Encounterlogs
Charas Odd Encounter Sr Roselyn 240908
In the elegant setting of her living room, Chara finds herself entranced by a dream stalker through her television, drawing her into a vividly detailed dream world centered around a pet store and a captivatingly charming ferret. As reality blurs and her surroundings fade, Chara's reality shifts more towards the dream, driven by a desire to interact with the ferret, symbolizing the dream stalker's efforts to feed on her energy. Despite initial delight, a growing sense of unease leads Chara to struggle against the dream's allure, ultimately managing to free herself from its grip. The ordeal leaves her shaken, yet safe in the familiarity of her living room, highlighting the thin veil between our perceptions of reality and the deceptive depths of dreams.
Following this harrowing dream encounter, the narrative shifts to Ash and their involvement with a supernatural issue at Haven. Ash and fellow students rally together upon learning that their classmate, Haley, has been turned into a vampire, displaying predatory behavior and using a captive as bait. Deciding to confront the situation, they arm themselves with lacrosse sticks and prepare for a confrontation, showing a willingness to engage with the darker sides of their world. Their collective decision to aim for Haley's rehabilitation over destruction demonstrates their desire to preserve humanity within the supernatural community, underlining themes of redemption and the complex navigation of moral choices within a world intertwined with the supernatural.
(Chara's odd encounter(SRRoselyn):SRRoselyn)
[Sat Sep 7 2024]
In a spacious, living room of timeless elegance
Deep, reddish tones of the mahogany wood flooring bring a sense of luxury and depth to the living area in its herringbone pattern. A neutral colour palette with a grey accent wall accentuates the rich tones of the leather furniture. The large room is illuminated by contemporary fixtures sunk into the ceiling, and an antique, Edwardian-style floor lamp adds a softer, more ambient glow.
It is afternoon, about 73F(22C) degrees,
(Your target is attacked by a dream stalker who subjects them to their greatest fantasies in the dream world in order to keep their body passive while it's energies are fed upon. They need to, possibly with the help of allies entering their dreams, resist the temptation long enough for other allies to find them or for them to wake up.
)
Chara stretches out on the sofa as she pulls out a remote thats resting on one of the cushions. Pointing it at the television she starts browsing through netflix seeing what seems appealing to watch right now. "I swear theres a thousand things on but nothing to watch.."
As Chara lazily flicked through the endless list of shows, the soft glow of the television cast flickering shadows across the room. The dull hum of the TV filled the cozy space, her fingers mindlessly clicking through titles that seemed to blur together. Outside the window, the afternoon sky had deepened into a dark, comforting blue, but inside, the world felt still and safe. The plush sofa beneath her would sink slightly if she shifted, the fabric warm from where she had been lounging. The faint scent of popcorn from some moment earlier in the day lingered in the air.
Without warning, the remote felt heavier in her hand, its plastic surface growing unnaturally warm. The channels she was browsing through froze on a single title, the rest of the interface dimming into an indistinct gray. A soft, almost imperceptible breeze drifted through the room, though no windows were open. The steady noise of the television started to warp, the audio twisting and slowing until it became a distant, distorted hum. The corners of the living room seemed to darken, blurring into shadow as the world outside the glow of the screen faded from her awareness.
The television flickered once, then twice, before displaying something entirely unexpected: a cage in a brightly lit pet store. The screen zoomed in slowly, focusing on a small, furry figure inside the cagea ferret. Its beady eyes gleamed with an unnatural clarity, watching intently. As the image grew sharper, more vivid, the rest of the living room began to soften at the edges, colors draining, textures losing their detail, as though everything beyond the screen was slipping out of focus.
Chara blinks as her surroundings blur "Oh, I must've hit the good stuff.." she rationalizes as the television flickers and the ferret appears on screen. She gives out a delight "Oh my god!" as she watches it, the heavy heavy remove dropping from her hand with a thud onto the couch "So cuute.." she says as she watches the television
The moment Chara blinked, the room seemed to pulse with a strange, fluid motion, as if the very air was rippling. The television screen glowed more intensely, pulling her focus entirely onto the ferret, its tiny nose twitching and paws pressed against the glass of its cage. The world beyond the television became dimmer still, the colors of the walls and furniture slowly bleeding away into muted grays. The soft thud of the remote hitting the couch barely registered in her mind as the ferrets curious movements entranced her.
The television image seemed to shift, subtly at first, the cage door creaking open on its own. The ferret stepped forward, more vivid than before, as though it were coming to life right there in front of her. The background around the cagea blurry reflection of her living roombegan to dissolve into something else entirely. The tile floor of a brightly lit pet store appeared, and the shelves behind the ferret slowly came into view, filled with colorful bags of pet food and small animal toys. The hum of the TV became distant, replaced by the soft rustle of bedding and the gentle sounds of animals moving in their cages.
The ferret cocked its head, locking its bright eyes onto hers as if it could see her through the screen. The sensation of warmth spread from her chest, a tugging feeling of joy that was hard to resist. But as the ferret stepped closer, almost impossibly close to the edge of the screen, the rest of the room blurred further. The sofa beneath her felt less solid, more like a fading memory, as if the comfort and familiarity of her home were being drained away, leaving only the bright, inviting world of the pet store. The lines between the two worlds grew thin, her vision growing hazy, and for a fleeting second, it felt as though she might could step right through the screen.
Chara tares, entranced by the screen, her eyes locked onto the ferrets unblinking gaze. The room around her seems to fade further into the background, "Is this like.. a live stream?" she wonders to herself and without fully realizing it, she inches closer, her mind becoming drawn to the screen as if some by invisible force "I want to pet it.."
Chara stares, entranced by the screen, her eyes locked onto the ferrets unblinking gaze. The room around her seems to fade further into the background, "Is this like.. a live stream?" she wonders to herself and without fully realizing it, she inches closer, her mind becoming drawn to the screen as if some by invisible force "I want to pet it.." -fixed-
As Chara inched closer to the screen, the pull toward the ferret became more palpable, like an unseen thread tugging gently at her mind. The edges of the room dissolved completely now, the once-familiar surroundings of her living room reduced to little more than shadows in her peripheral vision. The television flickered again, but the image of the ferret remained clear, its gaze unwavering, almost unnaturally so. The soft sounds of the pet store seemed to grow louder, more vivid, as though they were no longer confined to the screen. A faint scent of wood shavings and animal bedding crept into the air around her, replacing the familiar scent of her home.
