FernStone

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Interactions: Ophrenia @silvermist1116, Neko @Atrophy
Road to the Old Black Manor.

---

Charlie had never climbed over a gate before - well, she hadn't climbed much before. She was fit enough thanks to being on her feet for twelve hours a day at work, but something like this? How did she even go about it.

Thankfully she didn't have to think about it too hard, because "Carl" pointed out where to put her feet and hands. She didn't rush like Lily and Zelztin, one seemingly ruining clothing and the other injuring herself (or exacerbating an old injury? Charlie couldn't tell). She carefully climbed over the wall, following the path Carl had taken, and landing on the other side with an inelegant thud. Nothing broken or ripped, though.

Slow and steady wins the race, or something.

"Thanks," she nodded to Carl, following on near the back of the group.

The swamp was fucking spooky, and the rain made visibility pretty poor. Charlie squinted her eyes against it, glad she'd invested in a good raincoat - her half bare legs were soaked, but her top half and head was safe. Thank god, cause her hair was already a state.

She pulled out her own torch, brand new and shiny, turning it on so she could see in front of her own hand.

"... What. In. The. FUCK?"

Lily

"Huh, they have an interesting taste in sculptures here," Charlie joked, trying to ignore the unease creeping into her mind. But she couldn't get rid of it the more she looked at the... Strange deer statue. It looked alive, but also not. It didn't look right just like this place didn't feel right. Charlie shuddered, muttering, "maybe this is why everyone here thinks magic is real."

Moving on.

(Thank god Carl went over to help Neko get her phone, cause Charlie really didn't want to stray further into the swamp than she had to.)

Charlie couldn't bring herself to say anything more as they continued forward. Normally she had endless conversation and energy, she struggled to keep it all in, but not right now. It felt like something would come for her if she uttered a word. The whole place gave her the creeps and she was someone who could handle horror and difficult situations quite well. Just, this one was too much like a horror movie setup. What with it pissing it down with rain, the eery howl from an unknown animal, the creepy deer thing and the- what the fuck.

The deer being strangled by its own intenstines?!

It had to be the rain. Charlie rubbed her eyes. Maybe if she closed them for a few seconds it would be gone.

The same, horrifying sight was still in front of her.

"The fuck is that?" Charlie shook her head, nausea roiling in her stomach. That wasn't normal. Was it some kind of insane parasite? She knew nothing about animal diseases but... Yeah, that didn't happen. She couldn't look at it without wanting to throw up, all the unease she'd been feeling heightening into cold fear. What if those... Worms came for <i>them</i> next.

"Uh, I don't think that's normal. Like, sure I seen a dead deer or two, but nothing like that..." Charlie looked at Ophrenia with complete confusion as she talked as if this was just a normal, dying deer. It wasn't. Who could even drive in here? "Maybe you shouldn't go near-"

Too late. Of course Ophrenia didn't listen to her, was it because she was one of the youngest? Well, it'd probably be fine-

It was like a living nightmare, the deer opening its mouth to show rows of deadly teeth it shouldn't have. It mauled Ophrenia like it was trying to eat her whole, the intensine-worms pulling her in to finish the job.

"What the actual fuck?!" Charlie choked down a scream. She suppressed the panic clawing at her chest, pretending her heart wasn't pounding and her breathing quickening. There was no time to panic, she had to keep her shit together, someone's life was in danger. It was just like work... Ignoring the attacking intestines. Shit, don't think about that. "Shit, we gotta get her outta there."

Adrenaline kicked in, and Charlie jumped forward just behind Neko. She didn't bother pulling out her knife, because she was just as likely to cut Ophrenia or Neko as she was the intestines. Instead she wrapped both of her arms around Neko, helping add her strength where she couldn't access Ophrenia without risk of getting cut herself. She didn't want the intestines, or whatever they were, to somehow drag them both away. She pulled with all of her might, straining against the weight and the intestines trying to pull Ophrenia in the opposite direction. Her arms ached within seconds, feet desperately digging into the slippy mud as she tried not to fall on her ass.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

She really hoped someone would do what Neko had said and shoot it, cause there was no way she could hold out until all the intestines were cut away.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Road To The Old Black Manor.

