Sunflowers and Moonmonsters
Quote from Adriana on September 26, 2021, 12:12 pmThis roleplay begins on September 6th, 18 days after Many Decisions: Secrets, wherein Mercy and her son are found on the Phantom Mountain by Officer Chapman. It follows into the full moon on September 16th.
It’d only been a couple weeks on my own. Nevertheless, I started to get some kind of rhythm, a sense of normalcy. That kind of normal you imagines only for pretty housewives and rich businessmen-like showers every morning, three square meals, reading books-that sorta thing. It felt unusual, like I was a kid playing pretend. I spent my days feigning confidence in this new arrangement -fake it til you make it-, and my nights waiting for the big bad wolves to come blow my house down.
I was pleasantly disappointed, day after day. “Alright, I’m going to bed-are you sure you don’t want to come ruin my day? Last chance.” I’d tell fate, but she must have been out running someone else’s life for a change. So instead I’d tell God thank you and goodnight.
Now, I’d gotten a lot done in two weeks. I’d been loaned a truck of Chapmans, and rented a horse trailer. I’d picked up a dozen goat kids and two puppies from a rancher friend of Bobs. Kind of cute looking little off-white and muddy faced mongrels-the dogs at least. Goats are just plain odd looking.
I call the boy puppy Big, on account of him being huge, and the girl Trouble, on account of her being Trouble. “C’mon on Big Trouble,” is how I call them-because you know me, always asking for trouble, hahah!
Anyway, ask and you shall receive, the Good Lord always says. I got a call from Bob one morning. He was bringing someone out (maybe two someones). No details really, said he’d explain when he got there. He knew it was short notice and didn’t expect to need the ranch so soon.
Easy come, easy go.
This roleplay begins on September 6th, 18 days after Many Decisions: Secrets, wherein Mercy and her son are found on the Phantom Mountain by Officer Chapman. It follows into the full moon on September 16th.
It’d only been a couple weeks on my own. Nevertheless, I started to get some kind of rhythm, a sense of normalcy. That kind of normal you imagines only for pretty housewives and rich businessmen-like showers every morning, three square meals, reading books-that sorta thing. It felt unusual, like I was a kid playing pretend. I spent my days feigning confidence in this new arrangement -fake it til you make it-, and my nights waiting for the big bad wolves to come blow my house down.
I was pleasantly disappointed, day after day. “Alright, I’m going to bed-are you sure you don’t want to come ruin my day? Last chance.” I’d tell fate, but she must have been out running someone else’s life for a change. So instead I’d tell God thank you and goodnight.
Now, I’d gotten a lot done in two weeks. I’d been loaned a truck of Chapmans, and rented a horse trailer. I’d picked up a dozen goat kids and two puppies from a rancher friend of Bobs. Kind of cute looking little off-white and muddy faced mongrels-the dogs at least. Goats are just plain odd looking.
I call the boy puppy Big, on account of him being huge, and the girl Trouble, on account of her being Trouble. “C’mon on Big Trouble,” is how I call them-because you know me, always asking for trouble, hahah!
Anyway, ask and you shall receive, the Good Lord always says. I got a call from Bob one morning. He was bringing someone out (maybe two someones). No details really, said he’d explain when he got there. He knew it was short notice and didn’t expect to need the ranch so soon.
Easy come, easy go.
Quote from Adriana on September 28, 2021, 10:26 amThe puppies barking alerted Robin of Chapman’s arrival. This time, he was in an unmarked, dark SUV. He seemed to have access to a vehicle for every occasion. Robin had stepped out onto the porch, wearing a white tee shirt, blue jeans with just a bit of flare at the bottom, and dark brown work boots. She coralled the puppies and quieted them with a look.
Chapman exited the vehicle first, and after retrieving a pair of crutches from the back, came around to the rear passenger doors and opened them up. Robin looked on with a watchful gaze.
The puppies barking alerted Robin of Chapman’s arrival. This time, he was in an unmarked, dark SUV. He seemed to have access to a vehicle for every occasion. Robin had stepped out onto the porch, wearing a white tee shirt, blue jeans with just a bit of flare at the bottom, and dark brown work boots. She coralled the puppies and quieted them with a look.
