nightlogs | DUST TO DUST ❅ EVENT

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DUST TO DUST ❅ EVENT

DUST TO DUST

It will take them time to discern the cause. After all, all the artifacts brought back from the fight with Project Prometheus were deemed safe or at least contained, only able to have their dangerous power unleashed if people were dumb enough to try it.

The altheiometer is not the real thing. It was created by the belief of a child, after reading a certain book series, and therefore is more of a symbolic object, with none of the real capabilities of the device in fiction. Instead, it had other magical abilities. It was not entirely understood by the Project itself, just kept there to be studied and eventually co-opted for sinister use if possible. But it had remained inert in their company.

At the Pole, it passes the magical scan, since it technically is "safe," then finally activates. It works on a child's logic, after all. A child would think daemons are cool but wouldn't think bad people deserved them. A child would think the device should only activate to let good guys have daemons.

In the study containing the safer artifacts, the altheiometer opens of its own accord. Gears turn. The hands start clicking as they move in circles around its clock-like face, rotating back and forth between different symbols. The hands finally stop, clicking as they meet in the same spot, on the symbol of an apple, with a bite taken out of it.

It's all very metaphorical isn't it. The soul can't exist without free will. In some worlds they think free will only exists because of an apple in a garden.

There is a burst of light and sound that reverberates through the Pole. As the floor shakes, everyone sees a brief glimpse of the wave as it passes through walls - and then passes through each of them. Getting hit by it is like getting hit by a storm wave in the ocean, briefly lifting everyone off their feet.

Alongside the sensation of being briefly levitated, there is also the painful sensation of suddenly being aware of something deep inside, briefly made to feel almost like a splinter in their very core.

Then, with all the subtlety of getting attacked with a giant hole punch, the splinter is removed, excised. It does hurt, but there is also a strange relief. Except...whatever it was, it's still here. Next to each of the Guardians. Still attached, just...an externality now.

The wave crashes to the shore. They're all knocked to the floor again.

If they were alone in a room, they aren't now. If they weren't alone in a room, said room's occupants have now doubled.

DAEMONS
Each PC now temporarily has a daemon. Daemons are the soul externalized, sentient and able to talk. Taking the form of animals, they often shapeshift and change forms during someone's childhood, but settle into a permanent shape during someone's teen years as the person's personality becomes more concrete and distinct.

Form: A daemon takes an animal form that represents the person's personality. They usually have a gender opposite to their respective person's, but there are sometimes exceptions, sometimes for entirely unknown reasons, or if the person is some flavor of queer. Daemons will know that they're their owner's soul and be able to tell them that.

Daemon Selection: Here is a page with interpretations of a few animals and what types of personalities they can represent, but please don't take it as law. It's just possible inspiration. The daemons can be any animal. For characters not from Earth, their daemons can be animals that are entirely made up or ones in their canons.

Link: Daemons are connected metaphysically to their person through an invisible link, allowing that person to still be attached to their soul. Moving too far from your daemon can cause physical and spiritual agony. Suddenly being ripped apart by a great distance can kill someone. Killing a daemon - which is only as hardy as the animal they are - also kills their owner.

Personalities: Daemon personalities are often similar to their owner's, but sometimes daemons are more willing to be honest about feelings or subconscious impulses. For instance, daemons often instinctually show affection to the daemons of people their owner is fond of. Daemons will remember everything their owner remembers, and was basically there the whole time they were alive, just integrated. Despite being externalized, they aren't something separate from each person, they were always a part of them.

Physical Contact: People can touch their own daemons without effects and cuddling their daemon can be a positive experience of self-love. Someone hurting their own daemon can feel like they've caused the damage to themselves, and hurts on a spiritual or almost self-hating level. Meanwhile, picking up someone else's daemon without permission can cause incredible discomfort and pain. Alternately, touching someone's daemon with permission can cause comfort, a surge of happiness, or even pleasure, depending on the context of the contact and the relationship the two people have.

OOC DETAILS
❅ Event Length: The plot will last an OOC and IC 2 weeks before they can figure out what's causing the change and reverse it, making the daemons internal again. During this time, allies of the Guardians will temporarily take over their duties and fortunately no major crises will happen. Players can set their own opens during this time as well as play out anything that happens over the whole 2 weeks in this post.

❅ New Characters: If your character is introing at this time, assume they arrived just in time for the magical wave to hit them, or walked into a cloud of its residual energy.

❅ Opt-out: Anyone that doesn't want to play in the plot or have a daemon can handwave Vasilisa's magical defenses caught on to the power surge and her glowing charms protected at least some people in the Pole from the transformation. You can ignore this and thread as if there's just a little extra chaos around the Pole.

