thefoundation | Week 3 Mingle

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round 4

Week 3 Mingle

The last week has brought the first spilled blood. Three of the contestants are gone, with the promise of more to fall soon. The atmosphere around the house will start to get heavy around Wednesday, which is when the first game of the week is. It's almost like the house knows something is up...

The conspiracy is beginning to unravel. Dazai isn't Dazai, and the cracks are forming in his act. But that act must be held up, or the Foundation will be brought in to take control of the game. Now everyone must play the part and act like everything is normal, at least on camera. That stress of always performing is bound to make someone crack eventually.

Once again, the cameras and microphones change. The contestants will have to search out new spots for their secret conversations. Even one wrong step, one wrong word, and it's all over for this group. Everyone is watching, and they need to play their roles.

They better keep an eye out too, because storm clouds are starting to loom over the area, both figuratively and literally.

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Black holes... Black holes like one of those star things where it sucks everything in like some kinda crazy rip in space, right... Don't think I've ever seen one of those before, freakin' stars are crazy.

[Yes, freakin' stars are crazy is apparently his reaction to tipping the entirety (or most) of humanity into a black hole. Also there's no actual way to see a black hole but that's neither here nor there; it's already a lot to expect him to know a black hole and its details given his lack of proximity to the night sky, the universe at large and many of its inhabitants and component parts. Also schooling.

Anyway, Nora's slightly less distracted at this point, so Alcor does get a grumbling noise about delving into this topic. Especially in the way in which he's doing it, something echoing back to very recently and also years ago at this point.]

I ain't ever been any kind of summon. Which is why bein' a Cerberus under contract was a pain in the ass, demons like me ain't-- we ain't even supposed to be familiars. [there's a distinct break there, a pause that dropped into the conversation more than it entered through the front door, but Nora plows forward] So even if it was a special Cerberus wherever you came from, it's totally different!

'Cause Cerberus is just Cerberus. And I'm just me.

[He seems fairly insistent on this point, though where the stubbornness is coming from exactly is anyone's guess.]

Yes, exactly, And I suppose we are. [ That is the understatement of the days and week to come, but he says it all light and coy, like he's telling a joke. And he very well may be at this time, or it might just be the first real hint at the chaos underneath that runs down to his core, as much as his curiosity that sparkles all over his many facets. ]

I see... [ He says this but he's clearly thinking and turning it over in his head. After a beat he confidently adds: ] You are Nora, nothing more, nothing less. And I am happy to have met you exactly as you are.

[Nora just side-eyes him -- it's debatable how much of all that quiet-loud chaos he'll see coming, because he's both bad at reading people and somehow not terrible at it depending upon who you ask and how many fucks he actually gives, but. Alcor is Alcor, all the same.

And Cerberus has always been an indoors dog; howling at the moon and the suns and stars is a past-time reserved for other demons and other creatures. He's still learning, whether that's a good thing or not, and it's easy to take him off guard.

Case in point: the bizarre expression that manages to land on his face a split-second after Alcor does... whatever he did just now, suddenly pulling out words that-- he's not actually sure how to take them.]

What-- [Nora just stares at him for a moment before he makes a face] You can't-- That's not-- I mean that's kind of it, but it's not!!

[Local Dog Flails Uselessly When Identity Suddenly Albeit Vaguely Validated]

I can't? I just did, and I meant what I said. [ Half playful, but 100% genuine. He responds with a smile of course, but it's a gentle one. ]

If you would like to clarify, go ahead but it will not change how I feel. [ Tonight is just the night for bold declarations in many directions. Sometimes he's oddly good at this feelings stuff. And sometimes he may just be aware of it too. In this particular scenario, he's actually had a lot of practice. ]

[Ugh, of all the times for Alcor to really get on a (star) roll here, of all the times Nora kind of wishes he wouldn't just here at this particular moment because -- well, because he still really doesn't know how to take that. They've crashed through a variety of topics to end up here but all of it is--

It's connection, and it's too close and doesn't make any sense at the same time, much less when Cerberus is in the equation. People don't say these things to Cerberus (why the hell would they), and people don't say these things to Nora (they really usually do not), and even if Alcor isn't quite people. Still.]

