SonnetNSunbeam

Dungeon Crawler Carl: Twin Suns

L O R A L I E & S H A R O D

7 days and counting to floor collapse Floor 1 Viewers: 0 | Followers: 0 | Favorites: 0

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"B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-BOSS BATTLE
You have discovered the lair of a Neighborhood Boss!
Put your game faces on, ladies and gentlemen!
Aaand Here. We. Go!"

Music starts to increase from the background. Sharod and Loralie find themselves in an old Rollerrink, a kind of Skate Hall. It looks like a hall abandoned in the late 00s. The walls are covered in graffiti. A makeshift stage has been cobbled together from strange materials. There are a concerning number of cinderblocks in the center of the scratched and dinged skate floor.

The speakers start to boom with drums, a guitar, and bass. A spotlight comes on, lighting center stage. A large framed man, with black hair covering his eyes, and dark black eyeliner applied too thick and sloppily stares at them slack jawed. He wears a white tank top with armpit stains, a black chain necklace with a cross hanging just above his navel, and converse with his left big toe sticking out. A yellowed fractured nail catches the light.

Loralie’s stiff, Sharod is scrambling backward. His back hits the door. It knocks the wind out of him.

Behind the man, are 3 rollerskating spiders like they’d faced earlier. These spiders are each in a cage. Based on the locks connected to chains that are at the end of the singer's microphone, Sharod shouts. ”When we kill this guy, it frees those spiders. Don’t burn out too quick.” Each one is responsible for a different instrument.

Loralie can feel her sanity slipping from between her fingers. It’s all so- unbelievable. This is stretching what her mind ever thought possible, and it’s something about the familiar vibe this man is putting out. It’s not a good one. A barked laugh forces itself out of her lungs like it’s choking her. “This is insane. I’m losing my mind.” Her voice is high pitched, and tight.

The man, who seems to be the stature of an ogre? Maybe? Lifts the microphone and screams into it. It’s not a well trained vocal scream, it’s a high pitched whine. Both Sharod and Loralie cry out- covering their ears. He pulls it away from his mouth, and a ball of spikes becomes visible in the spotlight.

The spikes are bloodied. It makes Sharod assume the worst- they aren’t the first crawlers to make it in here.

The dungeon pipes back up.
”The Elder Emo
Level 6 Neighborhood Boss!
Abandoned by his scene sometime in the late 2000s, this elder emo has lived in this abandoned skating rink since he lost his home town’s battle of the bands competition. He won out to a short red head with a power voice, and he’s been bitter ever since. Generally regarded as a creep- he’s never quite let the good times go. He’s been creating captive audiences for almost two decades- and he’s about to captivate you thats for sure.”

”Focus up Lor- this is gonna suck.” He equips his bladed brass knuckles and turns his body into a more protective stance.

Loralie stares, arms limp at the oozing man up on the stage. A shimmer of gold, and her arm is once again weighed down by her shield. “Diane would have kicked the crap out of this guy.” Loralie’s mouth is dry as she says it. Memories of late nights sitting around- listening to old alternative and emo music filter through her consciousness. Regret for spending time with people too old for either of them, alcohol at ages way too young, and bad memories all around.

Awareness of a kind of revenge tickles at the back of Loralie’s mind. Maybe- maybe Loralie can avenge them both in some sort of way. What had Igva implied? That every thing in this dungeon is made out of the parts and components of the real world?

This wasn’t a real guy- the ogre face betrayed that. But- maybe something in him once had. Loralie takes a step forward, hefting her shield in front of her. It flashes a dim gold, as she equips her machete.

With a grunt, the singer hefts the microphone-flail and begins to move it around in a circle in front of them. Loralie knows she’s going to have to tank a large hit on her shield for the first time. Her gut churns, but she rushes at the singer.

The flail strikes her shield and she feels like a bell that’s been rung. Her eyes see double for a moment.

”Nice-” with her right hand, she raises the machete, and clips some of the skin of his shoulder as he knocks her swing out of the way.

A roar comes out of the singer’s mouth- “You said I was too much- my feelings a phase- you left my hoodie smelling of your betrayal- you never understood the pain you gave me-” Loralie blinks, spit covering her face has he screams. The flail lights up a neon blue-purple as it comes down once again at Loralie.

She’s fast enough to adjust her angle and it glints off of our shield once more. The impact knocks her back a step, and she falls on her ass. ”Shit- ow-!”

It’s at this point her friend steps to the man. Sharod approaches the elder-raccoon from the side. His fist slams into his gut, and the blade slides in. He pulls it out and sinks it in once more before the singer pivots and smacks him away. The ogre is strong, and Sharod slams up against the bars. His head makes a ‘brr-iinggg’ sound as it bounces against the bars. He grunts.

The ogre steps forward, flail seemingly increasing in size. “Black runs down my face again- _{its the rain, im not crying} Can’t see thru the eyeliners, can’t see thru the pain- you never stayed to know my PAIN” It’s a bellow of a scream. The sidebar comment about the rain catches Loralie completely off guard.

It feels like a fourth wall break, except, she’s inside the tv. It makes her want to turn and look at a camera. She’s- inside a tv show- probably- she almost forgot. A laugh escapes her at the absurdity of the statement.

The distraction is enough for the flail to come down and catch her off guard. It knocks down, into a blinding fiery pain. It smashes into her left shoulder, and her shield falls limp against her side.

She keeps the reaction to a high-pitched grunt. But it’s not until the ogre steps onto her shield, searching for leverage, to rip the flail out of her should. ”You said I should ^{let! go!} and you left! You took mr. kitty! And left me all alone in the world!”

His voice is taking on this whiney quality that sounds nothing like any alt or emo band on Earth. The Earth before, at least. It’s a clown mask over Loralie’s community. She’d be more upset about the way one of her subcultures that she grew up with was being remembered, if she wasn’t actively being maimed at the moment.

A kind of squeal escapes her as the flail finally comes free. Blood pours down her arm, gliding against the surface of the gold.

This squeal urges Sharod back to action, and he doesn’t fool around with his next blow. As the ogre raises his flail to take another crack at Loralie, Sharod slides the blade into the monster’s neck.

As fast as it’s in, it’s out and plunging back in repeatedly.

The creature is no longer able to sing, his voice coming out in gargles. The flail falls to the ground beside him. Fingers claw up his throat, as he tries to stop choking on his own blood.

A few more hits, and his neck starts to separate on one side. It’s not much longer until Sharod’s lobbed it clean off.

Tears filter down Loralie’s face as she stumbles around in her game menus, attempting to apply a healing spell. It freezes the rapid descent of her health bar, but the wound stings and remains just as gnarly.

Not bleeding out was going to have to be the state for a little longer, because the second the microphone-flail crashed to the ground. Each of the connected chains seemed to shatter like glass.

The sound seems to trigger the spiders into action- as they begin to throw themselves against the walls of the cages. When they free themselves, all three spiders pounce at the woman who has shifted to her knees. She’s starting to stand as one of them latches onto her machete arm with venomous fangs.

Something inside Loralie splits at this attack. She feels herself break open a little on the inside as she rips her arm against the spider, dragging its fangs thru her arm. It comes loose, and she plunges the machete into it, slicing it cleanly in half.

Blood pulses out of the wound, a weird gray hue tinging it.

Sharod is able to sneak up behind the drumming spider as it approaches Loralie. He pops the spider open like a boiled crab with his knife fist.

