TDM #19

[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.) You might even arrive in a section of building that has been demolished, leaving a pit of rubble open to the sky–hope you're up on your tetanus shots! 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. The one exception is the demolition zone off what used to be one corner of the building: it seems the security teams are keeping a particularly close eye on that area to document new arrivals and bring them in quickly.

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.)

➥ Arrhythmia

(cw: auditory hallucinations, decay, rot, filth, mold, blood, blood sacrifice, violence, brief allusion to self-harm and harm to animals)

Things seem to have quieted down in Gloucester after a rough January. Everyone is still recovering from the severe localized internet failures that took place last month and disrupted everything from basic research to every level of commerce. Life has stabilized, though, and it does the heart good.

Not just your heart, either. It doesn't happen to everyone. In fact, it seems random, and it's not confined to just off-worlders, but everyone living in Gloucester; though, most are loath to talk about it. There is a heart beating within the room that you take refuge in to sleep, and it is not your own or even that of a partner you might bed down with. It seems to be beating within the walls and under the floorboards, never in the same place twice, but definitely there.

Those plagued by the heartbeat will find that their living conditions begin to degrade night by night, seeming to coincide with a slowdown in the beats of the heart. You might wake with dust covering you, cobwebs in the corners, mold and rot spreading across the floor. Your sheets and clothes may degrade to rags, your body may be covered in filth. You know instinctively what this is. The heart is beginning to die. Your room is dying, and there is only one way to fix it: blood. Not just any blood, though. No, that would be too simple. Your own is insufficient. Animals will not work. You need the blood of another person marked upon the spot where the heart beats. Blood spilled willingly or taken without the knowledge of another may stave off one effect for the night, but it does nothing for the others, nor the worst of them. Blood spilled from an unwilling person, from someone who knows they've been taken from for this terrible purpose, is the most potent. The heart races with this and the room seems to be right and well, returning completely to normal and staying as such for several days. But the heart that beats is a weak and fickle one. Go too long without another blood-letting, and the decay will creep back in.

People who might wish to avoid this all together will find their options limited. There are some living spaces that aren't affected, but that means crowding into one place. Time to get cozy with the neighbors if you don't want to stab them and steal their blood. If you're one of the lucky ones with a heartbeat-free room? Get ready for an influx of potentially long-term house guests.

➥ Love Potion Number 9

(cw: altered mental states; stalking; unwanted romantic advances; toxic romantic relationships)

Emotions can run high around the holidays, especially holidays that are all about displays of emotion. A small uptick in domestic altercations in Gloucester at the start of February initially goes unnoticed as anything significant. But then boxes of chocolates appear in break rooms around ADI, an early Valentine's Day gift from HR staffer Pam Ruan in lieu of an actual holiday party. And those romantic tensions that have been going around? Well, now they're coming around at ADI.

It starts as soon as you eat even one chocolate. At first it's just a flurry of affection for whomever you happen to lay eyes on next, or perhaps it's merely noticing them as a romantic prospect in a way you never did before. The more time you spend around that person, the more the feeling deepens. This is love, isn't it? This desire to be near them, to gaze upon them, to chatter and giggle with them like schoolchildren–that's love, isn't it?

Parting ways with the object of your affection can allow the feeling to fade over the next hour until it's forgotten, though they'll stay in your mind and the urge to seek them out remains for that time. Unless, of course, you had more than one chocolate! The intensity of the feeling, of the need to be near your person is exponentially more intense for every chocolate you've consumed, and to part with them hurts your soul. And why should you part with them? Why should you be denied your love?

Pairs who have both eaten chocolates and been "lucky" enough to mutually imprint on one another will find themselves practically glued to each other by the need to remain close, jealously guarding their new relationship against any potential interference. Those whose completely legitimate chocolate-induced love is unrequited, however, still feel the need to be close and the same possessiveness even if it's not returned.

Stalking, spying, and even kidnapping is going around, but within a day ADI's higher ups are aware of the situation. Staff are instructed to incinerate any chocolate found on the premises, and anyone caught stalking their coworkers or suddenly engaging in a codependent relationship is to be separated until the effects wear off–by force, if necessary.

[See Mod Notes below for an important message regarding this prompt.]

