INTRO LOG #2

[bequiet]

INTRO LOG #2
Put a Sock in It
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 – with or without the help of those who have come before you.

The Place Inside
Content Warnings: Disorientation, hallucinations, body horror
Themes: Plot, exploration

Have you been to hell. And more importantly, have you been back. We all know this pain but are too scared to recall. This horror controls us, pulls at our strings to ensure how our life plays out. So, let me rephrase my question: have you been to Ile Lacrox. And more importantly, can you come back.

In the community, if you hear something you're not supposed to hear, you learn to look the other way. If you see something you're not supposed to see, you pretend it never happened. If you feel disappointed, you learn to never ask for more. So, through good times and bad, famine and feast, the natives held fast to their rules until one common day a sly wind blew in from the south...

That same red dust twists through the streets, curling up in faint, little plumes of familiarity. The farther south you go, the thicker it becomes. Those willing to explore far enough will find it coming from an island in the middle of the river. Once there, doting every available surface is the evidence of Sound Eater births, and the closer you are to the island, the harder it is to avoid being coated in red. Even if it's not rubbed into the skin, it doesn't take long for the effects to take over. Every sound is amplified. Your breaths are deafening, the slightest step echoes. But no Sound Eater attacks. Your vision blurs, and it's as if your mouth is sealing itself shut. Those you traveled with seem to be similarly affected, and you know you have to be quiet. Anyone who brought supplies with them might discover that a drink of water subdues the symptoms.

OOC: Only characters who entirely submerge themselves in water will be free of the dust effects. Just remember that noise will attract Sound Eaters.


Liplocked
Content Warnings: Violent tendencies, mind alteration
Themes: Love, romance, obsession, sex

The natives are of French origin, and with that comes a love of romance. Residents will find treats and valentines at their doors. That same night, there will be a small, red-glowing fire built near the fountain. There will be jars pressed into the dirt and filled with a sweet, red liquid. Some natives can be seen drinking it and being very affectionate with one another. Anyone who drinks this is inspired to show endearment or lust to others, and it will wear off after sleeping.

There's also the noticeable addition of a new arrival. They came through the Reset Room just like everybody else. They understand the rules and follow them to a tee. They are the perfect example of what the natives want in their residents. They are charming and captivating. They say nothing, and they don't have to. When your eyes meet, you feel seduced. There's a nervous flutter in your stomach. You can feel your heartbeat in your throat. Pounding, constricting. They smile and then turn away.

As they're walking, you notice you're not the only one looking at them, and in their expression, you see your own mirrored. What started as sweet infatuation and longing dissolves into a jealousy unlike any you've ever known. All you understand now is that to win their affections you have to come out on top—so you're the only one they see. Your actions are not your own, but they're still yours.

OOC: There are two ways to break the "spell". Your character fights it out with someone else who is feeling the same way OR they're approached and physically touched by someone who isn't affected by the newcomer. A third of the community will be completely unaffected (everyone else is affected unless the player is uncomfortable with playing out the scenarios). The newcomer can be of any gender the player wishes. For those partaking in drinking, the players can choose what effects it has; it can inspire feelings of lust or boost paternal/maternal instincts or devotion towards friends.

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

Majima Gorō | Yakuza 0

[justbeingknife]

Put a Sock in It;
[ The fuck is this.

Imagine you're an ex-gangster from the 80s, for which the phrase 'cellular phone' holds basically no meaning. Now imagine you've somehow wandered out to the swimming pool, stuck on a spinning map of the stars as you desperately don't understand the concept of swiping or pinch-zoom.

Majima scowled, considered simply hurling the phone across the path. Instead, he turned to the first person he saw, whereupon he did his utmost best to mime the concept of 'I don't actually know what the fuck I'm doing with this brick' without making any noise. Hopefully no one assumed he was actually threatening to punch them, because that could actually be a reasonable interpretation. ]

Liplocked;
[ Maybe with all the crazy shit that had been going down in the last couple of hours, Majima could be excused for simply assuming that that red liquid was simply the local way of drowning one's sorrows the old-fashioned way -- by getting hella faded and forgetting about them, at least for a little while.

It was under this assumption that, when one of the jars was handed to him, he shrugged and took a sip. And immediately regretted it. ]

The hell? This ain't booze.

[ He mouthed, pushing the jar back into the native's hands. His expression alone said more than enough to any non-Japanese speakers in the vicinity.

