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MEADOWLARK MODS ([personal profile] larkers) wrote in [community profile] meadowlarklogs2020-02-15 11:16 am

ARRIVAL LOG 018

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: March 7-8
WHAT: The eighteenth arrival
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Coercion, loss of autonomy, alcohol usage, and drug usage. Further notes at the end of log.

> ARRIVAL LOG #018

Awareness comes to you in blurred snatches, cloudy fragments of sound and light, color, sensation. Hazy and difficult to grasp on to, but slowly aligning into focus. A series of regular, rhythmic beeps. A medicinal, astringent smell. Your eyes are heavy, hard to keep open, but in the glimpses between slow, dark blinks you see a set of people in front of you: one dressed in a set of light armor, while the rest wear medical garb. The area around them is dim, and barely lit, as they set the newcomers up. There is a barely-present feeling of an IV pulled from your arm as you're left sitting up.

There is a sound of rustling outside, of rowdy people showing up for a special occasion. Once everyone's set up, the woman dressed in armor steps forward to give a spiel. "This isn't where I'd leave you, but apparently it's a 'special occasion.' Or an 'apology,' it's hard to say. Either way, don't leave the park until you're ready to head back to the safe place. Don't go looking for anyone to help you, unless they've come to find you. When someone turns up—and they will—ask them to show you the glow. Everyone out there will be too stoned outta their minds to notice it. Don't steal. Don't get into trouble. Avoid the drugs, actually, yourselves. Don't look for the cops." She pauses, looking at the medical people who are ready to leave. "Think that's got it covered?" She doesn't add anything more.

Just as they funnel out, there is a rhythmic thrumming in the distance—a sound check, as well as numerous people struggling to set up tents and campsites in the area around you. You try to open your mouth to speak, perhaps even to ask for help, but it's as if your tongue is coated in tar, and you manage nothing more than an empty parting of lips.

As the sedation begins to fade, you'll be able to take an inventory of your surroundings. You're in a bright yellow tent on a patch of green groundcover (some kind of Dichondra for those who are plant savvy). Clothing wise, you're dressed in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, as well as a large, oversized hoodie zipped up the center. There is also a heating unit built into the tent to keep everyone warm. You can get up and start to move, and even head out of the tent, but you'll find that you won't be able to betray any of the orders given by the guard on her way out.

Where are you? A music festival. Think 2512 Coachella.

◉ Though entirely capable of independent action and thought, new characters will find themselves completely, unquestioningly compliant to any verbal statement which could be taken as a command or request – and that includes the message passed on from the mysterious patron.

> STONY WEATHER MUSIC FESTIVAL

This time, the message doesn't come in from El, but by way of a ticket for the Stony Weather Music Festival being transferred to your ID, including access to the Main Stage. It seems there are different levels of these tickets, and these are definitely VIP. How did the Displaced, utterly unprepared to attend a music festival of this caliber, end up with these tickets? That's just another mystery for our oversized Scooby Gang to solve. Any information of what account these came from is seriously lacking. Want to make a quick buck? Selling your ticket could load up your bank account with plenty of credits.

The message itself is short and concise:

Find the yellow tent and enjoy yourselves.

- PM

The Stony Weather Music Festival is yet another one of the annual events that takes place in New Amsterdam. While it's popular among a certain demographic in New Amsterdam that includes those dressed to make a statement: bright colors, buckles, zippers and clothes that look impossible to move around in. Somehow, everyone seems to be managing despite their clothes, ready to dance. Tickets are hard to nearly impossible to come by for the average person. It doesn't help that attending is not the brightest of ideas considering the current weather patterns. It's bitterly cold at night, involves camping in one of three sky parks in the northern part of New Amsterdam, and at least one or two people (if not more) end up hospitalized because they don't make it back to their heated tents thanks to a massive amount of drug and alcohol use. And those tents? They aren't cheap or easy to come by, so there's sure to be one or two people who try to brave it without an especially well-heated unit.

Still, the festival is the place to be for those two days in early March. It always falls on the same days of the month, whether it would be a weekend or a weekday. Attending has been the spark to launch many influencers' careers. It's a combination of things: adding photos of the performances that take stage to their Cooltalks, the novelty of just being there, as well as the other influencers around. It's a way to be known, should anyone want to be known.

