001 - Hello, World - Week Two | CW: insects

[snaggletooth]

[ A buzzing besets the wearers of masks, building and building. Then, the moment it seems impossible for it to become any louder, it stops. Like an approaching swarm that's ceased all aggression in an instant. There's still something sitting there behind this sudden cessation, however, hidden in the shifting blackness of the mind. A presence, just arrived, awaiting a turn to speak. ]

Hello, please pardon my intrusion. My name is Ivan. I'm standing at the entrance to Grand Central Station.

Before I head below, there's something I believe I should do for my own safety. With an appearance like mine, it would be easy for those of you I've yet to meet to mistake me for one of those other mindless things that live down there, in the dark. That's why I'm going to show myself to all of you now. It may be startling, so I apologize.

Please, brace yourself.

[ There is movement in the mind's eye. There is a light that switches on, illuminating an oily mass that goes on and on, disappearing off in the depths of the dark plane. Nothing gives it scale except for the distinct sense that it is looming, this terrible silhouette that terminates in the pale, placid face of a young man. It looks like a porcelain doll's head has been torn off and placed atop a nightmarish effigy.

He sways softly before allowing himself to fade away once again. ]

There, ahaha... if you're still hearing this, then I have to thank you for at least humoring me.

I realize that my gesture doesn't give anyone a reason to trust I'm not as bad as the next abomination you run into. I won't begrudge you, whatever your decision. There is one piece of guidance I can offer though. It doesn't even require dealing with me in person, fortunately for all.

Just concentrate with me — for one more moment.

[ He's not usually the one to do this. That person has concerningly not been present. At the end of the moment he requested, your thoughts are pulled along, beyond anywhere you thought to direct them. You can resist and the sensation will simply dissipate, but allow yourself to be lead and all will also be well. At the end of the line is a susurrating knot of voices speaking over one another. Echoes that, with just a bit of focus, become clearer. Individual. ]

If this information proves useful, send your regards to the young man named Megumi.

( NOTE: This message will be sent out once the Veteran's nightmares begin leading them to the tunnels. Ivan will be actively searching while communicating and can be intercepted by other characters in the area. His close companion Till may also respond and/or can optionally appear if a conversation thread is converted to action. )

Comments

[untilldeath]

Something’s definitely going on down there, and I’d bet my life it’s got Lortel—and others like her—thrown right into the middle of it.

[Without a doubt. Till shrugs his backpack higher on his shoulders, the weight of it shifting with a dull sound of supplies—a giant, nail-studded bat jutting clearly from the top. That’s his weapon of choice; they sure as hell weren’t taught how to use anything conventional—weren’t taught to use weapons at all, back in Anakt Garden.]

If the trail splits from theirs at all, I think we’ll notice. And if ours are really following our own wishes, you’ll probably feel it the moment yours tries to pull you in a different direction, right? These Nightmares seem like they really want to be our allies.

[markingnight]

[ Ironeye regarded Till's bat with curiosity. He'd have to remember to ask about it later. ]

Let's not delay, then. I'm sure your friend isn't the only one trapped down there.

[ Distressing how quickly the tunnels became coated in organic growth, and how quickly were the first of the spores floating in midair. But following them was a faint breeze, repelling some of the worst of the miasma. Ironeye's nightmare seemed to want to push ahead despite their distinctly alien surroundings; she nosed forward and then glanced back at her human companions as she went, as if to reassure herself that they would follow. ]

This place reminds me of the ruins back home.

[ Did it? Did it, truly?

In a smooth stroke, Ironeye drew his katana from its scabbard. He seemed to be scanning their surroundings, listening for the furtive sounds of something approaching. Up ahead were the first of what looked like Hosts fused to the wall. Ah. That accounted for the sound of breathing. ]

[snaggletooth]

[ Is this new Host behavior?

He doesn't remember seeing them stuck to the walls like this while they were on the search during the last Lunar Anomaly. Masses of growth, yes, but not distinct body parts. Ivan's eyes follow a set of fingers that fork out like veins, meters of fat, pale protuberance crawling across the concrete.

His head continues to crane about for a moment, interested in where they lead. When he figures it out, he points. ]

Ah, those vines hanging over the path ahead are part of it.

[ BECAUSE THEY'RE FINGERS, NOT VINES. ]

[untilldeath]

They're creepy as hell.

[The light around Till intensifies so he can see up to where it all lingers. Sleep really knows how to make a creepy environment. All of this feels uncomfortably off, though. He hasn't seen this kind of thing up to this point.]

If we don't want to get close, I can probably try to clear the way with some light?

[While training with Aventurine, he's been learning how to throw it physically like a weapon.]

