![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
[Mortals] - Lies and Politics
Sep. 4th, 2011 09:56 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
lslaw.livejournal.com"He's not really the secretary; that wasn't a proper election."
That may have been the scariest thing I have ever heard. If I had any hopes left that becoming one of the Kings would leave a person unscathed, it left me then.
I was there; I saw the election. There was a proper show of hands and everything was at least as formal as any other election the CFSS has ever held. If there was any impropriety then I'm not aware of it. Matthew was elected as secretary of the CFSS and everyone seemed fine with that.
And then I pointed out that the Secretary approves - by which I mean, writes down - new memberships. I think that was when she changed her mind. Now, she's refuting the election and, I guess, claiming the post for herself.
I never expected to be this worried about one person being President and Secretary of the Society; it should not matter, but I can see what she's doing. It's a power play, part of their stupid game, and a good one. If she can gather enough control over the society, she has something over Diamonds. If she gets enough control then, in theory, she'll start exerting a mystical influence over all of us.
I need to find out when the next election is due and... I think either Emma or I need to stand for President; or we quit altogether. Otherwise, we might be stepping into her suit.
Anna says that you have to knowingly accept that; that you can't fall into it.
I wish I could be sure she was wrong, and not just lying.
That may have been the scariest thing I have ever heard. If I had any hopes left that becoming one of the Kings would leave a person unscathed, it left me then.
I was there; I saw the election. There was a proper show of hands and everything was at least as formal as any other election the CFSS has ever held. If there was any impropriety then I'm not aware of it. Matthew was elected as secretary of the CFSS and everyone seemed fine with that.
And then I pointed out that the Secretary approves - by which I mean, writes down - new memberships. I think that was when she changed her mind. Now, she's refuting the election and, I guess, claiming the post for herself.
I never expected to be this worried about one person being President and Secretary of the Society; it should not matter, but I can see what she's doing. It's a power play, part of their stupid game, and a good one. If she can gather enough control over the society, she has something over Diamonds. If she gets enough control then, in theory, she'll start exerting a mystical influence over all of us.
I need to find out when the next election is due and... I think either Emma or I need to stand for President; or we quit altogether. Otherwise, we might be stepping into her suit.
Anna says that you have to knowingly accept that; that you can't fall into it.
I wish I could be sure she was wrong, and not just lying.
[Mortals] I'll be brief(ing)
Jul. 5th, 2011 08:56 pmsotongeistooc.livejournal.com "Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to my secret underground LAIR. Or, for those not fond of acronyms, Laboratory And Investigation Room.
He strode in front of the whirring projector, his body casting a silhouette on the shifting stream of data beaming out. The air in the room was surprisingly cold for such a strange, tight space, and the others wondered just how much Big X paid to keep the place cool.
"Perhaps I should begin with a brief explanation. Since the beginning of Operation BUNGLE and Operations GEORGE and ZIPPY, K Section has been aware of the presence of others aware of the reality of the world. Be it cryptozoological manifestations combining fauna and flora,"
The slide behind changed to a hideous, mangled video of a man electrocuting a plant. Only it wasn't a plant; each bud, each flower, was the screaming head of a malformed rat, which snarled, snapped, bit and squealed independently as they exploded in a cascade of red gore.
"Cryptozoological manifestations of sentient life, which have since resulted in mutations to the local populace,"
The presentation shifted, using the most annoying whizzy circle morph known to PowerPoint, into a calcified creature, hunched and hideous, its face staring at the freezeframe with alien eyes.
"Or creatures that can manifest out of thin air and do not obey the laws of physics or human nature."
The final slide; a rotting corpse, dissolving like a pod person into a slippery puddle of ectoplasm.
"For a year now, we have struggled. We valiant few, trusted with the horrid secret of the world at large. We have pushed forward, investigating the strangest and most troublesome claims. We have risked our own sanity, tested our own nerve, but we have always overcome, beacons of that triumphant human spirit that leaves us unconquered in the face of all manner of worrisome beastie. We, alone, have continued to protect the world at large, exploring this bountiful fountain of human knowledge, probing the depths of the dark mysteries that lurk upon this green and pleasant England, and further. We have continued our quest on the cutting edge of scientific knowledge, with no safety rope. And, like Mallory, we shall reach the summit of this formidable Everest we call the unknown!"
