PSL Musebox - OTA (wip)

[sandinmyhair]

A place where I dump all my off-game RP ideas! Warnings for... well, just about everything.


ENCANTO-BASED
A Place To Write Stuff In The Canon Setting
Got an Encanto character? Got someone else you can AU into the setting? Try some:

A1. Fluff!
Bruno's back and it's everyone's chance to love on him, now! He needs fed and washed and all manner of happy things, after all. Just be warned, he will wibble and tear up. A lot. He has a lot of catching up to do and a lot of hugging to do....

A2. Angst!
Bruno's back and he's not re-integrating very well. Ten years in the walls has not been kind to him, after all. Maybe he has it out with the others, or he tries to hide again, or starts some unhealthy coping or other. Maybe his Gift finally destroyed his health.

A3. H/C!
Bruno's back and other people are not happy about this fact. There may be, for example, an increasing belief that he's demonic and clearly in need of an exorcism.

MULTIVERSAL MISCELLANY
A Place To Write Stuff In Any Other Kind Of Place, Including Settings Of Current Games

B1. Gives New Meaning To 'Lab Rat'
Someone somewhere decided a person who could do what he does is very much worth studying. Maybe they wanted him to only see the future for them. Maybe they saw him as a way to manipulate time or travel through it or simply tap the immense energy that courses through him.

B2. Wibbly Wobbly.
Maybe the Time Lords sent you to investigate. Maybe you discovered it on your own. Whatever the reason, here you are in 1950s Colombia. Something has been poking at time. And there may or may not be an unregistered TARDIS in the area....

NSFW
Because I Can't Not Have The Occasional Smut Thread

C1. Buried Desire
Somehow you can tell that an incredibly powerful sex drive lurks under that shy, awkward exterior that's just begging to be seduced out. Granted, it won't take much to do this.

C2. Married Bliss
Welcome to the Family Madrigal! Somehow Doña Alma managed to finally marry off her son. But it's not her you have to worry about, it's his sisters and his brothers-in-law and all their wink-wink-nudge-nudge.

Comments

A3

[nonmagical]

[Mirabel's in town, and she's noticed... something going on with the townspeople. Specifically their attitude towards Bruno - that at least some of them are a little hostile, and seem to be getting more hostile the more he goes into town. Mirabel wasn't that clear on Bruno's history, other than people didn't always like his visions, but surely they wouldn't like... do anything to him, right?

She's a little worried, so when he goes into town, she follows to see if he's going to be okay. Probably nothing to worry about...

... Right?]

Re: A3

[sandinmyhair]

[It was probably too much to hope the goodwill present during the rebuilding of Casita would last. Old resentments started to bubble to the surface again, even after a decade. There were mutterings about not only people losing hair or gaining weight or their pet goldfish dying, but darker things. Infidelity, stillbirths, family members dying of sudden illness or injury.

After a while, Mirabel will notice she isn't the only one following Bruno.

Any sort of interaction he might have is a little brusque, a little strained, and he's smart enough to twig to that. He never stays long, never seems to ask for any kind of favours, and concludes his business quietly and deferentially. Despite that, however, at one point a few men peel off from the town square crowd--the Fernandez brothers, Manuelo and Juan, who always seemed a bit humourless, and their friend Roberto Cruz. They tail Bruno out of the busier part of town and the moment they're out of most people's sight they surround him.

"Been waiting to say 'welcome back,' properly," Manuelo says. Before Bruno can speak or even dodge past him, Juan effortlessly kicks Bruno's feet from under him. He and Roberto grab hold of Bruno.

Strangely, Bruno doesn't fight back or even try to escape.

And before Mirabel can do anything, a pair of arms grab her, one hand over her mouth, and drag her a short distance into an alley. They turn out to belong to Roberto's wife, Alejandra.]

We don't wanna hurt you, Mirabel, [she says, the expression on her face unreadable.] Please. Stay out of it.

[nonmagical]

[Mirabel only manages to catch sight of Bruno being knocked to the ground before she’s pulled away.

She knows these people - she thought they were friendly to her, but what are they doing…?! She shakes the hand off over her mouth.]

What are you talking about?! What are you going to do to him?!

[She struggles to break her grip - to go to him, because she’s terrified.]

