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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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Sensing his confusion probably would have been funny if not for the fact that she was also feeling confused, and in turn, beginning to doubt why she was doing any of this in the first place, which was already something she was struggling to keep a hold of. It was strange really… all these years, she’s lived with her empathic abilities, yet she still struggled to think with her head instead of her heart. She was so easily swayed, and so weak willed… though others who had loved her simply just said that she just had a good heart. It was one thing to feel someone’s emotions, and leave it at that. But to actively choose to ease pain, or to encourage joy, or to even see things from another perspective was said to be a good thing. Though, at the time (and even now) she had thought that anything would sound good if someone reframed it like that, especially because she knew herself… she was as selfless as she was selfish. Nowadays, there was rarely an act of kindness that wasn’t in part, to help herself… she glances at the man. He was someone who was sincere, and even happy… the manor was full of characters, but sincere was rare… even the trustworthy Coordinator had her own secrets. So… was it even fair to try and rip the whole place apart for answers?

She finds herself even further confounded that she could have this train of thought at all… though perhaps it was simply just because the emotions were easier to parse from hers. Her base mood was never joy or even optimism in a vague sense… it was apathy. Therefore, the emotion of joy was his. Confusion, was mutual, even if the reason behind them was different… parsing what belonged to who, was easier to sort out in moments like this. Moments where emotions weren’t so overbearing and suffocating that she thought it would snuff out her sense of self. Moments that were calm, and even somewhat positive to ease her mood and herself. This was easy… no complicated emotions… nothing mixed, or hidden beneath the surface- at least, as far as she could tell. Just simple, clean, easy emotions to put into identifiable boxes. There may have been a few bits of him that was reminiscent of the hunter she knew… somewhere buried deep within him, but… she doesn’t think it really matters now. The emotions that were prominent were more reflective of who he was now, than the emotions that had lingered deep inside.

“Oh… thank you…” She says in response to his agreement in letting her be more formal with him. And with his question, she realized perhaps she did step a bit too far… but it wasn’t as if it was something that she couldn’t just shrug off. Something she could make an excuse for. “Ah sorry if it was odd to ask… I was just wondering is all. It feels as though it would be hard to deal with poachers, and even have to be the one to maintain the balance of a forest… I suppose I’m just thinking of things from my own view though… I could never be confrontational in any manner.” She chuckles sheepishly before she moved on to address his question… something she sighed at with a solemn manner. “I am alright…” She’d say as she looked at him with a smile that was bittersweet in its nature.

“There’s nothing there worth yearning or missing anymore… not for me at least.”

She had sensed something was off about the manor… she could tell when the… things that watched the house, became alarmed and curious. Of course, this in turn, affected her own actions in spite of her recent tangle with mystery and the subsequent near death. She supposed though, this would be fine, wouldn’t it…? After all, if it was truly something worrisome… the least she could do was tell that scientist. Sure, he may not have exactly been supernatural the same way she, or the other hunters and survivors were, but he at least, could try to investigate, and if not… contact the Baron if required. She didn’t trust the higher powers of the manor… Hastur was unapproachable and silent in a way that made one think speaking was a death wish. And Yidrah was… well, Yidrah.

So naturally, she went to go and find that strange anomaly… the thing that made even the eyes of the manor jitter with anticipation and curiosity. She searched and searched, the almost ever shifting halls and paintings of the manor almost seeming to… guide her. As if the decision to look had been known amongst them, and they were indulging her curiosity for their… amusement…? Perhaps benefit was a better word. Finally, she happened upon the door, open and lettinf in a most… warm and soft light. How peculiar… she doesn’t recall the garden being here… or the door to the garden looking like this.

She passes through the open door and winces from just how… bright it was. The manor was often dim, save for the garden, so her eyes were a tad sensitive. As she stepped further through the flowers (which from the looks of them, may have been hydrangeas?) she had seen a figure. Something about him was familiar… but that couldn’t be him! He was far too well emotionally to ever be the callous, deer-headed hunter.

“Hello…?” She called out.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Upon hearing somebody emerge from the manor the gamekeeper couldn't help but to look up and-

Who was that? He hadn't seen anybody like her in the manor before... Granted, he didn't get to go to the manor overly often due to his position but, well, still... Was she a new employee? Or perhaps one of the Baron's invited guests? Either way, it'd be rude not to introduce himself.

So with a smile on his face- it was always nice to make a new friend- he stood up straight, a watering can in hand- the gardener's were sick, so he'd offered to help out a little bit when he had the time and so thus here he was, alone in the gardens except for this newbie- as he approached past all the different flowers, waving briefly with his free hand before letting it drop and stay by his side as he came to a stop just in front of her.

"Hi. Did you... need something? I'm just the gamekeeper here, Bane Perez... So you might not see me around much," and he may not be of much use when it came to matters within the manor, "but if there's anything you need help with at all, just let me know and I'll be glad to lend a hand."

He wasn't one for talking, always preferring to let others lead the conversation, but it was difficult to make friends with others if you didn't know how to speak up.

Just like the hunter by the same name, his voice was a little deep and gruff, if only a bit less rough. Contrary to the angry hunter though, his voice was more light-hearted. Even with the same height and body shape he seemed nicer, more soft around the edges and less towering... No limp hindered his movements and his skin was a healthy, living shade rather than the usual grey-purple that was to be seen from the hunter. Even with fabric and cloth covering almost every inch of his body any intimidation that could've brought was immediately destroyed by his friendly attitude.

@idv-ask-the-empath

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #adttp #adttp event #adttp + delara #we get ONE colored drawing bcus I was feeling good

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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She nodded idly as she looked towards him with an understanding expression, a slight reserved smile crossing her expression. But… a part of her could no doubt sense something in him… her empathic abilities picking up even the slightest bit of troubled emotion within his psyche. How curious… for all the trust and faith he had in others… did he not have enough in himself? Or was he trying to deceive himself…? Was there a passing thought he had about the true nature of this place…? She can’t even tell if that distrust is hers… or his. It could easily be, either or. She wanted to test that theory… though she supposed theory sounded calculated and cold… perhaps it was. The man had so far, been earnest, enthusiastic even, and pleasant. There was no indication that he was lying, and she even felt the mild guilt he felt when he took the responsibility of an issue that hadn’t even been his fault. How she wished she could read intent or minds… emotions were good enough for simple things. Discerning if things were… alright, in situations where nuance didn’t need to be considered. Emotions weren’t even real truths… they were personal ones. Ones that people felt, and believed… beliefs that were thought to be justified by their own hearts. In other words… she’d never be able to spot a lie, or deception. For all she knew about a person’s heart, she’d never know enough.

And that thought alone, was beyond frustrating. Or, it would have been… that was the hard thing about being an empath. She was either filled with grief, or anger, or she was never allowed to process it at all… which made times where she thought about things that made her upset, all the worse for it. It was hard to cope with negative emotions when she was either half asleep, or fighting it off to act and be as functioning as she could. She’d never be able to process her grievances normally… not without it being painful for her, or without any outside assistance- whatever that may have been.

“No, please do not worry. I was able to follow along just fine.” She says with sincerity, her hands raised up as both a stopping, and almost… she supposed, a surrendering gesture. The intent though, was mostly to show him that he could calm himself, and that he wouldn’t have to worry about her comprehension skills. Though she pauses almost hesitantly, unsure of how he’d react to what she was about to ask. If this was the Gamekeeper she knew… he was likely to strike her where she stood, but the longer she stayed here with this… more human, Gamekeeper, she was hoping she could push the envelope a bit. Not in a way that would be suspicious, just… more so, in a manner that would allow it to be more interpretable. “Are you alright, though… Mister P- I mean… Bane…?” She says, soon following up with, “Sorry… I suppose it’s just… a force of habit…” She mumbled, audible enough to catch if he was paying attention. “I’m not too used to calling people by their names unless we’re close.” She’d clarify before walking over to the section where the roses were red. She looked right at home with them.

“Though, that is not to say that calling you by your name is necessarily bad either. I suppose it’s just different from what I am used to, is all.” She’d reassure him, thinking if he was as sincere as she believed him to be, he’d likely put the weight of that unto himself, and really, she’d rather avoid that… for both of their sakes. The conversation was already likely to turn a bit awkward, and she’d rather avoid him feeling like he messed up somehow. She would quite literally, feel the secondhand embarrassment wash through her, and that was never comfortable.

“Hello…?” She called out.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Upon hearing somebody emerge from the manor the gamekeeper couldn't help but to look up and-

He wasn't one for talking, always preferring to let others lead the conversation, but it was difficult to make friends with others if you didn't know how to speak up.

