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singillppl2024-02-05 02:31 pm
singmod) wrote in singillppl2024-02-05 02:31 pm
Entry tags:
February 2024 Test Drive Meme
FEBRUARY 2024 TDM
PROMPT ONE — ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST: Yet another new group of arrivals find themselves lost in the frozen wilds and vulnerable to the dangers of nature. With luck, they make it to the town of Milton, and to a friendly face offering food, warmth and shelter — not to mention the fact they are not the first to come here.
PROMPT TWO — OF FAIR FORTUNE: After spell of bad luck, finally, the Interlopers find A Very Good (albeit slightly spooky) Boy.
PROMPT THREE — BAD PICKINGS: An error is made when foraging for mushrooms that have been altered by the Aurora makes for some interesting situations for the Interlopers.
ARRIVAL: METHUSELAH'S FEAST
WHEN: Mid-month.
WHERE: Milton, Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: potential animal attacks, potential injuries, potential cold injuries/hyperthermia risk.
'You are the Interloper. You are not part of nature’s design.'
It’s the last thing you hear. A dark, deep voice. Impossibly ancient. You feel afraid. Maybe you’re dreaming, maybe you’re wide awake. You saw the lights, and then your world went dark. But you hear it in the blackness, you won’t forget those words.
You awaken. You are not where you were before. It’s different for everyone, there doesn’t seem to be much of a pattern in where you find yourself. You may open your eyes to find yourself in a cold, dim and dank cabin. The air is stale, dust hangs in the rays of weak sunlight that shine through the tiny windows. Someone lived here once, but they aren’t to be found. You look around, it seems like no one has been here in several weeks, maybe longer. The fire is stone cold, the dishes in the sink are mouldy — it's possible the place has been ransacked, as if they've gone through the drawers and cupboards looking for something. It is quiet. The wood creaks around you. Or perhaps you may awaken to find yourself shivering in the yawning maw of a cave, the freezing stone below you. Or maybe you’re unfortunate enough to sit up to find yourself lying in the snow, in the middle of the wilderness. Snow lies thick around you. It’s freezing out. You haven’t felt a cold like this before in your entire life. Cruel and biting. You have no idea where you are, and what’s worse — you are completely alone.
You may feel different, too. Any powers or magics you may have feel... absent. Disconnected. Things that may not have affected you previously now do. Something in you has changed.
You know you can’t stay where you are. You’ll need to move, try to work out where you are and how you came to be here. So you walk, head out into the unknown, in hope of finding a trail or a road. Interlopers who arrive during the month of February will find themselves especially likely of falling foul to accidental injuries and the like. It's as if the bad luck of finding yourself in this place only gets much worse. Maybe you get yourself horrendously more lost than you mean to, maybe you end up with a sprained wrist or ankle after a fall, torn clothing from fighting through the thicker parts of the wilderness.
But soon enough, you'll be able to find a path to town. A little more worse for wear, but alive. It’s here you may find someone else in the same boat as yourself, equally freezing and confused — battered from the journey. You’ll both need to keep going. It won’t be easy. You hear howls of wolves around you, and the terrain is difficult: slips and falls are likely. You’re completely vulnerable out here in the open.
Or it’s possible you may come across someone else here. Someone who looks far better prepared to deal with the freezing cold and frozen landscape, out hunting or gathering. They’ll likely offer help and get you into town. However, for the unlucky ones who don’t come across anyone, you’ll carry on until you see it: the lazy trail of smoke rising in the air. Fire. Not just one, but several. Civilization...?
Follow it, and soon enough the way you’ve taken will certainly become a path or road. Unfolding before you in the mountainous forests, you’ll see the most welcome of sights: a small mining town tucked up in the valley. Battered, rusted road signs will direct to “MILTON, POP. 947”. You’re almost there, you keep going, and it looks like other people have had the same idea as you. In fact, you’ll hear the muffled sounds of life. People! In the town!