---

Now this weather was a lot closer to what Charlie was used to.

She dug into her backpack, carefully shifting the strange jar and pulling out the rain jacket she’d had the foresight to pack (she was northern English, always a chance of rain). It was still hot and clammy, which made wearing any kind of jacket disgusting, but it was better than getting soaked. Sure, she had a change of clothes, but that was for in case she fell into the swamp.

Which she really hoped didn’t happen.

She’d squeezed in Jennifer’s van, since she didn’t have a car - or a licence. It was surprisingly spacious and would’ve been a comfortable, relaxing ride, with the sound of the rain calming… if only the whole place wasn’t so god damn creepy. She was pretty sure there was something watching them from the swamp, but she couldn’t see anything. Must be a crocodile. Yeah, definitely that.

”Sure thing,” Charlie nodded to Jennifer once they’d stopped. She was reluctant to get out of the sheltered van, pulling her rain jacket hood over her head in the hope of saving her hair from getting even more frizzy (fucking humidity). With one last check of everything in her backpack, Charlie hopped out of the van, feet squelching in a puddle right outside the van door. Lovely.

”Huh,” Charlie craned her neck up at the looming gate, then at the honestly over the top chains on it. It was in the middle of a swamp. There was literally no need to lock it so tightly. She got closer to it, inspecting it closely as if it’d just open if she stared hard enough. ”They must reallllly want to keep people outta there. So, anyone know how to lockpick?”

This was going to be Charlie’s first breaking and entering experience, and she was a little more wired than she probably should be. Risks aside, it was exciting. Just, she had absolutely not experience with getting through a lock gate. Maybe if they went further along they’d find a gap they could get through, but that’d mean going into the swamp.

Probably best to avoid that.

”Or are we gonna have to climb over it?”

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Summit Motel Parking Lot

---

When Charlie suggested weapons, she had been thinking along the lines of bats and the like. Not guns. She'd completely forgotten that guns were a thing you could just get here. Knives too. Would she be able to as a foreigner? Probably not. She really shouldn't. Charlie had never held a gun in her life, and the only knives she'd used were in the kitchen. Sure she was very efficient chopping up an onion, but that skill wouldn't help her here. And just like with most of her skills, it had taken practice. She basically had no experience in self defence.

She'd leave the use of weapons to the Americans but she didn't trust near complete strangers to actually protect her from... Whatever was in the swamp. Some kind of knife would be better than nothing, at least she could wave it in front of her to ward away any danger if needed.

Maybe one coated in silver, if the nonsense Erik was spouting had any truth to it. Doubtful. What was this, twilight? Maybe she should bring a garlic necklace for the vampires along with the silver for werewolves.

Charlie arrived in the motel car park feeling far more skint than when she'd left the cafe - having hit up various shops in the town. Not that there were many, but she was able to buy a new pair of decent shoes that wouldn't immediately get drenched in the swamp. She'd not exactly packed with swamp trips expected, and her canvas shoes were comfortable but not durable. Her well worn but thankfully strong backpack was filled with various other necessities (in her eyes) - bottles of water, basic medical supplies (bandages, painkillers and the like), a light change of clothes and cans of bug spray (she was not going to get eaten alive by mosquitos). She’d shoved a combat knife she'd reluctantly bought in her shorts pocket. She carried a stick she'd found while going from shop to shop - a cheap hiking stick equivalent, and she'd stepped into a bog far too many times back home to want to risk it here. Swamps were like bogs but with a higher chance of taking a step and disappearing into the depth... Probably. She hadn't really been into a swamp, but she assumed they’d have to watch their step.

Could never be too prepared.

She was one of the last to get there, it appeared. And perhaps underarmed going by the fucking shotgun Ophrenia had over her shoulder. That couldn’t be legal. Or was it? It was a complete culture shock for Charlie.

"It's a good day to die hard."

Ophrenia

”Don’t think it's ever a good day to die,” Charlie snorted. ”Rather stay alive myself.”