Of course, it's also a place to have a good time. There's alcohol and drugs aplenty even if someone doesn't know where to look, with dealers not asking too many questions for anyone who might be interested while shifting credits to different accounts. Many of the wealthier attendees will be eager to share what they have on hand, as well as any food that they get delivered from the local businesses. It's like a two day party, with people decorating their tents with any personal style that they see fit, producing a maze of a mishmash of camps that someone could very easily get lost in. There are people everywhere, dressed in everything from long, flowy dresses, the newest mid-calf boots, to various shades of blue lipstick. It's also a place where people don't seem all that shy to show their body modifications. Anyone deciding to attend might want to look the part to blend in. In the early mornings the outsides tents are covered in a thin layer of frost, glimmering without the need of strings of lights.

All you need to do to enjoy the show is make it through the bitterly cold nights. It's just one, really, unless you stay for the afterparty with the bands the second night. It goes until dawn!

One thing to note, however: no one's job is going to be keen to let anyone take these two days off. Better come up with a good excuse and hope you don't turn up on anyone's social media if you decide to play hooky.

The performances go on throughout the weekend between the three stages split between the sky parks, connected by temporary bridges strung with elaborate lanterns. The tickets that the Displaced have been granted allow them access to a stretch of land in the main sky park where the main stage has been set up. That bit of land is ready for them to set up tents if they should choose. There are some available for rentals on site, and for those who want something more upscale, more complex, heated tents can be purchased for a hefty sum. Incidentally, this stretch of land is right around the bright yellow tent where all the newcomers will sit sedated and waiting for someone to come get them.

> MAIN STAGE
The hardest place to get any kind of standing room to enjoy the headlining shows, included in the Displaced's special VIP access tickets. Anyone who's anyone at Stony Weather will want to be here, and will be vying for an opportunity to get some space. It's no time to care about body contact. Did you think mosh pits were done by 2512? By and large, they are for health and safety reasons, but depending on the band playing, the place closer to the stage has the opportunity to get high energy, and not far from a mosh pit. It's easy to get seperated, lost, and even stuck in the middle of crazy fans with no regard for others' personal space.

The one catch of the Main Stage is that there isn't a set schedule. When will one of the four acts perform? It's hard to say. Could be 8AM. Could be 9:17PM. They could even perform once or three times, depending on their whims.

THE NINE NINES
The Nine Nines are fronted by a set of twins—Lucy and Landon—who started out as social media influencers thanks to their mother's decision to start posting about them as far back as when they were six years old. For the next ten years, they gained a massive following around the world. Now that they're 21, both Lucy and Landon have escaped the clutches of their stage mother (both sentimentally and legally) and have been known as the face of The Nine Nines for the past year. While quite talented, music reviewers have stated that they've clearly not quite settled on a sound that suits them. They're a mixture of folksy rock and pop, without ever settling on one or the other. Their most popular song is "Mia," though most fans know that this song is actually about Makana—a social influencer who dated both Lucy and Landon and broke their hearts. This didn't happen simultaneously, of course—and Makana lost a lot of clout (and sponsorships) thanks to their choice to mess with the twins.

NEW NEW NEW
A ten member, always rotating boy band out of New Venice. Even 500 years into the future, boy bands are still a thing—in fact, they've perfected the corporate production and marketing of idol groups, to the point where it can almost be considered a conveyor belt industry. These pop stars are barely known beyond interviews and expertly crafted social media posts, and they're heavily monitored and controlled in their daily lives. New New New rotates out their older members for new ones when they reach the age of 22. Some of their most popular songs include a ballad called "The Breach," the guttural "My Heart is a Prison," and the recently released rap ballad "L U V."

ANOTHER META
Think One Republic meets Blink 182—pop music with an obnoxious, puerile edge—and you've got Another Meta. This group got their start playing esports events around the world, appealing to a certain demographic before their first big hit "Pop There IT IS" went viral. Originally based out of New Oslo, they now call New Prague home. They're loud, obnoxious, drink a lot on stage, and have a lot of fun. They have a very dedicated following of fans. Remember that mention of mosh pits? Another Meta's fans keep making an attempt at bringing them back.

CHERRY SENDER
"Cherry Sender" is actually a one woman act originally from New Tokyo, but she's known around the world for her Gothic appearance, operatic pop music, and incredible height (she stands at seven feet tall). Some people have said that Cherry models herself off of vampires, but she has been rather outspoken about the comparison, believing that it's more important to express herself how she looks best. Somehow, she firmly believes that people should embrace their vanity, and she does rock a mean white and black getup. Most recently, Cherry has done the theme song for the popular mecha anime, Vestica: Aeon.

