INTRO LOG #1

[bequiet]

INTRO LOG #1
Muzzle and Mute
Content Warnings: Disorientation, memory loss, confusion
Themes: Arrival, survival, exploration, horror

You wake, standing. A thick, muddy red dust coats your skin and clothes - it sticks to your tongue and blocks your vision. Inhale and it chokes you, exhale and your breath puffs out in front of your face in a transparent maroon cloud. It tastes of copper, tangy and harsh. Movement is difficult, every limb tingles and aches. Look to your left, your right. Evenly spaced in each direction stands another person indistinguishable in every way from the next. You're disoriented and lethargic, unable to grasp onto a single thought. A pinprick of light blooms ahead and grows steadily larger; a door has opened.

Hands grip your wrists, push at the small of your back and guide you out of the darkness into a room with four walls and a thin, sagging ceiling. The plaster is peeling, the air is musty, and the floor is slick. White plastic piping juts up from the center and curves into multiple spouts, clean water flowing in uneven streams. Those hands pull your clothes off and clear the dust from your body, redress you in handsewn jumpsuits. By the time they’re through, you will have begun to come back to yourself.

A finger is pressed to your lips. Kind eyes meet your own and a single word is whispered - hush.

Led out of the room in a line, you’re taken down a short hallway and into another, much larger room. There’s a woman waiting for you there, a child hugging her leg, and a cloth bag in her hands. She reaches in and pulls out a device, passes one to each of you. Once finished, she begins to move both hands in graceful gestures, a language. One of the people who helped you lifts their device and the screen lights up, tracks the woman’s hands. Letters appear on the screen and you understand the device’s purpose. She tells you what she knows and it’s not much.

This world is haunted. Noise attracts them, so it is not allowed. Communication is through body language, soundless writing, and the device. She tells you that your feet must be light and your mouth never used. There is a community outside these doors, where you can survive together, but only if you agree to one thing: complete and total silence. You'll have time to talk it over. You may ask one question and receive one answer.

Acceptance allows you to journey outside. The ground is marked in pathways of sand, lining the paths to each building and everywhere in-between. You notice that the locals hold their devices always, aloft and glance to it often. It will not vibrate or make a sound to signal a message. Notices appear. Rules. Guidelines. Feet on the sand and never anywhere else. To open a door you brush your fingers along the hinges - oiled and you may enter. If not, take the brush from the can sitting nearby and coat the metal with the dark liquid.

Now, you're to settle into your new home.

The Man in the Hat
Content Warnings: Heavy lifting, following the rules, alcoholism
Themes: Moving in, survival, exploration, horror

Once you’ve claimed a room for yourself, it’s time to acclimate to the community. Natives will ask what you need and take you along the sandpaths to different areas in the city to gather supplies - furniture and the like. Heavier items will require assistance and will take longer. Houses are mostly empty so if you and your housemates need something, you’ll have to carry it and put it inside the home. Do not make any noise or the natives will refuse to help you. Getting to know your housemates is key to a smooth transition. They are going through what you are right now; take the time to get to know them. Make house rules.

As the first day gives way to night, the natives can be seen moving at a faster pace outside. They’re hurried, though not frightened. Some even smile at you. When the sun sets behind the ruins of what was once picturesque Reims, your device will signal that it’s time to meet at the center of the community. There, natives will stop each person and give them a small gift - a trinket, a token to show that they are trying their best to make all the new arrivals feel at home. These are all items from the character’s home or from another character's home (they will not be anything that belongs to anyone else). Small, soundless and either something taken during the application process or something brand new. They will have no powers to speak of and are meant to be a momento. If asked, the natives found them the same way they found each of you.

Then the party starts. Sort of. A soundless, stitled kind of celebration. Fun is meant to be had, but it’s not an overly joyous occasion. The natives simply don’t know how to cut loose. There will be extra food in the form of one and two; Phillipa even brought some of her homemade bread. If you stumble across a man wearing a hat, the only man in town who does, and agree to go with him when he offers to show you his house - he’ll gift you with a jar of hooch; it’ll burn on the way down.

Sound Eaters
Content Warnings: Threat, danger
Themes: Survival, exploration, horror, game plot

It’s the second day of your stay, and the natives call for an emergency meeting at the Town Hall. Everyone is paired off (see below) and are asked to walk the perimeter looking for anything out of place and patching any areas that might have been affected by weather. Once finished, the same is done on the inside, and when the community leader is satisfied, the main hall is opened up so that everyone can congregate. Characters, during this time only, are allowed to make sound. This is so that the natives can explain why silence is so necessary...

The Sound Eaters.

In an effort not to frighten everyone, the natives won’t go into the history just yet, but they will warn that when someone makes a sound, it attracts them. They don’t know what they look like because they are so fast. If you’re too loud, then in the blink of an eye, you’ll go through a room reset. This is because either the natives ‘silenced’ you or the Sound Eaters have. They will explain that the room came at the same time the Sound Eaters did and that it doesn’t work for the natives. Sometimes, it doesn’t work on new arrivals. Death, for those born in this world, is permanent. If you attract them, you’ll get someone killed. Hence the need for no noise. During the meeting, the natives will tell each character of their own experiences. Their losses. The families they have left and how they’d do anything to keep them alive. They don’t know if you’ll be reset, but is that a risk you’re willing to take? The meeting will last a few hours and will end on a somber, ominous note - at the end of the month, they are taking everyone to meet them.

