[There is a lot that Richard Strand can explain away.
He can justify people turning into things as a hallucination. He can justify his own physical changes as - a change in diet, environmental effects on him mentally. Changes in Alex, the people who are here, all of it. He can justify it because it's all explainable.
He cannot justify trees that walk. He has been sitting there for hours it feels like - he stammered through cancelling his classes to just stare at nothing like a dead man. I have often entertained the idea that these things are real. It's just that...
That he knows it's real. It's a sense in his gut. It's not something he can explain away and it makes him wonder because so far he hasn't seen anyone with powers and if he didn't get them here then...then...
It's all too much to think about. His father was even crueler then he'd thought (perhaps?) denying him his abilities. He had been right about the demons threatening their family. If this was the case...
He wanted Alex, but he wanted to go to Alex with a plan. With something that wasn't pureblind panic because if this was true and he was some sort of "key" to the Order's plans, to Warren's plans, then he was dangerous...
You're overthinking it.
He feels sick, sitting at an outdoor table staring at nothing.
You're making connections that aren't there. Be rational damn it!
He's never had a panic attack before - at least in his memory - but the nearest person gets looked at and he swallows. Shoving it down so as not to disrupt Alex, he looks to the nearest person.]
...I hate to ask this but I don't think I can...I don't think I can move right now - is there anyway I could ask you to get me a glass of water?
[Zed wanders. She explores. the world is gray to her and things have been off since she got here. Aparently they have been shifting gray for half a month now. The world just looks so dull, so when she does see color it's vibrant, brilliant and beautiful. She's been looking for things in color all day.]
[It's lead her here, wandering towards a rose bush someone had added color to through appreciation or something. She was about to go admire it herself when someone spoke from a table near by.]
[She paused, looking him over, then recognizing him.]
Richard?
She ducks over to him and sits her black bag on the table. The dag the deer brought her. With the silver tree of life on the front. She unlatches it and pulls out one of her bottles of water out, cracking the cap and sitting it down in front of his hands.]
[Some part of him has wished maybe that finding that little girl was an awful dream. That it had never happened even if it brought her peace.
When the woman appears and offers him water he thinks of his own bag and stares down at it, before drinking a big long swig of it.]
...No. there's a tree walking down the center of town. A walking tree.
[He laughs harshly.]
I'm surrounded by things that should not exist and if that's the case then I have to re-evaluate how I see things. Because strange and paranormal things are possible and I just-
[He looks ready to break before staring down at his hands.]
[ah yes, she saw the tree, and her first words are simply.] isn't it beautiful?
[but as he said more she frowned softly, moving her bag to the side and leaning her arms on the table, moving to sit on the bench seat on the other side of him. She let him get some water in him before she tried to reason with him.]
If it's any consultation, this place is a bit different than home. Supernatural in it's own right. there seems to be a lot going on here that shouldn't back home. Like being magically kidnapped by a girl and deer.
I think it's reasonable to think that the strange and paranormal could be a thing.
[He swallows.] I want to operate under the idea that magic is science we just don't understand, but the idea that a tree...a tree could walk. I can't make it work in my head.
And if I could that's ...as my college roommate would have said. Some heavy shit man.
[She took out a second bottle from her bag and cracked it open, ignoring the look a waitress gave her at the near by cafe. It was water, they could deal. Taking a sip she hummed softly.]
Hmm, yeah it might just be a form of science. And yes, it is some heavy shit.
The tree though, it's a thing of beauty. having trees come to life is magical, science or not. It's hard to deny, huh?
[She bent her head down a bit to try and get a good look into his eyes.]
Supernatural things, magical things, aren't beautiful. They're dangerous and easily abused. Full of darkness and malice and death. They take children, torture them, and draw in the worst of humanity to worship at their feet.
[He has seen the Pauls since hew as a child, Cheryl has seen them too and it has always been unsettling to think about but now...
It's just this place. It's just this place it's just-
He wipes at his mouth.]
I fail to see how this sort of thing can be beautiful. It...I don't trust it. Or them.
[ There's a weird sense of deja vu. But no, that would've implied he's done this before. He's thought of doing it, sure. Thought of showing up on her and Corrigan's doorstep after Desmond. Does it count as that if he'd wanted to? Entertained the idea before being the cowardly bastard that he was?
Before he decided to run and leave New Orleans in the dust? He stands there shifting his weight from one foot to the other, feeling out of sorts in the long-sleeved maroon henley with the sleeves dragged up to his elbows and jeans.
He's not the type for some weepy, post-getting kicked in the bollocks and whatever else hug-fest. He doesn't do the clingy your problems are my problems type rubbish either. But right now? Right now he can't even muster the energy to lift a hand and knock on the door. He's standing there like some daft sod questioning every step that led him up to her door. What gives him the right after all this time, after leaving her with Jim without a word, to just come up as he is now?
