[ACTION (847 Goldberg Street, Morning, CLOSED TO HOUSEMATES)]

[It's officially Christmas Day, now, and the horrors of the month for the most part appear to be over. Virginia no longer looks or feels like a vile replacement, and neither does any of the "erased." It's all been the town rewiring people's heads. Bakin should be happy that it's over, but ... Mayfield really does know how to wreck holidays. At least he'd remembered to go and try to buy Christmas presents for his "family" before the town so sinisterly made a game out of unpersoning people.]

[Waking up in the morning to the sound of "It's a Wonderful Life" playing downstairs, though, he heads down into the living room and is absolutely stunned by the sight that awaits him. The tree is practically surrounded in presents now! It helps that one of them is really, really big, as if someone had rolled in a piece of giftwrapped furniture while the family was sleeping. The stockings are even stuffed—full of what, though, Balin doesn't know yet.]

Holy shit ...

[Balin slowly approaches the tree to inspect the additional presents and figure out where they came from. He'll still be checking out the tree when his housemates wake up.]

[NOTE: This entry is backdated to December 25, hence the difference in timestap between this entry and comments; regains had been approved OOCly during this period.]


Subjects: !regains, *847 goldberg street, *action, ^caesar silverberg, @mayfield, christmas day, let's do the time warp again!

[(Note: With respect to the recent trouble involving LiveJournal, if you'e on hiatus for the rest of the year, please feel free to backtag this in January. I welcome backtags!)]

[DREAM - DECEMBER 16 (Early Morning)]

( Don't you see? It has to be you.Collapse )

[ACTION A - DECEMBER 17 (847 Goldberg Street, Morning/Afternoon, CLOSED TO HOUSEMATES)]

[The first announcement of Erased people has just cheerfully concluded, which Balin managed to catch. After his outburst after hearing Virginia's name, he just stands there watching the television for a full minute after the broadcast stops, trying to work out who among those names he recognizes. Then he starts ranting at the TV again.]

Yeah, fuck you too, Mayfield! "Maybe if you chose differently"—I knew'at was a fuckin' trick! All that shit about how "oh, just one person can save'a town" an'en you go an' get—sonovabitch how many people was'at? Like'a hundred?! Why don't ya just kick us all out if you're'at eager?!

[Balin turns away from the TV and stomps off into the kitchen, still growling Philly rage through his teeth.]

[ACTION B - DECEMBER 21 (Anywhere in Mayfield, Morning/Afternoon, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Among soldiers of the Army of Allied Free Sentients, today is a day of remembrance. December 21st, 2007, marked the day that Earth fell to the Bane, known forevermore as Defeat of Earth Day. In 2012, on the fifth anniversary of the Defeat of Earth, Human and Forean forces mounted a counterattack on the Bane and retook Foreas Base, proving that not only could the AFS stand up to the Bane, but earning the human army the trust and support of the Foreans. Every year since then has seen a major operation by the Bane to take or destroy Foreas Base, but they have never succeeded since.]

[A tradition practiced by many soldiers during today is dyeing a piece of their uniform or armor red--back in 2013, General British himself oversaw a memorial ceremony of the day, with plenty of Receptive soldiers attending who upheld the tradition. Normally, Balin would consider himself a full-time observer of this practice, given his blood-red suit of Mech Armor back home—but here in Mayfield, all he has is his PT Uniform. Still, even with the sparse conditions in Mayfield, Balin's determined to find a way to keep the tradition of his army alive.]

[Today, wherever you may be in Mayfield—outside doing housework, Downtown shopping for supplies or Christmas gifts, or hanging out at John Doe park—or maybe you're one of the Erased that Balin knew, and you're looking for him to see if he'll remember you. In all cases, you'll find Balin tending to his own business, wearing a long-flowing bright-red armband, something like wearing a Japanese hachimaki, but on the arm. It's clear he tore it off of some other piece of fabric. There's also a message in the Eloh language written on it, with a black marker:]



[Feeling curious, Mayfield?]