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!

NAVIGATION

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Comments

Yuuri Katsuki | Yuri on Ice!!!

[porkbelly]

The Man in the Hat - House Two

[If there's something positive to be taken from this situation, it's that Yuuri is very good at following rules. He will be very respectful to the wishes of the natives in spite of his bubbling anxiety, needing their help to supply the Master Bedroom with both a king sized bed and a desk with a chair. While part of him feels greedy insisting on the larger bed, he also is well aware he hasn't gotten to sleep without Victor beside him in a very long time and is hoping things won't be so strict as to prevent them from doing so at least a few nights a week. He's nervously smoothing out the provided blanket when he senses someone outside the room and turns to look at them.

He gives an apologetic gesture, regardless of if they actually care that he got the biggest bedroom in the house or not. Unlike the larger bed, that was a complete fluke and he feels bad about it. He'll find the housemate on his device and add:]

I'm sorry.

The Man in the Hat - Who got the hooch? (Victor. It's Victor.)

[When the alcohol was offered to him, Yuuri politely declined. He tends to be a little too wild under the influence and that is the last thing he needs right now.

He soon discovers his fiance was not quite so responsible.

He can be seen dragging one tipsy Russian around, making sure he stays quiet while also fighting back the urge to give him a lecture on decision making. It wouldn't have quite the same impact in text anyway.]

The Sound Eaters - Meeting

[Well. This get together did pretty much nothing to calm his nerves. He's not much of an extrovert as it is, so he'll be off in his own little corner with a worried look on his face. The luxury of speaking is almost therapeutic at this point, however, so he'll let some of the pressure out by quietly mumbling to himself and anyone near enough to hear.]

I'm ready to wake up now.

It's him.

[poodlemom]

[Come now, Yuuri, plenty of others went ahead and imbibed! Victor didn't go overboard, he's still being quiet... enough. That's what matters, not drawing the monsters. It's good for them to take a moment and melt away some of the built up tension. Self care or something. Socializing with so much of an edge is also important, they're going to need to know those around them, the others in their circumstance could be invaluable companionship. Work together... not exactly Victor's strong point, but he had the confidence that would hopefully charm others. He doesn't want to be left behind in this place, not if others find a way out. Yuuri and he will make it through.

All of this is the justification for why he's hanging off his fiance, insisting he should piggy back. His nose is in the back of Yuuri's hair, enjoying the smell of his husband to be, happy they have each other despite everything else. They're indoors and others are whispering, the home sound proof enough for at least that much noise. His voice is hushed and adoring, right in Yuuri's ear to stay extra quiet, glad for words instead of text.]

You should have just a little. You're so tense... [wonder why...]

[porkbelly]

[The way the other's breath tickles the fine hair on his ear lobe is distracting him from being miffed.

Yuuri will whisper back, hand cupped over his mouth to be safe:]

I think I'm justified in being tense.

[poodlemom]

Loosen up while we have the chance, Yuuuuriii, [he'll whimper, nuzzling more. He cares so much about Yuuri, about them both staying safe as they puzzled this out. Yuuri was already prone to being anxious, so Victor needs to keep a close and assuring eye on him. There's no room for neglect.]

I didn't even have much, it's just good and strong.

[porkbelly]

You know how I get when I drink.

[He's trying his best not to melt, even as the other's attention is making his cheeks flush pink.]

[poodlemom]

Exactly why you should have just a little, [a soft, quietly quick kiss to cheek, angled strangely from behind but there it is]

Are we sleeping at my place? I made a pillow fort..! But my room doesn't have any doooors...

sound eaters meeting!

[thinhammer]

[ Naruto doesn't need to have any levels of freaky perceptiveness to notice Yuuri isn't doing so hot right now. It practically reeks from him, and since Naruto is leaning against a wall close by and looking around like he's looking for a sign post to point him in the direction he needs to head in to figure all this out and clear up those uncertain, unhappy expressions on the locals' faces... He can't help but glance at Yuuri, catching his muttering just at the last moment.

He shuffles a bit closer, leans in. ]

Are ya okay there?

[ Mostly he's excited about being able to talk to someone in a language he understands, without having the devices help them along. But he's also willing to help Yuuri look less tense, if he can. ]

It's a bit much to take in all at once, huh?

[porkbelly]

[Yuuri is caught off guard, jumping a little at the question. He feels silly quickly afterwards, slowly nodding.]

That's an understatement. I'm not sure which emotion to even pick.

[thinhammer]

[ Naruto nods, tilting his head just a bit in thought as he directs his gaze away. It seems like peering like that might have set this guy on edge, and Naruto does his best thinking when he's not focusing on anything in particular anyway. ]

I think that's probably normal, y'know. Listenin' to all that made me feel lots of stuff, all at the same time in this weird kinda jumble, but..

