never_very_good | Entries tagged with curse: affected

( i. late shift at the Raven )

( ii. out for a run )

( iii. out for blood )

[ooc; tl;dr OPEN ACTION, he'll be getting progressively more violent and bloodthirsty... literally... although he isn't actually gone all vampy-- just cursed, so not contagious. Please let me know if you're character is up for injury and/or death; otherwise feel free to make a successful escape. PM &c with any questions! <3

today is NYCC so all tags will likely be later / tomorrow, sorry kittens <3 I backtag forever.]

[Community Post]

[ VOICE ]

[The feed clicks on with a long moment of silence. Contemplative silence; or really, resisting silence. But the curse wins out.

They always do.]

I don't wanna talk about dying. Don't wanna think about it, either, but I do. Not all the time but more than I want. Knowing how you're gonna go doesn't make it easier; and I dunno when, just whenever this place is done. Nothing strange there, I guess, except I got used to not worrying about it. Life's a bitch and then you don't die, Ed said. He's the only one I ever knew who it bothered.

Knowing why helps a little, doesn't mean I'm not till fucking terrified. You'd think maybe it wouldn't be scary, knowing how, but it just means I know it's gonna hurt. Not a thing to change that. Doesn't help knowing it's a good cause.

[There's a long pause.]

The first time-- when I died, I mean-- it hurt like fuck but it wasn't so bad, or maybe it's just you forget after a while. Everything gets a little numb. Had ten years of that. But it was easier-- I mean, I knew I'd come out the other side anyway, wasn't the same as this. Everyone told you it'd hurt but not how bad-- didn't wanna scare me off, maybe. Getting bit wasn't the bad part, at least not for me. Not when I knew it was coming. Knew the girl, even. But after-- you lose enough blood and your body starts to panic even if you didn't mean it. And once you're infected that's it. That's what hurts.

Coming back was just as bad. Fuck, and I had it easy. I'm the only one who didn't fucking light myself on fire.

[Another pause.]

I'm gonna be torn to shreds when I go. There's your fucking story, City. That's all I got.

[Community Post]

Three days is long for one of these.

Hope you're not all here to stay.

[ooc; no other frankie daltons but otherwise, whatever, go nuts.]

[Community Post]

Y'know, half of me wonders if these guys making trouble-- the ones who want to take down the Deities, or take over, or whatever-- have the right idea. Don't wanna get involved in it-- I got too much I won't risk for a maybe-- but there's a point to it. City's a pretty fucked up place, any way you look at it. Take right now, I'd like to shut up and go about my business but no luck.

Thing is, there's people worth staying for and I'm better off than I'd be anywhere else-- hell, better off than I'd be even if things didn't fall apart at home, probably-- but the place? The curses? I mean, don't think anyone likes that, but it's not fair. Sometimes I think it's an okay price to pay, but that's just me. Plenty of people'd have it better anywhere but here. People here longer than I've been.

Wish I wasn't still talking.

Either way... I don't know. I don't much like the way things've been lately, worse than usual. Still don't wanna pick a side, though. Isn't just that I don't want to risk losing what I've got, it's...

Well, I got enough shit I regret. Don't want to take on any more if this goes south.

[Community Post]

Been a little more than three years, I guess the novelty of being able to go out when it's this bright and hot out's kinda worn off. Can't complain. Even sunburn's not so bad.

It's fucking awful out there. I guess this is a curse-- these weird two-day ones, if that's what they are-- but I hope the rest of the summer's not this bad.

[Community Post]

Can't say I've got that much, just what I need. I dunno what the bar's worth. Not bad, I'd guess. Not like I can sell it, so I don't know why it matters. Better than I ever figured I'd do so I can't complain.

Rest of my shit's not worth much. All together maybe an Indigo. Probably includes the furniture, not that most of that's mine really. Probably would've bought a car at home, or something.

Got a couple things worth having, can't put a price on those. Heartbeat's a good start. Eden, too. Couldn't buy either off me for everything else in the City.

