minimize the fall, she drops down with a *thump*. If there's pain she barely feels it, and even that won't last long.
Dart guns she's not used to. They're not standard issue for the police, and she doesn't have /that/ much experience ducking animal control. Just that one time really... But she assumes they have better range than the tasers she's used to so she looks for cover.
Ashe is able to find some moderate cover in the form of a nearby oak. The intruders from before can be heard above, a voice barking orders and demanding they get downstairs. Meanwhile, Ashe notices that the two figures by the van are gone. This little mystery is solved when the snow crunches noisily behind her, and a dart sinks into the bark of the tree just to the right of Ashe's shoulder. Behind Ashe, the two masked attackers that had been by the van stand, one in the process of reloading the tranquilizer gun in their hand. The other has removed her mask, revealing the face of a severe woman, appearing to be in her mid-30s. She steps forward, eyes locking with Ashe's, and in a moment, Ashe feels an alien force attempting to suppress her will, another mind attempting to impose itself over her own. The drugs in her system certainly aren't helping the situation, either.
"Stop." the woman orders. And Ashe finds herself frozen in place (fear, anger, curiosity) "Bind her." The woman orders her companion. "I'll make sure she doesn't move." The figure still masked nods, heading to the van and returning with a length of rope, which he uses to (poorly, from the looseness of the knots) bind Ashe. In the meantime, the other figures have arrived, the taller one one before scooping Ashe up and carrying her to the van. She is unceremoniously tossed in the back, the door slamming shut as her abductors pile in the front. The van lurches into movement, the screeching of tires filling the air before it speeds off, taking Ashe to who knows where next...
Ashe smiles a bit, tilting her head as a wash of curiousity rushes over her. Would she really pass up the possibility of finding out more about this cult. Maybe she could steal something from them, taunt them with it later. It's not like they'll be able to hold onto her. Helpfully she decides to stop moving, taking on a rough facsimile of fear, though with her current state she can't mimic it very well.
As she's scooped up she can't help but fake a swoon, as if this were all just a game and she was to be carried off. "Oof." she says as she's tossed on her rear. Idly she begins to wriggle limberly at the ropes. Easier than handcuffs, that's for sure.
Really, this is the work of an amature. Ashe might even be disappointed at how badly they've bound her. It takes only a moment to escape the bonds with the psychic persuasion no longer hindering her movement. But... what if she should see this out? Maybe they don't want to hurt her? Maybe? Her abductors haven't checked on Ashe, so for the time being, her escape is unnoticed. Now. Its only a matter of escaping the van. Now that Ashe isn't bound, she can see that the van is speeding towards the forest on the outskirts of town. Tailing behind the van is a white sedan, though its still a ways off from the vehicle.
Ashe absolutely wants to see where this is going, but she's bored sitting here, WITHOUT A WORKING PHONE and those ropes didn't entertain her for long. Idly she decides to test if the van locks prevent egress, slipping her tools from her hair and her bra as she idly gets to work. Won't that be a surprise when she arrives? Idly she peers into that sedan, trying to see if she can make out the faces within as she keeps lower enough that her handiwork can't be observed in return.
Oh, and there's the rope? That might be useful, she loops a bit of it about her waist like a belt. Oh! You know what would be fun? If she found out if these potions created a contact high. Two emergency vials; green and pink; are drawn from her a spot hidden in her jacket, and she glances towards the front of the van to see if it's got a barrier between her and those up front. The police vans always have that, but how prepared were these wanna be cultists?
Ashe might have struggled with the lock... if it hadn't been for the fact that she is 'very' familiar with these types of things. Under Ashe's fingers, the lock clicks softly. Too easy. The van's front and back are not separated by a barrier, allowing her a clear view of those up front. The sedan is just a bit too far to get a clear glimpse of its occupants, but Ashe can count between two and three inside. They don't appear to be wearing the same outfits as the cultists, but who knows if they're in league with them?
She waits as long as Ashe can to spring into action; nearly two full minutes of patience, practically a record for her. Then she pops the vials open and tosses them up to the front, heedlessly. Whether they'll work with contact or not, the goons likely aren't aware any more than she is. And with that she pops the door open and leaps from the moving vehicle, because of course she'll be fine. Where's she going? It depends on how fast the car moves. Fast enough that the sedan could close many of the car lengths of distance before she lands? She'll hop over there to show off. Too slow for such antics? Off to the side and into the forest. She'll be fine of course, she's invicible after all.
(Imprint she has for SR edification: You feel like the definition of perfection, and the assurance you have in your own self-worth is astronomical. There is nothing that can bring you down, and there is nothing that you cannot accomplish. You know your worth, and you're proud of it.)
(Imprint Ashe has for SR edification: You feel like the definition of perfection, and the assurance you have in your own self-worth is astronomical. There is nothing that can bring you down, and there is nothing that you cannot accomplish. You know your worth, and you're proud of it.)
The vials shatter against the windshield, splashing those in the front of the vehicle with their contents. The reaction is immediate. A sensual moan reaches Ashe's ears followed by shouting and the sound of a fist hitting flesh. Ah the joys of drugging your captors... And then she is on the hood of the sedan, staring into the surprised face of a middle aged man in the driver's seat. Accompanying him are two others, a young woman with a rifle, who is currently trying to take aim at the van out of her window, and another man who is fiddling with a radio in his lap. The driver of the sedan slams on the brakes, but Ashe is able to roll nimbly from the hood of the speeding vehicle. As she does, she hears the woman's surprised exclamation of "What the fuck?" And the sound of a rifle firing. The sedan has come to a halt, and the back door on the driver's side opens. "Get in!" The man with the radio beckons to Ashe, as the woman tries to realign her aim on the now drunkenly swerving van.
