quietplacelogs | MOD LOG #1

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MOD LOG #1

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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[Alexa isn't made of 300lbs of volatile steel and silicon.]

Oh, r-right! [So he got called out on his escape attempt, but Kilgrave used the keyword "help". At least it sounds like they're going to work on this together.]

Repairing stuff isn't exactly my forte, sooo... How would we do that?

[That is a good point and one that Kilgrave will probably regret later on. But not right now. Right now he's annoyed that 9S isn't just sorting out the problem instead of asking how to sort it out.]

I don't know, muffle the table legs with socks. [Like the Victorians used to do, but much less fancy.] That should work. Go find me some spare socks. Thick ones.

[At least 9S is significantly more amicable when Kilgrave makes it seems more like this is a team effort.]

Good idea. I'll be right back!

[Off he goes...

To some other rooms in the house to steal a pair of socks. Kilgrave didn't specify that he wanted 9S to an orphaned pair, so he comes back with a pair of his own.]

These should do the trick.

Edited 2018-02-13 00:25 (UTC)

[Kilgrave has no idea why 9S is less grumpy about this particular order but he'll take it. He's less impressed when 9S comes back, rolling his eyes.]

Not my socks, you moron. I said spares! Socks from somewhere else, I don't know, an abandoned clothes shop. Give me those.

[He holds out his hand for the socks that 9S is holding.]

[Androids are very semantic, as it turns out.]

Er-- [9S looks completely taken aback by the scolding, and also by Kilgrave's inefficiency.] You want me to...go out and scavenge for socks?

[What's wrong with these socks??? They're right here! It's his table!]

Yes. [He waves an impatient hand.] Give me mine back and go find some others.

[His socks are for wearing! The table will have to wear someone else's.]

...Okaaay, but wouldn't this be faster?

[He really doesn't get why Kilgrave is making this so complicated. Also, he's being a real slave driver again.]

[Meanwhile Kilgrave doesn't get why 9S is arguing the issue.]

I need those socks to wear. Go on, go.

Fiiiine. [9S grumbles, but turns around and dutifully heads out to get Kilgrave his socks. He comes back some time later, holding a pair of dingy socks in his hands.

He presents them to Kilgrave.]

Here's your redundant socks.

[By this point Kilgrave is eating from a jar of peaches. As you do. He stares at the socks, then stares at 9S.]

It's a table. I need another pair.

[9S closes his fist around the pair of sock. The tension in the air is palatable.]

Oh...

Of course. Well, we could always use the ones you already have?

[Is he pissed off or something? Surely not. Kilgrave pops another slice of peach into his mouth and shakes his head before replying.]

Like I said, I need them to wear. You'll have to go and find some more.

[There's just no choice, man. What can he do?]

...Okaaay, and I need to go do other things. Most people here don't even wear socks?

[Pissed off is a bit strong for the emotion 9S is feeling, but he's certainly fed up.] I've provided you with all the necessary materials to sound-proof the table, Sir. I'll let you handle the rest. I'd hate for you to think I'm underestimating your resourcefulness.

[Kilgrave stares again at this little speech and then laughs. Wow. That is some A+ passive-aggressive behaviour, sir.]

That's the most roundabout way of saying no I've ever heard. I thought you were supposed to help humans. [He shakes his head, leaning forward to take the sad single pair of socks that 9S has procured.] You've only done half a job here. Honestly, I'm disappointed.

[9S grimaces, holding his head low. Having Kilgrave say he's disappointed in him is like jamming a knife right into his chest. He shouldn't care, when it's coming from someone so ungrateful... But he's still human.]

I have helped you. But you won't help yourself. I can't do anything for someone like that...

I am helping myself. [He swallows another slice of peach. In Kilgrave's mind, there is no difference between the two. Getting 9S to help him is helping himself.] Look, do you want a thank you or something? Are you programmed to respond to gratitude? [He's definitely programmed to respond to disappointment; Kilgrave didn't miss that grimace.]

How about you find that one extra pair, finish soundproofing the table, and then I'll congratulate you on a job well done. We can call it a day.

[He smiles. Deal?]

It's a little late for that...

[A "thank you" doesn't mean anything if Kilgrave is only giving it to make him do what he wants, and asking if he's programmed to respond to gratitude just makes 9S feel like he's being manipulated. Everything about Kilgrave has rubbed 9S the wrong way since day one, but he always tried his best to help him. Still, an android has limits. 9S has limits.]

Uhh... I think I'll pass.

Edited 2018-02-19 23:21 (UTC)

[A little late? Oh my. Has he been hurting the poor android's feelings all this time? Who made these things? He shrugs, leaning back against the yet-to-be-soundproofed table.]

All right. Bit of a letdown, but it's fine. I suppose I'll have to find a better android to help.

[He says that last part almost musing to himself, taking out his device to scroll through his messages. 9S isn't the only android here.]

[A "better" android? The words sting, but he knows now for certain that Kilgrave is only trying to manipulate him. He won't let 2B or 6O get wrapped up in this.]

Why are you like this? It's a simple task. You don't need us to do it for you. Everyone in this community has to work together in order to make it safe, and that includes you.

[Did he ask for a lecture? No. Kilgrave looks up and gives 9S a dead-eyed stare.]

We are working together. Or, well, we were. If you don't want to help, then go. Don't just stand there.

[Really, he's got no use for 9S if all he's going to do is criticise.]

Working together would be one of us silencing the table while the other gathers more socks...

[9S mumbles, though it's still loud enough for Kilgrave to hear. He just can't bring himself to looks at him while he says it. He can't tell a human what to do, even if he thinks the way he's acting is counter intuitive.]

[Kilgrave frowns, leaning in to hear this. Now he gets it.]

Oh, that's what you wanted me to do? Why didn't you tell me? [He waves a hand at the table.] I'm happy to silence the table while you go out to scavenge again. Let's get to it.

[If he has to make a token effort to get 9S to keep helping him, then fine. He can manage that. Androids, he's quickly learning, have their own strange personality quirks.]

[9S looks up in surprise, but it's clear from his hesitation that he's not sure if he really believes that. At the same time, he wants to believe that it really was all just a misunderstanding, and that humans are inherently good.

Even if they totally could just use Kilgrave's pair of socks.]

...Okay. Then I'll go get another pair of socks, Sir.

[9S turns to leave. He's back in 30 minutes, a fresh pair in hand.]

[Well, that took some work but 9S is back to calling him sir again so he'd consider it worth it. By the time the android returns, Kilgrave has made the token effort of placing the socks over two of the table legs to muffle them. He holds out his hand for the second pair and nods, smiling.]

There we go. Thank you. That wasn't so hard, was it?

... [Now that he thinks about it, he really drew the short stick. Putting socks on the table didn't take nearly as long as getting them. He kind of thought Kilgrave was going to do more than just that?]

...Yeah, no problem at all.

[Actually, he has a lot of problems!!]

Well, I'll be leaving now.

(no subject)

kiljoy - 2018-03-01 23:31 (UTC) - Expand

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