Not saying any more. Too much sappy shit already.

[Community Post]

No free drinks. Don't care if it's unfair, find someone to buy you one. Plenty of people glad for the company.

Vince, if you show, yours isn't free. But you know that.

Never seem to see too many familiar faces these days, but you know where to find me.

[ooc; no other frankie daltons not that anyone else plays him wheee. open to action at either the Raven or the Blue Light since he'll drop by both, or anywhere else he's likely to be. <3]

[Community Post]

[TEXT]

Far as I'm concerned, anything that tries to bite is fair game to flush down the toilet.

[ooc; backtags exceedingly likely as i'm exhausted >: but HOUSEHIPPOS EEEEEE]

[Community Post]

[VIDEO]

[The video opens on Frankie in an empty bar, absently drying glasses. Something moves in the distance. He doesn't look up right away.]

Closed.

[But really, the door should've been shut, shouldn't it? In the second it takes that to occur to him, his guest has already crossed the room. Frankie pulls back with a gasp, his glass falling and shattering.]

You've got a tan. Suits you, [says the ghoul, pale-eyed and laughing, its gums shriveling back from its fangs.

Frankie ducks as the ghoul swings at him, managing to upset the camera. It falls to the ground, showing a glimpse of a bloodied and sickly-looking girl, before turning to static.]

[ooc; imagine this was during the day and actually. during the day. /lifefail!]

[Community Post]

[ UNEXPECTED VIDEO! | MEMORY THEATER ]

[Unlike most of the dirty laundry the curses air on days like these, this video takes place right here in the City-- specifically, the men's shower at the hospital. Here, among the haze of steam, two men are pressed against one another in one of the stalls, bare-chested, water-slick, and unaware they're being filmed-- or, perhaps, indifferent.

Frankie Dalton, expression a bit glazed, lifts his chin as Robert Chase leans against his chest, swaying slightly as he murmurs something that doesn't rise above the beating hiss of the water.

Slowly, leaning into Frankie's arm, the doctor sinks to his knees.

And that is where this video ends.]

[Community Post]

Been a while since anyone came by from home. ~~Might be for the best...~~ Hardly seems worth saying anything.

You need me, you know where to find me.

[ooc; anything save duplicate Frankies is good. Preferably don't tell him he doesn't exist, but he wouldn't believe you.]

[Community Post]

[VIDEO]

[Looking rather frustrated, Frankie Dalton is... doing dishes. At home. Only the top rows of text on his shirt are visible:

I'M ABOUT TO BE
TORN TO PIECES BY

but, perhaps, the rest can be inferred? He's still scowling down at the sink.]

Fucking City,

[he mutters with characteristic eloquence, still unaware. A few dishes later, the connection times out.]

[ooc; ...A HORDE OF HUNGRY VAMPIRES &c.]

[Community Post]

[VOICE]

Anyone's having trouble, hitting 'em with a bat seems to work pretty well.

[Community Post]

[ooc; memory theater! ignore the long crappy ad after the 2:05 mark :X ]

[Community Post]

~~Bet it's too much to ask to get a visit from home?~~

Lost count of how many times I've been around for this. Been a while, though.

Don't think I need to ask who's here. You know where to find me if you need to.

( ooc deets! )

[Community Post]

[VIDEO / ACTION]

[Frankie Dalton, looking just a bit more unkempt than usual, is leaning against a worn wooden post, taking advantage of the scant shade of the overhanging roof. His right hand is tangled loosely in the reins of a tall bay horse, its head bent to drink from the trough at his feet.

Though his stance is relaxed and unhurried, Frankie's eyes are on a small collection of wanted posters tacked to the wall behind him, slightly weatherworn but still readable. None of them look like him, which is a relief; still, he keeps studying the sketches, face carefully neutral, while the horse drinks, until the video times out.]

[ooc; completely ridiculous backstory here, subject to tweaking if I think of anything better ;3 comments from

better_at_this!]