She shifted her attention away from the probably crazy girl to the others. There were a few conversations going on, and while she naturally wanted to gravitate towards Neko (who was friendly and sort of her grandmother), she didn’t want to interrupt. She could just wait where she was… but there was something she was curious about.

”Hey!” Charlie approached Lily and “Carl” who… seemed to be crouching beside his (presumably) car. Strange. She gave them both a bright smile, as if they weren’t going towards their probable deaths. It was fine. Glancing behind her at the others, Charlie lowered her voice before continuing - talking to Lily more than Carl. ”Do you, uh, have that jar with you? I don’t believe any of that magic shit, but maybe it’s some kinda super swamp disease cure… Whatever it is, it’s better than nothing.”

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Summit Motel, the Night Before

---

"... You sure you're safe there?

"I'm fine, dad. I ain't doing anything dangerous." Charlie leaned back in the uncomfortable motel bed, wincing at the loud creak the worn springs made underneath her. She didn’t like lying, especially not to her dad, but what else was she supposed to do? Tell him she was in a town searching for a person he didn’t remember where a bunch of others had died? Yeah, that wouldn’t go down well. She shifted her phone to the other ear before continuing. “I’m just on holiday.”

“Well y’know what America’s like, what if-”

“Dad, I’m fine,” Charlie interrupted. “Stop worrying so much.”

“Kinda a parent's job. If you didn’t leave in such a rush I would’ve come with you.”

“Then it’d be no fun. I’m an adult now, I can look after myself. I’m with… friends anyway.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop nagging.” Her dad chuckled on the other end of the phone. "Your mum's been asking why you're not answering her messages. I know you're angry, but you gotta stop ignoring her."

"I'm not angry." She's just not my mum. “I’ve just got my data off most of the time. I got a cheap phone to use here… Y’know, the one I’m calling you from now? I’m not ignoring her on purpose.”

“Can I give her this number then?”

“Sure.” Charlie didn’t want to give her fake mum this number, but it was easier than arguing with her dad. She glanced at the time. 2am. Yeah, probably time to finish this up. “I gotta sleep. I’ll call you when I can.”

“Alright. Sleep well, Charlie.”

“Night.”

Charlie discarded their phone beside the bed, lying back with her eyes closed. Not quite sleeping, just trying to relax. Speaking to her dad, nice as it was, only made her more motivated to find out what had happened to her mum. It was her mum, after all.

There was a lot to think about.

She’d barely had a chance to process everything Dr Harkness had said, because it had all seemed so ridiculous. Why was everyone (well, two people) so insistent that magic was real? She couldn’t wrap her head round it. There was no way magic was real. Sure, it would explain the whole situation with Eleanor Black… but she couldn’t believe that. Magic was a thing of stories, something she’d maybe believed in as a child, but it wasn’t part of reality.

At least Dr Harkness had given them something useful. The last place Charlie wanted to go was the swamp, but if that was where they had to go for clues… so be it. She didn’t believe there were any monsters out there, but it certainly wasn’t safe. That was just a typical swamp thing, right?

Charlie yawned, her sleepiness getting harder to ignore. There was no point dwelling on it. She’d sleep, then think about it more in the morning.

---

July 20th, 11:29am
Interactions: : The Group and Jen

The Webb Family Coffee House

---

Today, Charlie wasn’t going to repeat yesterday’s mistakes. She had a large bottle of water on the table in front of her that she’d bought for an absolute rip off price at what she assumed was the only food store in this town. Generally she’d drink tap water, but doing that here seemed less safe than risking heat stroke.

It was also just as hot today. Sure would’ve been nice if she miraculously developed a heat tolerance overnight, but alas, it wasn’t to be. Yet another point against magic being real.

What Jen said wasn’t really groundbreaking, but it was relieving to know other groups had gotten the same leads… Dr Harkness wasn’t sending them to their deaths, probably. Or everyone they’d talked to was. She’d rather not think about that.

“No, not just missing: dead. Dead, Jennifer. Dead.”

