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]

[ there is only one adult here and it is probably whoever is manning the register,

...

there is some shuffling and fumbling and light mumbling from behind the curtain of the dressing room, but after a little while... a wild Abel is emerging with two shirts draped over one arm and the rest over the other. and like he is five, proudly presenting the fruits of his labor to his mother who told him to find which fit... he is holding out the two with a bright smile and hair in disarray where he had tugged the shirts over his head instead of simply unbuttoning them, sensibly... of course, ]

Here, Miss Sister~! These will do the trick, I think... hey, do you want to pick out matching Halloween sweaters for the party if you don't want to commit to dress up~?!

[septieme]

[jokes on u the cashier is

another teenager

what you gotta part time SOMEWHERE to cover for expensive study fees... 🥲 this one looks normal at least, dressed demurely and diligently milling away at their job...

--oh look, the BIGGEST CHILD IN THE STORE is back, and nothing's burning! wow. since he's DUMB and USELESS and probably took a while, he'll find her waiting for him with four pair of slacks, varying from gray to black in color and... LOOK like they could fit him, theoretically.]

Try these next, you can keep one or two. I went by visual estimate, so they may all be the wrong size. [flatly...] But since you're obviously not going to look for proper clothes on your own, that's as good as forfeiting any right to complain, yes?

[while holding out her free arm to trade, take these pants and give her those shirts! then it's back to the changing room with him, SHOO, she's clearly not accepting any commentary or taking any questions,]

[inutilis]

[ why are there so many Teens... this is criminal, this is illegal, this is outright unfair and unjust?? why,

...ah, yes, Abel is making something of a face when his GRANDIOSE return is not celebrated(???), huffing softly as he exchanges the shirts for pants with her. ]

What is that supposed to mean...?! Not looking properly... I was looking just fine, for your information~! [ grumbling softly now as he looks at her and, distinctly, does not move in the direction of the changing rooms, ] And, what, you're not going to give a single thought to the sweater idea? See? This is how I know you don't know how to have fun. Boring slacks; boring shirts, boring. Sweaters, Ciel!! Let's look at sweaters!!

[septieme]

[not Gloucester's fault that some useless senile grandpa ended up here from across time and universe, obviously,

She is just Frowning at him now, seemingly have calmed down from earlier fluster. Not looking to be in the best of moods, either...]

Getting treated like a walking touristic attraction is fine? Maybe I should leave you and Rosa to it then, if you two already have things under control. They say three is a crowd, after all. [they are totally not getting looks because this totally doesn't sound weird out of context,] If you want to shop for more colorful things, you can come back with your own pay. Today however, I'm only here to help you with basic essentials, and that's that.

[(nottalking)]

[inutilis]

[ excuse u who are you calling senile Grandpa, he is a spry 976 year old man in his prime, ty?? obviously????

--a spry man in his prime whose face abruptly goes a little pink at mention of Rosa; perhaps he hadn't realized his discourse over his """family heirloom""" had been overheard. w-well!! if it's to be like that, then... ]

M-maybe Rosa and I will do just that, hm?! And what are you going to do if I come back here and buy you a fancy Halloween sweater, huh, Ciel? What if I drag you kicking and screaming to-- hold your shock-- have fun?! Do you even understand the concept...?

[septieme]

[ok almost 1k yo virgin,]

You can do whatever you like, after you've made yourself presentable like a normal human being. [implying he's not one because he sure ACTS like an alien, tbh?

...]

If we fail to find you a coat and at least one pair of pants in the next fifteen minutes, I'm leaving with the rest of the cookies, mister Nightroad.

[...wonder how effective of a threat that'd be, given the circumstances 🤔]

[inutilis]

[ """normal human being,""" he did not fail to catch that and now indignation is turning into outright pouting, ]

Oh, is that so?! So now you've resorted to threatening me, is it?!

[ threatening to withhold... cookies?? that aren't even his??? that she would be kind and generous to share with him in the first place???? ]

Low, Ciel. That's just low. Is the promise of 'fun' so despicable to you that you'd go so far...? It's even worse than I thought!

[septieme]

[they're really causing a scene in a fking thrift store, whose shoppers are mostly broke college students and old grannies,]

"Fun" has nothing to do with it! I'm just trying to get things done, so will you stop getting sidetracked? [useless rhetorical question, everyone here knows the answer is `no`] What happened to not getting in the way of my errands? You have fourteen minutes left, by the way!

[inutilis]

A... are you seriously timing me?!

[ that came out a little more shrilly than he intended, but... it seems to have the intended effect; knowing he is under a time crunch has Abel -- huffily, but with some urgency -- collecting the trousers she had given him and flouncing toward the changing rooms. ]

F-fine!! Fine, see if I care about if you have fun or not! Spoiled-sport!! Kill-joy!! Scrooge...!!

