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

[waystation]

( You're bossy when you're worried. ) _{[The words are fond, for all that. Tonight of all nights, it's more endearing than ever.]} ( I'm on my way. I'll be there. )

<sub>[The urge to flop down on any soft surface that will support him is present once he steps through the door, but it's surpassed by a different, more pressing urge that keeps him wired and on his feet. Some voice tells him he can't sit down until he sees Eddie.

Be restless all you want is something Eddie had said to him once, and he takes that to heart now, circling the house idly while he waits. He could get cleaned up but--it honestly doesn't cross his mind. He's still in the exact same condition when he hears light footsteps pattering on the floor and then--

Oof, he's being simultaneously body slammed and choked by one Eddie Kaspbrak. He couldn't mind less. Laughing, he follows Eddie step for step, like some bizarre ballroom waltz.]</sub>

( Right back at you. )

[clussy]

(Are you even surprised?) (There's a light, airy note of amusement in Eddie's voice, like he's trying not to laugh. It helped that Jake sounded fond. Did he like that about Eddie?

Welcome to loving Eddie Kaspbrak. He's choked Bill out a few times, especially because the height difference.

In speaking of height difference...)

(You're getting taller than me, what the hell?)

(To be fair, Jake had already been a little taller than Eddie- who wasn't? But now...Eddie slides back to look at Jake, sulking fully because he had to tip his head a little to look at him now.

Yet. At the same time, he begrudgingly and...with an odd sense to be particularly honest...admits:)

(I like it.)

(They could probably talk normally, considering they were in the house, but speaking like this always felt a little more private. It made Eddie feel special. He slides his hands off of Jake. Or rather, slides a hand off of him. The other finds Jake's hand and he tangles their fingers together so that he could walk them a bit more properly into his room.)

(Next time we can let each other know.)

[waystation]

_{[When Eddie pulls back, some of the dirt on Jake's clothes goes with him. That should be Jake's first sign something's in the air--the usually fastidious Eddie wouldn't normally overlook that to focus on a minute detail like this height, something Jake hadn't noticed about himself until Eddie draws attention to it.]}

( Am I? I guess you do look shorter. My dad always did say I'd grow like a weed. )

_{[Most boys might complain they're being outgrown, but Eddie's not like most boys.]}

( I'd share it if I could. )

<sub>[He looks down at the tickling brush of fingers entwining with his own. Eddie does things like that, he's found in the time since meeting him.

The physical affection's always been comfortable and low pressure like much of their friendship, but he's extra glad to have that point of contact tonight. The warmth makes up for the chill of hauling around cold sand all day. He squeezes Eddie's hand lightly.]</sub>

( Are you sure you're okay? I just got this feeling like I needed to see you. )

_{[And when Jake gets one of those feelings, it's usually not a good thing.]}

[clussy]

(Eddie instantly looks offended, but in the fun kind of way, not the serious sort of way. He places a hand over his chest, his mouth already opening into a stupid grin.)

(Excuse you. I don't LOOK shorter. You're just. Higher up. Maybe I'm growing too, Jake. But slower.)

(Normally he wouldn't really like the height difference, normally such a comment would make him insecure. But coming from Jake, looking up at him, it just made Eddie feel giddy.

The returning squeeze has Eddie pushing back up against Jake for another hug. He wonders how tall Jake had to get before he could rest his head against Jake's chest just by standing.

But he's lifting his head up to stare at Jake a second later. He looks oddly touched, and when he speaks, his voice is hesitant and surprised.)

(Really? You felt that way?)

(Normally it was Eddie who was hankering to find Jake. Or to touch him or- anything really. For Jake to admit as much back? It's enough to make Eddie go a little red.)

(I got the same feeling too. I almost cried it was so bad.)

(Or strong, rather. He reaches a hand up and rubs his thumb over a patch of dirt on Jake's cheek, being careful with the cleanup.)

(You're handsome.)

(Eddie has literally no idea what drives him to say that and his eyes instantly widen. He withdraws a hand and looks a bit like he had been shocked by something. He clears his throat vocally before slipping past Jake, grabbing at his hand again to lead them to his room.)

(I'm okay though. Are you?)

