![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
TOIL AND TROUBLE ❄ PART 2
TOIL AND TROUBLE ❄ PART 2
They say to never split the party but this Halloween, they absolutely need to. A quick flyby of the Sandersons' house shows it's empty - they're out trying to find the children that stole their magic book.
In the meantime, they have other problems. They are seriously outnumbered by the witches and there are still un-evacuated children in the town. They know that Sarah Sanderson will likely soon sing her song to lure children to wherever the Sandersons' intend to feed on them. There are also allies to try to gather, and other witch problems that have surfaced.
There is nothing else for it. The Guardians have to split up in the hopes the situation will get stable enough they can find Jamie's classmates who stole the book before the Sandersons do.
Or hope they can run down the clock until dawn, when they'll disappear in the light of day.
❅ Format: The mod will be using prose because multiple npcs may need to be written speaking but players can pick any format they want, including actionspam.
❅ NPCing: This part of the plot will have mod npcing. If you can, please try to tag at least about once a day to your respective threads so the mod can try to block out some semi-predictable time for npc tags.
❅ Status effects: There will be more dangerous witches here. Witches have magic and that means curses and other injuries the myth healing might not instantly fix. (Magical burns, etc.) You can play with this as you want. Spells and effects can either wear off in a short amount of time, wear off when the plot is over when day breaks, or need magical healing intervention at the Pole. Player choice.
❅ Long-term effects: Players who go with some kind of status effect for a character can optionally have long-term consequences from it if they like.
❅ Environment: Feel free to manipulate the environment in each setting location. You will often have whole setting areas to work with or even the whole open town. In some places, you absolutely can hotwire a car to run over a witch.
no subject
"If tricking her is the only solution, it should be a trick that still leaves her with something of value. We cannot afford to have her join the witches plaguing us tonight, nor aiding Kuk. We need not leave her on good terms, but we dare not make an enemy of her."
He taps his lips. "If Frost is destined for her pot, then perhaps she will be satisfied with something more appetizing than him. But it would have to be something special to tempt her or leave her mollified. Food of the gods, perhaps, if I had any."
no subject
She takes a deep breath. She isn't sure if it even counts as cheating, but it may just work. If they're lucky.
"I have an idea, but it should probably be a last resort." She doesn't expand on it.
"Honestly, I think we're just going to have to accept we're in the weaker position from the start. She has something we need, so she's got the leverage. Not saying we can't tip the scales in our favor, but it might be hard to do that before we meet her."
no subject
His mouth twists at her cryptic suggestion. "Is it an idea that depends on secrecy? Should I act appropriately horrified when you try it, to sell the idea that it would be painful and thus particularly appealing to her?"
no subject
"Honestly? I don't know you well enough to say whether you'd be okay with it, so I figure I'll bypass that risk by not telling you in the first place. If it does come down to it, just remember that I'm not promising anything I don't think I or anyone else can handle. Feel free to respond how you want, but don't try to stop me. Trust that I know what I'm doing."
She turns back to Katherine and Vasilisa. "Okay, unless there's anything you think we should know before we head off, I think we're about as ready as we're going to get."
no subject
He turns and nods to the two informants. "I, too, believe we are ready."
no subject
The ones she hands over are different. North's has caps with red designs and gold on each end. Katherine's are blue and silver.
"Don't worry, I know they look different, but they work just like the ones made by North and the yetis."
Curious, that she can make something that North and the yetis can all on her own.
"Good luck. I'll do my best to help here in Burgess in your place. Kailish and I can harry the ones that are airborne." A pause. "Tell Jack he's an idiot for me."
The great Snow Goose grows to a massive size, its little saddle growing with it, big enough to ride on, and Katherine climbs on and takes the reins with one hand. Kailash takes off with flapping wings and Katherine can be seen unsheathing a saber from her belt. Almost immediately after, there is a cackling witch-like scream above them. In a tree nearby, a body falls with a thud and a crash of branches. Near it, two pieces of a bloody broom that was slashed in half clatter into a driveway.
It happens in the space of about 15 seconds.
Apparently, Katherine does not mess around.
The snow globe and lantern take them into the forest and there is Baba Yaga, Jack, and her pot.
no subject
Elle keeps the lantern but passes the snow globes to Loki.
"In case we need a quick escape," she mutters quietly. She's trusting him to get both of them and Jack out of there if it becomes necessary.
She takes in the scene and doesn't let her eyes linger in any one place, not even Jack. Her gaze lands on the old woman.
"Baba Yaga," she bows her head in deference. "I am Elle, and this is my companion Loki. As you say, we have come to make a bargain on behalf of the Guardians.
