MOD LOG #1

[bequiet]

MOD LOG #1
Packing Up
Content Warnings: General tension
Themes: Survival, exploration, heavy-lifting

At the end of the month, the natives send out a mass message informing everyone of the upcoming trip to 'meet' the Sound Eaters. Preparing for the trip is simple, though labor intensive, and begins with making certain that everyone packs food, water, clothes, gear, and a twenty-pound package of sand. When it's time for the journey to begin, those tasked with watching the sandpaths, will lead the party on the journey towards the Eiffel Tower. It's a slow trip, a careful one. Natives will take breaks every few hours and when the sun sets, help everyone to set up their bed rolls around a few lanterns. The natives will unveil the star mapping feature, with constellations named and general history attached, on the devices. They will encourage those to tell stories, get out food and water, and 'talk' amongst the group before everyone settles into sleep. Out, under the night sky, the silence is more noticeable - there are no crickets or frogs. This process will repeat for two days until the group reaches the end of their destination at midday.

Sound Eaters
Content Warnings: Disorientation, confusion, character and native death, Sound Eater birth and death, body horror
Themes: Survival, exploration, horror, death

On the third day, characters will finally reach the Eiffel Tower, where the Sound Eaters in this area of France have set up their 'home'. Stopping far enough out to allow for communication, the natives will gesture to the ruins of the structure that appears to be altered. Structures are built up and around the metal frame, closing off different sections with a dark material that glints an oily-green in the light. After explaining that the Sound Eaters are influenced by the weather, rain being an issue for them, they'll take everyone closer. Silence is key here. The natives are visibly wary, tense, and uncomfortable but they believe that showing the arrivals what they're so afraid of will inspire them to be more cautious.

Now, as close to the Sound Eaters as they dare to go (less than a half mile), the natives will have everyone crouch down behind various cars and debris. The devices will say only one word, watch. As the sun begins to set and clouds darken overhead, the tower will open up, the Sound Eaters spilling out. They are split up, as the natives refer to it, into classes - the young, the shifting and the matured. The young are extremely sensitive to sound, volatile and aggressive, humanesque in form with features in various state of change. The shifting are grotesque, splitting and reforming, changing from young to matured in a shift that is punctuated by pained screams and the breaking of bones, splitting of flesh. The matured are in control. They command and guide their kind into a circle, where they all bend down, kneeling as something different than the rest comes out of the tower to stand at the center. The wind catches, dusting up red ash from it and blowing the ash towards the group - there's no way to move and it tastes familiar, coats your skin in red. They all grow quiet and a wrapped form, in the shape of a body, is placed at the Sound Eaters' feet. It crumbles, breaks apart and sprays out over the wrapped figured to completely cover it.

The shards of the Sound Eater bubble up and fuse together, creating a shell. Rain begins to fall. Light, but enough to cause the Sound Eaters to begin to move, pushing against one another but not leaving the circle. There's a shrill sound, an offbeat whistle, air escaping a tight space, a desperate inhale, and then the shell at the center splits apart. A Sound Eater died to create a new life. Smaller than the other young, the 'child' climbs up and out, but it's not the same as the others. It's form is generally human. Dark hair, androgynous features. No eyes. No mouth. Standing, it angles its head towards the matured and they move, as if on command, and surround it as it walks into the tower.

( If anyone makes noise at this point, in any way, the coming bad weather and what just occurred, will result in the Sound Eaters only attacking that person - rather than the whole group. They'll drag that person into the tower and out of sight. The character will be reset. )

The natives are upset. Spooked. They've never seen anything like that and they're quick to tell everyone this, followed by a hasty message to leave. As they're moving, the rain begins to beat down and the ground grows slippery. Making it back to the supplies is troublesome and just as the group gets close, one of the natives slips and tumbles down broken concrete, twisting and smacking against the hard surface until they come to a stop at the bottom. Anyone that goes to help will find that the native has hurt themselves and there's nothing that can be done, despite best efforts. The natives will take the time to wrap their friend up, relaying that the Sound Eaters don't attack now that the rain is heavy, and will begin the slow trek back to the community. They'll camp each night, the same as the trip up, but with an uncomfortable tension that no amount of story telling can break.

