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

[oorah]

[ that actually gets the tiniest snort from him, just a jerk of his head though he doesn't look up at her yet. frank doesn't have anyone to unload on like that, except maybe the veterans at group; and curtis. but they wouldn't believe this place and he wouldn't blame them. kara's as close as he's got right now, even if he can't trust her. he can't trust himself either though so it doesn't really matter. ]

i'm always uncomfortable [ so she can do what she likes etc. he's doing a great job of making it seem like it wouldn't affect him either way. NOT!!!!! ]

[iisupergirlii]

[if it was like she wanted and she was at home with her sister, she'd lean back on her sister's shoulder, rest against her, really cuddle the heck out of her. They could talk and trade back and forth on their ice cream pints because they both picked great flavors.

instead, Kara hesitates, then sets her device down in her lap and reaches out, sliding one hand under Frank's arm and then twining their hands together. She rests her other hand on top of his and just sits there, holding one of his hands in both her own, daring to sigh out at least, with the noise of the rain hitting Frank's tent to mask it.]

[oorah]

[ he looks down as she twines their fingers, not moving to stop her. he doesn't actively help either, just allows it to happen. something pricks behind his breastbone as his gaze begins the slow roll back up to her face. ] You okay? [ it's the tiniest murmur, barely even audible to them under the shelter of the rain overhead as it starts to really pick up. ]

[iisupergirlii]

[thanks to super ears, Kara hears it crystal clear, and she shakes her head.]

I'm really not. I saw Jessica get killed, and I don't... [she bites her lip, pictures her home on Krypton exploding, her mother dying-] I don't do well with death, even if she came back.

[oorah]

[ his heart goes out to her and finally he allows himself to squeeze her hand in his, his elbow nudging against hers as he bows his head again. frank castle had always been surrounded by death. he remembers telling daredevil that his buddies dying was just part of what he signed up for, it was never really a blip on his radar. and then when he'd come back and started putting animals down for recreation, well. the fucked up part is the numbers he registered in new york didn't even come close to the innocent blood on his hands overseas. state-sanctioned murder. sometimes he considers his rogue vigilante bloodbath his true service record.

his whole frame is tensing as he thinks about how he's the exactly wrong person to comfort her right now. for as much as he hates that jessica died, it was inevitable wasn't it? it will be for them, too. he's never been scared of dying, but he lied that time on that roof. maybe he was just manic with the thrill of it all; but it does get him. it gets him good; deep in his guts. he held gunner in his final moments, he'd been there when curtis lost his leg. he's cursed, cursed to live no matter who falls down at his feet. ]

Sorry you had to see that. [ it's telling how belated the statement is, but there's no shallowness in the words. he means them with a gravity he doesn't feel now. sleeplessness and the futility of this whole situation have made him numb, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. ]

[iisupergirlii]

Thanks. [Kara squeezes his hand too, just briefly. one of the first times she and Alex ever bonded, she accidentally broke Alex's pinkie, so now she's extra careful of those kind of things. Humans are so fragile.

Like Jessica. Crap, there it is again. The lump in her throat refuses to disappear and she blinks back tears.]

I should have saved her. I'm fast. I could have.

[oorah]

[ he probably would just let her break his hand and pretend he was fine because that's also the frank castle way NBD. oh god female tears, his actual weakness. ]

Shhh, come on. It's not your fault. [ without thinking, he slots his head in next to hers, leaning his temple against her temple and taking selfish comfort from every point of contact. all he can think about is how much he sucks while she's hurting and that's bullshit, so he shoves it all aside. he's great at suffering, he can do that shit all day and all night; and does anyway. but kara is happiness and light, he hates that this place has broken her down so quickly. ]

Did Jessica try to fight one or something?

[iisupergirlii]

[well, that was Frank's first mistake.

Kara breaks down then when he inches closer. she shouldn't act like this. Supergirl should be stronger than this, but Kara can't be. She untangles their arms, wrapping hers instead around his shoulders, burying her face into his neck. her shoulders shakes as she cries it out. thank Rao for the rain.

it's several minutes before Kara can answer and then she pulls back, wiping her face. post-crying is always so embarrassing, and she knows she's bright red and pathetic looking. geez.]

No. She was drunk. Drunk people do loud things.

[oorah]

[ oh fuck oh fuck. how is this like the third time this has happened to him in 24 hours. it's a brief hesitation but then he places his hand on the back of her head to hold her in place, allowing her to get it all out on his shoulder.

when she pulls away he frowns, wishing he could help in a more concrete way. but this is all they have here. it's not like home where he can strategize his way out, outgun and outman any enemy in his path. he knows kara must feel the same way, maybe even moreso. but the description of how jess ate it gets a fond little eyeroll in the end. ]

Then you couldn't save her. Girl's hellbent on self-destructing.

[iisupergirlii]

[cw: mentions of suicide in passing]

[Kara takes a deep breath, holding it and then letting it out slowly, calming herself down. No matter how it happened, it was still awful to see. And so sudden. And she just froze, watching. Is that all the good she could do here?

Maybe she shouldn't don the suit after all.]

I've talked people down from ledges. And when that didn't work, flown down and caught them. I almost always save the day.

[Jessica makes three. Three people she's let die on her watch. She wishes she could talk to Kal about this. he's been doing this so much longer. how does he handle it?]