"We understand that Jack Frost came to you looking for aid against a band of many, but lesser, witches. We, too, seek that aid, as well as the return of Jack and his belongings," she gestures to where Jack's staff lies.
Her eyes are intent on the Baba Yaga, looking for even the most minute reaction or tell as to what she's thinking.
no subject
His pride bristles a little when she takes the lead in talking, but he tamps that feeling down. Elle is more familiar with Baba Yaga, and with being deferential to someone with significant leverage. Letting her lead is the best choice for the situation; if he feels the need to interject, he has no shortage of options.
Besides, he's probably best as the power lurking behind her. Or, in other words, he's playing Thor's normal role. That thought makes him smile inwardly, but he keeps his face stern, gaze also on the ancient witch.
no subject
Curious. But the world has been strange of late, hasn't it.
Seeing something strange about Elle, she holds up her fingers to her eyes, making a ring with it. The color changes inside it, turning red, as if there's now a lens of some kind. She holds it up for one bloodshot eye to peer through.
"And you, girl, you have the soul of a jungle cat. A shapechanger, I see."
She lowers her hand and stirs her pot, regarding them both carefully.
"Fools are not sown nor reaped today, I see. Coming to bargain with Baba Yaga is unwise, my girl. I warn you once only because of the respect you both show. Respect the frost spirit lacked. Cocksure he is, like the buffoon my grand-daughter married, but with only half of Nicholas St. North's wits. Which is only a half of a half in the end."
no subject
"Yes, I was blessed by Selene with the power to change my form," she explains.
"I appreciate your advice. Please understand that we mean no offense by choosing not to heed it; it may be unwise to bargain with Baba Yaga, but it's also unwise to break a promise."
Elle allows herself a single moment to breathe. She's been working the problem in her head. Every moment they spend here is another moment their friends are still in danger. Another moment a child could be lost. She's afraid that drawing out negotiations until both parties are satisfied, or equally unsatisfied, will be a waste of time.
"I fear we may not have time to solve one of your riddles. Jack is needed now. My proposal is this: for the loss of an unwilling meal, I offer you a consenting one. If you free Jack from his binds, I will put a piece of my own flesh into your pot."
no subject
He lets Elle make her proposal, and while he's impressed by her solution, he can immediately see a very unfortunate loophole. "Jack must be freed unharmed, not to drop into your pot," he adds quickly. "And any of us capable of leaving once the bargain is fulfilled shall be allowed to do so if we so choose."
He shoots Elle a look as he emphasizes the last word. A coded suggestion that she should stipulate that the type of flesh given will be her choice. He assumes she's counting on the myth healing factor to mitigate the loss, but that might be difficult if Baba Yaga asks for a vital organ.
no subject
"This...may be acceptable," she says to Elle.
She turns to Loki. He's not off the hook.
"And what do you offer Baba Yaga? Will a mortal girl give her flesh while a god gives nothing?"
She expects it to be different than Elle's offering.
no subject
So he's mentally prepared when she turns to him, his mind already racing. He could probably give a piece of himself like Elle, or some blood, but that means less now that she's already offered.
He puts on a hard smile and pulls a very particular candy out of his Lokispace. "Would you perhaps like to taste the essence of a god made into sugar? Crafted by a god of another realm with far greater power?" It's... less of a sacrifice, since he's offered it to other people before, but when he's shared it before, it was part of sharing his insecurities, as the candy personifies him by giving whoever eats it a taste of his hubris and inadequacy.
He hesitates a second before holding out both hands, candy in one, the other empty. "Or would you rather a spell?" He carefully crafts one in his empty hand. It's simple and he knows it well, as it's one of the first spells his mother taught him, how to write Asgardian runes in the air. He's prepared to lose the ability to use it forever, hoping that the sentimental value attached to it will be enough to counter its lack of utility.
no subject
Loki is willing to give a greater sacrifice than she expected, but she doesn't let the surprise show on her face.
"Or perhaps you would prefer Jack's original test to be completed," she adds, but doubts the Baba Yaga will take that option. Loki has given her a much more valuable offer.
Since she's gotten all but the go-ahead for her offer, she looks around for a suitable blade. She imagines that Baba Yaga has something she uses to prepare for her meals.
cw: cannibalism
"I'll take the spell," she says. It has already been offered so she grabs it - and the memory, just like he thought.
After making the grabbing gesture, she holds a glowing light in her palm. There is the faintest image of a woman holding a young boy close and helping him trace his the runes in the air. She closes her palm and simply puts it into her pocket, like a useful odd and end to keep.
