TDM #003

[bequiet]

TEST DRIVE MEME
You wake, standing. A thick, muddy red dust coats your skin and clothes - it sticks to your tongue and blocks your vision. Inhale and it chokes you, exhale and your breath puffs out in front of your face in a transparent maroon cloud. It tastes of copper, tangy and harsh. Movement is difficult, every limb tingles and aches. Look to your left, your right. Evenly spaced in each direction stands another person indistinguishable in every way from the next. You're disoriented and lethargic, unable to grasp onto a single thought. A pinprick of light blooms ahead and grows steadily larger; a door has opened.

Hands grip your wrists, push at the small of your back and guide you out of the darkness into a room with four walls and a thin, sagging ceiling. The plaster is peeling, the air is musty, and the floor is slick. White plastic piping juts up from the center and curves into multiple spouts, clean water flowing in uneven streams. Those hands pull your clothes off and clear the dust from your body, redress you in handsewn jumpsuits.

A finger is pressed to your lips. Kind eyes meet your own and a single word is whispered - hush.

Led out of the room in a line, you’re taken down a short hallway and into another, much larger room. There’s a woman waiting for you there, a child hugging her leg, and a cloth bag in her hands. She reaches in and pulls out a device, passes one to each of you. Once finished, she begins to move both hands in graceful gestures, a language. One of the people who helped you lifts their device and the screen lights up, tracks the woman’s hands. Letters appear on the screen and you understand the device’s purpose. She tells you what she knows and it’s not much.

This world is haunted. Noise attracts them, so it is not allowed. Communication is through body language, soundless writing, and the device. She tells you that your feet must be light and your mouth never used. There is a community outside these doors, where you can survive together, but only if you agree to one thing: complete and total silence. You'll have time to talk it over. Acceptance allows you to journey outside. The ground is marked in pathways of sand, lining the paths to each building and everywhere in between. You notice that the locals hold their devices always, aloft and glance to it often. It will not vibrate or make a sound to signal a message.

Notices appear. Rules. Guidelines. Feet on the sand and never anywhere else. To open a door you brush your fingers along the hinges - oiled and you may enter. If not, take the brush from the can sitting nearby and coat the metal with the dark liquid. You're to settle into your new home.

Caught me unawares
Content Warnings: Confusion, disorientation
Themes: Survival, horror, it's like groundhog day

The ending of the floor has caught me unawares. This must be the reason why I’m falling down the stairs.

That night, when you fall asleep, you dream of your life before The Quiet Place. At first it's the happiest moments of your life played on repeat, over and over. Everything good and sweet and fun. The second night, it's much the same. You go to bed anticipating another restful and pleasant sleep. But on the third night it changes.

For everyone, it starts the same. There's a long hallway with a door at the end. You walk towards it with nowhere else to go. You twist the knob and when you step forward, the floor ends and you fall. Falling lasts for seconds, minutes, or hours and when you land, it's with a jolt and a cloud of red dust all around you. There's someone else next to you, stumbling, coughing and choking on that familiar dirt that coats your tongue and mouth. When your eyes meet, everything blurs and you're falling again - this time, when you land, it's inside that dream from the first night. Only you're not alone. They're with you. The only way out is to experience the dream together. And when you do wake up, for real, that same red dirt is on your hands.

Falling down the stairs
Content Warnings: Confusion, disorientation
Themes: Survival, horror, it's like groundhog day

The ending of the floor has caught me unawares. This must be the reason why I’m falling down the stairs.

That night, when you fall asleep, you dream of your life before The Quiet Place. At first it's the worst moments of your life played on repeat, over and over. Everything bad and sour and awful. The second night, it's much the same. You go to bed anticipating another restless and dreadful sleep. But on the third night it changes.

For everyone, it starts the same. There's a long hallway with a door at the end. You walk towards it with nowhere else to go. You twist the knob and when you step forward, the floor ends and you fall. Falling lasts for seconds, minutes, or hours and when you land, it's with a jolt and a cloud of red dust all around you. There's someone else next to you, stumbling, coughing and choking on that familiar dirt that coats your tongue and mouth. When your eyes meet, everything blurs and you're falling again - this time, when you land, it's inside that nightmare from the first night. Only you're not alone. They're with you. The only way out is to experience the nightmare together. And when you do wake up, for real, that same red dirt is on your hands.