As you head into the outskirts and then further into town, you’ll find it’s a little easier to walk but the cold has gripped you hard. You’ll find the buildings, both shops and homes, some are dark and lifeless, some of them are boarded up, some of them are occupied. People are going about their business, or stood watching from their tiny porches of their small, timber homes. For a town this big, there doesn’t seem to be many people. Several dozen at most, but no more. Some of them will direct you to the Community Hall, tell you to head there — you've been expected.
There is a sombre mood to the town. Although you can't quite place why, maybe you should ask?
Towards the center of town, you’ll find the building from which the biggest of the smoke trail rises: a community hall, by the looks of it. You’ll find more and more people all drawn to this place, each and every one of them in the same position as yourself (and your companion, if you’ve found one). Some are in worse states than others: some are bloodied, nursing bite wounds or cuts; others might have some other kind of injury sustained in the journey here from falls. Others may look as if they could faint from the cold at any second.
The door opens, and you’re greeted by the gnarled, wizened face of an elderly man, dressed in thick furs. He has a kind face, but looks sad. He smiles warmly despite the sadness in him, and with pity, ushering you in with haste.
“Another batch of poor souls from the wilds.” he nods gravely. No, this is not the first time that this has happened. “I am Methuselah. I welcome you Newcomer, although I’m sorry for how you’ve come to find yourself here. The lights are changing things, bringing more of you here. Come, we must get you warm and fed. Mother Nature has not been kind.”
The room is dim, lit only by natural daylight through the windows. A roaring fire sits at one end of the huge hall. It crackles, bright and cheerful... and warm. Even as big as this place is, the room is pleasantly warm. You’ll also find basic cots set up down one side of the hall, and while it seems there's a few people already living here, there's enough space for those in need of them. There's places to rest for a moment and get your bearings, or just trying to recover from the cold. Down the other side are tables and chairs, and long tables laden with food, drinks and bottled water similar to one might find at a soup kitchen. Once again, Methuselah offers a feast, aided by some of the other Interlopers.
There are canisters with hot herbal teas and perhaps a rare canister of coffee, along with soup and stew and trays of charred deer and rabbit meats, plus some grilled fish, instant mashed potatoes, and tinned vegetables. It’s very basic, but it’s hot and filling. A feast. The old man has been busy. And Methuselah will continue to busy himself, still; there is plenty to do. He will fetch blankets, tend to wounds, serve food and drinks. He does not have much time to talk. More and more people seem to be coming in from the cold. He will not stop to sit and rest until everyone is seen to, taking up a place by the fire to gaze silently into its flames. He is very troubled, thoughtful. Much has been happening. The others from town will eventually trail in too, to eat and warm themselves, and search among the new faces.
He will encourage newcomers to get warm and eat, and when they are ready to — they can explore the town and find one of the many empty homes to call their own. He will not speak much, his mood is... low, mournful. but perhaps you might be able to get some answers from those fellow arrivals who’ve been in this place for some time now.
This time, if he is approached, particularly by those who have been in Milton for some time, he will frown in thought. He is… considering something. Finally, he will speak:
“I had hoped that the secret cache I and your fellow Newcomers had found two months past would be enough until the spring comes.” He hesitates for a moment, his gaze moving to one of the many windows of the Community Hall. “If she ever arrives, that is.”
He doesn’t believe it will.
“More and more of you come. Life will continue to get harder with the numbers rising.” Methuselah explains. “Milton is but one town, and the way out to the south is blocked.”
He means the road out — the one that follows out of town, past the gas station and through the mountains. The tunneled road ends there, caved in with snow and stone. There is no way out that way. Methuselah is quiet for a few moments.
“... There must be another way out. For all of our sakes. It must be found."
OF FAIR FORTUNE
WHEN: The month of February.
