sticksandbones | If it were the real me and you

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If it were the real me and you | OPEN

Who: Wolfwood and YOU!
What: Wolfwood schedules a cult book burning and invites everyone
When: March 10th
Where: The Church
Warnings: Relevant info for this event can be found here, general warnings for: monster attack which could lead to blood/gore/etc in threads, please tag accordingly! Will update as needed

Netbook | Morning

Hey everyone, it's me Wolfwood. Nicholas D. Wolfwood if you're new.

So, here's the deal. The church I bought has a problem. It came with a bunch of religious texts inside of it, and while that's...you know. What you'd expect in a church, these ones are like

super fuckin culty.

Not exactly what I asked for. Not that I asked for them at all. I keep trying to get rid of them but they keep showing up again later so

Basically Im gonna be burning them again this evening if anybody wants to come to the bonfire, or help me in getting rid of them cause theres a shit ton. Bring marshmallows or whatever, I dont care.

and before someone comes preaching to me about burning books, again: its cult propaganda bullshit. read it for yourself if you dont believe me
just make sure you chuck it in the fire afterwards or ill do it myself.

Church | Evening

[Should you choose to come to the Church later that evening for whatever reason, you'll find the Priest himself already hard at work setting up a pyre in the yard just outside of it. (Just look for the massive bound cross propped up nearby, you can't miss it.) With the way he loads up the firepit he's created with kindling, it's clear he's already had to do this once before. It's a bit tricky to find anything dry given that the snow is still on the ground in a lot of places, but he's making do with what he's got. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Beyond getting the fire going, there's a matter of getting the aforementioned books out of the church. It's just as Wolfwood described, should you grow curious and crack one open. They're very religious, but strangely...plant focused. Like it's a religion that revolves around the Forest itself, almost. Definitely nothing orthodox about this, that's for sure. There are quite a number of them to take care of as they've all refilled the church pews since the last time he did this.

Or, perhaps you're just here because you think bonfires are cool and want to simply enjoy yourself for a change. The Forest seems to have had its fun with the animal race given that everyone's back to normal at this point, so really, why not kick back and enjoy the warmth of the flames while it isn't sub-zero temperatures outside anymore?

Feel free to mingle...or don't. Perhaps the distant unease in the atmosphere is enough to stop you.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Containment.

[He says it simply enough, because to others it may be simple enough, and they don't realize that Pure Vanilla is speaking of things that would have gotten him side-glances at home. Sealed doors that open to plane where souls congeal and putrefy. Binding an item inside a Moon Stone, using the Moon's very power to seal it.]

Then you will know for certain if the magic is on the items themselves, or coming from an outside source that spawns the items in. It may even be on the very Church. Fire may be only destroying the base material, and not the magic on it. Have you attempted a good burying?

[There IS a little smile on PV's face to that. Just put the books to rest, lay them in a graveyard. If they come back covered in grave dirt....]

I...

[A frustrated sort of look crosses Wolfwood's face, just for a moment. It isn't directed at Pure Vanilla, at least.]

Someone else suggested that, too. "Suggested".

[More like harassed him about it-]

But I figured I might as well try this one more time, just in case. I'll try buryin' 'em next if this don't work again.

[Ah, he hears the tone on suggested, and offers him a sympathetic smile. There will be no harassing here, he merely nods.]

If this does nothing, I shall see what I can do about making you a box to contain them in. I am unsure how my magic will interact with the magic here, and whether or not it will help, but we can certainly try.

[And the night DOES seem to be going okay for now? The fire is crackling, there is no ill sensations coming from the books as they curl and spit little sparks. Pure Vanilla actually seems to be relaxing now. Certainly if something were to happen, it would have happened?]

They do seem rather good kindling.

[A gentle gentle tease to help the other to relax again.]

Perhaps next time a barbecue? Though I am not one to turn down marshmallows!

Tch. Yeah...

[That's about all they're good for, but. The gentle teasing is taken in good faith, fortunately.

He decides, for the time being, he's going to sink into a sit next to the fire. There are still more books to be burned, but he needs to give his knees a little break. Pure Vanilla is welcome to sit too, if he'd like. It's dry here, with whatever melting snow had been there all scuffed away by Wolfwood earlier in the day.]

Maybe it was in poor taste to suggest people could bring food this time, but....next time.