Scratch that, it might not be any sort of alcohol he was familiar with, but he did seem to be feeling some kind of buzz...?

ooc: Going to start off with milder effects on this one, either flirting or paternal instincts! Majima will be lower key with dudes than he is with women; his types are pretty girls and.... gottsui otokos.... I'm real sorry in advance :'). If you're interested in something specific, let me know! ]

Home Sweet Hideout;
[ Even before he'd lost an eye, Majima had the look of someone looking for trouble. Punks would practically peel themselves off of street corners to get in his face, grab his shirtfront, pick a fight. And afterwards? There was really nowhere in 1980s Japan where a six-foot dude with an eyepatch could step to and not stand out, at least a little.

But as he rolled up to House Nine, he'd meet any new housemates with a polite bow and a message. Something like: ]

Pleased to meet you. Name's Majima. Looks like I'll be in your care for a while. If there's anything I can help with, please let me know.

Wildcard;
[ points to self, points to you, winks cornily ]

liplocked

[spalt]

[Erik is alright when it comes to reading lips. If slow enough and if he's attentive, he can catch almost all of what's said - when it is in a language he understands. The list of what he's fluent in isn't short but doesn't cover what this man had been saying. Body language tells him what he needs to know.

He's had a drink of his own. Assumed it was alcohol, if anything, and that getting inebriated might be an acceptable way to pass the evening. Now, while feeling attraction - no, lust - for anyone within a foot of him, he knows better. Unfortunately the substance has dampened his mood, as well, and he isn't inclined to fight it or complain about the way he feels.]

Erik Lehnsherr.

[He extends his device and then his hand.]

Are you here with someone?

ok this is v important information: how ripped is erik under the jumpsuit

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima tilted his head slightly in response to the question. There were any number of reasons why a stranger might ask it, some of them not particularly benevolent. But Majima had never been cautious with himself. ]

Nah, it's just me.

[ And then: ]

Gorō Majima.

[ He'd show Erik his card, but funny story about that and all his worldly belongings except the thin gold chain around his neck. ]

i go by the actor so probably pretty ripped :D

[spalt]

Good.
I’m by myself as well.

[Not that Majima asked. He should be aware of it though, just in case.]

Are you a new arrival or have you been here?

[The disorientation of waking up in the Reset Room left his mind fuzzy in a different way. Erik could remember a few of the faces but the time blurred together and it’s better to ask and be certain, rather than remain silent and not know.]

sockies

[nishizono]

[ it's by sheer chance that the miming doesn't translate directly to punching, because tetora can see where the confusion might stem from. luckily, tetora's used to people actually punching him, not just miming it, so the subtle differences ring loud like a sunday church bell when the guy with an eyepatch helplessly gestures at his phone.

he'd snicker, but. you know.

tetora gestures give it here, then keeps his hand held out and open to the man. ]

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima didn't question the gesture; he just immediately handed the thing over. What was he going to do with it, anyhow?

This kid, though. Hmm. Japanese, was Majima's guess. He had that sort of insolent street kid attitude down, though the hair was all wrong for the time period. ]

[nishizono]

[ he'd be right in his assumption; tetora's a metro tokyo kid through and through, despite the mostly international shenanigans involving his existence. a few taps and a bit of shake - the dust gets in the way -
and he's got their devices synching up in no time.

there. easy peasy. he almost tosses the device back before remembering at the last second that, if the guy doesn't have good reflexes (hey, he's got an eyepatch), the damn thing would make noise.

ugh. holding it out like a polite human being it is. ]

Liplocked

[gimmesometassel]

[As a very natural consequence of having no mouth, Carpet hasn't sampled the drinks that have been going around. They seem to be popular, though, and people seem to be awfully happy, which is nice! The face Majima makes upon tasting it, though, isn't quite so nice. Carpet drifts over curiously, holding up his device.]

Does it taste bad?

[justbeingknife]

I

[ was definitely not expecting to be talking to a magic carpet this fine afternoon, that was for sure. Majima shook his head and tried to concentrate on using his device. Which he was still a little shaky on, frankly. ]

Not exactly. I was expectin' something with a little more kick.

[ Then after a moment's hesitation: ]

Did you want some?

[gimmesometassel]

[He understands how you feel, Majima; he's from a world where technology itself is a foreign concept. Still, even if it's tough typing with tassels, he's been here long enough to start getting the hang of it.]