WHERE: Milton Outskirts, Milton area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: otherworldly animal;
The Interlopers have discovered that it is not best to trust the canines in this world. The wolves and volatile, aggressive — prone to attacking the town, people. There has even been an instance of a dog leading Interlopers off the beaten track some months ago, into trips and falls and all sorts of mischief. To come across any sort of dog these days would draw suspicion, perhaps even aggression from Interlopers.
And certainly, coming across this particular dog is enough to turn plenty around and start heading in the opposite direction.
There is something…. Otherworldly about this dog. In terms of breed, one might recognise it to look a great deal like an Old English Sheepdog — but far bigger and hardier. It almost looks as if moss and vines are matted in its long fur, which seems ridiculous — but it’s true enough. The dog does not bark, but instead will stop and look at you silently when you come across one another. If approached, it will not run off, but it does not want to be petted and prefers to keep a respectable distance between you and it.
Then, it will turn to look in one direction and begin heading that way. It looks as if it wants to take you somewhere, but it won’t run off for you to catch up. It keeps to your side, silent and steady as you head through the snow, the woods. Wherever you’re going, there seems to be no rush in getting there.
It’s a little unnerving: where did this dog come from? Why does it look so… strange? Where is it going? Where is it taking you? But even with these questions, it doesn’t seem like you’ll find much in terms of answers, not at first.
Soon enough, you’ll find it. It’s different for everyone, but it seems like it all has some recurring theme. Perhaps out in the cold wilds of the Northern Territories, you’re in desperate need of shelter or warmth — you and the dog will find yourselves facing an abandoned cabin, a place of safety from the cold, perhaps with warmer clothing within. Or perhaps the dog may lead you to some secret stash: a metal cache half-hidden in the snow, a small stone cairn — with vital loot hidden within: matches, flares, maybe even food. It may even lead you to foragable foods: mushrooms, berries or of the like — all safe to consume.
Whatever the strange dog leads you to, it is a fortune. A small one, but a fortune nonetheless. It seems as if it wanted to bring you to something to aid you in your time here. Upon finding whatever it is the dog leads you to, the dog disappears — never to be seen again.
BAD PICKINGS
WHEN: Mid-month onwards for a few weeks.
WHERE: The entirety of the Milton area.
CONTENT WARNINGS: altered food/foraged foods; drugs/hallucinogens / negative hallucinogenic trips; severely altered/warped moods; temporary amnesia; personality switches; loss of senses
The Northern Territories may be harsh, difficult conditions to survive in, but certainly not impossible. There is an abundance of wildlife, hardy enough to withstand the weather — even in the extreme, unpredictable times such as these. Foraging will soon come to be a staple for those stuck here in this world, and is just as important as hunting down any deer or rabbit. Flora is not only useful in terms of sustenance, but in its use in medicines and tinctures.
Mushrooms can be found here and there in particular areas: taking advantage of the wet, rotten wood of downed trees, or nestled in the sheltered undergrowth of the more densely wooded areas where it’s a little more suitable for fungi to grow. But not even the flora of this world is safe following the recent Auroras. The world is changing, and for the next few weeks — foraged mushrooms will have some… interesting effects, when consumed.
Interlopers that come across these mushrooms in the wilds will find themselves compelled to pick and eat these mushrooms right away. They're perfectly fine to eat raw, just more enjoyable to eat once cooked.
The effects of the mushrooms will last between eight hours to a full day, depending on how much was consumed. Nothing can be done to alleviate symptoms. You will feel incredibly hungover the day after the effects have subsided, and feel completely fine after that. The Aurora’s influence on mushrooms is only temporary, and the mushrooms will cease their effects after a few weeks.
Reishi mushrooms This mushroom will temporarily take away one of your five senses: sight, touch, smell, taste or hearing. You may find yourself feeling completely numb to touch; or unable to hear or see anything.
Oyster mushrooms Eating one of these mushrooms will give you temporary amnesia. You may forget yourself, things about your life, even your own name. Or maybe you will forget those around you. Or perhaps both.