The ferret stepped forward, its small paws making no sound as it moved closer to the edge of the screen. The boundaries between the real world and the world inside the TV continued to blur, the line between them growing thinner by the second. The cage around the ferret seemed to vanish, leaving the small creature free, its fur looking so soft, so real, as if it were just within arms reach. The screen no longer felt like a barrierit felt porous, almost inviting, as though with one more step, she could reach right through it.
The ferret's bright eyes never left hers. Yet, the sensation felt off, almost distant, as if her body and mind were becoming unmoored from each other. The need to pet the ferret, to feel its fur between her fingers, grew stronger with each passing second. A soft whisper of doubt flickered in the back of her mind, almost lost in the haze, but the temptation tugged at her, soothing and irresistible.
Chara squints her eyes as she studies the ferret as she slowly raises her hand to pet it "How does this feel so real..? Its like I am.. right there.."
As Chara's hand hovered near the screen, the air around her seemed to thicken, the warmth that had been comforting moments ago now carrying an unsettling weight. The glow from the television grew unnaturally bright, casting long, strange shadows that danced across the dimming room. The ferret's unblinking gaze seemed more intense now, its bright eyes almost too vivid, too sharp, as though it was watching her with an unnatural awareness. The soft sounds of the pet store, once inviting, had taken on a distant, hollow quality, as if they were echoing from a place far beyond the television.
The edges of the screen flickered, warping slightly, and the once gentle pull toward the ferret grew stronger, more insistent, as though something beyond her control was guiding her hand. Charas fingers brushed the glass, but the cold, hard surface felt strange, almost as if it were dissolving beneath her touch. The more she reached, the more disconnected her body felt, like she was being drawn into something deeper, something she couldn't fully understand.
A low, almost imperceptible hum began to rise, vibrating in the back of her mind, growing in intensity. For a brief moment, a sharp sense of wrongness pierced through the haze. The pull toward the ferret, once so comforting, now felt more like a trapan illusion too perfect, too tempting. The boundaries of the world around her seemed to blur even further, the line between reality and fantasy teetering on the edge of collapse.
Chara frowns as the air carries that unsettling weight, her eyes squint as the brightness of the television increases she looks around at the room confused as she is now touching the screen. She tries to pull her hand back until she can figure out whats going on.
As Chara attempted to pull her hand away, an unnatural resistance seemed to cling to her fingers, as if the screen itself was holding on. The once smooth surface of the television felt strangely soft and yielding, like it was no longer glass but something more fluid, more alive. The room around her had grown darker, its familiar shapes and colors fading into murky, indistinct shadows, leaving her on the plush couch that now felt too small, too isolated. The air grew heavier still, thick with a sense of foreboding, the comforting coziness of her living space replaced by an unsettling quiet.
The ferret on the screen hadnt moved, but its eyes seemed to glow now, watching her with a predatory focus. The brightness of the television flickered and pulsed, sending sharp, unnatural beams of light across the room, casting eerie reflections on the walls that stretched and distorted in ways that didnt make sense.
Chara starts to panic as her hand seems glued to the screen, sinking in she raises a foot to brace against the wall to help pull it out as she stares back at the ferrets gaze becoming deeply unsettled by how predatory it has become "Please let me go! No. LET ME GO!" she yells first starting meek but becoming more confident as she pushes up against the wall with her leg with each word
The ferrets predatory gaze faltered, its sharp, gleaming eyes flickering as though disrupted by Charas growing strength. The screen itself seemed to shimmer, no longer a solid surface pulling her in, but a fragile barrier, cracking under the pressure of her will. The heavy hum in the air wavered, the once suffocating energy around her lifting slightly, allowing her to take a deep breath.
With a sudden, sharp tug, Chara pulled her hand free from the screen, stumbling back onto the couch as the room snapped into clarity around her. The television flickered wildly, the image of the ferret distorting, its once menacing form glitching in and out of focus. The oppressive darkness that had consumed the room receded, leaving her free. Whatever had been trying to trap her had failedfor now.
Chara shakes her head as she tries to focus looking around the room and back up to the screen, reaching for the remote on the cushion next to her to try and change it to something else
The flickering television steadied, its once-distorted image snapping back into a typical Netflix menu as if nothing unusual had ever appeared on the screen. The strange, heavy atmosphere lifted, replaced by the gentle hum of the rooms appliances. The soft glow of the overhead light bathed the living room in warmth, illuminating the familiar, cozy space as if the shadows had never crept in.
(Someone in Haven has found out about the supernatural and is freaking out about it. They're at risk of exposing the secret, hurting themselves, or hurting others. Your target and their allies are tasked with containing the situation.
)
Ash had just finished embracing their beloved JR, the young, redheaded Reegan, after offering him a fiery bouquet in apology for their recent mistake. When their beloved leaves with the flowers, they're left in his restaurant, relieved as they move to their feet. Having come into great power as recently as the night before, they're churning internally as they try and take stock of what emotions remain, and which have slipped through their grasp. But, they've confirmed one thing - their love for their pyromantic pyromancer has remained, if not been enflamed by their increase in power being so tightly bound to his own growth.
stands and stretches, feeling renewed as they prepare for the rest of their day. Will it be training, via spar or mancing? Will they seek out a teacher or fellow student to study - after all, their next step in power is the goal that comes for them in January. Perhaps they will simply keep an eye out for curses, ghosts, or anyone their faction needs them to 'handle'. The day has opened before them like a blooming flower, and they feel a need to make the most of it.
Ash had just finished embracing their beloved JR, the young, redheaded Reegan, after offering him a fiery bouquet in apology for their recent mistake. When their beloved leaves with the flowers, they're left in his restaurant, relieved as they move to their feet. Having come into great power as recently as the night before, they're churning internally as they try and take stock of what emotions remain, and which have slipped through their grasp. But, they've confirmed one thing - their love for their pyromantic pyromancer has remained, if not been enflamed by their increase in power being so tightly bound to his own growth.
Ash stands and stretches, feeling renewed as they prepare for the rest of their day. Will it be training, via spar or mancing? Will they seek out a teacher or fellow student to study - after all, their next step in power is the goal that comes for them in January. Perhaps they will simply keep an eye out for curses, ghosts, or anyone their faction needs them to 'handle'. The day has opened before them like a blooming flower, and they feel a need to make the most of it. (fix)
It's a student, to be sure: Jonas, a classmate of Ash's at White Oak. The text message comes in urgently.
ash we have a problem come meet me
someone drops a pin, after; it's a hallway near one of the math classrooms, just off of the athletic fields south of campus. When Ash arrives, Jonas paces there, looking obviously concerned, and a few other classmates -- Steven, Harper, Payton -- are gathering also, hurrying in summoned perhaps by the same text message as Ash.
