TDM 004

[etrayamods]

⏵ the usual arrival ⏴ NOTES\WARNINGS: Horror elements, themes of addiction, supernatural changes, light mind control Arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the sterile white glow of artificial lights, the hum of soft machinery thrumming in the background like a mechanical lullaby. The hospital room is pristine - almost too pristine - sterile, but oddly calming. Every surface gleams in a way that feels calculated as if someone had specifically designed the space to be comforting. Yet, a faint whiff of antiseptic clings to the air, and the silence feels unnatural. The first face they see is Aurora's: her smile appears to be warm, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. She might offer a quick explanation, or leave characters to figure it out for themselves depending on their approach. The door to the room swings open, revealing a hallway that stretches out ahead of them. They're free to explore their surroundings now, but something tells them this place is more than just a hospital. The lobby is a stark contrast to the sterile rooms above. It's warm, almost welcoming. Currently, an array of cookie trays are strewn about the area just inside the door that leads them to the outside world, decorated with frosting shaped into leaves, pumpkins, and the occasional snowman. They aren't perfect, but - the companion bots tried their best, they're still figuring out this whole cookie decorating thing. At least most of the cookies are normal cookie flavors this time. However, it doesn't feel as if this is what they should be eating. Something is telling them to go outside. To find something more filling. ⏵ the unusual arrival ⏴ Perhaps you skip all of that, somehow, slipping through the cracks of the system. You arrive outside of the normal purview, outside of the hospital walls. Perhaps you come to, standing in line for a food truck covered in slime. You could be anywhere, though. At the Diner, perhaps the apartments, or a random shop. Anywhere. It’s okay, though. This has happened before, and they are more prepared for it. No matter where you are, the helper bots will be ready with a quick and convenient remedy. A companion bot approaches you, bidding you to step into a clear tube. Should you do so, it will seal before power-washing you from head to toe in an efficient handful of seconds. And then it will release you, sopping wet but clean! Oh dear, are you catching a bit of a chill? …They will come up with a solution for that next time, I’m afraid. ⏵ lunchtime ⏴ As the swelter of summer begins to fade into the first hints of autumn, a small fleet of food trucks arrives in each part of Etraya. When you arrive at one they offer a stamp card with a little map of Etraya and the location of each truck’s loop. "Make sure you don’t lose it," the cashier warns in a friendly tone despite their vague and shadowy visage. Once you begin sampling their offerings, stopping becomes near-impossible. The food is delicious--or seems to be. However, each dish comes with a catch, and the more you eat, the more its effects intensify. To break this curse, one must sample all and fill their stamp cards. Traveling between the Apartments, Hospital, Ramsey Farm, S.T.A.R. Labs, Bangsan Market, and Corrine’s Cafe, Bau Haus serves dumplings and bao so good you'll start feeling feral for them. And the more you eat, the more animalistic you become - your senses sharpen, your temper flares. Senses and reflexes may become sharper, and boy does that slab of uncooked meat sound satisfying. Do you feel the need to growl at people who come too close to you and your meal? Surely that can't be related. Moving between Hannibal Lecter’s house, Sector 5 Church, Wayne Tower, Daily Planet, Shinra HQ, and Clint Barton’s Apartment Building, the Owl Feather serves soothing tea and delicious boba. But overindulgence may make you overly affectionate and obsessed with helping others, whether they want it or not. Muy Biento serves Mexi-Japanese fusion bento boxes from the Avengers Compound, Bishop Publishing, Dhali-Wal-To-Wall Books, and Cafe Millennia. There are teriyaki chimichangas, tempura carne asada, carnitas onigiri, and more. After a meal, you begin seeing ghosts out of the corner of your eye, always vanishing when you turn to look. Serving fried chocobo and "popoto" wedges, The Golden Chocobo makes you ravenous no matter how much you eat. Soon, you'll be eyeing increasingly strange items to satisfy your hunger. It travels between Ebbet’s Field, the Diner, Wayne Manor, and the Bunker. Offering crepes between Xavier Institute, Harry’s Hideaway Pub, Roxx, Kwikk Trip, and Big Belly, Thyme Served’s food seems innocent enough—until the night terrors begin. The more you eat, the worse they get, with the truck still there the next day, calling for you. Perhaps… a banana one this time. Bill’s Buffalo Burgers travels between Beviin-Vasur Farm, Point Blanc Academy, and Muten-Ichi-Ryu Dojo and serves only one burger - topped with pork rinds for a satisfying crunch, but it sounds good to you. However, after your first bite, you're told there's a price: a lock of someone else’s hair. Refuse, and it will feel like hair is stuck in your mouth, driving you mad until you pay the price. After all that trouble, you go home and can’t stop thinking about getting another burger. Offering blue milkshakes and ice cream, repeated visits to the Milk Man will turn your tongue—and eventually your blood—blue. A creeping chill settles in, growing worse each time until no amount of warmth can help. ⏵ nova city ⏴ Nova City, vast and sprawling in its corner of Etraya, remains mostly abandoned. Its towering buildings stand silently, watching over empty streets where only stray cats and the occasional bird roam. The dragon, Zhaera, perches protectively atop the tallest spire at the heart of this desolate city. She has been guarding her egg since her arrival, waiting for the young dragon within to mature enough it can survive in the outside world. As its incubation period draws near, her anxiety grows. A tremor spreads through Etraya, an instinctive call to those nearby. As the egg nears its hatching, strange forces awaken within Etraya itself, spreading too into Nova City. Shadowy creatures crawl out from the ground, surrounding the tower the dragon and her unborn child have taken shelter on. The air crackles with the energy coming from the egg itself, and the cats throughout the city seem unsettled. The sheer amount of magic the egg gives off is enough to attract anyone capable of sensing it. The dragon, normally composed and fierce, appears to be visibly distressed by the changes going on in the city below it. Her maw opens, sending flames to ward off the inky black tendrils intent on getting to her egg. But she may need some assistance keeping it safe. ⏵ NOTES ⏴ This TDM covers September and October. The events happening in the TDM are game canon. Threads can be kept as game canon if wanted! For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please use the mod queries thread. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ.

