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redstringtheories2021-10-01 02:11 pm
TDM #4
(cw: potential for severe disorientation/vertigo, claustrophobia, arachnophobia, body horror)
It happens in the blink of an eye. You may have been asleep. You may not have. You may have stepped through a door or turned a corner. You may have seen a flicker of something at the corner of your vision and turned to look. Or maybe you didn't.
It doesn't matter. What matters is that you find yourself somewhere entirely new and entirely unfamiliar. The arrival point is not always the same. (If you're lucky, it might be a canteen or an open office. If you're not, well... you aren't claustrophobic, are you? Or arachnophobic. These ducts do seem to be a bit cobwebby.) There is no one waiting for you but you don’t seem to be alone, either. Even in a janitor’s closet or the bathroom, you’ll find at least one person who seems to be just as out of place as you are.
If characters have arrived in a location devoid of NPCs, they may want to work together to figure out what is going on... or to avoid their 'kidnappers.' If you’ve arrived in the middle of the entry foyer or the gym, there may well be a few people who startle a bit at your arrival and try to approach (or discreetly leave the room... where are they going?). Will you cooperate or fight? Do you even understand what they're saying? You might need to find a translator, if you’re not immediately willing to follow a stranger.
After characters follow their new hosts (or are forcibly taken in) there will be a limited tour and the chance to settle in at the ADI-provided housing. (Do you enjoy living with strangers? Well. It's a new situation to navigate, anyway.)
(cw: creepy toys, possible violence, supernaturally induced emotions)
Weird things happen in Dogtown, everyone knows it. The Apocalypse Disruption Initiative (ADI) is not above taking advantage of that to test out the waters for its newest arrivals. They're not looking to send anyone to their death, though. That's far too much paperwork, you'd been assured with a wink from the employee who'd directed you to the park trailhead. You've been left with another person. Maybe they're a new arrival, as well, or a more seasoned 'veteran.' Either way, you're together for the next while and you've been asked to find and record any paranormal activity in the park. You have your phones and any other equipment you might have brought with you. Those who succeed in documenting anything peculiar will receive a $100 reward to be used as they see fit.
This month...characters who enter the area will eventually stumble upon...a very interesting sight. Take enough confusing, branching paths, and they’ll find a variety of toys abandoned in...a variety of ways.
Some, reminiscent of the happenings of the past month, can be found dangling from branches, or from contraptions of sticks and string staked into the ground. Others might be found arranged in patterns...or simply discarded. Some appear to be tied up. Perhaps surprisingly, there is no evidence of the destruction of these toys. Some may appear to be disintegrating but that’s age, not malice. There are old toys and new toys to be found. Maybe it’s just a prank, or an art installation?
Nothing seems to happen to anyone who ventures to touch the toys. At least...not right away. However, any character who does decide to touch a toy will start to feel like they just don’t have...enough. It might manifest as being particularly possessive over things or people they feel are theirs...or in coveting what they don’t already have (be it material or immaterial). These urges will fade away on their own in time, but who knows what might happen before they do?
(cw: mention of vehicular collisions, supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue)
There is an ethereal music spreading throughout town. It started in the graveyards last month, but now it's spreading, even as collisions and other accidents continue to pile up. Tourists and locals, alike, will find keeping awake incredibly difficult as October rolls in with a rumble of thunder and a splash of rain. Even caffeine doesn't seem to help much with the problem. The music is only just there, just at the edge of awareness, and it's a song that you know. You can't entirely place it, but it's maddeningly familiar.
The local gangs seem to have taken note of the situation, and have taken to sending out their seemingly more resilient members for some mischief. Specifically, pickpocketing those they might find sleeping or less alert than usual. You might be half-falling asleep on a bus when a hand reaches into your pocket or your bag. You might witness the thief in action, stealing from someone else. Or maybe you're someone keen to take advantage of the situation, yourself. There's money to be made for someone with even moderately light fingers when the target is snoring on a park bench or zoning out while sitting at a cafe.
There doesn't seem to be an even effect to the music. It impacts some people in the same vicinity more than others with seemingly no rhyme or reason. The one constant that does appear for those digging deeply, is that ADI HQ and the ADI housing complex seem to be less affected by the music. It can still sometimes be heard, but it's not nearly as prominent as it is throughout the rest of the city.
(cw: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, mild memory loss)
For as much as everyone seems to be sleeping lately, it does not seem to be restful sleep. In fact, people dozing off regularly will find themselves even more exhausted and irritable than usual. Again, this seems to be far more pronounced for anyone straying too far from ADI's properties for extended periods.
Another feature of this latest round of supernatural irritation is that even those who tend to remember their dreams may have trouble with that. You might remember that the dreams weren't pleasant, but that's about it. The specifics are as elusive as the source of the singing.
Festive planning for the end-of-the-month Halloween Party is in full swing at ADI, and characters may find themselves strong-armed by Pam and other HR personnel, in spite of any grumpiness and exhaustion, into helping with some part of it. Will you be assisting with making decorations? Buying supplies for the kitchens? Helping those who might not understand Halloween to find the perfect costume? Everyone is feeling a little out of sorts, and having trouble focusing, so there's some particular pushing to spread tasks out to everyone possible so it doesn't fall on a single individual. Anyone who helps will be compensated for their time, and they might even get some extra cash to buy their own fancy costume or preferred food for the party.
- ARRIVAL (Oct 1 - 31): Two people will always arrive in the same general location together. Arrivals occur throughout the early month, not all on the same day or in the same place. Arrivals are not naturally fluent in English/other languages immediately upon arrival. Characters may attempt to evade capture, but they will eventually be snagged before they can leave the building. PC's already in-game are more than welcome to interact with and try to guide new PC's to get them oriented. Please refer to the Arrival page for details regarding the arrival and onboarding process.
