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redmarsshit2019-09-21 12:52 am
modblob) wrote in redmarsshit2019-09-21 12:52 am
redshift: tdm #4
Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.
▶ Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.
▶ All TDM threads can be considered game canon, and current players are welcome to either top-level on the TDM so prospective players can tag them, or use the prompts for logs or network posts on the communities. All threads on the TDM can be used for Activity Check.
▶ All TDM threads can be considered game canon, and current players are welcome to either top-level on the TDM so prospective players can tag them, or use the prompts for logs or network posts on the communities. All threads on the TDM can be used for Activity Check.
a. the red shit.
There are rumblings in the deepest, most overgrown part of the agricultural area, where until very recently there was a lingering pocket of red algae. The good news is, the red algae is gone! The bad news is, it all got eaten by a mutated bear-thing with giant antlers. The algae did a number on the poor thing, doping it up and confusing it to the point where everything is an enemy.
What’s worse? The algae has adapted, colonizing the creature’s entire body. The algae has mutated in the process, releasing a protective cloud of toxins that causes severe hallucinations, as well as some of the protective and euphoric qualities that the red algae originally possessed. Which means the mutated, antlered, bear-thing is accompanied by a small army of other creatures, from large to small, who are all very invested in its survival and also are being driven crazy by its presence.
Prepare yourselves for one hell of a hunt. These animals can pop up almost everywhere in the agricultural zones, and when they do show their paws it’s to go on a rampage.
What’s worse? The algae has adapted, colonizing the creature’s entire body. The algae has mutated in the process, releasing a protective cloud of toxins that causes severe hallucinations, as well as some of the protective and euphoric qualities that the red algae originally possessed. Which means the mutated, antlered, bear-thing is accompanied by a small army of other creatures, from large to small, who are all very invested in its survival and also are being driven crazy by its presence.
Prepare yourselves for one hell of a hunt. These animals can pop up almost everywhere in the agricultural zones, and when they do show their paws it’s to go on a rampage.
b. fashionista.
It wouldn’t be Anchor if the bots weren’t fucking shit up.
This time, the spa bots have gone full stylist coach, chasing down residents and trying to do their hair, nails, makeup, or change their clothes. In some cases, they're literally sweeping people off their feet and carrying them to the hot springs, massage rooms, and spa areas to be pampered. Too bad most of their cosmetics are fifty years out of date and the closests they’ve raided either had another resident’s clothes or moth-eaten dust-covered rags.
Is that the jacket Idris Elba was wearing in the introductory video? It kinda looks like it.
But it’s not all bad! The bots actually give great massages and fantastic mani-pedis. They also have a small stash of fresh cosmetics and clean clothes that got left behind in the spas. They might not fit great, but they look pretty good!
If your character doesn’t practice proper self-care, well. They’d better watch out. These bots have a particular eye for the sad, the filthy, the tired, and they’re going to make sure you get some damn fine pampering.
This time, the spa bots have gone full stylist coach, chasing down residents and trying to do their hair, nails, makeup, or change their clothes. In some cases, they're literally sweeping people off their feet and carrying them to the hot springs, massage rooms, and spa areas to be pampered. Too bad most of their cosmetics are fifty years out of date and the closests they’ve raided either had another resident’s clothes or moth-eaten dust-covered rags.
Is that the jacket Idris Elba was wearing in the introductory video? It kinda looks like it.
But it’s not all bad! The bots actually give great massages and fantastic mani-pedis. They also have a small stash of fresh cosmetics and clean clothes that got left behind in the spas. They might not fit great, but they look pretty good!
If your character doesn’t practice proper self-care, well. They’d better watch out. These bots have a particular eye for the sad, the filthy, the tired, and they’re going to make sure you get some damn fine pampering.
c. whole foods: 2.0.
Remember that whole Whole Foods grocery store thing that happened? Well, the grocery store and the zombies are still there. Only now there are more zombies, and two giant supply trucks have shown up, one behind and one in front of the store.
The one at the rear of the store can be accessed fairly easily. It’s painted to look like a giant United States flag, with a dramatic crying eagle emblazoned across the back doors. Inside, there is beer. Lots and lots of beer, and a bunch of semiautomatic rifles. Also some skeletons. Seems like the guns and booze didn’t help them.
