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

lunctime/wildcard-ish

[banworthy]

They really know how to get my goat.

[ Vincent snarls this at no one in particular. Instead, he glares at the stamp card in front of his eyes as he walks. Eating a crepe had led to horrific terrors the night after yet he yearned for the food a day later. Trial and error brought him to the conclusion that the horrors would end so long as he filled the card. Why give it in the first place if it wasn't some clue?

His home has taught him the importance of unimportant events and items. It taught him the meaning of subtlety and insanity. Still, he slaps the stamp card against his palm, as he heads to Owlfeather. Yet he's surprised by who he happens to see there - well, the surprise fades as he chuckles to himself seconds later.

Swooping in, he taps her shoulder like she reaches out to tap someone else's. ]

I don't know whether to say this is unlike you or not. [ The willingness and desire to help others; he is honest in what he says that it doesn't seem like her. But, then again, the people begging for her help and assistance were all trying to manipulate her in some way. So, what does he know? ] Anyway... shouldn't you be more concerned about yourself, Heather?

[ingestion]

( despite the food affecting her overall demeanor, the trauma and anxiety that came with nearly facing god remained in her body. so when she jumped up just a bit from his touch, it was muscle memory acting up. soon though, the previous demeanor she held before swept over her like a warm blanket.

she couldn't remain disturbed for too long-

not when a person she thought was dead was right before her, alive and well. )

Vincent?

( she spoke softly before her body moved on its own, reaching out to grab his shoulders and look up at him with a softness she hadn't had in a long time. )

You're here...alive...how?

[banworthy]

It's as God wills it.

[ A snide remarks slips out before any sincerity. His personality has always been like sandpaper but if he wants to work with others, he smoothes over those parts so that he can use -- ahem, work with -- them as he sees fit. ]

Well, the God of this place. You've already been informed about that, haven't you?

[ This is as close as they've ever gotten. His eyes flick to her hands on his shoulders before returning his stare to her face. ] I didn't know you cared. But I guess seeing a person die in front of you is still upsetting regardless of who you are.

[ingestion]

( he was right about that, it seemed that the more time she spent here, the more she realized this place was far beyond the powers that lured them both into silent hill. this was a completely different place and she was out of her element.

however, that meant he would be too right? he could forgive this moment of kindness and affection from her, spurred on by powers outside of her control. couldn't he? she could only hope.

after a soft smile, she released her grip from him and held her head down. )

You didn't deserve that...not even someone like you deserved that.

[banworthy]

[ His lips pursed at the comment "someone like you" but he accepts her guilt and anguish on his behalf for what it is. ]

Well, no use crying over spilled milk.

[ He had another liquid that he could have substituted but decides to spare her simply because of how upset she seems to be about his death. ] It does make me wonder, though, if I'm only alive for this trial and when this is over, it's over.

[ But simply because he may only be alive for a short period doesn't mean that he isn't going to use every minute and second to his advantage. ] But let's not worry about that, shall we? It's a concern that'll happen when it happens. Surprisingly, dying once tends to make a person not want to count how many hours they have left.

[ Or maybe that's his terrible personality coming to light? ] In any case, welcome to another test and trial for the sake of bringing salvation to our world.

[ingestion]

Yeah..

( for as awful as he was to her back home, he did know how to say the right thing at the right time. even at the expense of her mental sanity.

perhaps the food truly was affecting her more than she wanted it to, because she actually finds herself happy in his presence. it could also be the familiar was more comforting to her than the unknown-

just in the same way she became close to detective douglas, she wondered if the same could happen here. little did she know... )

I guess it could be worse...so far I haven't seen any monsters appear or Claudia at all. Unless..

Is anyone else here?

[banworthy]

Don't mention even that woman!

[ Vincent drops all pretenses in having a warm reunion with Heather. Regardless of what the food has done to her mood, he refuses to speak on that lunatic. ]

I haven't encountered her if she is here. I'm not looking for her, either. [ He spits out the words before pulling back into himself. The anger subsides. It always does. It comes out in bursts but he reigns it in quickly. ]

So far it seems to be us, but I'm not about to advertise anything. Just because I'm in a better -- [ He pauses. ] -- mental headspace doesn't mean she would be. [ He scratches the area above one eyebrow. ] Though, who knows? Many people might be from our world without knowing it.

They just might have escaped ever being called by that town.

