The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

 The Morbid Socialite - Dr. Mementomori Malodrema - had, at this point, sufficient knowledge of the marshes to find the cottage of Dr. Jane Rosewood and Derek. He did, however, have to double and triple check that his path and information was right; that he was coming on the right day, that he was going the right direction, that he was aware of his surroundings and not about to need a leg amputated because of another marsh-wolf.

Perhaps he was a mite paranoid. His last visits to the marshes by Watchmaker's Hill had been enough to teach him the value of being cautious. He wasn't the kind of man to repeat mistakes... often.

Mori, upon catching a glimpse of the cottage, smiled and jogged up to the door. He'd decided to wear his oldest, most athletic clothes, prepared to get them torn and dirtied and rumpled. He gave a firm knock and waited patiently, in the meantime thinking about how he hadn't been here any other time than the once, with the torn side and leg. He still had the scars, but at least they were just scars now...

If asked, no, he did not jump at a loose branch falling off a tree in the distance. That would be humiliating and he was no such coward.

Comments

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven, Devil, and Ember had been sitting in the living room, listing out and discussing target options based on what Mori described that they wanted. There was still one specific target they came to, but Mori had already expressed reluctance...

At the knock, Maven got up to answer the door. She smiled as her eyes landed on Mori, "Hello Mori! Come in, get comfortable. How are you today?"

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori stepped inside and removed his hat and coat. "Oh, quite well, thank you. Feeling well rested and refreshed." Passing the living room, he smiled and waved. "Good day, Derek, Ember. Lovely to see you both. You look well."

Under his coat, it appeared he'd armed himself with a Scrimshander carving knife and a-... That was not the same rifle as he had on the ship. Nor when he'd been attacked by the marsh-wolf. Gone was the Rattus Faber rifle and its terrible penchant for jamming at the most inopportune moments. Instead, strapped across his torso was an exact replica of an infernal sharpshooter's rifle, down to the Hellish patina and the subtle wear at the trigger and forestock.

"I, erm... I wasn't certain what tools would be best? I would have brought a blunt melee weapon as well, but the only one at the flat was Enoch's toothed club and that felt... wrong to borrow."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"No that's fine! It's good you came prepared," Maven said as she walked with him into the living room.

"Besides, I have blunt weapons if you need to borrow one," Devil said, then grinned at the rifle, putting a hand on his own as it leaned against the couch arm, "I see you upgraded! Good to know you can recognize quality when you see it!" If Mori was still worried about Devil having any hard feelings, hopefully his casual and jokey demeanor sets him at ease.

Ember gestured for Mori to sit, "We were talking about what the possible target should be. We had some ideas, do you want to look over them and see?"

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori beamed, straightening a little at the praise. He'd worked terribly at getting the gun exact, down to the finest details, using the right materials and the right measurements. He'd used it only once, to test it, and it was effective, but it was another thing entirely to have Derek compliment his work.

Taken from his thoughts, he peered over. "Right! Yes, wonderful; what do you have so far?" He pulled the gun from his shoulder and leaned it up against the couch as well, taking a look over the options.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"Well, there was some simpler hunts we could do, like rat and sorrow spider removal," Maven started, "But I remember you said you weren't too fond of it when you did that. So there are other things like maybe shooting marsh wolves-"

"Might be cathartic for you," Devil elbowed Mori jokingly.

"There is also the Ushabti, though that may be a bit difficult for a first time. There were reports of some Watchful Dolls that were running amuck, could be simple enough."

"And I know the usual rats aren't what you want, but there are rats the size of wolves that might. Enormous lizards about the same size too."

"Blemmigans could also be worth a try, as long as we try to find a solitary one. Fungus-columns too now that I think of it."

They kept listing the possibilities, laying out the choices Mori had. The question is, do any of these appeal to him?

[themorbidsocialite]

As they spoke, Mori never looked certain on any of them, mouth twisting into an ashamed frown, head occasionally shaking at those he was sure he wouldn't want to face. He wasn't sure how to feel about hunting fungi. Did they even have organs? Did they move?