- Toying With You (Oct 1 - 31): Characters who physically interact with abandoned toys will find themselves overwhelmed by feelings of jealousy and/or possessiveness. Depending on how much interaction they have with the toys, these feelings might be stronger or last longer. (Anyone who, for example, removes a toy from Dogtown will probably find themselves helpless NOT to act on the feelings.) Strength of feeling and duration of time is up to player discretion. The source of these feelings could be anything, including the toys themselves. The toys can be destroyed but are not clumped all in one spot. It may take some searching to find them all.
- Pick a Pocket (Oct 1- 25): Characters are welcome to experience, enact, or stop a crime. You may find yourself victim, hero, or perpetrator. The number of people asleep or having trouble staying awake will increase the closer you get to graveyards and seem to decrease the closer you get to ADI-owned buildings. The decrease in sleepiness around ADI buildings does not extend to anyone living at Bonnie's. Characters may find themselves falling asleep in the middle of trivial or important tasks, perhaps even in the middle of conversation. This is a supernatural sleep, but for the moment, it seems easy enough to wake someone up with a loud noise or a shake. Or, if you're feeling particularly vindictive, a splash of water to the face.
- Sleeper's Paradox (Oct 1-25): Characters are welcome to take part in whatever party planning they wish to for ADI's Halloween party. Everyone affected by the drowsiness that's taken over the city will find that they cannot remember the specific nature of their dreams; although, they will have the sense that they did have them, and they were unpleasant. The effects of the fatigue may affect other memories or result in increased irritability, and decreased focus and reaction times. Characters may find themselves more prone to error than usual, even those who are typically known for being on-point at all times.
Marian Tenebris | Original
"A one hundred dollar reward. Please. As if it wasn't bad enough relying on Initiative. Now a pitiful offer of petty cash is supposed to be sufficient incentive to investigate dangerous activities? Hah."
Despite her bitterly harsh words, Marian is out here anyway with a surprisingly decent looking handheld camcorder. Offering to assist with the Initiative's equipment division has its perks.
And the reality is... she's seen the inklings of apocalypse is her own fractured, fragmented world. It could be different here. Better. Stop things before they get to a point where no one can turn it back...
The first sign of something odd, a toy danging in a little cage from a tree, causes Marian to frown, glaring at it as if somehow that will determine whether or not it's important enough to actually film for a moment.
Pick a Pocket
The music bothers Marian. Actually, quite a few things bother her, especially here, especially after everything that's happened before she arrived here... But the coldness and chill of the rainy air feels like it helps a little. A brisk outing to get a coffee before heading back to do some research seemed like a good idea.
Clearly not everyone feels like the crisp October weather helps. Her eyes drift to a woman dozing in the bus shelter -- and the teenager who ducks in out of the rain and slips the women's purse out from her unresisting hand.
"Hey, you!" Marian barks out, and the teenager takes off down the street, stolen purse in hand, as the women starts awake. "Thief!" She yells after him. Someone grab that miscreant!
Sleeper's Paradox
"No of course I'm not going to the party."
Marian scowls, half turning back to the library computer terminal. If shed been able to sleep half decently, that could have been the end of it, but hazy unpleasant dreams have made an already straightforward personality downright argumentative.
"What a ridiculous idea. They tell us that there are forces in this world feeding on fear, then in no time at all propose celebrating a holiday based on 'spooky' and 'scary' things." The exaggerated tone of voice makes it clear exactly where her feelings on Halloween fell to begin with, too. "Don't tell me you're planning to attend?"
sleeper's paradox
Dorian looks at Marian like she's a goddamn idiot as she asks her question. "Of course I'm going," he says, with a frown. His tone of voice (British and disdainful) also implies she's a goddamn idiot. "It's a party. Why wouldn't I go? Besides, Halloween's not about the spooky or scary—not anymore, at least. It's about wearing something slutty and making out with someone else wearing something slutty."
no subject
"Why wouldn't you go? Have you considered that there are more important matters that should concern you you, if not immediately then certainly close enough in the imminent future that delaying progress could be consequential?" That same kind of tone shot back at her from what she sees as a foppish and frivolous youth definitely doesn't put her in any better mood. "Just what do you do around here anyway? Aside from trawling for your own personal entertainment?"
no subject
"I'm one of the poor souls that ADI tosses out to explore the unknown," he teases. "So you see, I think I deserve a little break!"
no subject
"Hmph. I can't see why. It isn't as if any of the problems out there are just going to up and vanish while you're having a good time. Even if there aren't any active requests, I'm sure you could be doing something more productive," she retorts with a squint.
It's probably a good thing she's fairly new here and not actually supervising anyone.
Yet.no subject
After all, it seems like this nasty supernatural business is his life now. It's everybody's life.
Pick a pocket
All without a word, at least so far.
Re: Pick a pocket
Except for, you know, the part where this is creepy as fuck on top of everything else going on around here. She freezes up as the man approaches -- upside, thief is caught and purse will be returned. Downside, she's sure she can hear just the tiniest bit of that music at the edges of hearing, and combined with the wordless approach... well, put it this way, if he was looking to generate a little bit of fear, he definitely got it.
The part she hates the most, Marian decides, is the fast that she can't see his eyes. As the stranger gets closer, she inadvertently takes a couple steps back.
Re: Pick a pocket
He ignores Marian's reaction, though, and deposits the thief in front of the woman he stole from. "Give it back," he says flatly, muffled only slightly through the mask.
Terrified, said thief shoves the purse at her. The mask is pretty effective against pick-pockets, too.