It's a student, to be sure: Jonas, a classmate of Ash's at White Oak. The text message comes in urgently.
ash we have a problem come meet me
Jonas drops a pin, after; it's a hallway near one of the math classrooms, just off of the athletic fields south of campus. When Ash arrives, Jonas paces there, looking obviously concerned, and a few other classmates -- Steven, Harper, Payton -- are gathering also, hurrying in summoned perhaps by the same text message as Ash.
Ash walks in with a cheerful hum, hands in their pocket, casual - but one can guess that it's affected, given how they've come in a timely manner. Their eyes, hidden behind prismatic lenses, flicks over each of their classmates in turn, before landing on someone. "Yo, Jonas... what's up," they ask, no doubt at least the fourth to have prompted such an answer from him in the short time it must have taken for the others to gather. They rub the back of one foot against the heel of another while turning to plant their upper back against a wall, lounging as they wait.
Ash walks in with a cheerful hum, hands in their pocket, casual - but one can guess that it's affected, given how they've come in a timely manner. Their eyes, hidden behind prismatic lenses, flicks over each of their classmates in turn, before landing on someone. "Yo, Jonas... what's up," they ask, no doubt at least the fourth to have prompted such an answer from him in the short time it must have taken for the others to gather. They rub the back of one foot against the heel of another while turning to plant their upper back against a wall, lounging as they wait.
Ash walks in with a cheerful hum, hands in their pocket, casual - but one can guess that it's affected, given how they've come in a timely manner. Their eyes, hidden behind prismatic lenses, flicks over each of their classmates in turn, before landing on Jonas. "Yo, Jonas... what's up," they ask, no doubt at least the fourth to have prompted such an answer from him in the short time it must have taken for the others to gather. They rub the back of one foot against the heel of another while turning to plant their upper back against a wall, lounging as they wait.
"Hey --" Jonas' words are concerned, as all gather around. "Okay. We're all here," he says. "Thanks for coming." It's a shot smile to Ash, genuine, as the quintet pulls in a little to listen to the young man. "Y'all know Haley?" he asks. He's got a drawl to him; from Columbia, South Carolina, Jonas was pulled to White Oak by some twist of fate when he touched some artifact in an old museum in Charleston and could suddenly see ghosts. The others have their own stories; purple-haired Harper is a dark-mascared goth whose rituals touch real things, while Payton and Steven, both on the lacrosse team, have their own different threads of divine blood giving strength to their sinews. "She texted me the other day," Jonas continues. "And I saw her, and she was -- well something got to her." Haley was a classmate, too, bubbly. "The kind of thing that doesn't have a heartbeat."
Ash is no different from the rest of them, a latent human whose transfer to White Oak was decided by unseen hands, resulting in their awareness and, perhaps as planned, awakening. Though they were involved in different groups across Haven now, White Oak has come to be the place of their rebirth... a place the seek to protect. So, when their classmate speaks of another of theirs getting turned, they frown. Their hand reaches into their pocket, fingering the wooden stake they made the night before, though they ended up not having to use it. Though it's not the first time they've killed for this campus, they don't grab the weapon just yet.
"She's been turned? Or a thrall," Ash asks with a voice whose chill they cannot fully bury in their concerned attempt at warmth. Their voice is low - sure, these things are safe to speak of on campus, but who knows who is listening? And more, unawares still have a habit of wandering through. Then, another thought occurs to them, and they offer "Wait... she was... still going... right?" He found a person, surely, and not a corpse?
"Turned," Jonas confirms to Ash with worry. "Turned and hungry. She came to me -- came on to me, really," he admits, a little sheepishly. "Y'all know how it is. We met off campus, and..." There is some low snigger, a chorus from Steven and Payton, though they're all still watching. For her part, Harper starts to spread out a few divining sticks from a cavernous bag she has.
"But I mean that happens, right?" the young man adds. "I figured I'd tell one of the teachers and that would be a thing -- except that I just got this DM on MyHaven." He turns his phone over to show the picture in question -- it's a short video clip from Haley, and it seems to show what looks like a bathtub at the Antlers. In the bathtub is a young man, tied and bound, and the caption says, "Since you didn't want to play I found a new friend." There are several kissing emoji to follow.
Ash nods to someone, not judging him - it happens. Perhaps it's because they're less repressed than the other two - or more likely, because they're on the asexual spectrum, they don't feel a need to shame him for it, or find it amusing. Their Hand-trained focus listens to the story, instead, analyzing it carefully. They do glance at someone' neck, though, before looking over the camera. They don't react to video in shock or horror, but they do tilt their head, noting the man's age when they ask, "Is that another student?"
Ash nods to Jonas, not judging him - it happens. Perhaps it's because they're less repressed than the other two - or more likely, because they're on the asexual spectrum, they don't feel a need to shame him for it, or find it amusing. Their Hand-trained focus listens to the story, instead, analyzing it carefully. They do glance at someone' neck, though, before looking over the camera. They don't react to video in shock or horror, but they do tilt their head, noting the man's age when they ask, "Is that another student?"
Ash nods to Jonas, not judging him - it happens. Perhaps it's because they're less repressed than the other two - or more likely, because they're on the asexual spectrum, they don't feel a need to shame him for it, or find it amusing. Their Hand-trained focus listens to the story, instead, analyzing it carefully. They do glance at Jonas's neck, though, before looking over the camera. They don't react to video in shock or horror, but they do tilt their head, noting the man's age when they ask, "Is that another student?"
"I don't recognize them," someone says, his voice shot through with worry.
Steven leans in. "Isn't that one of the DaveDash guys? I'm pretty sure I had him deliver Taco Bell to me once," he says. He pauses. "I don't think he knows." As Steven talks, Jonas' phone beeps again, and he shows it to the group:
coming? i promise i won't hurt you
"I don't recognize them," Jonas says, his voice shot through with worry.
Steven leans in. "Isn't that one of the DaveDash guys? I'm pretty sure I had him deliver Taco Bell to me once," he says. He pauses. "I don't think he knows." As Steven talks, Jonas' phone beeps again, and he shows it to the group:
coming? i promise i won't hurt you
Jones looks up. "We gotta go," he says. "I mean there's five of us, and --" He looks down at the phone, then back up. "You know?"