[That sit will urge Pure Vanilla to sit as well. He carefully lowers himself down, positioning himself politely enough away and to give his staff room, laying it across his lap. He sighs slightly as he settles, the staff looking around from it's new position.]

As much as I do enjoy the idea of a good feast, let us hope there is no next time, hm?

[Though he won't add fuel to the fire itself, if any little stray bits come tumbling out, he will gently nudge them back in. They're already burnt, after all.]

Do you yet have a book or two?

[Wolfwood grunts an acknowledgement, stretching out his left leg while keeping his right bent at the knee.]

Yeah. I think we've gotten through like half of 'em, but there's still plenty left.

May I see one?

[Not to read, but Pure Vanilla has an idea, and he's reaching out for the fire. To snag a few burning bits, using his hoof to crush it up on enough to create some ash. If he gets a little bit of charcoal, even better! Perfect writing utensil once he blows it out.

The fire also doesn't hurt him he may have shielded everyone here quietly... just in case.]

[Peepaw what you doin-

He will push himself to his feet for just a moment though, walking back to the haphazard pile of texts so he can grab one and come back with it, plopping back down in the grass so he can hand it over.]

Here. Knock yourself out.

Thank you! Give me a moment here...

[Nothing, don't worry about it. Using his little bit of ash and charcoal, he opens the front of the book, and begins to draw a symbol on the inside of it. And actually opens his eyes, gold and blue staring down as he meticulously makes sure the circle is perfect. Then draws symbols on the symbol. Cause he heard you like symbols, so he's drawing them on your symbol.

He is humming softly, squinting a little as he works.]

[Well! Wolfwood isn't going to interrupt. He knows nothing at all about magic, least of all whatever kind Pure Vanilla is about to use, though seeing him suddenly open his eyes is more than a little alarming.

He decides to stay silent and watch, because now he's quietly invested.]

[It's strange. They are magically touched but it's so faint, removed. Like something brushed a finger lightly over it. Even as he finishes the sundering spell, touches his finger to it, and when it lights up it barely glows a faint white light.

He hums thoughtfully and rests his finger on his chin, streaking soot there. Listen he doesn't care about dirt on his hands a lot.]

Well, my friend, I do not know how to say this. I was hoping there might be something to unbind upon it. A spell to unravel, a connection to severe. They are touched, yes, a faint whisper in the distance but... They themselves are not the culprit. Binding or burning may give you some carthisis, however...

[They'll keep coming back. And Pure Vanilla is doing a very good job at not looking at Wolfwood with his eyes.]

[Wolfwood is silent as Pure Vanilla explains, working his jaw in silence. It makes him wish he had a cigarette to clench his teeth around, but he doesn't go for one.]

...they'll keep comin' back no matter what I do. Right?

... Yes.

[Closing his eyes, Pure Vanilla ponders the book in his hand, before gently lobbing it into the fire. For once, he feels no remorse at the loss of a book. These are causing Wolfwood distress, and if they are propaganda that's unasked for, well.]

Something or someone wishes these books to be here, I feel, and so long as it is willed, they will return.

[A malicious act? He doesn't know. An unwanted act, however.]

Sounds about right, for the way shit tends to work around here.

[Wolfwood glares into the fire, watching in his peripheral as Pure Vanilla throws the book into it. At least somebody gets how he feels. There's a point to this, even if it is potentially dangerous.]

You ain't been here long, but...this Forest does all it can to make us miserable a lot of the time. It puts us through these "games" that more often than not get us hurt, or worse.

[He hunches forward a little more. He'll never, ever forgive it for what happened in the ice castle. He still has nightmares about Vash turning to ice and crumbling in his arms.]

But everyone else wants to just...appease it, worship it, do whatever it wants so it doesn't hurt us anymore. Like, I ain't stupid. I get it.

...but that don't mean I wanna live like this forever.

[He's silent as Wolfwood tells him more about the Forest and it's games. The race seemed harmless, but he hadn't actually participated, he doesn't know what might have occurred to others who had to run through whatever gauntlet it presented them. He rests his hands, folded together by the fingers, on his lap and simply listens.

And he did promise not to anger the Forest, so as to not cause issues for others... but he understands what Wolfwood is saying.

He tilts his head back, up to the sky, and tries to think. For himself, he would never go upon the same path White Lily once took, yet... he understands now how strong her love was for every Cookie. Why she did the things she did. How can he says he loves those around him if he...]