Comments

lunchtime B

[illicitly]

Huh? Is there something wrong with the tea here?

[There's a lot of cuisine being sold in the trucks that Nie Huaisang doesn't recognize so when he'd stumbled across one simply offering tea, he'd been more than ready to partake. But now there's a total stranger draping himself over him like an old friend and it's more than enough to trigger a bit of a skittish response. He swallows nervously, shoulders slumping as if to make himself smaller enough to escape a raptor's talons should it become a necessity. He makes no other attempts, however, to get away.]

[endcaller]

Yes, the tea will make you mad. It made me mad.

Do not repeat my fool mistake.

[He points at some of the people bustling around the fool truck. Some seem to be fawning over each other, others are jumping at the opportunity to carry empty cups to the nearest bin.]

See? Madness.

[When he turns his head to regard the other man he senses discomfort. Normally, he knows, this would amuse him but he finds himself withdrawing his arms, to help the stranger feel more at ease.

How he hates this.]

Ah. Apologies.

[illicitly]

[His gaze wanders over to where the man is pointing, curious to see exactly what insanity this stranger is putting out the alarm about but all he sees are people... being kind to each other? It all looks very nice to him, actually.]

It doesn't look like a bad sort of madness, does it? No one's fighting or cleaving limbs off each other's bodies or anything. If there's no bloodshed, can that really be such a horrible thing? They're even cleaning up after each other. It's nice.

[Recovering a bit of personal space does, indeed, helps put Nie Huaisang a little more at ease. Not that he can't be the cuddly sort, especially after a few rounds of drinks among friends - or at least, he'd been that way back when he still had friends. Who knew, maybe he could learn to be that way again if he makes some new ones or ever relearns how to just be a person again.]

[endcaller]

Aye, but people are selfish and wretched beasts to the last.

[He makes a sweeping gesture around them, pointing out the world beyond the food truck.]

What you are witnessing is a miserable disease that must be-

[The sight of a cup lying nearby grabs his attention. Not wanting anyone else to be bothered by having to pick it up, he rushes over, snatches it from the road, and tosses it into the nearest bin.

Where was he?

Right, ranting. He walks back to Nie Huaisang and extends a hand toward him, remembers he didn't seem to like that last time, then thinks better of it.]

Must be purged.

[illicitly]

[Who hurt you? Nie Huaisang wonders, listening to the man's ranting in morbid fascination. He'd thought himself a rather jaded and cynical person with a bleak and mistrustful view of people but after meeing this odd fellow, he may be actually getting a little more persective on his own issues here.

Finally, he speaks perfectly deadpan.]

I see.

[Then in a much friendlier, conversational tone, gaze darting back and forth between the man and the tea samplers being offered.]

It seems that there's something you need to get off your chest. Why don't we have a seat and you can tell me what's on your mind?

[It's always a good idea to know who the madmen are in any given locale. Even they can have their uses if Nie Huaisang ever has need of one for a strategy to succeed. And if nothing else, best to get on their good side as much as possible for his own safety.]