> THE SIDE STAGES
There are few differences between Stage A and B, with the exception of the acts that are present. The side stages' attendees set up shop (so to speak) and spend much of the festival trying to find their way into the Main Stage area. The side stages are far more crowded than the park with the Main Stage, with facilities that aren't as up to par. Everyone here clearly used all of their savings to show up for the festival. There tends to be more socializing here, and anyone who wants to take a picture this may be the place to do it! The more elaborate fashions here are on display as influencers and attendees chat amongst each other. There are plenty of places to grab a drink or take a breath.

★ SIDE STAGE A

THE PADS ON CATS' PAWS
The Pads on Cats' Paws are an all female metal band based out of New Amsterdam. Although they've been together for just two years, they've put out six EPs, and have developed a cult following among those who enjoy the 2512 version of metal music. All of the women wear their heads shaved, and their heads are heavily tattooed. At some point, the lead singer had cybernetic surgery to alter her vocal chords, expanding her range. Their music is oddly bright despite the metal, with heavy violins coursing through their songs.

INFANTRY oracle
INFANTRY oracle are one of two acts that got into the Stone Weather festival thanks to winning the annual Stone Weather Premiere contest. It gives two bands every year an opportunity to get recognition on the big stage. However, INFANTRY oracle has been playing the club circuit around the world for the past decade, and only recently put together an EP that appealed to the Stone Weather crowd. Their music is largely EDM, and while they do have a following, they don't do a lot to stand out from the very cluttered EDM scene around the world.

THE CYBERNETICS BLINDNESS
In a world where masks don't serve much of a purpose, The Cybernetics Blindness are a group that goes all in on the masked appearance. Think Robocop meets Batman: they like a lot of faux-leather that's tight-fitting. Their music is raspy and eclectic, and surprisingly meaningful. They're based out of New Venice and little is known about the people behind the masks. There are suspicions for who's behind the masks—and obviously the cops and the UNA both know—but it's a surprisingly well-kept secret. It probably helps that aside from being musicians, they dedicate a lot of time and resources to PRESERVE.

BEEHIVE FUMES
Think blues and indie and Mumford & Sons all in one, and you have the Beehive Fumes. Unsurprisingly, their logo is a cartoonish beehive logo with a cute bee that's sticking out. They're a charming group fronted by two women and two men, and draw a lot of presentation inspiration from Fleetwood Mac (which had a resurgence six years ago, and inspired the formation of Beehive Humes). Despite their sleepy, unoriginal sound, they do put on a good show, and it'll be hard to find standing room when they're on. Another fun fact? Beehive Fumes are all married to each other, having enacted contracts 10 years ago (before they even started making music together!).

POSTmortem MALnutrition
Let's get political! What kind of show would it be without someone who is outspoken about the political mess that's very apparent in 2512. Rumored to be supportive of Morningstar—never in words, but with some of the imagery on their social media, subtle and inconclusive—they're recently railing against the government for claiming to have made peace on the Mars colony. Their message is that all of the colonies should revolt and break free. Their sound is eclectic, melodic, and they always tell a story—though their music is such that they change up the order of their songs, changing the story in the process. They're based out of New Lima.

★ SIDE STAGE B

GREEN MONSTER
An unusual all percussion band that focuses on reusability and sustainability based out of New Warsaw. All of their instruments are made out of recycled goods and handmade themselves. Sound-wise, they do a lot with what they have in stock, leading to a booming, exuberant experience. While they have been around for nearly a decade, they recently rebranded, with their entire message revolving around the image of the monster that hit New Amsterdam in June 2511. Their claim? The monster did damage, but nothing like what humanity does every day through carelessness.

SANDRA MCKLAINE
Sandra McKlaine is a trans woman from New Bangkok who specializes in folksy music. She actually got her introduction to the music business when she was fifteen years old as a member of the popular boy band Ocean Waves. Now that she's thirty and no longer crafted according to a certain image, Sandra has started putting out music again in the last six months. Her sound is mellow, welcoming, and chill.

Both LOBES
The other winner of the annual Stone Weather Premiere contest, Both LOBES are an experimental music group that changes their style of music every six months. Based out of New Prague, they've recently completed a tour opening for Another Meta—and many people believe that Both LOBES already got enough exposure before getting a chance on this stage. Their current style of music? Jazzy folk.

KURO COLT
Soulful and extremely attractive, Kuro Colt is a non-binary artist based out of New Beijing. Always flanked by a talented group of dancers, Kuro Colt (never just Kuro or Colt) defies the expectation of a stage performance. What does that mean? Outlandish, often dangerous special effects. Kuro Colt's on a side stage for a reason: they recently recovered from a long, long run of injuries, from which they showed a surprising reluctance to get any cybernetic limbs to help them progress (and an opposition to the medi-unit). Recovery took three years, but they're back and ready to perform! Are they any less bombastic in their showing? Not at all!

