redshiftlogs | march 2020. welcome to the void.

Entry tags:

march 2020. welcome to the void.

Who: Everyone in Anchor.
What: Seventh Introductory Mingle
When: The Month of March 2020
Where: Around and outside the city.
Warnings: Please add any warnings in the subject lines.

Redshift: Welcome to the v͖͕̺̲̘̱̜͎o̴̦̣̠̦̘̹͞i̯̖d̛̪̬͈̱̦̝͍̕.

Click here to read what characters will experience when arriving in Anchor.

a. escape the dome.

It seems the mysterious, massive plant with its giant bud is not going anywhere. In fact, the bud is starting to bloom, which presents a problem - it's starting to press against the dome that protects Anchor. So far, no harm done, but is this really the best way to test the kind of pressure that the dome can withstand? There's got to be some way to bring the plant down without destroying chunks of Anchor in the process...

And uh, you might want to get on that. The plant has been growing, sending out thorny vines into the various levels, and the flowers growing from those vines are, shall we say, aggressive. In fact, they're liable to bite if you get too close, and these things have razor-sharp petals. More eerily, they can mimic the voices they hear, usually using those borrowed voices to beg for help at the end of long corridors or in the back rooms of abandoned shops and restaurants.

b. planetary fly traps.

Following the voices can get a body in all kinds of trouble, because, well. They want to eat you.

In those dark areas where the voices call out there are larger buds, too, ones that look similar to the one now pressing up against Anchor's dome. They're about twice the size of an average human, and they've just barely opened. The colors inside are brilliant, gorgeous, mesmerizing, kind of exhausting... Get too close, and you could find yourself being slowly dragged in through the mouth of the plant into a bath of liquid that saps your energy while also slowly (very slowly, don't worry) consuming your flesh.

Better hope you snap out of it quickly, or have some backup to get you out of there.

c. misfire mayhem.

In case that wasn't enough, there's something funny going on with the comm system again. Texts being sent to the wrong people. Simple things, small things, yes, but also some things that you might have wanted to keep private or off the network. The misfires start on the morning of the 20th with just a few texts going to the wrong recipients, but slowly amps up throughout the day until voice and video calls are connecting to the wrong people. Recordings of conversations, including the audio and video ones, getting sent to completely unrelated residents, regardless of how private the conversation was.

The reason for the malfunctions becomes... well, clear-ish when Creepy Joe appears on the network. He’s in the agricultural sector, petting a reindire and very much not in that secure quarantine where Qubit et all left him. The angle is odd--not from a communicator, but from one of the security cameras overhead. It blinks from one shot of Joe to another angle. Almost like someone is trying to keep an eye on him.

mod notes.

Misfire texts, voice, and video conversations are on an opt-in basis, it is up to each player if they want their characters tormented with their messages being sent to others or receiving misfires. Misfires can be played on this log, on the network, or in IC inboxes.

The NPC network entry will explain some details on why, but characters who were kind to Creepy Joe or who have put in a lot of effort to contribute to the community will find that their messages are getting misfired much less often and the contents are nowhere near as sensitive. Characters who were cruel to Creepy Joe or who have hurt/stolen from others will find their messages going astray more often, and with more sensitive material.

Messages received by characters can include any message posted in

redshiftrp or in IC inboxes, including messages from dropped characters. Have fun with that!

Important but Unrelated: March and April have been designated as check in only for AC. If you have not yet posted your AC, feel free to just put a check-in notice under your character's AC thread. April check-ins can be posted any time on or after April 1st.

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[He's not expecting that, but perhaps he should have been. At least he has enough strength to pull himself fully up and onto Charles' back, rather than be dragged. The floor is just too close to those creeping stems.

He'll have to apologise, once they stop. Charles isn't a horse, but there's something very comforting about holding tight to the thick fur mane, Charles' powerful limbs swiftly bringing them back to safety. He really can't resist pressing his face down, taking a steadying breath of the familiar scent. He's okay. His leg hurts, but it's not the most pressing thing.

They have to work out how to get rid of that plant.]

[ There's no apology needed or demanded. They need to get out of here before they can be attacked again. Find the den, find somewhere safe to defend. Find the rest of the Pack.

And feeling Jacob's grip tighten, the wolf tears through the hallways, following the scents he knows away from the green monstrosity, towards the dormitories. ]

[ It's no small relief to arrive back at the familiar rooms, although he'd seen vines and creepers as they'd run through the complex, pushing their way through ruined doorways and collapsed masonry.

But the shared dormitory is safe. It feels normal, and Jacob lets himself let go of Charles' fur and slide to the floor, hissing between his teeth as his knee protests. It's clear why soon enough, the thick fabric is ripped and bloody.