Black Morel Eating this mushroom will seem to switch your personality to its complete opposite. Introverted sorts will become extroverted, those prone to anger will become more calm and chilled out, cheerful sorts will become more morose — and vice-versa.
Chanterelles Your mood is lifted and you become more cheerful and affectionate with those around you. You may even become more enamoured with the next person you happen to meet, regardless of your feelings towards them previously or your own orientation/attractions.
Amethyst Laccaria There is nothing supernatural or strange that happens when this mushroom is consumed. You just have a super bad hallucinogenic trip of your own horrible making. This mushroom is literally a nightmare. Sorry about that.
FAQs
1. Arrival threads can be treated as game canon.
2. Items characters have brought from home can be found either strewn around them when they awaken, or in the community hall — as if someone left them out for them to collect. Methuselah will not know how they got there, and will be quite bemused by the happenings.
3. Reminder that all characters are now depowered upon arrival. They can choose not to notice it at first, or can immediately sense something is different about them.
4. If asked any personal questions, Methuselah will smile and say "Oh, you don't want to know about an old man like me. But I have lived all over in these parts for all my life." He will be more concerned with trying to help Newcomers, and is genuinely concerned for them and their well-being. Other Interlopers will say much of the same — there's little to know about him.
5. More information about Milton can be found here.
1. Please Do Not Pet That Dog.
1. Interlopers that pick a variety of the mushrooms and cook them together to eat will suffer the effects of whichever mushroom was in the largest quantity.
2. The mushrooms are fine to eat raw, and characters will feel compelled to eat them raw.
no subject
Nothing. He turns his head towards the sound of the voice but he has no idea if he's looking in the right direction.
This is not good. Not good at all. ]
Uh, that would be a no. No, I'm not all right. I can't see. Is sudden blindness a thing here? Because I think that just happened to me.
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Sudden blindness?
[ He's not even really asking for confirmation - he's pretty sure he heard that right just now! - as much as the idea of it throws him off hard enough that he can't help but echo it back at the other. Sure, there are probably things that cause sudden blindness somewhere out there in the world, but this is the first time Billy is hearing of it here.
The man might still be keeping some distance between the two of them, since standing right next to Peter while Peter has no idea where to look would just be a touch too awkward for someone who feels awkward as easily as Billy, but he does offer: ]
Did you perhaps eat something bad?
[ Not like he has no idea how spot on he is with that one, it just.. seems like the only logical conclusion he can think of other than 'this place is just weird and horrible sometimes.' And Billy would prefer to not jump to that most depression conclusion right away. ]
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[ And he'd only had one. Just one! He'd gotten a little hungry and now he was blind and he's trying not to panic but it is not easy. He swallows. ]
Is this something that happens here? Does it wear ofF? Please say it wears off.
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[ Okay, maybe not such good news for Peter. Billy isn't even putting it this way since he thinks it's funny or anything - the man's tone sounds too carefully neutral for that sort of thing. It's more likely just that he's being extremely honest with the other, not really believing in covering up these sorts of things. ]
I haven't heard of cases like these here before. It must be something new. [ Which sounds plausible to Billy. After all, it's like weird new stuff pops up here out of nowhere every month by now..
It's not exactly something he enjoys, but it is just the nature of this place, he's learned at this point.
Still, it's not like he's being entirely unhelpful here, since he adds: ]
.. do you need help getting up?
[ Since the other staying down there in the snow just can't be making the situation much better with how cold it is around these parts. ]
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[ Thanks, he hate sit. He continues laying there, just...hating his life. He wonders if the other man's going to walk away, leave him to it but he doesn't hear footsteps marking his departure.
Peter sighs. ]
Probably. I don't think I know which way is up and which way is down right now. Things just all feel off.
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I don't think a doctor could help much with this. [ Especially since most things in this place tend to be a little more.. spiritual..
