[OPEN POST] The game is on

[undergroundmods]

This event runs from 20th-25th July 2015.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

Hello, Londoners! Bit hot, isn't it? Blimey, you might even get a tan at this rate, assuming you're not a vampire.

But there's no time to relax and enjoy the sunshine. No. This is the third and final week of the hunting season in the Other Realm and the magic of the hunt is about to bleed into all of London...

Basically, if you're a predatory type, your hunting instincts may be sharper than usual this week. By how much? Not a lot, we're not talking rabid wolves or losing self-control here, but conditions are perfect for hunting. You can feel it in the air. Hunters of all kinds can expect good fortune – yes, that includes humans who track down other supernatural species too.

As for everyone else... try not to be lunch. Welcome to London.

Prompts

1) HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF. Bare those fangs and sharpen those claws. You're feeling a little... peckish.

2) THE WHITE HART. The hunt for the legendary White Hart has begun. Fae hunting parties compete to pursue the beast, and upon its capture much merry-making ensues. Should a party pass through into the mortal realm during this hunt, they will appear as drunken louts searching for a pub.

3) HUNTING PARTY. No reason to let the fae have all the fun! Choose your quarry, gather your team and pursue your prey. This could be a serious hunt-to-kill party or something more light-hearted.

4) CAPTURE/KILL. The moment you've been waiting for. Your prey, cornered. Do you allow your instincts to take over and let rip?

5) I DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR THIS. I just got to London and now I'm being chased by a vicious pack of supernatural beings. FML.

6) CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE. What's the first thing you see when you set foot in London? Make up your own scenario here.

Comments

[goroesi]

{ the white hart }

Maera loves the hunts. No matter which court leads the charge, hunts make her excited like nothing else. They bring out her passion, her strength, her slight tendency towards violence. And while she doesn't think she's good enough with a weapon to join in the hunt this time around, she's very happy to take part in any way that she can. So she darkens her eyes, grabs a bag, and runs along with the rest of the hunters, offering them all drinks to keep them going. Of course, some of the drinks given out might be spiked with a little something. Nothing harmful - just an over-the-counter sleeping pill that'll probably make the drinker too drowsy to be of much use.

Obviously, it's going to be an Unseelie who claims the beast at the end of the day. Maera's just helping her side along. And she'll betray no hint of any foul play on her face, just smiling and offering to anyone she runs into, "Need a pick-me-up?"

((ooc: maera won't play her tricks on any responders unless you'd like me to, jsyk!))

{ choose your own adventure }

It goes without saying that Maera's not going to just pass out drinks without having some herself. And maybe having a little too much. She's been grabbing whatever's closest, and the mixture of fae wine and mortal drinks has actually made her pretty tipsy.

Which is why she might stumble into someone on the streets of London completely alone, having fallen behind the rest of the party she had been running with earlier. Maera doesn't quite keep track of the time during the hunt, and so, whether it's the middle of the night or the afternoon, she'll be noticeably drunk, slurring apologies to whoever she's careened into. "S-so sorry about that. You-- alright, there?"

choose your own adventure

[detectiveofthewest]

"Maera?" Heiji hadn't participated in the hunt -- not after that terrible Henhouse Incident which might or might not be in the papers later. He still had a chicken feather or two sticking to him. Not that he was in much mood to notice.

"Gone a little overboard celebratin', huh? Man, I'm gonna be glad when this month's over."

[goroesi]

"I wouldn't say overboard." She giggles a little, shaking her head. "S'a good time for it, anyhow. Why aren't you drunk?"

[detectiveofthewest]

"I had an... incident earlier. I got regrets." Big ones, man.

"Speakin' of regrets, ain't you gonna have one killer hangover later?"

[goroesi]

"Oh?" Her eyes go wide at this news. It might've been better for Heiji not to bring this up. "Oh, what happened? Hunt stories are- are the best stories."

As for mentions of hangovers, she waves one hand flippantly as if she can flick the possibility away. "Hunts aren't time for regrets, silly. Anyway, it'll be- totally worth it once we get the White Hart."

[detectiveofthewest]

"The White Hart, right. Anyway, I got kinda... peckish durin' one of my night walks. Listen, you can't go repeatin' this to anyone. Okay?"

He meant that -- no repeating this story to a bunch of fae would probably think it was hilarious.

[goroesi]

"Are you asking me, a dreadful Unseelie fairy, to make a promise?" Yes, she's tipsy enough to make claw-hands and a menacing face at that, though her expression is pretty much ruined by her ever-present smile. "Fine, I won't tell anyone, now tell me."

[detectiveofthewest]

Oh my god, Maera. Still, Heiji laughed a little at her expression. And the claw hands.

"Someone left their chickens out in the yard and I ended up facin' off with this coyote shapeshifter for 'em. Then their owner showed up with a broom. Okay?"

He put a hand over his face. "Ugh, I can't believe this..."

[goroesi]

She never, ever claimed to not be a total dork - especially with this much faery wine in her bloodstream.

"Stop delaying and finish the story!" She smacks him lightly on the shoulder, bouncing on her heels a little. "Did the owner wallop you?"

[detectiveofthewest]

"Don't say wallop," Heiji said, still crabby about the whole affair. "He might've nudged me. A little."

aka smacked his rump with a cornhusk broom. FML: Fae Edition.

"But only 'cause it was hard getting out from under that fence!"

[goroesi]

"You got walloped, Heiji. No two ways about it," she says affirmatively, breaking out into giggles that take an embarrassingly long time for her to stifle.

"Why didn't you just charm the human or something? Wouldn't that have been easier than trying to crawl under a fence?"

[detectiveofthewest]

"It's a fox thing," said Heiji, as if Maera couldn't possibly understand the enormously complicated Reasons. Also that somehow Malia had an aura of bad decisions that shone proudly out from every strand of her fur, blinding everyone in the immediate area to good sense.

