Chaos Plot Reactions!

[thefinaljedi]

Who: Anyone/Everyone affected by Helios' nasty bout of Possession Sickness
What: Picking up the pieces
When: August 11th/12th
Where: Wherever there was bad mojo!
Summary: Apep, an Egyptian god of Chaos, possessed Helios and wrecked havoc. Those involved are going to have to cope with their injuries, mental traumas, and newfound night terrors!
Rating: R, for possible trigger warnings for descriptions of violence and bad language.


Nothing is ever easy for them House 46 folks. Gawddamn!

Comments

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin sighs. That's all he's going to get--for now.]

...was it really better? [He doesn't hide his weariness and fatigue any longer, there was no point. He had Luke's word that he would stay in the enclosure.] You missed a battle, Luke. We could have used you--the Force could have saved us a lot of frustration and pain.

[thefinaljedi]

Perhaps. If the Dark Side energy permeating the house is any indication, I'd have been more a liability than anything. Perhaps its better you didn't assume the Force is always a good answer.

[It does, after all, have a Dark Side]

[redjacketthief]

[He pinched the bridge of his nose, exasperated all ready at having to explain this.]

We were blinded and deafened by an ancient God of Chaos--I'd rank him at Sith Apprentice level, if you want a comparison. Anything would have been better than that.

[thefinaljedi]

Lupin, the amount of Dark Side energy in the house, combined with my own frustrations would likely have turned very sour. I could have turned. And then you'd be a lot worse off.

[His voice loses none of its edge. Lupin is acting the fool again]

Now tell me what happened, without the accusations. I know my limits, you do not.

[redjacketthief]

[He feels justified in his decisions.]

Helios was possessed by Apep, that God of Chaos. He deafened us, blinded us, and attacked us for reasons I can't fathom. He messed up Shepard's armor, did something to Adele, corrupted Sabriel and another--I don't know who-- and left a lot of destruction in his wake.

[His jaw tightened and tone flattened as he rattled the details off, as if it were nothing more than a list of statistics for a top quality race horse. He's not playing, but he doesn't want to talk.

Lupin, glad that he was outside, clumsily pulled a cigarette from its packet and fought for his zippo with his left hand. His dexterity was shot because of his fatigue--he fumbled with the lighter, and couldn't get a flame to start.]

[thefinaljedi]

He's a creature of the Dark Side, that's all the reason he needs to attack you. If you were close to Helios, and you were, then all the more reason. But you are all alive. You beat him, so clearly things worked out.

[He doesn't offer to help with your smoking though]

[redjacketthief]

[Some bro. D:]

...damn well bloodied our nose doing it too.

[He halts his fumbling, cigarette dangling listlessly from his lips, and sighed. Lupin shifted to try and get more comfortable, but even the pain relievers that Law gave him didn't halt the full effect. He looked up at Luke for the first time that afternoon, trying to maintain eye contact, but that tinge of uncertainty he felt with Saori reared up again before Luke. He understood Fujiko's uncertainty, and briefly wondered what all it was that Luke could see.]

Look. I'm just tired and rattled. I didn't mean to go into you.

Sorry about that.

[thefinaljedi]

[He can see a lot when he wants to, or he can be completely blind. Lupin should know that by now. But when one had power like he did, using it without alienating oneself was always the difficult thing.]

You're hurt. Allow me.

[Luke takes a few steps over and takes Lupin's arm, applying pressure through the Force to dampen the pain and heal the tissue faster. Closest thing you'll get to an admission of guilt from him now. Oh, he's not happy at all.]

You did something foolish, didn't you?

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin knows this, but being in the same room as two gods at full power has a habit of making a regular person a little paranoid. He was no where near as bad as Adele, but he still had a his troubles and anxieties. It would take a few days, but he would be fine.

He wouldn't admit it, but he was grateful for Luke's efforts.]

I went to go do recon on the perimeter with Artoo after waking up to silence. Ended up getting into a melee with Apep instead.

[He attempts another go with the lighter, but his hand wasn't cooperating. Clearly he needed more sleep.]

