Fantasy Ain't No Rest for the Wicked Pt. 2

[Aridis]

For a good while, Blair was more interested in the appearances of the Horsemen than her own. Had she not witnessed the transformation with her own eyes, she wouldn't have suspected a thing. Abigail had done a convincing job of making their disguises as realistic as possible. They might have leaned a little more toward the stereotypical side, especially with Abel's role of being the muscle and Abby's claim to being their guide. However, that didn't tarnish the attention to even the smallest details. The full story was lost to her, but there were enough context clues for her to figure out a good chunk of their assigned relationships.

As impressed as she was, she tried her best to remember their new faces. The tie between Connor and Sisceal was a little funny with their respective personalities. It would be entertaining to see them play that off. Abigail's own role made sense, but she was curious how the woman was going to play it off with her already charismatic personality. Seeing distinguishing human features on Abel was a vast change. Even when he wasn't entirely wrapped in shadow, he didn't exactly show off his face to the world. After only having spoken to a darkened figure with glowing eyes, the idea of seeing his expressions was completely alien. Because of that new concept, Blair admittedly found herself glancing back at him a little more than the others.

Eventually, the curiosity of her own disguise got the better of her. From what she could tell, she certainly looked healthier. Even with the added mirage of travel wear and grime, the clothing was much nicer than anything she currently owned. Though, the darker hair gave her more pause than the fuller figure. Blair couldn't see the complete transformation without a mirror, so she compromised with one of the knives that she had on her person. She chose a nicer silver letter opener, as it was more reflective than any of the other rusty tools she had taken. Trying to catch one's own reflection on a thin strip of metal while riding a horse wasn't an easy feat, but she managed in the end.

For all of the changes that were gifted by Abigail, there wasn't a lot done to alter her facial features. The makeup and the slight age did give her a cleaner look, but it was still her reflection; give or take a few alterations of color. The familiarity entranced her. Blair was familiar with her own face, of course, but there was something else. Some nagging feeling at the back of her mind, like a word that she knew but couldn't quite remember. There was a voice buzzing at the edges of her hearing, either too soft to fully distinguish or a trick of the wind altogether. The whisper of a memory was driving her crazy. What was it that was so familiar? Was it just the hair, was it something else? A collection of things? Was it just the sleep deprivation that was finally pushing her to madness?

The spell was eventually broken when the sunlight caught her blade at an odd angle and flashed her right in the eyes. It hurt and the sudden light caused spots to dance across her vision for a minute. No closer to an answer and only growing more frustrated with herself, Blair slipped the letter opener back into her bag. This could be a later issue.

"So... Is there a script I should memorize before we get there? Or should I just keep my mouth shut?" Personally, she liked the second option better. She had never done this whole 'sneak into a town disguised as someone else' thing before, and this group seemed to be full of professionals.

 

[Axeykins]

The horseman of famine was quick to pull out a small hand mirror from one of his saddle bags to get a look at himself. Either Abby had one hell of a sense of humor or his God did. Either way he couldn't help but sigh in dismay as he stared at the face looking back at him. Couldn't deny it was a solid disguise and story even though being father to Connor was going to throw him off in it. With her narrative it meant he had to act like a stern, responsible father for once in his damned life. Couldn't have fun in the town like he always did.

"Eugh...look even more like my own damn dad now. Connor. Apologies now if you start getting the old man treatment." He grimaced as he felt and manipulated his face in the mirror. Partially from pain of a still healing half. Glamour even by eldritch gods could only go so far when you absorb point blank shotgun blasts straight into the flesh. Other part was from seeing something far too close to a long dead loved one staring back at him like he was getting a scolding from beyond the grave. "I agree there. Any script you want us to go along with Abby or just follow your lead? Just this town or how many do you plan on taking us through? You are the expert out of all of us on best of them to hunker down in. Those hounds don't track by regular scents but going to be hard for even them with whatever you've got up your sleeve."