(Your target is abuducted through the water to an undersea cave where an oceanic Fae is wanting a romantic or social encounter with them.
)
Lilian is sitting infront of the vanity which has a cloth over the mirror, brushing her hair as Benjamin takes an hour long shower.
Benjamin is taking an especially long shower, letting muscles relax but eventually he's getting all pruney and walking out to put a towel around his waist.
Actually it's been two hours now and no self respecting man can shower that long so after Benjamin's 15 minute shower which is exceptionally long for a man, Lilian makes Benjamin do her manicure and pedicure as well as brush her hair.
Another quiet night descends upon the town of Haven. Even if the temperatures are still low, the chilling cold of the winter is already past, and what a month ago would have required a couple heavy layers of clothing to be able to endure the outside, now is just a cold breeze that some might even not need to guard against, and that could earn a coat or a jacket from those more susceptible to it.
Despite the fact that it is a Sunday and people don't have to work, the streets seem to be emptying early, and so are the bars and hang out spots, people likely taking an early leave to be in bed early, getting ready for the start of the work week tomorrow morning, and turning the couple lingering crowds composed of a way more abundant number of teenagers, most of them not being so serious about college or highschool as adults are about getting their paychecks.
And while for most people it might just be just another night in the peaceful town of Haven, for a select few, those who are aware, Haven is hardly peaceful or calm, letting everyone brace themselves for whatever chaotic or nerve wracking incident was about to shake this night up, or postpone the sleeping time for a couple hours and make them hate it tomorrow at their shift.
For Lilian and Benjamin, this evening is about to transform in one of possibly the worst kinds of ways possible, not because of what the interruption entails, but the way in which it is presented. In the safety of the home, and someone presenting themselves unannounced, crawling in through somewhere they shouldn't.
While they just keep to their ministrations in the bathroom, a loud noise suddenly catches both of their attentions. Right behind them, in the shower, the faucet seems to have fallen out of place, the metal hitting the ceramic with a painful sound, and even if the floor doesn't seem to have any marks or cracks in any way, it's the kind of thing that would make any home owner at least perk up and anxiously check to see if they need to replace it or do something about it.
But the disturbing part is what comes next, as from the pipe that is left open from the missing faucet, a couple of tentacles start to come out. Taking its sweet time to poke out and slide, all the way until they are completely out, the skin covering it somewhat rubbery, clearly glistening with moisture and elastic enough to be able to fit through there. Then comes an oddly shaped head, and some more tentacles, and in no time, what started as a hint at something within the pipes, reveals itself to be an octopus, falling out of the shower onto the ceramic floor of it, landing right next to the faucet, and after a couple seconds of letting its body stretch and regain some of its shape, the cephalopod starts turning around, as if looking to find something in the bathroom.
Its eyes settle the moment it sees Lilian and Benjamin, and there seems to be a moment of hesitation, before the sea creature starts sliding in their direction, tentacles wiggling this way and that as it slides closer to them, a lot bigger than it seemed inside the water system, almost making it unbelievable that it came from there, were one not to know about octopi and how they fit in cracks. Orangish with some white highlights in the skin, the animal simply keeps moving towards the pair, seemingly quite slow on land, giving them both the chance to do something about the unusual intrusion into their home.
Lilian is just finishing getting her pedicure from Benjamin with cotton still stuffed in between her toes when the faucet falls to the ground and Lilian's head whips around. "What the..." Lilian blinks a few times as the octopus falls out of the system as if she can't believe what on earth is happening. "Is that a... tentacle monster?" Apparently Lilian has watched too much henti and octopus is secondary to tentacle monster, especially when the tentacle monster seems to get bigger on approach to the pair. "Ummmm." Lilian tells Benjamin with a wide eyed look as she draws her dagger from her waist steath. She holds the knife down by her side as she continues to sit on the chair, "Hello?" She calls out tentatively.
Benjamin has been focusing on Lilian's pedicure, why? Because how many college guys even know how to do a pedicure... Not many and not this one so it's all very much follow the next instructions. It was almost done when suddenly the noise behind him draws his attention and he straightens up. In just a towel and nothing more he cautiously begins to approach the faucet only to beat a hasty retreat to be behind Lilian since she has the knife. "I think it's here to fuck you." he agrees before wondering, "You haven't been flirting with anyone especially pervy in Japan have you?"
The animal doesn't seem to react much to the speech shared between the two, but it does certainly stop its approach as the dagger is pulled out. Stopping in its tracks it takes a second or two to even react, and when it does, it probably confirms to both Benjamin and Lilian that this is a shapeshifter of some sort, or at least that its got supernatural abilities, because what they see right in front of them, is the octopus divide into five octopi, which move to the sides slowly, now forming what could be some sort of semi-circle around them, can hit the real one if you don't know the real one - Kind of trick.
And as soon as that happens, the animal team keeps moving forward, as if stepping closer to the two would prove any real advantage on the matter, but what can an octopus really do to a human?