He paused, hands raised to hush the room to silence. "I said alone, didn't I? Well, chaps and chums of K Section, no more. For there are others like us too. I refer not to The Registry - and again, Order 2 prohibits K Section to reveal itself or make formal contact with that organisation.
He strode in front of the whirring projector, his body casting a silhouette on the shifting stream of data beaming out. The air in the room was surprisingly cold for such a strange, tight space, and the others wondered just how much Big X paid to keep the place cool.
"Perhaps I should begin with a brief explanation. Since the beginning of Operation BUNGLE and Operations GEORGE and ZIPPY, K Section has been aware of the presence of others aware of the reality of the world. Be it cryptozoological manifestations combining fauna and flora,"
The slide behind changed to a hideous, mangled video of a man electrocuting a plant. Only it wasn't a plant; each bud, each flower, was the screaming head of a malformed rat, which snarled, snapped, bit and squealed independently as they exploded in a cascade of red gore.
"Cryptozoological manifestations of sentient life, which have since resulted in mutations to the local populace,"
The presentation shifted, using the most annoying whizzy circle morph known to PowerPoint, into a calcified creature, hunched and hideous, its face staring at the freezeframe with alien eyes.
"Or creatures that can manifest out of thin air and do not obey the laws of physics or human nature."
The final slide; a rotting corpse, dissolving like a pod person into a slippery puddle of ectoplasm.
"For a year now, we have struggled. We valiant few, trusted with the horrid secret of the world at large. We have pushed forward, investigating the strangest and most troublesome claims. We have risked our own sanity, tested our own nerve, but we have always overcome, beacons of that triumphant human spirit that leaves us unconquered in the face of all manner of worrisome beastie. We, alone, have continued to protect the world at large, exploring this bountiful fountain of human knowledge, probing the depths of the dark mysteries that lurk upon this green and pleasant England, and further. We have continued our quest on the cutting edge of scientific knowledge, with no safety rope. And, like Mallory, we shall reach the summit of this formidable Everest we call the unknown!"
He paused, hands raised to hush the room to silence. "I said alone, didn't I? Well, chaps and chums of K Section, no more. For there are others like us too. I refer not to The Registry - and again, Order 2 prohibits K Section to reveal itself or make formal contact with that organisation.
"Instead, I refer to three other groups. Ladies and Gentlemen, I refer to the Circle of Hermetics, Project Gargamel, and Mr Scarecrow..."
(Mortals) Alternates (March challenge)
Mar. 21st, 2011 05:22 pmakonken.livejournal.com"No sh*t, there I was - using a chair to batter at the idea that there is no distinction between being and nothingness."
Now it's dark, and she's staring at the ceiling. Even Trouble is asleep, his purrs long petered out.
"I came back for you," she says again, turning her head to whisper and smiling as his ear flicks against her chin in the wake of her breath.
"I am currently trapped inside one of those giant zorb balls. Please can you attend the sale at Darke's on my behalf, and buy anything that you think I'd like to have."
She looks back at the ceiling. She can't see it in the dark, but she knows it's there. Like everything else in her life.
"Batman Industries doesn't exist here."
Yet again she'd let her temper get the worse of her. Not to mention Meleagraunce Darke. Shoplifting and assault.
"I have two theories. One: we could be in Hell." "Do you deserve to be in Hell?"
Was "I just wanted to go home" a good enough excuse? She doubts it. Will they know if they saved that world? She's not so sure about that either.
"Lucky to have you on board, Gold Leader."
What she really wants to know is if they can save this one.
Now it's dark, and she's staring at the ceiling. Even Trouble is asleep, his purrs long petered out.
"I came back for you," she says again, turning her head to whisper and smiling as his ear flicks against her chin in the wake of her breath.
"I am currently trapped inside one of those giant zorb balls. Please can you attend the sale at Darke's on my behalf, and buy anything that you think I'd like to have."
