TheAmishPirate

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED
CRYBABY
CRUEL

SAVAGE
MERCURIAL

The human clearly knew how to hold a grudge. Fine.

The long game it is.

Samael bows his head as if in concession and takes a step back, palms open and held wide.

"A mutually beneficial agreement. A deal, if you like. And a negotiable one. I offer you my protection. I believe that might be worth something to you. When you're ready to discuss the particulars and of your end of it... you know where to find me. If not tonight then... I'm certain life at Sleepshy Rise will have you reconsider before long. I have that feeling. Just don't wait too-"

@Elanorin

A flurry of emotions ran through Timmy's eyes. Anger. Suspicion. Confusion. Was that a trace of curiosity? Maybe only a trace. But he settled on relief. Finally, this awful night might end.

Samael's eyes quickly shift to Annalee and there is obvious surprise on his face. He searches her expression and the light in his eyes changes. He looks genuinely taken aback. If genuine is a word that can even apply to him. Could it be she actually caught him off guard?

"Ana..." he breathes, his voice much less certain than a moment ago "...what is this? Are you... breaking up with me?"

@Elanorin

...you know, he really ought to know better by now.

"Annie..." Timmy glanced to the door (on the other side of Annie) and back to the emotionally distraught vampire (on the other side of empty, unprotected space). "Are you breaking up with him?"

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

Ball is in the vampire's court on this one. :P

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED
CRYBABY
CRUEL

Timothy lowered the Hand of Modesty from his face a necessary smidge. Just enough to see his eyes, and little else. Eyes framed in a still-flushed face, carefully looking at Samael without looking at Samael. Especially without meeting his gaze.

This close, can you hear the thunder of his heart, vampire? Oh, is there any heart like our Timmy’s? Who else can stand so long on the precipice of fight or flight? You won’t find a soul so steeped in sweat, adrenaline, blood, innocence, ignorance, life! How delectable! How precious!

“It would seem,” he swallowed hard. “That the smart human who feared vampires would know better than to trust one.”

He did not move for the door. The simple, unspoken response: Why on earth should I believe you?

Annalee? Or is it Annie? Which do your lovers call you? Whoever you are, your Baba must’ve taken you near some frightful places during your education. It’s important, you know! Being afraid of the dark. So, so important. Baba didn’t forget. I doubt you did either. Won’t you tell us what you felt then? When your body tells you to run before your eyes can tell you why, what’s it like? Won’t you tell us?

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

I'm looking for a Samael post here. If Elanorin wants to have him sit, then I think we can wrap up the scene. If she wants the confrontation now, I'm also game for that and will adjust my night plans accordingly either way.

@Anarion

Same. Ball is very much in Samael's court as his prey tries to slip away. :P

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED
CRYBABY

Timothy listened to the entire soliloquy from behind a raised hand of modesty. He gawked. He gagged. He coughed. But he did not say a word. Not until she was finished. Not until Samael had started talking.

Timothy took a long, deep breath. Shuddered. And spoke.

“Right then.”

And for those of you who failed the Queen’s English, a translation into Standard Teen:

“k”

Hard stop. No punctuation. A notch above being left on Read.

[Rolling to Shut Elodie Down: 1 + 5 + 1 = 7, go ahead and lose another String on Timmy.]

“Sir?” Timothy interrupted. “If you’re too busy now, perhaps we could discuss your...proposal, at a later time? There was other schoolwork tonight that needed doing…”

And that was it. He trailed off, and that was it. Yes, he was beet red behind his hand, and yes, he was visibly trembling. But that was it! That was all he had to say for himself! Look, look, the lad’s clenching his fist, but doesn’t even have the decency to throw a proper tantrum. Let him stew for as long as your patience lasts, you'll not get another peep from him. No, this was the full extent of Timothy Oglevee Crompton’s grand protestation. Bask in the disappointment, ye mighty, and despair.

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

Introducing

Timothy Oglevee Crompton

(of the Wilkenstonshire Cromptons)

The Neighbor

LOOKS: Stilted. Averted eyes.
Male, muddy brown eyes, fastidiously stiff and tidy school uniform. Neatly combed medium-brown hair.
Small, but not short. Lean, but not gaunt. Wears glasses, but not stylishly.

ORIGIN: send help there's been a terrible mistake

STATS:
Hot: -1
Cold: 1
Volatile: 2
Dark: -1

CONDITIONS:
JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED
CRYBABY
CRUEL

BACKSTORY:

Timothy and Annalee made out in a broom closet once.

Timothy's bedroom window faces Samael's. He keeps his blinds open for unknown (and probably unwise) reasons.