@idv-ask-the-empath

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #adttp event #adttp + delara #adttp #AUGHHH thank you 🥺🥺🥺 I am having trouble writing up interesting stuff and inner monologue ajdjsjdjsjsj

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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She nodded in response to his words, his voice having dragged her from her thoughts. Perhaps keeping her hands busy would do better to keep her mind from becoming too idle and straying from her actual goal of investigation. She took the watering can, and carefully carried it towards the white roses, where she began to water them. She stuck out like a sore thumb in the area with the white roses. She had already been rather obvious, given the intensity and depth of the red on her cloak. But amongst the white roses, her cloak and silhouette was like blood on their petals. She watered them carefully, careful to avoid giving them too much water. She had tended to roses before… roses of different varieties, in fact. She recalled loving them quite fondly… funny. She never really thought of roses, despite them being one of her favorite flowers. Well. Used to. Despite her pleasant mood, she knew where her train of thought was going. She stops her mind from delving further into her memories. She doesn’t want to lose sight of anything. Besides… seeing as how even if things were pleasant enough, she didn’t want to be taken off guard by anything with malicious intent. Evil wasn’t an emotion, nor was most ill intent… so she’d have to guess. There was always rage, or a sorrow so deep it could cut through any good mood, no matter who she was with… and then there was the worst emotion of all. Obsession. The boiling point where even wonderful things such as love, turn horrid and rotten.

She had to keep herself open and aware enough to sense it… if she could, she’d have to leave. Immediately. No turning back. She seemed a little tense as she finished up her portion of watering the roses, and before long, she had set her watering can on the ground, careful to avoid ruining any flowers. She thinks of questions for him… questions she could ask that sounded inconspicuous but ultimately would clue her in on the nature of… all of this. She had to figure out if this was just some… strange alternate reality, or if this was again, a trick. And she’d have to be able to discern it through whatever this version of Bane was. But so far… things were just… pleasant. She couldn’t feel the curiosity of the watchers that the manor seemed to implement into every living space of the damned manor- save of course, for places that the Baron didn’t seem to care to look at. For reasons unknown, and for better or for worse.

“May I ask… what exactly do you do here, Mister Perez…?” She asks, polite and soft toned. “I know you said you are a “gamekeeper” but ah… I’m not familiar with the term. I come from a rather… I suppose, not so well off town. There’s a lack of proper education where I am from, and if there’s ever anyone in the forest… they are usually hunters or people who like to keep to themselves.” She explained so she didn’t sound like she was needling him about his job. She bent down to observe some of the roses, admiring how well kept they were. It seemed the gardeners loved their job here- at least well enough to take care of things with such care. There wasn’t a single dead branch in the rose bushes. Though, perhaps it was wrong to think that? For all she knew, the staff were abused, and perfection was kept out of fear. But… she glanced towards the man. He seemed alright- though that was under the assumption that all of this was real. She keeps the thought in the back of her head.

“Hello…?” She called out.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Upon hearing somebody emerge from the manor the gamekeeper couldn't help but to look up and-

He wasn't one for talking, always preferring to let others lead the conversation, but it was difficult to make friends with others if you didn't know how to speak up.

@idv-ask-the-empath

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #adttp event #adttp + delara #adttp #hey thinking abt if Delara got stuck there 👁👁

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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“Oh… um… hello…” She says with mild shock. She tugged her hood further down and looked down as she frowned, surprised to have not only seen the face of the man (even if it was somewhat obscured by shadow) but to also… see him… uncharacteristically sociable. And friendly. And happy. And really, anything that wasn’t cranky, or angry, or even… melancholy. What sort of trick was this…? Perhaps it was her time in the manor, but… she felt more and more cynical the longer she stayed. And she felt guilty. Ashamed. She wanted to keep her optimism… it felt… better to have it. She felt stronger for it. She remembered her wife loving her for it… she put her hands together in front of her, her hand twisting the golden band around her ring finger. She would.., sort that out later. It was… surprising to have feelings strong enough to counteract someone else’s emotions. She was either feeling far worse about the situation than she thought was, or he wasn’t… as real as he seemed to be. But that was an unkind, and unfair assumption.

“No, no, I don’t need anything.” She says as she looked up towards his face, which managed to catch her off guard each time she looked. Even if the details were difficult, she could still… see just enough. “I apologize for practically waltzing into this lovely garden here… I suppose I am just… confused.” She answered with an audible mumble; with enough truth and puzzlement in it to sound convincing. She looked around the garden, which, bore a striking resemblance to the garden she knew in the manor. But the flowers here were different. Instead of her marigolds, there were hydrangeas. There was lavender growing between them, and there were roses, growing along chiseled marble columns that held up the terrace above the door. When she realized this may have been concerning to him, she smiles- which was easy to do considering the mood that eased her confusion and shock. “Ah, but please, do not worry about me… I am much better situated now.” She says as she looked around. “Would you like some help…?” She’d ask, partially out of what she thinks? Might be a genuine, metaphorical extension of her hand?- and the piece of her own emotions that made her inclined to investigate further… she wanted to figure out what exactly was going on.

Unfortunately, she was hardly clever enough to figure these sorts of things out. She’d need more clues to know. In the distance, she could hear children laughing, playing in another part of the garden. Children…? There were no other children here other than the little girl, and another younger lad whom she had seen but had yet to meet. How peculiar… though, as strange as it was, being in this garden, and hearing the laughter… it was making her feel bittersweet nostalgia. She looks towards the flowers more fondly and brushes her hand against the petals gently as though she were seeing an old friend. She wasn’t sure what was going on here… she wasn’t sure if this was even okay- her being there that is. But she found herself wanting to stay. She hadn’t felt or known relief in any real manner, in the manor until now. She constantly has to reign her thoughts in to focus- though she certainly doesn’t let that show on her expression. Whenever she did so, it seemed more like she was simply spacing out. Her eyes getting distant and lost as she focused on keeping her priorities in order.

“Hello…?” She called out.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Upon hearing somebody emerge from the manor the gamekeeper couldn't help but to look up and-

He wasn't one for talking, always preferring to let others lead the conversation, but it was difficult to make friends with others if you didn't know how to speak up.

@idv-ask-the-empath

#adttp #adttp + delara #adttp event #Delara whispers #idv oc #idv oc ask blog #idv askblog #idv ask the empath #idv empath

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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She had nodded absentmindedly in response to his words, unsure if he meant them sincerely, or if he meant them more as… a warning. Perhaps, it was both? She could figure it wasn’t necessarily out of care for her, but rather, care for what her possible actions may entail… she supposed for now at least… she’d stay still. Who knows…? Maybe someone else will come along? Maybe they’ll stir the pot? No. She stops herself from thinking about it. That would be an unkind fate, for everyone involved. It was best not to wish these types of things at all, let alone even think about them in passing. It was dangerous… because at the end of the day, when this whole thing fell apart… what would happen then…? She’s fairly certain that the people here… most, if not all of them have long since passed from this world. Their life only being preserved in the manor… she’s not sure if any of them would be ready to go. She doesn’t think it would be fair to make some of them- especially the young ones- give up the chance to live their lives, even if it’s in such a grim, and awful place as the manor…

No… it was best not to hope for any sort of change. Not when things were as unstable, and enigmatic as they were now.

“Ah… my apologies, but as much as I am happy to help you, mister Lapadura, I’d rather avoid having to mend trust, or any distress that’s been caused… I think most already find me too troublesome to work with, especially since they’re completely unaware of my condition, and my abilities… it doesn’t help that I do tend to be a bit of a tattletale, as I’m not fond of the way survivors can be when they think no one is looking. I suppose, in short… I’d rather keep my company peaceful, if even a tenuous sort of peaceful. It’s too much work to maintain and nurture the little camaraderie I have… and, as you know… the emotional weight of it all, is exhausting.” She replied as she looked towards him with a tired but, nonetheless, sincere expression. Well, as sincere as she could get it. She still looked like she was about to topple over from the stress and exhaustion.

“But… that aside… thank you. I will be sure to let you know if there is anything that should be fixed or made. Take care, mister Lapadura.” She nodded at him as she walked forward, only glancing back at the man to speak once more. “Ah… and as I said before… please keep an eye on the Gamekeeper. I am sure you would do so without my asking, but… I do mean it… my abilities can be exhausting… but they are useful in sensing things that aren’t easy to spot or see with the naked eye… after all, emotion and intent is present in a lot of creatures. The garden in particular has been… ah… how should I put this…? There’s been rather… inquisitive eyes in the garden… and more in the forest…” She commented before taking her leave. If he wanted to say something, or continue speaking, he probably should have done it now. She seemed intent on getting her rest.