Subjects: !event, *action, *dream, ^bazett fraga mcremitz, ^caesar silverberg, ^event: every time a bell rings, ^garviel loken, @mayfield, defeat of earth day, did not get unpersoned

[ACTION - A (Outside 847 Goldberg Street, Afternoon)]

[Well, this past week has been rather annoying. Balin's done what he can to help insulate the house, what with the lack of power and all. He's also been going on supply runs, trying to find whatever might still be available at the General Store and other places Downtown. Which hasn't been much.]

[There's also been the fickleness affecting his Tabula. Ever since that damned news broadcast, he's been having trouble getting it to manifest, which is a problem ... considering that leaves him incapable of using his newly-regained Lightning or performing any "cantrips." It's just been another thing to grumble about—and it's full well taught him something he already suspected from hearing about the "spring culling" incident. It is not a good idea to rely on what Mayfield gives back.]

[So imagine his surprise when he walks outside early in the morning, all bundled up, to find that there's a package in the mail, addressed to him. Unlike the past two regains he's received, which were pictures in envelopes ... this one is roughly the size of a shoebox.]

... Huh!

[He picks it up—and finds it's heavy. Frowning, he shakes it for a moment ... and feeling the weight of what's inside, recognizes immediately what this could be! Screw being careful with regains—nothing's happened to him the last few times, and he knows for sure opening this box won't harm him like getting his Tabula did. He tears open one end of the box to retreive what's inside, only to reach in and find—nothing.]

—What the shit—?

[In disbelief, Balin holds up the package and peers inside the opened end. There's nothing in here! At least as far as he can see ... and the box feels a lot lighter than it did just earlier.]

Oh come on, don't go screwin' with me like'is—

[And that's when a big, heavy, standard-issue AFS handgun suddenly materializes and falls out of the box, the barrel of the gun smacking Balin across an eye!]

OW! FUCK!

[Balin stumbles back, dropping the box (and a second item that was inside, a picture of something else) as his newly-acquired handgun clatters on the ground, while he a hand up to his face swearing in angrish.]

[Postman: 2, Balin: 0.]

[ACTION - B (John Doe Park, Evening)]

[Having gotten over the town finding another way to make him hurt for getting something back, Balin's spending some time at the park, to see who else is camping out around the tree. He's got a bruise mark over his left eye, consist with the size and shape of the handgun that's currently in a thigh holster strapped to a leg. Other than that, though, he spends a lot of time glowering at the tree and musing to himself.]

There's no way'is tree's gotta account for all'a weird shit goin' on.

[Well, loud enough for others to hear at least.]


Subjects: !event, !regains, *847 goldberg street, *action, *john doe park, ^alfred f. jones, ^event: looking a lot like christmas, ^tsunade senju, @mayfield, fashionably late regain, pistol whip in a box!, the incredible vanishing regain

[PHONE (Morning, OPEN TO ALL)]

Yo, Mayfield. I got a heads up, 'cause I know'ere's a bunch'a people in'is town who ain't from Earth—'least, ain't from it beyond'a Fifties. Or are, uh, "sheltered." That whole thing with Mayfield gettin' cratered, an' everybody gettin' sick? That was global nuclear war in action. That's what'a Mayor was beggin'a other guy not to drop on us. So here's a lil' history lesson. Or future lesson for some of you, I dunno. Depends on when Mayfield took you.

But I think you all oughta know, 'cause'ere's no tellin' if'ey'll do it again.

( Balin proceeds to tie up the phone lines for a good few minutes.Collapse )

... But yeah. Judgin' from what happened on'a first day, I think Mayfield got hit by a nuke first, before we woke up. Anybody notice parts of town where it looked like people's shadows got burned into'a pavement? That only happens at ground zero, where'a temperatures're hot enough to vape flesh an' bone. So'at mushroom cloud we saw in'a distance—are'ere any towns'at Mayfield's supposedly nearby?

[ACTION - A (1765 Beaver Street, Late Morning)]

[Well, now that the aftermath of Thanksgiving has come and gone, Balin's had enough of waiting and sitting around on his hands. Having to endure the hell Mayfield's captors put the townsfolk through just because everyone didn't grovel hard enough to their liking has flipped a switch.]