She looks back at the ceiling. She can't see it in the dark, but she knows it's there. Like everything else in her life.
"Batman Industries doesn't exist here."
Yet again she'd let her temper get the worse of her. Not to mention Meleagraunce Darke. Shoplifting and assault.
"I have two theories. One: we could be in Hell." "Do you deserve to be in Hell?"
Was "I just wanted to go home" a good enough excuse? She doubts it. Will they know if they saved that world? She's not so sure about that either.
"Lucky to have you on board, Gold Leader."
What she really wants to know is if they can save this one.
(Mortals) Freaky Friday - Emma/Mike
Feb. 10th, 2011 01:27 pmakonken.livejournal.comIt was meant to be an experiment about brainwave patterns. You know the kind of thing; "what card am I holding up?" Only, of course, this was done in the secret lab, with fitted electrode caps on our heads.
Have I mentioned I love working here? This will become relevant.
So, we were sitting there and I was failing the test. (I think I got two right out of thirty.)
Then lightning struck.
No, I mean it literally struck.
You know how in Bugs Bunny cartoons, when characters get struck by lightening, they go all shaky and you can see their skeletons through their skin and then they walk around all jittery for a bit? That's not what happens in real life.
First of all, it hurts like hell. Like electricity running through all your nerve endings, let's say. And then there's a sort of aftershock (pun not intended), as your synapses try to recover.
I realised after a moment that I was having an out-of-body experience. I watched myself blink and look around. I listened to myself say "Emma, test the machines and-"
I giggled to myself, although it came out as a good-natured, deep-voiced chortle.
"Oh, sh-" I realised I was, indeed, in Mike's body. "-ugar."
More experiments, we decided, were in order. And quickly.
Have I mentioned I love working here? This will become relevant.
So, we were sitting there and I was failing the test. (I think I got two right out of thirty.)
Then lightning struck.
No, I mean it literally struck.
You know how in Bugs Bunny cartoons, when characters get struck by lightening, they go all shaky and you can see their skeletons through their skin and then they walk around all jittery for a bit? That's not what happens in real life.
First of all, it hurts like hell. Like electricity running through all your nerve endings, let's say. And then there's a sort of aftershock (pun not intended), as your synapses try to recover.
I realised after a moment that I was having an out-of-body experience. I watched myself blink and look around. I listened to myself say "Emma, test the machines and-"
I giggled to myself, although it came out as a good-natured, deep-voiced chortle.
"Oh, sh-" I realised I was, indeed, in Mike's body. "-ugar."
More experiments, we decided, were in order. And quickly.
http://users.livejournal.com/_crimsonearth/This topic is such a big one - I couldn't pick one character - so I picked all of them. Snippets of the background story of each.
( Whispers of the past. )
( Whispers of the past. )
[Mortals] Archaeology
Jan. 7th, 2011 06:54 pmlslaw.livejournal.comMr Peach - radicals, ice cream, fish (from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
yoda_ic, with apologies for ripping off Jesus Cthulhu.)
( Archaeology )
yoda_ic, with apologies for ripping off Jesus Cthulhu.)( Archaeology )
[Mortals] Physician
Dec. 7th, 2010 10:32 amlslaw.livejournal.comHe packs things away carefully, methodically, finding some vestige of peace in the measured action of preparation. Clothes taken from the wardrobe, folded and boxed, the boxes stacked carefully in the spare room. Papers the same; his notepad and scrapbook on top. It takes several hours, but in time the house is cleaned; everything of his gathered together out of sight.
He locks the spare room door and hangs the key on the handle.
Memory stings; the time she caught him in there, coating the walls in dry-wipe paint. His first breakdown. The silver scar on his hand is a permanent reminder.
He checks the living room, the bedroom. More memories; the happy and the troubling. Her face flushed with passion and joy while the burn on her leg oozed blood. The best news in the world. The door slamming as she left.
He locks the door, posts the key. He won't return uninvited.
The ambulance is waiting; kind of them to send it. An orderly helps him into the back; respectful. They know he is a doctor.
He glances back once, then on to the future. He knows that there are people he is abandoning: Anna, Val, Rowan. He knows he can't let that stop him. He is not Atlas; the world is not on his shoulders.
