The Aether Flows

Posted on Sun Jul 2nd, 2023 @ 17:34 by Robert Closeley & Heather Redding & Fiona Creagan
Edited on on Sun Jul 2nd, 2023 @ 19:15

Chapter: All Hallow's Eve
Location: Fingal's Cave
Timeline: 23:30 October 31st, 1992 (Concurrent with The Witching Hour)
1126 words - 2.3 OF Standard Post Measure

(OOC: To give you a bit of an idea of our scenery: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fingal's_Cave

As the dead of night was fast approaching three figures slowly ushered their small boat into the narrow opening of Fingal's Cave. The stepping stones leading into it the source of many giant legends in the region. The slate grey of the stone was near indistinguishable from the dark water lapping up against it. It took patience and control to guide the small boat inside without breaking it.

Control and patience were not usually words associated with the self proclaimed leader of the mutant plight in the UK. Robert peered into the cave with his flashlight, trying to find an appropriate place for them to anchor their boat and get to the exact point Heather had found that would allow them to tap into the mystical power that lay underneath. It wasn't that he fully believed all of that stuff, but Heather had been so vehement and insistent that he'd rather spend a little bit of time proving her wrong here than lose an important member of his organisation. "Look. There." He pointed the light in the direction of a flat bit of stone that lined the side of the cave. "Is that close enough?"

Robert had his way of getting his doubt and frustrations out. Fiona? She was a different monster. She skipped stones off the water, grabbed onto hanging stalactites of mineralized salt, and absorbed them just for the fun of snapping them off like icicles on a rain gutter. "Just looks like more rocks to me, boss." She offered unhelpfully with a shrug before trying to taste one of the salty rocks. A few lip smacks later, she tossed it over her shoulder, the tumbling and clattering spike echoing through the darkness of the cavern. "Hope this amounts to something besides a daft, dark cave, yeah? You're up, Mariann." There was no small amount of teasing emphasis on Heather's codename there as the larger woman looked at her and grinned ear to ear.

The woman in question breezed past the pair and looked at the space the torch was being shone on. Neither believed her but they would after she proved to them that her way of thinking was just as beautiful and future inspiring as their own. She just hoped with the amount of negativity that they had that it would work properly. "Should be." She confirmed.

Robert made sure to anchor the small boat before stepping out of the skiff first, offering a hand to help Heather step out of the boat herself. Their feet stepping on the bare stones echoed off the walls of the cave. It was an ominous environment to be in on all hallow's eve, especially so close to midnight. But Heather had insisted on the time and place. "So, what's next? Some kind of ritual? Do you need us to chant something?"

Fiona got antsy in her lack of patience, and now that they were staring at some weird symbols and... not much else, she was rocking back and forth on her heels, cracking her knuckles, even fishing in her pocket for a piece of cinnamon gum (her favorite) just to keep occupied. "I draw the line at singing, yeah? Let's see if this magic stick works already, place is boring, and I was promised something cool for coming along on this goose chase."

"I am sure with so many languages as an option when this was created there was no singing involved. Just stab the ground from my research is the approach." Heather said opening her notepad and showing them the detailed pictures she had drawn. It was a nice drawing of Fiona doing what Heather knew she would do the best.

Robert stepped aside and offered the spot pointed out by Heather for Fiona to apply the spear. By nature he was very sceptic of these types of things, but there was a tiny little thing in the back of his head that seemed to coax him along. What if? What if all that mumbo jumbo was true? What if it gave them the opportunity supercharge their powers? It was an opportunity that was too good to pass up. "Have at it Joan."

Fiona grinned like a kid in a candy store, rotating her shoulders in preparation. "About damn time, Robin. Let's see what this little stick can do." She grabbed a hold and focused her powers to draw on the item, tease at its molecular structure and copy it, bring it into herself. Dramatically, she fell to her knees and held her changing arm up, feigned cries of pain ringing out in the cavern. But that came to an end after a time so she could smirk at Robert and Heather. "Had ya goin', didn't I? Dunno, Marianne, doesn't seem to be doin' sh--"

Famous last words? Sure felt like it at the sudden surge of energy that exploded outward from her. Fiona flinched, closed her eyes, perfected English swearing muffled by the sound in the air from... whatever this was. And when she opened her eyes, she could see the magic in the air, lingering, clinging to her fellow mutants. Her entire body, head to toe, even her hair, eyes, and teeth seemed to be made out of the spear's material. When the surprise wore off, she just gave a big, metallic smirk. "Shite, owe ya 50 quid, Robin."

"Put it on the tab." Robert was breathing heavily, he simply looked at Fiona and felt her abilities creep into his being. His feet started to form into the stone beneath them. At the same time he realised that he could reach out to Heather and take her powers as well. He had not been able to juggle two powers at the same time but it was coming to him with ease now. He stepped forward and grabbed onto the spear himself, his arm changing into the gold. The power from the ley line feeding directly into his body. With this they'd be indestructible. He grinned back at Fiona before turning to Heather and embracing her, "You are amazing, luv."

As waves crashed against the island, the resonating sound reverberated through the cave, enhancing the sensory experience that earned the cave the nickname of The Melodious Cave. The natural acoustic phenomenon has inspired numerous artists and musicians throughout history but to Heather it was a welcomed relief to the power coursing through her now as tried to not let her abilities creep out and leave the pair believing they were in darkness or something worse. She jumped at the sudden embrace. "You have no idea." She said grinning as she focused on him.