CHUBBY DOLL-FINS
Think Gorillaz in the form of the Muppets and you've got the Chubby Doll-Fins. Although they're rumored to be backed by the famous band Piers Grasp, they're a social commentary on the long-running tendency to put together boy bands. The thing about the Chubby Doll-Fins is that they're anthropomorphic and surprisingly attractive animals. They dance, they sing, they play instruments, and their music is incredible. Though there are hints of influence from Piers Grasp's mainline music, they're brighter and more sardonic in nature.

> SAFEHOUSE

Located under an abandoned hover-bike garage, access to the safehouse is a hatch in the floor beside a rusted set of metal shelves that used to hold tools and supplies. The immediate area is similarly abandoned: full of rundown and dilapidated warehouses and forgotten businesses, where numerous people squat in hopes of having some stability because they can't afford a place themselves. Gaby will be around, ready to greet as many of the new arrivals as she can and get them settled in. Brusque and no-nonsense, she'll be open to questions, but will advise the newcomers to ask the people who brought them in for the beginning bits of information. Newbies can also contact El through zeir inbox, if needed.

The safehouse is a large space with multiple rooms for storage, with the largest of the rooms filled with rows of basic cots set up to sleep a large amount of people. Basic, but outfitted with everything necessary for daily life. A few doors lead to back rooms for storage, medical care and a large communal bathroom, and past the long rows of cots there is a communal kitchen, fully stocked, and an eating area. Privacy is at a minimum.

◉ New characters will be asked to pick their beds, and provided with a change of (second-hand, mismatched and somewhat threadbare) clothes and basic toiletries.

◉ There is a mini-bar set up in the kitchen. The quality of the alcohol inside is akin to what someone might get from the well at a bar, but it's well-stocked.

◉ While the kitchen has basic foods and necessities, anyone looking for a jolt of caffeine from coffee or tea will find themselves sorely lacking. The only tea present is herbal in nature, and caffeine appears to be almost nonexistent in most of the beverages lying around.

◉ Gaby will make it clear to all new arrivals that if they have any requests or queries, they should contact her or El. Either she or El will explain that they've been given a modest stipend of credits to help them get by until they can find a job. This will be enough to cover their living expenses for about a month while they hang out in the safehouse, if they're careful with budgeting.

◉ The drugs making new characters compliant will remain in their systems for a few hours after their arrival at the safehouse before finally beginning to fade. They will be gone entirely after a night's rest. In the meantime, they may want to be careful of what others say to them.

◉ New characters will be given rudimentary access to the network on arrival in the safehouse, but will not have their ID set up yet. They will be able to make posts and replies, but their messages will be anonymous and they do not have inboxes yet.

◉ New character do not have access to the internet until their ID is setup. They only have limited access because they're present in the safehouse, but they can't surf the rest of the internet, check out Cooltalk, or watch the equivalent of Netflix until their ID is made.

New characters will not be allowed to leave the safehouse until MARCH 11 (FEBRUARY 23). These 4 days are for them to adjust, learn about the world they've arrived in from their fellows, and for El to speak with them and work on setting up their IDs.

> FINAL OOC NOTES

You're now free to post to the network and logs comms. To reiterate, your characters will have no IDs or inboxes, nor be allowed out of the safehouse until MARCH 11 (FEBRUARY 23). At that point it's expected they'll have gotten a good idea of their new situation from their fellow characters, and will have discussed their background and job potentials with El in order for their false IDs to be set up.

If you have any questions or ideas about how you'd like to get your character involved in the world, please head over to the plot engagement post and drop us a comment! For questions specific to this log, there is a thread below.

Please check out our February calendar rundown for a look at things happening this month, as well as some additional notes from the mods.

As a reminder, Jenna will be posting a log for a charity and dating auction on February 29. We've pointed a few people that way via Plot Engagement, and there will be opportunities there to schmooze (off-screen or on) with some NPCs!

As a reminder, AC for new characters accepted in February will be 10 comments across 2-4 threads, while current characters will need to provide the full AC of 20 comments across 2-4 threads. AC will be posted on March 1 at 12 AM UTC and close on March 8 at 12 AM UTC. If you do not reply to AC, you will be considered idled and dropped from the game. We will not post a warning list.

filloryfanatic: (Default)

Quentin Coldwater | The Magicians | OTA

[personal profile] filloryfanatic 2020-02-20 03:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Follow the Yellow Brick Road - The Tent

As soon as the message gets out and the yellow tent is mentioned, Quentin goes directly there. He's not sure immediately what it is but he suspects it might be a clue or something important. So he goes into the tent and looks around for any newcomers/new faces. He is both friendly and shy, smiling and kind to anyone who might seem a little confused and willing to give them the rundown if they need it! Or any of the regulars who, like him, came running for the tent directly.