The last spider is able to slash Loralie with one of its fangs. It causes the ‘setlist bracelet’ to activate on her hud. +1 strength for every 3 separate enemy hits. The pair pivot on the last spider together, and the metal of their weapons collide inside its body. A kick of strength from the bracelet forces her machete in harder than she’d been able to previously. ‘Shiiinngg–”

”Wiiinners- Loralie and Sharod versus- Elder Emo” The voice booms around them.

The doors fall open, and Loralie’s health bar is rushing quickly toward zero. Half of her health bar seems to be tinged with an olive-green color. She swears, ”I’m poisoned.” Her voice falls open, horrified, and also somewhat resigned.

Sharod rushes over, meeting her where she remains on her knees, eyes inspecting the forearm wound. He’s sputtering as his thumbs pull the skin apart. Loralie forces down a scream. A tool tip appears next to her health in the menus and it reads- ”Status Effect- Poisoned, Apply antidote from inventory?”

When she selects ‘Yes’ nearly all of the poison indicator is removed from her health bar. A heaved sigh of relief escapes her.

”That- was too close. I don’t think we should fight one of those again for a while.” Sharod was already cataloging details about the opening to the area. Like how the door was slightly narrower than the hallway. If you looked at the floor in the middle of the doorway you could see a locking mechanism just barely hiding in the floor.

Loralie was shell shocked. This was the most injured she’d ever been. The pounding in her chest makes her acutely aware of the dungeon's ability to keep her standing upright. How something about the dungeon suppresses her heart condition.

That’s the thoughts she stumbles through on the way back to the safe room. The ‘Wing Snob’ sign shining red and green in the distance like a moon at night.

Sharod- is rambling the entire way back. He’s walking through the fight step by step aloud. How the monster didn’t attack until its introduction was given. How it used a secondary ability to increase the size of the flail- and that it seemed connected to the singing. They’ve gotten to the part where the spiders are freed from the cage as the sign comes into view.

It shuts him up as the last observation filters through his awareness.
Three spiders slamming against the insides of their cage. Flinging themselves out of the cages- and directly at them. No- her. Directly at Loralie.

Why do the spiders always seem to target Loralie? Did she have some weird debuff he was unaware of? Was there something wrong with his stats? Was being ignored by enemies something- wrong though?

The vision of Loralie, with a flail sticking out of his shoulder gives him a violent full body shiver.

He should be tanking for her. He’s bigger than her. Older. Less- ill?

The reminder of his sickness files even more questions into his folder to ask Igva later.

When they stumble inside Maxlo immediately begins shushing them. “Quiet! Quiet! The Dungeon Premiere is on!”

On every tv in the former sport bar, are shots of crawlers experiencing horrendous things to them as a large metallic logo flies in from off screen.

Dungeon Crawler Carl: Twin Suns

Hey I've been a bit busy with life stuff! I'm hoping I will have time to get to a reply sometime this weekend! Sorry about the delay!

Pines Holler [Not Accepting]

Virginia Davis

_{Faceclaim: Seychelle Gabriel // Color Code: #8a2be2
TW- Parental Death, Car Accident Trauma, Homelessness, Drugs}
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Full Name: Virginia Selma Davis Nickname(s): Vee, Vinny, Selma Age: 26 ♫ March 30 ♫ Aries Gender: Cis Woman

Sexuality: Bisexual Occupation: Singer & Photographer - Starving Artist Place of Residence: Unknown Playlist: shortlist The Kids Aren’t Alright - The Offspring Yellow - Coldplay Call Me When You’re Sober - Evanescence The Pretender - Foo Fighters Papercut - Linkin Park Duality - Slipknot Boston - Augustana All I Wanted - Paramore Helena - My Chemical Romance Where Is My Mind? - Pixies Linger - The Cranberries

_{Family and Close Connections:}

Family

♫ Selma Davis (nee: Anderson) | 52 (died at 36) - Mother - Cause of Death - Car Accident

♫ William Earl Davis | 53 (died at 37) - Father - Cause of Death - Car Accident

♫ Dylan Colt Davis | 52 - Paternal Uncle - Estranged

♫ Hal Erickkson | 58 - Drummer in Dad’s Band - Gas Station Attendant an hour away

♫ Tiffany Erickkson (nee: Beckert) | 61 - Bassist in Dad’s Band - Addict, in and out of rehab

♫ Milton “Max” Yletes | 48 - Guitarist - Accountant, was younger & went to college after]

Friends and Connections

♫ Lee Thornton | 30 - Roadie from original band, Lee followed to new band. Begrudging friends, Lee doesn’t want her around Sandy.

♫ Rowan | 24 - Bandmate

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Appearance: Height: 5’3” Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Brown Body Type: Thin, slightly sickly, not sick. Clothing Style: ♫ Flannel Grunge ♫ Big Pants ♫ Small shirt ♫ Sunglasses (even indoors) ♫ Lots of bracelets on her wrists ♫ Outfit Pin Board Body Markings: ♫ Star Tattoos All Over ♫ Faded Self Harm Scars on Upper Thighs and Under Bracelets ♫ Tongue Piercing ♫ Has an empty Labret piercing that has never closed (wears it only for shows)- can’t see it unless she pushes out to show you

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_Personality:

Virginia has two wolves inside of her- one from her dad and one from her mom. She’s got the wish for big city life from her father- a man who loves music, drinking, partying, and the high of night life. Her mom was a witch. In practice anyway. Selma was a woman who believed that everybody got where they needed to be. She filled Virginia’s tour bus bound life a child with pockets of quiet.

Virginia’s an overconfident person. She’s impulsive. She’s reckless. But she’s also got a deeply wounded but huge heart. Trust is something she gives too easily, and she gets her shit rocked every time it’s broken. She seems to have object permanence issues- with things, and people. It’s probably a coping mechanism.

Ultimately she wants a big city life, but she wants a slice of calm at the top of the world. A place she can hang dried oranges across doorways and listen to Fleetwood Mac.

She never used to be an angry person- and then her uncle kicked her out. Now she’s quick to irritation, and eventually anger. Virginia’s also absolutely the person to put herself on the line to protect something she loves. She’s done it before, she will do it again. Secretly, she’s looking for the cause to hang her hat on- something to write about- something that means something. (@ pines holler 👀)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
~♫~♫~~♫~♫~
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_History:

tldr who is this chick again? tw refs included

Lived in Pines off and on her who life. Grew up in a tour bus with numetal artists and her mom. Car accident trauma. Problems with her uncle and living arrangements. Wants to be a famous singer one day.

Virginia Selma Davis was born to Selma and William “Earl” Davis- they were in their mid-twenties when they accidentally got pregnant with her. Earl was in a NuMetal/Alt adjacent band- they never really made it big, but they had one local hit that led them to tour the country pretty much until he died. He was from Pines Holler, and he loved it there. Virginia was born on a tour bus- as neither of them had insurance as traveling musicians. So they took their chances on the bus. Luckily- she was perfectly healthy. Til the day she died, her mom claimed she felt Saint Brigid with her that night.

Selma was a witch of the christian variety- believed all the sorts of thing a pagan today might, but worshiped as a Christian. It’s probably why people left her alone- she was in church every Sunday no matter where they were. That’s why Virginia became so comfortable with strangers, arguably too comfortable with people. During their fourth tour, the band started to fade into obscurity- so they had to add songs to the set list that were more cover types. That’s what kept people coming to shows.