❅ Jack Frost: There will also be a network post with Jack explaining what Vasilisa has magically discerned has happened. It will take time to find the source, as the altheiometer is very good at cloaking its readings and registered as "safe." (Technically, it is safe, it's just...inconvenient.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not entirely sure that it falls under zoology, angel.

[But he'll leave Aziraphale with a level of plausible deniability for his emotional distance, if only because he's too busy being kissed while trying to continue petting Timothy and accepting an affectionate headbutt from Asteria. There's so much going on, it's wild.

He'll add a further kiss to Aziraphale's cheek, just in case there was doubt about whether he loves him the most.]

He's just sore that you're ruining his harmless bookseller shtick, don't let him get to you.

[Someone is jealous of Timothy getting all that attention, and sort of wriggles onto her back in Aziraphale's arms so she can look up at him with big, baby eyes.]

Can we go somewhere warm? I don't want to play in the snow.

[She's babey.]

My schtick? [ Wow. Aziraphale brought a kiss and all that affection over here only to be betrayed. Unbelievable.

He's never harmed anyone in his capacity as a bookseller, therefore he is a harmless bookseller and he is! Entitled to be irritated that he just really doesn't see how Timothy fits the bill! It's debatable whether he would have liked any daemon, for myriad reasons, but that doesn't mean anything.

Asteria can have the entirety of Aziraphale's attention now. >:( Babey only. ]

Of course we can. Lots of sunny, out-of-the-way spots on the planet, aren't there? [ He really will miss her when this all gets sorted back out. She's part of Crowley, of course, it's not as if she'll be gone in her entirety. It's just-- nice. To have this part of him externalized, asking for these little indulgences. Demanding them. Same thing. ]

Somewhere a bit less crowded.

[ Things that, surprising no one, Timothy enjoys hearing enough to also start purring. Do lions purr? If not, they do now. He understands the assignment w/r/t Asteria and/or Crowley having the priority input. He also thinks it would be nice if they could do that in some spot that doesn't have all these people living in it. ]

When was the last time you sold a book?

[They both know that he was talking about the harmless part, but he'll be a little contrary on purpose, just because it's what he does best. If Crowley has opinions about how Aziraphale presents himself as harmless and how much strength there is underneath it all and if he's also a little bit horny about it, that's between him and, well, Asteria.]

What about one of those uninhabited islands in the Pacific? [Asteria is both babey and a little shit. Crowley shoots her a look.] Do I look like I'm dressed for a tropical vacation?

[Asteria looks up at Aziraphale again, full force puppy dog eyes despite being a cat. Please over rule Crowley and let her have what she wants.

Both of them have been betrayed by their daemons.]

Pedant. [ Things that Aziraphale and his daemon say simultaneously. So they'd rather die than sell a book on top of the actual point that was made. That's normal behavior obviously.

But fine. Fine! Aziraphale will get his revenge.

He looks down at Asteria's little sad cat face.

He looks back up at Crowley properly. ]

You like warm weather. [ 🥺

(Timothy has now also betrayed Crowley. He is not here to help win the anti-island position.) ]

[The synchronized accusation makes him laugh, which makes Asteria start purring, which ultimately goes to show that Crowley enjoys riling Aziraphale up, as if that was ever in question.

And as if Aziraphale doesn't enjoy riling him up in turn. He looks to Timothy, hopeful that he might have an ally, only to immediately know from the look on the lion's face that he's out of luck.]

Alright, alright, but don't come complaining to me when there's sand in your fur and your trousers.

[He won't do anything about it! They'll all have to solve their own problems!

(He will absolutely miracle away the sand for any of them.)]

[ Aziraphale knows full well that Crowley would miracle away any sand he looked sad enough about. But he'll let him be miffy about it because he gets what he wants and being indulged by a complaining demon is one of his favorite hobbies.

Other attributes: his wiggles.

Timothy's attributes: licking Asteria. Since she's in the area and all. ]

Maybe I'll dress for the occasion. Save you the trouble.

[ Beach fashion... it can't be that hard, right. ]

[Social grooming rituals are something that can be so important when you're a soul manifested as a cat.

It does make life difficult for Crowley, who wants to feign at being grumpy but can't quite manager it when Asteria is vibing so hard that she's purring and about 0.3 seconds from falling asleep. The betrayals never cease.]

Am I about to be forced to endure bloody nineteenth century beachwear?

[ No manners... this rude and terrible demon. ]

If it offends you, you're very welcome to look in another direction. I will be having a lovely time regardless.

[ Regard someone else with love and fondness bitch!! Wow!

Wait don't actually do that, he'll be jealous. ]

He won't look away, he's only got eyes for you.