It's Raining Me- Rain. It's Just Water.
Content Warnings: None
Themes: Survival, fun, noise-making

After everyone is back in Reims, the natives will split off to bury their dead - they will not allow anyone to accompany them. Everyone is encouraged to head back to the community to get a break from the bad weather and to unload their supplies. The following day, the natives can be heard outside. Splashing and making noise, fixing houses, and what might have been a somber event will quickly turn into something a little more upbeat as rain beats down on the city. Children will play and occasionally laugh, stunted in their ability to enjoy themselves but willing to learn from the arrivals. Bigger items will be moved and natives will encourage everyone to do the 'noisier' things that they need to do. When the rain ends, work will resume as usual and soundproofing will be a lot more difficult - the water washed away sandpaths and damaged some areas. Cleaning up will take time but the natives aren't as unhappy with the situation as they just had a moment's respite from the normal tension of their everyday lives.

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

[clarius]

[ lorem's face is red from embarrassment when she manages to pull herself out from the mess of emotions she's feeling right now, the touch causing her to jolt in shock. she needs to cover her mouth to keep a squeak from coming out, not wanting to draw any attention to their group.

she flashes 2b a grateful look after lorem allows herself to calm down, her smile hesitant yet full of gratefulness for the attempt to comfort her. it was enough to, at least, pull her out of her panicking state, making her remember there are others around her.

but she's still shaking as she gestures to her device, silently asking for permission to 'speak' with 2b. ]

[born2b]

[It's what she would do for someone like Operator 6O if she was upset. It's something that she would like to do for someone like 9S (but she can't, even though there are no orders here, the guilt burns in the back of her mind).

At least she can help, while she's here on borrowed time.

2B nods, stepping back to return Lorem her personal space and granting permission to speak at the same time. Of course.

2B herself hasn't needed the device to 'speak' after she met with 6O; she had helped 2B download the sign language from the devices into her language settings. But humans don't have that advantage.]

[clarius]

[ lorem is forever grateful that 2b seems to understand lorem's need for personal space after that freakout. she makes a little reminder to herself to sew her something - a blanket? a shirt...? she'll figure that out later.

right now, she's more focused on pulling out her device and typing out a message: ]

Thank you and I'm sorry about that outburst. [ understatement of the year but she feels likes, for some reason, she needs to make that clear. ] I hope I wasn't interrupting you with whatever you were doing before I just grabbed you like that. I'm sorry.

[born2b]

[2B shakes her head vehemently, her signing swift.]

There is no need to apologise. You're allowed to be emotional.

[Unlike her. Perhaps there's a little envy; humans are allowed to show their feelings, but she cannot. She's squashed hers down so much that... it's hard to be open, even without the threat of Command looming over her.

Slower, she signs--]

What is bothering you?

[clarius]

[ that's a good question. she has an answer though it feels so silly in light of things. lorem is half-tempted to lie and say something else or claim half-truths. at the last minute she decides against it.

it isn't fair to 2b. the last lorem could do is be honest. ]

I never thought I'll get to see Paris in person.

Its gone in my world. Nothing of it remains along with other cities and towns and countries. Its a lot to take in.

[born2b]

[2B nods in understanding. Though she hesitates initially -- expressing her thoughts and opnions isn't something that comes easily to her -- 2B's hands are steady as she signs her response.]

I understand.

[2B sweeps an arm wide, gesturing to their surroundings.]

These would be ruins in my world. Human civilisation has been gone for thousands of years.

[The statement is intended to be comforting, but...]

[clarius]

[ yes. that is quite a big 'but' in that statement.

lorem looks visibly distressed by this information but its a distress she's familiar with by now. the chalice. victoria's projects. if anything it helps ground lorem because she's learned to work with this sort of nervous uncertainty and shock by now. or, at the very least, work around it.

struggling to think of a response for a bit - mostly because she doesn’t want to drown 2b with endless questions of what and how and why of her world - lorem manages to get out, ]

So is this is also your first time seeing the Eiffel Tower? [ lorem's expression is wistful while she takes another look at the structure. she could almost see what it once looked like before it succumbed to time. ]

[born2b]

[Whoops. It wasn't her intention to upset Lorem... but in the end, it seems to have calmed her. So... success? Maybe?