OOC
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NAVIGATION

---

Comments

[oorah]

[ as it starts, frank knows he isn't really there. it's becoming easier to sort the reality from dreams like these. he doesn't think he knows the girl, but she's younger than even his lisa was, or than leo is. but she carries herself like a woman already, and not just a woman but a soldier; an assassin. it makes his stomach roll tumultuously to see grown men come at her that way with abandon and without restraint. they're directed by one man who projects father as much as he does owner and that makes him sick too. he's frozen there, knowing he can't affect what happens next, but he already wants to snap the guy's neck.

when the scene refreshes, the girl is negligibly older but no less ruthless. if anything, she's more and the men are taunting her now. he knows that won't end well for them even before the fight begins, and he's still not sure if he can intervene but he's confident in the knowledge that he doesn't have to -- she'll survive. this time, he lunges at the old man, but the scene changes again before he can connect.

when the man reappears, frank is angry. furious even. his fists clench at his sides and he knows that she'll best her attacker. he hates that she has to when he wants to do it for her. but everything goes too fast and he's rendered useless again by the rapidly changing dream. he isn't even sure if she's seen him, if she knows he's there yet. but she will soon.

the cage is too much. that's enough. this is what he was made for, body and soul. he bides his time, but only just, waiting for the older man from before to kill the other. interesting, but not good enough. he's still defending an asset rather than a child. the second he unlatches the cage, frank bursts forward, tearing into stick like so much cray paper. he goes down in a sea of red, his heart spurting out onto frank's face and dark jumpsuit. he holds onto his shirt to keep him upright, breathing deeply through it as he watches the man die. like it's therapy for him, and in a way it is. he turns to the girl and they meet eyes for the first time. he knows she sees him, and he holds out his bloodied hand as her father hits the ground. he takes her some place she will be loved.

it's the lieberman's on some big holiday, everyone laughs and drinks and frank is the happiest of all. the murderous man from before is gone in favor of a happy-go-lucky family man. the weird uncle who would do anything for his friend's kids. and this new adoptee who reminds him of the broken kids in reims he tries to help. soon the happy scene is broken up by men in masks, and they gun everyone down. except for frank and elektra. he meets her eyes again and wonders why she was spared, but they're jumping again.

matt is there, and elektra is older now. he doesn't place her right away, but he's back on the sidelines like the film reel has started over in the middle of the movie. people think she's an object again, they want her to be who they want her to be but that's not how it works. they had done the same to frank castle and look how that had worked out for them. the hand. ninjas. he's starting to understand, but the scene disappears from under his feet this time.

he's on the opposite roof, his punisher garb hidden behind a sniper rifle. he hesitates the way he's never done before, and their eyes lock for the third time. because he's seen it before, because he knows which man is responsible, frank is able to take him out this time. his head opens up over daredevil and elektra, but she's spared again and he nods. he finally got something right even if matt is giving him the soap eye. fuck that, and fuck all of this. he mows down every enemy that comes for the pair until they lie in a jumbled heap of death. matt says it isn't the answer, but then why does he feel so righteous. he saved them, it's what he should have done the first time around.

matt and all the bodies melt away and it's frank and elektra on the rooftop alone now. he swallows and signs Sorry. this wasn't how it was supposed to end, was it? he's fucked everything up. daredevil said she comes back, that frank was never supposed to save her anyway. but he couldn't bear the thought of anyone hurting her again. ]

stairs

[ferrokinetic]

[ polaris wakes up face-down in red dust, the smell of copper coating her senses. for a second, it's all she's aware of. then the metal nearby has her taking one step, then the next. she's not afraid of their surroundings. this is what the world's always been spinning toward, as far as she's concerned. flaming wreckage. and even if she doesn't recognize the scene she comes across, she knows the players. the x-men.

jean grey. the wolverine. no one knows where they disappeared to. maybe... is this why they left? arms fold over her stomach in a defensive posture. for a moment, she just watches. something like respect for the dead. when she finally speaks, it's in a thick voice. ]

Get up.