I have Strings on:
G'eldriia Despanna - 1
Annalee - 2
Samael - 2

HARM:
[_] [_] [_] [_]

When you take time to tend to your wounds, once per session you may heal 1 Harm. If someone else is there with you, tending to your wounds delicately and intimately – and perhaps with erotic subtext – you may heal an additional 1 Harm.

To avoid death, erase all harm and choose one:
- Become your Darkest Self,
- Lose all Strings you have on everybody.

MOVES:

Mixed Messages: When you’re alone with someone, decide if you’re attracted to them or not.
-If you are, tell them why you can’t be together and roll to Shut Them Down, adding 1 to the roll.
-If you’re not, tell them all the things they’ve got going for them (to let them down easy) and roll to Turn Them On, adding 1 to the roll.

Two Eyes: When you take your glasses off, your Hot becomes 3. You actually need your glasses, so subtract 2 from rolls where sight matters.

Nap Fan: As soon as you fall asleep somewhere, choose two for the MC to detail when you wake:
-Something was left for you
-Someone’s there
-Someone’s been trying to contact you
-Something’s been broken
-You had a nice dream.

Darkest Self: You feel... you feel like a monster. What kind of monster do you feel like? A werewolf, a vampire, a ghost, a queen... it can be anything you can think of. Tell the MC, and they’ll hand you that Skin or the closest thing to it. It can be different each time. Read their Darkest Self: you are drowning in metaphor. Choking on it. Your body isn’t supernatural, but you’re gonna take it right to the line. You become that Darkest Self

Current Darkest Self: (Ghost) You become invisible, unnoticeable. No one can see you, feel you, or hear your voice. You can still affect inanimate objects, but this is your only avenue of communication. You escape your Darkest Self when someone acknowledges your presence, and demonstrates how much they want you around.

Special: When you have sex with someone, tell them something you don’t want them to know.

XP:
[X] [X] [X] [_] [_]

IMPROVEMENT:
_ Add +1 to one of your stats.
_ Take another Neighbor move.
_ Take another Neighbor move.
_ Take a move from any Skin.
_ Take a move from any Skin.
_ You have Lots of Exes.

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

Not planning to go for the shut down there, Amish? Just Timmy's silent (and currently entirely unnoticed) disapproval?

@Anarion

No, you're right. There ought to be a mechanical bite there. Let me edit that post real quick.

And for the future, if anybody ever sees me write a post, and you get this same feeling of, "gee, it feels like there ought to be a move rolled or a String spent or something," please let me know. This is twice now that I've noticed myself doing something that - to me - would be a significant social move, but to the other party it was completely toothless. (Mind, that sometimes might be exactly what I want, but not so here.)

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED
CRYBABY

For the first time in an age, Timothy was permitted to stand, and this gift did little to offset the ongoing misfortune.

Straightaway he yelped and put a hand up to cover Annie's indecency. No, hold that thought, that hand was also needed to cover the vampire's indecency. And Annie's. While he was at it, could he also cover Elodie? No? Was he sure about that? Perhaps he could, no, too many vampire abs, can't have that. So maybe if he just kept, yes, he could avert his eyes strategically as he moved his hand to cover the majority of the hot spots. Yes. Alright. That was the plan. Stick to it, Crompton. And no peeking, you pathetic mongrel.

"S-sir, if this is about the assignment," he placated in Samael's general vicinity. (Why couldn't he have left the door open? Why?!) "If you'll give me five minute's peace, I'm sure I could have it done and ready to turn in..."

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Annalee is having some weird feelings right now. She did her thing and the hypnotism is wearing off. But she's still got a lot of complex feelings. Okay she got Timmy here. Samael manipulated her. Samael hurt her earlier. She flinches when the finger touches her jawline. Just for an instant, she can't help it, okay?! But then his touch is soft, and delicate. He gave her his shirt, too. That's very kind of him. It felt warm, protecting her from the chilly air of the library, cool to preserve all those dusty old books. That was nice, wasn't it? Maybe he'd just reacted badly before, maybe...

Her head swam and she leaned into him. "A werewolf flung me out of a school tower and I had to leave my shirt with the sphinx at the entrance to get everyone here. And Elly-belly very nearly dragged Timmy right past the library to the Angel's room instead, which is why I had to practically tackle them in here."

@Anarion

He doesn't say anything to you Annie.

No, no, it's fine. Really! There's no need. He's seen quite enough. You cursed him at Samael's behest. You let Samael feed upon you. (And don't think he didn't notice that little mark.) You lied to his face about wishing to help him, only to bring him straight into a vampire's clutches. And you nearly tore him in two to make it so. Now here he is, cooing over you like a gentleman suitor.