[ingestion]

( mood changing food or not, her body immediately reacted to the anger that seemed to swell and come out of vincent. she took a step back, her expression becoming dim. it seemed that despite the fact that he had been given a second chance at life, he hadn't changed one bit.

while the effects of the curse were still strong, that resentment and anger she had towards him was starting to build back up slowly. )

Take it easy Vincent...I was just hoping she wasn't here..

( her mood keeps her from arguing back, but she does hold up her hands. almost as if to protect herself from him. )

I see what you mean...people like the employees at the mall who don't even know about Silent Hill. I kinda thought that might have been the case with everyone else here but I started seeing some strange 'people' who seemed like they came from a dream.

[banworthy]

Of course, of course. You suffered the most under her machinations.

[ As if he's afraid that the two of them would join voices, he twists a knife that he knows is still embedded in her heart. Every person he talks to, he tries to find that hidden wound so that he can keep an eye on it - for occasions when he's worried they'll act out. ]

I'm sorry. That was unkind.

[ With empty words, he holds his hands up and steps back. ]

I've seen a few oddities, as well. So, if we take what has been said at face value, we are really experiencing people from different dimensions. [ A thoughtful hum. ] Listen. I don't know how things panned out after I died, but keep who you are a secret. We're actually in a situation where most people might believe you, but I think we can agree that isn't a good thing, right?

[ Since she's in such a helpful mood, Vincent decides to use that to his advantage. ]

[ingestion]

( if those words were suppose to be empathetic, they felt far from it. this wasn't the first time they had done this and it always left her feeling the same. despite that though, she did feel empathy for him. he had just died and was brought back to life to some strange world.

she had been too, couldn't they just get along? it was a thought she had and she began to wonder if maybe she can help him somehow. unfortunately for heather, his manipulation would work for now. )

You might be right...for all we know there could be members of The Order among these people. Have you told anyone anything? Do people...have you made-

( she was going to say 'friends' but that didn't really fit him. )

Any acquaintances?

[banworthy]

Right, you are. I'd like to say I know everyone part of the Order, but -- [ He holds his hand up in surrender. ] -- that's the problem with sects. They branch and do whatever they like.

[ But he wonders if any of them are as self-aware as he is. He doubts it; he has the joy and pain of being an ordinary person. One of the main points of any cult is to expand one's congregation, but that's never been his desire. Well, that's not completely true; he could always use some more people to siphon money from, but he didn't need more lunatics under her control. ]

Yes, a few acquaintances here and there.

[ He flicks his wrist side to side. ] I'm a friend to all and none. After all, you heard it, didn't you? We're competing with these people to figure out if our world is worth saving. [ Wagging his index finger in the air, he presses on: ] So be your lovely self, but don't be too friendly.

That's my advice, anyway.

[ingestion]

Does that mean....you want my help then?

( she said, taking a step closer. in her heart and mind she knew he wasn't someone she could truly rely on or that would really care to help her in saving their world. yet she still had the effects of the food strong in her.

it made her want to help him, be more affectionate despite her best judgement. these feelings started to nearly become an obsession and she wondered if something was wrong with this place too. something was wrong with her at the very least. )

All we have is each other in a place like this, you of all people should know how important it is to stick together. You...do you even have family back home? Or are you just like me?

how about that headcanon!

[banworthy]

I do. I've always wanted your help.

[ Is it right to put it that way? Whatever mood Heather is in, he should try to be careful with how he acts. There's no telling how she'll respond when she comes out of it, after all. Which is to say: he isn't sure if she'll be moved or recoil at his words. ]

Well... I guess I can't wander off on my own anymore. [ He doesn't have the protection of the Order anymore to let him move freely, anyway. ] Hm? What an odd question. [ A pause. ] Rather, I'm surprised you thought of it.

If I said I was related to Claudia, well, you'd already know that was a lie. [ Vincent snickers to himself; his face warping into a hideous grin before he pulls it back to a more even expression. ] But no, I am like you. Only, maybe not? I never felt that connected to my family to even feel like mourning them.