[sandinmyhair]

[Alejandra shifts her grip, keeping hold of Mirabel. There's the sound of a fight going on around the corner.]

Look, this isn't any of your concern. Their father died and they've been letting resentment poison them for years. If we stop them now it's only gonna get worse and it'll end up being more than just roughing him up.

A2

[neverbreaks]

[ Having Tío Bruno back was certainly an adjustment, but it was one that the family is more than happy to make. After the past decade of secrets and quiet splintering, of a lingering emptiness that couldn't be acknowledged or talked about, it was nice having the family whole again.

But that isn't to say that it was easy. Sometimes it felt like they had to be very careful around Bruno, who tended to retreat and shy away more often than not. His years in the walls had affected him in ways that they were still trying to understand, to draw him more into the family without scaring him away.

And Luisa wanted to know more about her uncle as well, but she isn't entirely sure where to start. She cared about him of course, as she did for the rest of her family, and she did have a few pleasant memories of him as a child, but that had felt so long ago. Things had changed, they both had changed, and she isn't sure how to bridge that gap...if it was possible at all.

Even moments like now, when her mother had asked Luisa to call Bruno down to dinner, it was difficult not to think about. There were some days when Bruno was more comfortable joining everyone for mealtimes than others, so Julieta had said not to force it if this was one of those bad days. But Luisa still had to find him first in order to ask about dinner, for he wasn't in his room either.

At least Mirabel had given her an idea of where else he might be. Luisa can only hope that he was there. ]

[sandinmyhair]

[What really kills him is he wants to join them more often than he does, but sometimes he's just exhausted and has to find a quiet place so he can rest.

When Casita was rebuilt his room was on the same floor as the others' again, and had become the kind of inviting that it had been years and years ago. There were times, though, when he couldn't spend too long in it, too many conflicting thoughts swirling in his head. In fact, the only way he can really rest, sometimes, is to hide in a completely new hole in the wall.

Yes, a new hole. He'd begged and cajoled Casita into helping him create a new one, but the sapient house had a few tricks up its wainscoting, making it much easier for others to find it, this time. So when Luisa doesn't find him in his room a painting rattles against the wall and then swings open, revealing not so much a hole as a neat opening, planks laid down to make a sturdy walkway. It's a short distance to a space with a tapestry over it this time, soft dim light glowing behind it.

Behind the tapestry, instead of the tragic packrat space crammed full of desperate memories like what Mirabel had described, is a cozy little room with a dim lamp, a lot of books, a group of sleek little rats quietly doing... rat things, and a hammock with the object of her search nested in blankets and pillows and blinking sleepily at her.]

Hm? Luisa? Wh's going on?

[neverbreaks]

[ While she'd had some idea of the space Bruno had lived in within the walls of Casita thanks to Mirabel, Luisa still thanks the house when it reveals the opening behind the painting, allowing her to step inside and look for her uncle.

And the room she comes across is quite different from the one Mirabel had described in the old Casita. It has a warmer feeling to it, even compared to his new room, so she can understand why he would prefer to spend time in here.

When she spots him she offers a small smile. ]

Hey, Tío Bruno. I just wanted to let you know it was time for dinner.

[sandinmyhair]

[He smiles softly, a bit amused.] I guess I can come out. Let everyone know I haven't packed up my rats and moved to Bermuda.

[The most random things fall out of this man's face, sometimes.]

[First he yawns and stretches and scratches his scalp, which leaves his hair even fluffier.] How'd you find me?

C1

[nachtvogel]

It's been quite some time since Georg has traveled. It used to be such an arduous thing, but now with planes and cars and all manner of transportation, he tries to leave the village a little more often.

He finds himself in Columbia this time, in a village not entirely like his own. Most of the villagers, upon finding that he's new in town, point him towards the big house at the center of the village. Go see the Madrigals, they say, They'll help you. Though he does receive some vague warnings about the house being... picky. Whatever that means.

When the stones in front of the house ripple up and knock him off his feet, he discovers what it means. "Hmm," he muses, from his place on the ground. "Perhaps I deserved that."

[sandinmyhair]

Bruno had been out for a walk, just to enjoy the fresh air, just because he can, now. So he's the only person who sees this. Odd, usually Casita doesn't do that to guests....