[Rather than going to work today, he's taking the day off to go check up on Red Mage and Touko. He needs to find out if they've still got the explosive supplies on hand, and more importantly—he needs to talk to Red Mage about synthesizing the few chemicals they couldn't find ready-made within the town itself.]

[ACTION - B (847 Goldberg Street, Afternoon)]

[Later, Balin returns home to find that the Postman's dropped off another reward for enduring Mayfield's shenanigans. This time, however, when he pulls out the envelope addressed to him, he doesn't open it. Instead, he stares at it, frowning.]

... Here we go again, huh?

[Balin should be happy that the Postman's sent him a present for surviving the apocalypse (or at least that's what the timing makes it seem like), but after experiencing his last regain and finding out that the mass hallucinations and the zombie pandemic were also the Postman's doing, he's a lot less eager.]

[Balin turns around to walk back up to the house ...]

[ACTION - C (Makeout Point, Afternoon/Evening, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Hey, Mayfield, it's a nice day, isn't it? Thunderstorms can be pretty relaxing, at least if you're used to the milder varieties—]

[... Wait a minute. There's not a cloud in the sky today!]

[Every so often, the sound of thunder emanates from Makeout Point. If you pay attention you might even see a bolt of lightning flash between the trees up there. Anyone who has the ability to sense magical/psychic/spiritual energy will be able to feel bursts of it right before every thunderclap (depending on how far away they are).]

[Do you dare investigate, Mayfield?]

[NOTE: This is a belated regain from the October event, but Balin now has one of his combat Logos Abilities—Lightning. His Regains List has been updated with relevant information on what exactly his Lightning can do in its various forms, if you're curious.]


Subjects: !regains, *1765 beaver street, *847 goldberg street, *action, *makeout point, ^alfred f. jones, ^calleo a. crowe, ^garviel loken, ^golbez (harvey), ^nena trinity, ^red mage statscowski, ^theo crawford, ^virginia maxwell, ^wes janson, @mayfield, fashionably late regain, i can't believe it's not force lightning, uuuuuunliiimiteeeed poowwwwaaaaaaaahh~!

[PHONE - THANKSGIVING NOVEMBER 24 (Evening, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Balin's already heard about this. It's a good thing he's been asking around, and that Quinn let him know what happened last year in Mayfield. And yet, that phone call from Jack Smith left him wondering. What were Mayfield's leaders up to now?]

[He decides to actually respond to Jack's announcement to the town.]

Yo, you wanna hear what I'm thankful for? I'm thankful you guys didn't try an' torment us like usual. 'Cept for'at one Friday last month. Coulda done without'at.

[Way to taunt Murphy, Balin.]

[ACTION - DAY 1 NOVEMBER 26 (Anywhere in Mayfield, OPEN TO ALL)]

[When Mayfield unleashes its recreation of global thermonuclear war on its captives, Balin spends the day scouting the town's remains, and trying to recover any sort of supplies or weapons that he can manage; he has one of Virgina's spare revolvers and a battered kitchen knife on him, but that's it.]

[Anyone who encounters Balin about might notice that he seems too comfortable in this post-nuclear war wasteland, like it's nothing new to him—but there's also a hint that he's expecting something both inevitable and bad to happen, from the way he glances up at the sky apprehensively, or in the way he checks on which way the wind is blowing.]

[ACTION - DAY 2 NOVEMBER 27 (Anywhere in Mayfield, OPEN TO ALL)]

[On the day the scavengers arrive, Balin's life becomes a deadly game of cat and mouse, since he was out and about scouting in Mayfield rather than hiding in any of the bunkers or safehouses throughout yesterday. Their arrival was swift as it was sudden, so Balin has no choice but to take the fight to the cannibals.]

[It's a more grisly, human-versus-human variation of the life he's led for the past seven years ... but old habits and skill sets die hard. He's going to spend today ambushing the cannibals and scavengers—creeping up on and attacking the groups who are clearly staking out any locked basements or bunkers, or taking down a group threatening somebody else.]

