TDM #4

[apocalypsehowmods]

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➥ Arrival

(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

(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

(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

(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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Comments

[inutilis]

[ .........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...

[septieme]

[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?]

[inutilis]

[ 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, ]

[septieme]

[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.

[inutilis]

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. ]

[septieme]

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?]

[inutilis]

[ 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!

[septieme]

[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?]

[inutilis]

[ 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!!!! ]

[septieme]

[Abel, a few days from now:

...

As gingerly as they were propped open, she gently pushes the temples back down. Neatly folded once more with clearly no damage, she carefully deposits the frames onto the cash counter, then pushes them wordlessly towards his direction.]

You can have them back now, Father. And your next question...?

[This man is, beyond the shadow of a doubt, the biggest tryhard she's ever met in her life so far,]

[inutilis]

[ LKSJDLKJF RUKI i hate that this is so accurate, kill me nOW,

...

ah. ahh. he knows the gig is up, and yet-- he is merely taking them back as if nothing is out of the ordinary at all, placing them back on his face and nudging them up his nose with a satisfied sound. ]

Ah~! Much better, that is much better. It's like getting home from a hard day's work and snuggling into your favorite and well-loved slippers, you know~?

[ ....whatever, man. ]

Mm, right-- next question! Then, hm... [ ... ] Do you mind if I ask where you're from...?

[septieme]

[ur whalecum for 30 seconds in Paint,

Well she sure isn't saying anything more and doesn't seem to be judging him for it, showing nothing but the friendly smile she first greeted him with! "Luckily" (for who??) she's decided to take this café shift today without glasses, wait until he finds her with a pair of her own in The Office, sometimes later--

"Hard work", he says. Nevermind the fact that any pair of slippers he may wear here should be completely new, smh. But let's not go off tangent on semantics again, shall we?

...

It may have lasted for a second, but there was a pause, nevertheless.]

As in where I was before, prior to transferring here?

[inutilis]

Mm. Well, I guess I mean-- wherever you consider home?

[ as where one might've been before their unceremonious yoinking into this earthly coil and 'home' may be two different things, after all, now that he is thinking about it. ]

You know, the place you wear your comfy slippers and kick up your feet for a nice cup of matcha! Home sweet home and all that. [ his smile is warm and eager, patiently awaiting her reply. ]

[septieme]

[...

She is starting to have some second thoughts about her proposal to this 'game', now, as much as she is wholly aware that it is irrational. Home, huh?

How kind of him, to have helped her with formulating an answer in the same breath.]

Japan, then. You can't get good quality matcha anywhere else, after all!

[And within the next beat:]

What about you, Father? I'd like to ask you the same thing, now that you brought it up.

[inutilis]

[ there is an ever-so-slight tilting of his head, something curious behind the old-fashioned lenses now back where they belong, but... the rules of the game are to be respected, right? he can wait his turn.

so he taps his chin thoughtfully instead, ]

Well~! That would have to be Rome, though admittedly... I don't quite have comfy slippers or matcha there, as much as I wish I could claim the contrary. Milk tea, though? [ a satisfied nod. ]

Then, Ciel-- pardon my asking, but... are you from Japan? Or is that merely where one goes for good matcha? I met someone else from Japan, ironically enough, so I'm just a bit curious, I suppose!

[ mhm, just idle curiosity, ]

[septieme]

That does lend credibility to your holy vocation, Father. Milk tea still tastes better in Asia than Europe however, at least in my opinion. But we make do with what we have, right?

I spent some time studying there, it was a lot of fun! [She could feasibly pass off as some university student looking as she does right now, honestly, 🤔] And yes, there's quite a few Japanese people here from out of town as well. Most seem to be high schoolers too, which is very curious, now that you mention it. I wonder why that is?

[idle curiosity x2...]

[inutilis]

Ah... does it? I'm afraid I've never partaken, but I wonder if there's some way while I'm here? [ it is wasted on him either way, with his thirteen sugars dumped in. sigh, ]

--Oh! Were you a University student? [ yes, she certainly does look around the right age for that. ] Were you studying abroad...? I take it you aren't a native, then. It's really quite curious... I wonder if there's a reason the children from that region are so popular a candidate for, um. Transfer, as you put it?

[ most curious indeed..... ]

I can't say I understand all of this by a long shot, nor that I'm quite ready to say I'm even close, but... you know, it's a terribly human thing to do-- looking for patterns in everything, right? Maybe it's just coincidence, though.

