Excerpt 011: Recalibration | OTA

[rekindledtitan]

TYPE: Personal log

LOCATION: The Nexus

PARTIES: Unconfirmed total [??]. Multiple [-] Ghost-type, multiple [-] Guardian-type, designate Blaze-37, Class Titan [[personal profile] rekindledtitan], additional [REDACTED]

ASSOCIATIONS: Multiversal Nexus; Nike; Rogers, Steve; Blaze-37; Coyote;



The havoc wrought by Coyote’s ‘gifts’ may not have been undone, and the trickster may be roaming at large still. But with an end to the rampage of the Big Bad Wolf, the Nexus streets are… somewhat safer, again. Night brings a chance for people to lick their wounds, or plot revenge… or just try to adjust to their circumstances.

Most of the bars and taverns close to the Plaza are exceptionally quiet tonight, but one of the pubs is playing host to an unusual gathering. The currently human-form Ghost is seated at one of the bigger tables, and before him is spread an array of bowls and small plates. Each bears a different sample of human-edible cuisine, most of them so far untouched. Around the rest of the table hovers a ring of… well, other Ghosts, these ones in their normal shapes. Their shells are angled or patterned or painted in different colors, but their blue optics glow bright in the low lighting of the bar. One of them - Penny, distinguished by her metallic green shell - dips to examine one of the many menus scattered around the table’s edge.

“Goat’s cheese!” she announces, and one of the others nudges a plate in front of Blaze’s Ghost. He eyes it a bit uncertainly, and Penny eggs him on. “Eat!”

“Eat! Eat! Eat! Eat!” The other Ghosts take up the chant with her, bobbing in the shadows, until Ghost manages to spear the lump of cheese on a fork. The others huddle in a bit closer to watch as he nibbles on it.

Over by the bar, one of the Guardians leaning on the counter observes, “You know, that’s kinda… creepy.”

“Yyup.” Blaze drops her attention back to pulling out the contact pins on the battery pack in her hand. “’Least they’re having fun.”

And worried as the Exo is about all this, at least she knows he’ll get enough to eat. Blaze? She just needs a drink. Or several.


[ Open post for encounters/CR after the first Coyote event post, particularly characters Blaze and Ghost know (and, of course, those with Ghosts of their own who might be joining in the vicarious taste-test.). ]

Comments

[chiaro_oscuro]

Ben looks at Blaze, who he recognizes, and Ghost, who he doesn't. Then something clicks, and then he groans as he realizes what must have happened.

"Don't tell me he got to you too." The young man's teeth noticeably grit. "I was helping Cricket earlier. He made a wish, and whoever he made it to took his ability to walk away. He told me about a man with the head of a coyote - now, I'm not a human from Earth, but I understand that's an animal somewhere between a dog and a wolf."

"I wanted to go looking for him, but he's probably in the wind now." He breathes in heavily, almost slumping on the table. "I need a drink, if you have one."

[rekindledtitan]

"Bmm?" Oh, wait. Ghost's mouth is full. He takes a minute to swallow before he gives the young man a concerned look. "Ben? Are you all right? The wolf- um, coyote man did get us. Me. But we're working on finding him." He looks over at the bar across the room, where Blaze is keeping an eye on things.

"I only have water, but I'm sure you can get a drink." He looks up at one of the other Ghosts.

"I'll get a server." The little bot zips off, not without a slightly envious look from Ghost.

[chiaro_oscuro]

"Yeah, I'm fine. I didn't see him myself, which is a very good thing, but all the trouble he caused was hard to miss. When I found Cricket after his wish, I could tell strong magic was involved. Whatever he is, he's powerful and ancient and has a very questionable sense of humor. A trickster who isn't Loki and a spirit who isn't one of the seasonal ones."

Ben isn't completely humorless, but he has little patience for Coyote's brand of pranks. He's frankly amazed, as far as he knows, that no one's been seriously hurt. What he saw happened to Cricket didn't give him much of a good impression.

"Are you all right, Ghost? I imagine being organic is disorienting." Ben nods in thanks to the other Ghost. "I hope it wears off soon for both of your sakes, and I'm all for this coyote-man being taught a lesson. A drink and a meal will do for now, though."

[rekindledtitan]

"Cricket?" How he wishes he could pull up his files now. He's very sure the other Ghosts in earshot are checking theirs. "The young human?" He kept watch duty during the Winter Storm, Ghost thinks, and had some valuable advice for stretching their food supplies.

"I hope he's all right," he says with genuine concern. At least he can move around, he just needs to get used to how. "I'm... I'll be fine. I just need to learn how to use this body long enough for Blaze and the others to fix all of this. But Steve and his Ghost have been looking after me."

With most of the place empty, a server is quick to appear for Ben's order. If anything, she seems glad to see someone ordering a normal meal.

[chiaro_oscuro]

"That's the one. He's a friend of mine, so when I found him hurt I was about ready to turn this coyote into a rug. Which...probably wouldn't be the best idea." Ben scratches the back of his neck, embarrassed. "I'll leave that kind of thing to your people. Messing with spirits is dangerous. I don't trust them. Cricket said he only told the coyote he wanted to sit down. Figure you've got a similar story."

Ben isn't exactly normal, by human standards, but the kind of thing he eats is. He asks the server for a sandwich and some wine to drink, then returns to conversation as he waits for the meal to arrive.

"I think he will be. Now, how we'll fix this I have no idea - whether we have to let it wear off on its own like last Halloween or whether we have to convince this stranger to take it away. I was lucky enough not to bump into him, but a lot of people weren't. The Plaza was a mess when I came for my usual visit."