It's all that bubbling up with the turmoil of the past few days which makes him almost turn and run again. Instead, it makes his voice rougher than it already was from the attack before, nevermind the bruising when he finally does utter a single syllable: ]
[She's not been doing a good job of being a good friend anyhow. There has been a lot of stuff building up in the last few months. One, Johns death bothered her greatly. There was no sign of it at first, to the point she had to ask about him. Her powers giving her no idea that it was coming.]
[Her powers doing the most random of jobs was getting to her. Sometimes it showed her what was going on, sometimes it was silent. She had very few visions here which was both relieving and upsetting. Sometimes she worried she was losing her touch.]
[Having just put a kettle on for tea she had been in the kitchen, drawing. She'd drawn a lot of John again, but most of it was just off. Different. Nothing to indicate if he was in trouble, but just back to simple drawings of the man as is. There were drawings of others as well. Richard, upset over something. Leonard seated at his couch, relaxed, some children, some deer. But mostly John, again.]
[The picture she abandoned to make tea was half done of John at her very own front door, which had urged her to put the pot on in the first place. Rubbing her hands off on her hips she moved to the living room and paused there. No knock at her door, just a rough call of her name.]
[Unlocking it she pulled it open to see the man, there in something not his own, looking wrung out and worn down.]
John... [she let out a little breath, tipping her head for him to come in, her brows knit together as she looked him over.]
[ If either of them needs to be called on being the "bad friend" in this duo, it's John. But then, it's usually John. If anything, he's the one been out of the loop when she was asleep for so long. Nevermind not dropping by after.
He's half expecting her to tell him to get off her porch. So much that he's not sure if he's relieved or not when she indicates he should join her inside. ]
I was---I should've called but I was out and--- [ He wound up there. A breath and he distracts himself by looking around. ] Is everything okay here?
[ That'll change one day, he's sure. Always does. What's his old bloody saying? We are who we are. Eventually. ]
Good that's---I'm glad you're safe. There's been a lot of soul traffic around. Possessions and the like. [ Explain it away. It's easier. Easier than thinking on the very real reasons that he ended up there. That for the first time in a long time he feels as lost as he did with Desmond's screams ringing in his ears. He nods out by rote, habit forcing the action more than anything, but his eyes are shining when he looks up. ] I'm---yeah, I---
[ His leg bounces and bottom lip quivers. ] I'm not okay, Zed.
[It might change, but she likes to believe it wont. She likes to believe she can forgive him anything.]
[He looks so frazzled. She wants to reach out to him.] Oh, I know. I've been trying hard to stay clear of... of everything. I haven't left this house in... I don't know how long.
[But then he looks like that. Like he's about to break into pieces right there in her living room. So lost. The nod isn't a truth. He's not fine, and he says as much.]
[Her hand balls up a moment, she reaches out with the other, pauses, then grabs his shoulder. Nothing. Good.]
Come here.
[She pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. She kind of needed the hug herself, but she felt like he could REALLY use one.]
Humble apologies for contacting you after the fact. I've been indisposed for a little bit, but I saw your message. A good warning, and a reminder in case anyone didn't believe that the times coming are dangerous.
I don't mean to say that you don't use them well. That was a very good use for them, and you seem to have a good attitude, but... I have sympathy for those with that gift in general, and especially here because of how I know that this nightmare warps such gifts. sometimes it's more of a curse than a gift, and in truth I prefer being blinded here normally.
I've had this... gift for a very long time. I just want to use it for good when I can. It has helped my friend from time to time. John Constantine? If it can help him, I hope to help others.
I know the images can be very jarring, but the warning felt... needed.
[She hummed a moment, thinking on that last part.] Tired, I suppose. I've gotten some rest since my drawing spree at least, but it doesn't feel like rested rest. If that make sense.
My people have the gift, and mine is stronger than most, so I know what it is to live with all of my life as well. You seem to carry it well. I think I may have met this John before, briefly. A ... colorful fellow.
Yes, I think I understand exactly what you mean. You sleep, but the spirit is exhausted, so the sleep affords less rest. If there's anything I could do, let me know. I'd like to help. I don't think we've met though. I'm Vira-Lorr.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Post Ent arrival | Pre- Event
Date: 2020-05-14 05:00 am (UTC)He can justify people turning into things as a hallucination. He can justify his own physical changes as - a change in diet, environmental effects on him mentally. Changes in Alex, the people who are here, all of it. He can justify it because it's all explainable.
