MOD LOG #3

[bequiet]

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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Comments

[poppycock]

( a truce, then. an understanding, reached.

klaus takes newt's hand, his movement to accept unrushed, his grip firm but no firmer than necessary. the hand is warm; his heartbeat steady. human, he guesses. still, his eyes keep the young lad's. and though they are focused, they are less piercing without the promised threat; he is curious, despite his readied concern of everything and everyone here.

he doubts very much this boy would be able to hurt him, but something wants to. that something seems to have brought them both here.

klaus glances at the pile of dust as newt does; so this was a new iteration of foe. he lets the boy pass after his suggestion and deigns to turn and follow; and why not? seems they are incidental allies, he's clearly the one with less knowledge about this predicament, and he couldn't agree more. ) Not here, ( he answers, only somewhat blithely. ) Last I was home, ( he pauses, infinitesimally, because the idea of home is fraught; he hasn't had a true home since marcel saw to it that years of his life were stolen, his family scattered, ) it was in New Orleans.

( his eyes find the back of newt's head. ) And you?

[limped]

[ New Orleans? That was in the States, right? Newt might ponder on it, but Klaus asks the same question, and Newt feels a loss for words. His tongue suddenly heavy in his mouth.

He doesn't remember.

It's frustrating.

He doesn't remember and he doubts he ever will.

It's beyond frustrating.

He doesn't remember where he's from, where home is supposed to be. Sure, the Glade had been where he'd had to live for almost four years.

It never felt like home, only the people. ] Dunno. [ It's an honest answer, because he doesn't. ] Couldn't tell you even if I wanted to. [ WCKD saw to that. ] Doesn't matter much now, I guess. [ Part of him doubts he'll ever return to wherever he's from. He'll either never remember, or die before then, he imagines. He's gotten farther than he'd ever expect.

Newt keeps his eyes low, watching the ground as he walks along with his uneven gait. He can practically feel all the questions this guy is itching with - a bit like Thomas in that regard too, Newt thinks. ] They claim that they don't know why we showed up here -- the people that actually live here. But there's these creatures - Sound Eaters - that hunt us all. Normally, ya gotta stay quiet. I've never seen one personally.

[ Newt doesn't trust the locals, and that's obvious with his tone. He's skeptical, even a bit to the Sound Eaters' existence, but he's seen Grievers, he doesn't want to test it. ] Don't quite trust that they're telling us everything. Got a lot of questions and not a lot of answers.

[poppycock]

( ​​​​why would he? klaus finds himself quite skeptical. for one, it’s unlike any threat he’s ever known. for another, it seems like a convenient way to keep a group of newcomers (and perhaps natives, too) afraid, quiet, and complacent. )

You’ve been here awhile, then, ( klaus comments, in most part to lead the trail of newt’s divulgence. as curious as he finds newt’s answer to not knowing where he’s from, it’s not outside the realm of reason. pasts are complex things, and newt’s behavior aligns with a very bereft one.​​​​ )

[limped]

No. I've just been places like this before.

[ The Maze, the Scorch... ]

I've learned that ya gotta get as much information as fast as you can. Haven't been here much longer than you. Been here... maybe a fortnight? Not entirely sure, haven't been counting the days that closely.

[ Thomas, Minho and Newt have been running around trying to find as much out as possible. ] There's something about the dust here, it does things to people.

[ It's got to be another test. He's itching to ask Klaus what he knows of WCKD, but he keeps it to himself. ] Ya gotta stay quiet, not make a lot of noise, and walk on the sand. Did ya get a device yet? They got these things that you can talk over, they translate the sign language too. [ Newt pauses, fishes his out and holds up his device. ]

[poppycock]

( places like this. a fortnight. the dust.

silence.

klaus files away his questions one-by-one and does not strike out with them immediately, preferring to consider the device waved in his face. his hand shoots out to take it. (wow, so rude.) ) No, I have not. ( he considers it: slim, modern enough, somewhat familiar applications. he looks back up to newt after the cursory look and hands it back. ) Whatever introductions you have been given, I've lacked the same. It seems I've found the right teacher, however.

( newt is prepared. he is cognizant and aware. there is true value to that, and klaus has pointed a stake in his face. the distrust will obviously linger his way. that is why when klaus reaches out again, it's with a hand on newt's arm, staying and stopping. so does he, stilling in his tracks; he waits for newt to look at him.

his eyes are not overly kind, but they are steady. they are sincere. ) I appreciate your help. ( he intends to use it.

and in part for the save with the stake, ofc. perhaps a buried acknowledgement of his behavior exists there somewhere, too. )

[limped]

[ Newt doesn't expect for it to be snatched from his hand, but he doesn't make any movements to try to get it back, and is luckily rewarded for his patience by the thing being pressed back into his hand. He turns Klaus' words over a few times, not sure if he likes how familiar a weight has been placed on his shoulders, like in the Glade. He'd never liked being second in command, never liked being the one there to pick up the pieces if Alby died. Sure, he liked keeping the peace, but it came with a lot of guilt. ] There's a bulletin board that's got everything ya need to know too. [ He'll be sure to send him in the right direction of it, once they've gotten to safety.

The touch doesn't bother Newt as much as it probably should, he stops, attention finding the stake before flickering up to Klaus. He really doesn't want to be stabbed to death by some stranger for no reason. What Klaus presents him with causes Newt's own eyes to soften a bit. ] Don't thank me yet, more of those jacked dust monsters, or Sound Eaters could come out of nowhere. [ He pauses, eyeing Klaus a little more carefully, looking for signs of the Dust or the Flare. ] Do you remember anything odd before waking up here?

[ His arrival was different than Newt's, no reset room with a warm welcome. Newt nods his head, a small but obvious movement, 'keep moving' because they'll be to the dining hall soon. Somewhere he can get Klaus water at the very least. So he starts moving again, hoping Klaus gets the hint that they should get to fresh air. ] Does the name Wicked mean anything to you? [ It's dangerous to ask about them to strangers, for all Newt knows Klaus could be working for them. ]

[poppycock]

( he takes the suggestion of this bulletin board silently; he certainly would be interested in having a look. for now, however, he's content to accept newt's softened, grudging trust, and follow him on their way. the boy has a point; klaus' eyes scan their surroundings despite the low visibility, looking for anything or anyone threatening.

he takes a few steps to consider how much he's willing to divulge, but he is again at an inconvenience, and sharing would perhaps be more prudent. two brains and all. ) I do. I woke up in Jakarta, in a storm much like this one, and was attacked from behind. Then black, before this.

( he takes another moment to consider the second question. ) No, but I suppose it does to you.

thank u for dealing w my slow tags

[limped]

[ Jakarta is a word Newt's never heard before, at least that he remembers, obviously it's a place from context clues. The sound of the word gives him an idea of where on a map it is though, nowhere near here. ] Were there other people? Sounds?

[ Newt knows better than to push for information without sharing his own, but he doesn't exactly know what to share about Wicked. ] Yeah, it does. They were an organisation. [ It's not a lie. It's just not everything he knows either. But he doesn't seem to like leaving it at that either. ] They were killin' people. [ Torturing teenagers. ] As an experiment.

[ The implications are easy and clear. This could be another experiment where they're killing people. ]

that's ok, we are competing for the slowest rper imaginable

[poppycock]

No people, or particular sounds, that I recall. ( it was a truncated visit and that's all he truly has to say about it: he was there and then he wasn't. how he does wish for an explanation, however. to that and to this.

the implication is noted. klaus supposes it wouldn't be out of the question, though he does wonder exactly what this wicked would want with him. ) An organization here? ( is there any proof? )