Some things like the wolves and lizards seemed interesting until he learned how difficult and confrontational they were to even some experienced hunters. The dolls were too easy to feel sympathy for. By the end, none of them sounded appealing. Not for the first time, at least.

"The only other thing I can suggest is cat catching and that... Don't think that counts, really. We can take care of some of the more complicated targets later, but this is essentially to establish a baseline. The only issue is the only baseline I know I have was established in the midst of a Missing Hell. I need to re-establish it for how reality currently works, but nothing is quite similar to what I know I can do and can use as a sort of control sample." At one point, he'd begun pacing without thinking about it, hand to his chin. "Once we establish the control, then we can start adjusting variables."

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Maven watched Mori pace about, letting a beat of silence pass unti lshe said, "I know you expressed hesitancy about this, but are you sure you wouldn't rather try law hunting with Ember?"

Ember looked at Mori, "I really do not mind. It will be in a controlled environment and I trust you not to harm me."

[themorbidsocialite]

The hesitancy was still heavily visible as Mori's posture changed, drawing back, eyes not meeting theirs. "I... I would feel terrible, though. Hunting laws was never fatal or injurous to the law, but it was... intense. If I hurt or scared you, made you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, I could never forgive myself. And that's in addition to the struggle with your shape similar to that of a child. As a former father, soon to be again, it feels odd..."

It did seem like his walls were weakening, though. He was considering the idea, now that they were running out of options for a control group.

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"If I ever feel unsafe or uncomfortable I can let you know. I have... some fears still, but I believe if done in this controlled environment it will be better. May also help with dealing with those fears."

Was Ember trying to tell Mori that this would also help her work through some of her own issues and that was why she wanted to do it? Awful roundabout way of saying it for the normally straightforward being.

"And besides..."

At that Ember let the clothes fall and raised itself up. When not confided to the clothing it was no longer humanoid and was simply a mass of sigils somehow suspended in air. When the Curious Outlaw spoke next it used a much older voice, possibly to help break the illusion further of it being a child, "I will not be wearing those during the hunt. In this form and the other forms I will shift to, plus if I speak in this voice, it may help ease you into the mindset you need to be in."

The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

"Ah. I had forgotten you could do that." Mori took a few moments more to consider the options before slowly nodding. "Okay... Okay, we can do this. Remember, if anything goes wrong, if we need to stop, let me know. I'll stop immediately, no matter what. How do we wish to start?"

Re: The Hunt is On

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"First, Ember will need to recreate the conditions for law hunting," Devil said, peligin eyes focused as he got into the planning mindset now that it was set what they were doing, "It can only be about as big as the marsh, so no hopping over to the Dish and Spoon or the Forgotten Quarter. But you should still be able to jump around to different areas of the marsh like when Hell was missing, changing and shifting as you hunt. Ember and I attempted this before, when we were trying to figure out what extent its powers worked and could reach."

Re: The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori stood and stretched as he thought. "Right. To get a good baseline for this stability of reality, but the same prey- target, I shouldn't be allowed any advantages besides those offered by tools and the environment. So, no more jumping ontological fragments as a strategy. Not that I could anymore anyway, but just to keep everything clear. I'll also be giving you a head start to better simulate tracking down the target."

He double checked that the gun wasn't loaded before setting it aside, inert. "Would you like me to tell you what strategies I'll be using? Or would you prefer to experience it in the hunt? And, Jane, Derek, will either of you be joining?"

Re: The Hunt is On

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"Of course we'll be joining," Devil grinning, "I wouldn't miss this!"

"And actually," Maven explained, "With Ember recreating the effects of the law hunting, you should be able to jump as you could before. You just will still be confined to the marsh area, but as long as Ember maintains the effect over the marsh you can absolutely jump and transform around the marsh as you did before. But of course, you can hunt however you would prefer. What strategies were you thinking of employing?"