[septieme]

You could ask and look around? Gloucester Massachusetts isn't particularly well known as far as populous cities in America go, I believe, but it could be worth a try. [fattydingdongs... At least she found basic curry spices already, that's her bases covered]

Something like that. I can't very well pretend that my name is Japanese either, aha. [Not without brainwashing alas Said a bit sheepishly, though she brushes the topic off as quickly as it is touched upon. After all, if there's one language/region her own name may invoke...]

You should be spending more time at the office and getting to "know your fellows" as you put it, if you were really curious about patterns of hire. Mingling with the locals won't be of much help, we're even advised against doing it.

[inutilis]

Right? Right! It would definitely be worth a looking into... milk tea is my personal favorite, and if you say it is better prepared in the Asias...? Consider my curiosity piqued~! I am not a man to turn down a good cup of tea regardless.

[ hunting down some poor sod from somewhere in Asia to make him tea...... is this like a side quest?? ahem, ]

Mm, 'Ciel' is quite a pretty name, especially for the imagery it evokes, hm? Franc, isn't it? [ yes, yes, quite a nice namesake, and he can see why her parents had gifted it to her -- whether it had been the grace of her eyes or hair, it was fitting, he thinks. ]

...Ah, you know-- you might be right again. I had been trying to spend some time in town to get my bearings, but-- w-well, as you can see, I was not being particularly productive...

[ .......he does not look particularly chastised nor self-deprecating about this, instead running his finger idly along the rim of the mug in front of him with the same stupid ...stupid smile. ]

But I ended up running into you, right? So it isn't a waste at all, I'd say!

[septieme]

Asia is where tea was first drank and cultivated, after all. The British may try to improve their imported blend, but they will always pale next to the original. [no don't sound smug about it--]

--Aha, you got me. ["Franc"? That sounds... a little archaic, doesn't it?] Nightroad, Nightroad... That's an unusual family name, but it sounds British. Are you British, Father? [nevermind the fact that she just lowkey dissed the British for their tea barely a sentence ago, let's focus on the important things yeah?

(At least while they keep making pointless small talk, she's more or less cleaned the whole shop up... Next shift will have nothing to complain about, probably!)]

If you kept running around with such an eye-catching cassock, it was only a matter of time before we would have met. I'm calling you like this out of respect right now, Father, but it'll be mister Nightroad once we see each other in the office, you know?

["Mister Nightlroad"... something about it just sounds disturbing, doesn't it......]

[inutilis]

Was it? In the Asias, really? [ NEWS TO HIM or something, he is tilting his head even further in vacant innocence. my! he is getting a history lesson on top of hot chocolate, sweets, and equally sweet(??) company, it seems! ] British? ...Um, Ciel-- I think this is about the time that I save us both a very large headache and a great deal of confusion by prefacing something before we go any further. I-in hindsight, I probably should've mentioned this before, but--

[ he leans in a bit, as if he is about to share some Gravely Important Secret, and whispers (loudly): ]

I am from the faaar and distant fuuuuuture... [ ...yes, he said this with the kind of idiotic spooky inflection you might expect, ] --And no, I don't know the lotto numbers this year, before you ask.

1/2

[septieme]

[She

stops from whatever she was doing, looks up at him, tilts her head a bit, and blinks once.]

Okay...?

[giving him a look like "and?",]

[septieme]

[...


oh, wait, lightbulb moment--]

--Ah, are you implying that you don't know what 'British' means?

[inutilis]

[ he slaps his closed fist into his palm enthusiastically as the lightbulb clicks. yes!! she is a quick cookie. ]

I'm pretty sure the area you're talking about existed before the Dark Ages, Miss Ciel~! And the Asias, too-- that one I know for sure after talking to my punchy friend, you see.

[ anyway... that established-- ]

Um-- the areas I'm familiar with are in today's Europe, but... the borders are all wrong, it's quite confusing! --Just in case we aren't on the same page, somewhere along the line, that might be why. Please go easy on me, okay?

[septieme]

[ok but if he's a cookie monster she doesn't want to be a cookie,

"Dark Ages", he casually drops, doesn't that sound ominous. Motoring along, then--! ("Punchy friend"? He's just dropping flags left right center, isn't he? MESSY...)]

Great Britain, United Kingdom, what else... The most well known cities include London and Birmingham, maybe Glasgow and Manchester too? The Buckingham Palace and Stonehenge are international landmarks, also. Do any of those ring a bell?

[They both pretty much forgot about the question game at this point, huh... oops]