It sounds like there's a lot and I have plenty of time to listen if you need an ear.

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel strikes a theatrical pose, arms outstretched.]

Oh, my mind is a terrible burden. I would much rather know what is on yours.

Your eyes bespeak a great sorrow. How may I help?

[As he says this something behind the Ascian's manic gaze seems to be screaming "Kill me!"]

[illicitly]

[What is happening here? Is... Is the other man trying to hug him now? This encounter just keeps getting stranger and stranger and yet Nie Huaisang is somehow still standing here like a deer frozen in the sight of a predator.]

A great sorrow? Well, I mean, I have been sad for a long time now. Ever since my brother died but that was such a long time ago, it's a very long story. A-Are you sure you really want to hear about any of that? It's probably pretty boring compared to...

[Nie Huaisang trails off, catching himself before he can continue that sentence. 'Whatever happened to you to bring you to this point' probably isn't the most diplomatic thing to say to someone in a first meeting. Not that anything about this first meeting is remotely typical.]

Ah, how about we find some untainted food instead? Maybe some food will help you? Maybe it'll counteract.. this? Whatever this is? I mean, we haven't even exchanged names yet! I can't exactly go telling you my life story now, can I?

[He's absolutely flailing here, his own nervous temperament getting the better of him here but he's doing his best?]

cw: suicidal ideation

[endcaller]

I do not eat, dear heart. This experiment has been a rare exception.

[He doesn't embrace Nie Huaisang but he does step forward to drop his cheek against the other man's shoulder and rest one hand against his chest.]

What I require is someone capable of lifting curses.

[Which, normally, he can.]

Or failing that someone willing to kill me, perhaps.

[illicitly]

[Oh, heavens. Just what has he gotten himself into here? Nie Huaisang's not accustomed to being touched like this, at least not by people he knows. The mention of curses, however, does pique his interest. Though not a powerful one by any means, Nie Huasiang is a trained exorcist, or sorts. Technically. It's been a long time since his school days but he still remembers enough of the basics that he might be able to assist with that, at least.]

You're cursed? What kind of curse is it? I don't know much about curses but I've studied a little Daoist magic. If you tell me more about what's afflicting you, maybe I can assist? Somehow?

[It's a very long shot and chances are that whatever curse has befallen this fellow will be far too powerful for him to break. As for the killing part, well, he's capable of that but he's only ever slain an animal, not live person. At least, not intentionally by his own hand, anyway.]

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel lifts his gaze to look Huaisang in the eyes, still not lifting his cheek.]

The curse should be apparent. 'Tis the same affliction you see in these other poor fools.

[He draws a breath to say he isn't normally this affectionate but what he says is.]

Ah. But enough about me.

You say you've been sad a long while. Would you like to talk about it?

[The question sense a shudder up his spine. This is all so antithetical to his nature it is making him feel ill.]

[illicitly]

[Oh, right. That curse. The curse of being nice to people that Nie Huaisang is starting to think might actually be a positive thing for everyone involved.

Nie Huaisang pats the man's head awkwardly in a vaguely comforting gesture. Maybe it would be easier in the long turn to just play along. If it's the food causing it, surely the effects will wear off on their own eventually? And hopefully, he'll be clear on the other side of Etraya when it does.]

Well, it's like I said, my brother passed away a long time ago. He was my only living family. I'm still grieving for him and miss him every day. I still live in the same home we grew up together in and the memories are just a lot to handle sometimes, you know?

[There's so much more to the story than Nie Huaisang's leaving out and has no intention of sharing with this peculiar stranger. At least, not willingly for the time being. He's a pretty private man, especially when it comes to sharing his true thoughts and feelings about the most traumatic events of his life.]

[endcaller]

[Fandaniel tilts his head slightly, as if trying to nuzzle the hand caressing the top of his hood.]

Memories can be quite dreadful, aye.

[He is carrying thousands upon thousands of years of memories he doesn't want.]

You say you still live in the same house. Surely, that is not true here?

[illicitly]

Oh, no. I'm not from here. I only just arrived.

[The nuzzling's certainly a little odd but he'll tolerate it. It's almost like caring for a pet and Nie Huaisang can be very doting with his pet birds back home.]

My home is far, far away from here. And not much like anything I've seen here so far.

[But maybe there are courtyard houses similar to home around here someplace if he looks hard enough for them.]

But perhaps that's a good thing. I could use a break from what reminds me too much of troubles back home. There's so much to explore and all sorts of people to get to know.