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

Rey | Ota

[steal]

I. The Place Inside

[Rey's not the only one that heads in the direction the wind is blowing when the red dust settles in. She moves quickly and with purpose, ignoring the way her chest feels heavy with dust. Her breathing becomes heavier and more labored, but that too is paid little attention to. Without the cover of rain, any little sound is a potential death sentence. It's hard to keep that thought in the back of her mind, but her curiosity propels her forward with the others.

Further and further south she moves, until she reaches a point where she can go no further. Here, the dust is so thick it's difficult to see through it. It's covered her, head to toe, and she misses her goggles from Jakku. Eventually though, she's able to worm herself into a position to see the island. When her vision starts to pull she stumbles, about to collapse. Anyone nearby might want to grab her and get her in the water before the noise of her falling to the ground attracts some sound eaters.]

II. Liplocked - (Open to 18 +, but most likely to just be friendship affection)

[There's a drink just sitting there, and Rey's curiosity leads her to trying whatever's inside the bottle. The natives are drinking it, so it's clearly safe. It's sweet and pleasant, so she downs the entire jar before setting it back into the dirt. Within minutes she's feeling a little strange, light headed and drawn in toward others. Her skin feels strangely warm, and as she's brushed past by someone she reaches out to grab their arm in an attempt to stop them. Her need to feel near to someone is almost overwhelming, to the point she feels like she might crawl out of her skin if she just stands here alone for much longer.

She's always been hungry to have human contact and feel wanted, but this is taking that to an extreme.]

I

[upsidedowncop]

[Hopper had been about to start crossing the bridge when he heard the sound of someone crashing. The sound seemed to be more emphasized or it was his imagination. He was also having a hard time breathing as he found he couldn't open his own mouth. At this point he was having a hard time telling what was what, but he knew someone had fallen.

He pushed himself to get to the other and saw that they were a young woman. Using the sleeve of his jacket he tried to wipe away the dust from the woman's face hoping it would help. But the dust appeared to be just as stubborn.

Hesitantly, he eyed the water wondering if it was safe. The only way to check was to try. Bracing himself once more, he half lifted/dragged her to the water till he was about knee deep... He only hoped the noise being made wouldn't drawl more attention.

He only helped the other would be okay and tried once more to wipe away the dust. This time the water seemed to be helping.]

[steal]

Thankfully, she was small enough to be easily lifted and drug along. The water indeed did help, and eventually Rey was able to start regaining her senses. When her eyes finally did open and she blearily blinked, she realized she had no idea who the man helping her was. That made her lightly push against him to try and put some distance there. It wasn't that she wasn't grateful, because she definitely was. She just wasn't comfortable.

Even a little distance was enough for her to clear her head and erase that initial panic, leaving her looking over at him curiously. She hadn't seem him around, which meant he was either new here or a native that she hadn't met yet. That meant she was fishing out her device to quickly type out a message for him.

what happened?

[upsidedowncop]

Hopper wasn't too surprised by her reaction. They were both strangers. He quickly regained his balance to keep from falling into the water. Regardless, he was soaked from head to toe. At the same time, he felt calmer in the water then he was standing on the bridge. His initial paranoia was dying down and the volume level seemed to have tone down.

Thankfully, his device wasn't ruined by the water. Even though he hated it, he still needed it.

You fell unconscious. I pulled you into the water hoping it would help and to keep you away from the monsters. I just recently arrived and was exploring.

[steal]

She read his words and nodded. He was new here, and had gone out of his way to help her despite that. Despite her initial distrust, she could respect him for doing that. It showed kindness to be in a position of weakness but still help. She tried telling herself that she'd do the same thing, but she wondered if after experiencing a death here and the confusion behind it if she actually would.

Thank you, she signed, hoping his device would translate for him. I'm alive because of you. What's your name?

II

[toomuchridgewood]

[ The taste of the red juice is still on Aloy's lips. Which are now tingling in a not-unpleasant way. She sees Rey, and feels a need to be close to her. More intense than her usual desire to be close to her friend.

She approaches with a tentative smile and wave. ]

[steal]

[Aloy is one of the very few people here that Rey feels she can genuinely trust. So when her friend approaches, Rey smiles and gives a little wave in return. And her hand reaches out to grab Aloy's, not letting go even as she pulls her in a little closer. Just this proximity makes her feel strangely excited and giddy, enough that she has to bring a hand up to her face to muffle a laugh that she can't keep buried inside.]

Liplocked for platonic affection

[charliehorse]

[Charlie's trotted into town to check out the festival because that beats hanging about in a house by himself. The buzz of the crowd is pleasant, the most pleasant he's felt since arriving here, but there's an undertone that's... weird.

Is it springtime?

He doesn't go for the drink himself, since it usually takes prodigious quantities of liquid for him to feel any effects from boozing. He's skirting about the little groups of cooing, touchy humans, when that grab stops him.

He looks down. Rey's tiny against him but she's clinging hard enough he can't simply pull away. Odd creature, has she gotten him mixed up with her own kind?