Ash blinks as they realize what's happening. "Oh! Oh, she's holding him as bait because she wants *you*." They nod shoulders relaxing for a bit as they murmur, "I was *wondering* what the issue was...." They blink, making a grimace as they try and correct it, saying, "I mean, why you didn't just tell a teacher."
Their empathy is already starting to fail them, betraying that they don't see what the problem is with a vampire feeding - or even glorifying it. But, where empathy fails, pattern recognition and memory returns. That's generally a bad thing. And with their fellow students seeming so... untouched by the true horrors of Haven, ensconced in the warmth of the protective facility of White Oak as it teaches them more on how to resist corruption than face it... they nod, firm.
"Alright, let's be clear. She *needs* to feed. She won't survive otherwise. We can save him, but when it comes to dealing with her... we need to all be on the same page. Are we trying to capture her, turn her in to the clinic and letting them handle her? The staff on campus are *made* to deal with this sort of thing, after all. Or do you think that she is a danger that needs to be *stopped*. You can rely on me to get my hands dirty" - and therefore, they are absolved of sin - "but we need to agree, and be firm. There's no time for hesitation once we're in there." They move on off of the wall, standing straight and stretching, getting ready to move without too much delay.
Harper speaks up, then. "I think the clinic," she says to Ash. "I mean. We've all had --" She trails off, uncomfortable. "We've all been in places we regret, right?" There's a look around the quintet; recognition, perhaps, of the trail of petty sins that each and every one of them has committed. "I haven't tied up a boy in a bathtub yet, but... I mean. She's hungry, like you say," she says, starting to gather her things. "That's the whole point of this stupid place, right?"
Ash nods, trying to hide a smile at her 'yet'. They instead offer a sigh, saying, "Yep, that's the point. Education, *re*education, rehabilitation, and all that. So that you keep at least *some* hold over your humanity, even though temptation and draw inspire you to corruption." They grumble, a thought in their mind flitting past before they shrug. "All in? What can y'all offer in this... let's call it a rescue. You all have rides, nightmare charms, any weapons? Or... actually...." They look down the hall to the east, then head that way, beckoning with the confidence of the leader, despite it being Jonas who invited them here. "We want baseball bats."
"Will lacrosse sticks count?" offers Payton. "I got the keys to the team equipment room," he says -- and sure enough, he's on the way. Lacrosse sticks are distributed, along with some inventory of skills and value. Pretty much everyone has nightmare charms to hand, and Harper has a handful of basic magic at her disposal. Jonas has a car. It's a tight fit, for all five of them, lacrosse sticks piled across everyone's lap in the back of a two-door Honda Civic, but then there they are, in front of the Antlers.
Jonas offers: "She was in 303, before --" This, said as they pause on the second floor landing.
Ash will only accept the lacrosse sticks if they are, of course, made of wood. Otherwise, a broom would be better. They take their scooter, stopping at Rosie's Diner to park, before meeting up with the others that they trailed there. They try to always have their own way out, though they're no stranger to walking across town. One the second floor landing, they hold up a finger, sniffing the air. They know that they probably won't smell her, unless she's wearing perfume, but they might smell her victim. A young male, different from the group before them... though, given that it's a hotel, their hope isn't very great.
To Jonas, they tell him in a low voice, "You're going alone, we're going into the nightmare. You're... a sensitive, right? You'll be able to see and hear us? You make sure her bathroom door is unlocked, if not outright open." They make their orders, looking up as they calculate where the room and bathroom should be. Though they've never had to stay there, due to being a White Oak student, they've wandered these halls quite a few times, in the nightmare. They look down and glances at the others, waiting for a consensus, and perhaps for them to ready themselves one last time.
"Okay." Jonas nods -- worried, even as the others follow Ash into the nightmare. They are some shadowed convoy around the young man as he ascends to the third floor and Room 303.
Knock, knock, knock -- there is nervousness in every one of Jonas' moves as he knocks on the door, and then it opens. Inside is Haley; nineteen, perhaps, pale, with blonde hair streaked with a shock of blue. She's in a tulle skirt and a tank top, one purple bra strap slipped down her shoulder, and when she smiles her lips are blood-red and her teeth are too sharp. "Jonas!" she exclaims. "I'm so glad you could come!" She steps back, inside, to invite the young man in, and for those in the nightmare it's clear the bathroom is unlocked. Hell, the door is open, with the struggling delivery boy panicked behind his duct-taped bonds and gag.
Ash leads the group right past the two into the bathroom, looking over the man. In low tones, intending to speak low so that she would overhear nightmare echoes from over in the doorway, they point to Steven and Payton, then to the boy, whispering, "Untie him." Then, they turn to run across the hall, running into the bathroom there so that they can come in through the mirror, come out through the door (with more than a little excitement and pleasure at the thought of startling whoever might be renting there), and tackle Haley while her back is turned - or at least, before she closes the door. As they pass by, rather than using it on themself, they tap Jonas on the shoulder, giving him a Fae Blessing as they shuffle fate, stacking the deck in his favor. Their plan is impromptu, but they know that they've put Jonas in the the most dangerous position, so he'll need it most.
The plan works well -- well, mostly. As Jonas is drawn into Haley, it seems as if Ash and his companions slip out of the bathroom mirror with the eerie, oily sliding between worlds that has no parallel in one's lived human experience. Ash has some swiftness to action, as do Steven and Payton, but it is the delivery driver who throws a wrench in the plan. He cries out as soon as now-quartet appears, and that makes Haley turn.
"Quiet --" she starts, and then she sees Ash, Steven, Payton, and Jonas. "Fuck!" she swears, and then she swears again. The second oath is not in English -- no, it's some word in another, unknown tongue as she suddenly seems to melt away into shadow.
"Bitch," Harper swears. "She shadowwalked."
Ash huffs, annoyed, but shakes their head. "Untie him... we managed the most important part. He's safe, and so is Jonas - I was worried that she'd attack *him* or hold him hostage. Harper, run a trace?" They close the front door, mumbling to themself as they try to replicate the word said for future research. "Amnesia," They command, almost as an aside, as they roll it over in their head so that they can try and repeat it to Google. They allow their senses to pick up on the energy in the room as they do so, feeding on the delivery driver's fear as well as any anger or other emotions the others may be feeling.