He draws nearer and... oh. Oh, that'd explain it. Strangers are a bit thin on the ground around here. Or just on the ground in this fellow's case. Bruno hurries over to where the poor man's been dumped onto the dirt and reaches out a hand to help him up.

"I am so sorry about that, Señor, Casita's a little skittish with strangers...."

[nachtvogel]

"Much obliged." He accepts the hand up, gladly. His Spanish is a little rusty, but passable, thankfully. Perhaps a bit antiquated, and spoken with an accent he's slightly self-conscious about. "A few of the people in the village warned me the house was somewhat picky. Now I understand what they mean.

But I promise I mean neither you nor your house any harm. I'm merely new to the village, and was told to stop by."

[sandinmyhair]

When the other is standing again, Bruno has to look up at him. That's nothing new, he has to do that with most people. He briefly ponders the merits of carrying a stepladder around with him just to avoid getting a crick in his neck all the time, but those thoughts scurry away when he takes in how... beautiful this stranger is.

It's a stark contrast to Bruno, himself, all of five-foot-four, narrowly built and clad in voluminous layers that conspire with his underfed state to make him look even smaller. Frankly, he looks like he's recovering from something. But he also looks as though he'll maybe recover into an attractive sort of fellow.

His smile is warm, though, and he gives a slightly amused chuckle. "They don't see strangers too often, and they're proud of the village, and of the house." He pats the door lovingly and a few tiles clatter in a manner that seems happy.

"What's your name?"

Wildcard but maybe C1, idk?

[sciencesquid]

[It's been a few months now since Otto arrived in Ryslig and sure enough, the monster transformation has occurred. Merperson. There's irony in it that he can't appreciate, but at the very least, he doesn't have to devour human flesh. That's... something. Drowning people is terrible, and he can see the horrified faces of his prey in his nightmares, but it doesn't turn his stomach on top of all that.

He needs a drink. Preferably not alone.

Thankfully, Bruno Madrigal was happy to oblige and meet with him. Otto arrives at the bar in something a bit more casual than he'd usually wear, the sleeves of his shirt rolled up to his elbows so that they don't cause any discomfort with the fins on his lower arms. His gaze sweeps the room as he tries to assess whether Bruno's already here.]

[sandinmyhair]

[Fortunately there aren't a lot of Shades in the place, let alone ones that glow green, so Bruno's pretty easy to find. He may be in a shadowy spot, but it doesn't appear as though he's hiding. Quite the contrary--once he sees he's been spotted, he waves.]

¡Hola, Otto! Over here!

[It's nighttime and he's a lot more cogent of form at night, which means his voice is actually audible.]

[sciencesquid]

[Thank god for nighttime. Trying to pick someone out of a crowd is always an uncomfortable, tough moment, but the green glow works like a charm and once Otto's gaze locks in on Bruno, he smiles warmly. The distance is closed with a few firm, hasty strides.]

Bruno, good evening. I hope I didn't keep you waiting.

[sandinmyhair]

Nah, not really. I'm still on my first drink! [He indicates the glass, which is mostly full of... something that smells like it could peel paint.] Have a seat!

[Otto isn't the only one dressed casually. The suit jacket Bruno usually wears instead of his ruana when he's out at night is draped over the back of his chair and his tie is even looser than usual, collar unbuttoned, sleeves rolled up, hints of some subtle jewellery of leather and hemp and little dark beads--someone's gone to some trouble tweaking his appearance and it's entirely possible that someone wasn't him.]

some kind of MULTIVERSAL MISCELLANY

[wildphase]

((OOC: And likely smut eventually because I mean, it's me. But I have no specific plans. Also I know I said this before, but this is like, not so much a voice test as a "making the voice up as I go along" so if it seems a bit inconsistent it probably is. >_<))

Lots of strange things have happened in Avery's life up to this point. It's enough that he's not sure he'd recognize "normal" any more if it came up to him in an alley with a sock full of quarters. But stepping into a clearing only to fall through said clearing and ending up landing with a splash face down in a river when there was definitely no river anywhere in the woods he was in? That's... a new one.

At least it's not cold he supposes, which is good, because he's completely soaked through. Also his blessings include the river not being very deep, though he does know how to swim quite well. It's an easy matter to just stand up and wade to the bank, looking around curiously.