[Community Post]

[ACCIDENTAL VIDEO]

[A big, dark blur resolves into a rather large dog. Having dropped his device (now with a few new chew-marks on it) on a chair, he turns his attention to pawing the refrigerator door open and perusing its contents.

After a moment he backs up to shut the door, and turns back to the chair. Noticing the recording light his eyes narrow a bit.]

Figures,

[he murmurs in, well, his usual tone, pulling up to his hindlegs to turn the feed off with a forepaw.]

[OPEN ACTION]

i.

[Completely unaware that he's cursed, Frankie's going about his daily routine-- which means he's out for a run, loping at an easy pace through the familiar streets, oblivious to the occasional odd looks and startled passerby.]

ii.

[Later that evening, the big dog saunters down to The Raven; he's not working (he rarely does, these days,) but he likes to wander down and look around now and then. He manages to shoulder the door open and walks in like he owns the place, trotting along with an appraising eye.]

[ooc; no idea he's not normally a wolfdog. Network or action just about anywhere welcome <3 Comments from

better_at_this. <3]

[Community Post]

( off-network / closed action / slightly unpleasant material )

[TEXT; mid-day]

Never know what to expect, these weekends.

Spending this one in, I think.

[TEXT; Private to Amory Felix]

This is you, yeah? Tell me what the fuck to do.

[ooc; powerswapped with

fatespoken, and trying not to accidentally destroy reality ;3]

[Community Post]

[VOICE]

Damn good thing classes are over, I'm pretty sure I'd drop out if I had another week.

[He wouldn't. You can hear the laugh in his voice.]

Anyone think this dance thing's gonna be worth going to?

[ooc; Frankie Dalton, highly motivated University student, headed for law school after this. Never made it to the plotting meme but am happy to arrange CR via pm / im / winging it. Tags from

better_at_this ♥]

[Community Post]

I remember this one. Funny, kinda makes you feel old, seeing stuff come around again and again.

If anyone finds pictures of-- ~~Ed-- fuck, like anyone'd know him, now.~~ Anything that looks like mine, I want it. Least I want to know about it.

Might make it worth your while, if it's worth mine.

[ooc; all of Frankie's pictures are on the plotting post and up for grabs, in multiples. So please feel free. <33 ]

[Community Post]

[VIDEO]

These weekends, always a fucking mess. Guess I'm just glad we have heavy curtains.

[Same old frown, but he's looking paler than usual. More observant viewers might notice the strangeness of his eyes-- pale yellow, slightly reflective when he moves.]

Last time was worse, I guess. Still.

Waste of a weekend.

[ooc; physically age-reversed into undeadness. may use

good_at_this for comments but probably won't bother ;3]

[Community Post]

[AUDIO | Sand City]

Fuck. Look, wha--

[A crack and roll of thunder drowns him out, the pattering of rain on sand turning into a persistent hammering as the wind changes, slightly. And over that, Frankie shouting unintelligibly against the storm.

Closer, now, an ugly, wet squish, and then Frankie again, breathing hard.]

Rain's not safe. Know we need the water, but... [A pause, and another squish, accompanied by a gritty crunching.] Fuck, these things...

[Maybe he meant to be more specific, but clearly squashing slugs is more important. The device cuts out.]

[ooc; backdated to earlier today (real time,) during the rain of slugs in Sand.]

[Community Post]

[Voice]

Didn't think this'd last so long.

[There's a long moment of silence, the faint clink of a glass on a table.]

Should've said something, maybe. Figured if anyone came they'd know where to find me.

[ooc; Frankie hasn't got much to spoil so. <3 plz no doubles. Otherwise go nuts!]

[Community Post]

Wish I could remember what I did yesterday, where I was... must've been good.

Guess it just means the City's gotta top it, tonight. Who's having a party?

I got a reputation to keep up after all.

( ooc details )

[Community Post]

[VIDEO;]

[The scene opens on... an enormous thumb. A regular thumb, as Frankie goes to turn the screen off, but instead switches it to record video and sets the device on the table. He moves offscreen and returns with a big ol' plate of food, which he sets down, sits down, and digs into it.

