(no subject)

[flickerflash]

Who: Katie McCoy and her victims of choice.
What: Rapture, ravaging, and 'rithmetic. (Ow.)
When: Any time between 23rd September and 31st October.
Where: Any place.
Summary: Triggered by recent events, Katie's darker, more primal soul is in control and intent on sharing the love. Or the hate. Depends on your definition, really.
Rating: ...I honestly don't know. Let's make it a high PG just in case?

[First there came the wraith child,
Hands and silver hair,
Then there came the dark place,
All the hurt laid bare,
Now the soul is broken,
Torn beyond a care,
Shining now among you...

...I see you there.]

Comments

RAPTURE | September 28th

[victorbychance]

Peeta is locking up the bakery and heading home just as it's getting dark. Under one elbow is his sketch pad, usually used to sketch out special cakes, but today it holds a few other sketches he'd drawn during slow times. Things he's going to turn into paintings over the next few weeks, since that's his true medium. One, he has specifically designed to go into the art gallery--Rue taking flight in the woods. He starts the walk home humming off-key to himself.

[flickerflash]

"Oh, curse it."

It's a petulant voice from the shadows as he closes the bakery up for the night. Peeta might not recognise her at first, thinner in the twilight and a little grubby, and the way she speaks has drifted far afield from her earlier west country accent. Katie recognises Peeta, though, in the manner that Katie remembers all artists. Lifelines, one and all, in a world like this.

Right now, however... she's hungry. And avoiding the restaurant.

"I don't suppose you'd be willin' to open up for another five short minutes?

[victorbychance]

"You need me to get you something?" Peeta digs in his pocket for the key again.

RAPTURE | October 2

[theoniongirl]

It was too beautiful a day to stay locked up inside.

Normally, this would mean heading out with her sketchbook, but she wanted the vibrancy and color of paints. So, armed with her pochade box and a handful of brushes, Jilly made her way down to the fountain. A brief stop got her a cup of coffee to go and a sandwich, and she was set to settle in for a day of people watching and painting.

The only thing that would make it more perfect would be Geordie finding his fiddle.

RAPTURE | October 9 instead!

[flickerflash]

Seeing Jilly in the plaza gave Katie brief pause, because this mortal was different. The glow that surrounded her was awfully pretty, though... she'd wondered before this if it singled Jilly out as being protected by someone.

She'd find out soon enough. Nevertheless, she hesitated, because Jilly had been kind to Katie at a time that she'd needed it. Jilly might catch sight of her, t then, standing just around the curve of the fountain and watching her with a look that seemed equal parts wistfulness and calculation. Rather like a child who's convincing herself stealing sweets from the shop really isn't so bad a crime.

[theoniongirl]

It's in-between sketches when picks up her coffee and takes a sip. As she does, her gaze settles on the girl across the way, blue eyes meeting dark just briefly before she smiles and gives her a wave. It wasn't much more than a small wiggle of fingers, but the warmth in her expression reached all the way to her eyes.

There was something special about Katie. She didn't have that same, youthful innocence that Elicia had. Instead, for all her mischief and seeming frivolity, she seemed...older. Like someone who knew more about the world than they should have to. It was a look that Jilly knew well and, even if she didn't know why it was there in Katie's eyes, she felt...connected to her. However loosely. Realizing there was something magical about the girl hadn't changed that.

But it does keep Jilly from standing now and going over to join her. She'd be more than happy to talk with her. That morning in the studio, it had been obvious that something truly serious was bothering her, but her walls were all up. Trying to force a way through them could easily make the girl retreat. So, instead, Jilly smiled and waved and shifted her things to the ground, clearing the spot next to her on the fountain, but she didn't call her over. If Katie wanted to approach, she would. If not? Well... she'd give her a few hours or a few days and then check on her. Jack had mentioned she was living in the attic of the old Cullen house. Maybe it'd be a good idea to visit the next time she took a walk out that way.

RAPTURE | October 5 (date subject to change if weather is crap)

[luredbypower]

[Fall was definitely here and it was starting to get a bit cold outside. Though Hugo is used to a far more temperate climate, he still liked going outside and his coat was warm enough.

But it was a good clear day so he figured he could do some sketching in the plaza. He's mostly drawing the buildings, but if he sees some interesting people he'll try to sketch them as well.

Interestingly, the sketchbook he's using is sitting beside him and he looks more like he's relaxing, though there is a pencil drawing away in the book beside him.]

[flickerflash]

[...seriously. A pencil drawing by itself? That's fascinating.

Not only that, but it's a small object moving and twitching in very beguiling ways to a girl that's half cat. Er. We hope Hugo isn't alarmed by the small child that seems to be slowly creeping forward with her eyes trained on the sketchbook, looking for all the world like she's about to pounce on it.]