[ he shuts the curtain ~dramatically~ behind him, and he sure is grumbling to himself the whole time there is the rustling of clothing and belts and God knows what else behind there. sigh.

...she could just. leave............ him, ]

[septieme]

[yeah because how else would she get him to willingly drag his sorry ass tbh?? Glad (???) to know threats via cookies (that were never his) are effective (?????), she's learning too, bit by bit...

...

She sees him off with a CLEAR SCOWL, but only sighs to herself with an almost exaggerated slump to her shoulders once he's out of sight. What is he, internally five? She's starting to have second thoughts picking up this stray...

...

...They are not potent enough to make her to just leave unfortunately, her sense of responsibility is too strong. Whenever he'll be out, the other shirts she dumped on him would've been hung back, and the two they're keeping have been neatly folded up and bagged. She can be found at the coats section, thoughtfully perusing the wares. Was she completely off guesstimating his size, or was there something workable there?]

[inutilis]

[ >eternally five
wow haha got it in one did she,

...

God bless her and her sense of obligation and duty Abel does not deserve; he is making his way out of the changing room (and suffocating a yawn behind his hand as he does), bringing over a pair of black slacks to add to the two shirts he left in her charge earlier. ]

Um-- Ciel, I think this works out just fine... but I just realized something.

[septieme]

[just a coincidence haha...

Well at least he is no longer Obnoxious, so she in turn is no longer Huffy. Can we be normal again? ..."Normal", as if,]

Oh? That's good to hear. That just leaves the coat, then. [She would motor on to ask him what he thinks of the coats here in this section, but there's something strangely subdued about his approach just now. Did something happen...]

...Yes?

[inutilis]

[ >normal
y-yeah.........

Abel is, indeed, looking slightly less Obnoxious and almost slightly pensive...? but only slightly as he fixes his lopsided glasses, eyeing the clothing in her arm. ]

I don't have any money in my account, do I...? [ ......is this really just occurring to him??? yes, ] That doesn't mean you were thinking of paying for all this, were you...?

[septieme]

[ah, so his Conscientiousness has decided to rear its ugly head... If you're gonna pretend to be some Obnoxious and Freeloading Goblin this is really counterproductive tho, just saying?

...

Well, she can't deny she appreciates the thought, as hideously belated as it is...]

That's right.

[Suppose she CAN give him a simple AND straightforward answer, for once! As breezily as her answer is delivered, the almost "what about it" challenging feel must surely be his imagination, yeah? ...Yeah!]

[inutilis]

[ ah... so in the end, she is...

...

he rubs into silver hair with a vaguely perplexed look crossing his features, maybe something concerned buried beneath it. ]

Ciel... were you really going to let me get away with taking advantage of your kindness--? P-please tell me you would've made sure I paid you back at the least...?

[septieme]

We're at a thrift store, Father. Everything here is secondhand and affordable. As long as you're not some unmitigated force of chaos that will have these ruined within the week, I'd say it's worth the investment. [She brightly smiles back, and that look on her face probably answers his question better than her words.]

Didn't I already tell you? I'm simply doing what I want to. I'm not your mother or sister [--heh--] either, so I'm in no position to get nosy about how you choose to spend your money. Given your track record so far, however, shouldn't you worry about your own finances instead of someone else's?

[inutilis]

[ ...well. that answer most certainly is eye opening, and Abel is looking at her in muted surprise for but a second before gently, habitually, nudging at his glasses as if rousing from his thoughts.

and then his smile is more earnestly warm than the ones before it, something sincere in blue eyes as he lightly rests the trousers with his two accumulated shirts. ]

Well... In that case, I'd like to tell you I'll pay it forward, one day...! I'm not sure if that holds quite the same value as getting your money back, but-- I will find a way to pay you back, too. Okay?

[ 'I owe you one.' can't really put it more plainly, can he... ]

[septieme]

[...Geez. If he stops acting like an idiot and replaces it with... whatever this is, she's going to start feeling self-conscious too! What's the big deal, anyway? All she's doing is buying him some Normal People clothes, secondhand too. No need to look so earnest just because a stranger you just met today is being too nice... She really need to stop doing this, though. First investing in Harry, now buying clothes for hobo priests... smh, she'll have to cut down on her own grocery budget for the next week--]

Paying it forward would be the nice thing to do, yes, especially for a man of the cloth. [Not that she'd know, totally not religious or anything,] I personally won't ask you more of this, our Father who art in heaven would make for a far more compelling witness anyway.

[So it can just stay between him and God. Thematic and fitting, right?