The one in front of the store is thickly surrounded, the creatures clawing at the plain white sides of the semi like there’s something precious inside.
If Anchorites can make it through, if they can fend off the monsters and keep from getting torn to pieces by a hoard of bloodthirsty beasts, they’ll find out what that precious truck contains.
It’s twinkies. A semi full of twinkies. We hope you’ve got a sweet tooth, Anchor.
The one at the rear of the store can be accessed fairly easily. It’s painted to look like a giant United States flag, with a dramatic crying eagle emblazoned across the back doors. Inside, there is beer. Lots and lots of beer, and a bunch of semiautomatic rifles. Also some skeletons. Seems like the guns and booze didn’t help them.
The one in front of the store is thickly surrounded, the creatures clawing at the plain white sides of the semi like there’s something precious inside.
If Anchorites can make it through, if they can fend off the monsters and keep from getting torn to pieces by a hoard of bloodthirsty beasts, they’ll find out what that precious truck contains.
It’s twinkies. A semi full of twinkies. We hope you’ve got a sweet tooth, Anchor.
no subject
[Well, not that he would know if he'd forgotten something, but he argues just on principle. He doesn't like overly familiar strangers, or anyone who tries to imply that he doesn't know what he's talking about, and frankly this conversation is starting to agitate him.
He doesn't take the offered hand, glowering at it instead, and he pointedly doesn't wave back at her either.]
I came here from Saimaa. You have the wrong person.
no subject
No, I - that's in Finland, right? I know you're from Finland! You're Lalli Hota- Ho- [ aw shit. ] I can't pronounce your last name, but that's how it starts! You like Last Fantasy and D&D, and - and you have a cousin Tuuri, who's got real short hair, and she's really sweet but also kind of sassy -
no subject
He can't help it; he slams his hands over his ears in agitation, something like a whine leaving his throat without him meaning it to. This is too much and none of it is making sense, he can't process it all, begin to make sense of it--]
Stop!
[Yeah, sorry Ami, he's having a fit, please stand by.]
no subject
So she does stop, but - what is it? Was it something she said? Wait, no, obviously it was, but what? ]
Sorry! Are- are you okay?
[ Or - wait a second, is this him remembering? It was pretty overwhelming when she did. But she isn't sure, and she doesn't want to get her hopes up - but maybe? - but maybe not. ]
no subject
I didn't forget anything. Stop making things up!
[She seems so sincere, though. He wishes someone else was here, someone who knew the truth, to tell him what's real. Onni could, he thinks, Onni and Tuuri always seem to know how things work and can set Lalli straight, but Onni isn't here and Tuuri isn't anywhere and there is something so wrong about a perfect stranger knowing who Tuuri is and trying to tell Lalli about her, as if there was room for Ami to worm her way into their unit.
He sinks to his knees without meaning to, the confusion too much for him to keep himself upright. Give him a minute, and maybe he'll finally calm down.]
no subject
I'm sorry! Sorry. Sorry.
[ ... In the end, she just ... goes quiet, and slowly kneels down in front of him, hands on her knees, trying not to startle him. She doesn't know what's going on, but she can't just leave him here by himself. ]
a million years later, hi
And then, finally, he brings them together to the front of his face, digging the heels of his palms into his eyes, and drags them down to rest in his lap.
He doesn't look at her. But he does talk. It's muted, and directed to the floor, but at least it's something. The set of her shoulders dares her to say something about it.]
I don't know who you are. Okay? I've never seen you before. I don't think you're lying, but...
[He trails off, and draws up his legs, folding his hands over the knees.]
I don't know what's going on.
time is an illusion
... I don't get it, either. I mean, the only other option would be that I somehow met a second Lalli who's virtually identical to you -
[ - and suddenly her eyes go wide, because that's actually a very real possibility. ]
Wait, um. Have you ever heard of a city called Recollé? It would be in America.
no subject
"America" sounds familiar in a dim sort of way. He thinks it might have been one of those things Tuuri used to go on about in the background while he wasn't really paying attention.