Oohhhhh I Wanna Dance With Somebody - The concert

Quentin likes music and it's been a long time since he was at a concert or anything like it. In general it's been a long time since he enjoyed something at all. He steps out of the tent and spends time listening and enjoying the crowd, maybe swaying a little in time with the beat but not outright dancing. He can be seen on both days of the festival but not the whole time. Sometimes he has a drink, but he politely declines any offered drugs. He's had enough of that, thanks. Come and have a chat or a drink with him if you want!

Hello Is It Me You're Looking For - The Safehouse

From the kind actions of Klaus and Angela for his first few days, Quentin brings pizzas the same way Angela did and sets it down for others to enjoy. He is very curious about people's stories and might be seen cleaning up the safehouse so new people there don't have to worry about it. Since he and Eliot haven't found a place to stay yet, as they get jobs, he's still been sleeping there and he is friendly if a little hesitant to bother others.
formerhighking: (113)

I wanna dance with somebody - Q/El

[personal profile] formerhighking 2020-02-21 05:46 am (UTC)(link)
Eliot had been mostly keeping to himself and Quentin since his arrival. He was still processing being here and everything that came before it, and while he'd been along for Quentin's Indiana Jones adventure, he hadn't had much to contribute.

He'd been something of a lump, in other words, and he knew it. But Eliot was himself enough that the temptation of a party - especially one with Quentin - was always going to be something he had a hard time turning down. And he had no real reason to anyway, so he went to the festival with Quentin on the back of the free tickets they were given. (Eliot's more cynical-lately nature noted that even if it was a trap, it wasn't as if everywhere ELSE they ended up couldn't also be one anyway, so there was no point worrying about it.)

It was DISMAL weather there, but the energy of the place and the people and music and extremely copious drugs and alcohol perked him up despite the cold. In front of the main stage was a pretty solid wall of people, but Eliot didn't know any of the bands anyway, so he didn't see any reason to try to jostle for position when they could just head for one of the other stages if they wanted to watch.

For the moment though, they could hear, if not see, and Eliot had already snagged two drinks and a joint through his own form of magic - and that type at least still worked here. Eliot had never been to a party he couldn't locate at LEAST some pot at. He snaked an arm around Quentin and offered him a drag. "Apparently squealing at boybands is a cross-universe hobby. Who knew?" he asked, head ducked to speak near Quentin's ear so he could hear in the noise.
filloryfanatic: (Default)

[personal profile] filloryfanatic 2020-02-25 02:16 am (UTC)(link)
Quentin didn't expect to go from numb to exploring caves of wonder, but he should by now, honestly. That was so on brand for him. He was a little thrown off when they were finally let loose, and then they were kidnapped and it ended up lighting up that fire inside of him that he'd lost lately. Now he was lost in the details and speculation sometimes, but for the moment, he tried to push all of that down and focus on tonight. On Eliot. On the fact that they were both alive and there and it was a weird as fuck situation, but hell, they hadn't got to do anything recreationally for a long time.

He smiled when Eliot managed to score some booze and drugs, because of course he did, and laughed, taking the drink and the offered drag while he was at it. Quentin hated being unwillingly drugged, but he didn't mind being willingly drugged. He leaned into his boyfriend (he still loved that word) and enjoyed the new bands, even if they weren't all his cup of tea. He handed the pot back and nodded his head.

"Where there is music, there are groupies and fans, apparently." Quentin replied, although he was relieved when this particular set seemed to wind down for the moment, leaving more room for them to talk before the next one started up. Otherwise they would be shouting back and forth, as they would be in a few minutes. He reached over to grab a hold of Eliot's shirt and tug him close, kissing him because he wanted to and he could. They didn't need to do heavy PDA, but a little bit was appreciated and often sought out by the boy who struggled believing he could be loved.

"What are we supposed to hold up if they do a slow jam if we don't have any lighters on us?" He said after breaking the kiss, smiling up at Eliot and taking a sip of his drink.
formerhighking: (015)

[personal profile] formerhighking 2020-02-26 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
The only good part of not having Margo here was that Eliot just knew if she had been he'd hear in depth just how disgusting him and Quentin were being. Not that it would stop him, they'd earned their obsessive affection, but he didn't have to feel any guilt over causing rampant nausea by constantly snuggling his boyfriend.