Harper begins to chant -- sketching out in chalk some circle in the floor of the hotel room. The delivery driver is freaking out. "What the fuck! How did you all! What is going on!" As soon as the gag comes off, he is beginning to scream, full of panic. Payton looks over at Ash.
"Amnesia's not one of my tricks," he tells them. "I can hit him with a lacrosse stick, but that's you know. Pretty inexact, as far as sciences go."
Following this harrowing dream encounter, the narrative shifts to Ash and their involvement with a supernatural issue at Haven. Ash and fellow students rally together upon learning that their classmate, Haley, has been turned into a vampire, displaying predatory behavior and using a captive as bait. Deciding to confront the situation, they arm themselves with lacrosse sticks and prepare for a confrontation, showing a willingness to engage with the darker sides of their world. Their collective decision to aim for Haley's rehabilitation over destruction demonstrates their desire to preserve humanity within the supernatural community, underlining themes of redemption and the complex navigation of moral choices within a world intertwined with the supernatural.
(Chara's odd encounter(SRRoselyn):SRRoselyn)
[Sat Sep 7 2024]
In a spacious, living room of timeless elegance
Deep, reddish tones of the mahogany wood flooring bring a sense of luxury and depth to the living area in its herringbone pattern. A neutral colour palette with a grey accent wall accentuates the rich tones of the leather furniture. The large room is illuminated by contemporary fixtures sunk into the ceiling, and an antique, Edwardian-style floor lamp adds a softer, more ambient glow.
It is afternoon, about 73F(22C) degrees,
(Your target is attacked by a dream stalker who subjects them to their greatest fantasies in the dream world in order to keep their body passive while it's energies are fed upon. They need to, possibly with the help of allies entering their dreams, resist the temptation long enough for other allies to find them or for them to wake up.
)
Chara stretches out on the sofa as she pulls out a remote thats resting on one of the cushions. Pointing it at the television she starts browsing through netflix seeing what seems appealing to watch right now. "I swear theres a thousand things on but nothing to watch.."
As Chara lazily flicked through the endless list of shows, the soft glow of the television cast flickering shadows across the room. The dull hum of the TV filled the cozy space, her fingers mindlessly clicking through titles that seemed to blur together. Outside the window, the afternoon sky had deepened into a dark, comforting blue, but inside, the world felt still and safe. The plush sofa beneath her would sink slightly if she shifted, the fabric warm from where she had been lounging. The faint scent of popcorn from some moment earlier in the day lingered in the air.
Without warning, the remote felt heavier in her hand, its plastic surface growing unnaturally warm. The channels she was browsing through froze on a single title, the rest of the interface dimming into an indistinct gray. A soft, almost imperceptible breeze drifted through the room, though no windows were open. The steady noise of the television started to warp, the audio twisting and slowing until it became a distant, distorted hum. The corners of the living room seemed to darken, blurring into shadow as the world outside the glow of the screen faded from her awareness.
The television flickered once, then twice, before displaying something entirely unexpected: a cage in a brightly lit pet store. The screen zoomed in slowly, focusing on a small, furry figure inside the cagea ferret. Its beady eyes gleamed with an unnatural clarity, watching intently. As the image grew sharper, more vivid, the rest of the living room began to soften at the edges, colors draining, textures losing their detail, as though everything beyond the screen was slipping out of focus.
Chara blinks as her surroundings blur "Oh, I must've hit the good stuff.." she rationalizes as the television flickers and the ferret appears on screen. She gives out a delight "Oh my god!" as she watches it, the heavy heavy remove dropping from her hand with a thud onto the couch "So cuute.." she says as she watches the television
The moment Chara blinked, the room seemed to pulse with a strange, fluid motion, as if the very air was rippling. The television screen glowed more intensely, pulling her focus entirely onto the ferret, its tiny nose twitching and paws pressed against the glass of its cage. The world beyond the television became dimmer still, the colors of the walls and furniture slowly bleeding away into muted grays. The soft thud of the remote hitting the couch barely registered in her mind as the ferrets curious movements entranced her.
The television image seemed to shift, subtly at first, the cage door creaking open on its own. The ferret stepped forward, more vivid than before, as though it were coming to life right there in front of her. The background around the cagea blurry reflection of her living roombegan to dissolve into something else entirely. The tile floor of a brightly lit pet store appeared, and the shelves behind the ferret slowly came into view, filled with colorful bags of pet food and small animal toys. The hum of the TV became distant, replaced by the soft rustle of bedding and the gentle sounds of animals moving in their cages.
The ferret cocked its head, locking its bright eyes onto hers as if it could see her through the screen. The sensation of warmth spread from her chest, a tugging feeling of joy that was hard to resist. But as the ferret stepped closer, almost impossibly close to the edge of the screen, the rest of the room blurred further. The sofa beneath her felt less solid, more like a fading memory, as if the comfort and familiarity of her home were being drained away, leaving only the bright, inviting world of the pet store. The lines between the two worlds grew thin, her vision growing hazy, and for a fleeting second, it felt as though she might could step right through the screen.
Chara tares, entranced by the screen, her eyes locked onto the ferrets unblinking gaze. The room around her seems to fade further into the background, "Is this like.. a live stream?" she wonders to herself and without fully realizing it, she inches closer, her mind becoming drawn to the screen as if some by invisible force "I want to pet it.."
Chara stares, entranced by the screen, her eyes locked onto the ferrets unblinking gaze. The room around her seems to fade further into the background, "Is this like.. a live stream?" she wonders to herself and without fully realizing it, she inches closer, her mind becoming drawn to the screen as if some by invisible force "I want to pet it.." -fixed-
As Chara inched closer to the screen, the pull toward the ferret became more palpable, like an unseen thread tugging gently at her mind. The edges of the room dissolved completely now, the once-familiar surroundings of her living room reduced to little more than shadows in her peripheral vision. The television flickered again, but the image of the ferret remained clear, its gaze unwavering, almost unnaturally so. The soft sounds of the pet store seemed to grow louder, more vivid, as though they were no longer confined to the screen. A faint scent of wood shavings and animal bedding crept into the air around her, replacing the familiar scent of her home.
The ferret stepped forward, its small paws making no sound as it moved closer to the edge of the screen. The boundaries between the real world and the world inside the TV continued to blur, the line between them growing thinner by the second. The cage around the ferret seemed to vanish, leaving the small creature free, its fur looking so soft, so real, as if it were just within arms reach. The screen no longer felt like a barrierit felt porous, almost inviting, as though with one more step, she could reach right through it.
