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]

[ oh? he frowns softly at that as if he couldn't even fathom a world in which he, an innocent itinerant priest, would ever find the need to go wandering the dredges of the city late in the evening... ]

No, no; I find myself quite early to bed these days~! It's hard enough to get up in the morning as it is, and there were several nagging nuns who insist on rising at a truly abhorrent hour at home. Even if they're not here to chide me, it's as if I can feel their spirits breathing down my back if I sleep in too long, s-so it's really for the best not to keep late hours, you know?

[ mmhm, mmhm!!! ]

And what about you, Miss Ciel? Hm...? Are you burning the midnight oil around here?

[septieme]

Morning truly are difficult, no matter where you are. [She nods wisely to herself at that, as if he's just said something very profound (he hasn't).] So you often get an earful from your colleagues at home? I can picture that. [She nods wisely to herself once more, as if he's said something relatable (he may have).] There's been the unnatural sleepiness permeating the city since the turning of the month too, which is also making restful sleep difficult. Please try to rest properly when you can, we never know what may happen and when things may start getting hectic in town.

[...]

I wouldn't be staying at the apartment complex if the curfew didn't sit well with me. We're all human here, for better or worse. [Lightly tossed out because it's the truth, as she unfurls the paper bag and takes out another cookie to munch on.

Oh hey they're almost at building A. She's not the only one keeping track, is she?]

[inutilis]

[ Abel takes her warning into stride, bobbing his head along like a diligent pupil absorbing the wisdom of their master. ah yes, get some rest; best to be prepared for when things should get hectic. (what that entails? Abel cannot be sure, but considering his debriefing he supposes he has an idea...?)

regardless, that last bit earns her another nod of his head-- this one accompanied by a meagerly brighter smile!! ]

Well~! I find myself the sort to enjoy a nice cup of tea before bed, so... if you find yourself looking to wind down one evening and in need of one, do be sure to look me up, would you? It seems the least I can do in some small part for all your help, Miss Ciel!

[septieme]

You're supposed to calm down before you sleep, Father. Are you sure you wouldn't just get overexcited from company?

[She may be teasing a little between noms, as building A is passed onto B. Tangentially related to excitable tho, what if he just follows her straight home... 🤔]

[inutilis]

[ this is why you don't feed the strays... next thing you know.......

...

m-mistakes were made, perhaps? though she could just remind him if she wanted to avoid him following her all the way to the door; he didn't really intend to bypass building A-- ]

Oh, well-- on that point, I wouldn't worry overmuch~! I really don't have any trouble falling asleep, especially these days! There must be something in the air, you know...? Dreamland is never far away, maybe even a little too close for comfort if you know what I mean... Considering what happened at the cafe today, I'd say I'm not the only one with that sort of feeling, hm...

[septieme]

[Not like she knows he lives in A, just like how she hasn't told him where she's at either OOPS--]

We haven't had concrete news at the office either, so the company seems as clueless over the phenomenon as everyone else. That's a good point, though... Hopefully we get to the bottom of it soon.

[Passing by B now...

...]

[inutilis]

Right! Right, so... my tea invitation stands, hm? I'm over in building--

[ ...wait.

wait, hold the phone, here. he is abruptly stopping in place and tossing a glance to B building, the gears beginning to turn in his pea brain-- ]

--ah...! I passed right by it?! How in the...

[ ..... ]

A, I'm in building A over there, h... haha-- I guess I really am a bit scatterbrained today, aren't I...? Embarrassing...

[ WOULD HE HAVE AUTOPILOTED ALL THE WAY TO HER APARTMENT??? probably... ]

[septieme]

[Wow if she didn't know any better she would've thought he was doing this on purpose to find out where she lives... Doesn't even have the girl's number and he's already after her address, is that how it is, dogs with a bone--]

--Oh, you did?

[......]

I'm over at C, so let's part ways here. Please take the rest of these too, there isn't that many left but I really shouldn't eat any more, aha...

[Handing him the rest of the bag of the cookies, there's a few couple? She did fattydingdong her way through more of them than him, for better or worse...]

[inutilis]

[ o-oh... he is taking the remaining cookies with a little look of surprise (and immediate excitement) before nodding along in grateful acceptance. ]

--then... again, I really have to thank you, Ciel! Thank you for everything... I really owe you one, um... maybe more like several ones, actually! And I'm looking forward to working together from now on~!

[septieme]

[fattydingdongs... enabling but also saving each other from themselves,]

You're welcome, just please try to... ["be less of a disaster"] be more mindful, even if it's understandable that you may struggle with how much adjusting you have to do. [...

She can give him her number or network username some other day, yeah... Eventful enough for a first meeting, today. He's not gonna blow anything up within the next 24 or 48 hours, r-right,

...don't answer that,]

Yes, let's do our best. I'll be seeing you around, Father Abel!

[inutilis]

[ Abel is taking a half-step back in the direction of the A block, shooting Ciel a cheery and jovial wave as he does. ]

You got it~! Please take care 'til our paths cross next, would you? --And thanks again, Ciel...!

[ and without further ado, the priest will begin whistling as he makes his way toward 'home,' already happily munching on a double chocolate chip cookie.

...see you later, alligator!! ]