They got a bump in popularity for playing a rendition of ‘One Step Closer’ by Linkin Park. Her dad brought her out on stage almost every night during that tour to scream the ‘shut up’ section. People loved it of course- who doesn’t love an angry elementary schooler at a metal show. Earl made sure she always wore ear protection. It was the first night she fell in love with performing- and although she had a soft spot for her mom’s softer stuff- something about screaming your lungs out on stage broke apart every terrible thing that ever happened to her and freed her from it.

Like when her parents died.

tw parental death, car accident description

They’d been in the car road tripping to stay with Earl’s brother Dylan. The band was done, they could feel it in the air.

Max, the guitarist, had decided that they weren’t going to be able to support themselves on the project anymore. So as the youngest, he bowed out and went to school to become an accountant. Earl picked up the guitar for a while and they did a tour like that. But it took a toll on his body to have to sing, play, and be a frontman at the same time. It was around this time that Tiffany, the bassist, passed the event horizon with her addiction. Hal, her husband and the drummer, took that as their exit stage left. Tiffany and Hal are still together, Hal works at a gas station a few towns over. Sometimes Virginia runs into Tiffany at shows- but she refuses to interact. Lately Tiffany’s been getting worse. Hal sometimes visits Virginia, but Tiffany stopped coming a long time ago.

When the band closed up, Earl decided they were headed home to Pines Holler. He planned to scrape some cash together for a solo album or to spend some time networking in L.A. Which meant leaving his girls behind. As Virginia was almost 10, her mom wanted her to have a bit more steady of a school life.

Virginia hated that plan. She wanted to follow her dad to L.A. and to become a star too. They were fighting when it happened. Selma calmly explained to her why it was important that she had steady time in one place for school. Earl didn’t help with this- he nearly sounded like a copy of the little girl in the backseat. Reasons why keeping them together was more important. Instances that gave Virginia more life experience than a school of elementary schoolers could ever give her.

Earl was driving. He didn’t even mess up that badly, as his voice rose, he was a little less careful with the wheel. It was 3a, he drifted into the lane of a sixteen wheel cross-country hauler. Not expecting such a small car to be so reckless on the road at that time, the driver wasn’t paying attention. The car slipped right under the wheels.

Virginia doesn’t go to church every Sunday- but she knows some kind of god was with her in the car that night. The top of the car was sawed clean off. Being half her parents height, she was knocked beneath curled and fragmented steel. She doesn’t remember being pulled out of the car- but she does remember the smell of fuel, fire, and copper.

Sometimes she wakes up in fragmented versions of the accident, and she doesn’t drive because of it.

TLDR: car accident during argument about staying in pines for school while Earl heads to LA. Semi x car accident kills her parents.

She woke up to just one real relative left. Selma never really mentioned her family to Dylan or anyone, really. So Dylan Davis, her father’s brother, was the person sitting beside her hospital bed when she woke up. Dylan was the younger, more practical brother. He hated who his brother had become. They’d been thick as thieves, irish twins, until he’d run off to join a band in the next town over. He resented his brother for leaving him behind to manage their mother’s mental illness. Virginia was six when her father got the call about her grandma dying. She never knew what happened to her grandfather- she got the impression nothing good. Dylan would never cry in front of her, but in his room alone at night, she could hear the muffled drawing sobs of a man in agony.

Virginia was outspoken in school, she barely made it through senior year. She never applied for school because she already knew what she wanted. She wanted to play in a band. Over the course of her teen years, Virginia had been in at least seven bands that played a show. The last two were very serious. That’s where she met Lee, her and Rowan’s roadie. At first, Lee tried to corral her into a job, a place to stay, something. But eventually, he gave up. On really cold nights, he’ll check her normal crash spot outdoors to make sure she doesn’t freeze to death under an overpass. The rule is that she doesn’t talk to Sandy. Which is a very doable deal for her.

Rowan’s one of the only people that she ever felt took music as seriously as her, so she was sure he was the right person to start her next project with. So far, she’s been right.

When she turned 21, Dylan Davis served her with eviction papers. After a few attempts to get her to pay him rent, or for food he decided that she needed to take a hike. Virginia was so angry with him, they did not speak for three years. Now- they’ve got an arrangement where she can stay in her old room for $100 a week, and eat his food for $75 extra. If she pays $400 upfront she can stay and eat for a whole month. Virginia hardly makes either happen. But lately she’s gotten into the habit of saving money for the colder months. Just in case.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_{Extra Facts // Headcannons:}

How does your character feel about the expansion/growth of Pines Holler?
♫ She’s a bit oblivious at the beginning of the RP, but I feel like as the lumbermill closes and things start to change, she’ll become someone who will hold a bullhorn if necessary. It’s not like she’s got much to lose.

Fun Facts
♫ Still plays One Step Closer any time she gets
♫ The drugs she refuses to do are fent & meth.
♫ Had a therapy dog, but he were older when she got him, and he died when she was 19. It was terrible, but she’s dealing now.
♫ Scared of birds.
♫ Does not like to drive at night. More comfortable the bigger the vehicle is.
♫ Wants to play with a famous numetal group some day
♫ She and Lee have slept together a few times, but he’s basically told her to fuck off.
♫ Keeps a black book of lyrics in her backpocket. Prized possession
♫ ‘Hobosexual’
♫ Wants to retire in a big city like Chicago with a beautiful view

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

For your approval <3

Sonnet's CS Workshop

Virginia Davis

_{Faceclaim: Seychelle Gabriel // Color Code: #8a2be2
TW- Parental Death, Car Accident Trauma, Homelessness, Drugs}
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Full Name: Virginia Selma Davis Nickname(s): Vee, Vinny, Selma Age: 26 ♫ March 30 ♫ Aries Gender: Cis Woman

Sexuality: Bisexual Occupation: Singer & Photographer - Starving Artist Place of Residence: Unknown Playlist: shortlist The Kids Aren’t Alright - The Offspring Yellow - Coldplay Call Me When You’re Sober - Evanescence The Pretender - Foo Fighters Papercut - Linkin Park Duality - Slipknot Boston - Augustana All I Wanted - Paramore Helena - My Chemical Romance Where Is My Mind? - Pixies Linger - The Cranberries

_{Family and Close Connections:}

Family

♫ Selma Davis (nee: Anderson) | 52 (died at 36) - Mother - Cause of Death - Car Accident

♫ William Earl Davis | 53 (died at 37) - Father - Cause of Death - Car Accident

♫ Dylan Colt Davis | 52 - Paternal Uncle - Estranged

♫ Hal Erickkson | 58 - Drummer in Dad’s Band - Gas Station Attendant an hour away

♫ Tiffany Erickkson (nee: Beckert) | 61 - Bassist in Dad’s Band - Addict, in and out of rehab

♫ Milton “Max” Yletes | 48 - Guitarist - Accountant, was younger & went to college after]

Friends and Connections

♫ Lee Thornton | 30 - Roadie from original band, Lee followed to new band. Begrudging friends, Lee doesn’t want her around Sandy.

♫ Rowan | 24 - Bandmate

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Appearance: Height: 5’3” Hair: Dark Brown Eyes: Brown Body Type: Thin, slightly sickly, not sick. Clothing Style: ♫ Flannel Grunge ♫ Big Pants ♫ Small shirt ♫ Sunglasses (even indoors) ♫ Lots of bracelets on her wrists ♫ Outfit Pin Board Body Markings: ♫ Star Tattoos All Over ♫ Faded Self Harm Scars on Upper Thighs and Under Bracelets ♫ Tongue Piercing ♫ Has an empty Labret piercing that has never closed (wears it only for shows)- can’t see it unless she pushes out to show you

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_Personality:

Virginia has two wolves inside of her- one from her dad and one from her mom. She’s got the wish for big city life from her father- a man who loves music, drinking, partying, and the high of night life. Her mom was a witch. In practice anyway. Selma was a woman who believed that everybody got where they needed to be. She filled Virginia’s tour bus bound life a child with pockets of quiet.