Neko

Neko looked exhausted, and was talking rather erratically. Rattled by, well, loads of people before them dying. Most people would be. Should be, rather. Charlie was too, she just wasn’t showing it. Keeping up a calm expression while forcing herself to be calm and think logically was rather easy.

Well, it helped she’d been trying not to think too much about the deaths.

”Dr Harkness said they were dead too,” Charlie piped up, expression neutral. Yet another point in favour of the doctor telling the truth… The most positive light Charlie could put it in. ”I’m staying too… Wait, uh, people are missing, I didn’t-”

Charlie cut herself off before she said more, mouth half open and eyes widening. Way to make herself look bad. To be fair, it was a large group of people she’d only met yesterday. She only distinctly remembered three - Lily and Carl, cause they’d been together longer, and Neko because she was also related to Eleanor.

Maybe Jennifer just hadn’t remembered everyone in the group. Charlie didn’t say this, because she barely knew her too. Maybe she had purposefully not told them. Best not to take a side. ”I’d quite like to know who Eleanor Black is to you too, Jen. Just, y’know, for clarity and all. Only fair after we all said yesterday.”

”Uh, I do think going to the Black Manor is a good idea, all that aside. Even if we gotta go through the swamp to get there. But we should go soon,” Charlie said, tapping her fingers against the table. ”We don’t wanna be in the swamp when it gets dark. We should also get weapons… In case there’s some alligators or something, better to be safe, ay?”

She rubbed the back of her neck, grimacing at damp sweat there. At least she’d scraped her hair back into a tight bun today to help keep cool.

”Or something else. Dr Harkness seemed to think there were various kinds of monsters out there. Insane, I know. But better to be prepared an all.”

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Interactions: "Carl" @Zombiedude101, Lily @Punished GN & Dr. Harkness

Sybil A Harkness MD.

---

"If your mother's also black, she's no relative of them. The Black Family are, despite their name, white as they get."

Dr Harkness

"Yeah, got that from the past slave owner thing," Charlie snorted. "But she's white, it's my dad's side that- yknow, that doesn't matter. She told me bout this place, so unless there's another Quintin Black family..."

Any humour she'd felt quickly left as Dr. Harkness continued. She hadn't quite believed it from Odessa, who was a weird stranger approaching them on the street, but the town doctor? Her words were more credible. But didn't Jennifer had mentioned that the last girls went missing after they talked to Dr Harkness... Had she really just warned them?

Fuck. This was a lot more than Charlie was equipped to handle. Keeping her head down she could do, but they'd already screwed it up with keeping their mouths shut when there were a whole bunch of other people just like them around town asking questions. It may not actually be them, but they'd made themselves targets by being in that group.

"You're right, I ain't leaving," Charlie ran a hand through her increasingly messier hair, pulling half of it out of the bun it had been in. "It's my mum, yknow, not just anyone..."

What was out there that was worse than an alligator? Rich, angry white people with guns? Surely it didn't matter when the end result was the same? Both Dr Harkness and Odessa seemed so certain Eleanor didn't exist. Was it a family coverup? The problematic child they'd abandoned, wiped from the records? Something town wide?

Charlie suppressed a shudder. The whole thing didn't make sense, and the death of multiple girls just a night ago felt like a lead weight in her stomach.

Stay calm. It was fine. She pushed away the anxiety creeping in as "Carl" talked. She didn't know what he meant about keeping them out of trouble, but it was a small comfort that he probably wouldn't just abandon them. Sure, he was practically a stranger, but he was probably best equipped to deal with small town mass murderers. If any of them could.

"We need to know what we're dealing with to protect ourselves," Charlie said quietly, agreeing with "Carl". Not that she could protect herself against anything but mundane threats. Her only self defence experience was one free judo class when she was ten. She really should've bought pepper spray when she got here like her dad suggested. "And..." She paused, trying to figure out how to say this. Jennifer had said to not trust Dr Harkness, but Jennifer also had told them a lot of things. "How come you're warning us when talking to everyone else in this town seems to be a death sentence?"