His future is two people: His wife and his unborn child. He will be there for them; he must.
He lies back and sighs.
"Physician, heal thyself."
He locks the spare room door and hangs the key on the handle.
Memory stings; the time she caught him in there, coating the walls in dry-wipe paint. His first breakdown. The silver scar on his hand is a permanent reminder.
He checks the living room, the bedroom. More memories; the happy and the troubling. Her face flushed with passion and joy while the burn on her leg oozed blood. The best news in the world. The door slamming as she left.
He locks the door, posts the key. He won't return uninvited.
The ambulance is waiting; kind of them to send it. An orderly helps him into the back; respectful. They know he is a doctor.
He glances back once, then on to the future. He knows that there are people he is abandoning: Anna, Val, Rowan. He knows he can't let that stop him. He is not Atlas; the world is not on his shoulders.
His future is two people: His wife and his unborn child. He will be there for them; he must.
He lies back and sighs.
"Physician, heal thyself."
[November Challenge] Worlds collide
Oct. 23rd, 2010 02:52 amhttp://users.livejournal.com/_crimsonearth/With apologies to seph_hazard for somewhat implicating Anna in the death of my newest character, however, on the plus side, this is the one fic so far that is entirely speculation and not, in fact, an IC event, so hoping she'll forgive me. ^_^
( "I can't unsee what I've seen," Eva had said. "I need to know more..." )
seph_hazard for somewhat implicating Anna in the death of my newest character, however, on the plus side, this is the one fic so far that is entirely speculation and not, in fact, an IC event, so hoping she'll forgive me. ^_^( "I can't unsee what I've seen," Eva had said. "I need to know more..." )
We all have our parts to play
Oct. 21st, 2010 11:57 amlslaw.livejournal.comSgt. Arthur Decker, Hertfordshire Constabulary. Died 28/09/08 in the line of duty, posthumously decorated for bravery.
Dr Solomon Crane. Died 27/09/08, GSW.
Andrew Peter Smith. Died 28/09/08, traumatic exsanguination.
Mr James Peach, civil servant. Died 28/09/08, suspected foul play.
Dr Julius van Helsing. Died 29/09/08, suicide by hanging. Police noted a scent of lavender in the room where he was found. He was believed to have murdered his housemate, Jayne Brookes, by strangulation.
Dr Janos Caligari, TV personality. Died 29/09/08, found in his home, bound and tortured by parties unknown.
Dominic St John Ragwick, NFA. Died 05/03/08, strangulation, 31/07/08, GSW, 21/08/08, RTA, 18/09/08, suicide, 29/09/08, drowning.
Sean Karellin, MI6 Analyst. Died 29/09/08, circumstances unreleased.
Unknown homeless man. Died 30/09/08, hit and run.
---
Haywalk, Wretched. Created 31/10/08.
Dr Solomon Crane. Died 27/09/08, GSW.
Andrew Peter Smith. Died 28/09/08, traumatic exsanguination.
Mr James Peach, civil servant. Died 28/09/08, suspected foul play.
Dr Julius van Helsing. Died 29/09/08, suicide by hanging. Police noted a scent of lavender in the room where he was found. He was believed to have murdered his housemate, Jayne Brookes, by strangulation.
Dr Janos Caligari, TV personality. Died 29/09/08, found in his home, bound and tortured by parties unknown.
Dominic St John Ragwick, NFA. Died 05/03/08, strangulation, 31/07/08, GSW, 21/08/08, RTA, 18/09/08, suicide, 29/09/08, drowning.
Sean Karellin, MI6 Analyst. Died 29/09/08, circumstances unreleased.
Unknown homeless man. Died 30/09/08, hit and run.
---
Haywalk, Wretched. Created 31/10/08.
(Mortals) Begin to hope.
Oct. 15th, 2010 04:20 pmakonken.livejournal.com"Emma."
"Emma."
"Hey, Emma!"
Shit, that's my name now. I blink a bit and squint up over my glasses at the guy in front of me. He's in my Anthro class. What's his name? Shit. He sits next to me and everything.
