It is a quiet day in mostly reconstructed Cerealia. The robots are busily running into walls that were not there before, the Cybuddy bees are buzzing...and CERES has still not said a word. Attempting to contact them still gets the User Offline error. Strange...
But who cares if CERES is offline? After all, they are the cruel and tyrannical captors. A Cerealia without them must be better than a Cerealia with them. So there's nothing to worry about on this fine, peaceful day. Or, at least, that's what it seems like, when suddenly there's a voice in everyone's head. A chosen few may recognize the voice, for they will have heard it before, but to the vast majority, it is brand new.
Looks like someone has been saved, and a reward granted... and no, you don't have a single choice in the matter.
 Your heroism will be remembered, lost and stolen souls.
You have saved me, and so now, I shall save you.
All of you.
|
PHASE I [ day one ] It happens so quickly. One moment you’re in the colony, going about your daily life, and the next, you’re… floating. A moment later, every player character from the colony is transported with a wisp of fresh air to...somewhere very very different. The distance is far, but it is covered in what must have only been a scant moment, and it’s clear somehow, especially to air characters, that it was Caeli’s doing that brought everyone there.
There, naturally, being right in the middle of the jungle.
Everyone is then unceremoniously dropped. You may land on a tree, or in a patch of poison mushrooms (no really, look out for the colorful plant life, it’s probably poisonous) or in the river. There are some strange insects of all sorts and types, some of which have some uncomfortable side effects if you’re bitten, such as swelling or the uncomfortable urge to go hug the nearest person, and there are strange flowers everywhere, some of which glow only in the dark of night or the shade of trees. It is dreadfully humid, however, and a little hard to breathe--unless you’re of the air disposition.
Either way, you’ve certainly landed somewhere fantastical, so take some time to get used to your surroundings. It shouldn’t take too long to find everyone else, hopefully.
PHASE II [ day two ] Of course, this far into the jungle, and making this much noise, it was only inevitable before some company was attracted.
Some are clearly dangerous, some are peaceful as can be and some are somewhere in between; approach at your own risk.
Either way, these monsters are all drawn to larger groups of people and a lot of noise, so it may be best to keep quiet...though the ones that keep their distance may be even more concerning.
Everyone is certainly being stalked at one point or another in the jungle -- and at night, there are eyes watching from the darker parts of the trees.
PHASE III [ day three ] But perhaps if you follow some of those monsters deeper into the woods, you will stumble across an old, run down village of sorts. It looks as though time and the jungle has overtaken it. Exploring it will reveal plenty of homes that were clearly lived in however, by families and by people of all sorts.
There are empty rooms, covered in dust, and a central village fire, long gone out.
Small knick-knacks and various objects can be found… if you want to steal from the dead, you know. It’s a little rude. It appears they led a simple, peaceful life, however; most notably, there is no technology to be found.
And if The Bridge catches you doing it, she will look incredibly sad and ask you to put everything back in its proper place before she goes back to looking very irritated at Caeli. You may overhear words about how this “isn’t the right place” and Caeli’s unrepentant, “It is only a few hundred miles”. Looks like something went a little wrong in the transportation process.
Time to camp out for the night, perhaps. And your CereVices don’t get any reception out here, so no surfing the internet for you. If you try to connect to the internet, for some reason the device starts playing a song. Was that programmed…?
PHASE IV [ day four ] By the fourth day, it’s pretty clear that you’re going to be stuck here for a bit. Pestering Caeli or Maris gets nothing, while the Bridge still can’t be approached for pretty good reasons. So… you’ll just have to make the best of it while they figure out their next approach.
Time to figure out how to camp with few supplies and even fewer nice places to sleep. Maybe try to make a fire (though it’s incredibly difficult, considering how muggy it is here) or try to find some bugs to eat (ew gross).
Of course, you can try hunting, but the prey doesn’t look too friendly, so be careful not to become the prey yourself. The same goes for fishing, it seems.
Some of the trees are poisonous, some of the grasses will cause unfortunate rashes, and some vines will lash out to grab at people (especially colorful ones); basically, this is an entirely untamed alien jungle, so it may not be the fun camping trip you'd like.
Time to work together to survive out here, at least for a little longer.
It’s your time to shine. This is Person Versus Wild.
PHASE V [ day six ] On day six, the jungle goes utterly silent.
The monsters and animals disappear. The extra friends poof away hastily and suddenly. Maris and the Bridge fall silent (though Caeli admittedly continues floating there as ever). If anyone approaches them to ask, they'll just say that "she is coming".
And soon, she does appear. She moves slowly, lacking in feet; they are roots, as though that of a tree. Nonetheless, she has no troubles with moving forward, slow bit by bit. She does not speak, not at first, and behind her, trotting lightly through the woods, there is another. Both feel strongly of spiritual energy, just like Maris and Caeli. And eventually, after observing the people gathered, they can be spoken to.