Virginia’s an overconfident person. She’s impulsive. She’s reckless. But she’s also got a deeply wounded but huge heart. Trust is something she gives too easily, and she gets her shit rocked every time it’s broken. She seems to have object permanence issues- with things, and people. It’s probably a coping mechanism.

Ultimately she wants a big city life, but she wants a slice of calm at the top of the world. A place she can hang dried oranges across doorways and listen to Fleetwood Mac.

She never used to be an angry person- and then her uncle kicked her out. Now she’s quick to irritation, and eventually anger. Virginia’s also absolutely the person to put herself on the line to protect something she loves. She’s done it before, she will do it again. Secretly, she’s looking for the cause to hang her hat on- something to write about- something that means something. (@ pines holler 👀)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
~♫~♫~~♫~♫~
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_History:

tldr who is this chick again? tw refs included

Lived in Pines off and on her who life. Grew up in a tour bus with numetal artists and her mom. Car accident trauma. Problems with her uncle and living arrangements. Wants to be a famous singer one day.

Virginia Selma Davis was born to Selma and William “Earl” Davis- they were in their mid-twenties when they accidentally got pregnant with her. Earl was in a NuMetal/Alt adjacent band- they never really made it big, but they had one local hit that led them to tour the country pretty much until he died. He was from Pines Holler, and he loved it there. Virginia was born on a tour bus- as neither of them had insurance as traveling musicians. So they took their chances on the bus. Luckily- she was perfectly healthy. Til the day she died, her mom claimed she felt Saint Brigid with her that night.

Selma was a witch of the christian variety- believed all the sorts of thing a pagan today might, but worshiped a Christian. It’s probably why people left her alone- she was in church every Sunday no matter where they were. That’s why Viriginia became so comfortable with strangers, arguably too comfortable with people. During their fourth tour, the band started to fade into obscurity- so they had to add songs to the set list that were more cover types. That’s what kept people coming to shows.

They got a bump in popularity for playing a rendition of ‘One Step Closer’ by Linkin Park. Her dad brought her out on stage almost every night during that tour to scream the ‘shut up’ section. People loved it of course- who doesn’t love an angry elementary schooler at a metal show. Earl made sure she always wore ear protection. It was the first night she fell in love with performing- and although she had a soft spot for her mom’s softer stuff- something about screaming your lungs out on stage broke apart every terrible thing that ever happened to her and freed her from it.

Like when her parents died.

tw parental death, car accident description

They’d been in the car road tripping to stay with Earl’s brother Dylan. The band was done, they could feel it in the air.

Max, the guitarist, had decided that they weren’t going to be able to support themselves on the project anymore. So as the youngest, he bowed out and went to school to become an accountant. Earl picked up the guitar for a while and they did a tour like that. But it took a toll on his body to have to sing, play, and be a frontman at the same time. It was around this time that Tiffany, the bassist, passed the event horizon with her addiction. Hal, her husband and the drummer, took that as their exit stage left. Tiffany and Hal are still together, Hal works at a gas station a few towns over. Sometimes Virginia runs into Tiffany at shows- but she refuses to interact. Lately Tiffany’s been getting worse. Hal sometimes visits Virginia, but Tiffany stopped coming a long time ago.

When the band closed up, Earl decided they were headed home to Pines Holler. He planned to scrape some cash together for a solo album or to spend some time networking in L.A. Which meant leaving his girls behind. As Virginia was almost 10, her mom wanted her to have a bit more steady of a school life.

Virginia hated that plan. She wanted to follow her dad to L.A. and to become a star too. They were fighting when it happened. Selma calmly explained to her why it was important that she had steady time in one place for school. Earl didn’t help with this- he nearly sounded like a copy of the little girl in the backseat. Reasons why keeping them together was more important. Instances that gave Virginia more life experience than a school of elementary schoolers could ever give her.

Earl was driving. He didn’t even mess up that badly, as his voice rose, he was a little less careful with the wheel. It was 3a, he drifted into the lane of a sixteen wheel cross-country hauler. Not expecting such a small car to be so reckless on the road at that time, the driver wasn’t paying attention. The car slipped right under the wheels.

Virginia doesn’t go to church every Sunday- but she knows some kind of god was with her in the car that night. The top of the car was sawed clean off. Being half her parents height, she was knocked beneath curled and fragmented steel. She doesn’t remember being pulled out of the car- but she does remember the smell of fuel, fire, and copper.

Sometimes she wakes up in fragmented versions of the accident, and she doesn’t drive because of it.

TLDR: car accident during argument about staying in pines for school while Earl heads to LA. Semi x car accident kills her parents.

She woke up to just one real relative left. Selma never really mentioned her family to Dylan or anyone, really. So Dylan Davis, her father’s brother, was the person sitting beside her hospital bed when she woke up. Dylan was the younger, more practical brother. He hated who his brother had become. They’d been thick as thieves, irish twins, until he’d run off to join a band in the next town over. He resented his brother for leaving him behind to manage their mother’s mental illness. Virginia was six when her father got the call about her grandma dying. She never knew what happened to her grandfather- she got the impression nothing good. Dylan would never cry in front of her, but in his room alone at night, she could hear the muffled drawing sobs of a man in agony.

Virginia was outspoken in school, she barely made it through senior year. She never applied for school because she already knew what she wanted. She wanted to play in a band. Over the course of her teen years, Virginia had been in at least seven bands that played a show. The last two were very serious. That’s where she met Lee, her and Rowan’s roadie. At first, Lee tried to corral her into a job, a place to stay, something. But eventually, he gave up. On really cold nights, he’ll check her normal crash spot outdoors to make sure she doesn’t freeze to death under an overpass. The rule is that she doesn’t talk to Sandy. Which is a very doable deal for her.

Rowan’s one of the only people that she ever felt took music as seriously as her, so she was sure he was the right person to start her next project with. So far, she’s been right.

When she turned 21, Dylan Davis served her with eviction papers. After a few attempts to get her to pay him rent, or for food he decided that she needed to take a hike. Virginia was so angry with him, they did not speak for three years. Now- they’ve got an arrangement where she can stay in her old room for $100 a week, and eat his food for $75 extra. If she pays $400 upfront she can stay and eat for a whole month. Virginia hardly makes either happen. But lately she’s gotten into the habit of saving money for the colder months. Just in case.

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_{Extra Facts // Headcannons:}

How does your character feel about the expansion/growth of Pines Holler?
♫ She’s a bit oblivious at the beginning of the RP, but I feel like as the lumbermill closes and things start to change, she’ll become someone who will hold a bullhorn if necessary. It’s not like she’s got much to lose.