He pokes her on one of her hair puffs, trying to get her attention so he can set his hand to her forehead to push her away.]

[steal]

[The poke to her hair does earn a cross look, but Rey still doesn't let go. Even a little contact makes her feel surprisingly content. She has no idea who he is, and doesn't really seem to care that he's half horse. Given that all kinds of races exist where she comes from, she doesn't think much of it at all, actually.

What she cares about is the content feeling becomes more solidified as her hand slides along his arm, fingertips lightly tracing over his skin. It's a weird thing, since she knows she usually would beat someone within an inch of her life for daring to touch her or hold her hand. But when her touch just barely ghosts over his hand, she just feels...peaceful.

When she turns her head to look at him, she wears a questioning look on her face.]

[charliehorse]

[That stroke makes him shudder lightly. He's not one for being touched on his humanesque sections and she's taking a lot of liberties. He frowns lightly at that questioning look, because could she have at least asked before assuming he was going to be her cuddlebuddy?

He pokes her hair puff again then lifts his arm up in the air, hoping her skinny limbs won't be able to cling to him well enough to stop her slipping off]

[steal]

[She doesn't particularly want to cling, but she does fumble to grab hold of him as he pulls his arms up over her head. There's an element of confusion on her face as she does it, almost as if she can't believe she's doing any of this. Slowly, her eyes look back over to the mostly empty red drink jar nearby. Realization sinks in and she's left horrified that she's just grabbed a stranger.

Sorry, she mouths the word, and holds both hands up in the air to show she's not out to mean him any harm. Or in this case, too much contact.]

II

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ The craziness of the stranger really got to him. People were fighting with other people or seemed deeply into them. He didn't see why though, the newcomer seemed ordinary to him. Poe tried to stay away from the drinks that the natives were handing out. He became suspicious over the new happenings, maybe the drinks was causing something. Maybe not the same things, but something. He reluctantly takes a cup from them after being bothered enough to try it. The juice was sweet and he would take sips from it. As he's cautiously walking he happens to brush arms with someone on accident. He feels a grip on his arm and doesn't move further but slowly glances back. It's a familiar face, one that he doesn't mind encountering. Rey.... A wide warm smile spreads while giving her a small nod in greeting.

Poe carefully puts a hand on top of the one that's gripping his arm. There's a lift of an eyebrow in question wondering what move she'll make next. The grip wasn't hurting in any kind of way and maybe he had surprised her by mistake. ]

[steal]

[The strange thing about Poe is, Rey knows him well enough to consider him an ally, but is still getting to know him beyond the persona that Leia built him up to be. He's a friend now, and there's trust there between them. But she still wouldn't just reach out and touch him this way. Typically when she grabs someone's arm, it's in an attempt to break it. But she doesn't feel an ounce of anger or violence, not with him.

Smiling warmly up at him, she gives a little nod in return. With his hand on top of hers, she turns her hand so their palms are touching. ]

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ Stories of Poe's heroics always spread quickly before he even step foot out of his x-wing. He's sure that those stories would be different now. Even if he was still trying to be guided in the right way. He appreciates the life he's given here being able to get to know Rey. Even if hearing of her rough journey and time with Luke Skywalker. He could still try to have a spark of hope somewhere. Fundamentally this place could shine some hope during it's darkest of times. He wants to believe that.

Poe would be thankful that she didn't go to break his arm. The touch wasn't violent enough for him to tense too much. He was just a bit nervous over who it was coming from.

The small change of their palms touching makes him look at her in disbelief at first. Daringly, he takes her hand into his own, brushing the tops of her fingernails with his thumb slowly. ]

[steal]

[Her own face is thoughtful, carefully focused on the way their hands are pressed together. She's only just recently willingly held someone's hand for the first time, so this much contact is new to her. But then he's taking her hand and running his thumb along her fingers and she's thrown for a loop. There's a warm chill that goes through her, making her lips part as she exhales.

There's a nod of her head, almost as if she needs to give him permission for such a simple yet intimate gesture. If he wants to hold her hand, she doesn't mind that at all. She will, however, need a little guidance for what to do beyond that. She doesn't want to push him, and her mind craving warmth and contact thanks to the drink have her just wanting to grab hold of him and not let go. ]

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ He studies her face noticing how calm she seems. There's nervous jitters since he's not sure why he suddenly wants to feel more, be closer to her too. Poe could feel that other voice in the back of his head saying go fast but yet, he only steps closer to her slowly. Rey could close the distance if she wants too. His thumb slowly brushes up the back of her palm as his hand takes hold of hers completely. A small reassuring smile is given as his eyes focuses on her own.

The guidance could be there if he knew what she wanted. Poe would slowly intertwine their fingers for closer hand holding. It's a tiny test to see if she would be alright with that. However, there's a small playful grin as he debates on yanking her the rest of the way to get her into a half hug. But there's a bit of hesistation, so, he just takes another step forward closing their distance even more. ]

i.