Chapman exited the vehicle first, and after retrieving a pair of crutches from the back, came around to the rear passenger doors and opened them up. Robin looked on with a watchful gaze.
Quote from Mae on October 11, 2021, 10:39 pmExiting the vehicle, carried on crutches, was a young woman with short, dark red hair. She looked to be between nineteen or twenty-three years old. She was lean, but strong-shouldered; downtrodden, but full of life. She did not meet Chapman in the eyes, or even in the face, but her demeanor toward him was one of gratitude. Aided by the crutches she turned on one leg, for one leg was all she had, and looked into the car.
"Come on Charlie," she said.
But the little boy in the cabin held tightly to his seat and shook his head. His eyes were wide and his little neck was all pulled in between his shoulders like a small turtle, unwilling to budge. At his mother's second behest, he did the same, shaking his head and holding onto his seat a little tighter.
"I'm sorry," his mother said at last. Apologizing to both Chapman and her host. "It's the dogs. He won't come out."
Exiting the vehicle, carried on crutches, was a young woman with short, dark red hair. She looked to be between nineteen or twenty-three years old. She was lean, but strong-shouldered; downtrodden, but full of life. She did not meet Chapman in the eyes, or even in the face, but her demeanor toward him was one of gratitude. Aided by the crutches she turned on one leg, for one leg was all she had, and looked into the car.
"Come on Charlie," she said.
But the little boy in the cabin held tightly to his seat and shook his head. His eyes were wide and his little neck was all pulled in between his shoulders like a small turtle, unwilling to budge. At his mother's second behest, he did the same, shaking his head and holding onto his seat a little tighter.
"I'm sorry," his mother said at last. Apologizing to both Chapman and her host. "It's the dogs. He won't come out."
Quote from Adriana on November 28, 2021, 8:50 pmI heard that Momma, and felt her nerves in her words. I grabbed up the puppies under my arms and brought them through the house into the backyard, taking up a couple of thick ropes and tethering them to a post. "Only for a while, he'll come around. You're good pups." I gave em a pat, then threw out a bone for them to gnaw on. They yipped but were quickly occupied over the rawhide.
Then I grabbed up a handful of the dum dums I kept in a jar on a bookshelf, and moseyed out towards the car, cautiously. "Hey, momma." I nodded at her, then peered into the car. "Hey, honey-what's your favorite flavor of sucker? Mine has got to be this green apple one, but, it's kind of sour for me..." I said, fanning out the flavors of dum dums in my hand. "You know what sour stuff does, right? Makes your face pucker up, like a fish." I sucked my cheeks in. "I bet you can't eat it without making a fish face, right?"
Chapman chimed in, "Hoo, that stuff is too sweet for me. Little boys don't like sweet stuff, Robin. What are you thinking?" I heard him say, in that exaggerated way. I shook my head and put a flat hand against my mouth, whispering what I said next, "Don't mind him, he's an old man. He only likes boring stuff, like plain oatmeal."
I heard that Momma, and felt her nerves in her words. I grabbed up the puppies under my arms and brought them through the house into the backyard, taking up a couple of thick ropes and tethering them to a post. "Only for a while, he'll come around. You're good pups." I gave em a pat, then threw out a bone for them to gnaw on. They yipped but were quickly occupied over the rawhide.
Then I grabbed up a handful of the dum dums I kept in a jar on a bookshelf, and moseyed out towards the car, cautiously. "Hey, momma." I nodded at her, then peered into the car. "Hey, honey-what's your favorite flavor of sucker? Mine has got to be this green apple one, but, it's kind of sour for me..." I said, fanning out the flavors of dum dums in my hand. "You know what sour stuff does, right? Makes your face pucker up, like a fish." I sucked my cheeks in. "I bet you can't eat it without making a fish face, right?"
Chapman chimed in, "Hoo, that stuff is too sweet for me. Little boys don't like sweet stuff, Robin. What are you thinking?" I heard him say, in that exaggerated way. I shook my head and put a flat hand against my mouth, whispering what I said next, "Don't mind him, he's an old man. He only likes boring stuff, like plain oatmeal."
