redstringtheories

Entry tags:

!tdm

TDM #4

➥ Arrival

Photo of a modern office building from the outside. There is a manicured lawn with several trees and bushes. To the left side of the photo, there is a waterbody with reeds around the fringes. There is a purple gradient filter over everything.
(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.)

➥ Toying With You

Photo of multiple children's toys, which include baby dolls and clown toys, all piled together. The toys are of various shapes and sizes. There is a purple gradient filter over everything.
(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?

➥ Pick a Pocket

Photo of an older, Caucasian man in sunglasses dozing on a wooden park bench. His feet are up on the bench and his arms are crossed. There is a purple gradient filter over everything.
(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.

➥ Sleeper's Paradox

Photo of a middle-aged, dark-skinned woman with long hair pouring a pot of coffee into a mug. Her hand is over her mouth as she yawns. There is a purple gradient filter over everything.
(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.

➥ Mod Notes

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.
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[ what a hard working and industrious Ciel... truly admirable, Abel thinks, lounging spread in his chair as he eats his cookie like a happy five year old and sips at his hot chocolate, giving himself a creamy mustache, ]

Yes, I was beginning to wonder if you ever intended to give those back, by the way... At least the hostage is quite comfortable. C... cozy perch?

[ ...

ahem. ]

Ah~! A fellow tea aficionado! Wonderful...! So good to be in the company of another with taste... [ as an ~~English~~ Albionese gentlemen and scholar(???), his heart is truly warmed. ] Then, let's see. How much is a good cuppa, here? Do you know offhand? Oh-- and what is your favorite...?

Of course I do. It's wrong to hold onto what doesn't belong to you. [Don't need to be ~~fake~~ Christian to take that moral stance.] I couldn't have you run away after ["the mess you made"] what you did earlier, so I simply did what I had to. ["by taking your glasses hostage" (???)] Since you said you'll stay put and wait, is it okay for me to return them to you now? Hm... [yeah just musing to herself out loud if she should return something she took that doesn't belong to her to begin with, this requires thinking over,

...]

Are you planning to become a regular, Father? I'm not sure how to feel about that... I wouldn't want to leave an éclair kidnapper and murderer to any of my coworkers.

Oho~? So it's like that, then...! Truly dastardly, handicapping my vision to ensure my captivity... [ """captivity,""" ] Well~! I'm certainly not leaving without finishing my hot chocolate and cookie, that's for sure. And I did offer to wait around for you to finish your shift, so...

[ yeahhhh, just give back his specs, what's the worst that could happen?!?!?! huh, Ciel??? 😊 ]

Ah. Well-- perhaps, but... that isn't quite what I was after for with my questions that you have once again expertly attempted to dodge... --And I resent that, by the way!! I am not an éclair kidnapper or murderer!! Th... this was just-- a very lamentable misunderstanding, that's all...!

[ok mister "been-acting-like-he-sees-fine-ever-since",]

Yes, you'll get the cookies after my shift. Maybe that will be enough insurance, and I'd rather not resort to extreme measures if I can help it. If you leave me no choice, however...

[Finishing up with one set of tables, she's moving onto the next ones, this time with her side to him.]

A misunderstanding... I see. Since we have some time now, would you perhaps care to clear that up? What exactly happened according to you, Father? [The sidelong glance she's sending his way is totally not judgmental, nah...]

[ whaaaat haha noooo, he is so bliiiiind haha, believe hiiim,

a-anyway,

Abel is tilting his head in the most innocent, absolutely pure and unsullied manner of a man who definitely had not stolen and murderized an éclair earlier in the afternoon. ]

Well~! I'm so glad you asked, Miss Ciel. Honestly, it's a long story so I'll do my best to keep it brief for you. It all started this morning at about seven A.M. I woke up before my alarm-- a rarity, I can assure you! Such an oddity, in fact, that I'm unable to keep myself from dwelling. Was it because I was waking in a strange and unusual place such as this...? No, no-- I wake up in strange and foreign places all the time-- it is the nature of an itinerant priest, you know? It couldn't have been that. Maybe I was especially hungry? I didn't have my usual midnight snack, so maybe that's the cause? Ciel, do you eat a midnight snack? They say it's not very good for your health, but I tend to sleep much better if I partake. Say, at least several peanut butter sandwiches do the trick. Peanut butter is really cheap and has protein in it~! So that's healthy, right? Sure, bread has a lot of carbs but it's delicious so we can forgive it for its sinful nature. Do you like peanut butter?

[She's wiped down two more set of tables while he ~~rambles~~ rambles, making her halfway done--

...]

Bread? Sinful? I must have misheard you, Father. Is that any way to talk about the Body of the Lord, especially from a member of the clergy?