This is definitely a different forest than anything he's ever been in before. He could look around and visually tell that, for starters, but he can also feel it in his bones. After a moment of just standing there, listening, trying to orient himself, he lets his eyes slip closed and holds out a hand, laying it on the bark of the closest tree.

His mind follows from one tree to another to another, faster and faster, until suddenly the trees stop and turn into a village. He might be able to jump further, move from living thing to living thing within the village to search for something specific, except that as soon as he moves to do so he notices two things and comes back to himself with a sharp gasp.

First: the flowers within the village aren't his to command, an experience he's never had before.
Second: There's power crouched in the middle of the village and it's like nothing he's ever seen.

Simultaneously intrigued and also with... literally nothing else to do at this point... he slogs his way in wet shoes towards the village.

[sandinmyhair]

((And because it's me. Things'll get smutty, 'tis true.))

The river is shallow but wide, and flanked by reeds. The air hangs close and hot, nearly tropical. The heat and rich soil have combined to give a home to long grass and broad-leafed trees and massive, colourful flowers. The trees themselves, palms and cycads, seem... newer than such species ought to be. As though they can trace back only to a point within living memory instead of to the dawn of life on this planet like so many other examples of this ancient plant can do.

It very likely has something to do with that wall cutting him off from the flowers and plants, and with that massive power that sits in the centre of the village.

The village itself, nestled in a valley (the trees would speak of mountains younger than any mountains should be), also seems strangely new, as though settled only within three generations at most. The people, a colourful mix who speak South American Spanish...

...only they don't, do they? Or, if they do, it's suddenly become as easy to understand as English--something to do with that magic permeating the place...

direct him toward the giant hacienda that dominates the settlement. If he's lost, and it certainly seems as though he is, the Madrigals should be able to help him, right? There isn't much any of the villagers can do, in the midst of finishing all their repairs.

The hacienda. It's the source of that power, and at closer observation the power seems less like a singular thing and more like a kind of tapestry, woven tightly and securely of vastly diverse but united threads. A family? Quite possibly, if the front door is anything to go by, bearing what looks like a carefully wrought image of twelve people.

The place feels... alive, somehow.

[wildphase]

It's a strange walk. He's no stranger to being an outsider somewhere, but he's never felt it quite so keenly as here. He's soaked to the bone and no one here looks like him in the slightest, and clearly don't speak his language either. He's large and pale, with freckles covering the bridge of his nose and his cheeks making him look younger than he is, a mop of bright ginger hair on his head in curls that he's got absolutely zero control over (he jokes that everyone who's ever tried is dead... it's only a joke in that it's funny)

He is definitely lost.

Still, everyone is very kind and since the hacienda is where he's headed anyway, it's very convenient that everyone leads him to it. It's also very convenient that no one else comes with him or follows him, so he has a moment to stand in the building's scant shade a moment and stare up at it.

The door is interesting, but it's the power that draws his attention, fairly bursting at the seams for someone with eyes to see it. Mages in his world, he has found, are stuffy, not always boring but a little frightening for the power they wield-- an impression he does his best to dispel where he's concerned, to mixed success. This feels... warm, an impression of welcome and family that he can feel shining on him like the sun. Cautiously, he reaches out and, very gently, lays his hand on the doorframe rather than the shining door itself.

There's no attempt to push or force his own will on the house, nor to convey any particular message other than perhaps Here I am. Here is who I am., a polite recognition and announcement all in one. He has a feeling that will work better than any knock, but if it doesn't, he's not against knocking.

Kind of an all-A mashup plus C1 because it's Thelema and this is how she makes friends?

[notnaughtyjustfriendly]

(((LMK if I ought to change anything up! I figure she's basically in Encanto looking for signs of Bruno lurking about. ...if necessary, by scrying, although she's trying to be subtle.)))

[Since the opening of the village and resumed contact with the outside world, it had been only a matter of time before rumors would begin to spread. After all, the rest of the village had years of distrust and wariness about Bruno, but without the same connections as the Madrigals who so gladly welcomed him back, and Bruno himself had more than a little adjusting to do after a decade without real human contact. Of course, they did their best to be polite about it out of respect for Doña Alma, but their stiff manners and concealed grimaces were hardly undetectable, and their discomfort did nothing to help Bruno relate to them on a day-to-day basis. Additionally, uncomfortable grumblings and unflattering anecdotes were exchanged between villagers who quietly dreaded Bruno possibly seeing something grim about their futures, or dropping some hint of a vision they couldn't ignore. Some of those stories leaked gradually out of Encanto, expanding and clouding into the regional folklore as tales of the harbinger of doom who lurked about a town amid the mountains, communing with vermin and conveying curses (either unprompted or as punishments depending on the version of the story), a dark and foreboding figure balancing the blessedness of his family.

