Planet of the Unknown

the other’s use of the collective pronoun has marina raising an eyebrow. it was hard enough for her to process this on her own ( and in times of desperation, with the few girls she already knew from before ), but here she was talking about comparing notes? making plans and working together? marina wasn’t sure that she was ready for such a big commitment. “yeah, that sounds about right,” she responds with a slight nod.

it’s a huge risk, trusting anyone at this point. especially someone who’s just as new at this magic stuff as she is. but the conviction in mara’s voice has her pausing to consider her options. it’s true that genevieve, too, was a huge unknown, and her studies and experiences would also be of questionable help as she didn’t have any magic of her own. she reels back suddenly ass the pool of water collects in the other’s hand, eyes wide in a mix of shock and admiration. “i — you learned how to do that on your own?” that was an affinity that bound them, then, this shared affinity for the element.

exhaling in a huff, marina continues, “i’m open to sharing notes. growing together… would be good for the both of us.” she weighed the options before her; the possible risk of her being too honest. “but i’m going to check out what genevieve’s up to — just to see if there’s anything i can learn there, too.” she admits. “you understand, right? i’m just trying to get my bearings on all this.”

Mara raised up her hand, turning it to the side and letting the water drip down onto the ground. She hadn’t necessarily learned how to do it, but it was as if it was a natural of a process as breathing. “Of course I learned it. I had some help from the grimoire, but the rest...that’s all me. And back there, that was you, too.” It likely wouldn’t be as easy with the rest of the spells, but as for creating a pool of water out of nothing, well, any beginner witch could do it. “That’s what I mean, Marina. We don’t need Genevieve to lead us, not when we have our grimoires and our natural abilities.” 

When it involves her directly? She gets angry, accusatory, defensive, and then she loses her temper and walks away. Then she comes back, probably doesn’t apologize, and tells you whether you’re on good terms with her or if you’re out of her life. She...has some work to do, on that front.

On the surface, Mara won’t be terribly offended. She’ll let those who resist go their own way. But that doesn’t mean she’s not royally pissed off on the inside. Nor does it mean that she won’t try to make life hell for those who outright oppose her. You can walk away from her, sure. But when you butt heads with her? Oof.

She gets angry. Yeah, it’s pretty much as simple as that. Mara hates feeling as if she’s being backed into a corner and will happily tear the head off of anyone who tries to trap her. If it’s not worth her time, however, she will brush it off and ignore the threat.

clementine is very aware of her lack of courage. or rather, she just doesn’t acknowledge where she displays any sort of bravery and regards herself as a coward. that being said, she’s very aware of people who aren’t cowards. mara is one of those people. it’s not even about her disability, but more about the way that the woman carries herself. she is dignified, straight forward. she exudes top energy the confidence clementine only aspires to have. even at the dinner party, she was the one to stand up to the woman who brought all of them together. clementine doesn’t think she would ever have spoken up in such a confusing and frightening situation. all that makes her even more curious to hear what are mara’s thoughts and next steps. 

there’s no hesitance when the florist makes her way to the coffee shop. she’s actually looking forward to it and she can trust mara won’t beat around the bush and avoid the subject. she slips onto the booth with a bashful smile on her face and nods back at mara. “fine, you?” she says, though it carries no meaning. the small talk prepares the stage, clementine knows just that. “yeah. i felt the same. i didn’t know how to approach you.” clementine confesses. another bob of her head and she patiently waits for mara to return with their coffee. she reaches for the creamer once it’s in front of her, wanting to occupy her hands more than anything else. “i must say though- i still don’t know what to think of what happened.”

As Clementine busied herself with the creamer, Mara immediately took a sip. She preferred her coffee black, and as strong as possible, enough to keep her buzzed until bedtime. There was something charming about the clash of their natures. Where Cleo was soft and delicate, Mara was brash and unwavering. “Don’t worry about it. I’m glad you branched out and talked with the others.” She grinned. “More for us to gossip about during lunch, hm?”

she drifts down the hallway towards the exit, fingers still feeling at the spot on her arm that should be burned, stinging, raw. its wholeness is still confusing because she knows it should be tender, can almost feel the pain radiate, but it’s all just in her mind. and suddenly the chaos within seems to become external as well, as the onslaught of questions crashes over marina like waves, keeping her from breaking through to the surface.

marina steps back gently, making a little more space between herself and this girl she’s never even met. on one hand, her excitement meant that someone else had seen it too, and she wasn’t just hallucinating. on the other: that same witness seemed to think she was protected by her own magic?

“jesus christ, one question at a time, please?” she put a hand out, smiling weakly. “still a little, y’know, in shock?” ordinarily she would be amused, proud even, that people would look at a miracle like that and think that she had what it took to pull it off. but tonight… tonight, marina was just tired, and sick of being blindsided. “look — something crazy happened, the water protected me but.. i didn’t do anything. it just happened, okay?” she sighed, crossing her arms firmly over her chest. “sorry to disappoint.”