He cannot justify trees that walk. He has been sitting there for hours it feels like - he stammered through cancelling his classes to just stare at nothing like a dead man. I have often entertained the idea that these things are real. It's just that...
That he knows it's real. It's a sense in his gut. It's not something he can explain away and it makes him wonder because so far he hasn't seen anyone with powers and if he didn't get them here then...then...
It's all too much to think about. His father was even crueler then he'd thought (perhaps?) denying him his abilities. He had been right about the demons threatening their family. If this was the case...
He wanted Alex, but he wanted to go to Alex with a plan. With something that wasn't pureblind panic because if this was true and he was some sort of "key" to the Order's plans, to Warren's plans, then he was dangerous...
You're overthinking it.
He feels sick, sitting at an outdoor table staring at nothing.
You're making connections that aren't there. Be rational damn it!
He's never had a panic attack before - at least in his memory - but the nearest person gets looked at and he swallows. Shoving it down so as not to disrupt Alex, he looks to the nearest person.]
...I hate to ask this but I don't think I can...I don't think I can move right now - is there anyway I could ask you to get me a glass of water?
no subject
Date: 2020-05-14 05:08 am (UTC)[It's lead her here, wandering towards a rose bush someone had added color to through appreciation or something. She was about to go admire it herself when someone spoke from a table near by.]
[She paused, looking him over, then recognizing him.]
Richard?
She ducks over to him and sits her black bag on the table. The dag the deer brought her. With the silver tree of life on the front. She unlatches it and pulls out one of her bottles of water out, cracking the cap and sitting it down in front of his hands.]
Here. you don't look so good.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-14 05:15 am (UTC)When the woman appears and offers him water he thinks of his own bag and stares down at it, before drinking a big long swig of it.]
...No. there's a tree walking down the center of town. A walking tree.
[He laughs harshly.]
I'm surrounded by things that should not exist and if that's the case then I have to re-evaluate how I see things. Because strange and paranormal things are possible and I just-
[He looks ready to break before staring down at his hands.]
I'm trying to get my bearings.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-14 05:20 am (UTC)[but as he said more she frowned softly, moving her bag to the side and leaning her arms on the table, moving to sit on the bench seat on the other side of him. She let him get some water in him before she tried to reason with him.]
If it's any consultation, this place is a bit different than home. Supernatural in it's own right. there seems to be a lot going on here that shouldn't back home. Like being magically kidnapped by a girl and deer.
I think it's reasonable to think that the strange and paranormal could be a thing.
no subject
Date: 2020-05-14 05:28 am (UTC)[He swallows.] I want to operate under the idea that magic is science we just don't understand, but the idea that a tree...a tree could walk. I can't make it work in my head.
And if I could that's ...as my college roommate would have said. Some heavy shit man.
[More water. yes. More water is good.]
no subject
Date: 2020-05-14 05:33 am (UTC)Hmm, yeah it might just be a form of science. And yes, it is some heavy shit.
The tree though, it's a thing of beauty. having trees come to life is magical, science or not. It's hard to deny, huh?
[She bent her head down a bit to try and get a good look into his eyes.]
You going to be okay?
no subject
Date: 2020-05-14 05:39 am (UTC)[He has seen the Pauls since hew as a child, Cheryl has seen them too and it has always been unsettling to think about but now...
It's just this place. It's just this place it's just-
He wipes at his mouth.]
I fail to see how this sort of thing can be beautiful. It...I don't trust it. Or them.
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From:text. un: hardsell
Date: 2020-08-01 06:52 am (UTC)oh hey there, sleeping beauty. finally decided to join the rest of us poor sods.
text. un: zed
Date: 2020-08-01 06:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-01 07:06 am (UTC)or breathe.
no subject
Date: 2020-08-01 06:22 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-08-01 07:36 pm (UTC)tell my hands to stop shaking from these chills?
[ He can barely text but he knows he sounds enough like death that he doesn't want to call her and worry her more. ]
you haven't had any visions of a nun in a gas mask or anything, have you? where she might be?
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Date: 2020-08-01 08:21 pm (UTC)Stop shaking.
But seriously... no visions of a gas masked nun. No visions at all since I woke up. Sleep? I dreamed, but I don't remember most of it.
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From:action. dated after herc's death.
Date: 2020-09-03 03:34 am (UTC)Before he decided to run and leave New Orleans in the dust? He stands there shifting his weight from one foot to the other, feeling out of sorts in the long-sleeved maroon henley with the sleeves dragged up to his elbows and jeans.
He's not the type for some weepy, post-getting kicked in the bollocks and whatever else hug-fest. He doesn't do the clingy your problems are my problems type rubbish either. But right now? Right now he can't even muster the energy to lift a hand and knock on the door. He's standing there like some daft sod questioning every step that led him up to her door. What gives him the right after all this time, after leaving her with Jim without a word, to just come up as he is now?
