TP - WEEK ONE CURFEW - OH GOD NOT THE CHURCH

[impacter]

free for all style unless otherwise marked, have fun

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[impacter]

[Fandan: maniacal laughter now probably echoing really intensely through the eaves
Solomon: yeah that might as well happen, honestly]

I'm sure you'll get over your disappointment.

We're not going anywhere for the time being. If you're that determined to get out and chase death, then help me check the rest of the entryways.

[trollophoroi]

[ Yeah, it wasn't going to take long for the crazy to start peeking through those roughly shorn bangs of his. Hopefully, Solomon doesn't feel too jealous that he won't be the only one to see it. ]

Of course, though I suspect every door will be the same.

[ And off he goes, taking one side of the chapel to do a few door checks. Won't open, won't one, also won't open, nope. ]

[impacter]

[Fandaniel starts making his rounds, and Solomon's expression darkens slightly in turn as he works opposite, even as his hand feels for something against his clergy robes. Damn these costume changes and damn his only item from home being a pathetic excuse for self-defense.

Glances are passed over to Annette and Lovecraft, and his neutral expression thins even further.

Still, he comes up empty at every turn, backing up into the wide space of the altar crossing to take a better look at the windows.]

No doors, then. No way up, either. And I'd imagine the windows are unable to be broken.

[trollophoroi]

We could certainly try, but even that would hold no guarantee of an escape.

[ At least, that's the conclusion he's come to as he returns from his own side of the chapel. Fascinating place, all those nastily familiar paintings on the walls, but those aren't his focus right now. ]

It may be time to make ourselves comfortable for the night. I think we are well and truly trapped.

[impacter]

More than likely.

[Meanwhile, Lovecraft has been oh so kind to blab about Fandaniel being a little More of a being than expected, and ohhhh Solomon is fighting the urge to just swing that bat right at the bait immediately. But Annette is here, Lovecraft is here, and while Solomon is fine if he has to deal with some mess... Now is a poor time for it.]

As much as I know how excited you must be to see bloodshed, I'll have to ask you to refrain. Can I trust you to keep your hands to yourself until morning?

[trollophoroi]

I believe you're the only one here who has actually been violent towards anyone, Solomon.

[ fucking candy cane piece of sh-- ]

So why don't we both agree to behave, hm?

[impacter]

I'd beg to differ. If you didn't like my experiment, you could always just say as much, you know.

[tee hee]

But behaving? Oh, I don't see why not.

[trollophoroi]

There. Then we can both agree on something. Good for you.

[impacter]

I'm glad to hear it!

[:)]

Maybe we can figure out some of these mysterious images all over the walls while we're stuck here, as well.

[trollophoroi]

[ :| ]

Must we?

[ He finds those to be pretty obnoxious, actually, mostly due to how the ones he could attribute to himself only show one silhouette that actually looks like how he currently appears. ]

I doubt they'll make much sense with how they're painted.

[impacter]

None at all?

I know there's a few I recognize, though I wouldn't call them happy stories.

[trollophoroi]

Oh, no. I can recognize them, but you? I daresay they would be as nonsensical to you as yours would be to me.

[impacter]

We could always change that.

How good of a storyteller are you, Fandaniel?

[trollophoroi]

As good as I need to be, should I feel the urge.

[ Well, they are stuck here. ]

Very well. If you can identify any of mine, I shall tell you the tale behind it.

[ ...and he will no doubt demand the same from Solomon later (unless they all black out before then, oops). Then, let the guessing begin! Three paintings that cannot be easily attributed to anyone else in the chapel adorn the wall in a row:

The first is of tall, slender, berobed silhouettes cowering amongst a beautiful yet burning city, stars falling from the sky above them.

After that, a silhouette with a large feathered cap and a cape, as illustriously dressed as the limited shape and palette can manage, gazing down upon yet another ruined city. Once more, stars... falling...

And finally, three silhouettes standing on the edge of a... cliff, perhaps? Beyond them, a world hanging in inky blackness, surrounded by stars. To the left, a slender figure whose stand displays shock, surprise, and to the right, a towering figure with a scythe, and at the center? A man in a tattered robe, arms wide, standing at the very edge of the supposed cliff.

None of these figures are similarly shaped across the paintings. None look quite like Fandaniel, either, considering he has not yet worn his original robe outside the dorm as of yet. ]

[impacter]

[me, an ffxiv player: i hate all these options

He incorrectly guesses a couple, to however much distasteful sneering Fandaniel may want to provide. Boooo, booooooooo. But his third guess has him pointing towards the first image.]

I promise, this will be my last attempt.

[trollophoroi]

[ but they're all such great options so good and happy ]

... [ Sir? ] Are you still merely guessing at random or do you actually believe that refers to me?

[impacter]

It's not as though you chatter much about yourself, so I'll never know for sure if you don't answer me. Or maybe I'll just have to keep asking.

[hee hee hee hee hee]

[trollophoroi]

[ Tch, so annoying, but he'll gaze up at the painting. He knows all too well what that is. It haunted his dreams even before he found out. Well, perhaps this will shut Solomon up. ]

That, you nosy little man-- [ Which is funny since Fandaniel is much shorter. ] --is the end of the world.

[impacter]

[Well.

That does, indeed, shut him up tight for a good few moments, expression growing thoughtful and distant as his eyes trace back up to the imagery. The sky falling like so many distant stars. How frightening a sight, to the normal man.]

Your world? Or one you only knew of?

[trollophoroi]

Would it puzzle you to know the answer is both? My world, but also not. My star's existence is a strange story.

[impacter]

Realms and times existing adjacent to one another isn't new, no.

But who's to say if that's what you truly mean? You do seem to like your mysteries.

[trollophoroi]

Hmm, in some ways, yes, I do mean that, and in other ways, well. That is not this story, but a story that came into being because of this one.

[ Meaning Solomon will not get the following story. Rest in pieces, old man.

Fandaniel steps closer to the painting, attention turned towards it and away from Solomon. He reaches up, running his gloved fingers over the figures, slowly, ponderously. ]

Before the world I know now, there was one before it. The same, yet not. A paradise where mankind could live for as long as they wished to. They played endlessly with their creation magics, making the most fantastic constructs and creatures, ensuring only those that suited the world they wished to see were allowed to be integrated into the wild.

It was perfect, or so my fellows would tell you.

[impacter]

[Where mankind could live forever, hmm?

...]

Man playing god by the blessing of one? Or in the absence of it?

[trollophoroi]

In the absence. God will not exist until man makes God, or so it goes. I suppose there is something poetic there, but mostly I find it tiresome.

[impacter]

Humanity does love to try and find explanations.

[Even if the explanation isn't based in pure truth. Even if they have to craft their world around ideals and stories and legends of things that never existed.]

I take it something tipped a balance to a different sort of change...?