[ the words are harsh, but not unkind. she really thinks it's a helpful thing to say. wallowing like this isn't going to help anyone. ]

arrival

[ferrokinetic]

[ maybe she's projecting, or over-identifying in her fellow kidnap victims or something, but - lorna knows that tension in the jaw. she's borne it enough times herself to recognize the look of someone displeased in their surroundings. there's the possibility, in that expression, of reckless action, and she can't help but feel herself drawn toward mr. all-american.

she's just about to address him when she remembers. that frigging quiet rule. so now she has to stop and dig her device out of her prison jumpsuit pocket while standing within speaking distance. ]

So do we believe the impossible monsters who can't be killed spiel?

[ because she's all for learning the hard way. ]

[assguardian]

[ if it's any consolation to steve, billy comes from a world where cap does have his own comics - just that everything else after the second world war theaters aren't comics so much as reality. billy deflates a little when the little joke fails to catch on, though, but he sets it aside as proof that he's in a different universe, because who from back home doesn't know about captain america? ]

no, i was just trying to make a joke.

it's not a very good one, though.

[swig]

[ logan falls into step beside her but she doesn't look his way, keeping up her brisk pace. the galloping disappears, only to be replaced by a war cry, female in tone and not as distant as she'd like it to be. the sky has completely darkened by now, and she curses under her breath. ]

They're here for me. [ ahead of them, the ground splits, the field giving way to the edge of a cliff. hela stands opposite of them, backed by her army of undead warriors and fenris, glowing green against his dark fur. ] For her.

[ she swallows, pausing in her steps. she's no stranger to this dream, this memory, but he is and he shouldn't be. she watches as the valkyrie soar overhead, lead by a woman with long blond hair, sword held high in front of her, unknowingly charging to her own inevitable death. ]

[paragon]

[ He'd caught a glimpse of her as he'd fallen onto his hands and knees in familiar red dust, stuck to both of them now as they hurtle along. It's how he knows this isn't just a dream anymore, if it ever was. She's not some remnant of the place and the hands to which he'd last left a version of the boy in the car ahead of them.

So he lets her enjoy the ride. Lets himself enjoy it again — maybe for the last time — closing his eyes for it briefly because he's since taken sharper falls than these. They're open again by the time she notices him, his gaze fixed ahead, but Steve looks at her when she verifies that he's very much a solid presence beside her. ]

This is my dream, I think I should be the one doing the poking.

[ It's another moment before he understands that by 'this' she means all of it, not just the kid being ill over the side of the car. Well, he won't be the one to point out to her exactly what he'd meant. ] I don't know. Too much sugar before bed could do it.

Raven Darkholme | X-men Movie Universe | ota

[personify]

a. welcome to my world

[Raven isn't one to take situations lying down. Several of the natives will have broken noses and split lips by the time she's done with them. When she wakes to find strange people pawing at her, all the while choking on red dust, her instinct is to retaliate and fight until she can escape. Finally, they'll get her to calm down, but the anger comes again when they try to strip her of her clothes and give her some hideous white jumpsuit.

Problem being the red caked X-men uniform she appears to be wearing? It's not actually a uniform. What use did shapeshifters have for clothes? Finally, she can only sate their insistence by shifting them away to their great surprise. She doesn't need your clothes, thanks. Although they do hand her the jumpsuit, insisting she take it while staring openly at her baffled as well as startled by nakedness.

When she's finally let go, free to roam this new awful place, Raven will exit looking very much unlike her blue self, but blonde and seeming to be wearing a nice fashionable (by 80's standards) acid wash jeans, crimped hair, and Blondie band t-shirt and clutching a white jumpsuit, which she promptly tosses aside.

Now to figure out where she really is. She'll approach the first person she sees, approach purposeful and expression firm as she pulls out her device. No bull-shitting her.] This place. What is it, really?


b. Caught me unawares

[This dream seems like another life at first. One she barely remembers. But it's her. And Charles. She's young, but she's been on the run for so long. No one ever shows her kindness. Not until him.] You're not... scared of me? [She doesn't dare believe it, but Charles is so kind. He doesn't kick her out of his home for stealing. For impersonating his mother just to get some food. Doesn't call her a freak.]