[Asteria says the words in a sing-song voice, enjoying both the attention and getting a chance to tease Crowley.

She's a menace.]

Alright, can we get a move on? No need to stand around nattering all day.

[He's going to start shooing them towards wherever the fuck the snow globes are stored, the narrator can't be bothered to check the FAQ.]

We do like to hear it, thank you.

[ Crowley being put on blast: funny and cute.

Aziraphale being put on blast after that singsongy lil compliment is out there: mortifying actually, Crowley is right, best be off. The shooing will be permitted just this once.

He can't let Crowley know he has a crush on him... the line must be drawn. No he does not understand why it's been drawn. ]

Well. [ Well!!!! Most of what they do is nattering. In the grand scheme. He thinks. ] No need to natter here when we could be nattering on location, yes. Enjoying the sunshine. Not the North Pole's strongest draw.

[ Ditto they sure are going wherever the snow globes are, good for them. Not a honeymoon or a vacation but a third thing: a day trip. ]

[Crowley just shoots Timothy a pleased look, but in the interest of not upsetting Aziraphale too much, keeps his mouth shut.

That does not stop him from doing one of his full body groans between steps, it's a whole production.]

That was awful. [Crowley loves him so much.] Suppose I can't complain about sunshine, it has been a minute since some proper warmth.

[Warmth hearths and cozy rooms don't count.]

[ Groans of complaint: among Aziraphale's many favorite sounds that Crowley makes.

The list has expanded considerably recently, but still. Aziraphale is willing to trade out being huffy about Timothy saying things for looking pleased with himself over being annoying. Crowley took that mental damage for morale. ]

Not very many chances for basking, no. [ Not that he supposes the missions would be very mission-like if they were about basking. ] It'll be nice. We'll have fun.

[ Fun like fun or fun like he plans on giving them both a very good reason to be complaining about how sand gets absolutely everywhere? He'll decide later. Most likely only the former because he's not comfortable ~ravishing his beloved~ while Asteria and Timothy are just like, around. It's too weird.

For now, he's miracling up a big fluffy tartan beach towel to wiggle for emphasis. If there's any inkling as to what his swimwear choices will be like... this is the inkling.

He also holds a pair of these out for Crowley. Take them. You have to. (Note: Crowley does not have to, obviously.) ]

[Honestly, the things he does for love.]

And you know I love a good bask.

[It might be the serpent in him, or maybe he would've taken to the sunshine regardless of his nature, but there's no denying that he's a creature of warmth. He doesn't necessarily come across that way, with the propensity to dark clothes and his sterile flat, but Aziraphale knows him better than anyone.

Well enough to raise an eyebrow at the mention of fun, but anything clever he might have said is lost to indignation.]

I'm not wearing those. You can't make me.

[Asteria starts chuckling to herself, even though she agrees with Crowley's stance. She just thinks it's kind of funny, too.]

I do know. [ His little mental Crowley details scrapbook prevails. Not to be confused with his physical one (just in case he ever loses track of the mental one).

It makes for a very good cuddle, being with a creature of warmth. Aziraphale will admit that for free. And even more for free, he'll fail to pretend to look disappointed by the refusal. His ass knew exactly what he was going to get for an answer. ]

Oh. Too pink? [ :(

For once, Timothy is going to "yes and" Aziraphale instead of being mean to him for NO reason WHATSOEVER (source: Aziraphale's opinion). ] I think they must be too pink.

[The tartan towels were one thing, but he really has to draw the line at ridiculous sunglasses, especially since he's started to adjust to not wearing them nearly so often.]

It's not the pink that's an issue, it's the bloody flamingos.

[He could wear a little pink, maybe; it's close enough to red that he can work with it, but novelty sunglasses are ridiculous.

Asteria is going to be very helpful by trying to grab the sunglasses out of Aziraphale's hand with her teeth. If she happens to "accidentally" break them in the process, it's a tragedy that couldn't be averted.]

People like flamingos.

[ Crowley could be one of those people. He's very leggy, they have that in common. Aziraphale is only arguing to argue, of course.

Although he does make an offended sound when Asteria snatches the sunglasses. And has the audacity! To accidentally break them! (Who is he kidding. He can't be properly angry at that face.) Tut and tsk and other such noises. ]

Oh, behave! Statement pieces like those don't grow on trees. [ He's not technically wrong. Nothing that's part of these .50 plastic sunglasses grew on a tree, probably. ]

Some people like flamingos, I'm not one of them.

[They both know that this argument only has one purpose, which is wasting time while they're forced to wander down the halls. He misses being able to teleport.

