redshift: tdm #4

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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.

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.

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 Too bad most of their cosmetics are fifty years out of date and the closests they’ve raided either had another resident’s clothes or moth-eaten dust-covered rags.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.

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.

Navigation.

Comments

[lallipop]

[It feels like an eternity, but in reality takes only moments before the wave of--whatever indescribable thing he's feeling melts into simple frustration at himself for this whole... debacle. He really is supposed to be better than this, even with how much Onni has done worse much more often and it hasn't meant anything.

It's abrupt when he finally brings his hands from his face with a huff of irritation. Suddenly, his attitude isn't grieving so much as sullen, and in turn he can't look Onni in the eyes. Instead he looks somewhere behind him, at the wall opposite, and folds his arms, apparently daring Onni to say something. He works his jaw, nearly subconsciously.

Lalli doesn't want Onni's concern. He wants to be in control of himself. He wants to not be pathetic.]

[scowlish]

[There have been times where Onni felt like Lalli could have done better, should have done better, should have taken more responsibility or been more careful, but this is not one of those times. Maybe, he should have paid more attention when Onni told him about the spores, but this place is disorienting enough that he can understand why he didn't.

When Lalli finally drops his hands and looks somewhere behind Onni, avoiding looking at him (Lalli usually avoids eye contact, but in this case he's refusing even to look at any part of Onni) with his face twisted up into an expression of irritation. Onni sighs a little, uses his free hand to scrub at his cheeks and then lets go of Lalli's other shoulder. He's afraid that Lalli is going to run away the moment he lets go, but he knows there's no use in trying to forcibly hold him here if he wants to go, and that's another hurt he swallows down, carefully.

Instead, voice soft and a little resigned, he speaks cautiously, changes the subject, draws attention away from the thing that's distressing them both.]

Have you eaten?

[lallipop]

[Lalli is both resentful and grateful for the change in subject. He doesn't want to dwell on this, doesn't want to talk about it, doesn't want to make himself vulnerable in front of Onni any more than he already has--but a part of him hates being brushed off, as if this was just yet another fit he's had, something to ignore until it fizzles out and Lalli proves himself acceptably cooperative.

That he could think so uncharitably of Tuuri adds another layer of guilt, but at least this can stay safely within his mind. Onni doesn't need to know.

He shrugs in response. He'd eaten at some point, probably. He doesn't feel particularly hungry. If Onni thinks he should eat, he will; if Onni doesn't care either way, he probably won't. Onni always did care more about it than Lalli did.]

[scowlish]

[The change in subject is just a natural reaction to Lalli's irritable expression once the panic wears off, a well-practiced response from years of learning that when Lalli gets too overwhelmed he gets angry and it's best to leave him alone or change the subject.

Right now, Onni doesn't think he could bear to leave Lalli alone, he doesn't want to let him out of his sight, he doesn't want to let go of him.

When Lalli shrugs, Onni takes a halting little breath and rubs his hand over his face, trying to figure out what to say to make this better for Lalli. It's hard, it's almost impossible, when Lalli can't explain all the nuances of what's hurting him so Onni can soothe him with words, and simple touches don't work to comfort Lalli in the way they do for other people.

Another moment or two, and he exhales, closes his eyes just for a moment.]

I know you probably don't want to talk about it. You don't have to talk, just listen to me.

[He takes a careful, measured breath, doesn't bother trying to make eye contact with Lalli because if he's like this there's no chance of that happening, and speaks in as calm and firm a voice as he can.]

What happened to her isn't your fault. You understand me? I was there too, in a way. I know what you were facing. You did everything you could. I don't need apologies from you for that.

[He knows it's stupid, and a bad idea, that he's asking to be bitten or kicked or for Lalli to shut down or spiral into being overwhelmed again, but he reaches out and smooths back a bit of his little cousin's hair from his temple.]

You came home safe. That's all I needed from you.

[lallipop]

[Lalli tenses, a little bit, when Onni reaches out to touch his hair--moreso from the attempt at comfort, which he doesn't know what to do with, than the contact itself--but he doesn't pull away. Onni is good at not making Lalli feel trapped into it when he initiates contact. He knows it's hard for Onni, that Lalli makes it hard, and he appreciates the way that Onni tries to accommodate him rather than force him along. He does.

He wants to compromise. He wants to give Onni the feedback he needs, to let Onni know he's not doing anything wrong, that Lalli is the problem. He wants to let Onni support him the way he wants to, wants to provide for Onni the same that Onni does for him.

He wishes he even knew what he wanted Onni to do for him.

But right now, this is too much.

After a moment or two spent in silence, Lalli nods, once, at the ground. It's all he knows how to do to let Onni know that he heard. He's not sure he believes it, but he heard. Then he does pull back, and slips under Onni's arm so that he's back to standing in the hallway.

He pats Onni lightly on the shoulder, just to let him know that he's okay, before turning on his heel to begin to dart away. Anywhere is fine, really--he just needs to be by himself.]