➥ Bumble Gum

(cw: entomophobia, arachnophobia, bugs, bees)

Everyone’s abuzz about a new shop in town. Bumble Gum has opened its doors just in time for a season of sweets and sweethearts. A jaunty bee sits on the round sign over the door and as decals on the windows, but it’s hardly necessary with the bright white and pink-striped awning welcoming in the curious.

Inside, white wicker baskets decorated in large bows line a front table, each filled with a colored cellophane treat and labeled with a similarly-designed cute bug picture for easy identification.

Because it doesn’t take more than a sharp eye to notice what’s inside the cellophane.

The baskets hold an array of chocolate-covered, cinnamon-covered, and candied bugs, from butterflies to beetles to mealworms. Along the walls hang other enticing offerings including fried flies in charming pink and white bags, a ‘protein-rich potato chip alternative!’ Lollipops that hold whole insects like tasty nuggets of amber and even a tiered arrangement of ‘bug juice’ styled drinks line another wall. Go to the counter, and their fresh assortment of powdered-sugar moths, truffles garnished with ants and wasps, and even a sign inviting you to order some freshly steamed pupae are there to greet you. Along with, of course, a smiling and cheerful cashier dressed in a frilly pink and white uniform complete with a set of costume bee’s wings on their back. Why, what can they help you with today?

It certainly doesn’t seem like the kind of place that would get popular…niche as it is, but it’s new and gossip-worthy and offers free samples on Thursday and a couple of wary fishermen soon swear by it. Teens dare each other to buy something…and some of them come back again later. Even ADI isn’t immune as one day a carton of chocolate-dipped spider legs are left out with an open invitation to try them!

A little salty…a little crunchy…a little sweet! Who knew?

➥ Mod Notes

• ARRIVAL (February 1-28): Two people will almost 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 (or the rubble that used to be part of 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, as well as information about the state of ADI Headquarters.
  
  
• ARRHYTHMIA (February 5-15): Not every room will be afflicted with the heartbeat, but a lot of them will be. As mentioned in the prompt, this is not limited to just ADI housing or Bonnie's Flophouse; although, getting locals to admit to their experiences will be difficult for those who go investigating. Many are frightened, confused, and ashamed of themselves for what they're doing to try to keep their homes from becoming unlivable. They may even think they're hallucinating. The decay effects are visible to anyone who steps into a living space, though, and they do not disappear unless cleaned up or until the heart is 'fed.' Those who go looking for an actual heart will need to rip up floorboards or break through walls to try to get to it… and the heartbeat seems to always be a little off from where the person is investigating. Audible, but never visible. The heartbeats will fade after two weeks if they're left to their own devices. Those who have left their rooms to decay will find that their room is a disgusting and degraded mess to clean up afterwards. Time to get your spring cleaning on early!
  
  
• LOVE POTION NUMBER 9 (February 1-15): Reminder: As per the game's rules, the following types of plots/character interactions are not allowed: rape, sexual violence, underage sex, pregnancy. The effects of the chocolates do not include an urge to perpetrate acts of sexual violence. Threads with obsessive and unwanted romantic behaviors per this prompt must be clearly marked with content warnings.
  
  
• BUMBLE GUM (February 1-Onward): There’s all kinds of bugs to be had in Bumble Gum, if it’s feasibly edible, it’s feasibly found! Andrena is a friendly young adult who greets new friends with pep and enthusiasm, a true ‘kill them with kindness’ sort. If you have trouble choosing, they’re happy to help you find your new soilmate today! Hard scrutiny of the sweet and savory treats will reveal: they are, in fact, bugs. Enjoy!
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[inlieuofadad]

He notes, with a faint smile, the “B1” painted on the door in dribbly, slightly crooked lines. Passes into the space with the dazed air of someone attending an unexpected funeral. It’s a nice space. Homey. Open. Bright.

“This is yours?”

[abrightboy]

Malcolm looks at his shoes to contain his smile.

"Neal says it's 'ours'," he replies. He moves towards the kitchen. "Do you want that coffee?"

[inlieuofadad]

“Still with Robin Hood, huh?” Dazed small talk that doesn’t really register that reality. He’s still with Neal, and they have a house together. And it’s been almost a year.