Re: The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

"Well, there are of course the changes the other laws provided, but it's different from the- It's- ... It's alright." Mori breathed. "Tracking, pursuit, close quarter melee, restraint. Weapon or tool will depend on form of law, but projectile and artillery never worked before, so I won't use them here. You're, of course, free to use what methods you prefer. I've not worked in a group before, so that will be an initial variable. Shouldn't be too different. I trust you both know what you're doing and my only worry is faltering and getting in your way."

Re: The Hunt is On

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

"Mori, we're doing this hunt for you," Maven smiled and squeezed his hand, "You won't be getting in the way, I promise."

Devil set his rifle to the side. If Mori wasn't gonna use one it seemed fair to do the same. He started getting the tools for the different forms. Which in this case just meant pen and paper for the sigil form. The other forms only require the mind and body, "Right then, anything else or do you feel ready?"

Re: The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori kissed Jane's hand and nodded. "Ready. Two minute head start for Ember, then the tracking begins."

He looked over at Ember with a challenging, playful grin, holding his pocket watch, chain removed from his pants. No obstacles, no embellishment. "Don't hold back, don't make it easy. Your time starts... Now."

He began rolling his sleeves and removed the Scrimshander knife from his belt, ready for when the time was up.

Re: The Hunt is On

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

In that moment Ember laid out the effect, starting from the cottage and stretching it over the marsh. Threads of reality shifting to its will, becoming a little looser, more malleable.

In the next moment it made the jump, and before their eyes the Curious Outlaw disappeared and was somewhere in the marsh.

Re: The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

Mori still waited until the time was up, as they agreed, and stepped out into the marsh. He paused, eyes closed, listening. His sight wouldn't help him here, too easily warped and tricked. But sound...

Tension prickled through his body and he felt... malleable. Not majorly, not like his leg when the Professor healed it. But just as he could adjust his place in space, he felt he could adjust his body in form. He just needed to know how it would start, every possible option tensing like muscles across the surface of his existence.

Were it his Outlaw, or were his Outlaw by his side, he would've had more options than just the usual three. As it was, he was limited, but he knew how to work with it. Just listen... Find it... Adjust... Follow.

Re: The Hunt is On

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Devil and Maven followed him outside. They were also feeling the effects of Ember's powers, feeling for any tugs among the threads of reality.

...

There, that direction.

Devil found Ember first, in the form of a beast on the opposite end of the marsh. But he waited to see if Mori would find it. This was his hunt after all. Still, her peligin eyes grew sharper as he prepared for the hunt.

Re: The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

One misplaced step over a twig was all it took to trigger the attention of the hunter. Senses sharpened and something inhuman coursed through the Socialite, bristling, hunger filling the spaces between solid existence. Legs tensed and off they took into whatever cover he could find, teeth bared, breaths short and controlled. Shoes got in the way, so they were quickly discarded. Eyes locked on the target and he circled it, launching from the cover towards preypreypreypreyprey- the target. The knife supplemented claws, but the eyes were suited enough to focus and the legs pushed against the ground with strength enough to keep up, speed over stamina here at least.

Re: The Hunt is On

[the_soft_hearted_maven]

Devil and Maven followed behind Mori. Today they would be playing support, helping if needed but letting Mori take the lead for now.

Ember sensed Mori's approach and took off. In this form it was fast. But Mori was faster, more used to controlling a physical form than the recently created law. And although Ember will likely jump immediately after, it will not take much to close the distance.

Re: The Hunt is On

[themorbidsocialite]

He made a rash decision and, rather than close the distance with running, attempted to lunge. It was slower, not quite what he needed in the moment. As Ember jumped, Mori landed hard on his shoulder, turning feet over head with a grimace. He gasped as he righted, trying fast to locate the prey before it could flee. Teeth bared, panting, he watched the distance for movement, trying to listen with ill-adapted ears.

Humans were stamina-based, pursuit predators, but it was questionable whether he was human enough to count at the moment, at least in ontological form. His current strength came in short bursts before refocusing.