[Her back is to him again and she sounds completely conversational, for better or worse (???)]...

Listen, we must be able to examine all parts of ourselves and our surroundings with a most critical eye-- as all of us are children of Christ and the Lord, and to betray His gift to us in the vehicle of Free Will cannot be squandered~! Bread is sinfully good at times, you really can't deny it.

[ a most sagely, wise nod of his head.

...she is allergic to answering questions. this is at least the fifth one she's dodged. he is Taking Notes. ]

So! Anyway, there I was, lamenting my wakefulness at seven o'clock in the morning when there really isn't any reason to be awake at such an hour when it struck me. Where did my pajamas come from...? I didn't remember dressing in them the night prior, nor did I remember where I'd gotten them to even put them on. Was it this unsettling revelation that had roused me from my sleep...? I had to find answers, of course, so I quickly dressed for the day and tried to find breakfast, but as it turns out... I had spent all of my funds the day prior-- a long story, we don't really need to address what happened-- and thus found myself woefully trudging the halls in search of some way to solve my very pressing problem. Not only was I tired and uneasy from my pajama dilemma, but now... starving? No midnight snack, no breakfast...? Ah, you can see that I have had a very rough start to my day, right Ciel?

[There's no answer to his question.

A second ticks by.

The door to the shop opens, followed by the blue-haired waitress holding onto a tray with a couple of plates and an empty espresso cup atop it. She went outside? Apparently she went outside,]

Hm?

[Did he just call her name...]

Hm? What...? Oh, nothing, please carry on. What was I saying? --Ah, it probably wasn't important. [ .......did he even notice?? who knows. ]

...Anyway, long story short, I was starving to death and delirious and so naturally no one can hold any of what I might've done in such a state against me, you understand. [ a slow slurping sip from his mug,

...

and then, without missing a beat: ]

So! What is your favorite tea? Do you like peanut butter? Do you like cats or dogs better? Sweet or savory things? If I ask a lot of questions, will you answer one of them? Maybe that's how it works...?

[That one dismissive statement told her more useful things about him than that entire spiel, good thing she's multitasking and also got the opportunity to pick up and clean out the tables outside by the terrace!]

Well then, do be careful to not collect too many public misdemeanours, or be caught red handed in an actual crime. That'll affect your pay too, you know.

[...]

That hardly sounds fair. How about we take turns? A question for a question, and an answer for an answer. Oh, but the game will have to be put on hold if more customers come in, I do still have work to do. What do you think of these terms?

No, no, of course not~! I am a man of God and have a reputation to maintain. It wouldn't do to stain my pristine image in this town so soon. [ ...

......

oh, but at the offer of a game, Abel is perking further like a dog with his ears pricked, all attentive interest in blue eyes. ]

Ah~! A game! Back and forth, is it? Well, I don't see any reason why not... --And of course those stipulations are only fair, seeing as how you're still on the clock. Yes, yes. Um-- so, are you going to pick which of my question to answer first? Do I have to ask a new one?

[>pristine image

...no comment,

It's that "easy", hm?]

You can rephrase your first question, Father, since you're the one starting. Well?

[ oh, oh. okay, okay. he goes to nudge at his glasses again (again) only to awkwardly cough into that hand, instead, ]

Ah. Um, hm. Let's see... how about...

[ no pressure....... n-no pressure, going first, right... ]

...F-favorite tea? Yes, yes. Let's start simple! What is your favorite sort of tea, Ciel?

[Performance anxiety this early on huh, things are not boding well for him...]

I like most kinds, and which to take is entirely dependent on the accompanying sweets in my opinion, but I am partial to green tea in particular. Preparing matcha is relaxing, too.

Green tea~! Ah, matcha? I couldn't even tell you the last time I had matcha...

[ tea... he sighs dreamily, and even if the subject is tea he finds himself taking another sip of hot chocolate with voracious delight. ]

Pairing your tea with sweets! A wise woman, truly~! What is your fa-- ah. W-wait, wait. I'm getting ahead of myself; it's your turn now, isn't it? Go ahead, I eagerly await your question!

It's not the sort of thing you would commonly find in Europe, that's true. [Now she's wondering if she can find some here, but since it's an American city, the odds are probably low, huh? Hm...

...That is, moving on (and she's done wiping every table, just lingering now admittedly, but details)--]

Hehe. I was wondering if you were going to let yourself get carried away, but since you managed to catch yourself first, I'll let it slide too. [Did she just admit she was baiting him with her silence--]

When did you arrive to Gloucester, Father? I would appreciate the exact date, but if that's too difficult, how many days ago it's been will also do.