The ferret's bright eyes never left hers. Yet, the sensation felt off, almost distant, as if her body and mind were becoming unmoored from each other. The need to pet the ferret, to feel its fur between her fingers, grew stronger with each passing second. A soft whisper of doubt flickered in the back of her mind, almost lost in the haze, but the temptation tugged at her, soothing and irresistible.
Chara squints her eyes as she studies the ferret as she slowly raises her hand to pet it "How does this feel so real..? Its like I am.. right there.."
As Chara's hand hovered near the screen, the air around her seemed to thicken, the warmth that had been comforting moments ago now carrying an unsettling weight. The glow from the television grew unnaturally bright, casting long, strange shadows that danced across the dimming room. The ferret's unblinking gaze seemed more intense now, its bright eyes almost too vivid, too sharp, as though it was watching her with an unnatural awareness. The soft sounds of the pet store, once inviting, had taken on a distant, hollow quality, as if they were echoing from a place far beyond the television.
The edges of the screen flickered, warping slightly, and the once gentle pull toward the ferret grew stronger, more insistent, as though something beyond her control was guiding her hand. Charas fingers brushed the glass, but the cold, hard surface felt strange, almost as if it were dissolving beneath her touch. The more she reached, the more disconnected her body felt, like she was being drawn into something deeper, something she couldn't fully understand.
A low, almost imperceptible hum began to rise, vibrating in the back of her mind, growing in intensity. For a brief moment, a sharp sense of wrongness pierced through the haze. The pull toward the ferret, once so comforting, now felt more like a trapan illusion too perfect, too tempting. The boundaries of the world around her seemed to blur even further, the line between reality and fantasy teetering on the edge of collapse.
Chara frowns as the air carries that unsettling weight, her eyes squint as the brightness of the television increases she looks around at the room confused as she is now touching the screen. She tries to pull her hand back until she can figure out whats going on.
As Chara attempted to pull her hand away, an unnatural resistance seemed to cling to her fingers, as if the screen itself was holding on. The once smooth surface of the television felt strangely soft and yielding, like it was no longer glass but something more fluid, more alive. The room around her had grown darker, its familiar shapes and colors fading into murky, indistinct shadows, leaving her on the plush couch that now felt too small, too isolated. The air grew heavier still, thick with a sense of foreboding, the comforting coziness of her living space replaced by an unsettling quiet.
The ferret on the screen hadnt moved, but its eyes seemed to glow now, watching her with a predatory focus. The brightness of the television flickered and pulsed, sending sharp, unnatural beams of light across the room, casting eerie reflections on the walls that stretched and distorted in ways that didnt make sense.
Chara starts to panic as her hand seems glued to the screen, sinking in she raises a foot to brace against the wall to help pull it out as she stares back at the ferrets gaze becoming deeply unsettled by how predatory it has become "Please let me go! No. LET ME GO!" she yells first starting meek but becoming more confident as she pushes up against the wall with her leg with each word
The ferrets predatory gaze faltered, its sharp, gleaming eyes flickering as though disrupted by Charas growing strength. The screen itself seemed to shimmer, no longer a solid surface pulling her in, but a fragile barrier, cracking under the pressure of her will. The heavy hum in the air wavered, the once suffocating energy around her lifting slightly, allowing her to take a deep breath.
With a sudden, sharp tug, Chara pulled her hand free from the screen, stumbling back onto the couch as the room snapped into clarity around her. The television flickered wildly, the image of the ferret distorting, its once menacing form glitching in and out of focus. The oppressive darkness that had consumed the room receded, leaving her free. Whatever had been trying to trap her had failedfor now.
Chara shakes her head as she tries to focus looking around the room and back up to the screen, reaching for the remote on the cushion next to her to try and change it to something else
The flickering television steadied, its once-distorted image snapping back into a typical Netflix menu as if nothing unusual had ever appeared on the screen. The strange, heavy atmosphere lifted, replaced by the gentle hum of the rooms appliances. The soft glow of the overhead light bathed the living room in warmth, illuminating the familiar, cozy space as if the shadows had never crept in.
(Someone in Haven has found out about the supernatural and is freaking out about it. They're at risk of exposing the secret, hurting themselves, or hurting others. Your target and their allies are tasked with containing the situation.
)
Ash had just finished embracing their beloved JR, the young, redheaded Reegan, after offering him a fiery bouquet in apology for their recent mistake. When their beloved leaves with the flowers, they're left in his restaurant, relieved as they move to their feet. Having come into great power as recently as the night before, they're churning internally as they try and take stock of what emotions remain, and which have slipped through their grasp. But, they've confirmed one thing - their love for their pyromantic pyromancer has remained, if not been enflamed by their increase in power being so tightly bound to his own growth.
stands and stretches, feeling renewed as they prepare for the rest of their day. Will it be training, via spar or mancing? Will they seek out a teacher or fellow student to study - after all, their next step in power is the goal that comes for them in January. Perhaps they will simply keep an eye out for curses, ghosts, or anyone their faction needs them to 'handle'. The day has opened before them like a blooming flower, and they feel a need to make the most of it.
Ash had just finished embracing their beloved JR, the young, redheaded Reegan, after offering him a fiery bouquet in apology for their recent mistake. When their beloved leaves with the flowers, they're left in his restaurant, relieved as they move to their feet. Having come into great power as recently as the night before, they're churning internally as they try and take stock of what emotions remain, and which have slipped through their grasp. But, they've confirmed one thing - their love for their pyromantic pyromancer has remained, if not been enflamed by their increase in power being so tightly bound to his own growth.
Ash stands and stretches, feeling renewed as they prepare for the rest of their day. Will it be training, via spar or mancing? Will they seek out a teacher or fellow student to study - after all, their next step in power is the goal that comes for them in January. Perhaps they will simply keep an eye out for curses, ghosts, or anyone their faction needs them to 'handle'. The day has opened before them like a blooming flower, and they feel a need to make the most of it. (fix)
It's a student, to be sure: Jonas, a classmate of Ash's at White Oak. The text message comes in urgently.
ash we have a problem come meet me
someone drops a pin, after; it's a hallway near one of the math classrooms, just off of the athletic fields south of campus. When Ash arrives, Jonas paces there, looking obviously concerned, and a few other classmates -- Steven, Harper, Payton -- are gathering also, hurrying in summoned perhaps by the same text message as Ash.
