[GP] Check-In Day: Tol and Smols

[st_andingtall]

Caroline's see you around had turned out to be more like I won't see you if I can help it, and Sam had more or less accepted that was how it had to be for the time being. That didn't mean he wouldn't try to be around when he knew she would, just to say hi. Which meant that being around on Check-In Days was just plain smart.

Today, he happened to be reading a history of Asphodel Station, trying to understand this place that they'd found themselves connected to. So, if Caroline had come through, he actually hadn't seen her. He did see Regina when she came through to get her usual chicken Caesar salad, mostly because she stopped beside him and looked down at the book he was reading.

"That doesn't have an enchantment on it," she said, in a way he assumed was a question about its provenance. The implication there was that if it was from the library, it would have one of Illyana's enchantments on it.

"No," Sam answered her. "It's from the station. A history."

Regina frowned and crossed her arms. "How are you reading it?"

Sam shrugged. "I don't know. Psychic paper or something? It seems to be English."

Her gaze scoured the page and lit on the header which read, The Field of Flowers: Volume 1, Asphodel. "When you're done with it--"

"Yeah, I'll leave it in your office."

She nodded, walked off, and then turned back to offer, "Thank you," and continued on her way.

Sam shrugged. If she wanted to tangle with Illyana over the proper procedures for new books, he wasn't going to get in the middle of it. He was just an acquisition agent, nothing more. And today he wasn't even that. He was just a guy reading a book, waiting to see if anyone new showed up today.

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Scanlan's Arrival

[st_illsinging]

The battle wasn't going exactly as planned - not that fighting a god was meant to be easy - but one of the trammels broke, J'mon Sa Ord was stuck in a cage, and Zahra and Kash were somewhere probably dead since they literally fell from the sky. Still, they were hurting him and Vox Machina wasn't going to give up, even if it killed them all.

Then suddenly Vecna started chanting familiar words. Words to escape. Without a second thought Scanlan cast counter spell, destroying Vecna's chance to leave. Vecna had to remain, and he should have been happy, but it quickly dawned on the Gnome what he had just done. He had no energy left for his plan to save Vax.

He felt a lump hit him hard in his chest and he looked around for Keyleith, wanting, trying to apologize but in the heat of the battle no one could quite hear him. His eyes watering, he looked to Vax - he could have saved him. He was sure he could have saved him and now...

Things happened so fast that suddenly he needed to read the book. They could win this. Scanlan looked down and started to read, but his eyes were still filled with tears and the words blurred and the spell didn't take effect. In an instant, the lump in his chest grew. How could he have messed up so badly? He looked up to shout he'd try again and then saw Vecna casting banishment. It wasn't on Grog this time, but on him. Him and the book. The book they needed to win.

In an instant, Scanlan vanished from the battlefield.

Vox Machina had failed.

The first thing Scanlan was aware of was bright light from one side and the deafening sound of silence as a short humanoid male suddenly appeared between the glass doors of the Madonna Inn. His clothes were bloodied, his eyes red and wet from tears, and he was still clutching a book to his chest.

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_andingtall]

Sam looked up at an unfamiliar sound and flicker of light from the entrance to the Inn. Between the glass doors, a man, bleeding, roughly the size of Pike, stood clutching a book and crying. Was anyone else around?

No.

Sam sighed and closed his book, picked it up, and headed over to the doors. He couldn't make himself small, so he had to hope not having any obvious weapons would help when he waved to the man before pulling open the door. "Hey."

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_illsinging]

He had been standing there waiting, hoping, to appear back on the battlefield like they had been able to do with Grog, but nothing was happening and then suddenly there was a tall human at what he now saw was a door. Scanlan panicked for a second, then composed himself. It would be hard to hide the fact he had been crying, but the tears dried up almost instantly - company always seemed to be the best way for him to suppress his feelings.

The brightly coloured, but battered and bloody Gnome cleared his throat. His voice starting off hoarse for just a moment before finding it's momentum and by the end turning back into something resembling some confidence.

"Hello. Do you happen to know a way out of here... wherever we are?"

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_andingtall]

Not Sam's favorite opening question by a long shot, but one that at least had a clear answer: "There isn't one."