Quote from Mae on February 7, 2022, 2:12 pmCharlie was stubborn, not tempted by the dum-dums, or distracted by funny faces. He kept expecting the sound of the dogs, despite his mother's assurance that they were "gone now." At length, however, he peered out of the car and was sufficiently pacified to take the lollipops and 'ooch' out of the vehicle. His little shoes touched the ground and he ducked, expecting those dogs to suddenly reappear. But they did not. He left the vehicle behind, took a few inquisitive steps to explore the new surroundings. Then he warily looked around again for those dogs. Content to not find them, but expecting them still, he popped a sucker in his mouth and hid behind his mother's leg.
"You're okay, baby." She assured him, nevertheless she prompted him to move on ahead.
"Thank you," Mercy said to Robin.
Charlie was stubborn, not tempted by the dum-dums, or distracted by funny faces. He kept expecting the sound of the dogs, despite his mother's assurance that they were "gone now." At length, however, he peered out of the car and was sufficiently pacified to take the lollipops and 'ooch' out of the vehicle. His little shoes touched the ground and he ducked, expecting those dogs to suddenly reappear. But they did not. He left the vehicle behind, took a few inquisitive steps to explore the new surroundings. Then he warily looked around again for those dogs. Content to not find them, but expecting them still, he popped a sucker in his mouth and hid behind his mother's leg.
"You're okay, baby." She assured him, nevertheless she prompted him to move on ahead.
"Thank you," Mercy said to Robin.
Quote from Adriana on March 7, 2022, 9:21 am"It's the least I can do. Just let me know what you need from me." I kept nearby the young woman. She looked about half my age, but only physically... You could see it in her eyes. Her soul was tried and tired. I tried not to project myself onto her, but I could envision my daughter being about the same age as her son, when I was probably Mercy's age. Only her son had to live through what I abandoned my daughter to try to keep her from. I could not even fathom the living nightmare their lives had been. Even contemplating the thought of it, I felt the hair on my arms stand up. I had to physically shake the creeping thoughts off, and heard Bob open the trunk.
Catching his gaze, he began to speak, "I can't stay long," he said regretfully. "I'm going to unload some supplies and get on my way. Which room?" he asked me, "The north one." I responded. He nodded and began unloading a series of cases, piling them onto a collapsible dolly and carrying on ahead.
Technically I was in the north room, but I kept the dogs on the south side of the house at night and didn't want that to be anymore of a problem for Charlie. I just needed to move some things around.
We came to the steps of the cabin and I propped the screen door open and waited to offer Mercy a hand if she needed it.
"It's the least I can do. Just let me know what you need from me." I kept nearby the young woman. She looked about half my age, but only physically... You could see it in her eyes. Her soul was tried and tired. I tried not to project myself onto her, but I could envision my daughter being about the same age as her son, when I was probably Mercy's age. Only her son had to live through what I abandoned my daughter to try to keep her from. I could not even fathom the living nightmare their lives had been. Even contemplating the thought of it, I felt the hair on my arms stand up. I had to physically shake the creeping thoughts off, and heard Bob open the trunk.
Catching his gaze, he began to speak, "I can't stay long," he said regretfully. "I'm going to unload some supplies and get on my way. Which room?" he asked me, "The north one." I responded. He nodded and began unloading a series of cases, piling them onto a collapsible dolly and carrying on ahead.
Technically I was in the north room, but I kept the dogs on the south side of the house at night and didn't want that to be anymore of a problem for Charlie. I just needed to move some things around.
We came to the steps of the cabin and I propped the screen door open and waited to offer Mercy a hand if she needed it.
Quote from Mae on March 11, 2022, 11:51 pmMercy came steadily up to the porch on her crutches. She needed help when she reached it. The crutches were still new to her, and despite his otherwise absentminded motions Charlie was rather clinging to her one leg. Nonetheless, with a little bit of support she stepped into the cabin and escorted herself to a seat. Then she set the crutches aside and finally consented to Charlie's persistent presence by placing him in her lap. Naturally the boy was careful to mind his mother's wounds, but he was still conscious of his own needs. He made himself very small as he curled up in her arms, wrapping his arms around her thin body, his little head bowed upon her breast.