He wanders after Malcolm, taking in details without cataloguing them. “Yeah. Coffee would be good.”

[abrightboy]

Another smile he attempts to hide, this one in the coffee container as he scoops coffee into a french press.

"He asked me to marry him," Malcolm reveals.

[inlieuofadad]

The ring, Gil realizes. Malcolm is wearing a ring. An engagement ring.

He makes it to the little kitchen table and draws out a chair to sit down.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm puts the kettle on.

"Tim disappeared, too. He just came back last month. He doesn't remember anything between when he disappeared and when he came back. Like he jumped ahead in time." Malcolm looks over. "Is that what happened to you, too?"

[inlieuofadad]

Tim disappeared too. Shit. The kid--Tim in this case--couldn't have taken that well. And the way Malcolm is so casually accepting Gil's reappearance tells him that whatever meltdowns Malcolm had, he had when Tim stepped out of limbo.

"I need a drink," he says.

It's not--he doesn't register--an answer to Malcolm's question.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm's expression crumples a little further and he gets down a glass and a bottle of scotch, pouring a couple of fingers for his mentor.

As he sets the glass down, he looks at Gil nervously. "Are you okay?"

[inlieuofadad]

He picks up the booze, goes to knock it back, but Malcolm's question stops him short and gets him to look at the younger man. Who right now looks much younger. Gil gathers a breath to apologize, and the apology shows on his face, but instead he raises a hand to squeeze Malcolm's arm. "I'll be fine. I'll be all right."

Get it together, Arroyo.

God, he wishes Jess were here. No, he doesn't, he doesn't wish that on her, but he wishes he had someone he could talk to that he trusted. Someone his own age.

He makes himself smile, and it hurts but it's also, after a moment, real. "I would be more upset if I'd missed the wedding."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm's expression melts into relief.

"There's lots of time. He just asked me last week. It was a big surprise. He made a whole..." He sinks into the chair adjacent to Gil with an almost dazed expression. "...big thing out of it."

[inlieuofadad]

Gil's smile is a mix of pained and wistful. "Wish I could've been here to hear about it."

Maybe even help. Or stop it, if that seemed like the wiser choice.

He barely knows Neal. Malcolm is marrying the man. A man who isn't from their world. "He's going home with us?"

Is that even possible?

[abrightboy]

“I don’t know,” Malcolm admits. “Do we even get to go home? I just… don’t see the point of just… being unhappy while we wait for maybe never.” He looks over at Gil, the lovestruck haze gone from his eyes for the moment. “Nobody will ever want to marry me there,” he says bluntly.

[inlieuofadad]

Wait a second. He studies Malcolm’s face, suddenly a lot more alert. “You don’t want to go home?”

Yeah, there’s a hell of a lot back there to deal with, but it’s… home. It’s their family. “You don’t have to be unhappy until then, Malcolm, but—you don’t want to go back at all?”

He’s not going to think about the possibility that they can’t. That they don’t get to do that. It’s too much to deal with right now, even if it’s been a background fear for months.

[abrightboy]

"I didn't say that," Malcolm retorts almost defensively. "We've talked about going there together if we can." And they've also talked about going to Neal's world together. Shhh. "But even if we can't leave together and even if we can't control when or whether we leave, we can be happy now. That's all we can control."

[inlieuofadad]

Gil stares for a moment, coming to the conclusion all at once that Neal... must be good for Malcolm after all. It's a weird, stomach-sinking thought, to conclude that you've missed watching the process of your child's romantic interest becoming a romantic partner. Slowly he nods. Swallows. Clears his throat.

"You gonna give me a tour when the coffee's done?"

[abrightboy]

And Gil had seen him through full crush mode, when Neal (seemingly) didn't return his feelings.

He smiles.

"Yeah. There's not much to see yet. It's not... done." He glances around. "We brought our stuff from B1 but the house needs... furniture and... appliances and... stuff." Stuff he can't just buy whenever he feels the need. It's weird not being rich.

[inlieuofadad]

Gil gestures at the living room, where there's one large, chicly comfortable couch and a TV. "You've got a start."

Also, there are paintings on the walls. Which shows, Gil thinks, Caffrey's priorities. Malcolm's fiance's priorities. God.

