TDM 006

[etrayamods]

⏵ arrival ⏴ Arrival is absolutely not normal this month. Instead of a hospital bed, you wake in a tunnel with a large group of other people. These are the residents. A woman’s voice in an earpiece hurriedly clues you in with an apology. I apologize; I had not planned to introduce you this way, but we are low on time. Please proceed down the hallway. An image of a shattered pearl pops up on your personal HUD and rotates. I am Aurora. You are joining many others on Etraya in order to save your world from destruction by completing missions. Your current mission is to find the pieces of this object that have become scattered in the library ahead of you. For everyone else, coming in is much the same. The instruction goes out to head to designated areas immediately, where companion bots will escort the residents of Etraya down into the depths, the area beneath where much the same is explained. ⏵ disrobing ⏴ The tunnel eventually opens directly into the foreroom of an expansive library, painted in marvelous hues and patterns with skylights far above. There are wizards milling about, bearded and holding tomes, quietly chatting amongst themselves. The reception area of the library has tall ceilings with equally tall doors Before you get too caught up in the scenery, a voice directs you forward. A gentleman, hunched and bespeckled craws out. "Make a line! Make a line, everyone! You cannot enter the library dressed as you are... Come forward and give me your name." The receptionist asks your given name and then hands over a box from underneath his counter. You can give him any name you want, he doesn’t seem to mind. It is tied with a tagged ribbon- labeling it accordingly. “The _____ robe of _______.” (First Letter of Given Name) (Last Letter of Given Name) A Controlling N Helpful A Melodies N Light B Glimmering O Floating B Discretion O Mind-Reading C Wet P Handsome C Growth P Climbing D Gruesome Q Gullible D Grasping Q Jumping E Observant R Ratty E Flying R Hurting F Powerful S Adhesive F Reading S Guiding G Psychedelic T Sweltering G Dancing T Bug-Speaking H Swift U Cheerful H Shouting U Exploding I Voracious V Anxious I Extracting V Complaining J Soft W Likeable J Punishing W Dividing K Keen X Ruthless K Creeping X Slapping L Fabulous Y Dramatic L Walking Y Charming M Fair Z Demonic M Listening Z Combustion As you read what the contents of the box may be, they form inside- Looking and behaving as your character expects them to. After all, magic is all in the wielder’s mind. Don your robes and enter the library. ⏵ unfamiliar familiars ⏴ For those without a familiar (like one hatched from an egg not too long ago) you may borrow one from the library counter. They all have strengths and weaknesses, but they will all assist in the very important mission. As you roam the library, they will make little indications that you are closer or further from finding a piece of the pearl. Pro • Hardworking • Gives correct directions 75% of time • Won’t run away from you • Very affectionate • Gives correct directions only when paired with another rat, toad, or personal pet. • Gives correct directions 90% of the time Con • Must feed bookworms • Will run away if too close to a cat • Does not care for you • Sleepy • Will run ahead • Gets distracted by rats ⏵ the task at hand ⏴ With robes donned and creature in hand, you must now complete your mission. Find the pieces of the shattered pearl. As you enter the library, you may notice that it’s all very dim. There’s oil lamps around the place that may be moved with you to assist in your journey if your robes do not already emit light. Break off and search the library. There is a directory at the front to point guests to all the different sections. Wings of the Library A General Works B Music C Philosophy, Religion D Fine Arts E History, Auxiliary Sciences F Language and Literature G Magic, General H Science J Geography, Anthopology K Medicine M Agriculture N Hobbies, Recreation P Social Science Q Military R Political Science S Practical Arts T Law W People X Education Y Spiders Each section looks enough like the last, though the books within have immense power. Pick up the wrong book, and you might conjure a dragon or a historical figure! You must persist and avoid making too much noise or breaking too many things. Or else the Librarian, a tall mass of knotted fabric will confiscate your robe and usher you back outside. Your name will be struck from the list, and you must pick a new one to re-enter the library to continue the search. You can try to fight back against him- he may be set alight with the lamp. But should you be starting fires in here? ⏵ NOTES ⏴ Any thread with 15 comments between you and another may be submitted to find a piece of the pearl. There are 20 pieces altogether, and we will determine if the mission was successful by March 28th. A post will go live on the OOC comm for this! This mission occurs out of time, similar to how the spaceship had. Meaning, those currently in game can experience these events any time between now, and March 14th. Please direct all questions to our mod queries comment! ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

[aimsforknees]

[ When he first arrived John agreed with Carver. He still does, a little. But it's been long enough that he's letting himself believe that it won't come to that, that he won't have to fight Carver, or Accelerator, or Krouse, or Gorgug, or, or, or. So many people that have wormed their way into his life despite his best attempts at keeping them at arms length. And he still does, still doesn't open up to them, still doesn't share himself, but he knows how much he doesn't want to make that decision. ]

I don't believe that.