There was something strange going on. That much, Burke knew well. Something had happened during Bane's last match and he was determined to find out what. Unfortunately though, his old friend had hidden himself away in the forest again. This left Burke with just one option... the only survivor in that match which Bonbon hadn't seen. Luckily for him, he managed to luck into finding her on one of his breaks. "Ah, just the woman I was looking for!" @ask-burke-lapadura

She seemed startled when he spoke to her. She hadn’t been paying attention, and she was only mindlessly wandering so she could get her mind off of… she inhaled sharply before exhaling somewhat shakily. She supposed she should have known it was someone else when she suddenly felt a burning curiosity amongst her ever deepening concern… she turns to the older man, her brows knit together in a way that made her expression come across as confused and almost troubled. She hadn’t meant any offense she just… didn’t expect anyone to actively seek her out. And especially after her last game, she could recall her teammates collectively agreeing to simply leave her be so she wouldn’t have to worry about overwhelming herself… even the baron had sent her a letter the very next day to take a few extra days of rest for herself, and that he had requested the hunters to avoid speaking or interacting with her so as to not induce any more “stress related hallucinations”.

Ever since she got the letter, she had been… very on edge. She knew well enough when someone was lying to her, regardless of whether they were in person or not. She knew what she saw and what she felt… she knew what the Gamekeeper felt too. It was all… a mess. So much of a mess that she knew the only way to keep things clean, was to deny it all. Even if she knew what was true. She had been in enough positions to know that the truth tended to worsen problems…

“Oh… are you… are you sure it is me you want at the moment…?” She asks, polite but cautious as was usual for her. What did he want from her anyways…? She wondered if he was here about the Gamekeeper… after all they were close. She would t have been surprised if the events had put the hunter off, and made him feel… a little troubled, to say the least. But if so, did the mad scientist have to speak to her like this…? Then again… perhaps he wanted to tell if she were lying or not. Writing was one thing, but being able to read one’s face was another… still. At the end of the day, she concluded that it had to be about his friend. He didn’t seem to be keen on interacting with other survivors, and she figured that the the only reason why he’d bother her specifically, was to talk about… what happened. She supposed she’d let him know… in all truth, she was worried about the hunter, not to mention she’d do anything to lift the crushing weight of what she had saw. What she had felt.

“My apologies if there has been any trouble… but I assure you… it has nothing to do with me…” She says with more caution, anxiously looking at the paintings on the wall, and the corners of the hallway where the shadows seemed to be unnervingly dark in spite of the lighting. “However, if you’d like to discuss the nature of these troubles, I may be able to point you in the right direction as to the cause…? I must ask though… if we are to do so, may we go somewhere more… secure…? I would hate for anyone to hear me being a tattletale…” The way she speaks is a bit more… deliberate, and vague enough to connect to any thought. She’s speaking casually and even meekly enough that it sounds almost earnest, yet there’s a level of control that she had with her tone and the pacing of her words, that showed that she knew exactly what he may have wanted to discuss. She just hoped he understood that she wished for more security if they were going to speak… now that she had seen what she had saw, followed by the baron’s letter… she wasn’t sure if privacy was real in the manor. After the incident, she wouldn’t have been surprised if it wasn’t… she glanced to a painting on the wall… was it always looking in their direction…?

@ask-burke-lapadura

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #UWAAA THANK YOU 🥺<3 /p #Also skdjwjdj sjdjsj Delara lowkey unsure and doubtful of how nice Burke sorta is #but YEAH idk #maybe I WILL bring in shaman girl #just for funsies #she can see ghosts and spirits and she deals mostly with expelling bad spirits/demons #She has a very unsettling but not necessarily bad take on death #would love to see Burke and Bane’s reactions to shaman girl thh #she’d say something like ‘’you know it’s so strange! sometimes I can hear the cries of children in certain places. they’re calling for you’’#ALSO GHANK YOU… I love miss whispers 🥺#also she’s slowly becoming a bit more cynical in character but that’s a good thing I think ???#I didn’t want to make her too kind or too forgiving (even though that’s what she is too)#I feel like rping with you has made giving her more depth easier to explore #she’s emotional and kind and very soft hearted but she also does things mostly for herself too #she likes helping people but she also hates owing people and she hates having to do teamwork

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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She could feel his unease and the concern… it was mixing in with her own, and overpowering any possible thoughts of trying to further her investigations. At least… at the moment. Then again, thinking about it properly now… it wasn’t as though she could actually do anything about it… her powers could in theory, be formidable sure, but they were hardly developed enough to influence anything like gods, or anyone mad enough to deal with gods or otherworldly horrors. Even if they were. She imagines the consequences of such a feat would be devastating unto her… who knows what could happen…? She could break under the pressure, or perhaps if she managed to get them angry… she tensed. She began fiddling with her ring, which was notably well taken care of as opposed to the dress she wore, or the worm edge of her red cloak. The slowly decaying state of her dress was considerably less noticeable, but it was clear enough near the hem of her skirt.

“… I think at worst, I may just get curious and investigate… or try to, at least… but I’m afraid I haven’t the right wits or strength to do so, so it’s not as though it is anything achievable for me…” She says as she thinks about her answer. “And between dying for knowing too much as I am now, or going mad for looking into the matter… I think I would much prefer death…” She says, deliberate and slow so she could think about if this is what she truly wanted… see, the ironic thing was, a lot of her choices were pragmatic in a way. It’s true, her actions themselves tended to be benevolent without prompting, simply for the sake of trying to maintain morality and because well… it felt good to do good. But when it came to choices… matters that dealt with her abilities, or even matters where her abilities could get involved… she had to choose the safest route. So, of course… she has to question if this is what she wants, when she realizes she’s feeling… conflicted, completely of her own accord. A clashing of emotions that didn’t belong to anyone else but her. She certainly had to keep an eye on herself if that was the case…

She couldn’t get invested in things that weren’t her business… especially since her investment in the games and her reason for being there had already lackluster at best. She was wandering… practically a ghost… and the only reason why she came to the manor in spite of its questionable nature, was entirely because she quite literally, had nothing left but an empty house with a cold bed. As a matter of fact, the only positive (if even that) reason she had for staying, was because of a promise she made with her wife… and she doesn’t want to break it. She would never be the type of person who broke a promise. She believed it was one of the few things about her that made her good…

“I assure you… you won’t need to concern yourself over what I may, or rather, may not do. I think for now… I’ll simply take up the baron’s offer and rest for the next few days… is this all, then…? Mister Lapadura?” She’d say, as polite as possible, though sounding strained, as though she couldn’t help but struggle to pick a proper tone. She really ought to get some rest…

@ask-burke-lapadura

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #IM SK SORRY THIS TOOK FORVER #J TRIES SO HARD TL DOFURE OUT WHAT ELSE TK WRIGE ABT #AHHHHHHH #I HOPE YOURE DOING WELL…

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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“I don’t expect you or anyone to do anything of the sort… I will take care of myself.” She replied with a firm nod before pinching the bridge of her nose. That bout of amusement had certainly lightened her mood, but now she was focusing on sifting her own feelings from his, and trying to focus on the actual topic of the conversation. “But that aside, yes.. it is absolutely dreadful being near most people… people here are either angry, or hopelessly melancholy, and while I do my best to be understanding, there are some that feel beyond understanding… I definitely need to keep an eye on some of them so they don’t do anything foolish…” She adds, airing out her last grievance before finally shifting the topic back to the one that got her dragged there in the first place. “But that is enough about me… I don’t think you wanted to listen to me rant about my teammates…” She says, gesturing vaguely for emphasis. She shifted her eyes to look at him. “Is there anything else you wanted to know…? Because I wanted to ask if you… happened to know anything about what we saw. You were one of the first hunters here, so I thought maybe… maybe you knew something…” she seems hesitant… as though she isn’t sure if she should be asking at all.

She was just trying to piece things together in spite of the fact that she knew it wouldn’t have been a good idea. If anything, she just wanted closure for herself… it’s not as though she could somehow change any of this… so the least she could do is understand what was going on. Better than nothing, she thinks… then again, that’s what she’s thought before in other situations as well… and those had a tendency to end in tragedy or near-death experiences for her. She seemed like she was going to try and rescind the question judging by how she opened her mouth and looked up at him again before she shook her head and decided that she lay as well just stick with it… she already asked, there was no point in saying anything else. He’d probably tell her off in either case.