[In any case, he's taking their weapons and any ammunition for his own use, though most of the hatches he's collecting are getting used as ranged weapons against other cannibals.]

[ACTION - DAY 3 NOVEMBER 28 (Anywhere in Mayfield, OPEN TO ALL)]

[As a Demolitionist with powers over nuclear fission back in his home universe, Balin knew full well what was coming. It was just a matter of when and how strong—and it wouldn't be until the symptoms actually reared their collective ugly head that he would know whether or not Mayfield's leaders decided to keep the town immune from fallout.]

[Once he noticed the headache coming on, though, there were no doubts. So right now, he's standing in an empty section of Mayfield, murmuring to himself. He sounds like he's about to laugh, despite the slight shudder in his voice.]

Yeah ... yeah, I knew'is was too good. Knew you guys wouldnt pull'at punch—

[Now he looks up at the sky, squinting in the twilight of nuclear winter. Glaring, as if he could see the radioactive dust falling down, before shaking a fist up at the clouds and letting his rage gush out. It doesn't matter anymore if cannibals might hear him or not—he's mad as hell.]

FUCK YOU! YOU THINK YOU'RE FUCKIN' FUNNY? TORTURIN' WITH US LIKE A KID FRYIN' ANTS WITH A MAGNIFYIN' GLASS AN' YOU EXPECT US TO BE THANKFUL? IT'S ON, ASSHOLES! YOU'RE SO SCARED SHITLESS OF'A SAME SHIT YOU DO TO US, I'M GOING TO NUKE YOU 'TILL YOU ALL FUCKIN' GLOW!

[Judging from the echoing angrish and roars in the distance, Balin's tirade against Mayfield's masters has attracted the attention of a group of cannibals. Despite the pain and creeping onset of radiation sickness, Balin swiftly unholsters his revolver and readies a hatchet.]


Subjects: !event, *action, *phone, ^aurora belle jenkins, ^caesar silverberg, ^event: peace harmony tranquility union, ^utsuho reiuji, ^virginia maxwell, @mayfield, gdit utsuho reiuji!, this is why you don't deep fry turkeys

[ACTION - A (In and Around Goldberg Street, Morning, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Well, it could definitely be a lot worse.]

[At first, upon seeing the giant ants, crabs, and praying mantises popping up everwhere, Balin tries to defend Goldberg Street the best he can; he's not the type to take chances, especially with how unpredictably dangerous Mayfield's "civil servants" are.]

[He's just taken down one of the ants that burst out of the ground with a few shotgun rounds, and now he's taking on one of those giant crabs, ducking back as it snaps its pincers. Balin shoulders his shotgun to fire back, but gets another idea—hastily circling the crab, he lunges forward and kicks upwards at its flank, causing it to roll over on its back and flail helpessly.]

... Holy shit, that actually worked!

[He's not going to give that creature time to breathe, though; Balin climbs on top of it, and unloads a few rounds into its exposed underbelly—for massive damage.]

[ACTION - B (Mayfield Construction Site, Morning/Afternoon, OPEN TO ALL)]

[It's clear that today is not a good day to be on the job, when you're a construction worker. Those damn ants keep bursting out of the ground, breaking up foundations and threatening to collapse the framework of the buildings everyone's busy working on. Balin's given up on actually doing his usual routine, in fact; he's busy trying to kill off any of the giant ants that pop out of the ground with his shotgun and sidearm.]

[ACTION - C (Anywhere in Mayfield, Afternoon/Evening, OPEN TO ALL)]

[By now, Balin's figured out that the giant creatures aren't really doing anything lethal, and aren't even real creatures to begin with but robots—but the property damage they're doing is annoying, and the kidnapping attempts he's seen are concerning him. So, he's going to spend his time after work checking around Mayfield looking for trouble. If you're fighting these things, getting kidnapped, or are in danger of being kidnapped anywhere in town, Balin might be nearby and can come to your aid.]

[PHONE (Evening, OPEN TO ALL)]

Hey, anybody a long-timer in Mayfield? How often does'a town pull'ese kinda ... I dunno, these crazy-but-not-lethal stunts?