He shifts forward in his seat, studying Malcolm's face. "How're you doing, kid?"

It's soft. Very soft.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm’s contented expression falters.

“I’ve been better,” he admits. “I think Neal told me about the house earlier than he wanted to. He was trying to cheer me up. A friend of mine died. Then Tim came back and he didn’t want to stay with us. Like at school when kids didn’t want to come over. But we’re making him a room here…” He looks at Gil. “We have another spare room. Can you stay for a bit?” he asks hopefully.

[inlieuofadad]

Gil half-smiles at the revelation about the house. He has to appreciate that gesture, even if he's still not sure about Neal. At all. And can't really wrap his head around the idea of them having a house together, really, let alone getting married. But the rest of it...

"Tim disappeared too." That's right, Malcolm told him that already, but it blended a bit into the haze of shock. "Tim isn't those kids, Malcolm."

He lifts a hand to rest it against the other man's cheek the way he did when Malcolm was a boy. "He cares about you."

Enough of a smile to crinkle the skin at the corners of Gil's eyes. "He cares about you the way a half-feral cat cares, sure, but he does. He's going to take some swipes when he gets upset, he'll vanish for a bit maybe, but set the tuna out and it's going to disappear. He'll come back."

He can't say no to that face. Never could. "Yeah, I'll stay. Sure you don't want to talk to your--" Partner. Fiance. Housemate. "--Neal about it first?"

[abrightboy]

Malcolm just looks at him. “Neal won’t mind.” He’s sure of that, even if he hasn’t quite put together that Neal is another person who can never say no to what Malcolm asks for for himself. Especially if it’s for his peace of mind. “He should be home soon. He usually makes dinner. He’s really good at it. You should eat with us.”

[inlieuofadad]

Won't mind, Gil wonders, or won't protest. When Malcolm mentions that Neal cooks for them, he frowns in surprise.

"Yeah? You're able to eat what he makes?"

Malcolm won't have a chance to answer immediately--there's movement and a rattle at the front door as Neal goes to unlock it and discovers it's already open. He comes inside, calling out as he does, "Malcolm? I wasn't sure you'd b..."

Gil studies him. Neal stares.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm quite obviously lights up when Neal enters. He points at Gil completely unnecessarily.

"Look, Neal! Gil came back!" he says excitedly. "He's going to stay with us for a bit."

Indefinitely.

"Do we have any blankets for the spare room?"

[inlieuofadad]

Neal, who has a bag of groceries in his arms, closes the door. Gil tries not to be too grateful, given the way the cold grates against his joints. He can’t help but notice that Neal isn’t as delighted as Malcolm, but he can’t blame the younger man.

Neal also won’t protest Gil’s presence. Not when Malcolm is smiling like that. He goes over to the table, setting the groceries down and gathering Malcolm into his arms for a brief, habitual kiss.

The familiarity of the motion, the practiced nature of it, makes Gil’s stomach squeeze in an uncomfortably lonely way.

“I hear congratulations are in order.”

Neal looks at Gil, then smiles more warmly at Malcolm. “For me, certainly.”

[abrightboy]

"Neal, they don't die," Malcolm presses on eagerly. "Gil's the second one to come back and he's fine. They don't die," he points out again, in case Neal missed it.

Winter certainly hadn't meant to damage Malcolm's peace of mind, but the suggestion had started the spiral that culminated in utter devastation at the death of George Milton. Apart from the night of Neal's proposal, this is the brightest he's been in months.

"Maybe none of them have died."

Except for George.

"Maybe we haven't caught up to where they were sent yet."

[inlieuofadad]

Neal doesn't want to point out that two people out of what feels like dozens makes a notable anomaly, not a definitive reality, but he can't. Not when his face looks like that, his whole demeanor looks so hopeful. He sets the groceries down and comes over to give Malcolm a warm kiss, ignoring Gil's presence momentarily so he won't feel weird about doing it in front of the man.

Gil raises his eyebrows at the heat of it, but doesn't comment, even after Neal's soft smile and softer, "Maybe. It's something to hope for."

Gil himself rubs his face, pinching the bridge of his nose with one hand. "I'll need someone to... to bring me up to speed on everything I've missed. Or as much of it as is relevant to whatever's happening right now."