He eats slowly at first, looking distracted... a little sad. His mind is elsewhere. A very distant, elsewhere, in fact.

Suddenly, as though a switch has been thrown, he's devouring it, stuffing food into his face like it's pissed him off. Though obviously angry, he still looks... detached, eyes focused on something that isn't there.

This continues for another minute, before he stops cold-- seems to wake up-- and drops his fork.]

Fuck...

[Frankie jumps up and runs offscreen, wild-eyed and unsure.

Nothing changes before the recording times out.]

[ooc; cursed and hallucinating

awhitephantom's memories of eating someone 8D annnnd not terribly pleased about it.]

Been more than a month since my brother left. Didn't expect him to come back-- couldn't tell you why, sometimes people do-- but a month's pretty much when people give up hope around here. Seems that way, anyway. Took Eden a month to come back, I spent most of it trashed. Didn't get drunk this time. Broke everything instead... I haven't been down to the bar since. Don't know if anyone's bothered opening. Been thinking maybe I'll sell it.

I'm pissed off about Ed, though. Guess he's back where he needs to be... Doesn't make me feel any better, though.

Thing is, Ed can take care of himself. Better than I can, maybe. But I hate thinking--

what happens, when he can't, when shit goes wrong again, and there's no one to bail him out?

Not so bad, last month. Unless things going gray bothered you. Seen lots worse, seems worth noticing when it's quiet.

Not a quiet start for October, but it could be worse.

[ooc; TROLL AT WILL, PLEASE! No other Frankies-- if such things exist-- but there's nothing spoilable for him either. <3 also feel free to meet him at the bar if you like~]

Sorry about all the biting.

[ VOICE ]

Why'd the vampire call a funeral home?

[Pause.]

Ordering take-out.

Why do vampires make shitty company?

[Pause.]

They're a pain in the neck.

What does a vampire missing a fang do?

[Pause.]

Grin and bare it.

Why shouldn't you tell a vampire to get a life?

[Pause.]

He might take yours.

There! Jeez.

[CLICK.]

[VIDEO / MEMORY THEATER]

This room is dimly lit; only a little golden bleed from the kitchen off in the distance and the intermittent flash and flicker off the television will help you pick out the figure sprawled on the sofa, beer in hand. ( It's not just the lack of light that bleaches the color from him, though... )

[ooc; MEMORY THEATER, posted unawares of course. No video becaauuuuuse headcanon, yes. <3 HI POLY I MISSED YOU LOTS.]

[ VIDEO ]

[The scene? A perfectly normal evening at the Raven. The quiet clinking of glasses, the occasional murmur of people drinking, is broken by one cursed bartender-- acting the Mad Hatter and embarrassingly dressed the part-- shouting,]

CLEAN CUP! Move down!

[Someone at the bar whines: Aw c'mon, really?]

Hey, I didn't make the rules! Move.

[Annnnd everyone visible onscreen grudgingly slips down to the next stool. It's easier than arguing with a crazy person, after all.]

[ooc; action or network is fine~ he is basically out of his mind.]

[ACCIDENTAL AUDIO]

[There's some indistinct, just below the threshold of hearing murmuring, answered by the one and only Frankie Dalton:]

No, tourists don't get free drinks.

[And after a moment, in response to some unheard indignant complaint,]

Not my problem, man.

[ooc; late post is laaate augh. Doubt they exist, but please no duplicate Frankies. There's no real way to spoil him so. <3 10000% BACKDATING FRIENDLY FOREVER]

I don't wanna talk about it, ok, but I've done some bad shit in my life. Real bad. Kinda thing you don't make up for.

Don't think it's the City's business, though.

[ooc; his biggest weakness? lots and lots of guilt.]

Short on rent this month, with the bar closed so long. Got a plan, though.