"Um... I haven't flirted with any octopus Fae... I'll be honest I don't know any octopus Fae." Lilian doesn't rule out the fact that she would talk to one about certain tentacle abilities if she met one of course. Her sapphire eyes narrow as the shifter swarm shifts instead and Lilian sighs, "Octopus have like two hearts or something... Maybe bring the entire kitchen knives."
"Um... I haven't flirted with any octopus Fae... I'll be honest I don't know any octopus Fae." Lilian doesn't rule out the fact that she would talk to one about certain tentacle abilities if she met one of course. Her sapphire eyes narrow as the shifter swarm shifts instead and Lilian sighs, "Octopus have like two hearts or something... Maybe bring the entire kitchen knives while I distract these things..." Lilian flips the dagger upside down, holding it slashing style.
Then as a side note. "Do you think I can convince it to work at my club in Japan? It'll be very popular with how popular tentacle porn is..." Lilian adds.
"Okay so clearly this is a sex thing." Benjamin says when the mysterious tentacled Octupi splits into multiple octupi thus exponentially increasing the number of tentacles that someone (@lilian) will have to deal with. The bathroom is very nice, very big, and so there is quite a bit of room to run to but it also had doors and these doors led to places like a bedroom and a living room or at least they should. Benjamin moves over to the western door that would lead to the living room and begins to jiggle the handle to test if it will open, if it does he calls for Lilian if it doesn't he shoulder checks it dramatically because one must always remember appearances matter!
"If it wants to audition are you going to still hire it or what?" Benjamin asks as once again he is the furthest from the multi-octupi and thus the safest from its tentacles in theory.
The door does indeed open, it seems that the intruder was busy enough crawling through pipes to worry about locking other routes out, how clever of it, probably having assumed it would be a sneaky entrance, and entirely dismissing the idea that the faucet falling would make a hell of a noise. Regardless, Benjamin has free movement outside of the room, which makes the tiny animal almost look not so threatening, if it even was to begin with.
But the animal, now that there's multiple of them, doesn't seem as scared of the knife, a couple of them look towards Benjamin, the others towards Lilian, there seems to be some silent deciding there - But a moment later the path of the tentacle creatures changes, and instead of surrounding Lilian, they start crawling towards the door, in pursuit of the man - Which is, very anticlimatic, because these things are awfully slow when crawling on land, specially without some water to aid their movement
"Oh they're the tentacles that prefer boy toys." Lilian calls out to Benjamin helpfully as all the octopus turn towards the man. "Lead them into the kitchen. I haven't had a good grilled octopus in a while." Given the octopi aren't targetting her, it gives Lilian the chance to get rid of all the cotton balls from between her toes as they slowly squelch their way across the tiles.
"Woah... I have -less- holes. Less!" Benjamin says very loudly to the octupi gang moving into the living room and skipping the kitchen completely to head to the guest bedroom where he comes back with a fucking javelin spear. He doesn't actually go back to the bathroom instead standing in the living room now holding a white towel around his hips and a spear in his free hand. "I will eat at least one of you before you explode my ass." he declares threateningly.
The octopi gang eventually makes their way out of the bathroom and into the living room, where a half naked Benjamin is waiting for them javelin in hand, not the best situation for the cephalopods. But with Lilian out of sight, at least for a little bit, considering she was still on the bathroom, the group tries to trick the man.
And a moment later, Benjamin is no longer seeing a weapon in his hand, but another octopus, sure, the texture and touch of it is still that of his usual weapon, but the visual is one of his persecutors, so it comes down to him being able to fight the conflicting signals, while the sea creatures, instead of approaching him directly, try to make their awfully slow way around him, attempting to circle the man and then slowly close in from all directions
"Hello Yoshizumi." Apparently feeling like the octopi aren't such a threat, Lilian follows them out of the bathroom while calling the sushi chef across the road. "Do you know how I can prepare octopi for grilling? Do I need to bleed them?" Lilian asks as she ducks over to the kitchen and turns on the gas burners. "Ohh good idea for a giant skewer." She tells Benjamin as she hangs up the phone and comes back with that giantbag of ghost busting NaCl. Taking a handful, Lilian covers the closest octopi in salt. "Okay Yoshizumi says brining them in salt will draw out all the water...."
When Lilian goes into the kitchen Benjamin is poised to kill some tentacle creepy crawler ass. When Lilian comes back out Benjamin is screaming "Fucking Fuckity... Fuck." waving his arm wildly in the air still gripping the spear for the moment but when he turns and tries to hurl the illusionary octupus away the spear goes with it and just *shng* sticks right into the wall as he is rubbing at his hand trying to ensure no suckers clung to him or tore off his flesh. "Fucking ew! It's worse than lube on your face." he exclaims with a sympathetic *hrk* gag at the end as if just imagining it again is enough to sicken him. This whole time the creepy crawly Octupi are encircling him but Lilian is now seasoning them so... whose really endangered?
Two of the octopi seem to reach Benjamin while Lilian is on the phone, clinging to one of his legs and starting to crawl onto his ankles, indeed quite slimy - And the tentacles only making the sensation worse... And there's eight of them, time two... But it seems the octopus shifter had something more shady in mind when sneaking in, that becomes apparent a couple seconds after they touch the man's skin. There is some substance on them that seems to sip into Benjamin's skin and cause some numbness after they start their journey up.