Fun Facts
♫ Still plays One Step Closer any time she gets
♫ The drugs she refuses to do are fent & meth.
♫ Had a therapy dog, but he were older when she got him, and he died when she was 19. It was terrible, but she’s dealing now.
♫ Scared of birds.
♫ Does not like to drive at night. More comfortable the bigger the vehicle is.
♫ Wants to play with a famous numetal group some day
♫ She and Lee have slept together a few times, but he’s basically told her to fuck off.
♫ Keeps a black book of lyrics in her backpocket. Prized possession
♫ ‘Hobosexual’
♫ Wants to retire in a big city like Chicago with a beautiful view

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Sonnet's CS Workshop

Lee Thorton II

_{Faceclaim: Logan Lerman // Color Code: E26612
TWs: Parental Abandonment, Death of a Parent,
Beating Someone to Near Death, Left at the Altar, Disability/Heart Disease,
Black Lung, m15-f19 Problematic Age Gap *derrogatory*}
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
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Full Name: Leslie "Lee" Thornton II Nickname(s): Lee Age: 30 ✯ December 10th ✯ Sagittarius Gender: Cis Man

Sexuality: Bisexual Occupation: Works at Clarks Place of Residence: #23 Shady Pines Drive Playlist: shortlist Come As You Are - Nirvana Closer - Nine Inch Nails Loser - Beck Wrong Way - Sublime Would? - Alice In Chains The Diary of Jane - Breaking Benjamin Toxicity - SOAD Bleed It Out - Linkin Park This Land is Your Land - Woody Guthrie The Impression That I Get - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Na$ty - KIRBY Float On - Modest Mouse Send Me On My Way - Rusted Root All These Things That I've Done - The Killers

_{Family and Close Connections:}

Family

✯ Leslie "Les" Thornton I | 50 (died at 47) - Father - Died of Pneumoconiosis (Black Lung)

✯ Pamela "Pammy" Thornton | 47 - Mother - Disabled - Caretaker of Sandy

✯ Sandy Thornton | 14 - Daughter - 9th Grade

✯ Elaine Banks | 58 - Sandy's Grandma - Homemaker

✯ Vinny Banks | 59 - Sandy's Grandpa - Estranged

✯ Stacey Banks | 34 - Sandy's Mom - Skipped Town

Friends and Connections

✯ Tyler Boone Jr. | 27 - Lee owes him $2,000

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Appearance: Height: 5’11” Hair: Black Eyes: Blue/Green Body Type: Slender, mildly gaunt, Clothing Style: ✯ Flannel Grunge ✯ Stocking Apron ✯ Always long sleeves ✯ Wears a 'World's Best Dad' Necklace half heart, magnetic necklace he shares with Sandy ('worlds best kiddo') ✯ Karabiner with his keys on his hip ✯ Outfit Pin Board Body Markings: ✯ Permanent Eye Bags ✯ Stick Poke Tattoo on each forearm (love, hate) - they're really bad, Stacey did it ✯ Daith Piercing - Both Ears - for migraines ✯ Skeleton Silhouette of Courage the Cowardly Dog (pin board) ✯ Burn scars on his hands in a few places from using a cut cellphone cord as a battery for a weed cartridge and not being careful.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_Personality:

Generally a bit cowardly, Lee really only is able to be brave when it's something regarding his family (including Stacey and her parents- even tho they don't deserve it). He's really laid back in general, but a hardass when it comes to things with his daughter, and money. He's very reliable and a solid friend to have. Always is the one who shows up to help you move with his truck. He's a romantic, but only after you're serious to have met his daughter as his formal girlfriend. Which- hasn't happened yet.

He's always planning the next thing. How are we paying for groceries this week? Ma's medicine is out on Monday- he picks it up the previous Monday.

Underneath the appearance of only recently put together exterior- he's got a rather grim outlook. He's high-handed since his father died, especially in regards to money and his mother's health. From the outside it seems cruel, at the very least disrespectful, but it's motivated by his fear of being left alone in the world to take care of Sandy. Has the potential to be unreasonably cruel. Has general commitment issues- because of Stacey.

Uses swears like common greetings- ie: "hey asshole! long time no see" It's nearly always said positively except when it's not-

"Implied something happens to Sandy reaction example"

"hey! cocksucker! if i catch you in the same room as Sandy again, remember that my dad buried fuckers like you in the mines for less" he spits on his shoes, "i'd recommend you get out of town."

Secretly freaky. (Off camera- sorry folks)

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
~✯~✯~~✯~✯~
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

_History:

tldr who is this guy again? tw refs included

Lee Thornton is a GED-holding single father raising his daughter in a trailer park after a teenage relationship with an older friend resulted in an unplanned pregnancy. At the time, Lee was 15 and she was 19. The relationship ended disastrously before marriage, and they have been estranged for years.

His father, a union miner, later died from complications related to black lung after a violent altercation with his former in-laws. Lee became the primary provider for his household in his early twenties while caring for his chronically ill mother and raising his daughter with little support.

He works night shifts at a local grocery store, lives paycheck to paycheck, and is deeply anxious about money, loss, and his daughter’s future. He keeps a low profile, avoids emotional vulnerability, and survives by planning one week at a time.

Lee and Stacey should never have gotten together. They met in band, and they only had enough people for one section of the class. He joined the more emo clique of kids in band- and wound up playing trombone. First chair of the trumpets sat next to the last chair of the trombones. She was a senior, which meant she was by default first chair just because she'd had the most practice. It didn't take long for them to become very close friends since the brass section wasn't very big to begin with. Their relationship mirrored that of the movie Juno- friends curious about their bodies ending up pregnant. There is something to be said about the fact it happened after she had graduated. It was his sophomore year when she was back from college (her family was more well off than his). Plus the fact that they did it 3 times in total over following 6 months; the last of which he had determined he was falling in love with her.

That's when she showed him the test and everything changed. She was 6 months pregnant by the time she'd figured it out. They were at waffle house and she felt her stomach move. Stacey had stood straight up- previously believing she was a victim of the 'freshman 15'. At first he was flabbergasted how she COULDN'T know, and it was only after he'd venomously accused her of keeping it from him for months, that he remembered she'd told him her periods were irregular. But the damage was done, he'd never apologized. She'd been very reserved with him after that.

Sandy was born when he was 15, nearly 16. Their wedding was scheduled for two weeks after Sandy was due. Her father had showed up to his trailer in a suit, with the cops. "So Les, your sons got some 'splainin to do."

Les was the best pop Lee could ask for. He'd gone to find him, and when he found him hiding in his room crying. That's all he needed to see. Pop was a man of god, and he knew the question was coming- "you're marryin' her?" It was more a statement than anything, but the curl of last word- still asking. His Pop had always been wary of Stacey.

Parental Abandonment, Death of a Parent, Beating Someone to Near Death, Left at the Altar, Disability/Heart Disease, Black Lung, m15-f19 Problematic Age Gap *derogatory*

They were going to be married in June, the sun was hot, he was sweating bullets at the front of her Mom's church (she was catholic, and he had been raised methodist). Two hours he stood there, her family in the front row barring their teeth at him. His mom held Sandy in her arms on his side. At the two hour mark, his Pop walked up to the Priest shook his hand, and led him and his mother away from the church.

For 10 years, Stace was nowhere to be found. Her family refused to speak with him, and refused to acknowledge his existence. One night, when Pop was really drunk and Lee was 24, he made him drive to over to Miner's street. Pop was a union rep at his mine, and Vinny hated him for it. When Les knocked on the door, the fuse was as short as it could possibly be. They'd gone to blows in the driveway. Lee had never been more scared in his entire life when Vinny had beaten his drunken father within an inch of his life.

That incident was the beginning of the end of Pop. Lee was never the same again. He rapidly and unexpectedly became the patriarch of his small home and it wasn't much longer before his Ma's heart started showing signs of weakness. She couldn't work after that- so she watched Sandy. When his Pop passed, Vinny stopped hating him. But he has still never looked him in the eyes again.

In the years after, Elaine, Stacey's Mom had snuck over to the park twice while her husband was out of town. She brought an envelope of 500 dollars twice, two quilts for Sandy, and always dinner. Accumulations of cash found in pants pockets and her bunco game winnings were all she could keep from Vinny. Elaine loves Sandy. Now, they have a long standing monthly dinner where Elanie's bunco girls cover for her.