Her head really hurt trying to think this all through, but she had to figure it out. If Doctor Harkness couldn't tell them, she'd go to the next person. Then the next, and the next, until she found her mum. Or Eleanor Black, whoever she actually was.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Interactions: "Carl" @Zombiedude101, Lily @Punished GN & Dr. Harkness

Sybil A Harkness MD.

---

Doctor Harkness sure didn't beat around the bush.

But her reaction to what Charlie said was a lot better than expected. Sure, she basically told them that their previous plan was stupid. But how were they supposed to know? Was it normal in America to rock up and ask to talk to the doctor about a family member? Or like, anything not medical? Back home you'd never get anywhere near the doctor. The poor doctor would probably be fully booked for months anyway.

"I mean," Charlie held up her hands with a relaxed smile. "Kinda safer to assume you are... Everyone's been looking at us strange so wouldn't really expect any different from the town doctor."

That wasn't important anyway, no point dwelling on what they could've done.

"Well, uh, speaking of Mary-Louise..." And that family that possibly included Charlie, who knew, it was difficult knowing who you were related to when your mother completely disappeared. She fiddled with her hands, which were way too sweaty thanks to the heat, and tried to figure out if it was smart to just give a name. But what else could she do? It was the person they were all here to look for. "A relative, I guess? Not the ones running this town and all but my mum's definitely a relative."

Probably.

"Her name's Eleanor Black."

Sundered Samsara (Honkai Impact 3rd - a Third Era AU)

Power: E; Endurance: E; Agility: C; Intellect: B; Honkai: C; Burst: E
Health: 5/5
Honkai Corruption: 0/5
Burst Charge: 0/4
Time Fracture: 1/1

The call to duty really hadn’t come at a good time for Isa.

She was completely distracted, fiddling with her left arm bracer with a small tool gripped in her mouth. She’d just been in the process of upgrading the lights on it, purely because she was bored, when she’d received the alert. Of course it didn’t affect the functionality of her suit at all but she hated being interrupted. So she was continuing on the transport, hunched over on a bench and completely ignoring her new teammates.

All she needed to do was reconnected some wires, tighten it all at her wrist… There! The circuit jumped back to light, crimson glow joining the other wires running across her body. With that done she stopped zoning out just in time to hear a couple of introductions - not that she cared much for personal information, or that on a town in France. Locations tended to be boring. Isa had never been much of a sightseer… Not that they were going sightseeing.

Isa listened to their names, memorising it easily, and only half paid attention to what Hinode said about the city. She’d read the briefing and they’d be there soon enough, she didn’t see the point in facts about the amount of roads and such. She definitely didn’t need to know anything about history. She found herself agreeing with Liliana with a nod. Surprising. The model Schicksal member (at least as far as appearances went) didn’t interest Isa at all. Well, her battlesuit didn’t.

“Guess I’m next?” Isa smiled, looking way too cheerful for someone on their way to deal with an active honkai outbreak. “I’m Isabelle Oliviera Kainde, but you can just call me Isa. It’ll be easier. Nice to meet everyone.”

As she spoke Isa finally took a proper look at her teammates, gaze flickering from one to the other. Their leader, whose name she’d honestly glanced over and chosen not to remember, was giving off very icy vibes. The gear she was tending was kind of interesting, but not enough to hold Isa’s attention. Her gaze passed over Hinode and Sarah quickly - not interesting at all. Hinode’s tech seemed basic, and while Sarah seemed smart she was the boring kind of smart. Moving on-

Isa paused, lips curving up into a wider grin and amber eyes lighting up. Without any care for personal space or other people she jumped over to the opposite bench, reaching out for Yu-Ri’s arm. “Is this Anti-Entropy technology? Wow, it's pretty cool. Impressive how smoothly it all moves… I’ve not seen many suits like this. How much of you is mechanical?”

If Isa was given the chance she wasn’t to look at all of Yu-Ri’s prosthetics - and ideally take them apart to see how they ticked. Probably not the best idea right now, or ever. She’d definitely be stepping on some other scientist or engineer's toes.

But still. This was the most interesting thing she’d seen in <i>months</i>.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Interactions: Lily@Punished GN, “Carl” @Zombiedude101, & Dr. Harkness

Sybil A Harkness MD.

