quietplacelogs | MOD LOG #3

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MOD LOG #3

MOD LOG #3

Arriving in style
Content Warnings: Fighting, death, violence
Themes: Survival, plot

It's early in the day when it happens. The red dust that seems to be everywhere sweeps through the city streets, mixing with the steady patter of rain and making it hard to see and breathe. All red and leaving the taste of copper if inhaled, what could have been an easy day without any trouble quickly becomes anything but. While those in the community are heading for cover or finding ways to continue on through it, the new arrivals begin waking up in different cities all over the world. There won't be anyone to greet them, and leaving the room through the door is their choice - after doing so, they'll immediately step out into the city they were assigned. The streets are empty, houses abandoned, everything crumbling and in ruins. There will be signs noting their location, which they'll catch a glimpse of before a sharp push forward causes darkness to engulf them.

Waking up for the second time, in Reims but not in the Reset Room, they'll come to inside the red dust as it whips through the streets of the community. They won't be alone for long. Another person will be waking up beside them, and after a few moments of disorientation, try to attack. They might have weapons or use their hands, and they will not stop until they've taken a fatal blow. Their blood is dust, and they, along with their weapons, disintegrate after they've died. Can you stop them on your own? Will someone come to your aid?

The Sight of Lightning
Content Warnings: Poison, sex
Themes: Survival, plot

The day after the storm, the same red dust will find its way through Reims and come into contact with every person. Since the dust is everywhere, some might not notice that it's floating through the community and know that something is off. The effects don't begin until night fall, where everyone will feel the desire to seek out companionship of many different kinds. Though it is not always the case, the people that saw each other in color will "want" to be with that person more strongly than they might already, and will be more likely to confess or do something about it. Some might feel an intense need to be around another person, though not necessarily sexually - almost as if they need that person around them to be happy or content. For some, it might be a desire that can only be fulfilled by more than one person.

The effects wear off the next time the person gets wet. This can be a splash of water across the face or fully submerged. Or even drinking something.

OOC
From your mods:

Please be mindful of content - if something triggery comes up or if it goes up a rating to say, something sexy, mark your threads in the subject line. We're very flexible and allow any material; we just want our players to be respectful of each other. If you have questions, pp the mod account, use the faq or comment to the appropriate post below. Have fun! The OOC Plotting Post.

NAVIGATION

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[When his hand turned, she shifted her hand so their fingers could twine together. She knew that she had pressed the wrong button, but there was no guilt behind her doing it. Talking was nice, particularly if she managed to learn something about him.]

Well, it's not like we have anything but time here.

[With their hands still grasping, she fell back to lay against her bed. Her top half was resting on the mattress and her bottom half was dangling over the edge, and she stared up at the ceiling for a moment before turning her head to look at him.]

Plenty of time to elaborate on that strictly structured private entity.

[ For a long minute he sat there and seemed to consider where would he even start. In the end, he shook his head and gave her hand a squeeze. ]

Some other time.

[ When he's had time to work through how to even begin to explain the situation. ]

Here, of more immediate importance, talk to me about the logistics of living in this place? Given the state of your room vs mine am I right in assuming this whole house isn't soundproofed? How do we go about things like, eating and bathing?

[Some other time, then. She knew he was putting her off, but she didn't press. That could always happen some other day, when they were both better adjusted to being here.]

There's a man here named Frank. He's the mayor, but he's like us. Arrived through the reset room instead of being one of the locals. He built up the walls and soundproofed my room. Also helped me find and get a bed, too.

[Scavenging for things wasn't too bad, at least. And she knew that together she and Adrien could find some decent things and get them back to the house. There was a giddy little thrill at the idea of his being so close, right in the same house where she could talk with him whenever she wanted. ]

The natives bathe in the river.

[The way she said it made it absolutely clear she found the idea horrifying.]

Some of the houses have bathrooms that are soundproofed. There's a boy here from Avagi. One of my students. He lives next door and lets me use his bathroom on occasion. As far as eating, there's daily rations. Though sometimes there's meals the entire community is invited to. I don't recommend those, seeing as how the last one I went to we were poisoned by the red dust that's all over everything now. It made my vision go grey for a day or so.

