cabalxcalamity

[cabalxcalamity]

the slow, steady exhale causes a lock of his hair to float up off his forehead and a bold, black kitten leaps and bats at it. He gets a faceful of kitten belly and sharp, tiny claws. the little scratches it leaves on his face heals before he can life the kitten from his face. "it is a public space, and i have been told that i need to share..." though he doesn't like sharing. it is something deep within him that abhors having too many people around him, like he needs to distance himself from others. "every anger management class says that people do not exist in a vacuum - which is funny to me because we don't exist in a fridge either." the joke falls flat, as he sits up.

he stretches, working the tight muscles in his back until he can carefully lumber to his feet. he is strong and capable, but for every advantage, there is a disadvantage, and he feels heavy -- heavier than he weights, as though there is a metaphysical weight that he carries with him.

the small black kitten that attacked his hair stays in his hand. he isn't sure why the kittens like him, but he knows that they do. "i believe it is because i am warmer than some people, kittens like warmth." he considers the kitten on his shoulder. "two or three... less than a kitten for each room but a good start." his gaze flickers back to her and holds steady. "i am tomoyuki eiji," he finally says in greeting, inclining his head slightly, unable to be more polite due to the kitten on his shoulder (and the extreme effort it feels as though it takes to move). "and if we have met before ... i have poor eyesight and worse memory for names."

peering down at the man, a sculpted brow quirks at the murmured protest to her sudden – intrusion it would seem – though it could only be accompanied by the faintest smirk. difficult to place much stock to his disgruntled tone while he was swathed by little meowing furballs. ❝ and you are certainly getting your money's worth, though last i checked this is still a public space. ❞ sahra began after a soft click of her tongue. ❝ don't worry, promise i won't take any of their attention away from you. ❞ instead she stepped closer to a small ragdoll kitten who seemed to be off on their own from the horde. leaning down to give a few gentle scratches.

sahra didn't have any true reasoning for being at the rescue presently, at least, there wasn't an intention to adopt prior. not that the idea isn't one she'd consider, it was just, already having one, plus a dog, might've been enough for her. unsure too, of how either would fare with a new little creature in the house. orion ( the doberman ) likely wouldn't mind, however ayla.. was another story. her bengal cat seemed to tolerate the dog's existence fine, but could have her feistier moments if he invaded her space too much.

❝ i believe two or three... ❞ shrugging lightly as her gaze diverts back towards him. ❝ but if they walk into this scene, maybe they'll make an exception, those little guys do seem to be very fond of you after all. ❞

[cabalxcalamity]

and then? what'd he say?

"Oh, he threw me out the third story window." They chirp, picking up a straw that the waiter had left for them to put in their ice water (it was free, no additional charge for the ice -- and the fly that came in one of the ice cubes is just a tasty little bit of bonus protein...

(joking, he'd never actually eat the fly ... when his mentor is around. there are many things they would do in junichiro's company, but they have learned to temper their upbringing - each minute display of disgust or confusion or disappointment causes tsatha to hide a little bit more of themselves away so junichiro doesn't know too much about his life with the caretaker. they don't want to give junichiro any reason to put them to the side.)

"I landed in the recycling, which - that was pretty lucky, right - it was cardboard recycling, not bottles, and the people really sorted it out well, so! no damage! But I got it." He reaches into his pocket and pulls out the notebook that they had been sent to get. They had gone as far as to put it in a zip lock back just in case it's contaminated or otherwise infested with something evil or otherwise gross. In fact, they were meeting their boss at the diner specifically so they could let them know how the mission had gone.

after his boss tells them to order whatever they want causes him to spin in his chair and openly gape. "I can't do that - that goes against all the rules of decency. The younger takes care of the older. You did your time with the ... the ...." oh hell, how did it always go in the movies and in the books? they can't remember, and yet, they're pretty sure that they're supposed to take care of their elders and not the other way around. Almost whining his words out, he can't help the gurgling groan of his stomach as it protests not being fed. Ice water minus one fly hasn't been sufficient breakfast. "I wasn't going to steal ... I was going to wait until they weren't looking and casually borrow the burger without the intention of giving it back. the best food to eat is the kind you steal for someone else's plate."