FOR SALE:

Answers to Nathan. Far as I can tell he doesn't do anything useful, but hey, you never know. Mostly house trained.

Bidding starts at one green.

[ooc; tags sloooow since i will be in and out all day but wanted to get this up <33]

[Accidental Audio]

[Behold, Frankie Dalton, midsentence!]

-rder shit than this. I mean--

[There's a low, feminine laugh in the background. He continues:]

You know. I can buy it. I guess. Same as anything else. Just glad you're not...

A bat, [the other voice finishes his sentence as he pauses. After a moment, Frankie laughs softly as well.]

~~Nothin' to wait around for. Fuck yeah.~~

Tourist season comes pretty often, don't it?

[ooc; Frankie's got nothing to spoil, really. <3 Preferably no doubles, though I doubt it's likely anyway. Replies may be backdated, because rl > me, sob, so feel free to keep poking him for as long as you like. ilu. <3]

[Curses or no curses, Frankie's doing what Frankie does-- tending bar. How thrilling. Something's up, judging from the fact that no one seems to be able to keep their seat for more than a minute or two, but it's not bad enough to shut down and he doesn't have the impulse to act like an idiot himself... so, Frankie's just rolling with the punches, at work as usual.

Of course, you don't need to be a willing participant to be stuck speed-dating...]

[ooc; open for action at the blue light and/or the raven, because i am flexible. frankie will be nice but horrified. <3 feel free to harass!]

It's the nineties all over again.

This was funny for five minutes, now I remember why I got sick of watching then.

Guess I should be surprised it took almost a year to get sick, not that I got sick.

It sucks.

[Frankie's been lucky enough to pull a shift at the Blue Light and one at the Raven tonight, so he'll be out and about all evening... tending bars, okay, which is admittedly not really 'out and about' so much as 'stuck behind planks of wood.'

He's doing his best to pull down the sprigs of mistletoe whenever he can-- sometimes it seems like they're hung, but other times, he swears, the damn things are growing their way right across the ceiling. Unfortunately, his paid duties-- that is to say, the pouring and the mixing and all that-- kind of take precedence. So there are plenty of opportunities for anyone who might be in the neighborhood...]

[ooc; fgsdfkj late post is late. if you want to grab him on the street on the way to/from somewhere, that's fine too idek.]

[Accidental Video;]

[The feed turns on as he drops the device on a table, and just catches him walking out of the frame. After a moment he returns with a large mug-- coffee, because Frankie is about twelve distinct varieties of tired right now-- and sits to mull over it. This continues til the device decides to turn itself off.]

[ooc; let's pretend this was up a bit earlier in the morning, shall we? no duplicate Frankies please (if such thing exists, hah,) but otherwise run wild. <3 ]

This office is slick and modern; well-appointed but not cluttered. There’s a massive white desk, with a comfortable, large chair behind it, and a smaller seat on the other side. Above it is an unfamiliar logo-- a large white circle with a rectangular piece bitten out. Everything is strangely lit from unlikely angles, the whole room crisscrossed by dim blue shadows. When you look for the edges of the room it seems to bend, blurring in a way that suggests it’s not all there; an imperfect reconstruction from distracted memories. Perhaps that’s why this mundane place seems so ominous.

A little further down the wall, about a yard from the end of the desk, a wide picture window breaks the white plane. Frankie Dalton is standing beside it, staring down at something you can’t quite see, from where you are.

[ooc; all threads are different instances of the dream, and what you see below will vary by person <3 so feel free to tag on in! May be slow, will backdate forever and ever and ever. ilu.]

Jessica, you're in charge of the Raven tonight, I'm calling out. ~~Don't fuck up, okay?~~ Call me if you need anything. I'll talk you through it.

Staying in for the day.

[ooc; no clothes for Frankie. please pretend this was earlier T__T will backdate forever. life > me.]

[Private to Lucy Locke]

Uh... I wanted to thanks, for all that stuff... You really didn't have to do that. ~~Especially not the stripper.~~ But thanks.