Mercy came steadily up to the porch on her crutches. She needed help when she reached it. The crutches were still new to her, and despite his otherwise absentminded motions Charlie was rather clinging to her one leg. Nonetheless, with a little bit of support she stepped into the cabin and escorted herself to a seat. Then she set the crutches aside and finally consented to Charlie's persistent presence by placing him in her lap. Naturally the boy was careful to mind his mother's wounds, but he was still conscious of his own needs. He made himself very small as he curled up in her arms, wrapping his arms around her thin body, his little head bowed upon her breast.
Quote from Adriana on July 3, 2022, 7:25 pmThe sun was already going down, but the alcove where my home was always got dark before the surrounding land. The climbing foothills surrounded the house on every side; the sun set behind the foothills.
A pot roast was in the oven, along with fresh bread rolls-and I was mighty impressed with my hostessing skills, which I had to dig out of an old closet in my brain.
"Can I get you two anything at all?" I asked from the hallway, as I situated their things in the bedroom.
The sun was already going down, but the alcove where my home was always got dark before the surrounding land. The climbing foothills surrounded the house on every side; the sun set behind the foothills.
A pot roast was in the oven, along with fresh bread rolls-and I was mighty impressed with my hostessing skills, which I had to dig out of an old closet in my brain.
"Can I get you two anything at all?" I asked from the hallway, as I situated their things in the bedroom.
Quote from Mae on July 9, 2022, 2:24 pmMercy cradled little Charlie in her arms. He lay on her quietly, absorbing her touch as she caressed his feather-soft hair. With a lollipop in his mouth, he appeared in all other fashion to be preoccupied. Mercy, meanwhile, was staring at the window with her thoughts a hundred miles away.
Then, she was called back. Mercy breathed a deep breath, one inaudible to human ears. She kissed Charlie on the head, and gave him a soft pat on the bum to see if he would move. He would not. So she simply wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
"Thank you, no." She replied softly. "You're already doing so much..."
Then, after a moment, she said, "I don't know how much you were told about us. But, they didn't answer my questions at the hospital. I need to ask you..."
Mercy cradled little Charlie in her arms. He lay on her quietly, absorbing her touch as she caressed his feather-soft hair. With a lollipop in his mouth, he appeared in all other fashion to be preoccupied. Mercy, meanwhile, was staring at the window with her thoughts a hundred miles away.
Then, she was called back. Mercy breathed a deep breath, one inaudible to human ears. She kissed Charlie on the head, and gave him a soft pat on the bum to see if he would move. He would not. So she simply wrapped her arms around him and held him close.
"Thank you, no." She replied softly. "You're already doing so much..."
Then, after a moment, she said, "I don't know how much you were told about us. But, they didn't answer my questions at the hospital. I need to ask you..."
Quote from Adriana on July 15, 2022, 7:39 pm"Ask me anything, hun." I said, already having picked up a cup of chamomile tea that had been cooling on the counter, and making my way to sit across from Mercy-who was situated so warmly on the loveseat with her son. I sat on the armchair opposite her, and put the teacup and plate down with a clank, scooting it across the table. I had arranged some raspberry tart cookies next to the cup.
There were things so imperceptible at one point in my life, now painfully obvious, as clear as the sun and the moon. I considered myself an intuitive person from the get-go. Willfully ignorant at times, but nonetheless, intuitive. Little did I know that intuition was just the tip of the iceberg - an echo, of a long lost instinct that drove us to survive. The wilderness that came before air conditioning, carpeted floors and safe, vaulted ceilings, was likely only wild by our own standards now. I think, some time ago, we had a different understanding of our world.
Becoming a tame, "civil" people, we went from feeling the dirt beneath our toes and the subtle shift in wind, seeing the still but present signs in someones demeanor - the sound of their breath, the drum of their heart, the dilation of their eyes... at one point in time, we could read these things with ease, as second nature as say, shifting a car from park to drive, merging onto a busy freeway, or writing a check.
Becoming a werewolf, brings it all back to the forefront of your mind. You unlearn and relearn the world around you - not as a proper person in a proper conditioned world, but as a wild person, reminded of how primal and true and raw everything around you can be, and yet still trying to delicately find your balance in this strange, complex world we’ve constructed.
