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

Faith Lehane | Buffy: The Vampire Slayer | ota

[rockypath]

A. The Place Inside

[The red dust sweeping through town is hard to miss. Faith doesn't follow it at first, despite how much it calls to her to follow it. Where does it lead? It feels like she should go. To just see.

Finally, she'll rise from her seat on her porch to follow it, steps slow and steady, cautious. But there's only so much caution you could have when walking directly into an ever growing dust cloud. She gets to an island finally in the middle of the river. There's something there. Littering the ground. Kneeling, her hand reaches out to touch... something sticky, red, on the ground. Gross. What is all of this? Her hand pulls back, as she starts to take more notice of her arm and the red dust coating nearly every inch of her skin. Shit. Her own heart is beating loudly in her ears and her throat squeezing tight. She made a mistake. But what else is new?]


B. Liplocked - open (18+ only please, warning: potential sexual themes)

[Valentines. She's gotten Valentines. Really? Faith eats the treats left at her door, sure, but tosses the cards left by the natives. She's never had much time for such touchy-feely nonsense. When was the last time she'd even gotten a valentine? Elementary school?

There's another party, only slightly less depressing than the last. Still has to be quiet, which is no fun at all. But these drinks are amazing, so it's making up for it, even if they don't seem to have any alcohol in them.

She's had. Four? Five? Ten? Anyway, she's lost count. Faith is feeling very good right now. Relaxed. Almost like she's back to normal and the past couple weeks haven't even happened. And shit, did she want to get laid. She finds herself scanning the crowd at men and women alike, people she's met before and not. She's undressing each of them with her eyes... not so subtly. If any one of them meets her eye she'll give them a confident wink, daring them to approach.]

b

[iisupergirlii]

[ Kara's feeling brazen, but even if she drank a gallon of this stuff, she'll never be as bold as Faith. still, it's nice to see a familiar face, and she's comfortable enough that the awkwardness from their recent fight doesn't consume her. instead, she comes up to Faith with a smile, more relaxed in how she carries herself than usual. ]

Faiht! Hi!

[rockypath]

[The fight is all but forgotten by Faith at the moment. Her focus is decidedly elsewhere. when Kara approaches, Faith's smile grows slowly, lazy. She lightly pats the seat beside her on the bench she's leaned back against..] Heya, blondie. You wanna sit? Keep a girl company?

[iisupergirlii]

[ Kara nods, sitting beside her, close enough that their arms brush and Kara has to bite her lip. she holds up her jar of half-finished v-day drink as a distraction. ]

This stuff is pretty good, right?

[rockypath]

[Faith all too gladly scoots jut a bit closer to her. She's never realized just how good Kara smells. Is she leaning closer and idly smelling her hair like a blatant weirdo? Why, yes she is.]

Yeah. It's pretty good for a fruity non-alcoholic drink. Wonder how the natives made it.

[iisupergirlii]

[ Kara feels Faith get closer and looks up at her curiously, just as Faith is leaning in for just a great, A-1 sniff, and their faces are suddenly way too close to each other. is it warm in here? has to be all the fires, right? she's much to warm, with a bright pink flush to go with it. she can't help her eyes flicking down to look at Faith's lips, though.

haaaaa... she pulls away, good grief, and instead looks at her device to type out a message. ]

Iiiiiit's a mystery!

[rockypath]

[Faith feels great. Warm, yes, but a nice warmth, like she's finally in a situation she understands. Their faces are so close it's hard to miss the flush of Kara's cheeks, the focus of her eyes. Those lips curl, opening just that little bit... inviting.]

[Then she's gone, but Faith is far from deterred. She leans back to read the message and type out her own.] Mm, the world may never know.

[iisupergirlii]

[ there's too much distance between them now, and it feels weirdly cold, a sudden smack of reality that Kara doesn't want back. she chases the warmth, the buzz under her skin, and scoots closer again, biting her bottom lip. ]

It's true! [ wait, what are they talking about? something... something. she should ask. ] What are we talking about?