"Anyhow, I got out, didn't I?" He plucked a chicken feather off his shoulder and stuck it on Maera's instead. "And I got a chicken dinner out of it. So there."

[goroesi]

"So it's a fox thing t'make dumb decisions? Gosh, I'm glad I'm a fairy, then." She takes the feather from her shoulder, waving it in the air lightly as she speaks. "And as- repayment for me not telling anyone, I'm totally-- reserving the right to laugh at you about this whenever I want."

[detectiveofthewest]

"And as re-repayment, I reserve the right to cut off your future supply of amusing stories." He blew a little puff of air at the feather.

"Besides, I wouldn't wanna be a fairy for anything."

[goroesi]

"Whaaaat?" Yes, she comically draws out the word, eyes going wide. "Why wouldn't you want to be a fairy? It's the second-best thing you could ever be!" The first-best obviously being half-fairy, half-human.

[detectiveofthewest]

"Well, the first-best is obviously a fox. We're cute, soft, and fluffy. Anything else would be a downgrade." Clearly.

He needed to find someone to brush him later. It was literally the best.

[rules_winter]

Mab rides astride a tall white horse, her long white dress draping down the horse's side and mimicking it's own extra long mane and tail. As the horse pulls up next to Maera she looks down at the changeling and her bevy of drinks, a small lift of the corner of her lips, her horse barely even breathing hard though they've been going for some time now. The horse dances a little and the woman's eyes glow with delight at the spectacle of the hunt mirroring the horse's attitude. "Well met, Mistress Maera are you enjoying the festivites?" Hounds call around them and smaller prey than the white hart continuously scatter ahead of the fae riders and their packs.

A woman ahead makes a motion to Mab who waves a hand indicating she'll catch up without even looking. Their hounds continue on ahead as the red-headed fae laughs in delight and her horse leaps after them.

[goroesi]

"Well met, milady." Maera's eyes answer her question easily enough, bright and wide with the joy of the hunt, even though she's not really participating. Nevertheless, she nods, saying, "there's nothing like a hunt, is there? I love them more than- anything, really. Have you been enjoying yourself as well? Do you need a refreshment?"

[rules_winter]

Maera was truly a child of the fae. Like a human with Christmas, Maera looks as though she is ready to open all her presents. Mab's horse tosses it's head impatiently and paces one direction before Mab nudges him back beside Maera continue the conversation without interruption. "There is something infinitely satisfying in the simplicity of the predator and prey dynamic the hunt provides." Mab agreed, her smile widening, "Yes I am enjoying myself."

Something in her eyes danced at the offer of drink. Ever has that been a favorite manner of capture for the fae. Even amongst peers in her own court. "A refreshment freely given with no expectations. Such a kind gesture my dear. Perhaps you are in the hunt more than I had previously guessed." There is something like approval in her tone.

[goroesi]

That's the great thing about being half-fae, half-human - Maera gets this excited around Christmas too. "I can't wait until I'm ready to join. Mom's a little apprehensive, but she knows I have my head on straight most of the time. I'm going to try to train so that next year, I can really hunt. I might even be riding alongside you, milady."

Her rapid sentences are punctuated with a cheeky grin as she rummages through her bag for some harmless orange juice. "You know me. I'm all about kind gestures. Some of the other hunting parties looked so exhausted that I just felt they should get some sleep, you know? So I helped them out a bit. Not you, though. You seem to be on top of your game, if you don't mind me saying."

[rules_winter]

And Maera has both Christams and Yule to look forward to as a changeling. She laughed a little at the young changeling's enthusiasm. Her mother would love to hear that her child was riding with Mab. Probably better not to mention it if she wanted to be able to join the hunt next year. "Your mother knows your control best, I imagine." Mab said diplomatically. "I am sure I would enjoy the company."

As the girl starts rummaging, still talking Mab actually laughs aloud, the sound ringing like bells through the warm air, making leaves on nearby trees quiver. This girl is a delight. "Your beguilement is a pleasure to the Unseelie, child." She tilted her head in acknowledgement of the compliment. "It is always important to be at your best."

[goroesi]

Maera beams as she offers the canned drink to the lady, lifting one shoulder in a shrug. "It's just my duty to my Court, milady. That's all. I'm glad you appreciate it, though." It's nice to get thanks for her work, especially since she never gets much attention for the little errands she runs. "I'll be around helping the Court just like this for as long as I can help it." Of course, when the time is right, she'll start climbing the ranks with a vengeance - and won't it be nice to have Mab on her side when that day comes?

[rules_winter]

Mab takes the drink and tucks it into the pouch on her saddle bag. "Ahh yes, I always enjoy a trick well played. And you can always be counted on for speed and discretion." She might not necessarily trust her, after all what fae ever really trusts another fae, but she respects Maera's dedication and she has proven to be reliably interested in her own self preservation. Mab would certainly consider aiding such a promising girl. And considering who her mother was ... well, there's no reason not to show an interest in the young lady.

[goroesi]

"I'm sure your mind is far above such petty mischief, milady, but if you've got any messages you'd like to send to the other parties, just let me know." Trust is a bit much, even for Maera, with her cheery disposition and honest nature. But respect - she certainly has respect for all those in the ranks above her. She knows that will get her places. "I wish you good luck. I'm sure the White Hart will have much to fear from you."

[rules_winter]

Mab inclined her head. The girl was wonderfully polite. With just that touch of flattery all fae enjoyed. "We were all young once." Forever ago. "I shall always keep you in mind."

"Enjoy your own hunt, Mistress Maera. I look forward to seeing the results." Mab flashed the girl a smile and nudged her horse forward again. The steed took off at an instant canter.