Oh, yeah—and we got people from all over, right? We got anybody from, like, ancient Japan? ... Did you guys really fight giant crabs an' shit like'is back 'en?

[Give him a break! The world ended in 2007 for him! That infamous E3 presentation is still fresh on his mind!]


Subjects: !event, *847 goldberg street, *action, *construction site, *phone, ^aurica nestmile, ^caesar silverberg, ^event: it came from the dairy aisle, ^gilgamesh, ^john doe (big boss), ^quinn x. hatch, ^virginia maxwell, @mayfield, bill ritch would be proud, japanese spider crabs are scary, starship troopers 1950s style

[ACTION (In and Around Goldberg Street, Afternoon, OPEN TO ALL)]

[In the 50's, the Postman still delivers on Saturdays! Balin heads out of 847 Goldberg Street to check the mail—and, after opening the mailbox and retrieving what's inside, sees that it's a package in his name.]

Huh. They finally sent me somethin' else?

[In a inglorious fashion, Balin tears open the package and pulls out what's inside—a picture of Phi, the Golden Ratio. It promptly glows and levitates a rotating copy of itself off of the picture. Balin finds himself surrounded by dozens of similar blue-glowing ideograms—he knows exactly what's about to happen.]

... Oh, bullshit.

[In order for Logos Receptives to actually be capable of utilizing Logos Abilities, they must first learn the language of the Eloh. AFS Receptives visit Logos Shrines where they download all relevant knowledge pertaining to the Element stored there. It's a wild ride to say the least, considering you're getting your brain rewired by having knowledge on how to manipulate the universe beamed into your head.]

[So what happens if you're a veteran Receptive, you've had a few years to study and learn a large amount of Logos Elements ... and Mayfield takes your Tabula away then gives it back later?]

[You re-learn those elements all at once.]

[What ensues is the ten most painful seconds of Balin's life; once the download processes releases Balin, he crumples to the ground, swearing vigorously and holding on to his head. If you are capable of sensing magical, inhuman/alien, or psionic matters, you'll have no problem picking up on this anywhere in town. If you happen to live on Goldberg Street or on any adjacent streets, you'll get to see it happening; the blue glows of the download process will be hard to miss, to say nothing of the massive flash of light at the end.]


[PHONE (Afternoon, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Balin sounds like he's fighting off a migraine.]

... Someone remind me ... to take a fuckin' painkiller ... before I go openin'a package from'a Postman again ...


Subjects: !regains, *847 goldberg street, *action, *phone, ^caesar silverberg, ^date fuyuhiko, ^garviel loken, ^ilsa higa, ^keine kamishirasawa, ^kiritsugu emiya, ^olivier armstrong, ^riza hawkeye, ^theo crawford, ^virginia maxwell, @mayfield, enjoy the regain light show, the postman is a mean drunk

[After having to endure a week of either suffering from drinking a bottle of milk each day, or watching Caesar sacrifice himself for the good of the household, Balin is now much more determined to give the Milkman some payback. Too bad he still didn't have everything he'll need for that plan.]

[So—after waiting a week to make sure that the Milkman's latest torture scheme had finally ended—something he confirmed from both the phone call he overheard and others who reported that the killdroning sprees have stopped—he's going to try and tie up some loose ends, figuring that it's finally safe to go outside. Relatively, at least.]


[PHONE (OPEN TO ALL)]

Yo, Mayfield. We got anybody who's good with repairin' clothes? Like, I don't trust'a drone tailors to do'is job right, 'cause this shirt ain't made with Fifties tech. An' I don't got my usual tools with me, so that's out.

So if you know anybody who can handle stuff like'at, or you can do it yourself, lemme know.


[ACTION - A (Any Residential Streets, Afternoon/Evening, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Balin can be found around the town's neighborhood streets today, walking briskly from one street to another and toting a duffel bag. While he's wearing most of his AFS PT uniform, his shirt's been replaced with a plain-looking buttoned up shirt. He's also armed to the hilt; a shotgun and extra shells are strapped to a sling, and he has his Colt .45 holstered at his side.]