Right now however, she was just trying to keep herself awake. She kept her eyes on the floor as she did her best to keep her actions under control, as well as keep her mind on the right track. It kept… drifting. To the starless sky of the Eversleeping Town… the way the darkness swallowed them, yet everything remained perfectly lit… she recalled how it always seemed that the moon was… somehow there, and not there at the same time. How surreal looking at the sky felt… and then her mind would drift to the sounds… the wailing of that multi-eyed creature… the poor thing… so full of grief and betrayal. She wondered… what had happened to it…? And where was all of that grief coming from…? She wished she knew… she wished that shaman girl she had met on the road was there… an odd lady she was… so oddly at peace with fate, and yet… so unnerving… but she was positive at least. And knowledgeable… perhaps some day she’d meet her here? The manor seemed to attract odd people…

@ask-burke-lapadura

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #fun fact! Delara once met a shaman who was like ‘’btw ur wife is still around you silly goose <3 she’s protecting you <3’’ and after that #Delara just freaked tf out #she doesn’t know if she was kidding but lmao #also the shaman is another oc I have <33 #she sees ghosts >:3

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

Note

She rubbed her temples again at the sudden flare of his anger. God, were all of the hunters just naturally pissed off? She has to resist the urge to snap. Even after a day’s worth of rest, she was still feeling worse for wear. She knew she should have stayed in her room for a little longer… but even she couldn’t stand to stay in her room for too long. She takes a moment to take a deep breath as she felt his emotions shift, in unease and suspicion. That was… technically better, but still something she wouldn’t have liked to feel… well, she knew better than most that a beggar couldn’t be a chooser. She sighs at her misstep. She was usually so careful about these sorts of things. Though, perhaps a part of her just… didn’t care anymore. She was too exhausted to give much effort into keeping her abilities a secret at the moment. Besides… maybe it would encourage a lack of interactions where they shared a space. At least it would make speaking easier. She could drop a conversation if she wanted to, and she didn’t think the old man would care. Soon, she moved her gaze up to look at him with a mildly unnerved and cautious expression.

No point in lying now… was there?

“Ah… as you know… I am the “empath”… I can influence other’s emotions… but I can also feel them as well… it’s rather… overwhelming, especially when half the people here are full of anger and spite.” She says with mild bitterness and a sense of exhaustion before taking another deep breath. She seemed surprised at her own tone before she looked down again, trying to regain some composure as she felt surely, that bitterness wasn’t her own. She was so used to just letting apathy wash over her, she nearly forgot she could feel other emotions by herself. Things like this made it hard to feel… human. Like a person. She wonders why she was even sent there as a survivor… wouldn’t she have been better off as a hunter…? Of course not. She couldn’t stand the thought of hurting someone else… bitterness or not. Anger and hatred, or not. She doesn’t think she could summon any primal bloodlust from herself.

After a moment of trying to calm herself, she doesn’t bother lifting her head up to meet his gaze. She thinks it’ll only make it harder to speak and keep herself together. Half of her conversations were like this anyways, unless she was speaking with a more light hearted person. She begins to speak again, more hesitant as though she isn’t sure if it was really worth trying to explain herself even further. She doesn’t think she’d be convincing enough, but she gives it a shot anyways.

“But don’t… worry about what I may do. I tend to keep things under control… I don’t like using my abilities on others… it’s a burden… carrying other people’s emotions so they don’t have to… and outside of that, and the idea of taking someone’s Will away is unsettling…” She pauses before continuing, unsure if she should voice the later half of her thoughts, before deciding that she may as well. It couldn’t get a worse reaction. “That is… unless something is unbearable… if someone else loses control, there’s a stronger chance that I may do the same… but even then it’s suffocating to deal with…” It’s more of a mumble that’s barely audible, but he could hear it if he cared enough to try and catch it. She was of course, vaguely referring to how she pacified the Gamekeeper’s grief and guilt, and left him with dull annoyance. At least then he’d have the will to keep going. She stops speaking after a bit, feeling as though she were just rambling about personal feelings that likely wouldn’t have mattered to him. But at least it’s off her chest.

She thinks she’d feel lighter, but she isn’t sure now. She was tired still, and she had emotions that were throwing her perception of herself into conflict.

@ask-burke-lapadura

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #WHSHSJDJSJD PLEASEDE #also surprisingly nice of Burke to not tell though sjdjsjdjsj che #I imagine it’s mostly just so Bane doesn’t get pissed off or smthn tho #or like. afraid of her ajdjsjdjsjsj #that way matches won’t be too unbalanced if they know

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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She wanted to sit, as she had a distinct feeling that she wouldn’t have been able to last the conversation without wanting to sit and take a breather. Yet, at the lack of any real options outside of the bed (which she felt would have been rude in spite of its obvious neglect), she remains standing, only just by the doorway, and leaning on the wall. With his shift in tone, from almost warm and welcoming, to cold and straightforward, it was somewhat jarring, even in spite of the fact that his emotions were guiding her idea of what tone the conversation was following. The disconnect… is uncomfortable. Too familiar. But she manages to shrug it off. At least it wasn’t sinister… yet. For all she knew, she could be his next science experiment if she didn’t provide a good enough answer, or if he felt as though she were only messing with him. She had remained quiet because of that. She wanted to live- or at least, some part of her wanted to. She didn’t care how she ended up really, but dying painfully wasn’t exactly on her agenda either… therefore, a little thought was required. She thinks for a moment about how to phrase her words without sounding absolutely mad in the head, yet she finds herself unable to… with a troubled expression and a sigh, she ran her fingers through her hair- somewhat anxious in its manner.

“I would like to, but I wouldn’t know where to start, Mr. Lapadura…” She replied as she looked towards him. “All of this will sound insane… but given that we live amongst gods, I hope the suspension of disbelief will be easily held, and if not… at least, entertained.” She says before stopping her anxious movements, only to fidget with her ring as she looked down on instinct. She was never any good with eye contact. She could already feel people’s emotions to such an unnerving sensitivity, she didn’t think eye contact was required. “The Gamekeeper and I… we followed one of the cats that live in one of the game areas… what was it called again…? Eversleeping Town…?” She didn’t know exactly why, but even though she knew Bane’s actual name, she was never comfortable enough to say it. That’s how it was for a lot of the hunter’s… though for the others whom she called by name… perhaps it was just because certain titles just… didn’t sit well with her. She would never call the scientist ‘Mad Eyes’ even if that was his title. “We went out on to a lake… or what we thought, was a lake… curiously enough, we were able to stand on the water. The cat, Kotaro, showed us so… we continued to journey past the lake’s pagoda until we ended up walking into what felt like this… endless void. It was so hard to see past it, yet we never needed any light to see one another. It felt… unreal…” As she spoke, her expression got tighter, and the way she moved her ring around her finger became more neurotic.

For a moment she pauses as she remembered the dread of it all… the overwhelming terror and and sheer horror of it. The desperation that felt like it was clawing at her throat… the sobbing and the begging. She seemed to shake for a moment as she remembered, even rubbing the skin of her finger raw from how much she was turning the ring around it. The pain seems to drag her out of it, and in spite of her it stung with the ring sitting on sensitive flesh, she didn’t bother removing it. She mumbled a sorry apology, the words almost too quiet to hear as she she shook her head, as though doing so would clear her thoughts. “Eventually… we found this.. thing… I don’t know what it was, but it was… awful. The voices that came out… it sounded like it was suffering…” She says, trying to steel her nerves as she remembered. “What’s worse, is that I could hear the voices of… children�� begging and sobbing to let them go… let them out… why would there be children here, of all places…? Let alone in such pain, and in such a twister form…” She rubbed her temples before pulling her hood down further- though it doesn’t do much since the fabric was already pulled down as far as it could go. “After that, the water, or floor or… whatever it was… it began to swallow us… we began sinking, so we had to run back… the Gamekeeper… he was still spiraling from all of it… I don’t know how or why, but he was feeling much worse about it than I… I think he even felt… guilt… but I can’t discern why…” She explained, not having realized she had made an observation that was a little… too on the nose and suspicious. Ah, well… what could she do…? She just wanted a chance to get it all off her chest. “Not that it’s my business… but it was certainly difficult… I swear, I could feel it from across the town…” She mumbled. It almost sounded more like a dig at the Gamekeeper, rather than it being more literal, yet… the lack of ill intent in her voice made it clear that it wasn’t intentionally rude. Though perhaps, that would only make things more confusing…

“My apologies if there has been any trouble… but I assure you… it has nothing to do with me…” She says with more caution, anxiously looking at the paintings on the wall, and the corners of the hallway where the shadows seemed to be unnervingly dark in spite of the lighting. “However, if you’d like to discuss the nature of these troubles, I may be able to point you in the right direction as to the cause…? I must ask though… if we are to do so, may we go somewhere more… secure…? I would hate for anyone to hear me being a tattletale...” The way she speaks is a bit more… deliberate, and vague enough to connect to any thought. She’s speaking casually and even meekly enough that it sounds almost earnest, yet there’s a level of control that she had with her tone and the pacing of her words, that showed that she knew exactly what he may have wanted to discuss. She just hoped he understood that she wished for more security if they were going to speak… now that she had seen what she had saw, followed by the baron’s letter… she wasn’t sure if privacy was real in the manor. After the incident, she wouldn’t have been surprised if it wasn’t… she glanced to a painting on the wall… was it always looking in their direction…?