...And without skipping a beat:]

Seven minutes left, by the way. What sort of coat do you like?

[inutilis]

[ humble and of great humility though Ciel may be, Abel is quite like an elephant in that he doesn't forget. ...when someone has been kind to him. (we must specify this bit, as he is prone to forgetting other and arguably more important things, from time to time,)

thus-- that smile lingers at his lips, even as he once more feels the CRUSHING WEIGHT of time slipping through the proverbial hourglass. ]

Ah, from my lips to God, is that it? [ there is something amused in his expression, before he gives a soft chuckle and turns to sift through the coat rack, ] O-oh, well... it's been so long since I've been outside a uniform, I couldn't even tell you! Something plain is fine, really, I'm not a particularly picky man who worries about fashion and all that... Ciel, um-- what do you think looks good?

[ she has permission to just dress him entirely, it seems, he has no strong clothing preferences... that or he does not want to presume how much she is willing to fork out on his behalf and will accept anything she deigns as suitable?? maybe both. ]

[septieme]

[memory of an elephant and the grace of one in a room at any given time, is it? Maybe he's more elephant than dog after all...

...

no, definitely more of a dog,]

My pick? Okay. Let's see...

[Her browsing passes by a danrk seaweed green windbreaker. Not the most attractive shade and it looks quite worn, but it still looks relatively well put-together and is honestly a steal for 15$.

She peers back at him, and then back at the rack.

...

After a few more moments, she hands him a black coat lined by white at the seams. It's... a little reminiscent of his habit, actually, looks quite good visually and seems to be in decent shape too. The lining inside is a bit torn, maybe that's why it ended up at the thrift store? Ignore the price tag of 35$ btw,]

How about this one? You can just slip it on to see if it fits.

[inutilis]

[ here is Abel newly planted back in 2021 having absolutely no idea how much things cost, dw about it?? how many honey buns can you buy for 35$, that will give him a better idea,

oh-- he is abruptly putting back the hideous bright orange parka he had been looking at for God knows what reason, we don't need to talk about it, and reaching out for this much more tasteful coat instead. ]

Ah-- this looks rather nice~! Let's see...

[ shrugging into it quickly, he brushes himself off before giving her a suitably dumb smile and holding his chin high, waiting for her verdict. ]

So~! What do you say? Does it make me look normal and un-priestlike, Ciel...? I am such a regular Joe with a regular Joe job who definitely doesn't have a weird job or anything, haha~!

[septieme]

[Works for Ciel! 35 maybe depending on where he's getting those sweet puffy BUNS from??]

I think it looks nice, makes you appear more put together than you actually are. [...] What about you? Have you looked yourself into the mirror yet?

[...his hair, tho, rly lowkey giving her a faint urge to run a brush thru it properly, sigh. Let's just not focus on it, yeah...]

[inutilis]

[ more put together than he actually is? wow...!! such a compliment, Abel preens and looks utterly proud to hear such praise, either willfully choosing not to see the backhanded nature of this statement or completely missing it. who can say? who, ]

Ah-- no, should I...? O-okay, okay, hold on!

[ watch him scurry off to go find one!! ...and then pose in front of it, with finger? guns??? he just made a "bang bang!" noise, too. ]

...Bing. John Bing.

[ The SpyPriest Who Loved MeWas Stupid, the next James Bond John Bing movie coming to theaters near you. ]

Hey, not bad...! I think I like it, Ciel~! I feel fancy...

[septieme]

[...

Ciel really out here holding onto TWO bags now (cookies and clothes), this 5'4 waman smiling gently over this 6'4 idiot...idiot like he was her son she took shopping for the first time in his life or something,]

You're missing a few extra props for the full effect, but it's passable enough. [Ah yes sequel to the critically acclaimed From Russia Mars with Love Space Rabies, is it,]

That should tide you until your first paycheck, I hope? They're given out as cards too, so don't throw them out. [Another F for Harry...]

[inutilis]

Yes, yes-- this is definitely more than enough~! [ he is shrugging the coat back off and regathering all of the things he will be coming away with, but... as he takes the remaining items from her, Abel lingers just a bit. ]

Hey, Ciel? Thank you. I mean it. It is a special sort of someone who gives without looking for anything in return, and I'm sure you know that well. Whoever else you've taken under your wing in your short time here is doubtlessly lucky to have you, and I hope they-- and you-- know it.

[ and that extolled, he is taking everything they need to pay for in hand and beginning to head toward the register (and the diligent teenager manning it who must have gotten quite the Earful of the two of them over the past ??? amount of time)... ]

--Come on! No time to dawdle... my time limit is almost up, right?! Cookie, cookie...