“We’re all in shock,” Mara admitted, speaking for those she had seen so far. Having powers suddenly thrust upon you was exhausting, daunting, and exhilarating all at the same time. “All of this has been a series of strange happenings. From the grimoires to the invitations to...magic?” She raised an eyebrow, studying the girl’s expression. “You must have done something without realizing it.” It wasn’t distrust that fueled her comment, but curiosity and admiration.

zelenia was definitely in a hurry to get out of that banquet once it was all said and done. she knew EVERYONE had felt it. the chill in the air that came from her, the frost covering the windows near her. there was no hiding it now, not from any of these girls – worst of all, zelenia didn’t know who could be trusted and who couldn’t. as she heard mara’s voice call out to her, the beauty stopped and turned around to look at her. 

“OF COURSE not,” zelenia said with a scoff and a roll of her eyes. as mara quickly added that she was going to lead the coven – wait, when did they decide they were a coven? zelenia raised an eyebrow. shit was getting too real, too fast. “no OFFENSE, mar, but what makes you think you can lead any of us? because you got balls? i’m pretty sure you’re not the only witch here that does.” the blonde said with a breathy laugh, before her tone becoming serious again. “i mean, none of us know ANYTHING, who gives any of us a right to lead? that’s like the blind leading the fucking blind.” the blonde shrugged her shoulders and made an waving gesture with her hands.

zelenia had never been the type to follow the leader and besides – she didn’t want to commit to anything or anyone until she had a further grasp on what was going on. until reality REALLY began to sink in. “genevive clearly knows shit we do not, but do i trust genevive? absolutely fucking not.” the blonde started, “ – and i could trust YOU, but you don’t know anything. i don’t think anyone should be calling any leader rights just yet, if we even make a fucking coven or whatever.”

the girl sighed, lightly shaking her head. “i definitely am not going into this ALONE, i will tell you that. i’m going to make nice with everyone and that i’m absolutely not going solo in this, because that’s just STUPID at this point.” she admitted. as much as zelenia had always been a loner, this was something she just had a vibe about. a vibe that warned her, not to be alone. don’t isolate. “ – but i’m not going to be blindly playing follow the leader until someone has a valid reason why they SHOULD be a leader. if we need one. i’m not in a coven until one is formed the right way.”

“I’ve got more balls than everyone who’s too afraid to challenge Genevieve.” Somehow, when Zenenia challenged her, it didn’t come off as a threat, but rather a battle of two strong wills. It was a match that Mara was eager to spar in. “What Genevieve isn’t telling us is that she’s just as blind as we are. You heard her. She doesn’t even know magic. We have grimoires and we have each other. Besides, what’s she going to do with us? Use us?” She scoffed. “Remember what happened to the last witches in this town? Yeah. Didn’t go so well for them. We have to be careful.”

At least the blonde didn’t carelessly trust Genevieve. Despite only having met that night, Mara knew that Zel wasn’t stupid. Her sharp tongue and quick wit proved that. “I intend to learn, and I claimed leadership rights because no one else has stood up to Genevieve.” The real reason? Mara didn’t trust anyone else to lead the witches. Clearly, she was the most confident. It was the allure of the power and respect that came with leadership that she so deeply craved. “I also intend to make my intentions clear. You all deserve that. I want those who follow me to be strong, in their own right, not because of me or Genevieve or anyone else. I want us to learn together, to teach each other, and to protect each other.”

( @plutomara )

where: parking lot of the salem event center.

when: thirty minutes after the dinner party.

status: closed starter.

Carter was on edge— the whole thing with Luce earlier still thrumming in the back of her skull, and the whole Genevieve thing definitely didn’t help either. She suddenly felt so overwhelmed. And to add to it all, that one girl had to get on her nerves. Perhaps it was because she was also arrogant that she couldn’t stand others who were— and she definitely could not stand being bossed around by an equal (or inferior). As they all filed out in groups, whispering amongst each other, others silent in shock, going to their respective cars while others stuck around to huddle together in the parking lot— no doubt discussing the nights strange events.

As she walked, pulling her coat tighter around her thin frame, Carter saw that woman again, the one who had piped up and questioned Genevieve; as if she was somehow the most qualified to have the last word on the matter. She couldn’t help but roll her eyes as she made accidental eye contact with her from a few feet away— of course it was her luck they had parked near each other. Well, if they were all in this together, then Carter supposed she should speak her mind. “What you’re trying to do is dangerous…for all you know we need Genevieve if this is all true. And what if she won’t help you and the ones you lead astray?”

She stood on the other side of Mara’s car, the driver side of her own vehicle, peering at each other over the top of the other girls car.