Of course, as soon as he said it, he realized it wasn't technically true and he had to amend, "Well, there's a portal to a space station out of the Crystal Room, but it won't take you back to where you came from. I hate to say it, because it looks like it's probably really bad timing wherever you're from, but you're pretty much stuck here.

"Uh, here is the Madonna Inn and I'm Sam. The good news is there may be people you know here."

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_ealthless]

Pike was in a wonderful mood. A fact which was largely due to the fact that she was wearing one of the new gnome-sized dresses from the shop. They were such an odd design and fabric, but she loves the way they floused about when she walked and the little bits of skin it exposed was a plus too.

She'd also just finished perfectly arranging a tray of cookies to bring out to the lobby for check-in day. But as soon as she entered to room, her eyes found him. "Scanlan?" His name came out soft as a prayer and was covered up by the sound of the metal tray hitting the ground as she lost her grip. But she didn't care. "Scanlan!"

Before she knew it she was sprinting across the room, not stopping until she had her arms around his neck and was kissing him deeply.

It shouldn't have been possible with her lips busy, but somehow they both began to glow as the spell Heal pulsed from her.

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_illsinging]

The tall guy was saying a lot of words that made no sense together like a station for space. On a normal day the room full of Crystal would totally get his attention, but right now, feeling like shit the way he did, it only registered somewhere in the back of his mind.

He opened up his mouth to say something, but then he heard her and his eyes moved to see Pike. His expression instantly lightened for a moment, especially when she ran towards him and then suddenly her lips were on his. His eyes closed and he kissed her back because of course he kissed her back and the kiss was basically everything he had ever thought it would be from her. His knees started to fall a little weak, even after he felt the surge of healing rush through him, bolstering his body.

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_ealthless]

In the time it took for the spell to take effect and to start enjoying the kiss, her mind finally caught up with her actions. Her head began swimming with the conflicting emotions - joy, excitement, fear, hope, anger, sorrow all fought for purchase. As the pieces fell into place, it was like a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head. She pulled away from her and took two steps back.

"No. No. No. My weird fucking magic isn't for you anymore. Not after two years." Of all of her emotions, her anger was the easiest to sit in. She couldn't help but wonder if her eyes had gotten a little red like her best buddy's did. In her rage, she drifted forward a step and slapped him as hard as she could. "You. You broke my heart Scanlan Shorthalt and I don't know how to forgive you for that."

Her vision blurred with angry tears and she knew that she didn't want to hear his response. Not yet, at least. He could talk his way out of anything and she wasn't ready for that. So, with a flick of her wrist and a prayer to Sarenrae, she cast Hold Person on him. Before finding out if the spell took effect, she clicked her Sprinter's Boots and left the room.

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_illsinging]

The kiss left Scanlan a little stunned so when she pulled back it was only when she spoke again, in her tone, that he could really focus on what was happening - there was no denying she looked and sounded hurt. He remembered how hurt she had been when he first arrived back home, but this time... he had thought they talked through all that.

Face stinging from the slap, he opened his mouth to say something and found himself frozen in spot. He made a guttural sound, but his mouth couldn't move either. Scanlan Shorthalt was basically a statue.

Re: Scanlan's Arrival

[st_andingtall]

Sam's jaw didn't quite drop, but he was nearly as frozen as the other guy, the one Pike (Christ, Pike, wow) called Scanlan. He was pretty sure his whole family couldn't muster that much up or down if you gave them a whole year to do it in. It was excruciating to watch but somehow he couldn't turn away.

It wasn't until Pike had run away and the guy was still just standing there that Sam finally managed words. "Uh, you don't think you should go after her? I mean... she seems kinda pissed."

Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

This was a good day. His family was celebrating their ancestors and he knew they were there with them. Everyone, and there was an emphasis on everyone this year, had their picture on the ofrenda. His smile was wide and it wasn't just because of the laughter and food. This year there was singing. In their household.

He reached down and scratched Dante between the ears. It was good to see his best friend. "It's a good day, huh Dante?" There was a happy yelp of agreement as Miguel stood back up, and swung his great grandfather's guitar from his back to between his arms. "What should I play next?" There were so many songs to choose from, which was a miracle for Miguel.

Miguel closed his eyes, let the music flow over him as he began to play and sing "Remember Me." But he sang it as a lullaby as his Papa Hector had to Mama Coco.