[ Even with his doubts, even though he got a sniper rifle, even though he makes mental plans on how to fight people, John is choosing hope. It's a strange thing. It's a place he'd never be without Harold. He's letting himself hope. ]

[fortitudosalutis]

Then you’ll fail.

[ It’s said bluntly. Hope is a curse. You have to be practical about these things. You have to face the world as it is and always will be. God loves the survivors but He tests them constantly. This is how it will always go. ]

And who’s gonna protect Finch then?

[aimsforknees]

I won't. I'll be there for him.

[ And that's said with utter belief. He will be there for Harold. Always. That's how he'll spend his last breath. Whether it's in defense of Harold, or for Harold's mission, for the purpose that Harold gave him, that's what he's dedicating his life to. John doesn't think he has a long life ahead of him, but it will always be for this. ]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ It’s said with conviction, but what does that matter if John lets his guard down, treats this place as anything less than an active war zone? No, Carver thinks, no, that’s a mistake. One that everyone around here seems to be making and he doesn’t understand why everyone looks at him like he’s so goddamn unreasonable for calling things like they are.

All of this can be taken away. None of it will last. And when things go bad, the way they always do and always will, who’s going to be prepared? Who’s going to weather it strong?

Carver exhales through his teeth, frustrated. A soldier, of all people, ought to understand this shit. ]

Everything is a test. You let your guard down, even for a second, you fail.

[aimsforknees]

[ That says a lot about Carver. Says a lot about John that he doesn't believe that anymore. He did, once upon a time in the CIA, know every moment of his life was being scrutinized. Kara and Mark were always watching him, always molding him, always asking him to be something he ultimately wasn't. But it's not like that now. He sees goodness in the world, in people. He might not see goodness in himself, but he lets himself make good choices, even if old habits die hard.

He thinks that Carver is starting down that path in slow steps, but he won't point out the ways he sees that. He's going to back off here, not push any further. He still wants to have that drink with Carver when they're done. ]

Maybe you're right, maybe it is.

[fortitudosalutis]

[ He gives John a narrow, suspicious look. Wondering if he's being mocked, somehow. But in the end there's just John's placid, unchanging face, and Carver exhales through his teeth. He forces his hands to unclench. ]

Of course it is.

[aimsforknees]

[ It's not mocking, and while John kept himself with more poise than Carver, he lets his mind relax when he sees Carver's hands unclench. Just because he thinks about these things when confronted doesn't mean he's comfortable with it. It's much easier to skim the surface of his mind, to not dig into these feelings he has no outlet for. ]

Then let's get on with this. I'm sure you'd rather stop being wet.

[fortitudosalutis]

Yeah, yeah.

[ Nobody likes being wet and hurting. Carver exhales, watching the bird again. It's pecking at a specific book, now. ]

Try that one.

[aimsforknees]

[ John pulls the book out and holds it out for Carver to relieve him of. Thanks to his ridiculous robe all he has to do is hold his arm up to shine a light inside the gap. Something glints all the way in the back. He reaches his hand in to pull out something small and jagged. Turning around, he holds it out for Carver to see. ]

No clue if this is what we're looking for, but it seems plausible.

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver peers down at the pages, prepared to find nothing. Instead, John picks a small shard out from between the paper. It looks like almost nothing, but the bird caws, flapping onto Carver's shoulder and preening his hair.

He lowers the book, blinking several times. ]

....I didn't actually think that was gonna work.

[aimsforknees]

[ Neither did John, but here they are. ]

I'm learning not to have expectations about this place.

[fortitudosalutis]

Well, fuck. Okay.

[ He blinks several times and closes the book. ]

Now what?

[aimsforknees]

I owe you a drink if you're still interested.