Would it be possible to soundproof the bathroom in this house? [ Seems like that might be a good priority to have. Not that Adrien minded bathing in a river, he'd bathed in worse; but hot water was always preferable.

He would certainly contribute to gathering supplies, sleeping on the floor was doable, but like the hot water, he'd rather have at least a small mattress.

But those things are put on hold as his eyebrows arched when she described the community meals and what happened to her at the last one. That did sound concerning. ]

So there is some hostility from the natives?

I'm not sure hostility is the right word.

[She frowned, letting her eyes drift closed for a moment. It was hard for her to answer questions about this place, if only because she hadn't really experienced all that much of it yet. ]

I think they're being misleading. And they want us to assimilate into life here. But I don't think they want to harm us.

[Her eyes opened as she licked at her lower lip, mouth now dry from so much talking after a long time of disuse. The red dust that had covered her upon waking up in the reset room was still deep in her lungs and throat wasn't helping matters either.]

We can work to soundproof the bathroom here, though. They won't try to stop us.

[ It was impossible not to watch that lower lip lick, though he quickly glanced aside. Timelines were ... strange and he felt a little self-conscious for having felt a small tug at the unconscious gesture on her part. ]

Sounds like it might be a good use of our time, err ... pardon the unintentional pun.

If I'm hearing you right though, you're saying this red dust has been present during some chaotic moments for awhile now?

I've heard it has been, yeah. I'm starting to think it's part of the sound eaters, and it makes us perceive our senses the same way they do theirs. Like a test.

[A test to see who was strong enough to eventually become a sound eater themselves. The thought was sobering and depressing, and not one fit for a night that was supposed to be happy because she had him back with her. Giving his hand a squeeze, she lightly smiled before tugging him down to lay beside her. It was a little odd, laying turned sideways on the bed. But it was comfortable enough that she didn't mind it.]

I'm not sure I'm looking forward to what it does to us next.

[ Where in the past he would have been stiff and uncomfortable at the idea of stretching out on another person's bed, now he went with the tug. He even folded his limbs in such a way as to be as comfortable as possible, turned on his side and facing her. ]

Whether you're looking forward to it or not, as is often the case you're already thinking forward.

[ That was always something he's respected about her. Even from that initial diplomatic disaster. Laying there, he began to rub his thumb along the side of her hand, the motion a pensive one. ]

Is there any evidence that there have been attempt to deal peacefully with these sound eaters? I understand that the natives appear terrified of them and it sounds like a very unpleasant death, but don't you think it's odd that they only attack sound? If they were truly, deliberately aggressive why wouldn't they have just gone ahead and destroyed the remaining population?

[ Adrien seriously needed better pillow talk material. ]

[He was lucky that this sort of talk was fine by her. And that his thumb along her hand distracted her from teasing him about the fact this was a morbid topic to dive into. She allowed a small silence lapse between them, and turned so she was on her side. Face to face, she couldn't close her eyes and avoid the subject. There was just the two of them and an importance to share information. ]

You need to see them to understand, Adrien. They can't be reasoned with. They're as good as monsters. Someone told me the red dust made them hear things amplified to the point of pain. I think that's why they hunt whatever makes sound. Their hearing might be so sensitive that any little bit of it hurts. I'm not so sure that they're hostile as much as reactionary. And I think that people here eventually become them. Whether it's because they're forcibly turned or not I'm not sure. But based on what I saw in Paris, I know they were likely once human.

[There was fear in her eyes and in her voice, but she didn't look away. Her gaze stayed steady on his, and her thumb took to rubbing along the side of his hand in return. This sort of soft affection was enough to keep her calm, and from worrying too much about all the what ifs and things that were out of her control.]

[ For Adrien, surviving the what ifs had started to become second nature. He wasn't as easily spooked, but then he hadn't seen what she was describing. Something he'd need to rectify. ]

I'm getting the impression a trip to Paris will need to be made. [ He said, tone solemn and he settled into a rhythm with the simple stroke of fingers against her's as he considered what she was saying. ]

What you suggest certainly isn't outside the realm of possibility, and if it is the case then we've got more going on here than simply an invasion of monsters. [ An invasion of monsters was almost easy to fight back against. Sentient beings, transformed into monsters through some sort of process was ... unsettling. ]

If you're right and these monsters have their roots in the original population, do we know what makes the current native population apparently immune?