Well and he supposed not having her stuck in an unknown alternate world, but it was hard to see that as a negative, considering the perk it came with.

"Nothing is certain but death, taxes, and fans," Eliot said, kissing back, taste of rum and citrus on his lips.

Eliot moved to stand behind Quentin, trading the joint between them and propping his drink on the fence post next to them.

He ducked his head down so he could speak into Q's ear - and kiss it in between, sue him. "Who knows? Maybe they'll hand out sparklers for the occasion," Eliot said with a smirk. "Do you think they take notes? Because I might have suggestions about weather-appropriate venues where no one has to freeze." Though he was pretty good right now, with Quentin against his chest.
filloryfanatic: (curious)

[personal profile] filloryfanatic 2020-03-01 05:43 pm (UTC)(link)
Margo would definitely be nauseated by them and Quentin would not regret it in the least. He missed his friends a lot, underlined only more by the fact that he would not see them again, but he tried not to wish them to be here. But he no longer felt guilty about being unbelievably grateful Eliot was there with him. Quentin historically did not do great on his own. Between having Eliot in his life again and the mystery of this new place feeding his curiosity, he was in a good emotional state. Enough that when their lips touched he wasn't afraid of the empathy bond pulling in any of his depression or grief. Those still existed, under the surface, but they weren't at the top.

He couldn't be depressed when Eliot was sending little shivers up his spine talking so close to his ear and kissing it. He smiled instead, cheeks a little pink from the attention and the drink. "Well we haven't been here long enough, maybe in the spring they'll have another one. In this weird futuristic world where a lot of shit is under water or in ruins, and there was an AI war, they still don't stop having big entertainment concerts with booze and drugs which I appreciate."

It wasn't all darkness and sadness. Their group knew better than most that sometimes when shit got bad, you keep breathing and acting and living with it. He kind of dug the spirit of this city that sometimes lived by the same principles. Quentin put an arm around Eliot's waist. "Maybe it's my optimism speaking, but I think there are worse dystopian futures we could get stuck in."
formerhighking: (033)

[personal profile] formerhighking 2020-03-02 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
Eliot was less selfless. He wasn't going to wish they were here yet, but if they figured out it was safe in the long term, then he would. He wanted them all together, all the little members of their scattershot, screwed up little family - even the ones he'd spent too much time jealous of.

It was Eliot who sometimes broke away from a kiss or touch without warning for a moment because he was wary of the empathy bond. He loved feeling Quentin, but he was also uneasy about broadcasting too much of what lurked in the back of his mind. He tried to ignore it, but he wasn't sure that Q could, if he felt the fringes of it, and Eliot didn't want to do that to him ... or also to himself, since that would mean facing up to his own demons. So there were moments here and there where he'd falter or take a minute before he came back.

Right now though, he was happy too, smiling at the pink cheeks and the easy contact. "No matter what bullshit happens, people never stop being people. And people like our drugs and booze and sex and music. It's just too bad we don't recognize anything they'll play."

"Bite your tongue or they'll send us there," Eliot ordered, ducking his head to kiss at Quentin's neck. "If we wake up tomorrow in the Hunger Games, I'm blaming you."
filloryfanatic: (Default)

[personal profile] filloryfanatic 2020-03-04 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Quentin would feel guilty if he saw them and was glad, so very glad, but a part of him wanted it. He needed to see Julia most of all; he was worried about her. She lost magic and historically that had gone poorly for her, and beyond that, she gave up being a goddess for all of them. He wished there was a way just to tell her he was okay, somewhere. The two of them were two parts of the same whole, and when they were together everything made sense. They didn't get to talk about her own possession or all the things he put off to talk to her about later. She didn't know about Eliot or Teddy. God, he should have told her about Teddy.

One of the first things Quentin got for both of them was a set of gloves each, to help avoid other people's feelings spreading onto them or vice versa. But that wasn't going top stop them from kissing or staying close like now. He tried to shield Eliot as much as possible, but he also found some solace in knowing that Eliot understood his issues enough not to be shocked to feel constant anxiety or underlining dark depression. That was the value in being in love with his best friend.

"We'll learn it. Soon we'll be arguing over who the better band is and who is the cutest singer." Quentin grinned. "My second place winner would be either of the twins Lucy and Landon." They were one of the first groups and were intriguing. He liked their sad song about heartbreak and this Mia woman. "My first choice would be you, obviously. You should be up there. I'll be your top groupie." Quentin loved the sound of Eliot's voice. It'd been awhile since he heard him sing.