@ask-burke-lapadura

#idv ask the empath #idv oc survivor #idv oc ask blog #idv oc #delara whispers #idv ask empath #idv askblog #I’m thinking of just having her tell Burke WHATS up with her lmao #I think she’d be like ‘’GOD PLEASE fix me and shut this shit OFF’’#‘’ it’s exhausting and it sucks and maybe I can go home’’#not exactly like that but it’ll feel like that ajdjwjdjwjdueu

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

Note

“My apologies if there has been any trouble… but I assure you… it has nothing to do with me…” She says with more caution, anxiously looking at the paintings on the wall, and the corners of the hallway where the shadows seemed to be unnervingly dark in spite of the lighting. “However, if you’d like to discuss the nature of these troubles, I may be able to point you in the right direction as to the cause…? I must ask though… if we are to do so, may we go somewhere more… secure…? I would hate for anyone to hear me being a tattletale...” The way she speaks is a bit more… deliberate, and vague enough to connect to any thought. She’s speaking casually and even meekly enough that it sounds almost earnest, yet there’s a level of control that she had with her tone and the pacing of her words, that showed that she knew exactly what he may have wanted to discuss. She just hoped he understood that she wished for more security if they were going to speak… now that she had seen what she had saw, followed by the baron’s letter… she wasn’t sure if privacy was real in the manor. After the incident, she wouldn’t have been surprised if it wasn’t… she glanced to a painting on the wall… was it always looking in their direction…?

@ask-burke-lapadura

#idv oc survivor #idv ask the empath #idv oc ask blog #delara whispers #idv oc

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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She’s not sure how much time it actually takes. She can’t count the seconds, and for a good while, she felt like her body wasn’t even hers. Like it was foreign, and she was only an outsider. It was fear of hers, really. That someday, she’d lose control of herself, and this was what it would almost be like, but that’s not quite the same… this was quiet. Protective. A numbing of a heart that was too big for its fragile body. Eventually -and she still doesn’t know when- she’s finally registering Kotaro’s fur, and the world around her becomes sharper. She’s aware of the ache in her eyes from the tears, and how wet her cheeks are. She finally even managed to loosen her control over Bane’s emotions, so that he could now resume exercising his emotional autonomy. She picks up Kotaro, quietly mumbling to him as she makes a weak attempt to smile- only for it to fall away as quickly as she tried. She wordlessly pets the cat as he purrs, her fingers touching his little head, and stroking the suspiciously well maintained coat of fur he had. She still looks a bit far off in the eye, but she was settling down. The warmth and softness of Kotaro was slowly settling her, grounding her to reality. She keeps trying to open her mouth, and force words to come out, but they seem to refuse to. They won’t fall out no matter how hard she pushed her vocal chords to just make a sound. Any sound.

But her body refuses to comply. At least, her mind was conscious enough to slowly release her influence over the Gamekeeper’s emotions. He’d feel no different from the calmness unless something managed to provoke another emotion. Then he’d know he was free from her will. It’s silent again as she properly comes to, and Kotaro trots up to Bane, gently head butting the rope of his head to the side of Bane’s as if in apology for the events. He then curls up beside his head, uncharacteristically quiet, save for a purr here or there. Delara tries to move herself, but finds it difficult to. She felt… tired. Like she was living molasses, and she hadn’t the strength to carry her own weight. She fears she may tip over if she tries to move. She fears her hands and legs may shake with weakness. She knew was already a rather sorry sight given her demeanor, but she’d try not to further that assumption- even if to some degree, it was true. To her at least.

“God…” Is all she can mutter as she rubbed at her eyes. She casts her vacant gaze towards the hunter who was presently laying on the floor. Once again, she was looking more like a corpse than a living being. The color drained from her face, leaving her paler than she already was. She seems to pause for a moment, taking a breath before she decided against speaking. She doesn’t know if there’s anything to say really. If he wanted to ask her a question or get angry, she wouldn’t have cared. She thinks if not now, then later, she should find her teammates… she knew at least Miss Behamfil would take care of her whilst in her state. Though then again… she didn’t want to worry anyone either. As she thought, she had looked away from Bane before she brought her eyes to him once again. She can only mumble a tired, “Sorry…” but to what she was apologizing about wasn’t specific. Though judging from her tone, and her expression, even in its hollowness… she managed to seem empathetic. It seemed she knew something deeper to him, but she wouldn’t say what. She knew this was likely to upset him… but he was better off angry than spiraling. And all the while.. the crows are watching with intrigue.

Duo matches always made her nervous. She typically never played in them for the sole fact that so much could happen at once. She hated feeling the distress of it all, not only from her powers but also herself. And as most duo matches tend to be, they were short a player, so she had went ahead and filled in. Who were the hunters for this round again…? It was… Bonbon and Bane, wasn’t it…?

This felt like it’d be a difficult match.

In search of a cipher, she wandered the Eversleeping Town- or at least, the recreation of it. She isn’t sure how “real” it is. Nothing at the manor felt real.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Now, Bane did not like to go friendly. It was something everybody was sure to have realised by now, with how mercilessly he went about his matches. Really, why would he go friendly in the first place? The Baron had assigned him this role and he refused to fail the man twice. He’d learned his lesson about kindness long ago… Of course, sometimes his friends would try to convince him to go easy on the survivors, or to just go friendly. If it was because they themselves weren’t feeling up to the match then of course he’d understand. He’d gladly just try to play well enough for the both of them to win while he let his friend rest. Convincing him to go friendly as well though…

It took a while, Bonbon relentlessly using every tactic they could in order to try and convince him. For a moment he was tempted to simply walk off to hunt the survivors himself! The robot was damn lucky he felt to be in a more agreeable mood… So it was with a sigh that he reluctantly gave in to the robot he knew wouldn’t have given up in their quest. Hey, he’d thought, at least he could spend some time with Bonbon, right?

Wrong, apparently. Rather than hide away within a corner of the map like Bane would prefer, Bonbon was insistent that it would be more fun interacting with survivors. He’d have to tell Burke to schedule another maintenance check because there must’ve been a few screws loose for Bonbon to think he was even remotely willing to interact with survivors in a more positive way… Still, the robot continued their attempts, beginning to push him forwards and forcing him to stumble along lest he fall over. Tch… who cared if the survivors were left unaware that they were going friendly this round? So what if they were to be tense and uneasy the whole time just waiting and expecting an attack? It wasn’t his damn fault and besides, if they didn’t know then they’d continue on to escape as quickly as possible and thus allowing him to leave as soon as possible!

Yet alas, the robot didn’t seem to care, simply making sure he walked through the surprisingly empty streets with him until eventually they found a survivor further down trying to decode one of the cypher machines. Instantly Bonbon ran after them as they bolted away, trying to show that they were friendly and calling for their attention as they did.

This just left Bane to wander on alone…. He’d just find some corner of the map to hide in, now that his pushy companion was gone. So onwards he went, wandering the streets in the search for somewhere nice to relax, gait more slowed than when hunting and hook still firmly attached to his belt. His head was tilted high, simply surveying his surroundings in a manner more suited for taking in the details rather than scrutinizing any and every shadow for a survivor. Silently he noted the details, forming a mental map within his mind as he went along.

Despite the current situation though, he hadn’t quite expected to see any more survivors, taking pause when he turned the corner and found none other than that ‘empath’ walking along. For a moment he froze, fingers twitching and barely resisting the instinctual urge to send out his hook. He was friendly, no hunting survivors… A quiet sigh escaped him as he tried to force the alarm bells in his head to silence and the tension to escape him. What was it friendly hunters were supposed to do? Spin…? … No way he was doing that. Huffing, he considered simply turning around and leaving while he could.