 

[Karcen]

" I am thinking we stay for a few days, there doesn't need to be a script we just need a little time " Abigail said and while they couldn't shake the virtues off them, she had a plan to really mess with them. While virtues weren't the most caring or moral people, they had limits and Abigail knew just what would push them to those limits. Pepaw might be completely dedicated to finding them, but were the others as resolute?

Abigail guided them towards the town being the one playing the guide after all. " You can guess your roles, but what stern dad wouldn't want to let a little loose after his son ran off with his lovely girl to play outlaw" She teased " I think a little sight seeing and having fun is perfectly in character and besides i need to get to the most people" Now those that knew her the other horsemen might be getting an idea what she was planning.

" You know Blair before i was the horseman of death i had another title i liked Pandemonium " She chuckled " I think it is time to remind the virtues just who they are hunting. It will be such a lovely scene, i'll tell you guys the details latter, once we get into a nice hotel, hmm i think we will have to go for 3 rooms, two doubles and a single " she mused trying to figure who should go where as well the gender split in their group was uneven and the single was tempting. Still Blair might deserve it after what she had been put through, but well she was with them for now but what about tomorrow?

" anyways who gets to sleep alone?" she asked not worried about paying after all she had her ways to get what she wanted for free and it wasn't like this town would exist much longer.

 

[Worthlessplebian]

Abel steals a breath, the very air suddenly tainted by the illusions conjured, swathing him in a sickly sweet scent. His hands tighten, arms rigid as though frigid ice froze his muscles and turned his blood into a rushing, cold river. As the painted deception warped over the Horseman's form, it revealed the taut ire in his eyelids, the downturned line of his lips. His eyes glanced down, seeing the contour of his shape twist and contort — his rugged, well-worn clothes to the tight muscled body morphing, changing under the influence of Abigail's magics. He tilted his head up, eyes gently shut. And, again, breathed. Unburdened by the malady practiced, the night's chill stemmed the tattoo of his heart. Perhaps, he wondered, refusal would've been preferable to this necessity. When his eyes prised open, his face relaxed, emptied of the grim irritation that clutched in his heart.

For a moment, his hand went up, fingers trailing through the hard features. A familiar likeness that took long seconds for his mind to properly construct. When he did, his pulse stopped and his throat closed with a soundless gasp. For a moment, Abel thought he recognised his father's broken, diseased face. Not the burning mirth that warmed his lips, the soothing gleam in his eyes that radiated like entrapped suns, but the lifeless, dark gaze, and the sickening green drool that ran down his jaw. His fingers closed, pressing onto the mirage as if his riven nails clawed into flagstone. He resisted the urge to tear at the The resurfaced memories receded like a retreating tide, broken by the harrow moan of the wind. He blinked, trying to drive away the fugue state completely. A trick manifested by his weary mind.

He cleared his throat, hearing Abigail's boast, the collection of titles they've accrued had never impressed the Horseman of Plague. "Enlightening." He said, the cadence of his voice had shifted. His tone was possessed by a hot depth, immediately at odds with the icy stoicism that he affected moments ago. But beneath the core of that warmth, still festered the chill that simmered beneath the veil. "Another layer to the impression." Abel answered, eyebrow half-raised.

"The arrangements don't matter, most will not draw suspicion." His gaze swayed, sweeping through the fading nocturne. He caught sight of Blair risking a glance to him, new features almost drawn in the paling darkness. Abel did not fathom the reason for her stares, however, it poised a question to Abigail's orchestration. "If it would put your minds at ease," he began, glancing at Connor, "I'll share the room with Blair."

 

[Soviet Panda]

"Ha! Very well!" Connor howled as they rode into the night, heading towards their newest destination, Sourcreek.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sourcreek was, by some standards, a prospering town. They had a single electric light in the middle of town square, and most of the houses were in decent conditions. But there was a seediness to it that only a mining town can gather about itself. The Four, or perhaps it was now the Five, rode into a silent town, most of those living within sound asleep and the remaining few still awake keeping hidden.