He shivered at the kiss on his neck and ruffled fingers through Eliot's shorter hair. "We're a much better couple than Peeta and Katniss. We'd win that shit."
formerhighking: (059)

[personal profile] formerhighking 2020-03-18 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
It was strange and maybe more than a little fucked up or morbid of him, but in a way, Eliot liked those little stray glimpses of the darker parts of Quentin's mind. Not because he wanted Quentin to be unhappy, he never wanted that. But because they'd spent a whole life together, and Eliot knew those parts were there. Feeling them, it made it all the more real that it really was his Quentin here with him. Sometimes, that reassurance helped when Eliot got too turned around in his own head. He wanted all of Quentin, and he didn't want them to hide from each other. This was a pretty damned good way to make sure two people who historically were good at fucking up how they felt couldn't do that without the other one catching on to them trying to hide something. That was reassuring too.

But even if he hadn't wanted it, Eliot would have considered kissing Quentin worth it for any stray glimpses of darkness he could. Kissing Quentin was worth everything.

"Coldwater, do you have a twin kink I didn't know about? Why did you not tell me about this when we still had magic, there was a doubles spell Margo and I adapted ... never mind. You would have had fun though," Eliot teased.

He laughed. "My groupie, huh? If I serenade you, does that mean you'll blow me offstage?" he asked, smirking. "Got any requests? For that, I'd sing anytime." It didn't actually take a lot to get Eliot to sing anyway.

"I was more worried about the death and mayhem than the romance. That part we've got on lockdown, sure. But the bow and arrow - not really," Eliot told him, tipping his head for Quentin's ruffling fingers, smile catching a little as he remembered his hair. Sue him for being vain, but he still wasn't happy about it.
filloryfanatic: (cheers drink)

[personal profile] filloryfanatic 2020-03-19 12:11 am (UTC)(link)
Quentin found the purity in this new bond of theirs incredibly soothing. He could understand other people preferring distance, and for all the reasons they would, which was why he wore gloves. But he always craved such honesty. He got constant reassurance whenever he reached out and touched Eliot's skin. For someone who doubted everything about himself, his attractiveness, his value, his skills, knowing Eliot loved him with all his flaws on display was gratifying. And he could communicate it back. He knew now that El had doubts and insecurities, and he was glad it didn't need to just be words between them. He showed him.

He laughed and shook his head. "No I do not, in true me form, I think I like them best because of their sad song." Quentin was such a sap, through and through. Melancholy and romantic. The twins were attractive, sure, but he was always drawn to a sad story, maybe because he wanted it to replace his own. "But I'm sure we would have had fun, yeah. Two Eliots for the price of one." That was a double he could get behind.

Quentin smiled and set his drink down to the side, taking Eliot's and doing the same. Eliot could keep his weed, but Quentin put an arm around him, taking his other hand in his. There was no music at all but they were apparently dancing, he decided. He was a little tipsy and high and they never really got to dance before. "If you serenade me, I'll give you the best blow job of your life," he said very seriously, although his eyes were dancing. "But you have to pick the song. Pick one that reminds you of me." It was more romantic that way!

Eliot was a little vain, but he had reason to be, since his appearance was so perfectly crafted sometimes. Quentin shrugged. "We'd figure it out. Or just run really, really fast."
formerhighking: (074)

[personal profile] formerhighking 2020-03-19 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
They'd been through a lot, and needing that reassurance might not make either of them the healthiest of people - but it was good for them anyway. Eliot could feel that it was always Quentin, and how Quentin felt about him - and Quentin couldn't help but soak in how much Eliot loved him. If they also picked up on one another's depression or anxiety, or self loathing - well, that was part of it too, and it just made what they had feel deeper when there was no way to hide all the dingy parts of their own psyche. There were still things they hadn't talked about, but they still knew how they felt about it, at least in part.

"Of course you do," Eliot said fondly, eyes rolling. "But it's a good song, so I'll allow it." He was not one to turn up his nose at a good sad ballad. "Definitely fun. Though it might have been interesting to see if I managed to be jealous of myself."

He let Quentin arrange things bemusedly, and then laughed, moving with him. He pulled his hand away long enough to pinch the joint off and tuck it behind his ear and then took Quentin's hand again. "That's a high bar to clear. Things may still be hazy, but I remember the night after that festival I dragged you away from the puzzle for." They'd been in Fillory for a lifetime - there had been times when one or another of them decided they needed a day away for something other than supplies. And a local festival night had ended memorably at least once that Eliot could recall. "I want it noted that you're putting me on the spot though," he complained, plainly not meaning it.