BONUS [ day ??? ] After spending some time in the jungle, emotions might be running a bit amuck. And those emotions might bring some unexpected...friends. Yes, let's go with friends.
Because if a character is typically grumpy, gloomy, stoic, lineface, or anything along those lines, they may find themselves followed by a bright, happy bird. That bird feeds off of those emotions, and will just cheerfully follow around any lineface character for as long as possible. Or until they smile. The birds are otherwise harmless, chirping happily every now and then and following them around like a friendly shadow.
Happy, cheerful, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, energetic characters, on the other hand, will soon find themselves followed by... a different friend. Or maybe a handful of them. It depends on how cheerful they are. Either way, these creatures feed off of happiness and fun, but they will also chew on hair or an ear if they're allowed to get that close, making horrifying, chittering noises as they follow anyone who is in a good mood.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Nice more like NOT AT ALL NICE!!!
[Ugh. It's not like the guy's not right, even though he's obviously also being a prick just to get at Leon. How'd he go from "I'm not eating that thing" to "you definitely need to kill it" so fast, huh? Just to mess with him, that's how!
Either way, Leon's not keen on the idea of doing all the dirty work and then having to share. Even having to share the experience is, ehhhh. Having to share the meat too? No way. And it pisses him off being browbeaten into doing work anyway while the other dude just stands there and judges or whatever.
He crosses his arms, knife still in his hand, so what I'm saying is, good thing he still hasn't triggered the blade or that would be a stupidass move. But at least he's not backing down. He just looks between Nice and the bird with a scowl.]
I'm not gonna just do it for you, asshole. You've gotta help me out with this if you're serious about it!
no subject
Also being judgmental is a full-time job, Leon. It's Hard.]
What? How am I supposed to help out? I don't have a knife.
[Okay but he knows how to help, he just doesn't want to. Helping means that he might get some blood on him and he's already dirty...so he's not that keen on it.
He never actually thought he'd be having those kinds of thoughts, to be honest--]
no subject
[He's so acutely aware of every word out of his mouth right now, in sharp contrast to how little attention he usually pays to what he's saying. Of course, it's not making him stop to pick them carefully, which just makes matters even worse. It's like things make it past his lips and then his brain picks up on them half a second too late and reminds him to feel awkward and shitty about them. It sucks. It sucks ass, and he's sure as hell not going to let on to it if he can help it.
He doesn't want to do this. Why is he doing this?]
--Forget it, man, it ain't worth dealing with you for it. Even if I could, like, magic it into chicken nuggets or something once it was dead, it still wouldn't be worth it!
no subject
[He's going to completely ignore the idea that he's supposed to hold it, because that would require Effort and he's not really wanting to exert it right now. He'd rather pick some berries and hope he doesn't get sick than try to butcher a giant chicken.
Just saying.]
Dealing with me? You're the one that's being really loud about everything. I think I'm actually getting a headache now.
[No you're not.]
no subject
[This guy has not become any less of a pain in the ass since Leon last saw him. He ought to walk away. He's ready to walk away. There's nothing else to accomplish here. What's he even going for, huh? If he got Nice to actually agree, he'd just end up murdering a friggin' bird with the help of a guy he absolutely doesn't trust the help of, and doesn't really want to team up with in matters of animal slaughter. Or anything else, for that matter. No thanks. And then what would he even do with the thing, anyway?
So it's time to blow this popsicle stand, except walking away is one of those skills Leon still really fuckin' sucks at.
He puts the knife away, at least, firm in his intent to not use it. This battle isn't about knives, it's about . . . what the hell is it even about again? Who cares?! He grimaces at Nice instead, ears pink with irritation.]
Maybe I wouldn't be so friggin' loud if you weren't such a jackass, huh? Don't even act like you're not used to gettin' yelled at with your shitty attitude! You've got a face that's beggin' for way worse than just some yelling!
no subject
Whoops.]
What're you going to do about it? You sound like you want to punch me or something.
[Yeah, he gets yelled at a lot. But......he doesn't really care that much.]
Are you actually going to?
[Stop, Nice.]
no subject
[Because obviously he'd shut the hell up if he didn't. That was totally asking for it! Leon doesn't actually want to get in a fight, but . . .
Well, no, he kinda does. It's been a stressful few days. Taking a swing at someone probably won't actually help, but it sure does feel like it would right now. He's hungry, he's dirty, he's tired, he hasn't had any much-needed privacy, and goddammit does he really need some guy picking on him too? No!
He's not even thinking about it, but he curls his right hand into a fist, his shoulder and neck already tensing.]
All you ever do is try and get a rise outta me! Maybe I oughta give you what you're asking for!
no subject
Don't do it
Not that Nice would probably fight back because he ain't even mad at all, but he's pretty good a dodging so it might just end up making Leon more mad in the long run.]
Maybe if it wasn't so easy, it wouldn't be a big deal. [Kind of blaming Leon for all this; because Nice isn't guilty of anything at all or something like that.] I don't think I'm asking for anything.
no subject
[He doesn't throw any punches yet. But whether this is a temporary or permanent reprieve remains to be seen. Never accuse Leon of making good decisions when he's riled up.]