[markingnight]

[ Ironeye sidestepped what looked almost like an oversized cluster of veins lining the floor, careful to keep his feet from disturbing anything that looked like it might take exception to being trod upon. It helped to follow the nightmare's lead. ]

We may be in for quite the fight. If you can bear their presence, we should save our strength for as long as possible.

[ Separated from the surface by ever-increasing stretches of unyielding concrete and earth, unsure exactly how far they had to go, Ironeye tended towards caution. If they attracted attention immediately, surely their chances of finding this fluffy-tailed Lortel would grow thin. ]

Do you hear it? They are speaking.

[ Whispering, more like, and so low as to be near-inaudible. As one might in their sleep. So this was the fate of those who could not bear Sleep's 'divinity'. ]

[snaggletooth]

[ The day Till learned about stealth was a long time ago. Ivan remembers showing him how to stay low and shift his weight carefully, all so they could make it out of the school while the systems glitched, into the tall grass beyond the dome.

His hope as he grasps the other boy's hand this day, looking into his eyes with a subtle grin, is that it'll make him feel at ease, like they're playing games like they used to. Ironeye has already demonstrated that the creatures won't come alive when they get close, and maybe not as long as they don't touch them.

And that's a monster-slayer in front of them, not children on their own.

Ivan tugs, albeit advances only one step, waiting to see if Till picks up on him wanting them to weave across the minefield of host parts at the same time. ]

The ones that walk around do it too. [ Taking care to whisper no louder than the "speaking" of the creatures. ] It's always the same, like a strange poem.

[untilldeath]

Yeah, alright.

[It isn't like he has unlimited energy when underground. He's way stronger when out in daylight. Being conservative isn't a bad idea.

Ivan meets his eyes and grasps his hand and he smiles back faintly. He gets it. Stealth and staying quiet are important right now.

Taking a step forward himself, he picks his way forward along side him.]

Its not just the hosts.

[Also nothing above a whisper.]

I've seen it happen to some of us, too, when effected by her.

[markingnight]

A poem... or a song? [ So much of their circumstances seemed to revolve around music, after all. ]

[ The scrabble of claws against hard surface, a soft chirrup. That was the only warning before a rat the size of a Newfoundland sprang from behind a mass of detritus. Ironeye thrust his blade into the creature's belly without hesitation; it came away with a faint coating of black ichor. Now unmoving, the creature's fur and general condition did not speak of good health. It, too, had been affected by a riot of fungal growth.

No reaction from the Hosts around them, at least not so far. Perhaps it had not been enough to disturb their dreams, the doings of a single creature. ]

...Only a small one. [ Alas. ] Sharon was kind enough to warn me of some of Sleep's effects. I have only heard Vessels reciting through memory.

[snaggletooth]

[ Why does he have the funny feeling someone's disappointed that rat wasn't at least ten times bigger?

Ivan watches the carcass roll off to the side, thinking it might make a decent meal in a pinch... until a bit of black blood slides from the wound, more like a chunky gruel than a liquid. The fungus has reached all the way into this not-so-little rat's insides. The taste will have been completely ruined by it.

They do have some rations to eat; it's just the regrettable idea of waste that even has him considering something fresher.

Casting his eyes elsewhere, he spots a roach scurrying away from one of the Host-clusters, a blue-green morsel clutched in tiny mandibles. ]

Ah.

[ The sound of something important coming to mind. ]

Can we leave any bug-like ones we see alone? Unless they're being too aggressive to avoid it.

[untilldeath]

[A grimace crosses his features and Till winces when Ironeye runs the little creature through. By the misshapen appearance and black blood, it had clearly seen better days. Or maybe it had been born that way into this fallen world. Till doesn’t know.

He hasn’t exactly gotten used to killing the creatures here, even when he has had to. In the end, he always ends up feeling a little bad about it. Sure, he’s tried to help prepare things at home when Ivan’s brought home supper...

. . . And Noah handles most of that, after finding Till in tears while trying to handle dressing the animal himself. He pulls his eyes from the rat and to their party.]

They're likely to listen to you anyway, right? Hopefully, that won't even be an issue.

[markingnight]

[ Interesting. Out of the two of them, Till seemed like he was most prepared to do battle. Yet Ivan seemed the more inured of the two to the sight of violence. ]

You can communicate with insects? [ An incline of his head. ] ...I don't mind, so long as they don't pose a problem.

[ If they did, well... Ironeye was not sentimental about bugs. Or most any creature that took a swing at him.

The nightmare stomped her foot at them, snorting as if to urge them on. He put a hand out to her flank. ]

All right, all right -- we're following your lead. [ To his companions: ] I imagine there's a possibility we'll run into other people, too, trapped down here.