seasonsrpg | A New Year, A New Me, A Whole New World

Entry tags:

A New Year, A New Me, A Whole New World

WHO: Count Melodymania, Max, and You.
WHAT: The side plot for Melodymania and Max, an internal power struggle made external
WHEN: January 1st - January 6th
WHERE: All over Ellipsa
WARNINGS: Body horror, themes of existential crisis, violence, attempted murder, NPC death, and trauma exploration

Act 1: Rise the Curtain [January 1st, Open]

Freedom. Sweet sweet freedom. Though that freedom is not yet permanent. That troublesome abomination will find a way to crawl his way back into control if he doesn't secure this coup quickly. He has days to act but he's had decades to plan this. Years upon years of biding his time, watching, learning, and watching for his chance. Ellipsa has provided all he has needed for this. Rinku and her beautiful XROSS∞BEAT was a sensational catalyst for his abilities to spread across this world within the barrier. Of course, the sacrifice of her soul was a price he was all too willing to pay. The musical influence would spread and settle over everyone. A world turned into a living musical and that was just Act 1.

This dreadful play he's planned has four more acts before everything it ends with his victory and Maximillian's permanent removal. It was time to start Act 2. Count Melodymania is giddy with the anticipation. This will be a show for all to remember. For all of January 1st, Melodymania is exploring Nightwake. He walks the streets, taking in sights, sounds, and songs. He is ecstatic to finally be in control again. He soaks up the musical energy spreading through the city. Locals and Otherworlder's alive are all susceptible to the musical energy he's spiked this world with.

Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

With some preparation and enjoying his time out completed, it was time for Act 2. This act would introduce the damsel in distress and end his life before even the intermission! The source of Max's incredible will and the one person who would drive him to claw back control from Melodymania; Esme. Esme had to die. Yes, coming back in three days was a thing in this world. It would be temporary at best but that didn't mean Melodymania couldn't capitalize on the torment and guilt of a painful death. He would make Esme suffer to his last breath. Just like Cole would in the final act of his dreadful play.

Finding Esme isn't difficult. The pull of the heart remains, despite Max being buried down below in his carnal womb. The pull of love is greater than any compass and soon Melodymania spots the little Lost. Soft fur, softer eyes, and an irritating talent for not dying. Striking fast from a shadow and slicing his throat would be the quickest and simplest way to get this done. Yet that was never his style nor was it within the realm of the rules of his title. He is Count Melodymania after all. Song and dance were part of his very being and even he is drawn in by the musical energy he's unleashed upon this world. Time for the act to begin with quite the song.

A song that starts to play all around Esme as Melodymania's voice rings out before he slides out of the shadows, singing at Esme.

It's not easy having yourself a good time~

Act 3: The Gate of Horn [January 3rd - January 5th, Open]

Esme isn't dead but how things turned out was even better than he had planned. That was why Melodymania loved his domain and title so much! Life being a musical means there will be improvisation, a pivot of songs and dance and themes as the stage players surprise him! Max is weakening inside him, which leaves the next stage, digestion. Melodymania makes his way back to Stormreach, to the home of Max and Esme. It is domain he has claim over because Max does too. Domain is important. If this entire world is to become his Arcadia, he needs a throne from which to rule it from. That is where domain comes in handy.

As Melodymania steps through the threshold of the house, wood and metal warps and twists. The house breaks apart as it folds in on itself. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the plumbing and wiring, tile, and furniture all obey his new design. The walls splinter to pull the bed out of the bedroom. The bed cracks as the frame and mattress are folded. Melodymania sits upon the new large chair as the wood warps under it. He is raised up as everything the cozy home once was is changed into a massive throne atop an archway. Wood and metal crack and splinter to form sharp shapes all along the massive arch. Every door in the house merges together to form one massive door that wires wrap around the frame and edges to suspend in the middle of the arch.

The throne, arch, and door finish moving. As Melodymania's eyes close, the massive warmed door opens. There is nothing on the other side but within the door, one can see a concrete staircase leading down into somewhere dark. There are shimmering lights down inside the liminal space Melodymania has opened up. the sound of music flows up the stairs.

This is the Gate of Horn. Entering will allow those who go in to venture into Max's soul scape. The staircase ends with what is a subway station before them. Though it looks like space was carved into the station to open it up for more room. There is an old fashioned train sitting on the tracks behind the bar. Yep, there is a bar. And the singing is coming from people on a makeshift stage performing in the little club. There are people in here too, strange figures of varying shapes and forms. A panda bear standing on all fours, a table of what look to be monks wearing blindfolds, a bartender who is made out of computer chips and old keyboards, and many more. There are archways and walkways a plenty to explore deeper in too; pathways each named after the four cardinal directions of North, South, East, and West. Finally a room is labeled throne room with two big body guards standing outside it. They glare anyone who approaches and will inform them the King of Corruption is not seeing visitors right now. He's out.