You can't just-- [he kind of just gestures uselessly as though that means anything here] --say that! You don't, that's not how it works at all!! That's not even how Cerberus works!

[Did. Did that clarify.]

[ Star ambushes are the sneakiest. He's not sure how he wound up here either, especially on tonight of all nights, but maybe that's part of the reason. Now that he's finally made up his mind to move, it means moving in all directions unabated, there's no stopping this rolling star. ]

How does it work? [ Tilting his head, unruffled and unphased by all the flailing verbal and not. ]

I must warn you however, that I am typically terrible at following rules. It is a bad habit of mine.

[ He sounds proud of everything right now. ]

Ghhkk...

[It's absolutely not fair when put that way because first of all, relatable, but second of all it really, really does make Nora want to smack him at this juncture. Especially in that tone?? He doesn't smack him, but only just. He certainly waves a fist in slightly more meaningful but no less fruitless struggle against the current star roll extravaganza here.]

Bet you anything not following their stupid rules was what got us landed here...

[Even he isn't sure if that's a good thing or not, especially now. In the days and weeks to come it's going to get ever more ridiculous a thought in retrospect but all the same.]

Look, it's just -- it's Cerberus! The most fearsome an' powerful demon and stuff! Even demons get all freaked out just because!

[At least he's getting progressively less loud as he realizes with each word probably how little most of this is going to mean to Alcor... of all people... RIP.]

[ Alcor tracks the fist with a curious bat of eyelashes, and a knowing smile. ]

If I followed the rules I would not exist, so you are correct Nora. [ In the general sense of rule following but also very much on the Foundation side too. If they truly had a read on how powerful he is he would probably be in containment 24/7, but it works in his favor that he's enigmatic and that desu 2 isn't an easy series to datamine from. Everyone will regret after week 4 saturday not doing their proper research, probably. ]

Ah, but I am not a demon. I am a Septentrione, and even for one like me, we are incapable of fear. If you would like, I can try to be fearful but as it would be my first time doing so, it will likely not be up to your standards.

[ Moving along at this speed it might seem like he doesn't have a read on the general state of doge, but then his tone softens. ]

I will say it again: it does not matter to me how others view you, both here and in your own world. My viewpoints are my own and I like and appreciate your company, in all your moods and forms.

[He's just quieter for a moment, with a half-hearted grumble but it tapers off pretty quickly, because rules really are something he hates, and what-ifs are also something he hates. And thinking about the Foundation and every hand they have in this stupid situation and their stupid lives is--

He shakes his head like he's shaking something off, ridiculous ponytails flailing around kind of like he was two seconds ago. He's just--]

'Course you'd be like that, you'd probably be the worst actor anyway. I dunno what-- this would be way easier if you were a demon.

[Grumbling like it's his job as always, though it gets more and more muffled because he's curling up, tucking his face against his knees and holding his spear like some kind of shield barring everything out. It's as uncharacteristic for him as perhaps tonight's belligerent roof-perching was in the first place; making himself smaller.]

... S'not fair saying it like that.

[His voice is kind of small, too, even though through all the layers of clothes and inability to say what he means at all what still comes through is that that is probably not what he means at all. Go figure.]

I cannot change what I am anymore than you can. And I do not think either one of us would, if we could.

[ Normally he might be less direct about this, more ephemeral and more fleeting. Tonight though, he can't afford to be these things. Tonight he can only move forward resolutely no matter what, which may be a poor combination given how they've strayed onto this topic but it's too late to back up now.

At the least he's not going too fast to not notice the uncharacteristic mannerisms even if he doesn't know what to do with them. But that would be much the same any night. Rather than bumbling through them he makes a decision, and a flash of bright light later there's now a striped cubed chilling on the roof. ]

Why is it not fair?