It's an idyllic life or so it seems in this dream. Charles treats her like a sister. But she's not like herself anymore. Blonde... adorable, or so her new mother would call her, pinching her cheeks. They play in the giant mansion. It's her and Charles against the world. She gets to go to school (not quite so fun). But she gets a family. She feels loved.

The next night the dream comes again. She's chasing after Charles in a park, laughing as she goes. She thinks someone might be beside her. The part of her mind that knows this isn't real wonders what it means. But the young Raven turns instead laughing, blonde hair blowing in the wind around her face, as she shoves the person with a hand and takes off to where she's seen Charles running.] Tag! You're it!



c. Falling down the stairs: CW: Death, violence

[The dream of the past few nights comes again. It starts much the same. Charles and her. A nice life she never thought she'd have. But it's colored differently somehow. Instead of all the nostalgia and joy of her time with her brother as a child... all the negative memories start to hold sway and fall down over her like an avalanche and move her forward in time.

Charles makes her hide. She can't be herself. Raven pulls at her blonde hair, yanking out a few strands. She hates it! Why can't she just be herself? Why does everyone fear her? He can't even look at her when she looks like herself. Is she really so hideous?

Then she leaves him, dares to hope in Erik's dream because he doesn't make her hide. She believe in the Brotherhood. But Erik leaves too. Each of the others die. Leaving her behind to pick up the pieces. She's crying, holding tight on a crying bundle in her arms, the rain drenching her a the blue tailed baby just born. People are chasing her, a mob to kill the freak. She needs to run!

Some one is gaining on her and she screams, moving to strike them with her free hand] LEAVE ME ALONE!



Network
UN:darkholme

[She's finally settled in here, but still doesn't quite believe everything she's been told. But clearly the others believe it and she's heard stories of these Sound Eaters ripping people apart. Of the damage they reap. Which is why she's not out in the streets screaming at the top of her lungs just to test the truth of it. But she does have questions.]

What are everyone's theories on what these Sound Eaters are? Were they once human? Thoughts on how we might fight them?

[blacksky]

[It isn't until the attempt on her life that she senses him the way she did that man. It's easy to dismiss when they were both radiating anger. The only difference was the direction it went in. It's outside the cage when she's positive the man she thought of as a father was readying himself to kill her that she really sees Frank. Ellie should stop him, she thinks, but doesn't. A part of her still recalls her father will do this again. It feels good to watch him die; freeing. He'll never cage her again. No one will.

She takes the stranger's hand and enjoys a moment of peace even if it's hard to fathom. The room is warm, the food is freely given, and David never has his children to fight. There's a woman present who seems friendly enough and looks upon her with sympathy she's unused to as she gives her an extra helping. Ellie smiles until the moment they die too fast for her to comprehend.

Only she and her rescuer are alive. Her eyes promise they'll take these men out together for robbing them of this when the scene changes. She forgets she was ever free as she replays her part until the bitter end... except it's not, is it? Nobu's head explodes. She's bloody again. She watches as this happens to the rest of the men fall too.

Her rescuer came back. She doesn't even hear what Matthew is saying because all she can do is think of how grateful she is to be alive and free at Matthew's side.

It all melts away again. This time she's left with conflicting memories and the nagging feeling she's seen him before. He's signing sorry to her and she shakes her head. What could he possibly be sorry for?]

I didn't want to die. [She explains. Elektra hasn't quite realized it's a dream yet. All she knows is he tried to save her as a child and certainly saved her know from the ending that should have come to be. She doesn't mind explaining herself to someone like that.] I had no choice. I couldn't let them kill Matthew. He's the only one who ever believed I could be more than this.

[She touches her face. The blood is gone, but he'll understand, won't he? The blood never truly comes off. She'll always be someone who belongs in it until someone like Matthew shows up to help her find a better way to live.]

[monomachy]

[Diana can't hide her flinch at the cork; she takes half a step closer to him, if only to put herself further away from the sound. She hasn't even realized that one of her arms has jolted partway up, preparing to deflect the bullet that isn't there.

