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

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Comments

[clussy]

(Eddie is very quiet initially. Then he gently extracts himself from the hug. His eyes are a little wet, but it doesn't look like he's begun crying too bad just yet. At first, his eyes go stormy gray. It's not his first encounter with amnesia, but it is one that's a little tough to swallow all the same. But there is one thing he at least knows: Clara loves him.

That and he remembered her telling him a little of how she lived and how time and space and things were a little funkier for her because of it. This might have to do with that. So he blinks away those tears and offers a smile, his hands finally sliding away from her. Instead of embracing her, he holds up a hand.)

That's okay. I remember you mentioning you did some weird time travel stuff. I'm Eddie Kaspbrak. You're like, my mom.

(Better than his mom, he wants to say, but it wouldn't be fair to overwhelm her with everything all at once if she doesn't remember him. What he does want to make clear though is that they are close and he trusts her a lot. She's probably the one adult he trusts the absolute most.)

[bossily]

[She's not really expecting to hear him say something like that. Her eyes go wide, and she most definitely thinks of the future timeline where she met a child that was most likely hers and Danny's. That timeline doesn't exist anymore, of course, due to his death. But being faced with a boy that looks remarkably like her saying that she's like his mother is more than a little shocking. The fact he knows about her time traveling means she trusts him, at least enough to tell him the truth about her adventures.

Her eyes scan the boy over a couple more times, noting how he does resemble her. He's American, and with a last name that's different than hers. But like her child with Danny, he could've ended up in the care of others. An odd sense of guilt fills her then, and there's just so many questions she has. She won't ask them, of course. Not when she's more or less a little taken with the fact he had just come right up and hugged her like she's the best thing in the entire world.

How can she not respond positively to that? There's a little smile on her face, there to show him that her words are only light humor because she isn't sure how else to start up a conversation.]

I'm not sure if I should be apologizing for that or not. I don't think I make a very good mother.

[clussy]

(Eddie has no real idea what's going through Clara's head. It mattered, really, but in a way, it also didn't. What mattered the most was that she was here. Memories or not, Eddie had enough faith in them so as to not worry. It did suck that she didn't remember anything. There was a lot worth remembering, but he could fill her in over time, he thinks.

It's fair for her to struggle on the conversational front, but Eddie's endlessly patient for the people he loves. Even for people he doesn't, he's usually a pretty good sport. So Eddie smiles only to snort a small giggle a second later.)

Oh, trust me. You're like. The only mom I'd ever want.

(If that was an option. Eddie's not really thinking about how he's wording things because of course he's not. He's just twelve, and using vague comparisons seems like common sense to him.)

We only just met back on another space station. But when we did, you took really good care of me and helped me a lot. I don't think you really need to apologize for anything. I've missed you though.

(He admits the last part a bit softer, a bit more honest than the rest. He's missed others from the station too, no doubt, but Clara arguably the most. Hawke was a close second.)

[bossily]

[The way he tries explaining things only confuses her more. She's the only mom he'd ever want, but they didn't meet until they were on a space station? It sounds too similar to Orson Pink, and her heart aches with the implication of Eddie's words. If he winds up in space and they meet at a space station, it's likely he's got a bit of a River Song situation going on. Which makes her worry that maybe she's come across him too late in his timeline to really take care of him, except he's just said she's done a good job.

So her face contorts out of a look of worry and becomes something warmer, and instead of saying anything right away she just pulls him in for another hug.]

I'm sorry. For leaving you. Traveling the way I do with the Doctor, things get so muddled sometimes. The important thing is we're here now, yeah?

[It's surprisingly easy to act like she knows him, because she instantly has this connection with him that makes her want to take care of him. She couldn't save Orson. He's gone now, never to exist thanks to the death of Danny Pink. But Eddie, with the way he earnestly looks at her and tells her things so honestly, she can protect. ]

Thing is, I don't know a single thing about being here. You're gonna have to help me out with that too.

[clussy]

(Eddie is thankfully young enough, impressionable enough, that there was still hope for him. At least this is the foundation of belief he has tried his very best to install in himself. He was deeply frightened of his future and was trying to make strides to change it. Even though lately he had been stumbling pretty badly with those strides. But either way, Clara isn't too late. Not as far as Eddie is concerned.