---

Charlie was surprised with how easily they were led straight past reception and into what she guessed was supposed to be an examination room, but looked more like an ugly motel room. People probably left here more sick than they arrived. She made a show of leaning on “Carl” the whole main, furrowing her brow and trying to look as sick as possible. The intense headache helped, even if it was slightly alleviated by being out of the sun. She sat still for the nurse checking over her, closing her eyes so she wouldn’t just watch the nurse like a weirdo (she was curious how well she’d get it done).

Of course, their lie wouldn’t last long now she’d been checked over. While Charlie wasn’t feeling great, she definitely didn’t have heat stroke.

Dr. Harkness still came - both her presence and what she was like a bit of a shock. She looked way too young to be a full time doctor, nevermind in this small town. Charlie ignored the stab of jealousy in her chest. Not the time.

"... Why did you come here? Your friend's vitals are fine - she isn't even close to heat stroke. I'm very busy and can't afford to have my time wasted today."

Dr. Harkness

“Carl” spun the same tale he had to the receptionist, just with more details. Charlie nodded along - no longer pretending to be suffering from heatstroke, but not hiding a grimace everytime her head throbbed.

”Aye, am not from around here,” Charlie said, rubbing her head. She purposefully played up her accent, as if it wasn’t obvious she was from Northern England. "Am from England, so, like, I can’t handle this heat. I got loads of warnin' aboot heat stroke so I guess I panicked thinkin' I had it. Sorry. Uh, am definitely suffering from dehydration like, so can I at least get some water or somethin’? I got a ragin’ headache."

She rubbed the back of her neck. She definitely wasn’t as good at this acting thing as “Carl”, but she also didn’t just want to sit back and watch. Surely Dr. Harkness would just kick them out now they’d apologised and admitted she wasn’t as sick as they’d claimed?

“My mam’s from here, actually, that’s why am visiting this end of the world… Maybe you know her? You must know everybody. Mind if I ask some questions just, like, while we’re here.

She decided against saying the name Eleanor Black, for now.

Recollections: Who Is Eleanor Black [CANCELLED]

Interactions: Lily@Punished GN, “Carl” @Zombiedude101

Sybil A Harkness MD.

---

Magic wasn’t real.

And Charlie really didn’t need Odessa’s warning to run at the sight of any of those things. They didn’t exist but if they did she wasn’t exactly going to stand around and gawp at it. Just like she didn’t plan to go into the swamp, where all kinds of mundane, non magical things could kill her.

”A bunch of shit, that’s what,” Charlie shrugged in response to Lily. Odessa’s disappearance did something to ease her headache, just because someone wasn’t talking at them anymore, but it didn’t ease the relentless heat. She probably should’ve had some water back at the cafe. Or anything that wasn’t a coffee. She was pretty sure that had been the wrong move.

At least they were going into a doctor’s office.

”Don’t think I’ll have to fake it much,” Charlie muttered, mostly to herself. She rubbed her head again as if it would make her headache go away. How embarrassing, she was probably already getting heat exhaustion at the very least. She’d just have to play it up as way more serious than it was.

She didn’t pay much attention to the office itself, odd and homelike as it was, looking around with dull blinks.

"Ummm... Mami over here... she hasn't been feeling too good?”

Lily

“I feel faint,” Charlie mumbled, just loud enough to be heard, purposefully dragging out her words until they were almost slurred. She quickened her breathing, forcing herself to take quick, sharp breaths as if she was struggling to fill her lungs with air. It was painful, but if she didn’t put her all into this it wouldn’t be believable. Her headache got worse, and with it came a tinge of nausea. Well, alright, if she threw up it would just make it seem more urgent (if horrible fo her). “Think I’m gonna be sick.”

She took a step forward, stumbling and closing her eyes momentarily as if she was actually about to faint. Shit- she actually lost her footing with another step, going over her ankle and falling towards her side.

Hopefully someone would catch her (and assumed it was part of the act), otherwise she might really need the doctor.

I Remain Quest (A cruise ship horror set on a boat where you decide the fate of the cast!)

Mundane