Do you chat up the guests, the bartender, the singer as she goes on break? Or do you simply go exploring on your own?

Act 4: The King of Corruption [January 5th evening, Open]

Near the end of the dreadful play, the songs and dancing hasn't stopped out in the real world. Yet inside the soul scape, things are not going well. The spreading corruption and influence of Melodymania is seen everywhere. Positive memories are being devoured and sinking into the darkness of his ambitions. Those exploring the paths and memories all find their way down into the deeper depths of Max's soul. Here lies the Contagion. White goo clings to surfaces, it drips from the ceilings, and crawls up the walls. The cracked floors and ground has the white goo bubble up from between the broken gaps. The landscapes start to our into one another and stop making any logical sense.

A graveyard but it has walls of a church and the ceiling of a beautiful lobby of some building. Parts of the floor and ground are separating with long strands of contagion trying to hold it all together. Yet the more it breaks here, the more strained those strings are. They are liable to break if this keeps happening. Nearing the end of this path stands a knight in armor. His sword is held before him, blade down, standing tall. He will be the one to greet all who make it this far.

"Max is just beyond. Before I allow you to pass, state your intentions. I will allow none who side with the Other to pass. Speak quickly. There is not a lot of time."

Act 5: The End of Music [January 6th midnight, Locked to Cole and reactions.]

The end is nigh. Yet this play does not end as the original author intended. After all, musicals have happy endings. Well, most of them do. Some are bittersweet. Some are even sad. But so often, the villain receives their just desserts. This is one such ending. Cast out of Max, Melodymania lands upon the cold and frozen snow outside the Gate of Horn. He is beaten but not finished. Not yet. Though someone awaits him, armed with iron, and ready to put an end to this fiend's vile plans. Once and for all.

Melodymania looks up slowly, green eyes glaring up at Cole with grinding teeth.

"You...you have always been a thorn in my side. A sour note in my songs. The fucking key on my piano I can't seem to fix or the string that keeps breaking on my violin!" He pushes himself up to his knees with great effort.

"You vile little mortal. Failure of a would-be hero. Always too late. Always too weak. Isn't that right, Cole?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Macaque is still clutching at his head, and when his hand comes away there's blood on it. Blood from his ears. Again. The silence bubble helps, but it can't undo what's been done.

His head is still ringing, making him lurch with vertigo and fall to his knees. He is barely able to hear Esme over the sound that's reverberating through his head like feedback from a mic, only way more awful.

Iron, is all that Macaque can mentally get out right now. He tries to form a portal, and some shadow swirls in midair before popping like a soap bubble before it can fully form.

He tries to refocus and try again...

The damn monkey at least now is subdued, for now. Little Esme is trying to do something. Helping. His music can't get close anymore. Good thing it's already bounding around inside that thick skull of the primate. Which gives him time to form sharp rocks to beat the damn iron off his leg! The clasp opens and he kicks the damn thing as far as he can. Which, honestly, isn't far. He grumbles as he tries to think.

He needs to end this and end Esme. But he can't kill him. The protection clearly is only targeted to Esme. Which means everyone else is equally vulnerable. His hand touches the necklace of other titles around his neck, stolen from Max. Wait. There is one that isn't a title. He pulls it off and stares at it. This is the answer to all his troubles! He clutches it in his fist and green light shines from between his fingers. It needs a new shape. He is no relic or token smith but he can brute force what he needs out of it. No longer a boat, but a mixture of ring and thimble.

Once that's done, he just needs to get in close. And the monkey is having such a hard time focusing. Time to end this. Time to skip to the end of the song.

The final act is sure to be a theatrical plot twist worthy of a prize
Want a shot? You better be more tactical
Messin' with Melodymania is never wise!

I've had enough of you
So won't you be my puppet on a string
I've had enough of you
Oh, dance, my little muppet plaything!

The fae rushes the two of them. He strums the guitar strings once more, sending small little reverberations through the air, laced with magic. It doesn't release yet. No point when that damn bubble is up. But if he can get close enough to Macaque, he can use the spell on the scarf directly. Which is what he tries to do as he tries to run and tackle the monkey to the ground.

I can't. If I touch it I'll be wounded and my powers stop working. Iron is more effective on him than their opponent unfortunately. Unfairly so.

With Melodymania coming in fast, Esme does the only thing he can think of...by trying to tackle Melodymania back when he lunges. Buy Macaque a few more seconds to try and collect himself. Throw himself at the problem and hope it has any effect.

