001 | Audio

[fogsong]

[ It's pretty unusual for Sharon to bother much with the network. Sure, she paid it some mind but it was usually just all bullshit; from complaints to claims of grandiosity or, worse yet, something new from their gods; it was the shitty social media of Hadriel and she wasn't the biggest fan. But things have begun to wear her down, leave her feeling heavy and empty and so unsure.. ] Does anyone have any tips on dealing with stress?

[ There's only a mild slur to her speech that indicates she's been drinking some but the clear howl of cold wind indicates that she's not doing this in the Speakeasy, she's out on her own, dealing with it in her own way. But she's reaching out this time. In her own way. ] I, uh, hate to admit it but I kind of feel like I'm at the edge of my, I don't know, fucking mental rope.

[ A combination of stressors has just left her jumpy and she's tired all the time. She laughs rather suddenly, bitterly. ] This is fucking stupid.

[ At least when you take what they're constantly put through.

Event wise, Sharon is mildly affected but if you'd like to avoid that, just make a note in the comments with a 'nah' and we'll keep them as they are normally. If you have any questions, desires, what have you, contact me on lunareism or Discord: Lunare#7850 ]

Comments

audio;

[themogget]

[Mogget is old enough to have seen many, many humans find different ways of coping with stress. All of them deal with it in their own way, but there are patterns in the behaviour.]

Walking off into the wilderness feels like a bad decision here. [The cat purrs, his voice holding nothing that would make him sound human. It's a yowling, mewling kind of voice with a certain soft sibilance to it.] So maybe don't do that.

[There's a pause, during which the sound of quiet purring can be heard if she listens closely.]

Physical activity is a common choice. I have noticed that humans sometimes enjoy breaking things to relieve stress.

audio;

[fogsong]

[ That's not a human on the other end, is it? He sounds like some surreal animal. ]

There's not exactly a lot around here that people would appreciate me breaking, especially with most of the gods being gone. [ Though, there's a thoughtful, considering lilt to her tone. She... kind of wants to break things now, thanks. ]

[themogget]

I've seen a veritable multitude of abandoned properties in the shopping district. [Purrs the cat. Perhaps 'multitude' is overstating it, but there are some, and one of them looks very much as if somebody had this idea already.]

Unless somebody has a claim on those...

[fogsong]

And while I'd like to set them all on fire, given our current situation, those buildings might end up being necessary. [ Even if, like she said, setting them on fire sounds... just... really grand. Burn everything. ]

It's a good idea, though; more enjoyable than the generic: get physical, go on a walk, blah fucking blah.

[themogget]

Oh, I didn't say set anything on fire. [He's advocating violence here, not reckless endangerment.]

Something that you can control. No one's going to thank you for incinerating half the town if things get out of hand...

[fogsong]

I want to set them on fire, not smash them, but I'm not going to because, like you said, starting something I can't completely control might not be the best way to stay friends with the townies. [ She did say she wasn't going to, after all, despite the desire to.

Most days she'd be pretty happy to see the city burn, though. ] Fucking up a bunch of already fucked buildings might help a little but... [ There's an almost audible shrug at the end. It doesn't sound as satisfying. ]

[themogget]

Since you don't seem to want to talk, that's my only suggestion. If adding fire is a must, I'm sure there's an open space you could use.

[Mogget sniffs slightly, then yawns. Is this what his time is going to be put into, now? Directing emotionally shaky humans towards destructive means of stress relief?

Eh, it could be worse.]

What do you think to that.

[fogsong]

[ She gives a thoughtful hum. ]

I can get behind that. [ not as destructive, less enjoyable, but less chance of things getting out of control. Maybe she'll just start up a bonfire. ] Rather watch the city burn but I can settle with just imagining it while something burns.

[themogget]

If you angle it correctly, I'm sure you can pretend.

[Humans are good at pretending, aren't they? He's seen some of them perform astonishing feats of imagination simply to satisfy themselves.]

Perhaps I'll join you.

[fogsong]

You can, if that's what you want. [ She wouldn't turn down the company right now. ] I'll probably set something up to the north of the city.

[themogget]

Very well. [There's a pause, as Mogget yawns.]

When I see the smoke, I shall join you.

[fogsong]

[ In a little over two hours, light gray plumes will begin to rise up in the distance. The fire itself is just a visible dot in comparison but there can be no denying that Sharon did what she said she would.

If Mogget decides to investigate, he’ll see a young woman in bright orange and black, a floppy beanie on her head. She seems pensive, watching the flicker of the growing flame (built up out of bits and pieces of the dilapidated buildings from the Silent Hill zone). ]

[themogget]

[He does join her, mostly out of boredom, and announces his presence by silently rubbing against one of her ankles.

Mogget doesn't talk immediately. He's learned to find some amusement in not doing so.]

[fogsong]

[ A cat? Sharon has seen a few in the city on the a rare occasion but rarely were they friendly or approachable, like stray cats back home. ]

You're a bit of a way from the city, kitty. [ Idle conversation. The fire flutters with her words, lifting up a little higher and then settling back down. The nearby area seems to warm some more. ] Don't you know there are things out here that will eat you? [ She lets out of a sigh of laughter, not really amused, just sort of tired. She's talking to a cat. She reaches out a hand to make the fire move in swirling patterns, bored. ]

And I bet a fire is just going to bring them in, too. [ Almost hopeful. She's just full of sorrow and anger that it'd be nice to have something to take it out on. ]

[themogget]

I think that they would be far more wary of me. [Mogget drawls out in a soft, yowling mewl. It is definitely the same voice that Sharon spoke to earlier - it would be difficult to mistake such a voice.

The cat looks intently into the fog. He has already made himself familiar with the things lurking in there, has already spent several hours walking the silent, foggy streets, and he found little to concern him. Plenty, though, to concern others.]

Did you build the fire here on purpose?

[fogsong]

[ He speaks and she startles, nearly jumping from her boots, but she recovers quickly enough. Given all she's encountered in Hadriel, this isn't anything. He's a cat (maybe) that can talk (weird, maybe) and definitely uses the cellphone.

She finally shrugs in response to his question. Does she really want to invite trouble? Is she that hurt and tired and done? Yeah, right now, anyway. ]

Probably. [ But... ] It's far enough from the city I don't have to worry about a wind picking it up and turning Hadriel into a city of ash, probably won't lead any strange creatures to the people there, and it'll keep me from being tempted to setting the city on fire.

[ Loss isn't something Sharon handles well and she's lost a handful of people she was close to recently; she knows how she is emotionally after that and the danger her emotions can sometimes pose. ]

[themogget]

[Mogget settles himself down beside Sharon's feet, curling himself up and tucking his front paws beneath his chest. The heat of the fire doesn't seem to bother him, and his green eyes shine brightly in the light of it as he stares into the flames.]

Do you often resort to arson to solve your problems? [He wonders aloud, shifting delicate shoulders as he makes himself more comfortable.]

You humans are strange creatures.

[fogsong]

No stranger than talking cats. [ She points out, at least in her world. ]

But, no, I don't always 'resort to arson', sometimes I write or paint; fire is just more satisfying sometimes. [ It also flexes different muscles for her. ]

[themogget]

Mm. Talking cats would be very strange. [He yawns out. Since he is not, in fact, a cat (though far more a cat than he would ever admit).]

And who am I to judge your choice of artistic expression. I've known stranger things.

[fogsong]

You're here, of course you have. [ Hadriel is full of oddities, after all. ]

[themogget]

[He chuckles, very quietly. A funny sound, coming from a cat.]

This city has yet to surprise me.