While the stories were merely an interesting footnote in the regional folklore for interested tourists and ethnographers, there were those to whom they were of more interest. Just as there were miracles and those blessed with wonderful gifts, there were calamities and those cursed with terrible afflictions, even hounded or tempted by malevolent supernatural forces.

Any occultist would have found the appearance of such shifts in folklore intriguing, but for one with Thelema's resources, reach, and special interests in witchcraft, curses, and demonology, it was irresistible. Certain details broadly consistent among the stories were too remarkable to dismiss, and such things are best addressed early to minimize damage--whether to the region or to the unfortunate innocent at the center of the stories. She'd quickly made her way to Colombia to investigate in person and collect details of the stories, herself, tracing them back toward their source.

It's a late afternoon, the sky still bright but the shadows of the mountains stretching across the town when she arrives in Encanto, guided by a resident returning from the next nearest settlement outside the mountain pass. She stands out rather obviously, silver-haired and very fair-skinned with bright blue eyes, wearing an innocent yet almost-revealing sundress, and with the cheery curiosity of a tourist. Seemingly in no rush, she takes her time exploring the town, making acquaintances--and as she soothes the residents into speaking freely, it doesn't take long for her to recognize that the Madrigal family is central to the stories.

Surely, they would be understandably wary if she were to show up at their door asking about magic; instead, she takes a subtler approach, watching patiently for signs of one who makes the townspeople uneasy. Whatever dark portents he may represent, Thelema is certain that she's encountered worse.

If necessary, she's confident she could cause far worse.

Still, she hopes to settle matters with compassion, warmth, and kindness. Humans respond well to such things, after all, and friendship can make them far happier, less dangerous, and more useful.]

[sandinmyhair]

[It doesn't take long for those telling tales of a stranger and those who tell tales of Bruja Bruno to intersect, especially given the fact that everyone blithely assumes that everything they say can somehow be heard. It's a thread that weaves everything together--the idea that someone's not so much listening as simply... hearing. It means they go to great lengths if there's something they don't want heard, but also that such instances are few and far between, as though everyone simply lives a life with nothing to hide.

Be that as it may, their chatter does sometimes shut down on the subject of that dark presence. They can't really say what's so... 'bad' about him.

'Well, it's those visions, you see. Nothing good comes of knowing the future.'

'He predicts something unfortunate and sure enough, it happens. Every time.'

'Nothing against the rest of the family, you know. Only every family's got its black sheep, hasn't it?'

It's probably kind of funny when they grow quiet and eye a green-clad figure making his way along the road. A few people cross themselves out of habit. For his part, the object of their stares appears to shrink in on himself morosely, dropping his gaze.

He's not the wraithlike apparition some of the stories had painted him to be--indeed, he seems small and unassuming and rather scrawny, his clothes oversized, his overgrown hair hiding a good deal of his face. His tread is silent and his movements furtive, giving the impression that he's more scared of the villagers than they are of him.

'That's him. You'll want to stay away, Señorita, nothing good comes of dealing with Bruja Bruno. There's dark magic around him.'

Bruno's stopped in the town square by a woman in a teal dress and apron, her hand lingering gently on his arm. They exchange words, then he nods and turns to head back into town. He takes maybe a step and the woman wraps her arms around him in a hug, laughing.

The aura of mystery and foreboding around him breaks in that moment as he splutters, objecting halfheartedly before returning the gesture. They stay in that embrace for a few beats and it becomes clear there's a lot of emotion behind so simple a gesture.

Then she lets go of him and sends him on his way with a light pat to his shoulder. He smiles, but the smile vanishes quickly, replaced by the sad and tired look he had before. He heads into another part of town, taking a quiet, less-populated route.]

[notnaughtyjustfriendly]

Diplomatic as ever, Thelema is more than content to play along with the villagers' assertions without really commenting, herself. No need to contradict them and make them feel she isn't listening to them and respecting them--or to make them think she's more than a peculiar, naive but sweet tourist.