Dante gave an almost frantic bark that made Miguel open one eye. The music suddenly stopped in shock as he found himself inside a grand hotel's lobby. He glanced at his best friend, Dante looked the same. His eyes flew to the people milling around and they weren't skeletons so.... not the Land of the Dead. Miguel swung the guitar to his back and bent down to hug his dog. "Where are we boy?"

Was his ancestor's guitar cursed again?

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_oneswidow]

Curnen had been tuning her own guitar in preparation to go outside. Even in the midst of the excitement over the door opening, she still had to play, and sing, and as it was apparently not acceptable on Asphodel, that left here. And it was arrival day, so she had to make sure that no one who had ended up on the road went the wrong way.

That didn't seem to be a problem for the boy and dog she saw when she looked up, though.

She didn't think she was very good at the explaining bit, but she was here and she was relatively unoccupied, so. "You all right there, kid?"

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

"Si." Miguel said and then realized she'd spoken English and shifted, "um, yes. I think I'm a little lost. I was in Santa Cecelia with my family and now, I'm not."

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_oneswidow]

Ah, fuck. Did it make it better or worse that he'd been with family when he left? He was so young, his voice hadn't even dropped yet. Probably the same age as Mandalay. She looked at him for a moment, considering how to begin. Then she patted the seat next to her and said, "Let's get you reoriented. I'm Curnen. And the very short version of the story is we're in San Luis Obispo, California." She didn't know any towns or cities called Santa Cecelia, but that didn't mean anything.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

"I'm Miguel." He said it automatically as she'd given her name and then looked at her with both surprise and a little bit of fear. "California?
How did I get from Mexico to California?" Miguel didn't wait for an answer before he settled next to Curnen and looked at his guitar. "Do... do you think a cursed guitar could have done it?"

He'd thought the curse was lifted after everything but maybe not. Or maybe something else happened to it on the Dia De Los Muertos this year.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_oneswidow]

Curnen in turned looked a little surprised and afraid at the word 'cursed.' It was an automatic response, and she banished it quickly, taking a closer look at his instrument. It did have an odd whiff of magic to it, magic she didn't recognize. "That guitar has seen a lot," she said. "But it ain't why you're here."

The way he'd just come over to her like that without any hesitation said a lot. Even apprehensive, there was no wariness in him, though this situation was strange to the point of unbelievable.

She sighed and pushed her hair back from her face, not entirely consciously putting the extra pinky finger on display. She liked to be up front about those. No point getting to know somebody and then getting the revulsion.

"Truth is, nobody knows why we're here. We dunno why us. We dunno how we ended up here. And..." No, don't sugarcoat. "We haven't found the way outta here. Not yet."

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

Miguel had a million and one questions that he wanted to ask, starting with how cool was it that she had an extra pinky, but that faded with her last comment. His stomach sank and his heart did a little flip flop in his chest. He clung to the not yet portion of her words. There was hope. There was also a little selfish relief that it wasn't connected to his guitar.

"So, I'm on my own." Dante whined a little and stuck his head under Miguel's hand to remind him that he wasn't on his own. His fingers scratched at his ears, grateful for both the reminder and the comforting familiarity. "O-okay. I'm on my own but I'm not alone. Everyone else is away from their family, too."

It was selfish, but that made him feel a little better. "But we'll find a way back, right?" Miguel was okay in the Land of the Dead because he had Hector, before he knew they were related. He had his family and he'd had his idol, before he learned Ernesto was the bad guy and not his hero. He wasn't sure if he'd be okay to know he would never, ever see his mama or papa again. Or his Tio Roberto and especially his abuelita, even when she was yelling at him.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_oneswidow]

"We haven't given up hope on it yet," Curnen said, which was more honest than 'yes.' "And we do what we can to keep each other going, while we're away from our families." And quite a few people came from completely fucked up families and had thrown out the concept of blood ties completely. Curnen usually kept her mouth shut on that issue, just because if she told anybody about her father and her Hicks cousins, they'd take it as proof. Never mind her momma, her daddy, her sister, and her grandparents and uncles and aunts and cousins.

"Who's your friend?" she asked, grinning at the dog.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

He relaxed a little bit, his mind still tumbling over each thought, but she was nice and she was smiling at Dante. That was always a good sign. "This is Dante." Miguel said with pride. He didn't look like much but there was a lot more to him than people thought. Even before he became a spirit guide.