[luredbypower]

[No, he's not alarmed, in fact he doesn't even quite notice her yet since he's very intent on looking at the building he's drawing.

Yeah, Hugo definitely has his moments of not paying a lick of attention and that got him into some trouble, and looks like this will be the case again.]

FRESH ASS KICKIN' | October 14th

[notabluesbro]

[Wolfwood didn't go out too often on this particular trail, but when something's needed around the house lately, it's needed pretty pronto. He's traveling inward toward the village with the item shop in mind, hands in his pockets and a cigarette dangling out of the corner of his lips. Don't think he hasn't noticed something's not right around here. Call it an assassin's old instinct, reinforced.

He's got guns on him, anyway. Lately he's found those easier to work with, since hell... it's not like a lot happens compared to Gunsmoke. He can breathe a little easier here.]

Huhuhuhu

[flickerflash]

[Man, Wolfwood, it's like that whole last line is just baiting the universe to beat you up, isn't it?

It's not that Katie was out searching for people to hurt. In fact, she's curled up in the shadow of a tree just off the path, licking her paws as a kitten after waking from a long nap. The sound of footsteps has her ears flicking back, and she turns to glance lazily at the walker on the path.

Oh. It's you.

The fact he has no cross, no cufflinks, is both obvious and reassuring. She nearly lets him go... before remembering he tried to kill Vash, recently.

Sup, Wolfwood. You've picked up an adorable kitten follower. BE TERRIFIED.]

god his luck with cats...

[notabluesbro]

[.... Huh. Kitten indeed. He turns and wrinkles his nose a bit at the kitten following close. Lucky her, he doesn't hate cats. Just the demonic one that pops up from time to time out of the blue. He crouches down, hands hanging off his knees. Not moving to pet her or anything, at any rate.]

Another one... Is that crazy cat having more babies behind our backs...?

Hey, go home, little guy; there are big animals around the forest, y'know.

[Yeah, he's talking to a cat. What of it.]

October 11th, Meeting?

[thefinaljedi]

It is a beautiful, fall day and for the likes of Luke Skywalker its the first time he's experienced autumn on a temperate world. Out into the woods he goes then, to spend a day walking in the forest. He's dressed in his dark robes, hood down, and with his lightsabers dangling from his hip. It'd been a good month so far, he felt. Only another one till his first year came to a close, and despite his misgivings about being trapped here, Luceti wasn't such a bad place. Anakin was there, Obi-Wan was there. And more importantly to him right now? Ami was there.

With an estranged dad, a snarky mentor, and a lovely girlfriend, and no Empire, Sith, or even so much as a Death Star to contend with what more could a Jedi ask for on such a lovely autumn day.

A meeting it is!

[flickerflash]

Chances are a Jedi wouldn't ask for this, but he'll receive it anyway: a small, bloody child's handprint on a tree, and a loveheart drawn next to it in crimson. And in the distance, the sound of twigs cracking underfoot as someone moves away through the forest a little less steadily and stealthily than she would like.

[thefinaljedi]

Luke notices this immediately, and the sound draws his attention with a startled look around. Taking a moment to memorize the handprint, he darts off after the sound, wondering if it's Drusilla up to her usual shenanigans.

October 12th

[folklorist]

It's a nice enough day out for a walk. Helios might be out by the lake practicing his magic with no really plan in mind. A lot of things have happened since August, a lot of things still remain to occur. He doesn't think it anything special when he lets out a jet of water from his palm and it freezes over into a spear of ice. He'll flick his wrist and it'll dissipate, turning back into water and falling with a splash into the lake.

He'll continue practicing for a few hours, before letting out a content sigh and sitting up against a nearby tree to rest. His eyes are closed and he looks peaceful, a bit well worked, but otherwise there's no other signs of strain from his body.

[flickerflash]

Katie doesn't see him at first, more concentrated on the water itself. She hates the water, but sometimes it's necessary; dipping first one hand, then the other into the frigid waters, scrubbing off the dirt to clean the shallow scrapes on her palms. She'd slid down the roof before she could stop herself, ducking out of yet another battle she coudln't win.

At least travel is fast for her now. She has some time to herself. She holds dripping palms up to her face, covering her eyes for a moment, before she tilts her head and catches the faint scent on the air of a familiar human.

It's him again. Resting comfortably like things aren't terribly wrong, and Katie narrows her eyes. She walked away from him the last time, and now she has a hard time remembering why. She didn't even ask him the important question, last time. Perhaps she should now.

...but perhaps from a distance.

With a flick of her wrist, Katie flicks him into the middle of the lake. If he'd fallen asleep, he certainly won't be for long.

Rapture /BURSTS IN HERE LATE (23rd of Sept.)