But then Lilian appears with the salt, and starts covering one of them- Which prompts the advances of the other two to stop, and those crawling up the Benji-tower to go back down. The salted octopus seems to writhe and contort in pain before stopping to move all together. And this prompts the sea creatures to try and crawl back towards the bathroom, leaving the presumably dead peer left behind.
"One is not enough!" Lilian calls as she runs after the slowly crawling octopi and starts throwing out large handfuls of salt trying to get as much salt on the octopi as possible. There was a feast worth of octopi here! Although Lilian seems to remember that if you kill every shifter in a swarm they probably turn back into Fae which is ... not as tasty. So one octopi in the lead gets to stay non seasoned. "Are you okay?" She calls out to Benjamin.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Benjamin screams while trying to kick the Octupus off his legs and then continues "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" when they finally begin retreating and then "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" accompanied by a thunk when the numbness has suffused his legs... which sucks because he woke up with a cramp in one this morning so he literally falls over on the floor looking like one of the commercial adds for slip and fall risk, towel disheleved, crumpled in a heap, the Octupi dead around him don't make sense but he's going "Aaaaaaaah" still for help.
The octopi retreat and retreat, and as Lilian chases, throwing salt, one of them tries to go for her to touch her and hopefully cause the same numbness... Though unluckily for the octopus, Lilian is technically undead, and such thing won't really do anything much to her, so she instead just seems to get one octopus deliberately going after her feet, for her to salt to her hearts content - How helpful.
That makes two dead octopi, and three still trying to flee through the bathroom. But eventually the other two are caught, and only one is left to escape - Which is, once more, awfully anticlimactic because it is awfully slow in land. And the pair has to sit there awkwardly watching it get to the bathroom, slowly crawl up the shower, slip a bit down the tube and crawl it back up, and then fit itself into the pipe once more to leave as it came - Which it all takes like a good ten minutes. Leaving a numb-footed Benjamin, and four dead salted octopus behind in the apartment, as well as some trail of a mixture of water and slime between the bathroom and the living room, and a javelin stuck to a wall
"Do YOU know how to cook octopi?" Lilian seems enthused as she leaves the last octopi to escape once it's the only one left. Moving to the wall where the javalin is stuck artfully though the twilight painting, Lilian yanks it off the wall and then stabs the octopi one after another through their hearts, skewering them like a delicious octopus skewer. "I don't speak Ahhh." Lilian tells Benjamin dryly given that's all he said in response to her question.
Meanwhile, the interaction between Lilian, Benjamin, and the unexpected octopus fae intrusion serves as a mix of horror and comedy. The arrival of the octopus in their home, through supernatural means, leads to a chaotic scramble as Lilian and Benjamin react to the bizarre and slow-moving threat. Despite the initial fear and confusion, Lilian's quick thinking and Benjamin's improvised weapon choice highlight their adaptability. Their encounter culminates in an almost comedic chase as Lilian salts the retreating octopi, sparing only one that manages to escape. The ordeal ends with an awkward tranquility, punctuated by the aftermath of a salty battlefield and Benjamin's sufferings from the octopus fae's numbing touch, all underpinning the unpredictable and often strange occurrences that befall those entangled with the supernatural.
(Ashe's odd encounter(SRLanaeis):SRLanaeis)
[Sun Mar 2 2025]
In a guest bedroom
The spare bedroom is a serene and welcoming space, bathed in natural light from skylights overhead. The room features a comfortable queen-sized bed with crisp white linens and a cozy quilt. A minimalist design is complemented by a few tasteful pieces of furniture, including a small wooden nightstand with a reading lamp, and a sleek dresser for storage. A soft, neutral-toned rug covers the hardwood floor, adding warmth and comfort. A single armchair in the corner provides a quiet spot for reading or relaxing, with a small stack of books on the floor nearby. Potted plants add a touch of greenery, making the room feel fresh and inviting, perfect for guests to unwind and feel at home.
It is afternoon, about 37F(2C) degrees, and the sky is covered by dark grey stormclouds. It's snowing outside.
(Your target has been noticed by The Black Flame. They have been marked as a potential convert or sacrifice for their dark rituals. The cult believes that your target has a critical role to play in hastening the arrival of the eldritch horrors. They will stop at nothing to capture your target. This will become clear when the target and their allies are confronted by black-robed figures who are surprisingly well-prepared to deal with the supernatural.)
Ashe is putzing about in the guest bedroom of the house she's squatting in. Told it was up for rent still, she's not expecting anyone to walk in but keeps her worldly posessions packed in a duffel bag just in case. Text this person, watch that video, nothing too fabulously exciting as she drys off from the recent shower she took.
The house is quiet, a good thing considering Ashe squatting here. Outside, the snow falls lightly to the ground, flakes of white spinning past the window. Having just finished her shower, Ashe has had the opportunity to lounge for a bit. To her ears, there is not a sound to be heard in the building. It comes as a shock when suddenly, the lights in the room go out, and Ashe's phone blacks along with them, leaving the light from outside as the only illumination. In fact, the electrical hum of the house has gone completely and eerily silent.
Ashe gives a sigh "Awww, already? You'd think the power company would take longer to notice this stuff." she comments, assuming that the unpaid power bills are to blame. With nothing else to do though, she pushes up off the bed and heads to the window to look at the snow outside. Of course the powerbill doesn't pay for her phone she realizes, looking up and down the block to see if there might be other houses without power.