[waystation]

_{[No comment on the short thing. He doesn't want to ruin the mood. This close, with his hand on Eddie's back as the other boy leans in for another hug, it's easy enough to see for himself Eddie's all right. Which begs the question--]}

( Yeah. ) _{[There's a curl of bemusement to it. He interprets Eddie's surprise as being related to the cause of the feeling, not the mutual aspect of it, and he puckers his brow.]} ( That's weird. Why would we both feel that at the same time? I didn't send that on my end. )

<sub>[His first thought is something to do with their psychic connection, but if Eddie hadn't meant to and he hadn't meant to...?

His thoughtful gaze refocuses as he spots movement coming toward his face. Eddie's hand, lifting to touch his cheek. He'd have asked if he has something on his face until Eddie goes and says that. Now he's really bemused and his eyes widen for a different reason--unexpected surprise versus the guilt of a Freudian slip.

Handsome. Handsome? He'd definitely said "handsome." That's not your usual friendly neighborhood compliment. Not from a boy in the middle of stroking your face and looking into your eyes and looking embarrassed to have said it.

That's...

Ah.

Once the thought settles into place like a building block in the foundation of a house, it's a wonder the house didn't come crashing down without it. Or maybe it was there the whole time and he just hadn't though to look at it more closely. He follows willingly enough, but he doesn't really hear what Eddie's saying.]</sub>

Oh, thanks.

_{[You know, about the... the compliment.]}

[clussy]

(Eddie had gotten spoiled rotten by his friends, truthfully. That casual laying across each other and sprawling out in open affection back at the station in ways that they could of gotten skinned for back home? Oh yeah. Eddie had grown to not want to take advantage of being able to love on his friends ever since.

He does look at Jake about the question though, a little confused too. Now that Jake put more attention on it, Eddie did have to admit that it was a little weird.)

(I don't really know. I felt like I got hit by a train of Jake-feelings though all at once?)

(Which sounded ridiculous said out loud, but it was the most accurate way of putting it that he could think of anyway. Twelve year old boys were not exactly known poets, and Eddie certainly was no Ben.

Even though Jake doesn't really respond in any sort of way beyond a simple 'thanks', Eddie is aware enough of himself to realize he had nudged his toe over a line of some sort. Nerves open themselves up inside of him and he shivers a little.

Eddie forces himself away from Jake and wraps his arms instead around his own stomach. He approaches his bed and sits on it above the blankets, crossing his legs together.)

Sorry. Ignore that. I don't know why I said that.

(Because it's true. A voice- his own voice- murmured in his head and Eddie really couldn't figure out whether or not he had thought that out loud to Jake or not. He bites at his tongue and stares at Jake, feeling heat pricking his cheeks.

All he could really think of was Richie's silence and the way he had started looking awkward around Eddie. What if that began to happen with Jake all because of a stupid slip of the tongue? He nearly swallows his tongue whole and leans back against the wall behind him.

Eddie's barely graceful though, and so as he tries to think of a solution to his problem, he just winds up blurting out the first thing to come to mind.)

Please don't start ignoring me.

[waystation]

<sub>[Hit by a train. A train where things aren't quite what they seem? A train that's a pain? The idle thoughts spark and fizzle on his mind's horizon like fireworks, and Jake brushes them aside with a small mental shake to clear his head. Unlike his distracted reverie, the balloon slowly inflating behind his ribs--the one warmly telling him this is exactly where he needs to be--stays exactly where it is, however.

He doesn't really know why, either, but he has Eddie-feelings to match. And it feels wrong when the source of them turns away from him. Suddenly and unexpectedly, it pains Jake to think Eddie's uncomfortable in his presence in any way; next to that thought, any questions raised by the compliment barely make a dent.

Frowning absently, he follows.]</sub>

I'm going to get your bed dirty.

_{[An announcement, right before Jake invites himself to sit on the edge of the bed with the other boy. He's still frowning when Eddie tells him to ignore what he'd heard, and then in the same breath, contradicts himself with a hasty request that has the ring of honest emotion behind it.]}

Why would I do that?

_{[It's impossible to see himself doing that; his tone is disbelieving.]}