[/Private]

All right, I know the drill on this one. Figured it was just a matter of time before you all came back. ~~I wouldn't even post if I didn't think-- well, fuck it, I'm not getting my hopes up.~~

Try not to make too much of a mess while you're here, yeah?

[After a second there are seven tones, the sound of a phone number being punched into a much-abused cellphone that, unfortunately, is only picking up a City signal right now.]

Ed? Ed? Damnit pick up your phone...

[A pause, a low growl.]

I dunno where I am or what's going on but-- [unintelligible stream of swearing under his breath] there are humans, everywhere and... Just call me, okay? I need to--

I did some bad shit, Ed, I need help. Call back.

...I swear I'm not working for Bromley.

[Click.]

[ooc; sajfgd inconvenient yes but i couldn't think of any way for him to post otherwise >< he will only be able to do voice replies, because he's just on a phone- and it's not his normal phone so, anyone trying to reach him that way would not have been able to XD SCREAM /makes life confusing forever also replies from

good_at_this <3]

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you:

AMORY

FELIX

All right, yeah, so he's kind of funny looking. And a total ass, and not the sharpest knife in the drawer. But come on, anyone like that has to have some redeeming quality, though I can't even begin to guess what. For a low, low price, you could be the lucky sucker to figure it out! And if you'd think a black eye would help his looks, that can be arranged at no extra cost.

'Cause let's face it, not everyone's made of money, so I give you the best-- well, anyway, a budget option. Bidding starts at the low price of two yellows!

Anyone got an explanation for this one? I figured it was some kind of flower-growing shit when I got up, but looks like that's just in the apartment. I dunno, it's kind of nice I guess. Even if it's weird indoors. I've never been a nature freak or into gardening or anything but I can't complain.

Lots of people grew flowers and shit, back home. I never saw the point, I guess they're the kind who woulda had pets if it wasn't so much trouble. Expensive habit, you need special lamps and if you aren't careful with it you could get hurt. Whatever makes them happy I guess. Not like most've them would have been out in the sun digging the backyard up if they could have, but people end up wanting what they don't have pretty often. Grass is always greener, like they say.

I haven't seen Eden all day. Thought maybe she went home but I looked and her picture's not up. I'm glad. Dunno where she got to, though.

[ooc; Frankie is affected and so is Eden, but he hasn't put things together to figure out the latter :3]

Yeah, okay, everyone's finding pictures of themselves, creepy shit. I get it. I don't really care if there are photos of me floating around.

But this is important.

~~Who the fuck~~ Does anyone know who this is?
[attached; whatthehellisthis.png]

The kid, I mean. Anyone know him?

Found a couple others, but I'm not gonna plaster them all over. Just because the City does it doesn't mean we oughtta.

[ooc; Frankie's pics are here~ if there's anything specific you would like him to have found of your char, feel free to ping me somewhere :D

EDIT; bedtime, moar tomorrow <333]

[VOICE;]

Gosh, I can't figure out what in the world is going on today but it's pretty darned frustrating!

[This is not even remotely what he intended to say, and this silence? is him quietly fuming.]

I helped a little girl get her kitten out of a tree, before.

When does that ever happen?!

[VIDEO]

[There's some scratching and very, very faint cursing accompanies a black screen for a moment as he tries to get the settings changed. When the feed flicks on it stays dark for a moment, the color being pulled like a piece of fabric over the lens as he backs away. A piece of leather, more likely; because as the camera focuses in on poor Frankie, it's immediately obvious how he's been cursed. He would glare if he could, as he announces the following in a familiar but considerably higher-pitched voice.]

THIS IS NOT FUNNY!

[He backs up a little, wings half-folded to let him walk on 'hands' and feet. Honestly, all things considered he's doing pretty well for someone who's never had wings before-- call it leftover animal instincts, maybe.]

Am I really stuck like this a whole day? damnit...

[ooc; s-stuck the whole weekend, actually ;D ANYONE WANT TO FEED THE VAMPIRE BAT? <33]