I can't drink but thank you!

[And then, as though he needed more confirmation of the fact that this thing has no experience whatsoever with drinking:]

How does a drink kick? It doesn't have any legs.

( liplocked ) does this appease his type y/n

[protettore]

[While Gladio has absolutely no idea what the guy at a near distance has said to one of the natives, he's bar-hopped enough to recognize the reaction of a patron that definitely didn't get the drink they ordered. And even though he's not one to judge, by the looks of the guy, things could turn messy if he's overly upset.

And so he approaches, and whenever he manages to get his attention, Gladio holds up the screen of his device.]

Not what you were expecting, huh? It's honestly not that bad.

gentle giants who fite good are exactly his type

[justbeingknife]

[ It didn't take long. Majima still had his wits about him, and in any case, Gladio was hard to miss. He gave the man a wry look. ]

That's up for debate. My fault for drinkin' out of a jar,
though.

[ I mean what were they, animals ]

They got any real alcohol around this place?

(灬º 艸º灬)

[protettore]

[Gladio gives a shrug.] They're being resourceful. It's kinda charming. [You can't expect dinnerware and utensils to be a constant. So proclaims the camping enthusiast. Once they're eating soup out of their own hands, then they can complain.] Got no clue about actual booze. You can take your time trying to look for it. More for everyone else, including me.

sockies

[clussy]

(Eddie's had better days.

He's also, honestly, had way worse days.

So this feels kind of the usual at this point. He's been calmed down by now, but he's still got these tear streaks on his face, his nose a little red. Thank the small things in life for Bill having been there earlier to help Eddie settle down.

Finding himself near the pool wasn't too surprising. He was kneeling there, shrunk up against himself, and contemplating the pool when a guy came over.

At first, Eddie grimaced away at the adult's approach, but the blatant confusion and gesturing at the phone was pretty easy to put together. Eddie gives a thick swallow. It wasn't...often...actually, ever, pretty much that an adult asked him for help. He was from the 1950s, but he had also come from a station with technology he'd learned well enough. The device was simple, but he gets it. Slowly, Eddie gets to his feet and hesitantly opens his hands up, gesturing for the man to give him his device.)

[justbeingknife]

[ Majima handed the device over (ugh technology), only belatedly noticing that this kid looked like he'd been crying. And also that he seemed a little nervous...

Oh, right. He'd been so wrapped up in his frustration with the phone that he'd forgotten about the cardinal rule: try not to scare people. Majima made a concerted effort to smooth out his body language, and even mouthed a 'thanks', even though (a) Eddie couldn't hear him and (b) even if he could, it was really doubtful Eddie understood Japanese.

He tilted his head to watch the kid work -- maybe it'd give some hint as to what he'd been doing wrong. ]

[clussy]

(Eddie doesn't understand a lick of any language besides English. That traditional American teaching in the 50s didn't even think twice about other languages, but he gets the idea all the same. The man looks- intense. Eddie struggles to ignore that in favor of helping.

He realizes he's teaching someone- he's not just helping. The guy would have to know how to do this on his own, after all, so Eddie shifts around so he could better watch. And he moves intentionally. He raises a finger, making sure it's being paid attention to, and then carefully shows Majima how to operate the phone at a basic level. How to bring it to the home page. Open up texts. He makes small gestures and even texts something out on Majima's phone:)

This is how they want us to talk to people.

(And he even shows him the little camera part, making a vague camera charade with his hand. He forgets his fear a little as he goes through these things, feeling oddly confident. He gets his own device out to type out a message.)

Do you kind of understand?

home sweet hideout

[ghostfluster]

[the look on Rosa's face after that greeting is best described as 'absolutely charmed,' hand to her mouth and a crooked smile just visible behind it. she may or may not have a thing for bad boy types; even if she didn't, this is a hell of a first impression.

she makes a little sweeping gesture that could be a return curtsy (but not a real one; not in a hoodie and jeans), and flashes back:]

rosa torres; pleased to meet you too. don't think i need much right now, but are you settling in ok?

[justbeingknife]

[ That gesture was actually kind of adorable, and something in Rosa's manner sort of reminded him of Yuki-chan and the others back at Club Sunshine. He smiled a little without even thinking about it. ]

Okay so far, all things considered. I was gonna take the bedroom next to the foyer, if it ain't already spoken for.