Bruised arm from where he grabbed me and slammed me into a wall. Twice. Dislocated shoulder, from him pulling a hammerlock and threatening Adele. Muscular and connective tissue damage. Even with Law assisting with Nala, it's going to take time...

...I tripped him up, Luke. I didn't do much, but I managed to trip him up.

[thefinaljedi]

Thankfully, that's all that was hurt. You aren't meant to fight, not in your condition, let alone pull recon duty. Leave that to Artoo next time.

[Not even a congratulations. Don't be too proud, Lupin. You tripped him up and got punished for it]

Nobody was killed, yes? And is Helios free from this creature's influence?

[redjacketthief]

It was an impulse--I don't like not being able to hear anything.

[The protest was just for show--he knew that Luke was right. He also knew that Adele was a non-combatant, and he wanted to make sure she was safe. Instead, she got the harsher deal.

He wouldn't be pulling a mistake like that again anytime soon.]

The problem was contained and, as far as I'm aware, no one died from this. But there's something that Helios isn't telling us...as we learned with Nomi, possessions like this don't just happen randomly.

[thefinaljedi]

Its something attached to his essence. Nomi and I both sensed it. A flaw, bound to his very soul. Its likely he wasn't even fully aware of it himself.

[redjacketthief]

I see...but that doesn't make it better.

[A beat. He lets go of trying to put up any kind of front.]

Are you sure that you're okay, Luke? It's not often that you're such a wreck. We were concerned.

[thefinaljedi]

Lupin. I've worked through it. I've found an outlet, and Ami will return. Anakin...has gone home for better or worse.

[redjacketthief]

An outlet?

[He's curious enough to try asking.]

So long as it works...it just matters that you've gotten yourself and your affairs straight.

Sorry about you having to come home to all of this. At least we kept Artoo and your tech safe.

[thefinaljedi]

Yes, a new form of lightsaber combat.

[Lupin wouldn't know the word, so he doesn't bore him with the details]

Good. He seemed fine when I found him. Where have you been staying?

[redjacketthief]

[New lightsaber form is good enough for him.]

I've been staying here with Law and Itachi. They've been very kind throughout all of this. I...haven't been comfortable going back to the house with only Shepard there. We both fell to Apep, and she could barely take care of herself, from what I heard.

You didn't spring the traps, did you? They're one of the defenses, and I'm going to return the materials to Itachi later.

[thefinaljedi]

Lupin. Do you honestly think I'm going to fall for tripwires, dart traps, and things like that?

[As he recalls, Luke met Lupin IN a trap]

I've explored Sith Tombs. You're no Dark Lord.

[redjacketthief]

I was just making sure that you didn't intentionally spring them because you thought that I went too far. It's almost as bad as Fujiko's apartment in there!

[No, he's not going to forget the rope trap--or the evil Turkey. Oh, how time flies...]

[thefinaljedi]

No, but you should clean them up. They're entirely unnecessary. The Dark Side is strong there, but it is fading. Anyone sane would be avoiding the place.

[redjacketthief]

I will, I wlll--just, was waiting for you to get back.

Where are you going to be staying, anyway?

[thefinaljedi]

I will likely sleep in the Barracks for two days, then check on the house. By then it should be cleaned out.

What happened to the floor, anyway? Why are there puddles?

[redjacketthief]

The barracks are a good spot. If you see Smoker, can you let him know the scoop? I haven't had a chance to contact him yet, between all of this...

[Lupin trailed, thinking about Luke's question. How much did he want to reveal?]

...That's simple. We got a god to fight a god.

[thefinaljedi]

Did you now?

[That explained that.]

I don't know Smoker.

[redjacketthief]

...you don't know Smoker. [Not a question.] He's only the guy who's been teaching me kickboxing since January...[And a very good friend.

Moving on--]

We did. Rather, I had a moment's reprieve before I passed out to make the call. Saori Kimura, goddesss of storms...she helped me during the Shift just before this happened, when I was stranded on the roof of our house. I barely got any sleep that week too--

But, with you gone, she was the only person I could think of who could face that level of magic. I could have called Law...but, Devil Fruit abilities aside, he's just a man. We needed someone stronger.