@idv-ask-the-empath

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #tw depersonalization #tw dissociation #tw existentialism #tw existential crisis #tw dereality #Haha oh boy. can’t wait for Delara to send Burke a letter like ‘’I am unsure if Bane has told you of the events that have transpired but…’’#LIKE SHE DOESNT TELL HIM EVERYTHING BCUS SHED SOUND CRAZY BIT LIKE #Zshes like ‘’Keep a more keen eye on him. please. I am afraid of the consequences of what we have done.’’#also 👁👁 what if later down the line #they accidentally set the family free somehow #haha oops

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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Delara hadn’t had the time to think about anything but ro keep moving forward. Her lungs were burning and her chest was tight from how hard she was pushing her body, and the crushing fear and despair she was feeling. She hadn’t even noticed that at some point, Bane had gotten ahead of them, and that she was left alone to stumble and sink into the abyss with Kotaro. She felt a sort of relief when she saw the lanterns ahead of them, glowing warmly as if to mark safety, but it was cold comfort to the emotions that were tossing her mind around, having kept her thoughts as turbulent as the water beneath her. She could feel her feet sinking further and further into the ice-cold water, and just before she could sink out of reach from the wooden bridge, she managed to toss Kotaro on to it, and grip on to the ledge. She pulled herself up, her heart racing in her chest as she scrambled to pull herself up, tears beading in her eyes as she fought the water and its unprecedented weight trying to drag her done. Despite how it soaked into her body like actual water, it felt… heavy. Like a sludge, trying to drag her down. She hadn’t even thought of trying to quell the monster, she could only think about running. This situation was… all too familiar. Too uncomfortably familiar. The crashing water. The way it dragged her down. The desperation and the fear, and the visceral terror of it all, pulsing through her.

She couldn’t even appreciate what little strength she had, that allowed her to pull herself up, and pick up Kotaro. She couldn’t even focus on the way her legs wobbled and shook and how she nearly lost her grip on the shaking animal in her arms. She couldn’t focus on how hot her face was with tears, and the way that even though she had a mouth, and a voice, she could not scream in spite of the fact that she wanted to. She doesn’t even notice that as soon as she crosses the gate, a piece of her cloak rips because she accidentally steps on it as she climbs. Her mind was clouded by fear and worry, and the only solace was the fact that she could feel the faint emotions of joy from her teammates… but she did not want to feel joy. She wanted quietness… apathy. If she felt happiness or warmth now, she think she’d feel sick… the whiplash of cosmic horror to light hearted fun was going to wreck her- maybe even change her perception of what should be considered fun or not. That was the trouble with her powers… if she wasn’t careful, she could alter her mind, and slowly become numb to certain things. If she began to associate joy with these sorts of situations, with this sort of… pain… she thinks she would turn out worse than- she shook her head as she held on to Kotaro, now sitting in the middle of the trolley tracks as she trembled. Her legs and arms and chest were aching with use. She hadn’t fought that hard for her life in such a long time…

She finds that she can’t calm herself down, in spite of her deep breaths. In spite of her grounding techniques, she finds herself spiraling further, and further, and further into the anxiety… into the sheer terror of what had just been. It clicks when she realizes that these weren’t her feelings- though they easily could have been… these were the Gamekeeper’s… she sat up and tiredly trudged around, trying to find him… if she got closer, she’d likely feel his emotions on the same level he was… but if this was how bad it was from far away.. how bad would it be up close..? She had to stop it, or else something worse may have happened. She could lose control… it could be a nightmare for anyone who came to find her. The fear and horror would only be amplified until it was one, awful feed back loop, where she received fear, forced it on to others, and in turn, felt it again, and again, and again… no. She couldn’t let that happen. The unpredictability of everyone’s actions in response was… too much. She found it a miracle that she could even think in this situation, but she’s thankful that she can. Thankful for the solace her teammates were providing her, even if it made her nauseated and confused.

She searched for him, glad that there was mercy in that his pace was easy to catch-up with. She found herself becoming easier and easier to emotionally crumble as she neared him, her body shaking as though the metaphorical weight of it all was extending to even the physical. Kotaro rubbed his head into her, as if to try and comfort her. Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest as she breathed deeply, thankful for the chill of the night air and how it soothed her lungs- if only briefly. Her body felt heavy. Maybe it was the weight of the water that was soaking her dress, or maybe it was just that she was tied. His emotions were… suffocating. She wanted to run away as much ad he did, but in spite of it… she kept on. Her legs feeling heavier with reluctance as she stepped closer, and closer to him. Her resolve was crumbling with each lethargic step, but she had to resist losing her sense of control… and it wasn’t too long before she found him.

“Forgive me…” Is all she can really say with a strained voice, choked with held back tears and screams that desperately wanted to come out. She closed her eyes, and she almost… glows as she took in his emotions, shouldering the grief, the guilt… the anxiety and the loathing… she took it from him, and eased it. Granted him peace and tranquility that would at least, allow him to process what had happened… give him a breath. All while she fell to her knees, letting Kotaro go as she covered her face, body trembling beneath her red cloak. She was processing all of his pain and anxiety. She had managed to take up all of his emotions and replace them, but now she was feeling the brunt of his agony while he at least would feel calm. She was hiding in her cloak… instead of seeing bits of the past, now she was simply just… trembling. Face covered… meek and silent. The world around her felt so far away now… she’s not even sure what she’s feeling but she can’t even properly name her senses. Everything was just a background thought. It felt like the world around her was an impressionist painting- blurry, out of focus… vaguely shaped as something she knows but not something she was willing to parse out at the moment. The sensation she felt, with the tears rolling down her vacant expression- it didn’t even feel real. She had memories associated with these feelings… but because of how painful the emotions and memories were altogether, instead of reliving them, she simply just… disconnected. Her hands slowly fall from her face and into her lap… her eyes becoming far off and distant in appearance. She’s crying but she’s quiet and frozen. Her body was still glowing dimly with a sort of power- which was more evident given the shadows that her cloak cast, making it just a bit more noticeable. Feeling his instilled calmer state was slowly easing the painful emotions she took from him, but she’d need more time.

This felt like it’d be a difficult match.

In search of a cipher, she wandered the Eversleeping Town- or at least, the recreation of it. She isn’t sure how “real” it is. Nothing at the manor felt real.

@idv-ask-the-empath

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

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Kotaro lead them to the edge of the town, having reached a decorative iron gate that was painted red. There was a bridge that extended out into a lake of some sort, where lanterns floated and lead up to something akin to a pagoda of sorts. She watched as Kotaro made his way under the gate- though Delara found it curious that the gage refused to open when she pushed against it. There was no lock in sight- yet the metal had a seam that made it clear it was meant to be pushed open. Even when she leaned over to the other side to see the view of it, it hadn’t been welded shut or anything. Even more curious was the fact that as soon as even a part of her crossed over the iron gate, she felt a tugging sensation… like something was warning her to turn back. But who, or what was that…? And in what way was the warning meant…? Did it mean to threaten harm, or did it mean to protect her…? She doesn’t know if she wanted to know the answer… still… Kotaro was leading them. And she trusted Kotaro. So, she took off her cloak, and folded it carefully. Before she hung it on the gate, which was only a few feet tall. Her dress was already cumbersome, and she hadn’t wanted her cloak to tear… so she stepped up on some of the spaces in the decorative swirls of the metal, and then climbed over, finding that once she properly crossed, she didn’t feel anything but… cold on this side of the gate. It was icy on her end, and the fear, and the warning… it had disappeared the moment her feet landed, as though whatever was trying to warn her decided that she had gone too far… that it wasn’t worth the trouble if she was willing to cross into the unknown.

After curiously pressing her hands against the cold metal, she found that she could open the gate from her side which was… strange. But she couldn’t dwell on it any longer. Kotaro moved towards the pagoda, and despite how beautiful the scenery was, what with the soft warm glow of the lanterns on the water… it was unsettling in a way she couldn’t put her finger on. She grabbed her cloak, and carefully pulled it towards her before she donned it again, and began walking across the wooden bridge to the pagoda. Her mildly anxious expression widens when she realized why it was so… off. There was nothing beyond the pagoda. No other side of the lake, no land, no trees, not even the light of the lanterns. It didn’t even look like there was water beyond the last lantern. It was just… a black void. Endless and stretching. She watched as Kotaro looks at Delara, and then at Bane… before he leapt towards the water. On instinct, Delara gasps, reaching out to grab him, but she stumbles in her steps once she saw that Kotaro was standing on the water… and he seemed to be beckoning the two of them to follow suit. Delara, hesitantly tapped her shoe against the water, finding it to be… solid…? She stepped on to the water, noting that it did in fact, not fail her, and held her weight- if only rippling the waters and causing the nearby lanterns to bob slightly. She walked behind the cat, only sparing Bane a glance of mild unease before she followed Kotaro towards the abyss, where the lights of the lanterns couldn’t reach… which gave her pause. She picked up a lantern, and held it carefully in her hands… feeling childish in how it’s light comforted her. Even though she knew it wouldn’t have done any good at all, she carries it with her.