It's all that bubbling up with the turmoil of the past few days which makes him almost turn and run again. Instead, it makes his voice rougher than it already was from the attack before, nevermind the bruising when he finally does utter a single syllable: ]
Zed?
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Date: 2020-09-03 03:48 am (UTC)[Her powers doing the most random of jobs was getting to her. Sometimes it showed her what was going on, sometimes it was silent. She had very few visions here which was both relieving and upsetting. Sometimes she worried she was losing her touch.]
[Having just put a kettle on for tea she had been in the kitchen, drawing. She'd drawn a lot of John again, but most of it was just off. Different. Nothing to indicate if he was in trouble, but just back to simple drawings of the man as is. There were drawings of others as well. Richard, upset over something. Leonard seated at his couch, relaxed, some children, some deer. But mostly John, again.]
[The picture she abandoned to make tea was half done of John at her very own front door, which had urged her to put the pot on in the first place. Rubbing her hands off on her hips she moved to the living room and paused there. No knock at her door, just a rough call of her name.]
[Unlocking it she pulled it open to see the man, there in something not his own, looking wrung out and worn down.]
John... [she let out a little breath, tipping her head for him to come in, her brows knit together as she looked him over.]
no subject
Date: 2020-09-07 05:37 am (UTC)He's half expecting her to tell him to get off her porch. So much that he's not sure if he's relieved or not when she indicates he should join her inside. ]
I was---I should've called but I was out and--- [ He wound up there. A breath and he distracts himself by looking around. ] Is everything okay here?
Are you okay?
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Date: 2020-09-13 04:08 am (UTC)[She nods again for him to enter and when he does she closes the door, peeking out it as she did. Nothing out there.]
Everything is... okay. [She said, turning to face him again, giving him a slight smile. As if to say she was fine, see?] I'm okay. Are you okay?
no subject
Date: 2020-09-13 04:19 am (UTC)Good that's---I'm glad you're safe. There's been a lot of soul traffic around. Possessions and the like. [ Explain it away. It's easier. Easier than thinking on the very real reasons that he ended up there. That for the first time in a long time he feels as lost as he did with Desmond's screams ringing in his ears. He nods out by rote, habit forcing the action more than anything, but his eyes are shining when he looks up. ] I'm---yeah, I---
[ His leg bounces and bottom lip quivers. ] I'm not okay, Zed.
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Date: 2020-09-13 04:30 am (UTC)[He looks so frazzled. She wants to reach out to him.] Oh, I know. I've been trying hard to stay clear of... of everything. I haven't left this house in... I don't know how long.
[But then he looks like that. Like he's about to break into pieces right there in her living room. So lost. The nod isn't a truth. He's not fine, and he says as much.]
[Her hand balls up a moment, she reaches out with the other, pauses, then grabs his shoulder. Nothing. Good.]
Come here.
[She pulled him to her, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug. She kind of needed the hug herself, but she felt like he could REALLY use one.]
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From:Audio - UN: Runeseeker (Forward Dated to the 26th)
Date: 2020-09-24 01:25 am (UTC)You... have the gift of Prophecy?
audio: un: zed (the 26th)
Date: 2020-09-27 03:51 pm (UTC)Something like that. I get visions. Generally when I touch someone, but sometimes they come to me when I draw. Like the other night.
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Date: 2020-09-27 04:17 pm (UTC)I don't mean to say that you don't use them well. That was a very good use for them, and you seem to have a good attitude, but... I have sympathy for those with that gift in general, and especially here because of how I know that this nightmare warps such gifts. sometimes it's more of a curse than a gift, and in truth I prefer being blinded here normally.
Are you aright, if I may ask?
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Date: 2020-09-27 04:21 pm (UTC)I know the images can be very jarring, but the warning felt... needed.
[She hummed a moment, thinking on that last part.] Tired, I suppose. I've gotten some rest since my drawing spree at least, but it doesn't feel like rested rest. If that make sense.
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Date: 2020-09-27 04:26 pm (UTC)Yes, I think I understand exactly what you mean. You sleep, but the spirit is exhausted, so the sleep affords less rest. If there's anything I could do, let me know. I'd like to help. I don't think we've met though. I'm Vira-Lorr.
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Date: 2020-09-27 04:38 pm (UTC)Thank you thought. I like to think I carry it well. Better than when I was younger. [When her cultist father had her trapped away because of it.]
That's about it. I felt like I slept like the dead, but I woke up sore and tired. Ah, but it's a pleasure to speak to you, Vira-Lorr. My name's Zed.
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