Lee got his G.E.D. and he's been keeping a low profile, sleeping around a little bit (with almost anybody) and working at Clark's. Lately things had gotten rougher than ever before, and as his mother gets older he realizes the loss of her disability check would cripple his ability to put a roof over Sandy's head. He's praying for his Ma to hold on until Sandy can graduate.

She's 14 this year, one more to go until she is the age he was when Stacey got pregnant. He's terrified.

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_{Extra Facts // Headcannons:}

How does your character feel about the expansion/growth of Pines Holler?
✯ Lee is a union miner's son who was very opposed to suits of any variety, namely the Mining ones. But they're all the same, aren't they? He's Pop's kid thru and thru. Would love if he does something crazy to stick it to the suits.

Fun Facts
✯ Pop loved live music- so does Lee. He's always sneaking out after Sandy and Ma go to bed to see shows.
✯ He cleans a buddies house for free weed.
✯ He loves cats, likes dogs, and HATES reptiles & spiders.
✯ Plays brass in the community orchestra.
✯ After Sandy turned 10, he has seen Stacey twice. Once - at waffle house at 2a. She had been clearly stopping in to visit her parents under the cover of night. She'd run out of the building when she realized he walked in. He'd dropped his glass penny bank he'd taken to roll pennies to the store before working a night stocking shift for some overtime.
✯ The second time, Sandy was 13. He was on stage at his first community concert since playing when he was 16. His little girl in the front row. They locked eyes before his (her) trumpet solo, and he'd cried and blew his heart out. She was standing in the back, face too dark to see. But he knew her- how she stood, how she wiped her tears, and most of all, her immaculately polished boots.
✯ Lee is dreading ever seeing her again. He tries to pretend she's dead.
✯ Secret night stoner, the day folk can never know.
✯ Plays in a Appalachian Folk/Bluegrass Style Band (he uses a mute on the trumpet)- one sunday a month with the old miners at the VFW hall
✯ Buys himself one pack of smokes for the year- smokes them when people die or when he's thinking about death.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Dispatch: Heroes of Claremont

B A C K S L I D E

Gaggle's Carnival 14:00

_{Mentions-
Blackstar (@cosmiccowgirl) | Lightning Girl (@FourtyTwo) | Hat Trick (@BigPapaBelial) | Madcap (@Auragreedia)|
Backslide -Instrumental | Backslide -Lyrics}

---

Asteroid’s ears ring for a while after he falls to his knees. Between the thin air, his wounds all over, and the vertigo- he’s barely conscious. He shuts his eyes. With his hands in his lap, he tries to regulate his breathing. The silence around him is kind of haunting.

Jet’s scared. He’s never really seen heroes beat down this badly in real life. It’s the worst situation he’s ever been wrapped up in at SDN, and he’s not even sure how they’re supposed to get out of this one. It’s not like he has powers with that much juice. Hundreds of people could die.

Hell- suddenly he’s not sure he’s a hero at all. What is he doing here? Maybe if another super was here they’d have had a shot.

The vision of Madcap’s back disappearing in the blackness of his vision- just at the fringes of consciousness. If he’d been able to keep up, he could’ve helped.

He’s sitting in the chair across from his parole officer- “-you really got yourself into it with this one-”

In his father’s old cadillac, “numbers like these won’t get you into a good school, and neither will your grades- So tell me Jet- what are you gonna do with your lif-”

Sitting in James’ office, no words, but it’s the same look on his face.

He can’t do this again.

Jet’s communicator crackles to life. “Asteroid, Blackstar is on her way to you!"

It jolts him to consciousness. His eyes slam open, and for the moment he’s free from vertigo, he sees her barreling straight at him. It probably should seem terrifying to see someone flying at you that quickly. But all Jet could think about was wanting to catch her.

He doesn’t. His body refuses to move as Blackstar nearly runs directly into him. When she stops her words are fighting with the ringing in his ears for focus. "Hey, you okay? C'mon, you gotta--" He’s looking up at her, palms turned up, chest rising and falling slowly.

”-thanks-” It’s steady but soft. The seemingly serene calm of someone not entirely awake.

The moment of stillness had at least slowed his body down.

"Lightning Girl's over here -- the other guys are coming. C'mon, Jet, I've got you."

Pulling him up by both arms, it takes some effort, but Jet’s reoriented with his feet on the ground. This unfortunately took a bit of a levering maneuver so his arm is wrapped around her shoulder. He tries to move but Blackstar must be focused on the new clown arrivals, and she’s taking off. Before he knows it, they’re reunited with LG.

”everyone was alive- last I checked.” only thing he has to contribute to this battle. He shouts it over the sounds of the heroes fighting around him. He’s not contributing much- but he is applying force to all of the clowns coming at them. It’s enough that LG & Blackstar have just a bit of assistance with the numbers coming at them.

It’s less than a minute before his powers return to weakening with his energy. So he picks up a baseball bat from one of the clowns and uses it to catch blows. He tries to crowd the clowns away from slipping in behind them. It’s- mostly successful.

LG catches the one that knocks him back to the ground in her lightning. It’s fast, and it’s the first time he’s seen this much of her powers up close. From the ground- it’s much scarier.

He scrambles to his feet as Blackstar begins to toss out a potential plan. Jet’s hardly back to his feet before Blackstar says ”I’m going,” Then she’s a blur.

Jet follows after Hat Trick's hopeful path and barely makes it in time to hear LG shout- “Team, get in there and cuff him! I've got him held in place!” He tries to stumble forward, but the quick move over here nearly sends him scrambling to throw up. LG looks like lightning incarnate and he’s sure the static shock off of Gaggles would be enough to stop Jet’s heart.

He pulls a set of cuffs from his waist and attempts to toss them to Hat Trick, or anybody that will take them. Jet just knows he’s not going to be the one that is able to overpower the clown with that large frame.

Dungeon Crawler Carl: Twin Suns

Okay! Posted up! Was thinking I'll get into the boss battle next post- I'm gonna combine the janitor and the hollywood undead spiders into the neighborhood boss (I hope I'm remember the level's correctly here haha)

Wondering what you're thinking about the first dungeon crawler world broadcast. Do we want to split that responsibility in half? Workshop something in one of the forum shared posts we can both edit? Not sure :)

Dungeon Crawler Carl: Twin Suns

L O R A L I E & S H A R O D

pre6 days, 19 hours and 42 minutes and counting to floor collapse post6 days, 11 hours and 10 minutes and counting to floor collapse Floor 1 Viewers: 0 | Followers: 0 | Favorites: 0

---

Sharod took a second in the bathroom, looking at his reflection before they ventured back out into the dungeon. The concept of looking at himself in such an unfamiliar place was odd. Everything around him was new- his weaponry glinting from his knuckles. Blue-green glue has deepened to a sickly gray/black stain across his clothes. A 1990s Denny’s bathroom, walls yellowed with age, pink and blue painted tile dispersed in a sea of white.

It’s familiar. But there is a sense of dread about all of it. ”Just keep going. We’ll rest soon.”

He’s wearing black Carhartt pants, tan timberlands, a light blue plaid overshirt, and a white t-shirt. His hair is pulled into poufy long locks. The back half of them are pulled into a pony tail. He unbuttons the dirtied shirt and is visibly pleased when it’s unmarred. His boots are fairing much worse.