Well, 2B has no idea what the Eiffel Tower is other than this thing in front of them. She didn't even think that it would be something that would exist in other worlds.

She nods, answering Lorem's question, before she signs slowly--]

I've experienced many firsts since coming here.

[clarius]

[ it's okay. lorem is used to having sudden reveals pulled on her when she least expects it. that was a regular occurrence on the lornful light and hey- nothing blew up like it would have back on the shop. that's a vast improvement.

the response has lorem smiling a bit more. while it may seem melancholic, it has her typing out with more certainty now: ]

I can only hope that most of those firsts you experienced are, in some way, extraordinary. In my personal experience it's not easy being away from home, no matter the state it was in.

[born2b]

[The words speak to 2B in a way she can't quite fully comprehend. Yes... Even though returning home isn't an option for her, even though her world has fallen apart, the lack of familiarity in this world makes it difficult for her to feel grounded. For all of her trials back home, there was that familiarity that kept her confident.

2B nods in response, her expression complicated with a mix of melancholy and empathy.]

Is this your first time away from home, or your second?

[clarius]

[ she looks surprised at the question - blue eyes wide and shocked - but then something akin to acknowledgment washes over her expression. than undeniable sorrow comes and settles when she gives it thought.

it takes longer than a minute for her to compose her short reply. ]

Third time, actually. I left Earth to visit a planet far, far away in an attempt to help my friends. Then I left that planet to go on a mission that we hope we can save everyone.

I don't regret making any of those choices. It doesn't make the ache for a return to roots easier to ignore however.

[born2b]

[Ah, space travel. Maybe androids could have gone to other planets, too. But they are too stuck on the war against the machines on Earth to consider leaving it.

2B nods at Lorem's story.]

I understand. Are your friends alright?

[clarius]

I don't know. When I left, time and again, the situations were always

[ she accidentally sends the message before she's finished. that's when she notices her hands are shaking just enough to be considered a menace while typing.

at least this gives her time. to think of a word. ]

Precarious.

I never hear from the others again after I leave. Communication is difficult to keep up, with one way or another.

Are your friends okay?

[born2b]

[2B provides a nod of understanding. Even planatary and space station communications was prone to jamming, nevermind communications through interstellar travel. She can imagine the problem.

However, at that question asked of her... that's something difficult to answer.

There's a pause as 2B considers what to 'say' before signing quickly--]

They are here.

[Whether that means they are 'okay' is another matter entirely.]

[clarius]

[ she smiles upon getting the reply. ]

I'm happy for you all then. There's a lot happening right now for everyone but, in the long run, I hope you and your companions stay safe and together.

Wow! I hope that isn't presumptuous or weird of me to say! I guess I'm getting pretty sappy now, huh? [ lorem looks away, lowering her device so she can focus more on touching the side of her neck like that'll stop her face from turning red. ]

[born2b]

[2B shakes her head.]

It isn't weird.

[In fact she hopes for the same thing... even though it's entirely selfish for her to think that. But there's still a ware going on back home. 9S has that to return to...

The smallest of smiles curls at the corners of her mouth. It even reaches her eyes. A rare sight.]

I wish we can stay safe and together, too. [A small pause.] I hope your friends are safe and that you can see them again when you leave this place.

[clarius]

Thank you. I'm sure if we all work together, if we try our best in seeing this through, than that is possible. I know it is!

[ gosh. those words she had just written... they feel so... very dust tumbles for some reason. not something she would have written or said when on the lornful light. at least not in the recent months.

lorem feels her face heating up so much that it's, frankly, becoming unbearable to deal with. it's been a long time since she had been this flustered-happy. not flustered-exasperated or flustered-angry. flustered-happy. it's nice. it's new after all this time.

but now lorem feels like she needs to check on the others who happen to be here in the group - alex. lu li. they're her friends as well. she needs to make sure they're safe and sound. ]

I should let you be now. I've been using up all your time when you could be exploring. I'll be alright. Promise. Won't be fainting anytime soon.

Thank you again. [ and she isn't simply referring to helping keep lorem on her feet, too. ]