As much as Billy still hates thinking about that a little too hard. ]
Your best shot might be waiting until it wears off. And staying safe until then. I imagine you don't want to accidentally wander out into the woods and straight into a pack of wolves. [ Which is always a very real possibility here!! ]
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[ Peter sounds a little scared about that even though he feels better being around someone. He might not know Billy but he seems to be a...friend or at least someone that wasn't going to try and kill him.
Peter swallows and rubs at his eyes, hoping against hope that that would do the trick. It doesn't. ]
Does this place have a doctor that I can see?
[ Because, with his powers, this shouldn't be happening. It shouldn't and yet, something is causing it to occur. He doesn't know if he wants to know why. ]
no subject
.. on the other hand, it's not like Billy is unkind enough to totally ignore the other when he seems so scared. It's not like bringing Peter to a doctor will be any skin off his back, right? Especially when he wasn't in the middle of something important. ]
Sure. I know a doctor. [ And since Goodsir has publically advertised his services here, Billy doubts he'll mind him dropping Peter off at his doorstep. ] I can lead you to Mr. Goodsir, he can take a look at it.
[ But since false reassurances are so not Billy's thing, he can't help but add: ]
I am not entirely sure if he could do anything about this though.
[ Just saying, Peter!! Don't hold false hope, buddy, it won't serve you well. ]
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He should get it fixed. He'd just not exactly sure why it's affecting him when it shouldn't be. His spider powers should be taking care of this, making it so he's not affected or at least not for too long.
And yet.
His heart beats erratically inside his chest. ]
I guess I might need that if it's not just going to magically go away. That'd be too easy, wouldn't it?
no subject
[ Mostly because it didn't exist.
.. or wasn't supposed to, anyway. Things got a little complicated near the end there.
He shakes his head, even though Peter can't see it. It leaves a little pause, but then he asks: ]
What is your name?
[ Might as well take his attention away from his current condition for a bit, especially when Billy doubts talking about it will help. ]
no subject
[ Magic, he thinks, is definitely something that believes in because it's hard to have seen what he's seen and not believe in it. But, his belief in science is a little stronger.
And he thinks that leaning on that to fix whatever's wrong with him will be easier than to hope someone will snap their fingers and he'll be instantly better. ]
And don't worry, I'm not counting on magic to make this better. I wouldn't say no to it happening but I know that's just...asking for a miracle. I just hope this is temporary.
no subject
.. mister Parker, then. [ Maybe it sounds a touch formal, especially when it's a lot harder to tell just how Victorian Billy is nowadays in this place, but the over the top formal social norms sure are in place. He's not going to call him Peter when the only person he calls by their first name is his lover. ]
I'm glad you understand the situation. After all, if it is temporary, then all you can do is wait it out.
[ See? Being practical about this! The best way to deal with it.
He's just glad Peter isn't in hysterics, really. ]
Do you still want me to take you to the doctor, or would you be fine waiting as long as you were in a safe location here? [ You know, where Peter won't just.. walk into trees.. ]
no subject
[ And this feels like a very unforgiving environment. The last thing Peter wants to be is a burden to anyone especially now when he's done this to himself. ]
I can wait this out. And if it doesn't go away in...I don't know, twenty four hours, I'll consider a doctor. But safe place, I'd definitely be appreciative of that. Because I don't know if I wanna make camp out here. Don't think snow would make a great bed.
no subject
Not withdrawn enough to help out, though. He squats down to the level of where Peter fell into the snow, first holding out his hand, but then actually reaching out to grab a hold of Peter's hand since it's not like the other can see his. ]
Here. I will help you up.
[ Just a warning so Peter doesn't suddenly feel him pulling him up out of nowhere and gets startled. Billy's fingers do feel a little thin and bony, so if he'd get concerned at all about whether this guy could even pull him up, Peter would be pretty valid to do so..
Thankfully he does manage though, especially if Peter helps move along to get himself up too. He'll let go once he's sure Peter is steady on his feet. ]
You will likely be able to avoid walking into anything as long as you can hear my voice, right? [ Billy is mostly asking because the alternative is.. physical contact all the way until the community hall...