I suppose that's one benefit of growing up within the Order. For the average person looking in, you see that the deaths of your parents as something that they had coming. [ For heresy and willingness to listen to the insane ramblings of those who lost their faith years ago. ]

we love to see it ♥

[ingestion]

( frankly, his words terrify her. his movements, the twitch of his lips as he shifts from one menacing mood to the next. it all made her feel a sense of dread and anxiety in the pits of her stomach. despite the fact that the other world wasn't here, and she couldn't summon it if she tried [and she hadn't], he seemed to embody the fear that came with it. if there was one thing vincent was, well it was magnetizing. he had a strange ability to be both sane and insane in heather's eyes.

he was lucky really, she was possessed by feelings and emotions outside of her control. if it wasn't for the food, well she would have been arguing with him and calling him out by now. questioning how he could be so cold and cruel about the people who raised him. then again maybe that's why he was so warped-

she couldn't really say for sure. he did get to her all right, she was feeling empathy for him all over again despite the opposing feelings inside of her. )

Yeah, I hate to say it, but I know Claudia far too well....more than I ever wanted to.

( she sighed slightly before she reached into her pocket and pulled out a stamp card she had been given. she was suppose to be doing something with this, right? )

Maybe you could try being someone else here? Or try seeking your own happiness here. I know we're in competition with the others but...

It couldn't help to try, and I'll support you.

glorious!!

[banworthy]

But I am sure that made her happy.

[ He masks his meaning beneath his usual tone of voice. His hands swirl about in the air as he talks. It's like a magic trick; hiding whatever he could mean through gesture and smile.

For as much as he hated Claudia, he pitied her. Vincent didn't have a delicate touch or soft heart to save her; he only had vitriolic acid that had been boiling in the back of his throat until he couldn't take it anymore. No words of salvation to give someone so lost. Especially one with power. Especially one with power. ]

You'll support my happiness? I'm touched. [ He rests his hand over his heart. ] Well, I suppose turnabout is fair play. I'll be willing to support you in your happiness, as well. [ His eyes darken even as his lips curve into a smile. Her happiness is to live as a normal girl, isn't it? So long as it's that, he'll happily support that since he no longer has to worry, right? His fears no longer have the means of coming true? ]

You deserve someone in your corner. Even if that person is me.

[ingestion]

( that gets to her, because as much as she disliked what claudia became, she was her friend all those years ago. they both suffered at the hands of their parents and she was like a sister. yet now that love she had was much like vincent's- pity.

she won't comment on it but instead heather found herself feeling more emotional. emotionally driven by the food, by seeing someone who had died before her, and left wondering what happened to douglas.

with a soft nod, she held onto her stamp card and began to walk closer to vincent. )

I never thought I would hear you say those words...this place...I guess it's even changing you.

( and she says that because to both of their surprise, she felt compelled to reach for his hand with a kindness she showed claudia once years ago. he didn't want to hear it, and she won't say it but he reminded her so much of that woman. )

Well come on, we can't stand around here talking. We should get some food, I think I need to fill out this stamp card.

[banworthy]

I am always myself.

[ He keeps his distance from people and only draws as close as he needs. This may mean saying a few things, but there is always some truth in what he says. Every good lie and manipulation needs something true in it to mean something. And he would be a lunatic to believe he could live alone without some "positive" connection to other people. ]

Very wise to do so. [ So he says as he wags his own card at her. It's more a feeling than seeing; he lets out a sigh before holding his hand out. ] You really aren't quite yourself right now, are you? Well, I suppose I'll just have something to tell you when you're back to you.

So, where shall we eat next?

[ingestion]

( regrets were few she had, but this moment most certainly come to be one of those instances. yet she felt trapped within her own mind, the influence of the tea and boba she had consumed before still engulfed around her. she didn't say much as they held hands, walking alongside each other like a father and daughter would.

oh she would absolutely hate herself for this when she woke up from this terrifying dream. )

I think the stamp card says 'Muy Biento' is next on the list, and what ever do you mean?

( her voice is almost playful, a tone she had really only saved for her own father and detective douglas. she could sense what he was hinting at, but the answer was far from her.

her mind could only focus on being helpful and affectionate, and fighting off the urge to do anything more than hold his hand. )

[banworthy]

Nothing at all.

[ Vincent chimes back as they walk hand-in-hand like friends, like family.

There is insanity that the two of them only know; he could, of course, discuss it with others who have been dragged here. The madness of the town and the ever-suffocating care that the entities partially pulled from Heaven felt toward those poor, poor souls that were called.

But they're experiencing the insanity of another God, weren't they? ]

Just that I was thinking... it's just like home. [ There is a sneer in his smile as they walk along. ] So familiar. I feel at peace. [ She might kick him for that comment later, but he can't help but make a joke. ]

[ingestion]

( well there was something definitely eerie about that statement, almost as if he enjoyed this situation far more than he should have.

frankly, if it weren't for the effects taking over her mind, well she would have kicked him right then and there. instead she made a face, as if her body was trying to fight her mind as hard as possible now. soon though, the next food truck starts to come into view as they continued walking. )

I can't say that I agree...