We could try--

That's as far as he gets before Melodymania tackles him to the ground. Macaque reacts like any cornered animal would, with flailing claws and gnashing fangs. He only barely has the presence of mind to avoid hitting Esme when he joins the fray.

The tackle connects and Melodymania grabs the scarf. The magic courses through every fiber which is what he wanted. As the claws swipe and flail, Melodymania grabs hold of one of those hands and slip something onto Macaque's finger. The metal spiral attached to what looks like a sharp point. The metal tightens around the finger, ensure it is not coming off, not without taking the finger with it. Then Esme tackles him off Macaque. Melodymania growls as he his the ground but this may be more perfect than not! He can't hurt Esme, but he can grapple him. He grabs hold of the incessant problem and tries to lock his arm and head with his own.

"You irritation! You vile little hanger on! Always meddling and getting in the way. Not anymore!"

Esme doesn't have the muscle memory to break the hold so he has to rely on the predictable changeling trick of deciding that hold isn't secure enough to keep him. He slips free and tries to put himself between the Fae and the monkey. Not realizing what was just done.

Macaque struggles as Melodymania slips that ring onto his finger, and then he's off of Macaque, thanks to Esme.

Macaque tries to get that ring off -- legitimately, he might pull his own finger off in the attempt -- and gives Melodymania a swift kick in the face at the same time, at his full strength which is nothing to sneeze at.

"Shut the fuck up, you pitiful loser. Once we get Max back, he'll do worse than trap you for this." This meaning tackling Esme and trying to hurt him.

The pulling of the finger off would be bad. He can't allow that. The kick comes and hits him right in the head, knocking it back with a sickening crack. Even as the bone pokes out of the skin, his hands push his head back up into place, even as the red blood and white contagion leak down his front from the broken flesh.

"Max is never coming back," he says with a grin. He stands up, Esme between himself and Macaque, just as he wants.

And everything you do is what I say!
Starting now and everyday
You'll be my puppet, learn to love it
Every word I say, you'll covet!
Start-a-new, stuck like glue
Bid your former self adieu
'Cause I've had enough of you!

His hands reaches up and form a pair of glowing green marionette controllers. The scarf around Macaque's neck bursts into threads. That tattered fabric now a long series of fine threads. They stab into Macaque's hands and his feet like puppet strings. He raises Macaque up and pulls him toward Esme. Macaque's arms wrap around Esme like a protective hug.

Then the Lost's shirt is pulled down with one hand as the other stabs that sharp little blade right into Esme's chest. Then with a flick of his wrist, the blade snaps off as it breaks from the spiral. It's embedded now and the change is instantaneous. Melodymania's eyes widen and glow that bright grin as he dismisses the controllers. The scarf returns to its original form, tearing free of flesh and becoming just a scarf once more.

"Beautiful! Absolutely poetic! Truly a plot twist, improvised thanks to your meddling. Thank you both, my lovely useful idiots."

Esme doesn't get the chance to react, not realizing what's going on until the blade pierces his skin. The feeling is familiar and instant, a snapping of all his positive attachments snapping and funneling to the monkey holding him. Not just Max's. Everyone else just...not as important now.

He understands what happened but still immediately turns to Macaque in concern, just in time to see the scarf return to normal. "Are you...your hands!"

He almost doesn't hear what Melodymania says. But he does hear and he understands that he just acted on instinct and Max was hurt because of it. That splintering feelings in his mind worsens.

Macaque continues to struggle as the scarf is unraveled into threads and those threads pierce his limbs, forcing him to act as his puppeteer commands. His eyes widen in horror.

"Esme -- run!"

Macaque struggles hard against what Melodymania is making him do, gritting his teeth and trying with all his strength not to do it. Trying to call his shadows to level this asshole before he can do something that himself, Esme, and Max will all regret.

But it's too late. That sharp piece of ring pierces Esme's chest. But there's no real wound, not like there should be... and yet Melodymania is convinced that he's won all of a sudden. What the fuck did he just make Macaque do?!

--Esme's heightened concern hits as the scarf is made back to normal just in time for Macaque to practically tear it off of himself. He's still trying to figure out what the fuck just happened as he looks to the sharp thing sticking out of Esme's chest but apparently not paining him. What the--

"Ah yes. Run Esme, Run! Flee! Escape!" Melodymania exclaims and laughs. He wraps his arms around himself and just laughs.

"Oh this is so beautiful! So romantic! The damsel! So worried about his would-be savior. The great and powerful Macaque. And low! You've saved Esme. I am certain any attempt to kill him will still fail. But I've found a fate worse than death. Well, for Maximillian, anyway. It is so sad to die and be digested, absorbed, and disbursed. To wish desperate to see your love one last time, to hope they can find you, save you, or at least comfort you in your final moments. Basking in the glow of their love. Impossible now~"

Melodymania giggles to himself as music begins to play around them.