If he'd known what would happen, he would have listened more closely. He wishes he had.]
America isn't real. [By which he means it's dead, probably, if it ever was a real place. Dead to the rash, like everywhere else.]
I'm from Finland.
no subject
[ That pretty much confirms it. Even if he'd forgotten Retrospec and everything, he would still know about the city where he and Tuuri live and go to school. And even if he somehow didn't know that, he'd probably know America is real.
So, somehow, he really is... past Lalli?
This is absolutely blowing her mind. People can be brought to Anchor from all times and places, she knows this, but the possibility of meeting her friends' past selves is just - it had never, ever occurred to her! She was not prepared for this scenario, and now it's happening and she has no idea what to do! How do you even begin to tell someone that? "Oh, yeah, I'm from a future where you're dead and your entire world is destroyed and I just happen to be friends with the guy who inherited your soul"?
Nobody would take that well. And given how poorly Lalli took her recognizing him in the first place, there is absolutely no way he'll accept a story like that. But what's she supposed to do instead? It's the truth! She can't lie to him, and not just because she is a terrible liar.
Maybe if she just ... buries the lede. Buries that lede real, real deep, where nobody will ever find it. The lede will be spoken of in pirate lore for centuries. The treasure map to the lede is a worn-out piece of notebook paper covered in cheeto dust and question marks. ]
... America is real, though. Just to put that out there. I have lived there my whole life and can confirm it is a real place.
no subject
That or she really is crazy. He isn't striking that out. But she did recognize him with such accuracy that it's hard to dismiss her.]
Okay.
[It's an automatic response to someone who has very strongly held opinions that he has no idea how to argue with. "Okay." Meaning "I wish I wasn't in his conversation, so I'll shut it down as quickly as possible."
He curls in himself even further, if it's possible.]
But I've never been there.
no subject
Um - sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset. I... I guess that's... just gonna have to be a mystery, for now.
[ But what if... She blinks, suddenly realizing something. Hota... Hotakam... however you say it. That long, distinctive last name, she's heard it in Anchor, too. It didn't ring any bells at the time, because she met the guy before she remembered, and hasn't really seen much of him since, but... ]
Oh! Um - I almost forgot. Do you know a guy named Onni?
no subject
...He's my cousin.
[And Lalli has already run into him here, and it... didn't go well, to be honest. Lalli isn't even sure if he wants to see Onni right now, not least of all because Onni didn't really deserve how Lalli reacted. And a not small part of Lalli is sill angry with him.
He really hopes this girl doesn't try to arrange a reunion.]
Why?
no subject
[ Showed him where the food was and everything! And yes, he had definitely been crying. ]
no subject
I know. I saw him already.
[And his sheepish body language might imply that it hadn't gone particularly well. Lalli knows he has a problem of lashing out when he's upset, but that doesn't make him feel any better about it afterward when his emotions have cooled.]
no subject
Do you guys... not get along?
[ Because there's only one family member of Ami's that she wouldn't be happy to see, and that's why. ]
no subject
No. I mean, we do. Sort of. I don't know.
[How very descriptive. Lalli trails a finger on the ground in nonsense patterns as he dwells.]
I pushed him and yelled at him.
[Yep, that's guilt.]
no subject
Well - you did just get here, and it's really stressful at first. He knows that. I'm sure he'll understand if you just say sorry.
[ She doesn't know Onni well, but he seems like a nice enough person for that. ]
no subject
And besides, this is... a particular situation.]
I don't want to.
[Which is to say, he's still pissed off himself.]
no subject
[ She doesn't get it. ]
no subject
[That comes out of nowhere, and Lalli seems as surprised by it as anybody. Rather than ride it out, he sinks back on himself sullenly.]
I don't know. I'm mad at him.
no subject
... Okay.
[ Honestly, she's not sure what else to say. "What'd he do?" "What happened?" she could ask, but ... it's really none of her business, isn't it? Maybe she could help more if she knew more, but it's not worth the risk of asking. Anyway, from Lalli's perspective, she's just a stranger. ]
It's... okay to be mad. I mean, it can always wait until you're not mad.