Time began to lose any sense of meaning the deeper Kotaro lead them. From behind, she could hear the crows and their ominous caws, as if trying to call them back- yet she notes that they wouldn’t, or rather… couldn’t pass beyond the pagoda. Delara anxiously bites her lip as she sighs, inhaling deep and slow while Kotaro leads them to… wherever it was he wanted to lead them to. Soon enough, the light of lanterns on the water disappear… and they had nothing but Delara’s lantern for light. It was strange though, that she could still see Kotaro, as though having a light source wouldn’t have actually mattered. It was strange how much it felt like they were just moving images on a black background. As they grew closer and closer to Koraro’s destination, Delara couldn’t help but become more curious and intrigued, as much as she was… anxious and afraid- which she also found rather strange… in a situation like this, she was more likely to be scared more than anything. There were always other people who were braver for her, so it evened her fear out. Not trusting herself to be even a bit courageous enough to bear curiosity, she finds herself unnerved by the possibility that something was lurking… close enough that she could feel it’s emotions. At some point, Kotaro stops and simply sits as he stared at the void. At first, she thinks they’ve stopped at a wall of sorts that somehow felt… deeper and darker than the abyss that surrounded them. But then the wall splits horizontally, and… an eye, opens. Large and almost fish-like. Almost as if on cue. Other eyes follow suit, and it’s only then does she understand the magnitude of… whatever it was. At first, she feels… on edge, but not so far into the belief that this creature would hurt her, or the gameskeeper, or even Kotaro. The pupils of the eyes look at Kotaro, almost dilating- like it was seeing an old friend that it missed and loved. For a moment, she lets her guard down… the moment soft and even… warm from what she could feel from… this creature. Kotaro even meows a greeting, purring with affection towards whatever this eldritch horror was. The undeniable bond they shared, and all the positive aspects of it made the whiplash of what happened next so… so much stronger. It begins to shriek as it finally registers the two of them… the horror setting inside Delara as voices fill the silence. Voices... so, many voices… but there were few voices that were more.. prominent. They weren’t familiar to her… but they’d definitely be more familiar to the hunter behind her… the voices of children, and a woman…

She felt like she was going to throw up.

The raw desperation… the pain she felt from the creature couldn’t be ignored. She could feel its rage, the feelings of betrayal… its… sorrow. And when it actually spoke…? It was so, quiet. Like a whisper in their heads. Yet it felt so sharp in their minds- it was giving Delara a headache. These feelings alone were too familiar- things she felt and seen in other people… people so young… it didn’t help that she could hear it… sobbing in spite of the lack of actual tears. All the while, Kotaro’s hair was standing on end- the poor cat likely didn’t even know this was going to happen at all… perhaps… it just wanted to help…?

“LET US GO.”

Is all the creature managed out before the world around them began shaking. Delara could feel her feet beginning to slowly sink, as if the water was no longer willing to hold their weight. They had to run. With not even a second to spare, she ran forward and picked up Kotaro before she began sprinting as hard as she could, feeling her feet beginning to sink ever further in the turbulent ground. She doesn’t know where she’s running, but she knows she’s turning back, and running in a straight line… hopefully the ground wouldn’t disorient them too much.

This felt like it’d be a difficult match.

In search of a cipher, she wandered the Eversleeping Town- or at least, the recreation of it. She isn’t sure how “real” it is. Nothing at the manor felt real.

@idv-ask-the-empath

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii the Baron made a deal with a bunch of gods to keep the souls of his family and the residents of the manor alive #and existent so he wouldn’t have to lose them and be alone without them #in exchange for entertainment that would be satisfying for them #that’s the idea more or less anyways idk maybe it’s different #we can hash out lore later </3 #anyways this creature is an amalgamation of a lot of things #ask to tag #also usually the amalgam is asleep #it only wakes up when other ppl or things are around #usually though it wakes up sees Kotaro and bcus Kotaro is a cat it’s sorta like #’’It’s a cat ??? it can’t do shit ???’’#but bcus Delara and Bane are like. PEOPLE it expects more of them #also my theory rn is that each map takes place in a separate sort of dimension or world that’s recreating a specific event or experience #from a hunter’s life #usually this means that the hunter is advantaged because they KNOW the map but it’s also a really bad reminder of their past #anyways outside of these dimensions are where the ‘’spectators’’ are #gods or ancient beings or w/e that watch and keep these dimensions stable #the baron’s family and co are sorta in a body that resembles these ancient beings but they don’t have any powers #they just exist outside of time and space to preserve them #coincidentally the ancient beings exist there as well #also though #the amalgam of the family can only interact with just like. the edge of the maps because of how weak they tend to be #in terms of stability bcus no one is supposed to go there. which means that there’s no point in paying attention to it #no one is expected to be there and the bare minimum here is that there’s like. a floor lmao.

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

Note

Delara’s attention was taken away from the sorry state of her cloak, and back to the hunter, whom she heard speak about bringing the cat some food. It’s just a momentary glance- just a few seconds to look really, but it does make her smile a little- if only because she could feel the warmth and the joy of his emotions. Sometimes, it was hard to remember that hunters were… people. She could only recall hunters being filled with bitterness, or sorrow combined with such murderous rage, they felt almost… otherworldly. That wasn’t even to mention those that were here for… fun, and not because of any sort of business they had with a survivor here. She doesn’t bother trying to bother him, or talking to him. She preoccupied herself with watching the sky, absentmindedly kicking her legs up against the box whilst she waited. Soon enough, after Kotaro rubbed up against Bane’s shoe one more time, he then slowly walked up to Delara, where he’d hop up on to the box before curling up next to her; purring contently as she stroked his fur. Looking at the sky now… she noticed that it was starless. Only the moon was out, but even looking at it… it didn’t feel real either- though it was convincing enough at first glance… thinking about it, why was it always night whenever they went there, no matter what time of day it was..? And why did it always snow in one of the factory areas... how was it possible that all of this still managed to feel… fake… despite… everything in it feeling so real…? She looks down at Kotaro… was he ‘fake’ too…? She looks back up to the sky, as she stops petting Kotaro, her hand settling with her other one in her lap.

“Have you ever noticed that it’s always night time here…? And that there are never stars in the sky here either… even if you go to the darker parts of the town where the lamp lights don’t reach…?” She asks quietly, though she doesn’t really expect him to answer, or really engage in the question. Unease starts to bubble beneath her pleasant feelings, and her expression almost… seems to tighten at the thought. Thinking about it all… it made her head spin. Nothing about this was quite right… was it…? “Do you ever wonder how he did it…? The Baron I mean… inviting even gods to play even though they’re.. well… gods…? Even setting up places for us that feel.. timeless..? Like the world here doesn’t continue after we leave…” Not everyone was from the same time period… some of them, like Lucky were… too oddly dressed to be anyone from their time. The world they were currently living in felt like they were in some kind of… liminal space… like the moment between the tick and the tock of the seconds, or the pause before a breath or a word. As if sensing her unnerved feelings, and her discomfort, Kotaro bumps his head against her arm, and meows. The cat purrs softly as he felt Delara’s hand scratch the back of his ear in a satisfying way. “But you’re real aren’t you Kotaro..?” She says with fondness and warmth, the cat meowing in response, as if to confirm that yes, he was real. From how she spoke to the cat, it almost seemed like she was actually speaking to him rather than to Bane, but she wasn’t going to clarify who she was talking to. He could think her crazy if he wished to.

She chuckles a little as the cat nuzzled against her once more, leaning into her touch as her fingers felt the soft, thick fur. After she had calmed down some, Kotaro gives her one last affectionate bump into her hand before he meowed at her, and then looked to Bane, as if he wanted them to follow him… he hopped down from the lamppost base and trotted a bit away- still in viewing distance. He looks back at them to see if they were following him. “Curious… where do you want us to go…?” She asked- mostly to herself more than anything. She slid off of her spot, and followed the cat, walking at the same leisurely pace of the cat. She wasn’t sure if the Gamekeeper was going to follow, but she noticed that a few crows had landed, and were… staring now. Inquisitive and too keen for comfort… what was he going to show them…? She wondered… where would they go from there…?

This felt like it’d be a difficult match.

In search of a cipher, she wandered the Eversleeping Town- or at least, the recreation of it. She isn’t sure how “real” it is. Nothing at the manor felt real.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Now, Bane did not like to go friendly. It was something everybody was sure to have realised by now, with how mercilessly he went about his matches. Really, why would he go friendly in the first place? The Baron had assigned him this role and he refused to fail the man twice. He'd learned his lesson about kindness long ago... Of course, sometimes his friends would try to convince him to go easy on the survivors, or to just go friendly. If it was because they themselves weren't feeling up to the match then of course he'd understand. He'd gladly just try to play well enough for the both of them to win while he let his friend rest. Convincing him to go friendly as well though...