Leaning over he splashes water on his face, scrubbing the spider juice from his skin. When he’s finished, he looks up from the basin to the mirror, and for an instant, he sees the toilet behind him rather than his face. He blinks hard, by the time his eyes are reopened, he’s there again. Fear highlights his features- what is that all about? Was there a bug in the game? Was this mirror virtual?

Reaching up, his fingers slide under the sides, top and bottom of the mirror. Maybe there’s a button here somewhere. He finds nothing. So he leaves.

Loralie is sitting in a booth, her eyes glued to the spinning logo on the tv in the restaurant. Maxlo is banging pots and pans together somewhere back in the kitchen. Sharod sighs- “Lor- we should get moving again.”

For a few beats, silence surrounds them. It’s the rustling of her clothing that finally breaks it.

---

They spend several hours fighting more derby spiders. Only one set that really matched their last set of opponents. When they’ve destroyed their sixth spider gang, Loralie’s starting to look and feel very rough. Her chest is painful, and while their health totals are high she feels exhausted. Sharod feels like if he has to move another inch he’ll keel over.

They’re nearly level five now and they’re starting to feel the XP gain slow down. With their inventories chocked full of boxes to open, they wordlessly agree to head back to the safe room.

Luckily, they’d already made the call to start backtracking to the Wing Snob. When it comes into view, they stumble inside. Sharod says nothing as he crawls into a bed in their rented rest room.

”I’m not sure I’m going to get used to this.” Loralie is sitting on the side of her bed, facing away from him. The first few fights they fought she’d put her anger into it. Yells and grunts powered her swings. The last two? She’d been deadly silent.

”If you do- I’ll ring your bell myself. You’ve got to hold onto what makes you, you dude. This place is already changing us.” He shuts his eyes. Laying flat on his back he lifts his arm to cover his eyes from the fluorescent lights.

Loralie looks over at him at his revelation and then she falls into bed. Where- it’s lights out- for just a little while.
When they get up, they open their next set of loot boxes, and head out.

Notable Loot

NEW ACHIEVEMENT!! - L Groundskeeper You've now killed more spiders than most pest control services. Considering a career change? REWARD!!! Bronze Exterminator Box Contents: 1x Mana Potion, 1x Thick-Soled Boots (+1 passive resistance to ground-contact damage. Sludge trails, hot surfaces. Useful more than exciting.)

NEW ACHIEVEMENT!! - L Form Is Temporary That was a clean machete slash. Don't get used to it, you’re not consistent. REWARD!!! Silver Momentary Brilliance Box Contents: 1x Antidote Vial (single use — clears all poison stacks instantly) 1x Health Potion

NEW ACHIEVEMENT!! - S That Worked? It really shouldn't have. But it did. We're as surprised as you are. REWARD!!! Bronze Happy Accident Box Contents: 1x Full Stop Bandages, small gold, 1x Throwing Knife

---

It’s pretty quiet until they reach a new section of hallway they aren’t familiar with. Sharod rolls to a stop but Loralie’s been on autopilot. She powers ahead, and Sharod barely dashes in after her. Just in time too- because once he’s though the threshold- music begins.

The Dungeon AI takes on a sports announcer tone with the next announcement. "B-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-b-BOSS BATTLE"

Sharod thinks he’s going to be sick.

Dispatch: Heroes of Claremont

V E R T I G O

M A D C A P & A S T E R O I D

_{Collab with- | Madcap (@Auragreedia)|
Mentions- | Blackstar (@CosmicCowgirl)| Lightning Girl (@FourtyTwo)| Hat Trick (@BigPapaBelial)|}

---

Asteroid’s got a skip to his step on his way back to where he left Madcap. His walk with Blackstar had gone so unbelievably well that he’d almost forgotten all about his close call with the murder bathroom. Blackstar was up to three stuffed animals, and Asteroid’s heart felt too big for his chest. Not a bad way to spend work- he’d initially been skeptical of the carnival dispatch today. It wasn’t that he didn’t like carnivals, he’d actually considered working for a carnival when he got out with his powers. Jet had hoped they’d need a juggler.

But it turns out those crowds are generally pretty closely knit, and without a proven audience draw or knowing somebody it was hard to break into them. Slinking around those was where he initially ran into his band of villains. They weren’t really villains at that point though. One of them was a carnival kid that really wasn’t fitting his parent’s mold. His parents could control birds with a special whistle. It was a technique that was passed down in his family, their secret being a device and specific set of notes and patterns. Derek Loiseau- the french birdsman.

Looking around reminded him of that initial time. Derek was in a 70s style look when Jet met him. Reds and yellows panels in bell bottom pants, and a white shirt with puffy long sleeves. Mrs. Loiseau was really serious about fitting the aesthetic.

Once Derek left the carnival, he burned that uniform. Jet had handed the normally goth dressed man the lighter fluid that night. Derek swapped red eyeliner for purple when he was away from his parents. Jet always liked the red more.

The bench he left Madcap is just coming into view when he feels a tingle against the inward curl of his skull. It’s like someone is spraying him with water. Pressing up the back of his mask with a few fingers, he lays them at the hollow of his skull.

Instinct leads him to sense for his tennis ball. He presses his gravity against it- and finds an ever so slight difference in its affected equation. Something- is off. Jet is perfectly ready to write it off as catching a cold. Maybe some sort of effect of a sugar rush from all that lemonade.

Jet jogs over to the bench, and each step begins to feel like it’s landing just a bit farther than he expects. Like the Earth is curving away from his feet.

The city is tiny looking from above, a chunk ripped out of it, only getting smaller and smaller. "The carnival is..." he gapes, peering through the bars and balloons. "The carnival is FLYING?!"

Asteroid is stationary while Madcap is swaying towards and away from him. That’s not right. Jet’s gut twists a bit, what does ‘The carnival is flying’ even mean? ”Is this a riddle for the next bathroom puzzle?” Is Madcap following some sort of Escape Room like ARG? “Flying? I’m not sure that’s possible. But I’m also not sure I’m feeling so hot. Maybe a gas leak? ” The last word Jet says is more wobbly than usual. The world that was previously moving away from him is now doing so even from where he’s standing stationarily. His vision is starting to swim like he’s the camera in an insta360 video.

“Riddle?!” He swivels around. “It means exactly what it means… CLOWNS! BEHIND!”

Following Madcap’s eyes, he sees the gaggle of clowns begin to approach. Evil grins curl their lips, one of them giggling to themself. “Oh- oh no.”

Madcap rushes behind Asteroid, holding him up by the shoulders as the clowns approach. All hell was breaking loose, civilians were dying, his teammates had to fend for themselves.

He points at the clowns. “Halt! Here you face the Magnificent Madcap and his trusty assistant, the Astronomical Asteroid! Cease your wretched plans…” he leaps in front, a cool pose struck. “Or die trying.”

Totally badass!

Back on his feet proper, the group of clowns stare at him blankly before rushing him down. Asteroid is not spared, either, an endless barrage of punches and club swings thrown his way. Madcap is lucky enough to score a few good hits—a clown’s head evaporating into red mist, another grounded into paste, the last one knocked into a crowd like a bowling ball. He has to hold himself back from howling in excitement.

The others could struggle all they want! It wouldn’t matter! It’d only make it more exciting! A stout clown dents a nearby building, Madcap’s fist coated in a thick layer of blood.

Asteroid.. Is not fairing as well. Jet tries to collect himself for the entirety of Madcap’s speech. He doesn’t hear most of what Madcap says but at one point, he interjects a slurred but encouraging “Yeah!”