It's a student, to be sure: Jonas, a classmate of Ash's at White Oak. The text message comes in urgently.
ash we have a problem come meet me
Jonas drops a pin, after; it's a hallway near one of the math classrooms, just off of the athletic fields south of campus. When Ash arrives, Jonas paces there, looking obviously concerned, and a few other classmates -- Steven, Harper, Payton -- are gathering also, hurrying in summoned perhaps by the same text message as Ash.
Ash walks in with a cheerful hum, hands in their pocket, casual - but one can guess that it's affected, given how they've come in a timely manner. Their eyes, hidden behind prismatic lenses, flicks over each of their classmates in turn, before landing on someone. "Yo, Jonas... what's up," they ask, no doubt at least the fourth to have prompted such an answer from him in the short time it must have taken for the others to gather. They rub the back of one foot against the heel of another while turning to plant their upper back against a wall, lounging as they wait.
Ash walks in with a cheerful hum, hands in their pocket, casual - but one can guess that it's affected, given how they've come in a timely manner. Their eyes, hidden behind prismatic lenses, flicks over each of their classmates in turn, before landing on someone. "Yo, Jonas... what's up," they ask, no doubt at least the fourth to have prompted such an answer from him in the short time it must have taken for the others to gather. They rub the back of one foot against the heel of another while turning to plant their upper back against a wall, lounging as they wait.
Ash walks in with a cheerful hum, hands in their pocket, casual - but one can guess that it's affected, given how they've come in a timely manner. Their eyes, hidden behind prismatic lenses, flicks over each of their classmates in turn, before landing on Jonas. "Yo, Jonas... what's up," they ask, no doubt at least the fourth to have prompted such an answer from him in the short time it must have taken for the others to gather. They rub the back of one foot against the heel of another while turning to plant their upper back against a wall, lounging as they wait.
"Hey --" Jonas' words are concerned, as all gather around. "Okay. We're all here," he says. "Thanks for coming." It's a shot smile to Ash, genuine, as the quintet pulls in a little to listen to the young man. "Y'all know Haley?" he asks. He's got a drawl to him; from Columbia, South Carolina, Jonas was pulled to White Oak by some twist of fate when he touched some artifact in an old museum in Charleston and could suddenly see ghosts. The others have their own stories; purple-haired Harper is a dark-mascared goth whose rituals touch real things, while Payton and Steven, both on the lacrosse team, have their own different threads of divine blood giving strength to their sinews. "She texted me the other day," Jonas continues. "And I saw her, and she was -- well something got to her." Haley was a classmate, too, bubbly. "The kind of thing that doesn't have a heartbeat."
Ash is no different from the rest of them, a latent human whose transfer to White Oak was decided by unseen hands, resulting in their awareness and, perhaps as planned, awakening. Though they were involved in different groups across Haven now, White Oak has come to be the place of their rebirth... a place the seek to protect. So, when their classmate speaks of another of theirs getting turned, they frown. Their hand reaches into their pocket, fingering the wooden stake they made the night before, though they ended up not having to use it. Though it's not the first time they've killed for this campus, they don't grab the weapon just yet.
"She's been turned? Or a thrall," Ash asks with a voice whose chill they cannot fully bury in their concerned attempt at warmth. Their voice is low - sure, these things are safe to speak of on campus, but who knows who is listening? And more, unawares still have a habit of wandering through. Then, another thought occurs to them, and they offer "Wait... she was... still going... right?" He found a person, surely, and not a corpse?
"Turned," Jonas confirms to Ash with worry. "Turned and hungry. She came to me -- came on to me, really," he admits, a little sheepishly. "Y'all know how it is. We met off campus, and..." There is some low snigger, a chorus from Steven and Payton, though they're all still watching. For her part, Harper starts to spread out a few divining sticks from a cavernous bag she has.
"But I mean that happens, right?" the young man adds. "I figured I'd tell one of the teachers and that would be a thing -- except that I just got this DM on MyHaven." He turns his phone over to show the picture in question -- it's a short video clip from Haley, and it seems to show what looks like a bathtub at the Antlers. In the bathtub is a young man, tied and bound, and the caption says, "Since you didn't want to play I found a new friend." There are several kissing emoji to follow.
Ash nods to someone, not judging him - it happens. Perhaps it's because they're less repressed than the other two - or more likely, because they're on the asexual spectrum, they don't feel a need to shame him for it, or find it amusing. Their Hand-trained focus listens to the story, instead, analyzing it carefully. They do glance at someone' neck, though, before looking over the camera. They don't react to video in shock or horror, but they do tilt their head, noting the man's age when they ask, "Is that another student?"
Ash nods to Jonas, not judging him - it happens. Perhaps it's because they're less repressed than the other two - or more likely, because they're on the asexual spectrum, they don't feel a need to shame him for it, or find it amusing. Their Hand-trained focus listens to the story, instead, analyzing it carefully. They do glance at someone' neck, though, before looking over the camera. They don't react to video in shock or horror, but they do tilt their head, noting the man's age when they ask, "Is that another student?"
Ash nods to Jonas, not judging him - it happens. Perhaps it's because they're less repressed than the other two - or more likely, because they're on the asexual spectrum, they don't feel a need to shame him for it, or find it amusing. Their Hand-trained focus listens to the story, instead, analyzing it carefully. They do glance at Jonas's neck, though, before looking over the camera. They don't react to video in shock or horror, but they do tilt their head, noting the man's age when they ask, "Is that another student?"
"I don't recognize them," someone says, his voice shot through with worry.
Steven leans in. "Isn't that one of the DaveDash guys? I'm pretty sure I had him deliver Taco Bell to me once," he says. He pauses. "I don't think he knows." As Steven talks, Jonas' phone beeps again, and he shows it to the group:
coming? i promise i won't hurt you
"I don't recognize them," Jonas says, his voice shot through with worry.
Steven leans in. "Isn't that one of the DaveDash guys? I'm pretty sure I had him deliver Taco Bell to me once," he says. He pauses. "I don't think he knows." As Steven talks, Jonas' phone beeps again, and he shows it to the group:
coming? i promise i won't hurt you
Jones looks up. "We gotta go," he says. "I mean there's five of us, and --" He looks down at the phone, then back up. "You know?"
Ash blinks as they realize what's happening. "Oh! Oh, she's holding him as bait because she wants *you*." They nod shoulders relaxing for a bit as they murmur, "I was *wondering* what the issue was...." They blink, making a grimace as they try and correct it, saying, "I mean, why you didn't just tell a teacher."