[ If he's going to speak as wholly honest as he is now, then he should put his true face forward. ]

[The silence is loud, because Nora has no answer for that: and it's as telling as it is reluctant, about how much of that is true, and how much of it -- and how much of himself -- he's crammed into the guise of Cerberus. True form and yet something not quite true. Nora's always been such a bundle of contradictions.

He would probably have stayed stuck there for a little while, because when he gets way too tangled in all of this stuff it's hard to break out again without literally breaking something; but the flash of light makes him blink. Distractions are perhaps a good idea right now.

There's a loud and involuntary snort when he looks up and there's just. A familiar box there. Of all the things he expected to pop up in this conversation...]

What the hell're you doing...

[It's exasperated but it seems to have shaken Nora out of whatever mood he was in, at least a little bit. He rubs a hand across his face and grumbles a bit, uncurling a little reflexively with the movements.]

... I don't know. I don't really get it, but you're a real pain in the ass, you know?

[Judging by the tone, he still isn't saying what he means at all.]

Being myself. [ Said a bit mischievously. ]

I know that, yes. I used to be called that quite frequently, sometimes multiple times in one day. [ That's okay, and Alcor will give him room to breathe a lil, at least mentally. He doesn't think restating will help right now, so instead he decides to follow an impulse and just kinda nudges nora with one of his corners. ]

Now you can say I am literally a pain, if you like.

[He definitely looks like he'd like to let fly some sort of retort, but instead Nora just ruffles a hand through his hair with a grumbling noise as he side-eyes the cube. He's seen it a lot more here than he usually does on missions, and in all sorts of weird contexts, so at this point it's kind of more familiar than it used to be.

Also a lot pointier and more ridiculous.]

Yeah, well, probably 'cause you do shit like this.

[He's going to knock against the corner with a roll of his eyes after a moment.]

I ain't going to say a joke that stupid, seriously...

[ Cubes can't smile, and stars don't laugh, but what follows can only be described as a mix of the two. From the knock spreads a shimmer of light (for a second it seems to match the intensity of the stars above them) as the cube spins along its axis similar to a globe. There's a kind of mirthful chuckle that echoes around them too, but it subsides momentarily as the cube contracts in on itself in four corners to something actually resembling a real star. The metal pylons float around it like a mesh, loosely and lazily unlike the protective form they'll take a week or so from now. ]

I would apologize, but I am not sorry for speaking the truth. It does not matter to me what you were or what others think you are. It only matters to me what you are now, and I have come to my decision on that already.

[ Read: Star likes you so too bad and star will take every opportunity to remind you of this if necessary. Welcome to advanced star social linking, enjoy your stay Nora. ]

Edited 2019-07-27 16:35 (UTC)

[There's a blink and then a tilt of his head when the laughter spreads along with the light like a strange wave, everything moving like the oddest Escher painting all whimsical and geometrical. The light is momentarily too bright to see exactly what happens there but it probably doesn't matter -- Nora's left blinking some more and staring at the four-pointed star shape.

... After a moment he reaches out to poke a little at the floating pylons, curious now that the previous contact unleashed all of this for some reason.]

Hmph. Shoulda known you could change shapes and everything... I guess you really are a star??

[He's momentarily kind of distracted by the continuing realization that he's supposedly literally talking to some kind of crazy celestial body?? It's still sort of sinking in but there's just a lot of blank staring going on for a moment or two.]

[And then the goddamn social linking star soliloquy starts sinking in and he makes another noise that's half-frustrated and half-exasperated and all discombobulated as he gives up and just puts his hands over his head like some kind of turtle. It's momentary because he's just using both hands to ruffle and pull on his hair in the heat of the moment.]

--Gaaah, I get it, I get it already, you don't have to keep repeating it--

[Actually, he just sounds weirdly pouty about it at this point, because he can't run away from the roof and he can't hide in the garage and he wouldn't, anyway. Just!!!!]