their hands itch for a cigarette. they can probably smoke here, or well they aren't supposed to smoke here, but the waiters don't look like they'd care if junichiro decided to be generous on the tip. they decide to put it off for now, though they flip the lighter between their fingers as they listen, raising an eyebrow at tsatha's words. "... disgusting." a twitch of their face, which is as near as a grimace their expression can get. a pause, then another, and despite not physically seeming too interested in the conversation, they pull the thread. "and then? what'd he say?" it's easy to see the kid's attention divert, and the twitch of junichiro's lips is again, their version of a snort. they lean back in the booth and watch as thoughts go through tsatha's brain. what gets junichiro's reaction next is the question itself, which is met with some sort of an offended huff. "order whatever you want." a hand wraps around a bottle of diet coke, raising up to their lips. they wish this establishment would serve alcohol, yet alas, it didn't. maybe, if they bribed the waiters well enough... it would prove useful later in the evening. "put it on my tab. i'll pay both of ours when we leave." and then, it's easy to spot the following thought that goes through their companion's mind. "hey — no stealing food." the idea of tsatha needing to steal food- rubs them off in the wrong way. "just order whatever you want. get it with two or three patties or something."

[cabalxcalamity]

there's a lethargic ease in which eiji moves when he hears her voice. he knows that she is not someone who would talk to him idly. at least she has an interesting voice and (most of) the time, she holds a good conversation, which means she talks, and he listens. anymore effort that he has to give to a conversation means that he'll find the nearest exit and leave. it takes a lot of effort to be this tired. "I don't want to share," he says, rolling to his stomach so he can stretch his arms out in front of him and pull as many kittens to him as possible. "I want to bring them all back to the hotel and put a "no vacancy" sign on the door and make everyone go away because we have a house full of kittens."

( this is why he has a co-owner. he needs someone to keep him from getting away with his shit when he's feeling particularly lazy ).

he lifts his head from the floor and cranes his head around, realizes he can't see in that position and then gives up and sits up, now cross-legged, scooping back up the kittens he had released. still, if he's not allowed to have all of them, he is at least going to take come a few. "which ones look like they'll go for the eyes?" he asks ... "though, they're so little ... maybe I should compromise and look for ones that will go for the toes."

this is an interesting sight. as lucia leans against the door frame and watches eiji get drowned by kittens. not the worst way to go, for most people, she assumes. and after a couple of minutes, cannot help but move further inside, sitting down on her heels as one of the kittens start stepping her way. the meeking sounds are... quite adorable, she cannot lie. a tut at his words, she is quick to tease. "learn how to share." which is a piece of ironic advice, coming from her. "see, i think this one likes me more." a calico, who manages to climb all the way up to her lap, and has taken to digging her claws into her designer jacket. which is fine, it adds to the look, or so she will say if anyone dares to ask about it. the question brings a grin to her lips, as she continues to pet the kitten's head, scratching underneath her chin. "that depends... on how many you can carry at once, and how fast you can run?" which shouldn't be that difficult, she could bet she can outrun the rescue workers, even in her heels. "or you can just come back a few times today with different identities. up to you. sky's your limit."

[cabalxcalamity]

everyone bothered you when you sat and ate at the bar - to be left alone, you should always find the corner booth, the one where the light overhead doesn't work and sit tucked into the corner, preferably with a book on quantum mechanics and the existence of aliens from the sixth dimension. the real trick (tsatha knows from experience) is to order a cola and start pouring in salt before drinking it down in one gulp - not only will people never look at you again ... but no one will want to talk to you.

though tsatha had seen santiago before, he didn't think that the other had that level of magnanimity to just ... offer to buy him food. he'd have to write his name in the good notebook and remember to send it off to santa claus this year (how else would santa know the names of everyone in penson? the good and the bad? someone had to be his inside spy and help him out ... tsatha was always on the good list.)

he laughed with delight. "London Bridge is falling down falling down falling down - Poi s’ascose nel foco che gli affina - Quando fiam uti chelidon—O swallow swallow - Le Prince d’Aquitaine à la tour abolie - These fragments I have shored against my ruins - Why then Ile fit you. Hieronymo’s mad againe. - Datta. Dayadhvam. Damyata... santi santi santi..." he recited gleefully, as he clapped his hands together. often times, he became derailed from his original thought, and if his emotional state veered negative or positive too quickly, the new thought took over, and he had to blend it back into the original... in the original poem, the ending line was:  Shantih     shantih     shantih but to reorient himself - he used a part (a wee piece) of santiago's name.

"on you? literally on you? Do I eat out of your hand?" he asked, scuffing his barstool closer to the other. "Mighty nice of you to trust that I won't bite off a finger - did you know the human jaw strength is enough to bite through bone but we don't because our minds are like: that's a bad idea. I've seen you before, in the library. I'm not allowed to talk, strictly not allowed - but here, I am allowed." He stuck his hand out. "My name is Tsatha. You can pronounce it like I said it or however you want. It's made up anyway."

it had been a long day, a long week, a long month, a long year, years if santiago was being honest. and he always was honest. they were trying, but whatever they were doing didn't seem to be enough. but he could not bring it up to anyone at the organization, let alone allow anyone at the coffee shop to see them so lost in thought. so that's why he found himself at the diner. nobody ever bothered you when you sat at the bar.

except now they were not sure if they had engaged in the conversation or simply ended up being the only one who looked to the source of the voice when they first started talking. now he barely followed the train of the thought of the stranger, well not a stranger, santiago recognized them from the library, santiago loved going to the library so much he had joked about how they should have punch cards as they did at the wallflower, so he mostly just nodded.

❝umm sure❞ he barely had time to react to the request, ❝is that all you want?❞ he really wished he could remember their name, ❝it's on me❞ he said calling the waitress over, ❝it goes in my tab❞ santiago said pointing to the side.

[cabalxcalamity]

"only two?" he asked from his spot on the floor - there was less chance for him to lean against something and for it to splinter at his touch if he stayed on the floor, and besides that, he didn't have to have the kittens use their small kitten claws to climb up his legs to perch on his shoulders. "A day?" he asked, carefully rolling to his back and scooped a kitten up to hold it in front of his face. He was nearsighted, and the kitten looked like a black blob to him. He blinked, waiting for his vision to clear, it would - give it a few seconds. The kitten mewed at him, and he set it aside. If he was only allowed to have two then it meant he had to be discerning. He wanted two cats for at least every three rooms at the hotel... now he had to rethink his plan of attack.

Slowly, he pushed himself to his feet and set his wallet into his back pocket. He may be able to have in the pocket of his jacket - that would make three.

"Why would everyone need to enjoy kitten season. if there is a season, then it happens every year. They can enjoy it next year."

There was a tortieshell kitten who was focused on climbing up him, so he scooped her up and set her on his shoulder. "You'll do," he said to her, lightly stroking the top of her head with one finger. "Now, since we can't get all of your siblings -- we need a second one."

THE CORNER OF HER LIPS QUIRKED at the muffled warning. sharks were solitary creatures, necessitated to remain in motion by their nature. and so she did just that. the animal shelter was a familiar stop on the tattoo artist’s way home. after a particularly insistent solicitor had wedged a flyer under her apartment’s door, she had taken to volunteering in her spare time small patches to dab out the red on her conscience. 

❛ two, i already asked. ❜ she poured fresh water into the dispenser, eyes raking over the room for any anomalies before landing on the rather large one pinned to the floor. her expertise demanded secrecy, though, it didn’t mean that she lived in a vacuum. quite the opposite, so to stumble across the leader of the city’s paragon of peace, the one figure whose angle she couldn’t decipher… how curious.

❛ but don’t you think it’s a little greedy to want more? ❜ she wasn’t there on business — not with the staff knowing her by name— and instead plucked a kitten from his shoelace. 

❛ everybody should get a chance to enjoy kitten season, ❜ she cooed into the soft black fur. revna, or mittens until the adoption paperwork went through, was her favorite. ❛ no? ❜

[cabalxcalamity]

location: the long walk for: anyone character: tomoyuki eiji  cap: three! [ 2 / 3 ] taken!

"I paid for thirty minutes, go away," he grumbled from somewhere under a literal pile of kittens that were swarming over him. tomoyuki eiji was not known for his gentle and loving demeanor -- and when he wasn't at the hotel, he was wandering the city trying to keep his temper in check. a friend of his (he had friends, shut up) had suggested adopting a kitten or two -- who could be angry when there was a kitten around??

so, tomoyuki went to the animal rescue and asked if he could have use of the cat room, though it was less of an ask and more of a demand, as though his mouth wouldn't shape around a request and no matter how he tried to sound, it always came out with a bit of rage and aggression.

of course, when he was surrounded by kittens - there came the choice - who was he going to bring home? he was supposed to feel less angry -- ... so, the test he devised was to lay down and see what kitten took to him. the problem now ... all the kittens seemed to like him.

"what's the adopt at one time limit?"

[cabalxcalamity]

location: any shady looking diner that has the best food but questionable hygiene practices for: anyone character: tsatha cap: three [ 2/3 ]

"and then I said, I know you are but what am I..." he said, turning around and around on the barstool at the long table where regulars would sit to get away from the inane chatter of those who didn't take a hint. Tsatha ... did not take a hint. Not even if there was a monetary amount applied to it. "It was funny, wasn't it? just seeing the big-headed big guy get all tomato faced and sputtery. I could have done without the spit when he talked though -- I was like tink's tits, mister - if you're going to give me a bath, at least throw me in the tub. -- that sounded cooler in my head than saying it out loud..."

they easily diverted from the original thought, completely having forgotten why he had sat down next to the other person. there was no rhyme or reason for doing whatever they did - they only did it because they wanted to. the problem was, when he no longer wanted to do something, he simply ... stopped. "Oh hell yeah, burger..." Attention successfully diverted. The waitress walked past him with the burger that they swore was bigger than their head.

there was a pout to display that they were not happy that they were ignored. again. never mind that they ran up a tab. "hey - can i borrow some money to get a burger?" they asked, now that they have determined that they want a burger - a big burger - particularly that burger that was going to another table. a crafty, mischievous look entered their eyes, as they turned slowly to see if they could maybe ... just maybe ... steal the burger and run.

[cabalxcalamity]

◟✧⡀ ( jayden revri. omnigender. they/he/she/king/queen/majesty. ) … there’s a figure off in the distance, do you see it? wait is that … TSATHA ? how long have they been standing there? if that’s really them, i believe they’re TWENTY-FIVE.  do i know them?  no,  but i hear they’re UPBEAT and POSITIVE, but also FOOLHARDY  and IMPULSIVE. i do know that they’ve been in the City for TWENTY YEARS. it’s crazy that they’re just standing there … shouldn’t they be working at STOKER’S CRYPT as a LIBRARIAN? maybe they’re off today, i couldn’t tell you. hope they get moving soon. i’m starting to feel like NYARLATHOTEP is peering over at me … 

and where Nyarlathotep went, rest vanished, for the small hours were rent with the screams of nightmare.

( when even the avatar to nyarlathotep will not write its name for fear of drawing its attention ...., so he removes the t in "tep" and adds an "h" ... just in case. )

status: eager to meet more people powers:

escape artistry: core skills of an escape artist: picking locks, slipping out of handcuffs and escaping from straitjackets and other restraints. arcane ability to bypass locks, phase through thin physical barriers and increase darkness to their escape. knowledge of eldritch symbols to weaken locks or distract.

shattering: metaphysical: shatter minds, cause psychological breakdowns, hallucinations or insanity. low level reality distortion to force others to see small things that aren't there. environmental impact: decay and shatter of physical objects through corruption and destabilizing by touch. psychic assault: infection of visions and horrors that endanger sanity.

sanity theft: psychological manipulation: influence thought/perceptions/emotions to sow doubt, fear and paranoia as well as create vivid and terrifying hallucinations. nightmarish visions: inflict horrifying visions that drive the victim to the brink of insanity. trauma induction: unleash memories of past trauma or traumatic events to overwhelm the psyche. gradual decay: erode sanity over time through whispers, dreams and touch which can implant obsessions, or compulsions to push someone to destructive behavior or madness.

weaknesses: vulnerable to ancient rituals and seals, weak to banishment, strong willpower/deep-rooted sanity, counter-magic (divine magic).

mythos: the first mention of nyarlathotep appears in a 1920's poem. Nyarlathotep is described as a mysterious figure who has come to Earth to sow chaos and madness. August Derleth developed Nyarlathotep as a servant to the Outer Gods. It is a harbinger of cosmic dread and is a symbol of incomprehensible and terrifying existential fears of humanity in the face of cosmic indifference and outright malevolence. **a note regarding h.p. lovecraft**: h.p. lovecraft was a racist xenophobe. he was afraid of those from non-Anglo-Saxon descent. his writings include derogatory depictions of people of color and he perceived people of color as racially inferior - he was afraid of interracial relationships. hp lovecraft was a product of the 19th century and attitude towards same sex relationships were condemned and stigmatized. the bipoc & lgbtqia+ community have used the laws of public domain to write within the lovecraftian mythos to both add people of color to the mythos without the derogatory depictions and to develop lovecraft's themes of forbidden knowledge, existential dread, the horror of the unknown to discuss supressed desires/anxieties related to sexuality. important: while this writer is using nyarlathotep originally created by h.p. lovecraft - the writer is drawing from victor lavalle, kij johnson, cassandra khaw, and craig laurance gidney among others. the goal is to make lovecraft spin in his grave.

brief background: tw: religion (judeo-christian)

tsatha was born in the city - his first breath was city air, and he was a child of the city. his mother could not take care of another mouth to feed - she was lost in the bottle and in drugs, anything to make her life easier. she dropped him off at the orphanage and left a note pinned to his baby blanket - it simply had a word tsatha written on it. his caretaker believed it was the mark of the eighteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the passage from the Bible, psalm 119, line 18 "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from your law". their caretaker also believed in the power of numbers and saw tsatha's name as the number 90. the number 90 was the number of the cosmic warrior, the dance between man and the universe. to the caretaker, the number (tsatha themself) would be seen as uncompromising and blunt.

tsatha was not loved by this caretaker, but used as a conduit for summoning powers beyond human comprehension. tsatha learned sigils before they could read -- and they survived only through sheer force and a desire to continue living. it was an accidental scribbling that unlocked their abilities - or at least, that is what they think did it. they had been drawing a summoning circle to an unnamed god and ... then there was power.

the first ability they awoke was the ability of shattering. they forced upon their caregiver the pain and agony that had been forced upon them. then -- their caretaker laughed, patted them on their head and told them to grow stronger if they thought that they could escape them.

over time, they grew better at managing their abilities and was able to escape through developed use of escape artistry. they began to live on their own, free finally -- yet the use of their abilities came at a price. they know that they are an avatar for nyarlathotep and in their mind, the cosmic horror is trying to find a way back to this reality through them. in order to combat nyarlathotep, they steal and devour the sanity of others. they are still on the run from the one who "took them in" - though they found a job as a librarian so he could continue to channel and learn... and then they fell into the role of a private eye ... always trying to find more information on the caretaker.

wanted connections:

the one who takes care of them, a soulmate (for what is little left of their soul), the best friend, the one from the high side of town

[cabalxcalamity]

◟✧⡀ ( shô kasamatsu. cisgender man. he/him. ) … there’s a figure off in the distance, do you see it? wait is that … TOMOYUKI EIJI ? how long have they been standing there? if that’s really them, i believe they’re THIRTY.  do i know them?  no,  but i hear they’re PROTECTIVE and RESILIANT, but also DESTRUCTIVE  and <ISOLATED>. i do know that they’ve been in the City for <TWENTY-FIVE YEARS>. it’s crazy that they’re just standing there … shouldn’t they be working at SCARLET LETTER LODGINGS as a OWNER? maybe they’re off today, i couldn’t tell you. hope they get moving soon. i’m starting to feel like GODZILLA is peering over at me …

a god incarnate. a city doomed.

status: tired as hell ... rift level: legendary powers:

atomic energy manipulation: atomic breath (emitting a powerful stream of radioactive heat energy from his mouth) and energy absorption (absorbing radiation to heal or power himself - he can become stronger after exposure.)

regeneration: rapid healing (allows him to fully recover from severe injuries including regenerating lost tissue, healing wounds and recovering from severe damage to internal organs).

heightened strength/durability: superhuman strength (in larger form - able to lift and throw other her monsters, and incredibly large objects - in normal form, able to lift and throw cars/trucks as well as being a strong hand-to-hand combatant.) durability (capable of withstanding conventional weaponry, energy attacks and environmental extremes - his skin (and in the larger form, his scales) provide a nearly impenetrable defense against physical and energy-based attacks.

size alteration: growth & size change (full godzilla-lizard form, the more energy he absorbs, the larger he can grow. he is like a goldfish and will grow to fit his tank.)

weaknesses: oxygen destroyer, psychic/mental attacks, temperature extremes, large amounts of electricity will repel him, coagulation agent, energy overload, advanced weaponry, regeneration limits, vulnerability during transformations

mythos: based off of the heisei & reiwa era - tomoyuki eiji is named in homage to two of the great contributers to the godzilla mythos. he first debuted in 1954 and was a metaphor for nuclear destruction, inspired by the bombings of hiroshima and nagasaki as well as the lucky dragon 5 incident.

the heisei era began in the 1980s to the mid 1990s. Known for its darker tone and more cohesive storytelling, these movies focused on the horror of nuclear destruction, genetic engineering and environmental destruction. this era explored the consequences of human scientific experimentation and environmental negligence - godzilla is a symbol of nature's wrath against humanity.

the reiwa era began in 2019. it focuses on government inefficiency and disaster response, environmental concerns, godzilla as an adapting and evolving force of nature which emphasizes themes of adaptation and mutation. this era dives into themes of genetic manipulation, and the ethical implications of scientific and technological advancements.

brief background:

he wasn't born… he was conceived as a series of genetic information written down on paper, a series of secret experiments carefully leading to the moment an egg and a sperm were combined and he was born first in a test-tube and then in an artificial womb. he was raised around scientists. poked, prodded and told that he was the hope for humanity - yet, he knew how poor humanity was. how destructive. he saw how animals were used and thrown away, how humans battled against one another, waged war against the environment.

how he managed to escape is another story - one he doesn't share - but he ended up in the city and there, he found that his power bloomed when he was fifteen - he swore, it was born from his rage and anger and pain. he is tempered by those who care for him -- and he is reminded that there is some good left in the world worth saving ... but not many, and as the days go on ... he's losing what little of his humanity he has left.

it hadn't always been like that - there was a time when he was more human than monster, but as the years have gone on -- his desire to protect and his anger towards the corruption and environmental decay of the city had pushed him further and further down the road towards fully embracing his powers and who he embodies. now, he is more monster than man - as protective as he had always been, but no longer able to control his rages. he isolates himself because he is no longer able to fit in with others - not easily, not readily.

wanted connections:

mothra: if the world lives to see another century, please remember what mothra did for you and the planet you live on. (his closest ally/his soulmate)

king ghidorah: the entire human race will perish from the Earth. Where the monster ghidorah passes, only flaming ruins are left. (his enemy)

gamera: We commit to the cradle of time the Last Hope, Gamera. May he awaken with the shadow of evil, gyaos. (co-worker)

others include: the one he saved, the one whose life he ruined, the one who comes around and won't leave, a scientist hunting him

[cabalxcalamity]

tomoyuki eiji | godzilla (gojira mythos) | shō kasamatsu | cisgender man | he/him

ᥫ᭡ intro : ̗̀➛ open posts : ̗̀➛ event recaps : ̗̀➛ headcanons : ̗̀➛ answered asks ᥫ᭡

tsatha | nyarlathotep (eldritch mythos) | jayden ravri | omnigender | all pronouns

𖤓 intro -‘๑’- open posts -‘๑’- event recaps -‘๑’- headcanons -‘๑’- answered asks 𖤓

(written by astra, 35yo, eastern, they/she - for @mistfm)

[cabalxcalamity]

NYARLATHOTEP 

by Álvaro Fernández González

[cabalxcalamity]

AND HE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT MONTY BY THEN?

[cabalxcalamity]

Swan Lake

[cabalxcalamity]

Hhgmgmmgmhmfghbbmmbb Asia Kate Dillon my beloved