I hear you, my friend. I understand. And I may be quite new, but I am no stranger to dealing with those who would terrorize others, all while gloating about the power they hold.

[The corruption, a way to negate it. Things in the Fog to deal with. A way to navigate. To track and trace a creature that calls itself a God...Pure Vanilla will have to roll his sleeves up and dig in.]

I will help, in whatever way I may, to end it. Yet it may take time.

[It's the first time someone has really sat down and listened to the "why" of why he's doing this, instead of just scolding him about what an awful idea it is. He gets that there's a risk, and it's not like he deliberately wants to poke the hornet's nest...but doing nothing at all is worse. He's cowed to the cult that's had him under its heel for his entire life, and he did not sign up to do the same here.

If the orphanage were here...things might be playing out a bit differently. But it isn't, so.]

The fact you wanna try is more than I can say about a lot of the people here.

[It's definitely some shade throwing, however indirect. He might be a little frustrated too, on top of everything else.]

Oh, my friend, I understand your frustrations, but you cannot ask others to place themselves into perils way. Even if you believe it to be the just and moral path. All you can do is have faith that when the time comes, they find their strength within and rise to the challenge.

[And he does understand it, how Wolfwood must be feeling. Forced to play by cruel beings demands, while he sees inaction in everyone else around him in fighting it off. But Pure Vanilla can't condemn those who desire no harm to come to them and their loved ones...

He sighs softly and brings his knees up to rest his arms around them, pillowing his chin on the top as he sets his staff down entirely now. It's calm enough, he will let his guard down a little.]

There are deep magics at work in this world, and while I do not pretend to understand them all, I am certain they can be unraveled. All magics can. I will dedicate my knowledge to doing what I may to weaken this beast that toys with us.

[Wolfwood, for what it's worth, chooses not to argue that point. He knows Pure Vanilla is right, as frustrated as he is. As stubborn as he is.]

...at least back home, what we were up against wasn't "magic". Even if it felt like an unstoppable brick wall.

[Nai, for all of his strength and seemingly limitless power, had a weakness. And that weakness just so happens to also be Wolfwood's weakness.]

It may feel as such, but all things have their breaking point.

[ The Beast, for all his power, was over confident in that the Cookie before him would choose from the two paths laid before her, and was taken by surprise by her choosing a third option. ]

Even magic, or those who call themselves the rightful owner of power.

[ Pure Vanillas tone says he knows all too well. ]

Together, we will break free of this creature, my friend.

...yeah. I hope so.

[Wolfwood kicks an ember back into the fire.]

Yaknow I tried to leave this place, when I first got here. Didn't get very far, but I tried. It really does feel like the Forest is playin' with us, and doesn't wanna give up its "toys".

It does not surprise me.

[ His ears flick to the pop of the ember, calling his attention to it, and he watches the dance of the flames through his staff. ]

There is no Virtue in this creature, no love in it's heart. If there has ever been, it is nothing but Malice now, and all it encompasses.

[ He brushes a stray piece of burning paper off his wool before it catches. ]

... I am proud of you for trying, my friend. For testing the limits. That must have been [horrible] rough.

...proud? Of me? Now that's a first.

[The Priest scoffs, shucking a hand through his hair.]

It was stupid anyway. Me n' Vash went...we got attacked when we found-

[A body. Fel's body, before she came back.

He decides not to say that part.]

...well. Let's just say we wandered in too far.

[ Has no one told this man they're proud of him before? The reaction says no. Well, he's going to change that. ]

I'm sorry, my friend. It was a bold attempt nonetheless. Another attempt mayhap be made in the future, once we have well-armed ourselves with what knowledge was can.

[ Bring the fight to this creature, but forearmed and forewarned. ]

Yeah. I guess tryin' wouldn't be a bad idea, but we'd have to get the others on board...and I'm not too sure that'll happen.

[He cranes his neck back, looking up at the sky again.]

After all this is done, somebody will probably call a meeting to talk about shit that's happened anyway. Who knows if anything will get done though.

[Last time they had one of those, someone got stabbed-]

A meeting would be a good idea, I will see who I can convince to begin taking the idea of bringing this creature down seriously. We must begin investigations in earnest.

[ He's quiet for a moment after, before offering the other man a smile. ]

Keep hope, my friend. We will triumph.

If it were the real me and you | OPEN

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