The end of the war. She feels as if her breath leaves her, and all she can see is Steve's face in the black-and-white picture, his pilot's hat smartly atop his head. Her eyes focus on the man in front of her again, and the blue of his eyes is too much. It hurts her to see--but she can't look away. Her voice is quiet, hardly a murmur above the din around them.] I remember. [People cheering, kissing, and yes--dancing. London hadn't seemed so ugly then.

She looks over this strange man in his crisp uniform, and all she sees is a black-and-white photograph. Her heart aches, and it's too much. She can't think. Can't breathe.

Diana nods, arms lifting the way she remembers being shown.]

Yes. Let's dance.

network ; un: c.forbes

[persevere]

i'm not sure cute is the word i would use but if you find one at least grab me a bottle of vodka or something.

[oorah]

[ he nods though his expression is strained, wishing he could have done more even now. but she's alive. matt's stupid rules couldn't contend with that. frank finds himself leaning towards her, studying her to make sure she's really breathing. he knows it's a dream-- on some level, but right now he's just in awe of her, and himself for saving her. his bloody clothes and the memento mori as micro had called it vanish and he's left once more in his black jumpsuit, tall scuffed combat boots and black beanie. ]

Didn't want you to die either. [ it's a low murmur, so soft she might not pick it up except for how close they are now, the breeze in the higher altitude carrying by them swiftly. he watched her die once, he wasn't about to do that again. to watch the shattered look on matt's face. he shakes his head, his hand coming up as if to touch her, but it falls away long before connecting. ] He's okay. Red. That's because of you. [ she saved matt and he tried to save her -- or succeeded, maybe, at least this time. he can sit with that if she can. ]

[blacksky]

[Elektra fully aware of his focus on her, but let's it be. She feels raw after three nights of reliving how it all fell apart for her. His actions to save her when only one other had ever tried before don't make her feel any less vulnerable. Elektra looks at him with naked surprise when he says he didn't want her to die.

His hand comes towards her only to fall. That only adds to the ache she feels. She can't give a voice to it; only sighing in relief as she hears what happens next. Matt's alright. It was all worth it in the end.] I'm glad.

[She opens her mouth to continue, but it takes time for the words to come out. She never knew how to openly and truly love anything. She tries to make an exception now. She is dead, after all. Why not be honest to someone who seems to give a damn? What else can she possibly lose?] I love him. Sometimes he even loves me back. All I want is for him to be alright. That's all that matters now.

arrival

[iisupergirlii]

[Kara's eased inside the reset room, in a charming pink dress and cardigan, and waited for Constance to get done explaining... the barest of bones. And honestly, why isn't she telling them more now? She knows they know, that they're going to know. The arrivals are going to tell them anyway. She shakes her head. It's all very confusing.

One voice rings out above the hushed murmur of the crowd, and Kara's head jerks to its - his - direction. He's... tall. Kara makes her way over to him, a helpful smile planted on her face. Even if he'd said the word "kidnapee," which is... suspicious at best.]

Hi! I know you're really confused right now. I've been here a few months if you want some help? [she holds out her hand for him to shake.] My name's Kara.

[oorah]

[ she doesn't know, does she? how he always ends up being the bearer of if not exactly bad news than weird news?? at least there's an easy way out of this. it seems easy to him after being stuck in other people's dreams on loop anyway. ]

Do you wanna go see him? [ it's asked sincerely. frank extends his hand back out, this time to offer to take hers. ] Just click your heels like Dorothy.

[blacksky]

Yes. [Elektra's brows furrow together. Is it really that simple? There's only one way to find out. She takes the hand offered to her and shuts her eyes.] If you're mocking me, I'm going to rip that stupid beanie off your head.

[The threat has no bite behind it after what they went through together. She clicks her heels together and wakes up from her nightmare with red dirt on her hands. She's not sure whether to laugh, cry, or scream.]

[oorah]

[ he laughs softly like he isn't used to the sound, which was true enough even before this place. he wrenches his eyes open with some struggle and looks down at their hands, still joined below the surface of the dust. frank drops the contact, but locks their eyes even as the red particles travel along his airway and threaten to choke him. wouldn't be the first time and he knows it won't be the last, but the more often this happens the more palpable the relief is when he's back. how fucked up is that? ]

Sorry I ruined your dream. [ to his credit, he manages to sound sincere. he probably even is. what a dick. ]

[kimoyos]

[She makes an annoyed sound and rolls her eyes.]