Maybe it wouldn't be so easy if you didn't deserve it so much, ever think o' that?
no subject
[Poor Leon...he's got so much to deal with out here, and then there's Nice.]
Nah. I just think people get too worked up too easily.
no subject
[At least some of his anger ebbs away, replaced by pure incredulity. He crosses his arms instead of gearing up to fling one of them out into Nice's face. It's still not the most non-confrontational of stances, but it's something. Something annoyed.]
What're you even talking about, "so deeply into how I am," huh . . . somethin' tells me you're the kinda guy who doesn't have a lot of friends.
no subject
I have enough friends. [He would never admit that he misses them, but he does. It's been so long since he's seen them...
Still not showing that he's thinking that hard about it, though.] They're just at home.
no subject
[Who the hell is so casual about admitting he doesn't have any friends here? Come on! But this guy obviously gives no shits. That had been pretty clear from the first time they crossed paths. Leon cringes a little at the very thought; what do you even do here (or anywhere) without people to hang with?
Oh, right. Apparently it's "piss other people off for fun."
Hey . . . maybe he's onto something there, he thinks. His expression doesn't soften, but it slips a little more thoughtful.]
So are you just so bored not havin' anyone to hang out with that you've gotta fill your hours making trouble? Is this, like, a cry for help?
no subject
[Oh my god, is Leon trying to get all touchy-feely on him because that's just not going to work out.
Nope. He has no Feelings (ok yeah he does but he'll never admit it ever).]
I'm bored, yeah, but I can find plenty of ways to occupy my time.
no subject
[He says, despite having been the one to approach in the first place. It's not like Nice's stalking him around to troll him or anything, thank god. But walking up to the guy to needle at him also isn't the same thing as volunteering to step into his social circle, which Leon is definitely not doing.]
Get some friggin' babysitters, man . . .
no subject
[At least he admits that he is...which who knows if that's actually helpful in the end or not.
Oh well.]
I don't need a babysitter!
no subject
[He says, despite having been the one to initiate this conversation, and refusing to walk away from it. At least there's some amusement in his voice now. "At least." Like that makes it better.]
no subject
[Technically he's had a babysitter at home, but he would never actually admit that. Now he just needs a life, right?]
Lives are boring, so I'm not going to get one.
no subject
[Damn. People call Leon stupid sometimes, but he's sure this guy's got to be ten levels under him. In a way, it makes it harder to be mad at him, which is probably for the best. Less likely anyone's fist is going to end up in anyone's face . . . for now, anyway. How can he raise his hand to a guy this obviously not with it?]
So what's not boring to you, huh? You're just saying all this to annoy me . . .
no subject
[If only some people knew he was the top of his class at school...]
Food, I guess. Some cases I took on at home weren't boring, either.
[His friends weren't boring, but he's not going to mention that because it would almost actually sound like he's talking about his feelings. Which he's not going to do.]
no subject
Leon's thrown off by the question, and makes a flat face in response instead of immediately giving an actual response. What the hell kind of question is that? His least favorite kind--the kind where he takes the answer so much for granted as common knowledge that he doesn't actually know what it is. Come on! You're supposed to just know that! He can't explain what "a life" is any more than he can explain how to throw a pitch.
Nice's probably just screwing him around again, anyway.]
Is that a trick question or what? I'm not fallin' for that!
[Hehehe flawless non-answer. Nailed it.]
What cases? You a detective or somethin'?
no subject
Oh well.]
Kind of.
[He really is wondering what this "life" is people always tell him to get anyway, BUT. they're moving on.]
I was a private investigator at home with my partner Murasaki. Detective implies you were working with the police, and I wasn't necessarily doing that.
[Not all the time, anyway.]
no subject
[He doesn't know shit about detectives or private investigators; his knowledge begins and ends with Kirigiri and it's mostly about how damn fine she is. Detectives working with the police is new information for him, and he has a moment of wondering what the hell the police even do if detectives are already working with them to solve crimes. The gun stuff, maybe?
What Nice's implying he does is a lot more in line with Leon's preexisting ideas of what a detective is, but it's hard to reconcile that image with . . . this guy.]
People seriously hired you? I hope you let your partner do all the talking.
no subject
Leon's rude as hell, still.]
Of course they hired me! And I did as much talking as Murasaki did, and we still got a good amount of jobs!
[That's. Kind of not true, man. But you can live in your own little world because there's no one here to correct you.]
no subject
[Like he's one to talk. But he doesn't really see the point in pulling punches here; obviously Nice knows he's a jerk and doesn't care, so why not just say it? Repeatedly. He probably takes pride in it.]
So are you, like, a genius detective?
[What other explanation could there be for people putting up with him? Even though the idea of this guy being a genius is kind of hard to swallow. But it's not like Leon's not familiar with weirdos who have one skill they're really good at . . . ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)