revivalproject | Shadowplay

WHO: Celty and you
WHERE: Various locations
WHAT: What's a ~~dullahan~~ girl gotta do to relax around here?
WHEN: Mid to end of June
WARNINGS: Headless women.

I. Soaking in the Sun

The beach isn't a place she's come out to very often, and the few times she has, it's been to slip into the hot springs deep in the nearby caves for a soak. Today is different.

Vacations aren't a thing she's particularly done, mostly because of her personal circumstances. It's one thing to become an urban legend, it's another to actually be seen as she is and not cause people to scream and overreact in panic, usually with blunt weapons or a vehicle.

She's done some thinking since being stuck surrounded by white walls that were on occasion slathered in peanut butter to spell inane things. There are stranger people than she, and if she can accept that, then perhaps they can accept her. That decision alone has lifted some strange weight she'd never realized had been on her shoulders. It's kind of like when she decided to follow Shinra's suggestion and give up her search, back home.

And now she's here. She can only imagine Shinra pouting at missing out at seeing her at the beach. The thought is cute, although it also brings the ache of homesickness. Sighing, Celty sets the shadowy kickstand on her motorcycle before turning to the sun-dappled shade of the space she's chosen, near the edge of the treeline down the purple-sanded shores. With a flick of her wrist she forms a chair entirely of blackness, shadows twisting and shaping there on the sand. In another swirl, her black bodysuit shifts and resituates itself around her as a modest one-piece swimsuit. Lastly she removes her helmet, setting it beside the chair as she settles into it with a sigh before forming a big black 'straw' hat to drape over where one's head would have been.

This...isn't so bad, she thinks.

II. Drop-offs & Deliveries

Maybe you see the black motorcycle around Temba's streets, weaving expertly along to avoid less smooth or uncleared roads, or taking a chance on some of the more uneven ones. Regardless, it's clear that the Black Rider's been learning her way around the city, getting to know its roads. There's no rumble of an engine that accompanies these outings, nothing save the crunch of gravel under wheels or the occasional screech. Sometimes the sound of- what one might swear- a ghostly whinny, but surely it's something of the imagination, the wind, perhaps.

Celty makes good on her offer from a couple months prior, willing to help carry loads for people if they need assistance transporting something, or just want a lift from one end of the city to the other. They can either contact her on the network or flag her down if they see her.

III. Something Else?

(Got any ideas in particular? Choose your own adventure!)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's concerning. Well, more than concerning, really. But perhaps at the same time it's a little relieving. Celty's fairly certain she's not seen anyone act in such ways...well, save for one person but that matter, from what she'd heard, had been a personal one, if very warped.

She nods.

[If their manifestation causes them to go after others, then I don't think there have been any here.]

So far, she thinks in addendum.

[I'll keep an eye out though. But how does one deal with a Shade?]

Dustin's shoulders sag with relief - more than he was expecting to feel, given the circumstances. Logically he should have come to the same conclusion that Celty has; he already knows from Tommy that there's only one 'murderer' known among them, and Quentin hardly seems like the Shade type. But it's surprisingly comforting to have a second opinion, especially from someone that has listened and seems to understand the gravity of the threat.

That being said, Celty's follow-up question drags the rug right out from underneath him. Dustin's mouth opens to answer, pauses, then awkwardly shuts it again, suddenly looking very unsure of himself.

"I...don't know, actually." That's a phrase Dustin isn't used to saying, and he hates it. The boy folds his arms tightly against his chest. "The person who did the most extensive research on them--he claimed he was able to kill them. Framed it as a kind of 'exorcism' to trap them fully in the Astral." Dustin lifts one hand to emphasize with air quotes, where appropriate. "But he never actually published any detailed research on his methods, and the footage he has of it is..."

The teenager trails off with a deep frown. 'Faked' is the frank truth of it, but admitting that about his father's work - the man that he's idolized since Dustin knew he existed - feels fundamentally wrong. He can't lie about it either, though. So instead, for once, he takes the diplomatic route. Poorly.

"...Well, it's, uh...not replicable."

Being a supernatural being herself, she has no reason not to believe in the existence of otherworldly threats, and even less reason that there wouldn't be the possibility of any being brought or finding their way here. If they can be brought here, there's not much barring anything else from being brought here as well.