He hummed a little, turning with Quentin and then singing, purposefully trying to make it seductive. "Good times, for a change ..."

He pulled Quentin in a little closer as he sang his way through to the second chorus and then smiled and leaned in to kiss Quentin, since Quentin was what he wanted, after all.
filloryfanatic: (amused)

[personal profile] filloryfanatic 2020-03-22 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe they were both needy and insecure messes, but all the more reason they suited one another. Quentin loved Alice but their baggage was incompatible in a lot of ways because anxious and insecure didn't play off hesitant and reserved well. Neither of them was very comfortable sharing their darkest sides with one another, whereas Quentin knows that Eliot can handle his. He trusted him with his bad moods and dark days. And then they'd have brief pockets of time like now, when they can dance and flirt and be them regardless of where they are.

Q snorted and laughed, shaking his head. "Of course you would find a way to be jealous of yourself." He poked Eliot playfully in the side. "The only person you would need to be jealous of is yourself, anyway." He will keep reiterating until the end of time if need be that Eliot's his choice. Quentin had a tendency to make friends with a lot of good-looking people, especially here. They were everywhere here. So he just continued to be verrrrry reassuring.

He was a sucker for romance, and dancing with Eliot sat a strange musical festival like they were the only people in the world, that was pretty romantic. "Oh hush, it takes little to no prodding to get you to sing." Quentin swayed with him slowly, smiling as he recognized the song quickly. Eliot had such a great voice; talking and singing. He could close his eyes and listen to it all day. Quentin himself was a pretty bad singer, although his lack of confidence didn't help.

He glanced up at the second verse; it was a fairly apt type of song for two people like them, without great luck, and with a lot of struggle. It was the right timing because then Eliot was kissing him and he sighed contently into it. He hadn't noticed that a few people looked over at Eliot when he started to sing; not only in appreciation. Possibly for other reasons. Not that either of them would know any better. "We are so gross," he murmured when they came up for air from the kiss, chuckling. "Like just super disgusting."
formerhighking: (078)

[personal profile] formerhighking 2020-03-23 11:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'm extremely handsome and very charming, and I give one of the top ten blowjobs in Ibiza. What's not to be jealous of?" Eliot asked him, laughing and pulling Quentin in closer. "I might be able to get over it for the sake of getting a chance to see just how hot we are together though," he mused playfully. "It's much classier that way than just some massive 80's style mirrors."

"Don't diminish this by making it less special," Eliot told him. Even though yes, that was true. Eliot would sing for just about any occasion, up to and including his regular odes to why Wednesdays can fuck off that he used to sing on the way to classes every other Wednesday when he was either hungover or just really, really attached to a bed someone made him get out of.

Eliot didn't notice anyone else watching him, all of his attention on Quentin in his arms. "Horrifyingly disgusting," he agreed. "But we've earned it, so ask me if I care."

He finally noticed that there was a small crowd paying attention to them, largely because one woman bumped his elbow. Eliot looked over at her, brow furrowing and then looked over to see three or four more, all of them watching him. "PDA frowned on here?" he asked, though Eliot didn't think that was their expression, it seemed more ... dreamy.
filloryfanatic: (simple)

[personal profile] filloryfanatic 2020-03-27 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
"It is my life's goal to get to that top ten thanks to your tutelage." Quentin laughed too, his heart so joyous and free at the moment. His depression and darkness had such an easier time being tossed away when he was in Eliot's arms, where he wanted to be for a long time now. They were always very good at making each other laugh even as only friends; some of the best memories of his life were at Brakebills, in the start. In the Physical Kids cottage with Margo and Eliot, before things really turned to shit.

He was an enthusiastic lover and very eager to please so he had faith he'd get there someday. He shrugged and looked coyly up at Eliot through his eyelashes. "Or we could, you know, film ourselves. No double Eliot needed." There was no technology in Fillory to suggest something like that, and they weren't really together in their world, so hey, he was not above sneakily suggesting something like that.

"I know you don't care, and I lo---" Quentin figured out around the same moment that people were looking at them, but he didn't see disgust or anything that would suggest they weren't happy with them. No, they seemed ... weirdly sedate. He also could see that they were all staring directly at Eliot, not at him. Not in the normal 'he's hot' way. "Wow I'm getting some mega deja vu to when we all had to sing Under Pressure." The blank looks of the people staring at them.

It was a very tenuous idea, barely formed, and he squinted up at Eliot. "Sing the chorus again."