[oorah]

Yeah, well, even you can't save everyone, Supergirl. [ it isn't said lightly, he believes her. he knows someone just like her even, someone he tries hard not to admire but can't help it anyway. frank will never be like them, but the impulse to try is there all the same, no matter how hard he tries to hide it away. ]

Jess is okay. You're okay. [ physically. that's all he can handle right now, anchoring his elbows on his knees and leaning his chin on his hands. he'd rather hold her hand again, but this is just another thing he isn't good at. being self-aware doesn't change anything, it turns out. ] I know how you feel. I was in charge of a lot of people's lives, once. And I always got my men out. Almost always. [ he unconsciously echoes her here, taking a sharp breath in. ]

But there's always that one time, that one... time you fuck up. And that erases all the good you ever did. [ on the inside, to themselves. he knows, at least peripherally, that other people don't see it that way. ]

[iisupergirlii]

[Kara listens to him, watching him quietly as he talks. when he's done, she nods, clasping her own hands together and running one thumb over the other's knuckle, back and forth, a gesture of worry.]

I'm sorry all that happened to you. How do you handle it without breaking down all the time?

[oorah]

[ it takes all he has not to just laugh in her face. him, frank castle? handling it? holding anything together? you got the wrong fucking guy karen II. instead, he tips his head and shrugs one shoulder. he still isn't ever sure how honest to be about his life at home with his friends here. he doesn't think his bodycount really matters in a place like this, but for as much as he likes being viewed as somewhat of a "tough guy" he doesn't want kara scared of him. he would never want that. ]

I break down, too. You're not special. [ which is affectionate, actually, at least in the tone of his voice. they're all (something like) human, right? they break down sometimes, even soldiers like him. maybe especially soldiers like him. ] But you really shouldn't take my advice. [ or listen to him, you know. ever. he's the reason shit got so botched with faith and it won't be the last time he fucks up. but his gaze is steady when it meets hers this time -- no matter what else happens, she can always come here to him. he'll never turn her away. ]

[iisupergirlii]

[it has the intended effect. Kara smiles, huffing out a half-laugh, even if her cheeks are still damp and her nose is bright red.]

I like going to my friends for advice. [she reaches out and touches his arm.] Thank you.

[oorah]

[ frank is glad to see her smile again, a soft and barely-there one he's so good at touching his own lips when she touches him. ]

That'll be five cents.

[iisupergirlii]

[Kara's smile grows wider and she rolls her eyes, her shoulders visibly relaxing, the tension broken. thank goodness.]

Put it on my bill.

[oorah]

Don't joke about that. [ he warns her, pointing at her. ] You know I will.

[iisupergirlii]

It's going to be an expensive bill by the time we escape here. [ and they will. one day. Kara's sure of it. ]

I should go... my sleeping bag is probably soaked. Not all of us were smart enough to pack tents, so. [ she winces. it's not like sleeping in the cold and rain will make her sick or anything, but it's not her idea of a great night. ] Maybe I can save it if I move it under some trees.

[oorah]

Good thing friends don't keep score. [ he knows she'll have her chance to make it up, even if they did. she's right; this place is nowhere near through with them and he'd always been better at finding trouble sooner than later.

there's no hesitation in his next suggestion, frowning at her. does she really think he'd willfully leave her out in the cold? maybe he'd been playing that aloof act a little too convincingly. ]

Bring it in here.

[iisupergirlii]

[ it hadn't crossed her mind, really. she doesn't want to impose, well, more than she has. Frank looks at her most of the time like she's broken his heart, and that sends a pretty clear message across! but hey, friends, right? she's not going to turn him down.

with a nod, she zooms out, packing up her bedroll and snagging a small satchel she'd recovered from an abandoned home early on. ]

Thanks. I really appreciate this, Frank.

[ she tries to shake and twist off most of the water at the very entrance of the tent, and then spreads it out next to his. luckily, she'd brought the blanket off her bed, and it's been tucked in her satchel, so it's mostly dry still. thankfully. she spreads it out on top then grins up at Frank. ]

There!

[oorah]

[ he gives a low grunt like it's really putting him out to be so nice, but he knows she won't buy it anyway. he just watches her roll her bed out, his tent only exactly long enough to fit both of their sleeping bags alongside this way. he'd slept tighter with men in iraq, afghanistan. it didn't bother him, even if he doesn't think he'll get much sleep with her nearby. it helps just knowing she's safe for the moment, even if soon enough kilgrave will renew his command over her. nausea climbs up his throat and he looks away when she smiles at him. ]

I'm gonna read, unless the light will bother you. [ he's already getting out matchsticks to light his lantern, but he pauses just to make sure it's really okay. ]

[iisupergirlii]

No, that's fine. [ Kara lays back, lacing her fingers on top of her stomach, and stares through the top of the tent at the stars above. x-ray vision makes stargazing a heck of a lot easier.

after a few minutes of silence, she adds: ] So, sometimes I sleep-float. I hope that doesn't bother you.

[oorah]

[ frank lights his lantern and pulls out his copy of moby dick, putting aside his picture of the liebermans he'd forgotten he'd been using as a bookmark. he deliberately places it on the other side of his leg so she hopefully won't see it. he reads for a few minutes, easily picking back up his vendetta against captain ahab.

and then kara goes and says a thing like that. he gives her a look, shaking his head fondly. ] Do your thing, Supergirl. [ let him read about shitty whales and even shittier captains!!! no he doesn't look broken up about being interrupted. like not even a little. ]

[iisupergirlii]

[ she tracks his movements out of the corner of her eye, not thinking to stop x-raying everything until after she sees the picture through his thigh. oops. ]

Who's that in the picture?

[oorah]

[ kara that's creepy. he gives her a weary look, then looks down at their faces in the picture. he sets his stupid whale book aside, resting it on the pages like a terrible book owner so he can pick up the picture. as with every time he touches it, he can't resist the urge to run a finger along the likeness of their faces, saying their names in his head. leo, david, sarah, zach. after a long minute, he hands it to her with a distant wanness in his eyes. ] My friends.