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

[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. ]

[steal]

[He closes the distance with hesitation, and Rey offers him a half-hug in return. It's a loose but still affectionate gesture, one shared between friends. Her forehead dips, pressing against his shoulder. They've been through a lot here, and even with things feeling light and calm tonight she's tired. So to have someone she trusts here makes her ease into the contact, to the point that her arm tightens around him, and her hand squeezes his.

The calmness within her grows, and she softly exhales. It's been so difficult to stay true to herself here. There's been so many chances to give in to anger or her self-doubt. This, though, this is nice. It makes all the challenges she's faced worthwhile. It means she's capable of keeping the light that she knows exists within her.]

Thank you. [She lifts her head to whisper into his ear. Thank you for being her friend.]

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ They didn't need to be any closer. The looseness of the half-hug meant more freedom. She could get away if she wanted to. Poe would relax his hand in their hold as she came closer. Feeling her against him like this puts him at ease. Someone familiar and who was brave in her feelings. She could have fallen to darkness so easily but she remained on the light. Poe knew how easy giving in to darkness could be. This place could have done it so many times. He tightens the hold around her a bit, squeezing her hand back.

Poe is constantly doubting his own judgements that he makes. Sometimes their good and others bad. He knows that he wants to remain truthful. But there are new facts that he has to face too. His lips pull upwards in a smile as he turns his head a little to look at her. ] You're welcome.

[steal]

[Rey finds that she doesn't particularly want to get away. It's an odd feeling, to go her entire life without physical contact and affection, only to suddenly be craving it now. Many things here are new to her, and the sensation she's feeling of warmth and longing isn't necessarily new but the intensity of the pull toward him she's feeling definitely is. It makes her still for a moment, looking up at him with an almost scrutinizing look. Typically she'd have to weigh the pros and the cons of getting close to someone. Figure out what their angle is, what they want from her. If they're going to try harming her or taking something she's not ready to give. With Poe, she doesn't feel any of that.

Light and warmth feel like they're going to burst out of her at any second, like she can't possibly contain them and she has to share them with the world. The issue is, she doesn't trust the world. But she does trust Poe. So she smiles and leans in to very lightly brush her lips against his. It comes from a place of connection and affection, from a shared trust. She has no idea what she's doing but it feels right.]

[gotyourselfapilot]

[ He's usually making small touches of human contact. It mostly second nature to him once he finds those that don't mind. Poe's been hugged plenty of times by squad mates in thanks. It wasn't to unheard of in the Resistance where affection can be displayed differently and in all forms. He only gives a small smile to reassure her that there isn't any kind of gain. There is no harm being done and if she backed away, he would let her go.

Trust is hard to come by now a days. Poe knows that very well having encountered different situations where breaking trust and betrayal does happen or where trust grew so thin he could only believe that plans would go right. He was slowly trusting Rey while being here, so far there hadn't been anything to question. Just stories she told that hit deep and information he'll learn to deal with. At her smile, he does too not realizing what more she planned on doing. The soft brushing of lips surprises him at first, but he slowly presses his own lips back against her's giving into temptation. It's not long until he pulls away a moment after. It's not Rey, but him and his rushing thoughts. He slowly presses his forehead against Rey's while looking at her and biting his bottom lip a little. Hopefully she doesn't flee because that's not what he wants. But was it the drink or her that acted first? ]