( at least they aren't arguing, but at the same time, she does wonder what exactly was happening to their world right now. )

You know, when I woke up here, it was seconds after the God was successfully born...

[banworthy]

Maybe not now--

[ He takes one step forward before abruptly stopping. Whirling around, his other hand grips onto her shoulder. ]

God was born?! [ Vincent drops his facade and normal tone of voice. It isn't anger that screams forth but fear. Even if he's dead, even if he's in another universe, some fears transcend barriers of logic and reason. ] What do you mean God was born?!

I was putting all my bets on you to stop it! To kill her! What happened?!

[ingestion]

( to say she was trying to scare him was a misunderstanding. truthfully she wasn't sure why she had mentioned it but perhaps the comfort of holding his hand, seeing him alive again, and being here far from it all made her lose her judgement. the words came out almost without any input from her own mind.

she was just talking to talk really. now though, she was truly scared. she stood in shock as he gripped her and she remained silent for a moment, trying to process everything that had happened. why was she holding his hand again? )

Vincent...I had swallowed the capsule from the pendant I had. I think it's called the capsule of Aglaophotis. Well I threw up God from inside of me and as I was about to kill it, Claudia swallowed it herself.

( he could probably figure out what happened next, but she says one thing that could probably bring comfort to them both.

even if it was redundant. )

Claudia died giving birth to that thing.

[banworthy]

Aglaophotis!?

[ He finally lets go of her shoulder and hand if only so that he could walk around in a semi-circle. His hands are held in front of him, clenching them into fists, as he mutters the word "how" every so often.

Vincent pauses and winces at the idea of Claudia swallowing that mess. His shoulders involuntarily shudder as he takes a second to look disgusted. However, it isn't so much of the act as much as her derangement that horrifies him.

He can, at least, chuckle at her telling him that she died in the process. ]

In the end, she wasn't able to meet her god. I suppose that is a consolation prize for everything that has been done. [ Running a hand through his hair, he twists his fingers in the strands. ] But what will come next -- I can't imagine.

[ingestion]

( whether the effects of the food were still there or not, she felt like she could finally start seeing things clearly. the view before her was no longer a blur and began to realize the revelation she had just made. was it a mistake? should she have kept him in the dark about this? after all, despite their initial differences, they had at least that goal in common.

heather remained still as she watched him pace back and forth, muttering that word like a desperate prayer. she remained silent as her expression began to turn into one of stress and she wasn't sure what she could do about this now.

truthfully, she was still angry about the whole thing. she wanted to be the one to kill claudia, but perhaps it was best that she hadn't. that would have dragged her down to a level she had been trying to avoid- filling her heart with bitterness and cruelty. )

Vincent...

( she said softly before she fell down to her knees and gave out a desperate cry in stress. it was the first time she had been able to decompress and really think about what had happened. )

I can't believe I let this happen, but I swear I was about to kill that thing. Disgusting, weak, it looked just like me.

[banworthy]

[ If he were someone else, he might have knelt to help her. If she was one of his flock, he might have offered a kind word and hand on the shoulder. As it was, he was furious at the state of their world. There was almost no reason to save their universe - which left a very interesting problem that they had for themselves. Where were they to go? They could not stay here indefinitely, could they? Could they abandon their world to figure out how to live elsewhere?

Because even if the Powers that Be end up sparing their universe, the God born from Claudia's insanity will soon end it. His hand presses over his face as he chuckles to himself. The irony of the situation that they're in is not lost on him. ]

You hesitated. I understand. [ The bite is not left out of his voice. ] Oh, the woes of having power and having to live up to the potential and hope that people place on you. [ He breathes in. ] But that's unkind. You are only a teenage girl. I suppose it was a bit much to believe -- well -- all that planning really went nowhere, hm?

[ Cocking his head to the side, he stares down at her. ] You understand what this means, right? I don't know if time is still moving forward but if it is, there's no point in going back to our world. [ Hm. ] It may be that she wanted you to live. You know, your other self. She is quite powerful. I can't imagine she wanted you to wallow and suffer in the mistakes of others.

Congratulations on your second chance... now all we have to do is figure out how to lose gracefully and not be blipped out of existence.