Dustin's sudden lack of an answer is surprising after all the information that the teenager's managed to supply. It's not very reassuring that there's no known way to deal with these things should they make an appearance, and this from their default resident expert. Well, it's a bridge to cross when they come to it. Celty doesn't want to let herself get worked up for something that might not even be here, but she'll still watch out for anything unusual. She nods once at Dustin. An inadequate response, but she can already tell that it bothers Dustin just to admit as much.

[Hopefully none find their way here. I'll still keep an eye out.]

Dustin brushes off his anxiety with a quick shake of his head. It's difficult to read if Celty is disappointed, so he decides that it's not worth agonizing over it. She's listened and she's willing to help. Could I really ask for more?

"Right." Dustin returns Celty's nod with one of his own, straightening his back. "Um...thanks."

This isn't something he's used to saying, either. Dustin runs a hand through his hair, looking pensive. I owe her for this.

"Is there anything I can do for you?"

Celty offers him another nod at the thanks. It's certainly progress considering a while ago when he'd first come upon her.

The helmet tilts at the question. She can't really think of anything. Easiest would be to ask that he keep her lack of a head a secret, but then she thinks that'll eventually come to light either way. It's not much of a secret she's tried to keep so close these days.

After a moment, she brings up her tablet to type.

[Let me know if you ever need a ride anywhere. Or help moving things.]

It seems more further offer on her side than the other way around, but she wanted to feel useful. Solving mysteries or alien problems isn't her forte, but this is something at least.

Dustin's expression goes deadpan as he reads the offered tablet.

"...That's not how this works." Seems he's cued into the fact that this is less a request for him and more offers from Celty. That simply won't suffice. Dustin ponders his options, out loud for the dullahan's benefit. "I'm good with machines. I don't know if Shooter is self-sustaining in terms of maintenance, but I could help tune him up if he isn't. Or..."

The teen puts a hand to his chin, idly scratching at the stringy patch of stubble he's managed to grow there.

"...Studying the range of your abilities, I guess? That's more of a mutual interest, but it sounded like something you wanted to figure out - the fact that it fits into my research is a secondary benefit."

The woman seems to sigh at that, however unsurprised that Dustin isn't going for her suggestions. She folds her arms, waiting as the boy looks to be trying to think of some better ones. The latter option makes her think of Shinra. Dustin seems a more intense version of him though, and yet at the same time more aware of personal boundaries, which was saying something.

[No need to worry about Shooter.

As far as abilities go, I guess it might be nice to see how else they can come in handy. Obviously people have little use for a courier around here.]

Dustin nods back. He's not terribly surprised about Shooter, though he can't help but feel a little disappointed anyway. He would've loved an excuse to see how that bike works in detail. But, just like he wouldn't expect someone to let him perform exploratory surgery without reason, he can't assume that Shooter would be pleased with such treatment either. Dustin will just have to deal.

Being able to study Celty's abilities instead is a fine compromise, anyway. "Noted," he says briskly, all business. "Come up with a list of questions or points of interest related to your powers. I have my own, but I don't have time to deal with that right now."

Dustin's not intending to be rude, although the fact that he's essentially assigning Celty homework and then telling her he's got better priorities at the moment might come across that way. Rather, his tone is direct, matter-of-fact. This is just how things are.

"Meet me in a week at the high-rises in Temba's northwest corner. I'll have a fire lit on one of the roofs. Shouldn't be able to miss it. We can discuss more then."

A list of questions? Celty holds back another sigh. She imagines it'll be a very short list given she hasn't given a whole lot of thought on her powers. So long as she's able to do something, then that's been good enough for her. She imagines that Dustin's own questions will have to supplement. If he really wants to know things.

Shrugging, she gives him a nod then. She supposes she can try, granted other things don't come up. Opening up the map on her tablet, she consults it a moment as she commits the meeting place to memory.

[All right. A week from now.]

Or as close to a standard week as they can figure here.

Celty slips the tablet away, moving closer to her motorcycle to grasp the handlebars. The kickstand holding the bike up simply morphs back into the rest of the vehicle as she begins to walk it along the sand back to firmer ground.

Likewise, Dustin considers this conversation concluded and starts walking the opposite direction down the beach. Still need to grab a few undisturbed samples of this weird sand, maybe grab some old alien shells to get an idea of the local shoreline ecosystem...very busy, clearly. At least this unexpected meeting did not end as disastrously as Dustin was originally anticipating it would.

Shadowplay

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject