[ the day is fading. somewhere within the thor district that a video framing a new young face appears. leaning against a desaturated brick wall, the girl's hair is messier than it deserves, thick, dark locks falling into her face in jacked chunks, as if she'd been running and didn't care to brush it flat. her eyes, a dazzling violet, show obvious signs of distress and restlessness, and her thin brows are furrowed with frustration and… sorrow.

though lenalee lee had been pulled into asgard at a critical moment, she compromised with herself before leaving the palace, determining to take up this mission to repaint the land of asgard because it's better to have a goal than be stuck refusing it. however, in walking towards her welcome hall, she strayed off the path to follow a colourless cat and was eventually led to an area of depressing greyness.

overwhelmed by a sensation only she could liken to the atmosphere of a post-battle infirmary, she finds the need to stop and collect herself. somehow, seeing this emptiness strikes her soul even though she's not unused to these feelings, these smells, and overall sight of disease.

there is but one question heavily bearing upon her mind, and that is why she looks at the camera now, desperate. ]

…The letter did not say. Can anyone tell me how this place became this way? Losing all its colour, its emotion. The people's faces, even the birds and cats on the street. They all… it's like—

[ a yelled profanity. lenalee's eyes shoot wide open and she flicks her head to her left, meeting with an entity enshrouded by a dark mass and running at her with a long, bludgeoning weapon.

the connection terminates after a drop in perspective, the sound of a smash, and tumbling image of debris, pavement, and black. ]


( OOC: Late!!! But here's to a dramatic intro. Lenalee is being attacked by a Taken, and during this encounter she'll realize she can't activate her Innocence. YIKES. But she's not so helpless and uses her super! speed! to run away because… she thinks that person is still a human? SO NO CAN KILL?? please feel free to action this up, but any network responses will be answered after she's gotten to a safe, light place… also! tags may come late, as I'm getting on a plane in 12 hours! )

[There's a roaring that can be heard from most places in Asgard, though anyone near to the lake will hear the wail loud enough to rattle their teeth. The trolls might recognize this particular sound as the Vast Glub--though thankfully neutered of its ability to kill anyone, the only thing it can do is annoy everyone in the city.

Feferi gets on the network a few minutes after the screaming starts, and it's obvious by the rhythmic slap of feet on cobblestone and her breathing she's running through the darkened city.]

I don't know exactly what all this is-- [She's doing her best to avoid combat, and so there's a scrabble of metal as she scales a fire escape to get off the ground a bit.] But something's wrong with my lusus, so be careful around the lake, okay?

(OOC: Feferi's lusus has been Taken by the darkness, and by the time anyone gets to the lake, Feferi will have been, too. WANT TO FIGHT THEM? Go here!)

[Mary is, as many people today, reviving in the Palace. Some of you may remember seeing her wandering the city last night, Taken and violent and mindless. Now she's inside but sitting next to window, looking stressed and more than a little confused.]

Uh, can someone tell me what happened? What am I doing here, did- did I die?

[She swallows hard, looking nervous, and peeks out of the window.]

The city's still going crazy, isn't it? Can anyone tell me what's going on?

[Uncomfortable pause.]

Um. Can someone near the Palace come cover me? I need to get back to my apartment in Thor, but I don't have my gun. I woke up without it. All I have is a knife.

If anyone could help me- thanks.

If you wouldn't mind, if anyone has a moment-- Kindly share what you've learned about what's going on? Outside. And please let me know if you're safe. [All of you.] I don't know how to fight or anything, but I want to help in any way I can.

[And then a pause. His voice is very small. Someone definitely isn't used to this sort of thing.]

People are--dying.

It's called the Dark Presence.

[BLAM.

For those who were wondering if anyone knew what the hell was going on, here's your cue. Alan is in the dark, holding a hunting rifle and sporting a heavy-duty lantern flashlight in the other. It's pointed in the direction of something nearby, a hand being seen covering what looks to be possibly a face. In front of him is a Taken, a girl who is a native and sells bouquets at a local stand. It's clear that she has no intention other than to hurt Alan, planting tools being hurled in his direction as she sing-songingly skips around him.]

Fresh FLOWERS FOR SALE!! Only THREE COPPER RUNES-

[BLAM BLAM. Without even hesitating, Alan points the light, raises the rifle, and fires. The girl shrieks and then suddenly turns into ash that fades as she disappears. He looks back at the camera, eyeing it but still wary for other attackers.]

Those are what we call "Taken" back home. They're consumed by the Dark Presence and have no mind of their own. They can be anyone you know. And once they're possessed, their mind is gone.

[Alan grits his teeth suddenly, reloads the gun, whirls as another Taken appears, light from the lantern pinpointing the creature and making it hiss. The shroud covering it evaporates, fizzing out a few seconds later, leaving the thing to be more irked now that it has no protection. Alan still continues to speak, even as he's fighting.]

You can only hurt them in light. [BLAM. It becomes ash and fades like the last one.] Get rid of the darkness surrounding them, and then attack. You're just wasting ammo otherwise. The ravens and the objects that fling themselves at you? Use light on them and they'll disappear once their darkness is gone.

[Now he turns back to the camera, because this is something he has to emphasize.] And no matter how much they look like someone you know, no matter how much they sound like your friend, no matter how much you think it's your crush or wife or husband or whatever playing a joke, they're not. They've been possessed by the Dark Presence, and they're nothing but an empty puppet for it now.

[His voice is dark, but it's blunt and hits the point right on the head.] You can't save them. If they become a Taken, the only way to help them is to kill them. [He ducks as another Taken comes by, the blade of a sickle narrowly missing his spine, and he pulls out a flare to give himself space. The red light creates a small circle around him, and one the creature backs away from instantly. He uses this to his advantage, grabbing his lantern again, knocking out the shroud, and then shooting it before the thing can recover.]

If you're inside, stay there. Keep all the lights on in your house. If one goes out, light up candles and keep as much possible lit at all times until morning. If you're outside, find a light source and stay by it. If you can get in a building with light, do it.

[At this point, he pauses before continuing, almost like a hesitance.] If you can't get inside, tell me where you are. I'll come look for you and bring you someplace safe.

Just please, all of you- this is dangerous. It's not the time to play "hero." Stay inside if you can, and don't come out until you notice the sun is up. I don't want this to get any worse than it already has. [But the tone of his voice says that this isn't the end. Not by a long shot.]

[[For those who want to run around with Alan and help him with finding others and fighting, you can find him in the logs for Day 129, Day 130, and Day 131]]