Jet takes a club to the face and it sends him tumbling to the ground. Blood bursts under the surface of his skin at the impact site. That pattern continues as he throws up his arms to protect his face. Simultaneously he fights his powers against the differences in gravity calculation. It’s on the fly and unprepared, so it takes him a few tries to pop open the compartment that holds his projectiles.

Rather than being able to control a few dozen, Jet’s relegated to controlling them 2-3 at a time. Two fly out in front of him, inflating to about the size of a basketball each. It’s enough to knock the clowns back and off of him. That gives him an opening to get to his feet.

Asteroid gets to his feet as he dodges one mean left hook. Dodges a right. Ducks under a swing of a club, but when it comes from above on its return it really rings his bell. The vertigo hasn’t left, and that swing sends him to the floor. Asteroid’s fighting the world tipping as he slides back, using his knees as propellant. His tennis ball rockets out of its place on his side.

He gets a few pushes away, and then uses his powers just to get him to his feet. “What’s the plan?” Bile rises in his throat as he prompts his teammate.

Madcap snaps a clown’s neck and tosses him aside. “Defeat’em all, obviously!” He poses with his hands out by his side, silently bragging about the blood he’s shed.

Asteroid’s current state is either lost on him or outright ignored. “It feels good not holding back anymore, right? RIGHT?!”

Jet's nose is bloody under his mask. Copper migrates its way to his tongue which is grounding. “Mad- holding back? What?” The already reality-bending afternoon is making this feel like a dream turned nightmare.

“Ahhh, it’s so fun!” He pauses suddenly, grabbing the back of Asteroid’s uniform and preparing to bolt. “We have to find the boss!

Asteroid feels the back of his suit grow taut and then gravity shifts around him again. He's moving backwards, feet dragging against the damp carnival ground. “Boss? An honest to god Scooby Doo Villain type?

“Obviously!… What’s a Scooby Doo?”

People around them are screaming and running from clowns. A few of the ones they were engaged with are moving to follow after them. Madcap is decisively moving them toward something. He pulls them into a building, and Asteroid pulls himself free. Taking a breath, his fingers twitch. A large shelving unit tips over on its side. With a metal thunk it’s blocking the door.

Asteroid looks over his shoulder at Madcap. Red soaks down the front of him. It’s all hidden bar the copper rivers highlighting the gap between mask and collar. “Are we ducking in here, or do you know more than-?” The murder bathroom surrounds the spinning Madcaps in his vision. That shuts him up.

It’s cold and all too shocking, the secret passageway still opened and breathing stale air. A sting hits Asteroid’s face as Madcap splashes cold water at him. The water below turns from clear to reddish brown—loud banging outside as the clowns desperately try to break their way into the bathroom.

Madcap’s fingers twitch into a fist, his entire coated red, gaudy coat all but abandoned now. “We go in, obviously. It’s villain 101–cause a lot of chaos,” he peers into the tunnel, “and run away like a coward.”

There’s still an air of playfulness to him, more giddy than confident.

He ducks into the tunnel before Asteroid has a chance to protest and pokes his head out to goad him into following.

Madcap's face out of the dark hole of the tunnel makes Asteroid shudder. It's something about his strong jaw that takes Jet somewhere else. It'd been easy to follow him earlier- Jet’s used to following orders. Placating everyone because it’s always safer that way.

But the optimism of day is now buried under the lime blue and green dungeon like darkness. Now- Asteroid sees someone else. He feels the ice in his veins willing him to stay in the bathroom. Behind him, he hears the crack of splitting wood. That sends him tripping forward.

”Is that?” Bloody oversized boot prints lead down the initial tunnel, and it makes his stomach twist. The vertigo is quelled by his ability to sense the four walls around him.

Jet moves faster to catch up, the red smears igniting his sense of purpose in this place. The walls help him anchor himself. His powers feel just a little bit more stable here. It’s odd for Jet to be quiet. But he is. Everything he learned before the age of sixteen is forcing him to be seen, and certainly not heard. He’ll let Madcap take point here, it’s clear he’s not in any shape to do so. Yeah- that’s it. That’s what’s keeping him from stepping through the threshold into the next room. What had the evil clown said over the intercom? Gaggle was going to eject them into space? LG and Blackstar could be right at home up here, but Asteroid knew better. He knew first hand what a fall from four stories would do to your cranium. And this felt far more than four stories up.

Static crackles in Jet’s ears, he winces at the peaks in frequency. “Lots of tunnels… under… what to do…”

“Blackstar grouped up… Helter…. Find Gaggles ....”

Madcap halts his tracks, and taps a finger against the side of his helmet. “Huh. I didn’t understand any of that at all!” His hand curls and for a second, just a second, it feels as if he’s ready to lash out in annoyance. Water drips from the top of the tunnel, footsteps rumble overhead, Madcap tilts his head upward as a muffled crash echoes throughout. The rest of the team is probably getting their ass kicked.

‘Cause they’re not like him.

It’s just a job, they save whoever has a subscription, they get paid. If A-team wasn’t here, would they have shown up later? No, because it’s not their job to. They would have been on some petty dispatch, doing petty work, all for a quick buck, all while kids die. Madcap’s fist smashes into a nearby wall, and it crumbles to reveal an empty roller coaster cart and a few bloodied footsteps.

But a clown with a deflated balloon in his hands is seen walking away on the far side of the tracks.

Asteroid stumbles back when Madcap’s fist smashes the wall. ”Shit-!” The sudden loss of one of the anchor walls sends him careening backwards. The energy wafting off of Madcap triggers Jet’s flight. It morphs into fright and then freeze after his mind takes in the danger. This is quite frankly the most large-scale threat Jet’s ever faced.

He’s not taking it well.

A voice creeps up from a forgotten memory, ”you keep messing up like this, you idiotic- weak- child. I will start giving you better excuses.” Each insult results in a shove forward. Preteen Jet falling to the floor, stumbling backwards. Head cracking against the concrete floor of his father’s wine cellar.

The dizzying shrinking of mind felt immediately after a head injury.

It feels a lot like this.

All Asteroid can do is try to shuffle forward after Madcap. He does his best to focus his equations on his upright ally, with him as an anchor he’s able to use his powers to keep himself upright.

“I’m gonna get the boss on my own,” Madcap turns to Asteroid with a two-fingered salute. “You find the others, okay!”

There’s no gap to protest or follow after, he jets off with a burst of speed, leaving a vertigo-riddled Asteroid by himself, surrounded by nothing but debris, the cold air of the tunnels, and the chill of the metal platform stinging his skin through his uniform.

“Clowns! Clowns everywhere!” Hat Trick’s voice crackles through his ear piece. “... evacuating civilians….get clear!”

Asteroid forces himself back through the wall Madcap busted. His arms are wrapped around his stomach. It’s an attempt to hold his churning guts inside his body. He follows the familiar path out through the fun house. Fear quickens his pulse as he hears the clowns finally making their way into the tunnel.

He picks up his pace, knocking into walls on his way out through the mirror maze once more. This time, he watches the floor instead of his reflection. It slows him down.

When he finally makes it out, he’s stumbling forward towards familiar gravity signatures. LG, Blackstar, he knows Hattrick is around here somewhere. Crumpling his right hand into a fist, the mirror maze bursts into thousands of tiny mirror and glass pieces. Those clowns won’t be following him anymore. The last burst of energy causes Jet to stumble and fall to his knees. Asteroid's body is close to tapping out, he's not sure how much more he can take. He reaches out with his gravity and feels for his team- holding onto the surety that they’re alive in their movements.