As Ashe peers out the window, she can see that no, all the other houses seem to still have power. However, what she does notice, is a black van parked across the street. This wouldn't be an alarming addition if it hadn't been for the fact that it was not there earlier. Standing next to the van are two figures, both gazing up at the house... right at Ashe in the window. They wear all black, with hoods over their heads, and a matching pair of featureless masks. They don't appear to be moving, but Ashe can feel their eyes on her. One pulls out a small object, lifting it to their mouth before slipping it away a moment later.
Ashe practically squeals with delight, but she's played this game enough not to make a sound. It's time for 'tag, you're coming with us ma'am.' Her second favorite game in the whole world, after scavenger hunts in other people's houses of course. She packs light, afterall she plays this game an awful lot, though usually her partners wear more blue.
Grabbing her duffle bag and putting on her shoes, she quickly departs the room. Front door is probably out, but likely there's a window. Maybe not a fire escape on a residential building, but a tree would do.
Ashe goes to open the door. Swinging it open, she comes face to face with a towering figure in black, wearing a featureless mask just like the ones worn by those by the van outside. In one hand the intruder holds a revolver, and the other, what appears to be a tranquilizer gun. Behind the figure are three more intruders, all wearing the exact same black outfit and mask combo, and all armed with tranquilizer guns, save the one in the back who holds a shotgun. One of the figures near the back pulls out a small handheld radio. "Contact with the Sacrifice has been made. Engaging." The figure in the lead levels his tranquilizer gun at Ashe's chest.
She had a story prepared, as well as an offer, and finally an act, all ready in case Ashe had to talk her way out of a jam. But it doesn't sound like they want to punish her, to retrieve anything from her, or really have any interest in her personally at all. She's a body to be offered up to some eldritch being, just as good as any other perhaps. Words aren't going to help; So instead she has another offer.
Unzipping the duffle bag, she palms a blue liquid as she uses it as a shield, then throws the remainder towards the man with the gun. It's mostly clothes, but quite a few mysterious vials also might spill out of the open bag. How many will survive? Who's to say.
Ashe makes to quaff the vial of blue liquid as she ducks back into the room. Out the window it is, if she can make it.
Ashe throws back the liquid in the vial, fleeing towards the window. The sound of darts being fired fills the room, and several go speeding past Ashe. "Sacrifice is escaping. Be ready." The one with the radio says from behind Ashe. The window is a drop, but with Ashe's acrobatic ability, she's pretty sure she'll be able to manage the fall.
With the effects of the drug, Ashe gives a laugh of glee. Like a herd of tortoises chasing a gazelle. Fortunately the effects are still warming up, and she's the presence of mind to open the window fully before jumping through, clinging to the side until her arms are fully extended to minimize the fall, she drops down with a *thump*. If there's pain she barely feels it, and even that won't last long.
Dart guns she's not used to. They're not standard issue for the police, and she doesn't have /that/ much experience ducking animal control. Just that one time really... But she assumes they have better range than the tasers she's used to so she looks for cover.
Ashe is able to find some moderate cover in the form of a nearby oak. The intruders from before can be heard above, a voice barking orders and demanding they get downstairs. Meanwhile, Ashe notices that the two figures by the van are gone. This little mystery is solved when the snow crunches noisily behind her, and a dart sinks into the bark of the tree just to the right of Ashe's shoulder. Behind Ashe, the two masked attackers that had been by the van stand, one in the process of reloading the tranquilizer gun in their hand. The other has removed her mask, revealing the face of a severe woman, appearing to be in her mid-30s. She steps forward, eyes locking with Ashe's, and in a moment, Ashe feels an alien force attempting to suppress her will, another mind attempting to impose itself over her own. The drugs in her system certainly aren't helping the situation, either.
"Stop." the woman orders. And Ashe finds herself frozen in place (fear, anger, curiosity) "Bind her." The woman orders her companion. "I'll make sure she doesn't move." The figure still masked nods, heading to the van and returning with a length of rope, which he uses to (poorly, from the looseness of the knots) bind Ashe. In the meantime, the other figures have arrived, the taller one one before scooping Ashe up and carrying her to the van. She is unceremoniously tossed in the back, the door slamming shut as her abductors pile in the front. The van lurches into movement, the screeching of tires filling the air before it speeds off, taking Ashe to who knows where next...
Ashe smiles a bit, tilting her head as a wash of curiousity rushes over her. Would she really pass up the possibility of finding out more about this cult. Maybe she could steal something from them, taunt them with it later. It's not like they'll be able to hold onto her. Helpfully she decides to stop moving, taking on a rough facsimile of fear, though with her current state she can't mimic it very well.
As she's scooped up she can't help but fake a swoon, as if this were all just a game and she was to be carried off. "Oof." she says as she's tossed on her rear. Idly she begins to wriggle limberly at the ropes. Easier than handcuffs, that's for sure.
Really, this is the work of an amature. Ashe might even be disappointed at how badly they've bound her. It takes only a moment to escape the bonds with the psychic persuasion no longer hindering her movement. But... what if she should see this out? Maybe they don't want to hurt her? Maybe? Her abductors haven't checked on Ashe, so for the time being, her escape is unnoticed. Now. Its only a matter of escaping the van. Now that Ashe isn't bound, she can see that the van is speeding towards the forest on the outskirts of town. Tailing behind the van is a white sedan, though its still a ways off from the vehicle.
