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

and do we really need anything else.....

[hairington]

[ it's been a process to figure out how to process this. a process to take in each moment, each hour, each day, as it comes. steve's found that he's pretty decent at that - at accepting, at adapting, at surviving. he gets by day to day. he keeps himself quiet and figures out how this is all supposed to work. keep quiet, keep your head down, keep a check on the rest of the kids who somehow managed to get here, too, before him.

but he's managing, and that's about as much as he can ask for. managing, surviving, getting up every morning trying to convince himself that this wasn't some weird fever dream and it was actually, truly, happening.

however, he feels like every day there's something different. something he has to wrap his head around. he takes steps slowly and carefully, keeping his eyes open. which is why, really, it comes as a shock to be caught off-guard as a figure barrels into him, diving into his chest and tightening her arms around him. it catches him so off-guard that a sound almost starts to form, his mouth moving around the N-? sound of her name, disbelief and shock and somehow, despite it all, relief. which is why, as soon as the realization hits, he's tucking his face into her hair and wrapping his arms back around her.

nancy. ]

add a sprinkle of suffering eh

[unchancy]

[ she doesn't think about how they haven't touched like this since whatever happened at the party or even about their last, awkward interaction where she didn't know what to say to him. she thinks instead about how she shouldn't cry — how she can't cry. if she does, it'll be noisy, and then they'll be dead.

regardless, she curls her fingers into his stupid, ugly jumpsuit and presses close against his chest for a long moment, willing her breathing to steady and hoping any tears will slip out quietly. steve's face in her air and tight embrace only make her feel more brittle. c'mon, nance. get it together, gal.

she doesn't know how long it's been when she tips her head back, eyes wet and yet somehow sharp on steve. she doesn't have it in her to pull her hands away, even if her grip loosens on him. maybe it's unfair to him (everything from the prolonged closeness from the way she looks up so intently), or to jonathan, or to whoever else she's supposed to think of, even when her head and heart are all twisted up.

one corner of her mouth tugs upward, almost a smile. ]

that's my usual order for starbucks anyway. absolutely perfect.

[hairington]

[ he doesn't either, though his chest does tighten with the feeling of her heartbeat against his. he doesn't think about how long it's been, or that this isn't something he can call his anymore, even if it's familiar. comfortable. nice. he thinks instead about how she must be as terrified as he is, as confused and out of her depth, but at the same time, steve is more than just a little aware that she's probably taking all of this so much better than he has. because she is nancy wheeler. because she just is.

they stand there holding each other for an extended few moments. more moments than he is probably allowed. but he can't bring himself, still, to pull his arms away from her. so while she steadies her breathing, he runs a hand comfortingly across her back, just tries to steady his own heart rate. takes a breath, and then another, and then its nancy who is pulling away from him. looking back up at him with an almost smile, and he can tell she's been crying. or almost crying, completely silent.

his heart tightens, his chest pained, and he forces himself to take a breath - reaching up to tuck some of the hair that's come free behind her ear. a quiet hi as he gives her a small, nearly-apologetic smile in return. like he could apologize for all of this, for her being here.

he's so glad she's here, but in the same breath, wishes she wasn't. wishes she didn't have to deal with this, too.]

[unchancy]

[ together now, it's almost like they're by their lockers or in the parking lot by the school, especially when he brushes her hair behind her ear. oh. that's the way things were before they became complicated, isn't it? of course, they're so far beyond complicated now that they've cycled through multiple horror flicks. and steve looks more worried than ever.

nancy opens her mouth to say something, but closes it shortly after, pulling a face. right. can't do that. she lifts one hand to brush a thumb over the apple of steve's cheek. a reassurance, perhaps, when she can't offer it vocally. her features shift, pointed despite the dampness at the corner of her eyes 'cause it is nancy wheeler — being scared shitless is the new normal for her. she can take it. ]

[hairington]

[ almost, but not quite. it might be a little impossible to get back to that, even with the current situation. maybe because of the current situation. of course he looks at her and feels the same - she's beautiful, she's smart, she's talented, she's incredible - but with that still comes the discomfort in his gut.

they are not this. that haven't been this for...however long, now. even if her thumb runs over his cheek and it does all kinds of things to his chest but he just allows himself a small smile, before his eyes widen - remembering - and he reaches back to his pocket, pulling out the device after watching her mouth open and then close again.

he pulls it out and shows it to her, waiting for her to pull out her own before typing up a message - needing to say something to her, needing to communicate where he can't misunderstand the way she smiles at him, or presses of her fingers against his face. ]

you're okay???