Asteria bares her teeth in the best approximation of a grin, before spitting out the glasses. They live on the floor now. It's their home. Her job is done.]

Those things cost less than a quid, they're not hard to come by.

[ Walking from place to place like peasants. How far they've fallen.

Timothy picks the glasses up like a consummate professional. By which the narration means he'll either get bored and drop them again anyway, or he'll enjoy burying them at the beach. Could go either way. ]

It's the principle of the thing. [ And yet Asteria is getting petted. Loved and cherished. ] They're very striking, you know. Flamingos. I would have thought they were your 'style'.

[ ✨style✨

Crowley should turn all his opinions about everything for the rest of time over for Aziraphale to know about them and feel self-satisfied for knowing. Starting with this random bird. ]

[Timothy officially labelled as a traitor...... at least until the glasses are potentially buried in the sand.

Asteria continues to be labelled a little baby, judging by how she starts purring again.]

I've no idea if that's supposed to be a compliment or not. [Relationship growth is the fact he's willing to say that out loud, instead of just internally having a crisis about it.] M'afraid I don't have strong opinions about most birds. Except secretary birds, they're bastards.

They remind me of you. [ Aziraphale will not be going into further detail about what he means. From his tone: it was in fact a compliment.

Whether it maintained its positive molecular structure from point A to point B isn't his business! Unless it went over very badly, in which case he'll be thinking about it at 3 in the morning forever! But at least right now Asteria is here to help ease the potential future burden. Emotional support soft little baby. ]

I'd take a secretary bird over an emu. Aesthetically speaking.

[ If he's going to be discorporated by a terrifying bird... it might as well be aesthetically enjoyable. ]

It's 'cause I'm leggy, is it?

[If they weren't in the process of walking, he might be feeling silly enough to briefly do a flamingo pose, but alas, Aziraphale will have to be deprived of this joy.]

Are emus the big ones? [Look........ there's so many birds, he can't remember all of them.] They haven't got a personal vendetta against snakes, as far as I know. Secretary birds are the bloody St. Patrick of birds.

And striking.

[ Daemons can snicker even when they're carrying novelty sunglasses in their mouth. Timothy proves it in real time.

Which ruins Aziraphale's "honestly it's like you never listen to me At All" kayfabe. Ugh. How is he supposed to live like this? With Crowley knowing that he knows he pays attention to him all the time? ]

Hm. Can't hold that against you, I suppose. [ Like. It's fair. ] Emus are the big Australian ones. Used to be bulletproof, I think.

[ The short but powerful list of giant birds who've had military action taken against them. ]

[Crowley makes a sort of unintelligible noise, entirely unsure how to respond to that compliment, so Asteria fields it for him.]

Careful, you'll make him blush.

[She's rude, but Crowley is still appreciative that she saved him from having to find anything else to say and they can just move on with their lives. Hopefully.]

Used to be? Did they stop being bulletproof, or is it 'cause bullets got better?

[Time is fake but let's pretend they made it to the Snowglobe Room by this point so that Crowley can wander in and claim one.]

You reckon we need a specific place, or will 'uninhabited island in the Pacific Ocean' work?

[ Aziraphale will inoculate Crowley to hearing his compliments and praise and horny on main thoughts like boiling a metaphorical frog. Maybe Crowley should have considered all this before looking very sweet when he's flustered.

Asteria gets a free kiss for her helpful contribution, because she's perfect. ]

Just a... minor oversight during the design process. It got patched out. [ Not entirely well enough, they're still far sturdier than they have a right to be in his opinion. His hypothetical opinion, if he were to have had one about the design process, which he obviously didn't because it wasn't his department.

He squints at the snowglobe. He ponders the orb. ] I think they handle general directions well enough. A sorcery more about the, um. The feeling than the technical wording. I suppose magic does always tend to be either one or the other.

[ Well. ~Magic~ as in fiction and fairy tales and worlds on the edge of ruin but that still have Santa's Workshop hanging about. ]

[The relief he experiences when Aziraphale allows him to go without responding is truly unreal.]

Should've let it as it was, would've been good for a laugh.

[Maybe they should've made the dodo bulletproof instead, but that's also none of their business.]

Alright, let's see... an uninhabited island somewhere in the Pacific, with enough landmass for these two to have a proper run around. And with some plant life.

[Just assuming it's kind of like a monkey paw wish where he needs to be specific or they're going to end up on a spit of sand five meters long with fuck all on it.

He tosses the snowglobe, pockets another so they can get back, and then gestures at the portal.]

Well, looks decent enough. Ladies first?

[He's got that cheeky look on his face that suggests he's referring to Aziraphale, although he could theoretically be talking to Asteria.]

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