[ This is what he hopes Carver takes him up on. The reason he believes Carver is loosening up a bit. He remembers that Carver smiled, if only for a moment. ]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ The raven, still unnamed, keeps preening his hair. Carver watches John for a moment, then nods. ]

I'll take it.

[aimsforknees]

[ And that's John's win. He's more confident than ever after this conversation that Harold would approve of offering Carver a drink. Of course he'll be reporting after Carver leaves, as usual. They still exchange information on the people around them, make sure they're on the same page. ]

Let's get going.

[ The trip back to the library is thankfully uneventful, John shedding his robe as soon as possible. Once they're inside he directs Carver to wait in the staff room before making a quick trip upstairs to where he lives. Before long he returns with a nice bottle and two glasses, and closes the door just to a crack but not all the way closed behind him. ]

I hope you like whiskey. If not I can grab something else.

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver gets rid of the robe the first chance he gets, shaking himself once it's no longer on him. But he follows silently, and the bird follows too. Once inside, he takes a moment to scan the area.

Habit, at this point. Bad things happen if you don't watch your corners. ]

Whiskey's fine. Haven't had anything but moonshine for a long time.

[aimsforknees]

[ Approval given, John pours for them both, a modest amount. There's no need to get carried away and for himself it's been a while since he's had a drink; for all that he thinks he's safe here, he doesn't want to lose his edge around Carver. He passes a glass to Carver before taking a seat and raises his glass with the hint of a smile. ]

To a job well done, despite the circumstances.

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver hesitates for a moment before taking his seat, preferring to stay on his feet in case something happens, but rudeness is a sin. He takes the glass and the seat, lifting the whiskey in quiet salute. ]

Despite the circumstance, [ he echoes, and drinks. ] Damn. That is good.

cw: alcoholism

[aimsforknees]

[ John takes a drink of his own and has to agree. Time apart has only made it taste better. He has to remember that he does actually like whiskey for the taste, not just for how it makes him feel when he's a bottle deep, day after day. He's made an effort to move past those days. It's easier when it's a social thing, like this. ]

Finch has good taste. He could make you recommendations if you wanted your own from the liquor store.

[fortitudosalutis]

[ It's been years since he's had real whiskey. Carver smooths his thumb along the rim, watching it swirl through the cup. ]

We'd collect alcohol when we found it. Used it for antiseptic.

[ There was nothing else. Sometimes, not even that. ]

Sometimes the commander would give us moonshine, though. If we'd done well.

[aimsforknees]

You can get actual antiseptic at the hospital. They let you take supplies here.

[ John takes another sip, uses it to cover debating whether to ask the next thing. ]

What was your commander like?

[ Maybe Carver will want to talk about his family. ]

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Carver shrugs at that. For now, he doesn't say. But hospitals and medicine and fresh food don't last. He takes another sip of whiskey, letting it warm him. ]

Pope?

[ He lifts the glass, watching it swirl. Wondering if he ought to clam up. Avoid saying anything lest he betray his family by accident.

But then, Pope is dead now. ]

He looked after us, [ Carver says after a while. ] We didn't have anywhere else to go, so he gave us a place. And he kept us going after the world ended. He made sure I was strong enough.

[aimsforknees]

[ John has to wonder about that last "made sure I was strong enough." It makes him think of Kara, of how she tore him to shreds. How she cut him down again and and again until he fit she shape he needed to be for the CIA. Of course in the end she strapped a bomb to his chest. That was just Kara. ]

I had a partner like that. Made sure I was fit for my job. Shot me without hesitation when she was given the word.

[ He's not really sure why he said that last part. It's not like he's drunk and letting things fall out. Maybe this is part of being soft. Maybe he sees something familiar in Carver that makes him more honest. ]

Cw abuse, cult shit

[fortitudosalutis]

[ Oh, Carver thinks, and he watches the glass for a moment instead of John. It’s hard not to think of Bossie screaming as he burned. How the instinct to say Pope would never do anything like that withers and falls silent in the face of that memory, and the way it felt to drag the body out into the trees. Carver buried him, little brother who died in pain, and they never spoke of it again. ]

Did you deserve it? [ he asks quietly. ]

[aimsforknees]

[ Did he deserve it? No, he can say that for certain. He might have deserved to die for other reasons, but not why Kara shot him. ]

Not for that. The Agency wanted to burn us both. I got orders to shoot her too, got told the same thing as she did, but I couldn't do it. That's the lesson she was always trying to teach me.