[unchancy]

[ oh! right, the devices. they break contact enough for her to snap back to the present moment. this isn't the same as sitting with jonathan in the woods for hours, shaking and stumbling over her explanations, before making him stay over. this time, she can't even go home.

as she searches for her device, she takes a small step back. ]

Yes!
Are you?
Did you just wake up? With the dust and everything?

[ "everything" being a helluva of a lot of spooky instructions, thanks. ]

[hairington]

[ he doesn't know why he feels the rush of relief when she pulls out the device, why he feels even a fraction of a bit better, knowing that at least they have this. maybe it's the silence getting to him, maybe it's just a need to know she isn't some kind of weird hallucination. ]

yeah

[ god, okay. they're okay. this is all okay. ]

i've been here a day? i think
but same thing
dust and the weird woman telling people not to say anything?

[unchancy]

[ it's different from sitting on her bed with jonathan, flipping open her national geographic book, but it's not far from standing in the byers home with jonathan and steve, waiting for a monster to arrive.

her typing is slow, even though her hands remain stable. she isn't used to the device and carefully chooses her words. ]

That's it.
Noise makes "them" come or something like that.

[ she hesitates. then — ]

Just like blood and the Demogorgon.

[ and she quickly deletes the words. hard to say if it's still a secret, but she'd rather be careful. ]

[hairington]

[ for steve, it feels a lot like those moments seeing nancy after he got dragged back into this, with dustin at his side and a nailed baseball bag in his backpack. he feels ready, but completely unready, to deal with what he knows is there.

but she types it. right there on the device. and steve looks back to her just to catch her eyes - as if to tell her, that way, just how right she was - before nodding slowly. ]

some places are sound proof
rooms, houses
but no where else is safe

[unchancy]

[ she nods back, recognition of their agreement. for once, they're on the same page.

but nancy thinks of barb, too, sitting alone by the pool. then, gone. ]

We don't know if anywhere is really safe.

[ the creatures are drawn to sound, sure, but why should a door stop something capable of engendering enough fear to silence an entire town? ]

Have you looked around yet?

[ around some places or around all the sites they can reach on the muted sand paths. ]

[hairington]

[ leave it to nancy to really get it, and steve lets out a silent breath, and gives her another nod. yes, you're right, we're never actually safe. ]

we don't
but some of the people who have been here have tested it out and think some places are safe enough

[ he's willing to trust an entire town full of people who have been living in this for a while to a certain extent, but it's nancy who reminds him he should be careful. suspicious. he runs a hand through his hair, fidgeting, before looking back to the device, and then back to nancy, nodding once. ]

a little.
i can show you around?

[unchancy]

[ she wishes she was the sort of person who didn't get it because it sucks. majorly. steve's response makes her look down, mouth a soft line. he's right, too. people who've been here before them have survived using the soundproofing strategies. ]

That'd be nice.

[ nice is a bit much. it's appreciated, is what it is. ]

Thanks.

[ she directs another tiny smile his way as she waits for him to show the way (and tries not to notice how he musses his hair, or how it's slightly off without all the product that he likes), shifting her weight from one foot to the other. as of late, she's been leading when it comes to things that go bump in the night. taking a backseat is, well, harder. ]

[hairington]

[ but she's also not wrong to distrust these people. just like she's not wrong with most things. steve has that brief moment, when she looks down, if he said something wrong, but swallows it back anyway. ]

follow me

[ he gives her what he hopes is a reassuring smile, but he can't be confident in its effectiveness, knowing just how out of sorts he's been since arriving. and as he turns to follow along the path, he resists the urge to reach for her hand-

an urge he doesn't know why he still has. why it's even here.

it takes a few steps until he comes to a sudden stop, eyes a bit wide when he remembers, pulling up the device to make a show of typing so nancy can be sure to see. ]

your brother's here too
and the byers kid, and max.

[unchancy]

[ way to leave out the most important information, harrington. steve mentions mike, and she cycles through emotions all over again. relief and then pain. great. she scrubs at her face to stop herself from getting worked up once more. but, god damn it, why can't her brother and his friends just stay in the basement playing stupid games for once? why does will byers keep getting dragged god knows where? this is such bullshit.

something sisterly in her flares up, urging her to find mike right now, at all costs — only she going barrelling around this silent city won't help anyone. and mike is better at this sort of thing than she'll admit, too. ]

Do you know where Mike is? Or what his name is on these things?
Any sign of Joyce? Hopper?