[ He looks at the locals, still holding one another close and pressing reassurances to one another both physically and verbally, however hushed they might be. ]

There's not a lot bein' afraid will do. It's not gonna change anythin'.. We're still gonna be here, an' there's still gonna be people that need our help. An' all of us can help in different ways, y'know.

[ He exhales, just once, a slow push of breath out his nose, then he turns to look at Yuuri and gives him an encouraging smile. ]

I think that's a good feelin' to pick out of all the mess. Feelin' useful, or even hopeful about bein' able to help.

[porkbelly]

But less intense situations than this have happened to me and I just kind of... panic. It's pathetic, I know.

[He tries for a smile, but it's still fairly weak.]

You're right, though. I'm going to try and be helpful anyway.

[thinhammer]

[ Naruto can understand the want to panic - has experienced it himself in the past too, he can't deny that - but when Yuuri speaks up again, his words make Naruto smile. ]

That's all anyone can expect, y'know.

[ A pause, then he sticks out his hand. ]

I'm Naruto. [ Yeah, that's his name. He's named after a ramen topping, don't think about it too hard. ] If ya ever need someone to talk to when ya panic, you can come find me, okay?

House Two!

[imitationsoul]

[ Miach, who has taken up residence in the bedroom closest to the door herself, raises her eyebrows at the preemptive apology. The disapproving look lingers for a moment before she takes out her own device to type back. ]

If you were sorry you wouldn't have done it, and since you did it, there is no need to apologize for it.

[ She doesn't actually comprehend what 'it' is just yet. ]

[porkbelly]

[Seeing the message, Yuuri freezes notably, making a frantic hand gesture of 'No no wait!'.]

I honestly didn't realize it was the biggest room! I just took the first one I saw wasn't occupied.

[imitationsoul]

[ ... ah. So that's what this is even about. Miach doesn't particularly care about having a lot of space for herself along as she has her space to herself, so she doesn't mind the room distribution at all. And yet... ]

And what does apologizing for it accomplish?

[porkbelly]

Prevent conflicts, I hope.

[imitationsoul]

[ She smiles at that. ]

Making it easier for yourself then.

[ That's almost respectable, in her extremely warped and jaded perspective. ]

Sound Eaters

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ Poe knows when people seem not quite like themselves in given situations. Certain people have anxieties that come out only during those times too. Being a commander taught him to look for those things and defuse them before something bad or worse happens. Seeing a young man worried and somewhat under pressure meant that he needed a bit of encouragement. However upon coming closer he heard what Yuuri actually said and reconsidered this approach a bit. ]

I think we're already awake here, unfortunately. But... I do know that there's people who are willing to fight whatever is out there. People who are looking for a way out of this. If you need vent out your frustrations, now may be a good time. Since we can finally speak openly.

[ The man seems really happy about that. Poe could finally speak willingly in a place and maybe not get misunderstood through text. ]

[porkbelly]

[Yuuri looks up, apparently not expecting anyone to actually have paid his statement any mind. He goes to scratch the back of his head sheepishly, giving a little shake of his head.]

I don't know if I'd call them frustrations. Sorry, I know I'm not the only one with problems here...

[gotyourselfapilot]

What's really bothering you then? You're don't need to apologize. You're not only one with problems, but we're all in this together. I was just trying to give some encouragement. You seemed worried.

[ He gives a small shrug while running a hand through his hair. ]

[porkbelly]

More... fear. Being scared of never getting back home. Of something happening to me or the person I came with.

[gotyourselfapilot]

If you find people that are willing to protect a group this big than nothing will happen to you or the person you came with. It's okay to be scared though and have that worry. We need to be careful about noise within the town. I'm sure if we all stay quiet those Sound Eaters won't come here. It's all about being careful. And being reckless outside and away from the town if anyone does want to do anything to those Sound Eaters. Whatever they may be.

you know, I'll bite for man in the hat

[dryeyes]

[Aizawa had certain people he was keeping an eye on because it was just in his nature. Victor, one of his housemates, shouldn't be one of them because he's a grown adult and should be able to care for himself. And yet when he spots the man fawning over... someone (for all he knows, a very patient stranger), he's given the choice to ignore it or interfere and...]

[... interferes.]

[Yuuri will glance up from his Victor-tending to see a tall mess of a man suddenly next to him, with his own bottle of liquor in one hand and the device in the other, with a simple offer.]

Does he need to be restrained?

[porkbelly]

[Yuuri took for granted that the people around him now aren't familiar with Victor's unique personality. He looks up at the tall man, eyes a little wide and shakes his head before finding him in the device.]

No. I've got him. I'm used to this, thanks.

[dryeyes]

[That should be the end of it, really. He offered help, it wasn't needed, conversation over. Still, the way Victor was... nuzzling (disgusting). "Used to this"... He considers for a moment, before continuing the line of questioning.]

Idiotic drunks or him specifically?

[porkbelly]

He's... my fiancee.

[Somehow the slight annoyance at Victor being called an idiot manages to get him to say the words he usually has trouble with. Yes, the man can be very... fanciful. But he's his fanciful idiot, damn it.]