[ .........this sly little--

Abel arches a brow over his next sip of hot chocolate as if mulling over the DEVIOUS nature of the woman lingering nearside his table... before he offers a contemplative hum of thoughtfulness. ]

Oh? The date...? Um-- a-actually, I'm not entirely certain, but I think it was three days ago or so? Something like that. Y-yes, yes, that sounds about right. Three? Or was it two...? Why do you ask? --Does that count as my question...?! Ah, feels a little like counting your wishes with a genie...

[Three (or two) days of this man-shaped disaster crashing around town, huh, what a ghastly thing to consider...]

You can simply count how many nights you've spent here, Father. It's either two or three. [Had to consider her words more carefully to make sure she didn't ask any questions, there--] Let me put these dishes away, you can take your time in deciding the second question you really want to ask in the meanwhile.

[With that, she's breezily returning to the employee area behind the counter before disappearing to the back, giving him... not much room to complain or react whatsoever, honestly. But she's not away for long at least? Will be back within the minute, has he made up his mind by the time she's returned to the front once again?]

[ is it two? three? EIGHTY-FOUR? who knows, Abel looks like he is having some kind of existential crisis attempting to recall how many nights it's been, himself.

but by the time she has re-emerged from the back, his mug of hot chocolate is nearly empty and he looks prepared for her, lifting his finger in victorious gesture. ]

--And how long have you been here, Ciel-who-likes-matcha~? Y-you know, it's really hard to narrow things down to just one question at a time, I'm realizing. I am a man of a curious nature...! This is difficult...!

[ but he is keenly watching her in anticipation of her answer, all the same, ]

[At least he managed... (did he tho)

She's walking about making the rounds now, checking for what needs refills and such, yanno regular coffee shop worker tasks, etc

Looking vaguely pensive at that...]

About two weeks, I think. Give or take.

Two weeks...! Ah, I got the impression you had been here much longer with how well put-together you are... amazing...

[ a soft whistle of appreciation, before he leans his chin in his palm and elbow on the table, watching her go about her work. ]

...It's strange, isn't it? I know we aren't the only-- um. New arrivals or anything, but the whole thing is just...

[ strange. and if their reason for being here is any indicator... it may just be worrisome, too. that word-- Apocalypse-- not exactly one any man, woman or child should be eager to throw around lightly, eh?

but he motors right along, ]

I guess this means I'll simply have to try hard to get on your level~! I have my work cut out for me. [ yeah, right, as if,

...but he is watching, waiting, for her turn patiently. ]

Not at all, I'm still getting used to things myself. I simply did what made the most sense to me. [This may or may not be an indirect callout on how he's probably been doing senseless things since his arrival,]

We did get transferred over rather suddenly, so it's understandable to still feel a little disoriented. But you have to accept your reality, Father, one where you may have to hang up your cassock for a while. Think of it as another one of God's trials, ironic as it may sound?

[A beat.]

That's not my actual question, though. [She stops what she's doing, and turns to face him with innocent, expecting eyes.] What I really want to ask is, do you really have trouble with your eyesight, Father?

[His glasses are still tucked on her apron. ...She COULD just check for herself too, couldn't she?]

[ hang up the cassock, hm? well, she does have a fair point. it is a little ironic when he thinks about it-- the fact he had taken up the thing to blend in, and now he is having to set it aside for the very same purpose. oh, dear... God truly does have a sense of humor, doesn't He?

but Abel is tipping the mug back above his lips, trying to get out every last drop of chocolatey goodness when he is leveled with Ciel's expectant glance alongside her question, which... finds him with his tongue stretched out, hoping to catch any stray drops of chocolate syrup,

...

ah. a-ah, aha. ha. ]

Who, me? [ ... ] Well, of course I do~! Why else would I be wearing glasses, Miss Ciel? You silly dear. --That isn't my question, for the record!

[In the end, maybe Hurricane Mel and Sarah did more good than bad, driving home the point of just how much an OBVIOUSLY fake priest with a ridiculously elaborate cassock and big sharp rosary stands out in "Modern" America?]

...

[Wordlessly, she unclips the delicate-looking frames from her apron, pops open the temples, and brings them to her own eye level while keeping them a respectable distance from her face. If the prescription of the lenses really is that bad, then she might just get a little dizzy at most, yes? So how's it looking, Father Nightroad of Poor Eyesight?]

[ gOD he is going to have to get NORMAL PEOPLE CLOTHES gross, disgusting, how does one dress themselves, abhorrent,

...

Abel coughs gracelessly as he fumbles the mug back onto the table, leaning up and out of his seat to hold his hand outstretched in clear gesture for his specs-- ]

--Miss Ciel~! Please, th-they're veery delicate, y... you really shouldn't--

[ ~~the glass is clear as day~~

but she saw that coming a mile away, naturally. there is no prescription; the lenses indeed do not correct one's vision!!!! ]

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