I'm not sure they are. And I'm not sure if it's the original population being impacted, or just other arrivals like us.

[Her voice cracked a little, and she shifted so she was able to dip her head and press her forehead against his shoulder that was resting against the bed.]

So let's plan a trip to Paris.

[She spoke without lifting her head, though she was sure to lean back and look him in the eye when she got out the next part. He'd need to understand just what that meant.]

It takes three days there, and three days back. When we went before, there were children with us. I'd want it to just be us.

Has anyone tested the natives or reviewed their medical records?

[ The doctor in him coming through. Though he was redirected when she easily offered up the idea of a trip to Paris. He had to admit that he was intrigued by everything she'd told him so far and he did want to see for himself.

The length of the trip didn't both them, he was used to long hikes, but her last bit caught him a little off guard. Back when she'd last seen him, back on the station, he probably would have blushed and stammered and run for the hills. Now he simply rolled a little closer, so they didn't have to talk much above a whisper. ]

It's been a while, for me at least, but I do remember that back on the station you seemed to be ... I won't say running from something, so much as intent on putting as many experiences as you could into a day.

[That made her eyes widen a little in surprise that he'd recall the information, or would bother bringing it up. She supposed it was valid, given the fact they were living in a near constant state of danger. But it still made her shift uncomfortably all the same.]

I'm not running away from what's waiting for me. Not anymore.

[She wasn't sure where that left him, particularly in relationship to the fact she wanted as few liabilities as possible if they were to go on the trip.]

I have people here with me now that are worth slowing down over. People that I want to protect. But what does that have to do with going to Paris?

Nothing in particular. [ He hedged, then stopped and seemed to walk himself back a step, complete with a pink stain spreading across his cheeks. ] Just that, three days in a small tent ...

[ Have an awkward shrug. A little more like the man she'd known back on the station. ]

[Oh, she saw that blush. It served him right, for always being able to make her blush just by proximity and his presence alone. There was a grin that she shamelessly didn't bother hiding, and it was accompanied by laughter.]

I wouldn't mind. If it makes you uncomfortable though, we don't have to do it.

[They could each carry a pack and sleep in their own. Though it made more sense to just share, she wasn't going to force him into it if he was uncomfortable. She would, however, shift so she was turning on the bed to lie on it fully. Her hand kept hold of his and she pulled him along after him. As soon as he was laying lengthwise she laid at his side, resting her head against his chest. She wasn't sure what it was, really, but she just wanted to be close to him this way. ]

I think I can manage to be an adult about the situation. [ Adrien said, sounding almost prigishly prim, though he was still blushing a bit.

Then she began to shift them around, and really he was enough of an adult that if he had a problem with it he could have stopped her. Instead he moved with her guidance, glad that he'd taken off his boots so he didn't drag footwear onto her bed.

If he was surprised at the way she moved to settle against his chest, he didn't express any tension or concern, merely shifted his arm so she could get comfortable in against his side. That close, she would be able to feel that beneath the jumpsuit he was nothing but hard muscle and bone, any softness from his time on the station had been worn away.

Once she seemed settled, it was just the most natural thing to fold his arm around her shoulders, until his hand rested lightly atop her upper arm. ]

I don't imagine I'm the most comfortable pillow. [ He pointed out. ] This jumpsuit is not made out of the softest of materials.

[He wasn't exactly soft, but that didn't mean he wasn't comfortable. He was in a way that left her reminded of the Doctor, and all the times she had teased him about being a stick insect. With Adrien, she was less reminded of a stick insect and more reminded of a man who had been shaped by work and survival Besides, this way she could hear his heart beat. It was a nice and steady rhythm that calmed her mind and helped her relax.]

I don't care about soft.

[She didn't lift her head, but just nuzzled against him a little more. It was a friendly affection that made her smile. Her arm lazily flopped over him and she tapped a finger against his side. She felt drawn in toward him, toward the idea of just laying close like this. It was an easy sort of affection between friends that felt natural, and the red dust amplifying her want to be near him just increased her affection.]

I care about the fact that you're here, and that we're both adults who can handle sleeping in a tent without it getting weird.

[As tender as this cuddling was, she couldn't resist getting in a little teasing.]

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MOD LOG #3

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