When she catches a glimpse of him, this man of whom the rumors speak, this bruja whose footsteps are shadows, whose stride sets the pace for the marching of doom, she almost--almost--wonders if she missed him and the villager she's speaking to was trying to indicate someone else. He looks profoundly ordinary, the most uncommon thing about him his meekness, and perhaps the way the villagers' attention focuses on him.

The villager, busy indicating Bruno, misses her briefly calculating look. It's not impossible that the whole trip was for nothing and he's just a slightly weird villager and there's nothing more to it. ...but there is magic in the air, and she's very well aware of it, and the stories are still a little too consistent. She should at least arrange to meet him, shouldn't she? Especially seeing him briefly cheered by that gesture of... of what, fondness? Maybe appreciation? And how quickly it falls away once more as he moves on.

Politely excusing herself with an apology for keeping that last villager from their own business, she continues strolling at a leisurely pace, but having noted the direction in which Bruno was heading, she adjusts her course to meet him. With a cautious glance around each street corner, she monitors where he's headed, down the quieter, more remote streets, and with a brief hesitation, arranges the scene: just as he passes by a street corner, she's strolling into the same intersection, just in the right time and place to (literally) bump into each other.

"..oh..!"

Other than stumbling a little, though, and putting on her best Oblivious Tourist look of surprise, she deliberately hesitates, in order to tailor her response to his reaction. Will he be stunned, or frightened, confused? Will he fall over, himself, or try to catch her? How he handles a surprise will be valuable information.

Besides, far be it from Thelema to flinch from a little physicality.

MULTIVERSAL MISCELLANY

[under_illusions]

Evidently Loki had taken a wrong turn somewhere, entering this place from the Nexus. Everything was so green! Even the things that weren't green were so vibrant and stunningly beautiful. A nice break from Asgard, certainly. Plus it was easier to blend in, given his own green clothing...

And the green clothing of the man he suddenly turned a corner to find before him.

Startling backwards, Loki analysed the other man's lined face. Even their hair looked the same; long, fluffy black waves. Though Loki's was slightly longer. And they both had green eyes. Apparently green was a pattern today.

"Greetings," the prince offered cautiously. He'd allowed himself to become distracted by all the beauty of this paradise. If he tripped and fell down on a human, it could easily kill them. Assuming this was earth. Maybe it wasn't, but their position in the paths of the Nine of this universe, felt as though he was on earth again.

MULTIVERSAL MISCELLANY

[hamm3rtime]

Thor had intended to hop to the Nexus for some time spent with family lost. Instead he'd found himself in a beautiful and sunny, vibrant, lush and hilly place. The flowers were enormous and lovely. Thor wondered if introducing them to Asgard would be a bad idea? He'd love to see flowers like this all the time. It's just that the royal gardens had been predominantly kept by Frigga, and Thor wasn't entirely sure of the logistics of introducing flowers from one world, to another?

Wherever this world was. Maybe he was yet in the nexus?

He saw the rat first. Watched how fearless it was of him, despite his size and armor. Odd little thing. Watching in circle him, then retreat down the road to climb the clothing of another man, Thor waved in greeting, calling out, "Greetings to you! Do you know where I am?"

It was possible to teleport back home at any time, of course, but this place was fun.

[riselikethebreakofdawn]

The forest she had returned to was beautiful, but very different to this place in which she found herself, now. Elsa glanced about uncertainly. She wasn't really sure of where or when she'd obviously taken a wrong turn? This place was stunning and sprawling and... sheeee was so lost.

A rat ran up to her, and she was greatly reminded of befriending the lizard when she'd first found the forest. Just like the lizard, this tiny grey fluff seemed to have no fear of her. So she followed it as it darted along the path, though she memorized where she'd been. If it was domesticated, maybe it would lead her to peopl--

Oh look, it had. A man, older than her and dressed in colorful robes. Elsa's eyes warmed, looking at the lines of his face and the way that he moved. Nervous, like her. Caring, like her.

Hopefully knowing where she even was, unlike her. "Hi!" She waved happily, watching the rat that had helped her, retreat to its owner. She gave a short giggle at the cuteness, as it fearlessly scaled the man's robes to perch upon one of his arms.