Their empathy is already starting to fail them, betraying that they don't see what the problem is with a vampire feeding - or even glorifying it. But, where empathy fails, pattern recognition and memory returns. That's generally a bad thing. And with their fellow students seeming so... untouched by the true horrors of Haven, ensconced in the warmth of the protective facility of White Oak as it teaches them more on how to resist corruption than face it... they nod, firm.
"Alright, let's be clear. She *needs* to feed. She won't survive otherwise. We can save him, but when it comes to dealing with her... we need to all be on the same page. Are we trying to capture her, turn her in to the clinic and letting them handle her? The staff on campus are *made* to deal with this sort of thing, after all. Or do you think that she is a danger that needs to be *stopped*. You can rely on me to get my hands dirty" - and therefore, they are absolved of sin - "but we need to agree, and be firm. There's no time for hesitation once we're in there." They move on off of the wall, standing straight and stretching, getting ready to move without too much delay.
Harper speaks up, then. "I think the clinic," she says to Ash. "I mean. We've all had --" She trails off, uncomfortable. "We've all been in places we regret, right?" There's a look around the quintet; recognition, perhaps, of the trail of petty sins that each and every one of them has committed. "I haven't tied up a boy in a bathtub yet, but... I mean. She's hungry, like you say," she says, starting to gather her things. "That's the whole point of this stupid place, right?"
Ash nods, trying to hide a smile at her 'yet'. They instead offer a sigh, saying, "Yep, that's the point. Education, *re*education, rehabilitation, and all that. So that you keep at least *some* hold over your humanity, even though temptation and draw inspire you to corruption." They grumble, a thought in their mind flitting past before they shrug. "All in? What can y'all offer in this... let's call it a rescue. You all have rides, nightmare charms, any weapons? Or... actually...." They look down the hall to the east, then head that way, beckoning with the confidence of the leader, despite it being Jonas who invited them here. "We want baseball bats."
"Will lacrosse sticks count?" offers Payton. "I got the keys to the team equipment room," he says -- and sure enough, he's on the way. Lacrosse sticks are distributed, along with some inventory of skills and value. Pretty much everyone has nightmare charms to hand, and Harper has a handful of basic magic at her disposal. Jonas has a car. It's a tight fit, for all five of them, lacrosse sticks piled across everyone's lap in the back of a two-door Honda Civic, but then there they are, in front of the Antlers.
Jonas offers: "She was in 303, before --" This, said as they pause on the second floor landing.
Ash will only accept the lacrosse sticks if they are, of course, made of wood. Otherwise, a broom would be better. They take their scooter, stopping at Rosie's Diner to park, before meeting up with the others that they trailed there. They try to always have their own way out, though they're no stranger to walking across town. One the second floor landing, they hold up a finger, sniffing the air. They know that they probably won't smell her, unless she's wearing perfume, but they might smell her victim. A young male, different from the group before them... though, given that it's a hotel, their hope isn't very great.
To Jonas, they tell him in a low voice, "You're going alone, we're going into the nightmare. You're... a sensitive, right? You'll be able to see and hear us? You make sure her bathroom door is unlocked, if not outright open." They make their orders, looking up as they calculate where the room and bathroom should be. Though they've never had to stay there, due to being a White Oak student, they've wandered these halls quite a few times, in the nightmare. They look down and glances at the others, waiting for a consensus, and perhaps for them to ready themselves one last time.
"Okay." Jonas nods -- worried, even as the others follow Ash into the nightmare. They are some shadowed convoy around the young man as he ascends to the third floor and Room 303.
Knock, knock, knock -- there is nervousness in every one of Jonas' moves as he knocks on the door, and then it opens. Inside is Haley; nineteen, perhaps, pale, with blonde hair streaked with a shock of blue. She's in a tulle skirt and a tank top, one purple bra strap slipped down her shoulder, and when she smiles her lips are blood-red and her teeth are too sharp. "Jonas!" she exclaims. "I'm so glad you could come!" She steps back, inside, to invite the young man in, and for those in the nightmare it's clear the bathroom is unlocked. Hell, the door is open, with the struggling delivery boy panicked behind his duct-taped bonds and gag.
Ash leads the group right past the two into the bathroom, looking over the man. In low tones, intending to speak low so that she would overhear nightmare echoes from over in the doorway, they point to Steven and Payton, then to the boy, whispering, "Untie him." Then, they turn to run across the hall, running into the bathroom there so that they can come in through the mirror, come out through the door (with more than a little excitement and pleasure at the thought of startling whoever might be renting there), and tackle Haley while her back is turned - or at least, before she closes the door. As they pass by, rather than using it on themself, they tap Jonas on the shoulder, giving him a Fae Blessing as they shuffle fate, stacking the deck in his favor. Their plan is impromptu, but they know that they've put Jonas in the the most dangerous position, so he'll need it most.
The plan works well -- well, mostly. As Jonas is drawn into Haley, it seems as if Ash and his companions slip out of the bathroom mirror with the eerie, oily sliding between worlds that has no parallel in one's lived human experience. Ash has some swiftness to action, as do Steven and Payton, but it is the delivery driver who throws a wrench in the plan. He cries out as soon as now-quartet appears, and that makes Haley turn.
"Quiet --" she starts, and then she sees Ash, Steven, Payton, and Jonas. "Fuck!" she swears, and then she swears again. The second oath is not in English -- no, it's some word in another, unknown tongue as she suddenly seems to melt away into shadow.
"Bitch," Harper swears. "She shadowwalked."
Ash huffs, annoyed, but shakes their head. "Untie him... we managed the most important part. He's safe, and so is Jonas - I was worried that she'd attack *him* or hold him hostage. Harper, run a trace?" They close the front door, mumbling to themself as they try to replicate the word said for future research. "Amnesia," They command, almost as an aside, as they roll it over in their head so that they can try and repeat it to Google. They allow their senses to pick up on the energy in the room as they do so, feeding on the delivery driver's fear as well as any anger or other emotions the others may be feeling.
Harper begins to chant -- sketching out in chalk some circle in the floor of the hotel room. The delivery driver is freaking out. "What the fuck! How did you all! What is going on!" As soon as the gag comes off, he is beginning to scream, full of panic. Payton looks over at Ash.
"Amnesia's not one of my tricks," he tells them. "I can hit him with a lacrosse stick, but that's you know. Pretty inexact, as far as sciences go."