Just tell me what's goin' on with ALL THIS-- [waving at the star shape] --'cause I haven't seen it before! All right?!

Ah, so you agree! [ Add onto rare moment how excited Alcor sounds, given the reception last time he showed someone his star shape. ]

Yes, I am indeed a star. [ Nora's free to poke at the pylons, they poke back playfully themselves, something akin to a giant metal ribbon. One goes in to ruffle Nora's hair even. ]

I do not show this form to others much, and if I do it is usually the last thing they see. I suppose you could call this my truest form, as it is the one in which I can harness all my power fully.

[ Forget being a Christmas tree, Alcor is a godamn sun like this in magic vision. ]

[The magical miniature sun problem is probably also why Nora ended up trying to duck away in the first place, because holy hell at this distance he's going to end up blinking away afterimages even if he's not looking directly with the one golden eye.

It also kind of helps with the whole star conceptual thing, despite the continued striped Christmas tree ornament aesthetic with string. There's a minor squawk as he swats at the pylon in his hair.]

I GUESS, if you floated around like this all the damn time I'm pretty sure I'd just go magic-blind after a couple hours?? That's some crazy unsealing shit. Maybe as bright as Cerberus.

[Because Cerberus is totally still his benchmark for power even if he can't, uh, necessarily see himself or how the dog looks in magic vision. It is probably also really goddamn blinding considering it's literally a magic black hole in a way.]

So, what, ya like being called a star or something.

[Why is he so excited about this!!]

Edited 2019-07-31 17:28 (UTC)

[ Bat, bat, he has more pylons than you have arms Nora. ]

It takes a lot of power to annihilate the universe. [ Said off-handed, as much as he can manage anyway. One of the pylons sharpens to a point and then just embeds itself in the roof, pointed star form Alcor using it as leverage to do a fancy twirl. ]

Being recognized for what I am is exciting. The last person I showed this form only said that it more closely resembled a star shape in comparison to a box.

[ One cookie if Nora guesses who that is. ]

[OK but he also has feet?? Honestly if star hadn't started twirling around ridiculously he probably would have ended up swatting with all four limbs more like a real turtle or some cat with a ball of yarn than the dog he actually is. Granted, real dogs are not USUALLY this hissy.

For the moment Nora side-eyes Alcor a little bit, that's a little too offhand for annihilating the universe even if they've tossed around the idea, and he's not sure exactly what's being referred to other than that so there's a moment of stumbling there. It's interrupted by a snort at the fancy pirouetting.]

... Ha, pretty sure you couldn't pass for a normal flying box even if you wanted to. 'Specially not if you know anything about magic. I bet they just needed magic glasses.

[Is this the time to drag not-so-anonymous star S. Link. Sure, why not.]

What does a normal flying box look like? [ Not bringing up that world destroying thing again cause he totally didn't mean to say that, so shh shh. Fancy pirouetting will continue, and box turned star even goes up on one pylon in a mimicry of releve. ]

I see...he was more avoidant than usual that day, perhaps it was eyestrain? ...magical eyestrain?

[ Rolling with stuff means taking jokes seriously sometimes. ]

Probably just one of those box SCPs if they could levitate. Pretty sure there's some out there.

[Nora that's not an ordinary box at all but the benchmark for normal is pretty all over the place when you're some kind of ridiculous End of Days demon literally talking to a universe-annihilating star (the subject is successfully tabled for starnanigans but who knows when it will come up again). Who is... attempting ballet on a garage roof??? What are their lives right now. Nora's just staring before he shakes his head with a huff that doesn't want to be as amused as it is.]

S'this usually how you move around in this form. What the hell. An' of course there'd be magical eyestrain, I'M getting magical eyestrain at this point.

[He is shielding his eyes but still stubbornly peering upward.]

Edited 2019-08-01 04:41 (UTC)

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Week 3 Mingle

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