Human emotion and thought is no less vast as the starry sky itself - and yet, we still desperately struggle to jump from star to star, to go from one point to another. From danger to safety, from hate to love, from fear to courage, wading through a sea of thoughts that takes us in mazes. The world today puts so much emphasis on learning to cautiously navigate the cosmos of the human mind and of emotion, understanding and perception, that it sacrifices being in touch with the physical and the senses. We wear proper shoes and think of the rain as a nuisance, not a blessing.
The more simple thought of the beast is almost... grounding. Maybe that's what made the shift feel so natural after a time. It's easier to focus on the sweat and sounds and feel of the earth, than it is to navigate the stars.
Moments like now, I wanted to hide in the safety of it - hide from the overwhelming ocean of asteroids, in a security blanket of simple, yet powerful, instinct. Hide away from the fear of the unknown, and feel the heartbeat of the earth in tune with mine.
And yet, I needed to be here, mind, body and most importantly - soul. He put me here, and I wasn't about to contest the Almighty.
Looking on at this weary Momma, I readied myself. I knew that through her, I would be looking so many of my own fears in the eyes. Everything I strove to protect my scattered family from - she was living. I had a husband in the mafia and a daughter - hopefully - residing in a small town, forgotten by the rest of the world. All to protect us and most importantly, her, from the fate Mercy was facing head on.
All I could do was open my heart and pray for courage. I nodded my head to let her know that I was listening, as I leaned forward intently.
"Ask me anything, hun." I said, already having picked up a cup of chamomile tea that had been cooling on the counter, and making my way to sit across from Mercy-who was situated so warmly on the loveseat with her son. I sat on the armchair opposite her, and put the teacup and plate down with a clank, scooting it across the table. I had arranged some raspberry tart cookies next to the cup.
There were things so imperceptible at one point in my life, now painfully obvious, as clear as the sun and the moon. I considered myself an intuitive person from the get-go. Willfully ignorant at times, but nonetheless, intuitive. Little did I know that intuition was just the tip of the iceberg - an echo, of a long lost instinct that drove us to survive. The wilderness that came before air conditioning, carpeted floors and safe, vaulted ceilings, was likely only wild by our own standards now. I think, some time ago, we had a different understanding of our world.
Becoming a tame, "civil" people, we went from feeling the dirt beneath our toes and the subtle shift in wind, seeing the still but present signs in someones demeanor - the sound of their breath, the drum of their heart, the dilation of their eyes... at one point in time, we could read these things with ease, as second nature as say, shifting a car from park to drive, merging onto a busy freeway, or writing a check.
Becoming a werewolf, brings it all back to the forefront of your mind. You unlearn and relearn the world around you - not as a proper person in a proper conditioned world, but as a wild person, reminded of how primal and true and raw everything around you can be, and yet still trying to delicately find your balance in this strange, complex world we’ve constructed.
Human emotion and thought is no less vast as the starry sky itself - and yet, we still desperately struggle to jump from star to star, to go from one point to another. From danger to safety, from hate to love, from fear to courage, wading through a sea of thoughts that takes us in mazes. The world today puts so much emphasis on learning to cautiously navigate the cosmos of the human mind and of emotion, understanding and perception, that it sacrifices being in touch with the physical and the senses. We wear proper shoes and think of the rain as a nuisance, not a blessing.
The more simple thought of the beast is almost... grounding. Maybe that's what made the shift feel so natural after a time. It's easier to focus on the sweat and sounds and feel of the earth, than it is to navigate the stars.
Moments like now, I wanted to hide in the safety of it - hide from the overwhelming ocean of asteroids, in a security blanket of simple, yet powerful, instinct. Hide away from the fear of the unknown, and feel the heartbeat of the earth in tune with mine.
And yet, I needed to be here, mind, body and most importantly - soul. He put me here, and I wasn't about to contest the Almighty.
Looking on at this weary Momma, I readied myself. I knew that through her, I would be looking so many of my own fears in the eyes. Everything I strove to protect my scattered family from - she was living. I had a husband in the mafia and a daughter - hopefully - residing in a small town, forgotten by the rest of the world. All to protect us and most importantly, her, from the fate Mercy was facing head on.
All I could do was open my heart and pray for courage. I nodded my head to let her know that I was listening, as I leaned forward intently.