Being pulled in for another hug by Clara makes Eddie's heart swell and he's instantly clinging onto her. She still smells like he remembers.)

It's okay. I think I technically left you first. I don't know if we're in control of this sort of stuff. And yeah- that is the important thing. That's all I care about.

(And it was. Maybe she was without memories, but Eddie knew this was still the Clara he had come to love. He doesn't bother to mention that the last time he saw her, he had been sobbing on her because Richie had vanished and she was going away on some excavation.

Eddie pulls away finally at last and he can't help but look a little proud.)

I can definitely do that. I've been here for about a month now, so I know my way around pretty all right. I work at the greenhouse, and I'm trying to learn more about medical stuff. So I can help take care of you if you're ever sick, and I can get you stuff like vegetables and fruit. (A pause, and Eddie grins, his nose wrinkling up.)

I think there's even stuff for making tea in the greenhouse.

[bossily]

[Bless this child and all that he knows about her. The promise of tea makes her sigh in relief, and look genuinely happy.]

You have no idea how many things good tea can fix.

[And sometimes good tea with alcohol added helps even more, though she doesn't say that out loud. He doesn't need to know that she's inwardly panicking at being here and needs alcohol to deal with everything. Besides, meeting him and realizing that she has a child here that depends on her helps put things in perspective. She may be afraid, but Eddie needs her. And she needs him, whether she wants to admit that or not.]

Look at you. Been here only a month and already have a life set up for yourself.

[Beyond the way he looks, that reminds her of herself more than anything. She's incredibly assertive when it comes to getting to do what she wants and needs in order to feel successful, and if Eddie's working at a greenhouse and learning about medical stuff...well, he's making her proud already and it shows. Of course, that pride gives way to concern, as something else dawns on her. ]

Where have you been staying the past month?

[clussy]

I think I have an idea.

(At least from what she's told him in the past. He didn't fully understand it personally, but he liked that Clara was so easily comforted by something as simple as tea.

Her praise makes his shoulders roll back and he feels a trickle of pride spill into his chest. It wasn't often he felt proud of himself, but adults praising him- especially adults he trusted and admired- certainly managed to inspire that feeling.)

Aw, hardly.

(There was still plenty he didn't know, but he doesn't harp too much on it. Sometimes he thought it was okay to be complimented.)

There's people here who help out other people. Especially kids.

(People like Frank and David who were more than generous with their time and knowledge. The question coming from Clara is hardly a surprise. She had always been worried about that sort of thing even back on the station.)

In a house with my friends. They have houses here that we can move into. We're all kids in my house- but there's this guy named Hot Dog who got us beds and makes sure we're doing okay. His friend Micro helps too.

(Just so she wouldn't worry too badly.) I can show you if you want.

[bossily]

[If she hadn't already met Frank, she'd be really creeped out right now. As it is, she's just marginally disturbed because of how earnestly Eddie talks about a man named Hotdog who got children beds. Her eyes widen as her eyebrows arch, and she slowly nods her head in response.]

Yeah, think showing me is a good idea. But you know not to completely trust any of the adults here, right? A man that goes by Hotdog isn't necessarily...stable.

[She already worries for Eddie's safety and plans on thanking Frank and the others for helping him. But she's still wary, and wants to make sure that Eddie knows to be too. ]

I just want all of you to be safe. How many children are here, anyway?

[clussy]

(It was definitely a little weird, but what else was Eddie supposed to do but accept it? Though he had been thinking about ways to make it obvious when some random person felt like going into their house.

So when she asks that question, Eddie has to stare at her in confusion for a second. Then he outright snorts, covering his mouth as a giggle pops out of him.)

Oh. God. I forgot you don't have your memories. I let them help me but that doesn't mean I trust them entirely. Back when I knew you before, you were actually the first adult I ever fully trusted. Ever. I don't....I don't like adults. They're...cruel.

(His smile and tone fade off by the end of his sentence, and a dark look briefly slips over his face before he's shaking his head. There was clearly more there, but now wasn't the time to linger.)

Me and my friends keep each other safe. (He promises her that. The question has Eddie bringing up his hands and he slowly counts.)

There's me, Richie, Bill, Jake, Max, Mike, and Will. That's all I've met so far. So...

(Seven. How had Eddie not realized that before? It makes his mouth go a little dry but he says nothing more.)