Ashe absolutely wants to see where this is going, but she's bored sitting here, WITHOUT A WORKING PHONE and those ropes didn't entertain her for long. Idly she decides to test if the van locks prevent egress, slipping her tools from her hair and her bra as she idly gets to work. Won't that be a surprise when she arrives? Idly she peers into that sedan, trying to see if she can make out the faces within as she keeps lower enough that her handiwork can't be observed in return.
Oh, and there's the rope? That might be useful, she loops a bit of it about her waist like a belt. Oh! You know what would be fun? If she found out if these potions created a contact high. Two emergency vials; green and pink; are drawn from her a spot hidden in her jacket, and she glances towards the front of the van to see if it's got a barrier between her and those up front. The police vans always have that, but how prepared were these wanna be cultists?
Ashe might have struggled with the lock... if it hadn't been for the fact that she is 'very' familiar with these types of things. Under Ashe's fingers, the lock clicks softly. Too easy. The van's front and back are not separated by a barrier, allowing her a clear view of those up front. The sedan is just a bit too far to get a clear glimpse of its occupants, but Ashe can count between two and three inside. They don't appear to be wearing the same outfits as the cultists, but who knows if they're in league with them?
She waits as long as Ashe can to spring into action; nearly two full minutes of patience, practically a record for her. Then she pops the vials open and tosses them up to the front, heedlessly. Whether they'll work with contact or not, the goons likely aren't aware any more than she is. And with that she pops the door open and leaps from the moving vehicle, because of course she'll be fine. Where's she going? It depends on how fast the car moves. Fast enough that the sedan could close many of the car lengths of distance before she lands? She'll hop over there to show off. Too slow for such antics? Off to the side and into the forest. She'll be fine of course, she's invicible after all.
(Imprint she has for SR edification: You feel like the definition of perfection, and the assurance you have in your own self-worth is astronomical. There is nothing that can bring you down, and there is nothing that you cannot accomplish. You know your worth, and you're proud of it.)
(Imprint Ashe has for SR edification: You feel like the definition of perfection, and the assurance you have in your own self-worth is astronomical. There is nothing that can bring you down, and there is nothing that you cannot accomplish. You know your worth, and you're proud of it.)
The vials shatter against the windshield, splashing those in the front of the vehicle with their contents. The reaction is immediate. A sensual moan reaches Ashe's ears followed by shouting and the sound of a fist hitting flesh. Ah the joys of drugging your captors... And then she is on the hood of the sedan, staring into the surprised face of a middle aged man in the driver's seat. Accompanying him are two others, a young woman with a rifle, who is currently trying to take aim at the van out of her window, and another man who is fiddling with a radio in his lap. The driver of the sedan slams on the brakes, but Ashe is able to roll nimbly from the hood of the speeding vehicle. As she does, she hears the woman's surprised exclamation of "What the fuck?" And the sound of a rifle firing. The sedan has come to a halt, and the back door on the driver's side opens. "Get in!" The man with the radio beckons to Ashe, as the woman tries to realign her aim on the now drunkenly swerving van.
(Your target is abuducted through the water to an undersea cave where an oceanic Fae is wanting a romantic or social encounter with them.
)
Lilian is sitting infront of the vanity which has a cloth over the mirror, brushing her hair as Benjamin takes an hour long shower.
Benjamin is taking an especially long shower, letting muscles relax but eventually he's getting all pruney and walking out to put a towel around his waist.
Actually it's been two hours now and no self respecting man can shower that long so after Benjamin's 15 minute shower which is exceptionally long for a man, Lilian makes Benjamin do her manicure and pedicure as well as brush her hair.
Another quiet night descends upon the town of Haven. Even if the temperatures are still low, the chilling cold of the winter is already past, and what a month ago would have required a couple heavy layers of clothing to be able to endure the outside, now is just a cold breeze that some might even not need to guard against, and that could earn a coat or a jacket from those more susceptible to it.
Despite the fact that it is a Sunday and people don't have to work, the streets seem to be emptying early, and so are the bars and hang out spots, people likely taking an early leave to be in bed early, getting ready for the start of the work week tomorrow morning, and turning the couple lingering crowds composed of a way more abundant number of teenagers, most of them not being so serious about college or highschool as adults are about getting their paychecks.
And while for most people it might just be just another night in the peaceful town of Haven, for a select few, those who are aware, Haven is hardly peaceful or calm, letting everyone brace themselves for whatever chaotic or nerve wracking incident was about to shake this night up, or postpone the sleeping time for a couple hours and make them hate it tomorrow at their shift.
For Lilian and Benjamin, this evening is about to transform in one of possibly the worst kinds of ways possible, not because of what the interruption entails, but the way in which it is presented. In the safety of the home, and someone presenting themselves unannounced, crawling in through somewhere they shouldn't.
While they just keep to their ministrations in the bathroom, a loud noise suddenly catches both of their attentions. Right behind them, in the shower, the faucet seems to have fallen out of place, the metal hitting the ceramic with a painful sound, and even if the floor doesn't seem to have any marks or cracks in any way, it's the kind of thing that would make any home owner at least perk up and anxiously check to see if they need to replace it or do something about it.