[rockypath]

[Kara's cute. Adorable even. Faith knows enough to know they'd been talking about the drinks. But shrugs all the same, pleased to find Kara scooting back closer again. Her hand finds its way to idly brush Kara's knee. She finds that she desperately wants to just touch her and can't help herself.] Does it even matter?

[iisupergirlii]

[ Kara puts her hand on top of Faith's, not pushing it away, looping their fingers together with a smile. look, Kara has 0 moves. this is risque for her. she looks up at Faith, lips bitten red and turned up in a smile. ]

Nope.

[rockypath]

[Faith blinks a bit, staring down at the joined hands through her haze. Maybe Kara has no moves, but this is still a move. One that throws the Slayer a little off balance. It's almost... 'more intimate' in a way than she usually cares for. Flirtation, light touching, making out, sex even... that's all fine by her. But holding hands? That's just weird. She'll let it stand though, but instead she's gonna focus on Kara's face. The bitten red lips. Yes, that's more her speed. She's leaning even closer, wetting her own lips absently.]

Damn right, it doesn't matter. I am definitely liking the party a whole lot more than the last one. Even if there's still no music. Also seems like there's a whole lot more to do this time. To see.

[iisupergirlii]

[ Kara pulls away just enough to read the message and nods. Faith makes very good points. But the fire is warm and Faith's hand is in hers, and Kara's knee is hot through her tights where Faith is touching her. Everything is a little Much, and Kara doesn't want to think anymore, to say something else witty.

Instead, she leans in and kisses Faith, warm and soft. And holy Toledo, that is the puzzle piece she was missing because she suddenly feels great. ]

B

[toomuchridgewood]

[ Aloy doesn't like the drink. She finished the one but didn't have any more. She still fidgets with a pent-up kind of energy that isn't quite nerves, or itchiness. It's something else.

She recognizes it, of course. She's felt this way before and knows how to make herself feel better and comfortable in her skin again. But she doesn't want to do it by herself. The problem is, she doesn't have the slightest clue how to involve anybody else. Where do you even start? She can't flirt like an Oseram, or seduce like a Carja, or romance like a Nora, or... whatever it is that the Banuk do. (Huddle for warmth and hope something happens?) This is awful.

She notices the woman from the garage winking at her. She blushes bright red and looks at her empty jar. A few breaths later and she tries again, looking up.

She's still looking at her.

Well, if she never tries then she's sure to fail, right? She walks over to the woman and waves, smiling awkwardly. She points to the empty jar where her drink used to be, making a grossed out face and shaking her head. ]

[rockypath]

[She recognizes Aloy, but is doing her best to let no thoughts about the awful experience and what had gone on before it creep in. No, her mind is firmly on the here and now. And watching the other woman across the crowd, her smile grows each time she looks back, enjoying the growing flush on Aloy's cheeks. At the wave, Faith's hand lifts a slight wiggling of fingers right back. Hey there.

Glancing at the jar empty beside her, Faith's eyebrows quirk. She's enjoyed it. She gives a thumbs up. That shit is good, what's Aloy smoking?]

( b. )

[clarius]

[ for her part, lorem has been sticking to the walls and the edges of the celebration when she's not with friends or with the children who were still out and about for some reason. it got tiring after a while, the constant dodging of invitations and offers of the strange, strange drinks so she thought it'll be best if she just... kept clear by being constantly on the go.

which is perhaps how she finds herself running into faith. after the initial shock wears off because she had been this close to knocking into her, lorem's face lights up with a friendly smile at a familiar face. ] Enjoying yourself so far?

[rockypath]

[If Lorem is trying to escape the strange drinks, she'll find nowhere better than near Faith as she's all to glad to drink them all in her stead. But it does come with a few other potential hurdles. Namely the way Faith's eyes are dragging up and down Lorem like she's deciding how best to eat her. She smiles, the flirtation clear and heavy in her gaze.] Always. You want to join me?