Then again, so is Charles' jaw and fur, and Jacob forces himself to sit, back braced against the nearest piece of furniture, as he reaches out to touch the wolf. ]

Let me look at that love. Christ, that thing cut us up.

[ The wolf gingerly licks at his face, before lowering his head to sniff at the wound on Jacob's leg. He wants to lick it better, but his tongue hurts. Everything hurts a great deal, and fighting that thing had taken a lot out of him.

So he sits beside him instead, lying his head across his lap. From nearby, the wolf that had been follow Charles around appears and trots over as well.

It appears Jacob's not going to want for company, for the time being. ]

[If he'd had the energy he would have tried to get up, find something to properly clean the blood off both of them. As it is, he just pulls one of the cotton squares from inside his waistcoat, and as Charles settles, carefully clears some of the mixed sap and blood from his jaws.

When it's a little better, he drops the handkerchief and rests his hand on Charles' head, gently scratching behind his ear. It might just distract Charles from his discomfort like it distracts Jacob.

And when the other wolf moves closer, and settles down, Jacob's other hand moves to scratch his ears too.]

Rest up. We'll have to get rid of that thing, but we're no use to anyone while we're walking wounded.

[ Both wolves seem a little more content, at that. But the noise beyond results in pricking ears, both lifting their heads in unison, just in case the fight comes their way.

Nothing just yet. They have time. And the larger wolf turns his head and licks Jacob's cheek before settling down once more. ]

Its okay. Packs safe.

[ Part of it. Jacob can't be sure where the others are but he is sure Angel and Connor can handle almost anything.

But the wolves and he know they can'tstay here hiding forever. That means they need a way of fending the plant off. Without it ripping them to shreds.

He gazes around the room, trying to come up with a makeshift plan.

And spots some of the bottles and cans of flammable liquids and gases that Angel has been investigating as weapons. ]

What about fire?

[ There's a restless grumble from the wolf that is actually Charles, before he turns to start licking at his own wounds. It tastes terrible, but fortunately he heals a little faster in this form.

Jacob doesn't have that luxury. It looks as if he might be sitting this fight out, at least for the time being. ]

[ Jacob is not going to sit here on his tod while other people risk their lives fighting that overgrown dandelion. He doesn't like the idea of others doing what he could do, what he could help with. He's got skills they don't have after all.

When Charles moves, it gives him the opportunity to get to his feet, a little wobbly, but better than before. The numbness is wearing off, gradually. The desire to find some way to destroy the threat to their home is enough to make him forget about the pain and hobble over to Angel's corner of the table, picking up an aerosol can, turning it over in his hands. ]

We can't kill this thing the way we're used to. It's a plant. It's not got a heart you can stab or a neck you can snap. We've got to think about it differently.

Wrfff.

[ When Jacob moves, the wolf continues to clean its wound, satisfied with the idea that he's here, and that none of them are going anywhere for the time being. But then he starts to speak.

And beyond animal instinct, reaching the person within the animal, he realizes some of the intent in Jacob's voice. How could he not, knowing him so well as he does by now?

The look the animal gives him is dubious, at best. An expression all too familiar to his human face. ]

[ Charles doesn't need a human face or even words to make himself understood. He only has to look at Jacob like that, with those gorgeous molten gold eyes, and Jacob knows his plan is flawed. Of course it is, he has no idea how to make these cans explode, how to make them ignite.

Maybe they could wrap cotton soaked in tequila sunrise around them, set fire to it, but somehow he doubts that would work too. ]

Alright, it's a terrible idea. But we weren't making any headway.

Rrrrowwwrrrrrrr.

[ He pulls himself to his feet -- head level with Jacob's chest, even on all fours -- and he strides closer to nudge at his eager hands, searching for something to make use of. To head out there and continue the fight.

Whatever he does, wherever he goes, he will follow.

But he can still smell the blood oozing from Jacob's leg, and he bends his head to lap at the ragged fabric. ]

What do you think? Worth trying fire, or do we just use some reinforcements?

[As Charles nudges at his hands he leans down, touching his forehead against the soft fur of Charles' head, and then pressing a kiss then as he straightens up.]

If Wolfy will help, maybe Raven can as well. At least maybe she can warn us about where the vines are coming from. Did you see those big flowers? I wonder if we could use those to hurt it...

[He shrugs, and then Charles' attention is back on his leg, and the gentle licks make him hiss.]

I'll clean it up before we go out again. It's okay. It's just a bit of blood. I've had worse.

[ Cue another deeply unimpressed look from the animal. Whatever he's saying, it's in a tone he doesn't much care for. It's a tone Charles doesn't like when he's human, much less when he's in this altered state.