But the disturbing part is what comes next, as from the pipe that is left open from the missing faucet, a couple of tentacles start to come out. Taking its sweet time to poke out and slide, all the way until they are completely out, the skin covering it somewhat rubbery, clearly glistening with moisture and elastic enough to be able to fit through there. Then comes an oddly shaped head, and some more tentacles, and in no time, what started as a hint at something within the pipes, reveals itself to be an octopus, falling out of the shower onto the ceramic floor of it, landing right next to the faucet, and after a couple seconds of letting its body stretch and regain some of its shape, the cephalopod starts turning around, as if looking to find something in the bathroom.
Its eyes settle the moment it sees Lilian and Benjamin, and there seems to be a moment of hesitation, before the sea creature starts sliding in their direction, tentacles wiggling this way and that as it slides closer to them, a lot bigger than it seemed inside the water system, almost making it unbelievable that it came from there, were one not to know about octopi and how they fit in cracks. Orangish with some white highlights in the skin, the animal simply keeps moving towards the pair, seemingly quite slow on land, giving them both the chance to do something about the unusual intrusion into their home.
Lilian is just finishing getting her pedicure from Benjamin with cotton still stuffed in between her toes when the faucet falls to the ground and Lilian's head whips around. "What the..." Lilian blinks a few times as the octopus falls out of the system as if she can't believe what on earth is happening. "Is that a... tentacle monster?" Apparently Lilian has watched too much henti and octopus is secondary to tentacle monster, especially when the tentacle monster seems to get bigger on approach to the pair. "Ummmm." Lilian tells Benjamin with a wide eyed look as she draws her dagger from her waist steath. She holds the knife down by her side as she continues to sit on the chair, "Hello?" She calls out tentatively.
Benjamin has been focusing on Lilian's pedicure, why? Because how many college guys even know how to do a pedicure... Not many and not this one so it's all very much follow the next instructions. It was almost done when suddenly the noise behind him draws his attention and he straightens up. In just a towel and nothing more he cautiously begins to approach the faucet only to beat a hasty retreat to be behind Lilian since she has the knife. "I think it's here to fuck you." he agrees before wondering, "You haven't been flirting with anyone especially pervy in Japan have you?"
The animal doesn't seem to react much to the speech shared between the two, but it does certainly stop its approach as the dagger is pulled out. Stopping in its tracks it takes a second or two to even react, and when it does, it probably confirms to both Benjamin and Lilian that this is a shapeshifter of some sort, or at least that its got supernatural abilities, because what they see right in front of them, is the octopus divide into five octopi, which move to the sides slowly, now forming what could be some sort of semi-circle around them, can hit the real one if you don't know the real one - Kind of trick.
And as soon as that happens, the animal team keeps moving forward, as if stepping closer to the two would prove any real advantage on the matter, but what can an octopus really do to a human?
"Um... I haven't flirted with any octopus Fae... I'll be honest I don't know any octopus Fae." Lilian doesn't rule out the fact that she would talk to one about certain tentacle abilities if she met one of course. Her sapphire eyes narrow as the shifter swarm shifts instead and Lilian sighs, "Octopus have like two hearts or something... Maybe bring the entire kitchen knives."
"Um... I haven't flirted with any octopus Fae... I'll be honest I don't know any octopus Fae." Lilian doesn't rule out the fact that she would talk to one about certain tentacle abilities if she met one of course. Her sapphire eyes narrow as the shifter swarm shifts instead and Lilian sighs, "Octopus have like two hearts or something... Maybe bring the entire kitchen knives while I distract these things..." Lilian flips the dagger upside down, holding it slashing style.
Then as a side note. "Do you think I can convince it to work at my club in Japan? It'll be very popular with how popular tentacle porn is..." Lilian adds.
"Okay so clearly this is a sex thing." Benjamin says when the mysterious tentacled Octupi splits into multiple octupi thus exponentially increasing the number of tentacles that someone (@lilian) will have to deal with. The bathroom is very nice, very big, and so there is quite a bit of room to run to but it also had doors and these doors led to places like a bedroom and a living room or at least they should. Benjamin moves over to the western door that would lead to the living room and begins to jiggle the handle to test if it will open, if it does he calls for Lilian if it doesn't he shoulder checks it dramatically because one must always remember appearances matter!
"If it wants to audition are you going to still hire it or what?" Benjamin asks as once again he is the furthest from the multi-octupi and thus the safest from its tentacles in theory.
The door does indeed open, it seems that the intruder was busy enough crawling through pipes to worry about locking other routes out, how clever of it, probably having assumed it would be a sneaky entrance, and entirely dismissing the idea that the faucet falling would make a hell of a noise. Regardless, Benjamin has free movement outside of the room, which makes the tiny animal almost look not so threatening, if it even was to begin with.
But the animal, now that there's multiple of them, doesn't seem as scared of the knife, a couple of them look towards Benjamin, the others towards Lilian, there seems to be some silent deciding there - But a moment later the path of the tentacle creatures changes, and instead of surrounding Lilian, they start crawling towards the door, in pursuit of the man - Which is, very anticlimatic, because these things are awfully slow when crawling on land, specially without some water to aid their movement
"Oh they're the tentacles that prefer boy toys." Lilian calls out to Benjamin helpfully as all the octopus turn towards the man. "Lead them into the kitchen. I haven't had a good grilled octopus in a while." Given the octopi aren't targetting her, it gives Lilian the chance to get rid of all the cotton balls from between her toes as they slowly squelch their way across the tiles.