"Uh...hey." Gary. His name's Gary. Now I can look like less of an idiot. "Hey Gary. How's it going?"
He grins at me. Wasn't he expecting me to remember his name? All that panic for nothing. "You were lost in space. You okay?"
Okay? Am I okay?
It's almost time for finals, and I have no idea how I'm going to pass them all. Why are they all the same week, anyway? Do they want people to have nervous breakdowns? Where am I going to stay over summer? I can't go home, can I? And I can't stay here. Nobody's going to want a lodger for three months, are they? I'm eighteen years old. They're not going to believe I'm grown-up enough to not skip out on the rent. Can I keep my part-time job? Can I work another one over the summer? What if something happens and they find out who I am? Why can't I get used to the name Emma? Gary was standing right in front of me calling me by it, and I still blanked him.
How am I supposed to live like this?
I shrug. "Yeah, all right, I guess." He's not convinced; they're never convinced when I lie. Not since I was about six.
"Listen," he says, plowing on anyway. "There's this party this weekend, and, you know, I was thinking..."
I stare at him blankly. A party? He wants me to...
"Maybe we could go? Together?"
A party? I've never been to a party. Not even when they were literally at my doorway (and loud.) I've never been invited, and I've focused on my schoolwork. If I get arrested for fraud, I'm going to be a well-educated convict. Not a beery one.
I stare at him a little too long. "It was just a thought," he says, sounding sulky.
"No, I- That would be nice, thanks." A party. With a boy. I haven't gone out with a boy since Mickey, and that-
"Great! Pick you up at your room at 9?"
I can only nod.
The party's all right; it's at one of the frat houses and there's loud music and kegs and people everywhere and just noise. It's overwhelming.
About an hour in I find this girl who's looking for a roommate over the summer. I end up talking to her most of the night, getting things sorted.
Gary leaves with someone else. All right. That's not so bad; the important thing is I'm not going to be homeless, and might not be found out.
Maybe being Emma's going to work.
"Emma."
"Hey, Emma!"
Shit, that's my name now. I blink a bit and squint up over my glasses at the guy in front of me. He's in my Anthro class. What's his name? Shit. He sits next to me and everything.
"Uh...hey." Gary. His name's Gary. Now I can look like less of an idiot. "Hey Gary. How's it going?"
He grins at me. Wasn't he expecting me to remember his name? All that panic for nothing. "You were lost in space. You okay?"
Okay? Am I okay?
It's almost time for finals, and I have no idea how I'm going to pass them all. Why are they all the same week, anyway? Do they want people to have nervous breakdowns? Where am I going to stay over summer? I can't go home, can I? And I can't stay here. Nobody's going to want a lodger for three months, are they? I'm eighteen years old. They're not going to believe I'm grown-up enough to not skip out on the rent. Can I keep my part-time job? Can I work another one over the summer? What if something happens and they find out who I am? Why can't I get used to the name Emma? Gary was standing right in front of me calling me by it, and I still blanked him.
How am I supposed to live like this?
I shrug. "Yeah, all right, I guess." He's not convinced; they're never convinced when I lie. Not since I was about six.
"Listen," he says, plowing on anyway. "There's this party this weekend, and, you know, I was thinking..."
I stare at him blankly. A party? He wants me to...
"Maybe we could go? Together?"
A party? I've never been to a party. Not even when they were literally at my doorway (and loud.) I've never been invited, and I've focused on my schoolwork. If I get arrested for fraud, I'm going to be a well-educated convict. Not a beery one.
I stare at him a little too long. "It was just a thought," he says, sounding sulky.
"No, I- That would be nice, thanks." A party. With a boy. I haven't gone out with a boy since Mickey, and that-
"Great! Pick you up at your room at 9?"
I can only nod.
The party's all right; it's at one of the frat houses and there's loud music and kegs and people everywhere and just noise. It's overwhelming.
About an hour in I find this girl who's looking for a roommate over the summer. I end up talking to her most of the night, getting things sorted.
Gary leaves with someone else. All right. That's not so bad; the important thing is I'm not going to be homeless, and might not be found out.
Maybe being Emma's going to work.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}