He won't survive that as a Victorian man. ]
no subject
[ That's sarcasm. He doesn't believe that Billy will actually do that to him. He doesn't even know if there are cliffs around here to be walked off of. ]
Thanks for, uh, not just walking away when you saw me. I don't know how I'd get anywhere if you weren't around.
no subject
The cold is unforgiving.
[ That much is easy to say first when he doesn't have as much time to ponder his words as he usually would, cautious by nature. It's a fact that's been burned into him at this point. ]
And there are so few of us here. If we would not help each other, we would all die. [ Another thing he does believe. It's good to have allies here, a fact he's even more aware of with how tense things are with all the other sailors from back home here. ] Would you not have done the same for me if our roles had been reversed?
[ Billy definitely isn't optimistic enough about other people to believe that to be the case, but.. well, he might as well see how helpful Peter is, right. ]
no subject
[ He says that with conviction, without any sort of hesitation. Even with the tumult of his life, the upheaval and grief that he still carries, he still wouldn't walk past someone that needed help. He couldn't.
And now that he's here, he knows that he'd help someone since he'd been helped before. ]
I would help. I don't know how much help I'm going to be for a few days while I get myself together here but after that and knowing I won't get lost when I try and lead someone back? I'm there.
no subject
That's even more helpful than Billy anticipated, and though Peter obviously can't see it, the other is giving him a slightly surprised stare. Not even the bad kind, just-- generally surprised. ]
Don't worry. [ He then adds after that slight pause, looking ahead and realising they're getting close to the community hall. ] I don't assume anyone will force you to go out and help unless you feel ready for it.
[ Especially given the sight problem. ]
And until then you should be fine in the community hall. There are often people around, so if you need help with anything in the meantime, I am fairly certain someone will come to your aid.
no subject
[ Peter says it lightly, trying to bring a little levity to the conversation. He doesn't want to think too much about what's happened and what's going to happen. He doesn't want to dwell on the whole blind thing either.
He just...tries to focus forward and to joke around. ]
Probably a good thing. I think you'd get tired of me if that was the case.
no subject
(Well, that, and he still has to keep on making sound.) ]
I think you underestimate either me or yourself. [ There's something just a touch dry about the way he says it. ] I have spent years stuck in smaller quarters with various men who weren't all incredibly pleasant. You do not seem so terrible in comparison.
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Hey, that sounds like a compliment so I'm gonna take it as one.
[ He shoots a grin in Billy's direction (or what he hopes is Billy's direction.) ]
I guess there are worst people to get stuck with than me. I'm...not terrible. Sometimes. My aunt would probably argue but she's family, she has to do that.
no subject
[ If Billy was any more familiar with Peter, there might have been some amusement or even rare light playfulness in that statement.. but considering he's only just meeting the other, he still expresses the sentiment in a carefully neutral way.
The slight amusement at Peter definitely startling to ramble enough that Billy wonders if the other would just speak himself into a corner is entirely internal for now. ]
no subject
[ Because, lately, he's been thinking of himself as pretty damn terrible too. He knows the reasons why but the less shared about that the better. ]
We are our own worst critics, right?
[ He thinks that's the saying. ]
no subject
But he'll let the other have this secret, especially considering Peter's current condition. ]
You should not be so harsh on yourself. [ He instead says - rather plainly.
Not that he believes Peter could instantly stop being hard on himself just by someone else telling him that, but.. it's more a reminder, since Billy is sure the other knows this too. Doesn't anyone? ]
Other people will judge you enough. The least you could do for yourself is not adding your own judgement on top of that.
no subject
[ It's definitely valid advice and it's not the first time he's heard it either but —
It's incredibly hard to follow through with that advice these days. ]
My aunt tells me that all the time and yeah, she's right. So're you. But it's not that easy.
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