"He's my best friend." Dante got up from Miguel's feet and padded over to be between the two humans, his tongue hung out between his missing teeth and his ear flopped over to the side refusing to stand upright. "Dante, say hello to Curnen."

"Woof." It was a sharp bark that could have meant hello with a lopsided smile.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_arkintern]

Peter is leaving his room when he catches sight of him. Another person, maybe a few years younger than he is. There's not a lot of them around, so Miguel definitely stands out. And while Peter likes being around adults because it makes him feel more like one, there's something to be said about being around people his actual age.

Besides, it didn't feel like it was all that long ago when he arrived here feeling lost and confused and just weird. And if there's something he can do to make this new arrival feel a little bit better about all this, well, Peter's gonna try and do it.

"Hey," Peter says, raising a hand in greeting as he pads down the hallway towards Miguel. "You're new here, right? I'm Peter."

He extends his hand for Miguel to shake, then glances over at his guitar, and smiles.

"Do you play?" he asks. "I used to play trumpet in the school band, but I haven't really been able to play anything since I got here."

No trumpet meant no playing.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

Miguel had settled Dante into the room. The room that he had been told was his though it was really, really grand and he wouldn't have to pay for anything. He wanted to explore and see what was out there. It was a new place. It wasn't home, it never would be without his family, but it was new.

Like in Santa Cecelia, Miguel always carried his guitar. He wasn't comfortable with the place to leave it alone and while he would love to have Dante with him exploring, Dante would get into too much stuff.

When he stepped out into the hallway and saw someone else, someone close to his age, he felt a little more relaxed. And that he was another musician was a bonus. Miguel awkwardly shook his hand, it wasn't something he was used to.

"You're a musician, too? I've never played a trumpet before but I like the sound. I've only played guitar. I'm Miguel."

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_arkintern]

"Yeah," Peter says to Miguel's inquiry. "Well, kinda. I didn't really play anything solo or anything and it's the school band, so most of the time we just ended up playing at football games or something."

So not talent shows or concerts.

"I take it you just arrived?" Peter asks, though he doesn't wait for an answer. "I live over in that room over there --" he gestures to his door, further up the hallway. "--so if you need anything, you can just let me know."

There's only a second or two more before Peter pelts him with one last question:

"Where -- Where are you from?"

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

"Si, um yes. Earlier today I arrived here. I met a really nice lady, Curnen." Miguel was used to everyone knowing everyone in his village so it didn't occur to him Peter might not know Curnen.

"And I'm from Santa Cecelia, Mexico and Curnen is from Tennessee. Are you from someplace different than California?"

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_arkintern]

Peter immediately shifts to Spanish. It was about time he got some use out of all of those Spanish classes.

"Yeah, I know Curnen," he says. "Well, I don't know-know her, but I do know of her."

And then, Peter switches back to English.

"Yeah, I'm from Queens, it's, uh, it's in New York State, part of New York City. I was still in school before I wound up here, and I'm still taking classes now. Not like, classroom classes, but it's the closest you come to real classes here. If you want, I can introduce you to my teacher sometime."

Peter scratches at his elbow awkwardly. Schoolwork probably wasn't the first thing someone wanted to hear about after being mysteriously transported to a weird hotel with a dubious sense of design. But it was the first thing Peter could think to talk about. Name, then where you're from, then class. Probably because class was such a big part of his life.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_recuerdame]

Miguel was so excited that someone else spoke Spanish, he almost didn't catch the second part of what Peter said. He made an ugh face, "I'll have to go to classes here?"

That didn't seem fair.

Then realized that was really rude and his abuelita would have hit him with her sandal. "But I wouldn't mind meeting your teacher." If he had to take classes.

Re: Miguel Assigned Threads

[st_arkintern]

"Well, you don't have to," Peter says. "But there's not really a lot to do here otherwise. If you leave the Inn there's about ten miles of desert, and there's not really a lot out there otherwise. There's a bit of ocean out there, but it's too cold to swim right now, and I haven't been able to find a fishing pole."

Peter sure wishes he could, though. That'd be a nice way to spend the day. If he could find someone who could teach him how to fish, anyway.