[concasse]

[Around the time Sanji nearly trips over a table he swore was two feet away from him is when the chef starts thinking he needs to stop doing this to himself. Another full day of work, after literally two, three weeks' worth of constant cooking, constant hour-juggling, and constantly doing his damn best not to overwork what little of his staff he has left. Bless them for keeping up, but really. He's exhausted.

The workload between the Baratie and feeding that bottomless pit of a captain are nothing compared to this. In the latter's case, all he has to do is keep Luffy well-fed, which is hardly a challenge once you know how to keep his ass out of the kitchen and tune out his whining. In regards to the former, he'd had the helping hand of an entire kitchen staff, all masters of the trade.

Here? It's just him, Hayate, and the occasional volunteer, everyday between 10 a.m and 10 p.m., feeding a good chunk of the village.

And for the first time in what feels like an eternity, the thought of returning to the kitchen stirs up the vaguest tremors of dread. Every chef has a limit - Zeff took pains to warn him of the dangers that come with this type of job. Sometimes you just get burnt out and need a break, and there's no shame in that. Still, as he darts around the restaurant, busing tables and filling orders, the idea that he might finally be getting sick of his passion, even for a little while...

It worries him.]

Excellent /steeples fingers

[flickerflash]

[Katie arrives around lunch time, though she's taken the time to sneak into an empty apartment and have a shower first. She's already painfully aware the leaner angles of her face will attract his notice, given his echoes-- the least she can do is not look like she's been rolling around in the forest for weeks on end.

She arrives in time to see his near-trip, though, and her guilt is forgotten for the moment. Because he feels less... Sanji than usual. And so instead of going straight to the counter, she sits down at the closest empty table and watches him for a while until noticed.]

Rapture | EVEN LATER THAN MARIE??? | October 15th

[i_am_not_cute]

[It's a rather blustery autumn day, but Pao-Lin's out in the plaza, sketching some of the buildings as best as she can despite the wind causing her sketchbook pages to flap rather annoyingly. She's working on learning perspective and just drawing buildings in general. She's improved a lot with all the time she's had to work on this hobby of hers in Luceti, but those things still defeat me her.]

IDK YOU LATE PEOPLE

[flickerflash]

[Flapping sketchbook pages are always annoying. By this point, Katie has lot any sense of doubt whatsoever about what she's doing, and she stops by Pao-Lin and glances down at the sketchbook.]

Would you like some string?

LATER EVEN THAN SORA Oct 15

[hisapprentice]

[Luke is sitting near the new stables, a book open beside him and a notebook and pencil in hand.

Solving puzzles. As one does.

The wind picks up and actually takes the lightweight book right off his bench, sending it skittering along the ground. Uh-oh. Luke jumps up to go after it - and loses his hat to the wind in the process.

Time for a chase scene!]

[flickerflash]

[Oh dear. Tell you what, Luke, you get the book, Katie will go after the hat... if only because she has no choice. There's just something about windblown objects that gets a cat pooka's attention, you know?

So don't mind the little girl making swipes for the runaway hat before finally sort of tackling it to the ground and pinning it under her hands so it can't fly away again.] There.

October 14th-16th or 17th (?)

[wise_maiden]

[Not long after Wolfwood's warning, Raine's efforts into locating Katie are more urgent over these next few days, and at first unsuccessful, but getting to the bottom of this situation was more important than even seeing the school opened this week. She's concerned that Katie herself may end up in danger, when all was said and done, without there being a deeper understanding to what was driving her to act this way. The implications of what had been really going on since her penalty removal are far too great to ignore.

She'd just have to be more persistent in tracking her down, even if it results in Katie running off the first few times; she certainly expects that. The persistence will come in small notes and treats left in various places, each note with a tiny silver bell drawn next to it.

We need to talk. Please let me help you..

If Raine couldn't find her, she just would have to hope that Katie would find it in herself to go to her, eventually, though there was a pressing concern that it might take too long for even that to happen. She wasn't planning to give up, however.]

17th!

[flickerflash]

[Really. Really. Treats and silver bells? The first time she finds one she sniffs at it with contempt, not even bothering to read the note. She eats the treats, though-- it would be rude not to.

Then she finds the second, and Katie starts actively looking for them-- because it's fun, a game, like a scavenger hunt, and lo when she turns up everywhere that Katie-the-child might possibly be, there are more treats. On the third attempt, she nearly runs into Raine herself. She leaves, before Raine can see any more than a brief flash of red, and then Katie is gone.

By the 17th, she's bored with the game. By the 17th, she has the stray thought that Raine is making herself vulnerable like this, something a hungry pooka can well take advantage of-- and the promise she made makes itself felt in hard lines, like a cold splash of common sense--

--and then Katie starts worrying.

On the 17th, Raine will find a real silver bell left on her window ledge at home, outside the glass.]