Speak your piece, or don't. It matters little. He's seen how it is, and he's seen quite enough, and if by chance you see him through his shielding hand, you'll find that he doesn't wish to see you at all.

[Spending a String on Annie to tempt her to pull away from Samael. Show some tangible shame for what you've done.]

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

To make things absolutely clear, Timmy is agreeing to go with Annie, where she will definitely deal with this whole mystery hex problem, and not throw him at a vampire. :P

Monster Hearts: Sleepshy Rise

JEALOUS
DEFINITELY HEXED

SECOND PLACE
WEREWOLF MAGNET
DARKEST SELF

“I didn’t want to meet them until we were going steady, silly!!” He’s only saying this because he’s cursed. You can’t give a hex like that an inch! “But I guess... once we get you uncursed, we can go have dinner together!”

She leans in, gives him an air kiss next to his cheek— mwah!— and then drags him over to the door before his brain starts working again.

Knock! Knock! And then, once opened, gosh, wouldn’t you know, we’re in... the Sphinx’s lair??

“Drop that oversized kitten and break your curse on poor, innocent Timothy right now, Annalee, or else! He’s nobody’s house husband, you hussy!”

You’d better do it. There is mad power dancing in Elly-belly’s eyes, Annalee. She is at her most unpredictable and impulsive right now, and standing in front of her might as well be standing in front of a train.

This is complicated by the fact that you have not, in fact, hexed Timmy.

@Tatterdemalion

This is okay. This is fine. She didn’t really kiss him. He didn’t actually reciprocate. It wasn’t a real kiss. It wasn’t a real kiss. It wasn’t real at all. It was a Continental sort of gesture that was performed millions of times a day between people who didn’t have to like each other in the first place. He was safe, he wasn’t in any trouble, and so his knees had no good reason to tremble like structurally deficient gelatin. No good reason! Not a one!

wait this wasn’t where he was standing a moment ago

CREEP
WHIPPED
TRUANT

Annalee is in the middle of trying to open her backpack and inch out one of her spellbooks without being crushed by the sphinx, toppling over, or properly being able to move her arms and legs. It sort of looks like she's being slowly buried in a hot topic store that's oddly sphinx shaped. You might expect her to be awkward in this situation, but in some ways, your arrival is a blessed jolt of normalcy. And she looks positively, perhaps even unnaturally delighted to see that you brought Timothy Crompton with you. Well done, Elly-belly, we knew you were useful for something after all.

"What, the mouth hex? That was at Samael's request, but he didn't ask me to keep it." She waves a hand (as much as it can wave) and Timothy, any lingering oddity with your mouth is completely and utterly gone. "There, it was nothing, I'm glad that you enjoy my work. But now, now it's is excellent that you're here!" Her eyes light up. "I was just working on passing through the entrance, which I've never done before. And while I'm magically fused to this sphinx, I'm sure you can both assist. You see, Timmy, we really must go to the library at once. It's very urgent and I'm confident that whatever you both need, we can take care of it there!" Annalee looks at Timothy knowingly, and he might remember the last time she got him "whatever he needed."

[Spending a string on Timothy to tempt him to go with her (and Elodie if he wants) to Samael's library room. He gets an experience if he does it.]

@Anarion

Timothy felt his natural jawline, totally free of lumps and asymmetry. He whipped off the face mask, and - yes, yes, everything was in order. For the first time in what felt like ages, the world finally saw the face of Timothy Oglevee Crompton.

“You cursed me.”

And he was scowling furiously.

“You. You cursed me. At Samael’s request.” He broke off from Elodie and stormed up to the Witch/Sphinx mash. “Why? Why would you even do such a thing?! What could have Samael possibly said to you to make that seem like a good idea? I’ve been walking around with my face wrapped up like a ninny for days. I haven’t been able to eat. I’ve barely managed to drink. And you just let me suffer?! I was your friend, Annie! Your friend!”

He grabbed her by the shoulders. Looked her square in the eyes. And for a moment, the fire flickered, and his voice cracked.

“I thought that meant something to you. I was relieved to find another human in this nightmare prison. I thought...” He took a stiff breath, his face hardening. “It doesn’t matter. You’re no different from the rest of them.”

Delinquents. Hooligans. Cruel, horrible monsters, all.

“Now. Elodie believes there’s some manner of dark hex that’s been placed on me. If you have any intention of making up for this, you can start by looking into that. I believe you mentioned the Library as a good place to start?”

[Timothy is rolling to Shut Annie Down: 5 + 1 + 1 = 7 Annie gets to put a Condition on Timmy, and loses a String on him.]