It had been a night to remember, and one that left Mara with the first glimmer of hope in years. She had amassed what she hoped would be a considerable following, and even if she hadn’t, the pulse of newfound power coursed through her veins. Still, the thought of Genevieve dampened her excitement. Why did any of the girls have a desire to follow her? They were better off on their own, with a leader who knew magic, rather than one who had stumbled upon it as a spectator.

WHEN: the evening after the dinner party

WHERE: the corner of howard street, by the cemetery

WHO: open to all

If someone had told Anais that the night’s antics would culminate with fifteen girls screaming in a dark room, well  — she would’ve credited herself. As it stands, it seems Salem has another scammer in its midst. From one con artist to another, Anais appreciates the production value but for the most part, she’s underwhelmed. Because, really now  — witches, in Salem? Groundbreaking. 

It’s the other part that lingers. She’s a master of trickery, even when it comes to herself; she knows how to manage the murmurs with alcohol and pills, but last night’s voice was strident and undeniable despite all the champagne she’d consumed. It’s got her thinking about the book on her bedside table, about strange occurrences from her past glimmering back into focus. It’s got her thinking when she’d rather not be thinking at all.

That part comes easily. She finds a bar that’s empty, given she gets there just after 2pm. From then she drinks herself steadily into a stupor, until the world is soft and muffled and the room spins. She stumbles back out onto the street around 7pm and braces herself against a nearby lamppost. It’s sunset, and in the fading light she stills, staring at the cemetery across the road.

Back in the day, back before the binge drinking became enough of a problem that she was faced with the choice of rehab or death by alcohol poisoning, Mara would have processed last night’s events over a beer. Or vodka, if she was feeling lucky. Hell, why just one? She’d go through a few cases of beer and enough shots to bankrupt a bar before she’d given it enough thought. But those days were long gone. A year and five months behind her. And she wasn’t about to break her streak so soon after freeing herself from the hellhole that was rehab. Still, her feet carried her to the bar.

Everything in her told her to step into that bar, to have one more drink, to get lost in a bottle. Mara’s chest heaved with the effort of the decision. She was almost drooling over the idea of sitting at a bar again, until she saw a familiar face. It was one of the girls from the party, totally sloshed and slumped against a lamppost. It was like looking into a mirror.

“What the shit, honey, don’t do this to yourself.” How old was she, no more than twenty-one or twenty-two. The same age Mara was when she had lost control of her habit. She threw the girl’s arm over her left shoulder, using the stump of her arm to support the girl’s limp body. “Get up, you’re not staying out here all night.” But what choice did she have? Mara was used to walking everywhere after her license was suspended from one too many DUIs, but she couldn’t walk the girl all the way home. She spotted a bench in the cemetery. It would have to do. “Cross the street with me, then we’ll talk. I was there yesterday, at the party. Do you want me to get you home?”

Location: The events center

Status: Closed for @aidaxaman​

The chill hadn’t left Mara’s bones after Genevieve left the girls to discuss matters among themselves. While Mara put forth her idea of leading the coven instead, warning of the dangers of being led by someone who wasn’t a fellow witch, eagerness sparked in some of the girls’ eyes, whereas distrust clouded others. Therefore, it wasn’t a shock to see one of the most distrustful girls approaching Genevieve after the fact. It was as if she couldn’t get away from Mara fast enough.

She’d planned to make a swift exit and pull aside several of the girls afterwards, particularly to gauge their thoughts and to remind them of who their leader could be, if they only stood by her side. But while watching the girl speak with Genevieve, her blood boiled. That familiar Duquesne temper that had festered in her father and grandmother manifested itself in tiny droplets of hot water on her fingertips.

When Genevieve had slipped away into whatever hole she’d crawled out of, Mara swept onto the scene, steam rising from her hand. She was too furious to be shocked at her new powers. “So,” she sneered, “what were you talking about with our generous sponsor? The manipulative bitch who claims to have made us? All she did was poke her nose where it didn’t belong and come back to steer us towards her own goals.” Mara stepped closer to the girl. Aida, her name was? “We could rule ourselves, and you chose to join her, didn’t you?” She took a breath, soothing herself. She was being presumptuous again. “You’re too smart to join her, aren’t you?”

Location: The events center

Status: Closed for @marinachois​

Mara’s heart pounded as she jogged out the room, her black heels in hand, her head swirling with the night’s events. One girl had lit candles without ever reaching for a match or a lighter. Another, Zelenia, had created frost on the windowpanes. And one girl...

“You...you were set on fire!” Mara ran ahead to stop Marina from leaving the building, her eyes wide. “Then water covered your skin. Did your grimoire show you how to do that? How to create water from nothing?” The questions tumbled over each other like crashing waves. “I’m freaked out, I’m fascinated, but God...you have to show me how you did that.” She hadn’t touched the grimoire beyond a quick scan of the pages, believing it to be an elaborate prank. But now, she would have to learn every damn spell inside it, and more.