quietplacelogs | INTRO LOG #2

Entry tags:

the dark tower: jake chambers

INTRO LOG #2

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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?

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?

[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.

[ Wow, hmm. How to explain this sensation? ]

Not an actual kick, but... it's how ya describe a drink that hits ya out of nowhere.

You don't finish tasting it until a second or two after it goes down, and then it hits ya all at once. A real rush. This? It's kinda weird and sweet-tastin'.

So kick tastes better than sweet?

[So kick is a flavor, just like sweet and bitter? Sure, that sounds legit. It's not like he's ever experienced taste before, after all.]

Yeah. Although for girls, it's usually the other way around.

[ what was this conversation. he gave up. ]

That's why those fruity drinks are so popular. Can't taste the alcohol as much. 'Course, that also means it's easier to drink too much for your own good. A real pro knows their limits.

[Oh! Akira told him what alcohol is! So alcohol tastes kick, and drunk is what happens when you drink it, but too much drunk is bad for you. And boys like kick better than sweet, but girls don't. Look at how much he's learning! What an educational conversation~]

So you're an alcohol pro?

[ Somehow, somewhere, someone's childhood was being destroyed. ]

I do drink for my job. But there're people who know more than me. Guy I used to know who tended bar back home, he was a real wizard. He could go on about cedar casks and finishes all day.

[What's a few destroyed childhoods here and there, in the grand scheme of things?]

He sounds really smart!

[It's only natural, after all. All wizards are smart, right? It's part of the job description! What kind of jobs involve alcohol, though?]

Yeah, he was a pretty smart fella. Knew how to work his customers, easy to get along with... exactly the kinda guy you want behind your bar.

Probably why I ended up bein' a regular there. Nice to play darts or pool once in a while,
too.

[ should he... ask... ]

You ever play?

[Maybe shockingly, Carpet actually perks up at that.]

Yes! Nobody else had ever heard of them in Agrabah, but Genie showed me how to play. I thought they were just genie games.

[After all, anachronistic stuff like that was absolutely Genie's wheelhouse. He'd poofed a pool table and dart board into existence, along with strange signs made of flashing light, and some kind of glass and metal contraption that played music the likes of which he'd never heard. He'd declared it "the honky tonk atmosphere", though Carpet still has no clue what that means, and claimed it was important to set the mood.]

Genie-what-now? But anyway, if we ever get a chance out here, we're gonna have to play a game.

[ Sorry, that was just how it worked. Who knew if any of these other dudes knew the joy of bar games. He was sort of wondering where this Agrabah place was, though. Most likely somewhere in the Middle East, right? Judging from the magic carpet thing. ]

I thought it was just something genies played instead of humans. But okay! Let's play if we can find or make what we need.

[ Majima gave him a thumb's up. ]

It's a deal. Best be ready for some nine-ball!

Y'know, if you can do that quietly.

[ Actually, how would that work? It'd be a little hard to break without making any noise... ]

Oh yeah, forgot to introduce myself. Name's Majima.

Maybe if the balls were soft and the table was padded?

[That would probably drastically change the physics of the game, though.....]

It's nice to meet you! I'm Fuwa-chan.

[He has a name to introduce himself as now, he's so proud! .....Even if he's pretty much just named Fluffy. Either way, he'll stick a tassel out for a shake.]

Fuwa-chan?

[ Majima's hand was out before he could really absorb this. ]

That's an awful cute name.

[ wait

was this carpet a girl...?? ]

Naruto thought of it.

[Because a guy named Fishcake apparently inherited his parents' godawful naming skills. ~~Seriously, what the hell, Minato? Or should Jiraiya be held responsible for this crime against good taste?~~ Still, if Majima wants to think of him as a girl, Fuwa-chan wouldn't object. Have an enthusiastic shake, even if the grip is a little weak. What can you expect, with soft cloth instead of muscle?]

[ WHAT WAS WITH ALL THESE NAMES. But if it hadn't been Fuwa's idea, then Majima was... just going to continue to assume 'dude'. Whatever whatever, it was fine. ]

Gotcha. Fuwa-chan it is.

[ Maybe the tassels were what gave Naruto the idea in the first place. Majima let go and instead brought his hand up briefly to brush the hair idly back from his temple. ]

So what d'you usually do for fun around here? Can't figure quietly staring into space is entertainin' for long.

I like talking to people and flying around town! The library has books to read too. And everyone has to work here to help the community support so many new people. I help make sure everything stays repaired and quiet!

[Fuwa-chan's idea of "fun" is probably a little skewed, to be honest. Having little to do except quietly staring into space for ten thousand years will do that to you.]

[ That was

REALLY chipper, no wonder this dude was Fuwa-chan. ]

There's a library, huh? Maybe I can catch up on some classics. You got any recs?

One thousand and one nights is good? I haven't had the chance to read too many books before.

Hmm... fairy tales, huh? Can't say I've read many of those lately. That the one where the girl tells a whole bunch of stories to save herself from gettin' the chop?

That's right!

[It's probably even in French in a library like this, rather than the Arabic he's used to. Good thing the devices translate, huh? There probably aren't many Japanese books around here either, after all.]

Alright, well. If I get some free time, I'll check it out.

What kind of books do you like?

[Ancient fantasy kingdoms are not exactly conducive to knowing anything about modern genres, TBH.]

INTRO LOG #2

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