[worlds]

[On one hand, Ouni wants to see these Sound Eaters for himself, to see this threat with his own eyes so that he can personally determine their threat. On the other hand, everyone else seems to be damn serious about them, Ouni (arguably) doesn't have a death wish, and either way, out in the middle of nowhere with no real preparation isn't how he wants to do it.

Therefore, silence seems pretty imperative. When he seems someone about to fall, he immediately reaches to grab her, albeit none too gently.]

[steal]

[Rey tries jerking out of his hold, but her lack of air is getting to her. She can barely stand at all, and has to rely on him in order to be up on her feet. Silence is mandatory, she knows that, so she reaches out with a shaky hand and points toward the water. Maybe if they can get her in the water, some of this thick red dust can be washed away. They'll need to hurry, though. She's seconds away from trying to gasp out for air.]

[worlds]

[It's not easy to see right now, and Ouni's in far from peak condition himself, but he gets the gist of what she's trying to say.

Moving as quickly as he can while maintaining silence, without thinking as to whether it might surprise her, he activates his powers—markings forming over his skin while symbols of similar patterns hang in the air around them, in a mostly vain attempt to shield them from some of the dust.

Honestly, though, as someone who grew up in the middle of a sand ocean where water was a precious commodity, he has zero experience with submerging anything in water, let alone a person and silently. Nevertheless, he'll do his best to try.]

[steal]

[Rey's definitely taken by surprise by the power he uses and shows, the markings something she's never seen before. The slight shield he's able to offer provides them with enough ability that she can stumble toward the nearby water on her own. It's not deep, but it's enough for her to get to the edge of and sink her head inside. Silence is something she clings hold of as she forces herself not to move or scrub at her face once she's got her upper half shoved into the water.

Her lack of ability to take in a big breath before going under makes it hard for her to stay submerged for long. Her hands scrub at her face, hoping the water muffles the sound.

She only pulls herself out with his help, terrified that if she just tears herself free from the water the sound will be enough to get herself killed again. She doesn't want to wake up in the reset room for a third time.]

II

[criticality]

[ Vash is feeling the effects of the mason jar just as much as everyone else. It makes him feel uncomfortable in ways he can't fully articulate. Cozying up to someone always leads to a bad result in his experience and being this tempted and punch drunk has him reeling. The only answer is to slink away and hide until his head has cooled and that's exactly where he is headed.

Until someone grabs his arm and he's staring in to an insistent, pretty face. It's not unpleasant but he feels a little panicky being this close to someone when he feels so uncomposed. He gently retracts his only arm to sign a simple phrase he has picked up from the locals. ]

Are you all right?

[steal]

[She understands the sign language here well enough now that she easily understands it without use of her device. Nodding slowly in response to his question, her hand reluctantly pulls away. It's easy to pick up on his unease, and even if she's feeling warm and oddly affectionate she isn't about to force that onto someone. Her own hands work to sign out something to him, slow and steady so he might pick up on some of it.]

I think there's something in the drink.

[criticality]

[ He can feel her reluctance to let go of his arm and the implied affection has his pulse picking up. There's a high flush in his cheeks but he's more than willing to ignore that. Even if she is the best thing he has seen all night.

As soon as she signs that, however, he realizes that she's right. That's the only explanation for this sudden burst of fondness for a stranger. He doesn't want to even entertain the thought that they might be drugged, after all suspicion in a community that relies so heavily on cooperation would be heading down a dangerous road. But who even served it? He can't remember.

His fluency in the hand language is bad and he knows it. It might be better to switch to text. He takes out his device and taps away on the screen. ]

It's all right. First, we should get you some water. Maybe me too.

[ His smile is genuinely warm and open as he looks around for somewhere they can get untampered water. ]

ii (sorry for the delay!)

[gaits]

[ he's seen this before -- well, no, not exactly this, per se. never in his life would david have imagined he'd be dragged into some town straight out of a horror video game, but it's the drinks that are familiar. left open and unattended, a suspicious color with just as suspicious effects; david has been to enough frat house parties in his illustrious university days to know when not to trust a drink that's just sitting there, especially once people start duking it out for affections.

his instinct is to leave, maybe go back to the house or something, but a native shoulders him a little too roughly to the side on their way to intercept a couple. david stumbles, catches himself just barely to prevent tipping face first into the sand before he's grabbed by the arm. he doesn't know who the girl is but he doesn't push her away, concern filtering in as he tilts his head. are you okay? ]

I'm equally sorry for the delay on my end!

[steal]

[She has no idea who he is, and typically she might glare at a stranger that comes across her path this way but the look on her face is curious as she gives a light shrug of her shoulders. Is she okay? She isn't sure, not after drinking that red drink. Everything feels warm and a little fuzzy around the edges, and all she wants to do is just share the warmth she feels inside with others. So she doesn't let go of his arm right away, and just takes delight in the feeling of connection. The way her fingertips come in contact with his skin is enough for her, someone that's so touch-starved that this feels like a big deal.

When her hand eventually does pull off of him so she can reach for her device and type.]

You almost fell. I was catching you.

[It's a lie, but she figures he probably won't call her on it.]