Loki will find the spell and the memory are gone. He'll remember it existed from times he's cast it but won't remember learning it.
As for Elle...
What neither of them know is about the oaths she's taken to the Guardians, magically reinforced. Oaths to not longer devour any flesh than that which has been offered to her - like Jack risking his own in failing at her little games.
And now Elle's offer.
But, care must be taken.
She holds out a blade to Elle, a cleaver flat on her palms.
"You offer your flesh willingly to me?" she verifies.
Might be best to be nail down the specifics. What. When. How many times it'll be taken.
cw: cannibalism, self-amputation, disassociation
Elle pulls off her coat and turns to Loki.
"Would you hold this? It was a gift." Dan made it for her. She doesn't want to get any blood on it.
She takes the blade from Baba Yaga and moves to an old wooden table near Jack.
Her mind is still. Each step she takes is methodical. She has to get this done as cleanly as possible. She cannot allow herself to frenzy.
Elle removes her belt, using the cleaver to cut off the end and places it between her molars. She cinches the belt as tightly as she can a few inches above her left elbow.
She doesn't allow herself to think as she brings the cleaver down.
Elle hears herself cry out in pain. The blade of the cleaver is embedded deep in the wooden surface. She spits the belt out of her mouth. There are imprints where her teeth nearly tore through the leather. Her head feels light, but the bleeding is sluggish. The tourniquet is doing its job.
She watches herself pick up the arm and turn to Baba Yaga.
"Remove Jack's bindings, then this is yours."
cw: dismemberment
He accepts the coat and folds it over one arm, keeping his face impassive while she takes the knife and readies herself. But he can't prevent the shock from showing when she cuts off the lower part of her arm. He had been expecting that she'd cut a smaller piece of flesh off. She's still standing and is coherent when she talks again, but he considers the tourniquet inadequate and starts recalling the battlefield healing magic he knows, ready to use it once they're all away.
Instinctively he moves between Elle and the witch. Not keeping them apart or preventing the handover of the- flesh, but ready to do so if Baba Yaga makes any aggressive move like she intends to claim more than what was offered. "Lower him to the ground before removing his bonds," he reiterates in a growl. "If he does not remain safe, then I will consider our bargain broken and my payment unlawfully taken."
1/
All he can do when the knife comes down is wince and turn his head away.
"Your bargain is accepted."
She waves a hand and the bindings around Jack loosen. He falls to the ground in a heap. His staff falls there with a clatter.
2/ cw: cannibalism still
"You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have -"
3/
4/
"I get to walk away with more than that," he insists. "You said, as part of our bargain, that I would walk away with the spell I asked for. Maybe I - I tripped up on the fine details but that was what was promised. Word for word. That I'd walk away with it."
He extends both hands out, one of them clutching his staff.
"Well, I'm walking away."
5/
And the conditions of failure were specifically that he'd go into her pot. Not that he wouldn't get the spell. He is walking away. And a deal is a deal.
Glowering, she nevertheless does what was asked, tracing her fingers in the air. Light springs from them writing in ancient designs from old dead languages, swirling around together with images that look like folk designs. They expand outward in a tapestry of light and color, growing and growing. Images of children in little houses appear, with the houses seeming to become encased in domes of glowing light made of intricate symbols.
The spell grows huge, filling the entire glen and when it is finished, she waves her hand sharply and it contracts down until it's a single glowing orb of shimmering colors, held in her hand. She tosses it to Jack.
"The bargain is met." She narrows her eyes. "But watch your step, Frost, for even if Baba Yaga doesn't claim your skin, the way you risk it like it's nothing more than a tattered old babushka means another surely will."
6/6
"We need to get you to the Infirmary at the Pole. Do you have any snowglobes? She broke mine."
cw: disassociation, major injury
"Thank you, Baba Yaga," she bows her head in respect and turns to Loki. Jack's attempt to support her is tolerated (in that she doesn't physically push him away), but she won't lean any of her weight on him.
"We have to walk out of here before we use a snow globe."
Elle starts moving back the way they came, out of the Baba Yaga's clearing. Her shirt and pants are ruined, she notes absently. She hopes she didn't get any blood in her hair. She should've put it up.
Elle barely hears any words spoken to or around her. She can't stop moving until they're safe. She can't stop moving until they're safe.
no subject
He turns and nods to Elle. "Agreed." He also holds out a hand towards her back for support, and as shepherding. He wants to set as quick a pace as possible. "As soon as we are outside of her immediate territory."
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)