Either way, it smells like bullshit. ]

[ It might be bullshit, Charles' nose is rarely wrong. But the fact is Charles has lied about how he feels before and no doubt will again. Jacob knows that. You tell everyone you're fine because they need you.

And that is true here. He hurts but it isn't the worst pain he's ever been in, and there is no way in heaven or hell that he is letting Charles go out there again without him.]

You're making a fuss. We've got to stop that thing and I'm not going to sit here waiting for you and the others to either come back or... or not.

[ There's another grumble from the wolf, before it turns and starts padding towards the bed. Its frame miraculously seems to hold under the huge animal as it snuffles into the sheets, the drain from being in this form without feeding or fighting -- never mind the injuries he'd already taken -- taking a lot out of him.

Just...give him a moment. You'll have a better conversationalist shortly. ]

[ Jacob softens as Charles takes himself off to their bed, watching him settle himself down. He's warm and comfortable and he saved Jacob by taking more blows himself, and then standing guard.

He should rest. He needs to rest. And maybe Jacob should to.

Not that there's much space left on the bed but it's easy to tuck himself against the wolf again, breathe against his soft fur, and fall asleep.]

Hey.

[ When Jacob comes to, there's only one wolf in the dorm. And one very weary-looking Charles tangled up in the sheets, with nothing but a puzzled look on his face.

He can smell blood on the air, even now. That earns a worried frown on his part, mumbling over a split lip that's just starting to heal over. ]

What happened?

[ Jacob shifts and stretches, before relaxing back into the mattress to gaze at Charles, ever so handsome despite the split lip and the other scratches he had obtained.]

Nothing to worry over. The plant in the park's got aggressive, we had to fight our way back here. It cut us up a bit in the process.

[ He moves a little closer, just to kiss Charles gently, trying not to press too hard against that sore lip. ]

Thorns torn my leg up a bit around the knee, those thorns are like knives. You had to carry me back here. So you're my brave hero yet again.

Your leg?

[ The kiss is nice, but not entirely a distraction from that sudden sense of worry. He winces as he pulls himself upwards, the ache of shifting muscle and restructured bone under his skin as painful as ever. But it's Jacob's injury that concerns him.

Jacob isn't the one with a supernatural healing rate, and he pulls back the blankets to take a look. ]

Here, let me see.

[ There's a soft sigh, before Jacob is shifting to let Charles look. The blood has dried on the torn fabric around the punctures, but the series of wounds in his skin are just as red and sore.]

It's just a scratch. My leg's not come off.

[ But he's not going to protest any more as Charles pulls back the covers and checks the wound over.]

This was not how I hoped we'd start playing doctors.

I can see that. Still firmly attached, from the look of it.

[ Still rather angry looking, and he puts slight pressure on the outside edge. If it's just blood that comes out, that's good. If there's anything else in there...

That's going to be an issue.

And even as groggy and out of sorts as he is -- as he always is, after transforming back to himself again -- his focus is as ever on whoever needs his help. Right now, that's Jacob. Fortunately, he's never known him to shy away from his attention before now. ]

[ Jacob's attention, for what it'sworth, is still on Charles. Handsome and concerned even though he's barely back to being human, still woolly around the edges. God, he's handso-]

Bloody hell!

[ Even the slight pressure against the wound hurts, surprisingly sharp as it shoots up the length of his leg. Fortunately it's just blood that floods up to the surface, but those spines dug in deep.

He shifts, knowing that he hasn'ttaien proper care, and that he deserves whatever disapproval Charles is going to administer.]

Alright, alright. I'll go clean it now.

Mm mm. Stay put.

[ He takes a moment to make certain, a brief sniff telling him that most of the sap is residual on skin and clothes, but not in the wound itself. Thankfully. Then he starts to pull himself free of the sheets to go get bandages and alcohol, and a cloth to clean the wound with.

Just...ignore the fact he's doing so completely naked.

Or don't. Won't have been the first time Jacob's seen him in such a state. ]

[ Not the first and not the last, and he can't resist rolling onto his side to enjoy the sight as Charles gathers what he needs.

It's not just how glorious he is, muscles shifting under beautiful skin, long hair tumbling over his shoulders, back long and straight. He's wonderful to look at, but it's more than that. He cares, really cares. His first thought on waking up was Jacob, tending to him. He throws himself into whatever fight he needs to for his friends, he does as many little kindnesses as he can for anyone who needs him.

What did Jacob ever do to deserve this? ]

Am I allowed to take my own trousers off at least? Not that I mind you doing it.

march 2020. welcome to the void.

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