Uh, you got any house rules? Like everyone's gotta be back for dinner, or somethin'?

[ghostfluster]

i think it's free! we've got a lot of people moving out of the house lately, actually...i guess you came in at a good time for that, at least.

[the rest of their situation? not a great time. but the housing situation? reasonably great time.]

as for house rules, well, you know quiet hours are always in effect...

[her smile curls a little at one corner; wry]

otherwise idk. keep stuff clean and respect your housemates. common sense stuff!

liplocked, paternal affection away friend

[lowkeycrazy]

(ACK I KEEP FORGETTING TO LINK TO THIS)

[Majima isn't the only Goro that's decided to take a sip of the liquid.

It certainly had a peculiar taste and... also wasn't the alcohol that he'd been hoping for. (Truly, he knows he shouldn't be seeking out alcohol at all, lest he emulate a certain parental figure— well, heh... either one of them, really...) But surprisingly enough— he can feel himself starting to relax? He feels kind of... warm...?

... maybe it is alcohol?

He catches sight of the man mouthing his displeasure, and being fluent in Japanese himself, he definitely at least somewhat recognizes the words coming out of his mouth.

He takes out his device to respond:]

I didn't think so, either. But the effects are pleasant enough. [He offers a small smile, friendlier and softer than he would normally.] Did you arrive just today?

Re: liplocked, paternal affection away friend

[justbeingknife]

That's right.

[ Were they really pleasant, though. Were they. Majima took in this new stranger. Pale, pretty tall for a Japanese guy, bags under his eyes like he hadn't been sleeping right for a while.

...come to think of it, weren't there an awful lot of Japanese people here, considering it was France? Hmm.

Either way, he looked like he couldn't be much more than a high schooler. ]

And it's been a neverendin' roller coaster of fun ever since. What about you, you been here long?

[oorah]

[ usually, when people try to get his attention here, he's abrasive and quick to dismiss them. but frank HATES the devices, even more than he hates seeming helpful. which is perhaps the only reason why he stops ultimately. KEEP TELLING YOURSELF THAT, FRANK.

this man stands out just as well as majima, standing at nearly six foot in inexplicably silent combat boots pulled on over his sunset orange jumpsuit, a thick hoodie over that with only the first few inches zipped and his meat fists he calls hands shoved into the pouch pockets. he frowns, but that's just the natural state of his face, which is mottled with yellowing and fresher blueish bruises.

the gesture doesn't make frank shrink away. he stands stock still and waits because he really hates when people push those things in his face but he's come to tolerate it. but when he looks over there's no message and he shakes his head. if you have something to say, play charades like a grown-up bro. ]

[justbeingknife]

[ Believe it or not, the most reassuring part of Frank's appearance was the bruises (well, also the general demeanor), which Majima took to mean that this guy got in a lot of fights. And as a man who got into a lot of fights, perhaps Frank was in a unique position to understand that fiddling around with dumb little phones was not really how Majima was hoping to spend his day.

That shake of the head, though. Hmm. Was Frank saying he didn't know how to fix it? Or that he just didn't understand? If it was the latter, he wasn't really sure how to be more clear than a confused face and a screen that obviously wasn't cooperating. He couldn't even mouth words because this dude had like a .01 chance of understanding a word of silent Japanese.

If it was the former... well, that sucked. Whatever. He put his phone in his pocket, instead pointing to the areas of his face that matched Frank's bruises, pointing to Frank, and tilting his head to the side in question. ]

What happened to you, buddy? Get in a fight with a nearby wall?

Put a sock into it

[upsidedowncop]

Nearby Hopper watched the other with an amused expression. At least someone else was having a hard time with the device like he had. Yet, he seemed like a wild character. The clothing he wore wasn't something Hopper was familiar with and the eye patch stood out.

He stepped over to the other and tapped on the shoulder and then pointed to his own device that he pulled out.

I can show you the little I know if you quit acting like a clown.

[justbeingknife]

[ He knew that look, but Majima also wasn't in a position here to be picky. He handed his device over to Hopper, then put out his right hand. An open palm facing to his left, held along his midline, the tips of his fingers a few inches from his nose. ]

Thanks.

[ was what the gesture meant. Or maybe ]

Sorry.

[ Either way, whether someone from America would interpret it correctly was up in the air. ]