[ she won't bother asking about her parents, seeing as they're somehow always oblivious and wouldn't be any use, regardless. as for jonathan... she assumes steve would have mentioned him alongside will, if he was here. ]

[hairington]

[ he feels bad, actually, a low guilt settling somewhere in the pit of his stomach. he should have mentioned that first, but at the same time he'd been so relieved just to see nancy at all that it had totally escaped him. but he can watch her face, sees the expressions shift, and he feels like he has a good idea of what is going on there.

which is why he kind of assumed that would be where we shifted around - mike would come first, family usually did. ]

he's got a house here
i can show you, yeah.

hopper was apparently just here, but left before i showed up
no idea about joyce.
the kids have apparently been here a while, too

[ which he....hates. it is dark and heavy and unbearable, but not surprising, knowing that they've been out here on their own. but also, knowing these kids, it's of no surprise that they're doing pretty okay with it. if any middle schoolers would, it would be them. ]

[unchancy]

[ her expression shifts, mouth dropping open and brows shooting up. as worried as she is about the kids (mike, will, max; all of them), steve has just said something beyond belief. mike. her baby brother mike wheeler has a house. he doesn't even have enough coins in his piggy bank to blow on arcade games!

she almost laughs, but that's another sound that can't be vocalised. ]

[ this comes first, typed urgently — ] Mike has a house????? HE'S THIRTEEN!!

[ flashed in front of steve harrington's handsome mug just long enough for him to read :') and then: ]

What about El?

[ if mike is with her, he's safer than he'll ever be with nancy. ]

[hairington]

[ initially, he's confused by the sudden shock. but then the realization of what she's probably thinking hits, and he shakes his head as he's typing. ]

its not that
you claim rooms when you get here
there are a lot of abandoned ones?
so you go around and can find rooms and basically just bum around in them?

[ but the enthusiasm of it all almost has him smiling. almost makes him want to laugh. it's the lightest he's felt since he showed up here, really. ]

not sure
she wasn't here when i appeared but

[ he sends the message and shrugs. had he spent an absurd amount of time talking with his ex's kid brother when he got here? maybe. did that mean he asked for updates about said kid's girlfriend? not really. ]

[unchancy]

[ steve!! harrington!! her brother is squatting, and you don't know if el is around!! get it together!!

she wipes her free hand over her face again. breathe, nance. ]

Okay.

[ she's just gonna go with it. fine. ]

Let's just keep going.

[hairington]

[ they're all squatting??? and also living in complete silence from monsters who hear noises from miles away??? and currently in really kind of gross jumpsuits because they have no other options??? nancy. come on. he deserves a little bit of a break. ]

it's not far

[ like that helps.

but he'll start walking again - maybe a little faster this time than before, stopping only to make sure she's following. ]

[unchancy]

[ hey, if there's one thing steve and nancy agree on it's that the jumpsuits are the worst.

she follows along close behind him, near enough to reach out if she chooses -- or if she needs to, more likely. the second time or so that steve stops to check she's there, she raises her brows. not annoyed, but maybe a little amused. ]

[hairington]

[ at least they have one.

but okay, he does feel marginally embarrassed each time he catches her eyes. he maybe kind of immediately turns away, acting a little like he's being caught in the act, before letting out a silent breath and reaching for his device again. ]

sorry
the silence is weird
makes it hard to know you're following

[ makes it hard for him to wrap his head around the fact she's here at all. ]

[unchancy]

[ well, now she feels like an asshole. for a long moment, she doesn't reply. then, she reaches out to curl a hand around his arm. hand-holding would be, too, well, like they were before.

no apologies. and she'll look down at her feet the next time he glances back. problem solved: now he knows that she's following. ]

[hairington]

[ she doesn't need to! steve has been, more than just a little jumpy since he got there. and the fact that nancy is here still doesn't feel quite real. but she curls her hand around his arm and looks down away from her and honestly he's...kind of glad for it. because at the very least she won't be able to see the way his heart speeds up a fraction.

be cool, harrington.

so he will just. continue on. with nancy's hand curled around his arm like this is normal, like things are just. back to normal. except with the knowledge they definitely aren't. ]