"Woah... I have -less- holes. Less!" Benjamin says very loudly to the octupi gang moving into the living room and skipping the kitchen completely to head to the guest bedroom where he comes back with a fucking javelin spear. He doesn't actually go back to the bathroom instead standing in the living room now holding a white towel around his hips and a spear in his free hand. "I will eat at least one of you before you explode my ass." he declares threateningly.
The octopi gang eventually makes their way out of the bathroom and into the living room, where a half naked Benjamin is waiting for them javelin in hand, not the best situation for the cephalopods. But with Lilian out of sight, at least for a little bit, considering she was still on the bathroom, the group tries to trick the man.
And a moment later, Benjamin is no longer seeing a weapon in his hand, but another octopus, sure, the texture and touch of it is still that of his usual weapon, but the visual is one of his persecutors, so it comes down to him being able to fight the conflicting signals, while the sea creatures, instead of approaching him directly, try to make their awfully slow way around him, attempting to circle the man and then slowly close in from all directions
"Hello Yoshizumi." Apparently feeling like the octopi aren't such a threat, Lilian follows them out of the bathroom while calling the sushi chef across the road. "Do you know how I can prepare octopi for grilling? Do I need to bleed them?" Lilian asks as she ducks over to the kitchen and turns on the gas burners. "Ohh good idea for a giant skewer." She tells Benjamin as she hangs up the phone and comes back with that giantbag of ghost busting NaCl. Taking a handful, Lilian covers the closest octopi in salt. "Okay Yoshizumi says brining them in salt will draw out all the water...."
When Lilian goes into the kitchen Benjamin is poised to kill some tentacle creepy crawler ass. When Lilian comes back out Benjamin is screaming "Fucking Fuckity... Fuck." waving his arm wildly in the air still gripping the spear for the moment but when he turns and tries to hurl the illusionary octupus away the spear goes with it and just *shng* sticks right into the wall as he is rubbing at his hand trying to ensure no suckers clung to him or tore off his flesh. "Fucking ew! It's worse than lube on your face." he exclaims with a sympathetic *hrk* gag at the end as if just imagining it again is enough to sicken him. This whole time the creepy crawly Octupi are encircling him but Lilian is now seasoning them so... whose really endangered?
Two of the octopi seem to reach Benjamin while Lilian is on the phone, clinging to one of his legs and starting to crawl onto his ankles, indeed quite slimy - And the tentacles only making the sensation worse... And there's eight of them, time two... But it seems the octopus shifter had something more shady in mind when sneaking in, that becomes apparent a couple seconds after they touch the man's skin. There is some substance on them that seems to sip into Benjamin's skin and cause some numbness after they start their journey up.
But then Lilian appears with the salt, and starts covering one of them- Which prompts the advances of the other two to stop, and those crawling up the Benji-tower to go back down. The salted octopus seems to writhe and contort in pain before stopping to move all together. And this prompts the sea creatures to try and crawl back towards the bathroom, leaving the presumably dead peer left behind.
"One is not enough!" Lilian calls as she runs after the slowly crawling octopi and starts throwing out large handfuls of salt trying to get as much salt on the octopi as possible. There was a feast worth of octopi here! Although Lilian seems to remember that if you kill every shifter in a swarm they probably turn back into Fae which is ... not as tasty. So one octopi in the lead gets to stay non seasoned. "Are you okay?" She calls out to Benjamin.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Benjamin screams while trying to kick the Octupus off his legs and then continues "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" when they finally begin retreating and then "Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" accompanied by a thunk when the numbness has suffused his legs... which sucks because he woke up with a cramp in one this morning so he literally falls over on the floor looking like one of the commercial adds for slip and fall risk, towel disheleved, crumpled in a heap, the Octupi dead around him don't make sense but he's going "Aaaaaaaah" still for help.
The octopi retreat and retreat, and as Lilian chases, throwing salt, one of them tries to go for her to touch her and hopefully cause the same numbness... Though unluckily for the octopus, Lilian is technically undead, and such thing won't really do anything much to her, so she instead just seems to get one octopus deliberately going after her feet, for her to salt to her hearts content - How helpful.
That makes two dead octopi, and three still trying to flee through the bathroom. But eventually the other two are caught, and only one is left to escape - Which is, once more, awfully anticlimactic because it is awfully slow in land. And the pair has to sit there awkwardly watching it get to the bathroom, slowly crawl up the shower, slip a bit down the tube and crawl it back up, and then fit itself into the pipe once more to leave as it came - Which it all takes like a good ten minutes. Leaving a numb-footed Benjamin, and four dead salted octopus behind in the apartment, as well as some trail of a mixture of water and slime between the bathroom and the living room, and a javelin stuck to a wall
"Do YOU know how to cook octopi?" Lilian seems enthused as she leaves the last octopi to escape once it's the only one left. Moving to the wall where the javalin is stuck artfully though the twilight painting, Lilian yanks it off the wall and then stabs the octopi one after another through their hearts, skewering them like a delicious octopus skewer. "I don't speak Ahhh." Lilian tells Benjamin dryly given that's all he said in response to her question.