[Yeah, Virginia getting killdroned really put him on edge. Feel free to flag him down or bump into him!]


[ACTION - B (1128 Taylor Road, Afternoon/Evening)]

[At some point in the day, he'll be stopping by Elizabeth's house to fulfill that quest she gave him the week before the Milkman had his fun with the town. He'll walk up to the house and ring the doorbell, and wait around for someone to answer the door.]

[He won't openly admit it but he really wants to see if Liz will really hand out sapphires for this.]


[ACTION - C (1765 Beaver Street, Afternoon/Evening)]

[Like with his visit to Elizabeth's house, Balin's stopping by Red Mage and Touko's residence. Balin's given Red Mage roughly a month to work his magic after the man canvassed the town for quests of his own, so it's time to see if he's had any luck getting those requested chemicals ... Like with his visit to Liz's pad, he'll ring the doorbell then stand outside waiting for a response.]


Subjects: *1128 taylor road, *1247 williams road, *1765 beaver street, *action, *phone, ^calleo a. crowe, ^elizabeth, ^garviel loken, ^gilgamesh, ^red mage statscowski, ^shana, ^touko aozaki, ^virginia maxwell, @mayfield, could have been a raven in a past life, dammit jim! i'm a demo not a gun runner!, pretty shiny explosive things

[ACTION - A (Outside Mayfield Dairy, OPEN TO ALL)]

[On his first day in Mayfield, Caesar had asked Balin if he had any explosives or powers strong enough to destroy an armored building, referring to the attack made on the Dairy back in March. So today, while Mayfield is temporarily without a police chief, Balin is outside the Mayfield Dairy.]

[He's walking around the premises and intently inspecting the building; looking for any signs of structural weakness, peering into any windows to see if he can peek inside, even knocking on any of the non-brick surfaces to see if he can feel for some kind of armored plating that might be within.]


[ACTION - B (Mayfield High, OPEN TO ALL)]

[After school lets out, Balin will be checking out the high school; specifically the science classes, and especially the chemistry labs. He's looking for someone among the undroned faculty to talk to, but he's not above checking out just what the chemistry labs have in terms of equipment and supplies.]


[ACTION - C (Jacques' Roller Rink, OPEN TO ALL)]

[Later, Balin finds and checks out the skating rink. Yuri Volte Hyuga had told him that this is where Mayfield recorded the names of people who participated in the "spring culling." And sure enough, upon entering the rink's trophy room, there it was; trophies everywhere, proudly displaying the names of various people as "Accomplished Murderers."]

[Caesar's words come floating back to him: They turned the entire town into its own little war zone. And he wasn't kidding. There's dozens of individual trophies here.]

[Balin glowers. Then he pulls out his journal and starts writing down names.]

[Beware, citizens of Mayfield—You're On Notice.]

[NOTE: Balin is now aware of who killed people during the Population Control event in late May/early June, and he's recorded the names of those people (and how many they killed) to his journal. His list is here, specifically. If Balin knows who you are, expect him to be very suspicious around you; he will not feel safe around you without a firearm. He will definitely be trying to figure out how to kill you if the need arises.]


Subjects: *action, *jacques' roller rink, *mayfield dairy, *mayfield high, ^event: wanted, ^merem solomon, ^shana, ^susan sto helit, ^the major, ^theo crawford, @mayfield, nuking your asses later, taking your names now

Following Riza's example, Balin has started working on his own set of notes about the town, possible dangers, and strategies for dealing with them. Given the tactical importance of this journal, Balin will be guarding it jealously, though he'll allow his housemates—and anyone who has earned his trust—access to it. This journal will be updated whenever important information comes into Balin's hands.

(Balin's notebook uses the handwritten font "Daniel," which is freely available here. If you don't feel like grabbing the font, then this entry will default to whatever script font you have on your computer; just be aware that it's going to look a LOT different than intended. Different fonts, different sizes.)

( Click here to read the journal.Collapse )


Subjects: !information, !journal, @mayfield