[clarius]

[ she just happens to have a jar of the red drink in her hands, occasionally turning it around and around as if unsure of what to do with it.

noticing the heavy gaze directed at her, lorem can feel her face burn hot as she ducks her head. at least she has the ready excuse to type out a reply for faith. ]

I’ll be happy to. Do you want a drink? I’ve been stuck with this for a while.

[rockypath]

[Grabby hands! Faith reaches out for it, gladly.] Shit, yeah. You don't know what you're missing. It's great! You sure you don't want it? [Her loss.]

[clarius]

[ she's happy to hand it over, relief clear on her expression though her smile shows playfulness as well. ]

I'm sure. Promise! I decided a long time ago that drinking isn't my thing. Lightweight, through and through.

[rockypath]

[Faith is quick to crack it open and take a swing, grinning as it disappears down her throat. She moves aside, reaching for Lorem to pull her to sit beside her. She wants her closer. As close as possible.] It's sweet though. I don't think it's alcohol. So, Lorem. How are... things? Tell me everything. [Faith isn't actually interested, her eyes dark with something much thicker than curiosity, but she wants to keep her there a bit longer.]

[clarius]

[ the heat that lorem feels radiating off her face can, no doubt, rival that of the bonfire when she notices the quality in faith's gaze.

oh.

okay. um. this is a lot to take in. she's- lorem has- the only other person she was sure who had- only laura but even then-

she remembers radiance and its enough to remind her to please calm down. she rubs the back of her neck, flush red as a rare apple back home as she forumlates a response: ] I've been keeping myself busy with a project I've been thinking of for a while. Beyond that, I've been helping the townsfolk more by mending things beyond clothes like their sheets and tarps. I'm pretty good with a thread and needle so if you ever need a fix- Let me know?

[rockypath]

[If anything the red flush of skin seems to spur Faith's ever further. She always liked to watch people squirm... whatever that said about her, she isn't going to spend much time dwelling on. Instead she'll keep her eyes fixed on Lorem, eyes trailing over skin, and ultimately fixating on her mouth, lips...]

Could have used you a couple days ago. Needed some stitches on myself. Cut my hand on a broken mirror. [She also hadn't broken it entirely silently, obviously. At least she's still here though, no Sound Eaters came.]

[clarius]

[ her jaw drops open in shock when she reads the message; the flustered expression gives way to shock and worry. her eyes somehow becoming bigger than they already are as she looks up at faith, brow furrowed together in anxiety and concer. ]

You cut your hand? Really? Does it still hurt? Did someone treat it proper? There are no signs of infection, right? [ she may not know a lot about medical procedures - ironically enough. maybe she should have taken auntie ruby's offer up. - but she knows what to check for when it comes to infected cut or wounds on a human.

lorem tries to lean forward to get a better look of faith's hand, her expression one of worry. ]

[rockypath]

[Faith doesn't really want to be talking about her injuries, but if it'll get Lorem to lean closer she supposes that's alright. She held out her palm, there's a clear cut there. But it looks like a long healed wound, not something that someone could have gotten only days ago.] I heal quick. I also know first aid... just didn't have anything to do stitches with. Bled all over for a bit. Looked like a remake of Psycho in my bathroom.

[clarius]

[ lorem hand hovers faith's when she sees the cut, wincing a bit at the sight of the wound. she lowers her hand, almost as if she wants to touch faith's hand to make sure it wasn't that bad, but she pulls back when she realises that maybe faith wouldn't like that. ]

From the title of that film, I can hazard that it wasn't a pleasant experience for whoever got cut. [ there weren't a lot of movies where lorem was from. took up too many resources and time and effort that could be focused on other things. ] I'm sorry I couldn't help you earlier. If you ever need help in anything like this, you're free to call me. I promise I'll do my best.