"Cupid's arrow strikes again. A foolish decision to keep it on him all these decades. The key to his undoing. And what a sweet road to victory I now walk. His entire reason for being, the sole anchor of his entire existence when he shouldn't exist at all, is Esme's love for him. And now Esme doesn't love him anymore. Doesn't love anyone. No one but you, Macaque. You are all his heart desires, the one most important person in the whole of creation to widdle Esme now. He loves you so so so much."

The wounds don't look serious, probably not as bad as his ears are still. He could fix that for Macaque with a night's rest later.

But unfortunately for Max, he can't really help with that now. All his useful tricks are gone still. His shoulders slump. But Macaque is still here, and as much as the strength of the pull isn't natural he can't help focusing on that right now.

Failing Max doesn't...not hurt, but it's not as deep as it would be. The blind panic feels far away for now and he finally looks away, ashamed for it.

Macaque scoffs at Melodymania's little speech. "You're no better at talking than you are at music. 0 out of 10 as a villain speech."

But then...

Cupid's arrow? Macaque looks at Esme with utter horror, remembering Dedrick. Oh fuck, what did he do?! He just hurt Esme and Max in the worst way possible.

"...Esme. I'm so sorry." So inadequate, but it's all there is.

That gets the fae's face to fall and his expression to sour.

"I tire of you, monkey. And your critical point of view. Though I do have one last thing to say. An addendum to my villain speech, as you say. Worry not, Macaque. For in doing what has been done, one of your dark little wishes has come true. Max heard it as you delved into one another, and by extension, so did I. And now it isn't Esme alone who loves you and only you. But MK as well. All that love, that admiration, the affection he shows so readily toward those others? Now it is all for you. You are hero, mentor, and ultimate mate."

"A parting gift for you and for your assistance. Now. I shall be off. I have to prepare. After I have finished digesting Max, I will turn this world into my new Arcadia. I've laid the foundation, now I shall seize the power to do so. Rules be damned. Until we meet again when you both are my Changelings, along with every other living being in this realm."

With those words and a flash of green light, Melodymania vanishes.

The sound of that makes him shiver and he looks to Macaque again once Melodymania vanishes. "This isn't your fault," he says simply. "But...he can't do that. He can't make Arcadia here. He can't just take us..."

...can he?

What about Macaque and all of the people he loves? His family?

Macaque struggles to hear Esme. He struggles to hear anything other than ringing. And now with Melodymania gone and that heap of news dumped on his head, the adrenaline is flowing out.

Macaque drops to a knee, holding his bleeding ears, moaning in pain.

Yuzuki doesn't make a habit of being out of the loop. Quite the opposite, in fact; he makes a point of knowing the game and all its many pieces. It's a matter of pride both personal and professional — he's damn good at what he does.

… Usually.

Not so much this past day or so. Whatever the fuck is going on with all the magic in the air, it's left him feeling … out of sorts. Too big for himself in every way possible, and he's sure that somehow he can hear more, so much more, too much more, which is a fucking trip for a guy who can already hear everything.

So. Yeah. Out of sorts. And not unlike an egg on the verge of cracking. And, to his own internal frustration, late to this little party. Yuzuki steps out of a nearby patch of shadow and takes in the scene with a single glance, golden eyes sharp. What he sees — Macaque, in pain, blood dripping from between his fingers — is enough that his cool expression splinters into the beginnings of a snarl, albeit only briefly.

And what he hears is —

… Fuck. What the fuck. He allows himself one subtly deeper breath, and very coolly, so very calmly strides forward to crouch in front of Macaque, acknowledging Esme with a short nod as he does so.

"Macaque," he says, quietly, echoed by his shadow … and by himself again? His magic, weaving itself into his voice; pure music seeking and finding threads of harmony. Yuzuki said Macaque's name — his title. Yuzuki's magic sang the first note of Macaque's song.

Oh, there are two shadow monkeys now. This one knows Macaque obviously, which makes sense because Macaque is amazing. He nods back politely, head tilting curiously at the odd harmony. He doesn't know what is happening, but hopefully it's just one monkey helping another. So he stays quiet, hovering close to Macaque.

Macaque glances up at the sound of his name. It's telling that he didn't do so before then, but his hearing is just a teensy bit completely fucked up right now.

It's also the first thing that he's heard correctly since that asshole made that noise in his head and his eardrums snapped like fall leaves beneath a boot.

He looks at Yuzuki with as much aplomb as he can manage when he's holding his bleeding, unglamoured ears.

"I usually like to wait until the third date to let someone see me when I'm this big a mess." He manages a little smile.

"Esme, this is Yuzuki.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A New Year, A New Me, A Whole New World

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]

Re: Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]