It took a while, Bonbon relentlessly using every tactic they could in order to try and convince him. For a moment he was tempted to simply walk off to hunt the survivors himself! The robot was damn lucky he felt to be in a more agreeable mood... So it was with a sigh that he reluctantly gave in to the robot he knew wouldn't have given up in their quest. Hey, he'd thought, at least he could spend some time with Bonbon, right?

Wrong, apparently. Rather than hide away within a corner of the map like Bane would prefer, Bonbon was insistent that it would be more fun interacting with survivors. He'd have to tell Burke to schedule another maintenance check because there must've been a few screws loose for Bonbon to think he was even remotely willing to interact with survivors in a more positive way... Still, the robot continued their attempts, beginning to push him forwards and forcing him to stumble along lest he fall over. Tch... who cared if the survivors were left unaware that they were going friendly this round? So what if they were to be tense and uneasy the whole time just waiting and expecting an attack? It wasn't his damn fault and besides, if they didn't know then they'd continue on to escape as quickly as possible and thus allowing him to leave as soon as possible!

Yet alas, the robot didn't seem to care, simply making sure he walked through the surprisingly empty streets with him until eventually they found a survivor further down trying to decode one of the cypher machines. Instantly Bonbon ran after them as they bolted away, trying to show that they were friendly and calling for their attention as they did.

This just left Bane to wander on alone.... He'd just find some corner of the map to hide in, now that his pushy companion was gone. So onwards he went, wandering the streets in the search for somewhere nice to relax, gait more slowed than when hunting and hook still firmly attached to his belt. His head was tilted high, simply surveying his surroundings in a manner more suited for taking in the details rather than scrutinizing any and every shadow for a survivor. Silently he noted the details, forming a mental map within his mind as he went along.

Despite the current situation though, he hadn't quite expected to see any more survivors, taking pause when he turned the corner and found none other than that 'empath' walking along. For a moment he froze, fingers twitching and barely resisting the instinctual urge to send out his hook. He was friendly, no hunting survivors... A quiet sigh escaped him as he tried to force the alarm bells in his head to silence and the tension to escape him. What was it friendly hunters were supposed to do? Spin...? ... No way he was doing that. Huffing, he considered simply turning around and leaving while he could.

@idv-ask-the-empath

#OKAY SHORT BUT I HOPE THIS IS INTERESTING ENOUGH #ANYWAYS UHHHH #tw dereality #dereality tw #dereality #like I know this is a piece of fiction but #I don’t want to end up triggering anyone who reads this because it has themes of it #and it’s not a thought I wanna put in anyone’s head #okay anyways #Time for some L O R E #Kotaro is going to show them what the edge of the maps look like #the true edge where they aren’t ever allowed to cross #Man lmaooo what does Kotaro know ??#IM REALLY EXCITED FOR WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN EVEN THOUGB ITS REALLY SIMPLE?#I JUST WANNA SEE BANE’S REACTION #also if hunter Delara was here I think she’d just straight up let people know what she does and can do #just so they can know ahead of time #she’s setting up her boundaries immediately #’’If you’re in a Gould mood do not approach me. I will NOT hold back.’’#but it depends though #if someone comes to her in a good mood but they progressively get upset or sad she’s more willing to help them through their emotions #like this is just a job for her #she doesn’t hate anyone #she just kinda goes here now #idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog

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idv-ask-the-empath · 3 years ago

Note

She would have laughed at how he followed her- mostly because she had the closest idea to what his train of thinking was. Sure, she felt the practically murderous intent, but the emotion of regret when he realized what he had been doing and where he was going... it was amusing enough that it makes her crack a smile- even if his emotions almost made her falter in her steps the first time she processed it. It was true, it caught her off guard. She felt his intent and because she had let her guard down, she almost let it get the better of her… she ended up clenching her fists, digging her nails into her skin until the pain of which grounded her and reminded her that she shouldn’t have done anything foolish or brash. Though, she supposed that was what she got for finding even mild humor in this situation. As she pursued the cat, her cloak flew behind her with the movement- which made her running look much more dramatic than it actually was or should have been, considering she was only trying to say hello to the cat. With a soft smile, she excitedly makes her way to the cat, who hops on to the boxed base of a lamp post. She cups a hand to her mouth in an attempt to make her voice just a little louder for the cat to hear.

“Kotaro…!” She called out gently with a soft and endeared voice. The cat perks up at its name being called and watches as Delara approached it. It meows a greeting as she sat down on top of the base alongside the cat, where she would run her fingers through its soft fur. She pet his head, to which the cat would purr quietly, leaning into the warmth of her hand as she continued. She stops soon enough though as the cat moves to bump it’s head against her arm in an affectionate manner before it hopped off the lamp post base, and approached Bane. It sat down, looking at him with a face that almost resembled a content smile, it’s tail swaying slightly as it meowed another greeting towards Bane. Kotaro had recognized him, and from the few times they had time to interact, Kotaro was rather fond of the hunter. All the while, Delara watched with curiosity to see his reaction, especially as the cat moved to rub against his shoe, as if greeting him further before sitting in front of him once again, almost as if waiting for him and the expected head pats that came with their encounters.

Now of course, Delara had already assumed that acts of kindness, or any show of softness was something he’d rather not hav anyone intruding on. She could respect that well enough, so she turns away slightly, shifting her gaze to her cloak, pulling up the red fabric and pretending to inspect the edge- which now that she did get a better look at it, was… beginning to wear. She’d need to get it fixed soon… she hated having to fix it, but she didn’t like not having it either. She wished she could have kept the original fabric, with how pretty and patterned the threaded patterns were. But the only things that remained of the original cloak were her good and the shawl. The rest, at some point… had to be replaced. She still kept the original in her closet, stowed in a wicker basket that used to hold other things instead of bittersweet memories. Hm… she may ask for sewing supplies. Though- she was never the greatest at it either. She had gotten pricked too many times with the needle, so her… Aileen would fix it for her and remark about how clumsy she waszzz with good nature of course. She smiles to herself, soft and nostalgic- even melancholy as she stared absentmindedly at the red velvet of her cloak. As if she had realized what she was doing, she shook her head and cleared her thoughts. Best not to get wrapped up in sentimentality…

Though she supposed that’s why she very much liked the animals here. Sometimes they were a little tough, but they were otherwise pleasant enough company. They’d become centers of fond attention, which helped Delara’s mood, and if they happened to be alone, then she didn’t have to worry too much about feeling emotions that weren’t hers. Animals were harder to feel for- not because they didn’t have emotions, but there was just… something about them that made it difficult. Still, it was a blessing amidst the other downfalls of her abilities. If she really wanted to, she could try, but she’d rather just give them their privacy. After all, trust and empathy from an animal had to be built differently from a person. She thinks anyways… she isn’t too sure about it. She’s never had too many friends… nevertheless people she trusted…

This felt like it’d be a difficult match.

In search of a cipher, she wandered the Eversleeping Town- or at least, the recreation of it. She isn’t sure how “real” it is. Nothing at the manor felt real.

@idv-ask-the-empath

Now, Bane did not like to go friendly. It was something everybody was sure to have realised by now, with how mercilessly he went about his matches. Really, why would he go friendly in the first place? The Baron had assigned him this role and he refused to fail the man twice. He'd learned his lesson about kindness long ago... Of course, sometimes his friends would try to convince him to go easy on the survivors, or to just go friendly. If it was because they themselves weren't feeling up to the match then of course he'd understand. He'd gladly just try to play well enough for the both of them to win while he let his friend rest. Convincing him to go friendly as well though...

It took a while, Bonbon relentlessly using every tactic they could in order to try and convince him. For a moment he was tempted to simply walk off to hunt the survivors himself! The robot was damn lucky he felt to be in a more agreeable mood... So it was with a sigh that he reluctantly gave in to the robot he knew wouldn't have given up in their quest. Hey, he'd thought, at least he could spend some time with Bonbon, right?

@idv-ask-the-empath

#idv askblog #idv oc #delara whispers #identity v oc #idv #idv oc ask blog #Kotaro <3 #but aJHHHHHSKJDSJ #idk if he started avoiding Delara sh; just follow him a bit anyways #but only if she knows survivors aren’t in a good mood or if they’re in TOO good of a mood #if not him though she might try to find bonbon or smthn #also his trust issues </33333 #thinking abt Hunter Delara AU #how much worse would that be JAJXJSJDJSJDJSJW #if she became a hunter though she’d probably avoid Bane now #I imagine she’d have better control over her abilities #or she at the very least wouldn’t mind being alone now because most people would avoid her

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