Now you sound like my brother.

[Which isn't actually a bad thing, but she's good at making it sound like it is. She loves T'Challa but sometimes he's so old and boring. Steve Rogers shouldn't be old and boring. And that's exactly what the look she gives him says.]

I will tell you what I tell him. Too much sugar before bed causes nothing except staying awake longer.

[She rubs her fingers together to feel the red dust.]

How is this possible?

[blacksky]

[Elektra stares at him in open disbelief as she does her best not to inhale anything, but for a different reason this time. God she thought Matt was stupid. This is a whole other level. She explains it slowly for him.]

You killed a man who tried to kill me more than once and then killed the man who actually succeeded in killing me. I can't believe you ruined my idea of a good night, you monster.

[She couldn't sound more sarcastic if she tried.]

[blessmefather]

"I don't remember anything between. The cave collapsed, it was just me and... There's no reason I should have survived and not her too." He shakes his head. This isn't right. He runs a hand over his face and breathes. He needs to catch up, and Jessica is the one person he knows he can trust so far. Right.

"Is anyone else here that we know?"

[oorah]

[ all he can really do is smile, but it quickly breaks into a grin. an expression he doesn't wear often for how foreign it looks hung on his face. but he likes her already - he can't help it. he understands what matt sees in her. ]

I should've done it the first time. [ it comes out before he can edit himself, and the smile falters as he looks away from her, scrubbing a hand over his face though it leaves red dust on his cheek. he suppose it doesn't matter if she knows since his cover is well and truly blown anyway. but not saving elektra is as close to a regret as he has about his tirade in hell's kitchen. that and (depending on the day) shooting matt in the head. ]

[vdova]

[ Natasha startles at that admission — she'd have to be completely tone deaf to not know what he meant by that, and it takes her a second to follow him, staring after him in unbridled surprise.

She catches up to him in a few strides, dust shaking off her boots in soft little red clouds, arms crossed at her chest. ]

Did you come here often?

[blacksky]

[The piece falls into place neatly after that. The symbol plus a man with that training. He was the Punisher. She'd been too caught up in her emotions to think it through before. Now that she's awake it falls on her like a ton of bricks. Perhaps she shouldn't be so chummy with the man Matthew had such a complicated relationship with.

She thinks back to Frank extending his hand and helping her out of that cage. He deserves absolution and her time for that alone.] It was our war. It was never your responsibility to save either of us.

[oorah]

I know. [ he gives a sputtering little cough and wipes his hands on the legs of his jumpsuit. he knows all about wars you have to go alone, but without micro he'd be dead. and if he had showed up a minute earlier or been a fraction luckier she never would have been lost on that roof. ] And I still don't get that whole ninja shitstorm, but I tried. Just need you to know that.

[ frank looks over at her, feeling like he knows her after the ordeal they'd just been through together. usually he would say trying doesn't matter if you still fail. but in this case, she's alive and well next to him so maybe that's not what matters just this once. ]

[unspokenthing]

[ She hated every second of her own nightmares. Countless fighting with Nebula with Thanos watching and the punishments of losing coming every second. Gamora never truly knew her sister's feelings on these fights until much later in life. She never knew that her sister just wanted to sister. Gamora always won those fights fearing the punishment that could be on her. The fear only made her angry. When the nightmare took her somewhere else she had to be susceptible about it. Not trusting a single thing. Everything was already getting on her nerves. How did she end up here?

The nightmare seemed new something different nothing she had seen before. Gamora was lucky though to have her weapons on her for this dream. She was itching to use them if she encountered anyone that would seem to want attack her.

Gamora would come upon what seemed to be a threat. She takes out her sword, having it slide open at her side at the ready. She wasn't in the mood but she wouldn't make the first move either. Lady Maria would have to be the one to attack her first. Maybe the stranger would be friendly, people could always manage to surprise her. Her emotions were already flared from her pervious nights of nightmares. The rage of anger building wanting to release. Fighting would be the best remedy for that. ]

Who are you? [ A second of heartbeat goes by as her eyes narrow. ] What is this place?

network; un: socorro

[warfares]

Yes.

And the locals aren't reset.