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quietplacememes2017-12-31 09:56 am
bequiet) wrote in quietplacememes2017-12-31 09:56 am
Entry tags:
TDM #001
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.
Don't say a word.
Content Warnings: creepy song - play me though, forced silence
Themes: Horror, room resets
As the sun begins to set on the first day, the natives' behavior changes. It's not subtle and it comes fast. Hinges are oiled and doors are shut. Children are packed up, windows closed, and your phone lights up with a message, a reminder. A warning.
Hush little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, Mama's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turns brass, Mama's gonna buy you a looking glass. And if that looking glass gets broke, Mama's gonna buy you a winter cloak. And if that winter cloak's too cold, Mama's gonna buy you a pile of gold. And if that gold was stolen, too, Mama's gonna go to jail for you. So hush little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna kill the whole damn world for you.
By the time the scrolling message has stopped, a stillness accompanies the silence. The community has locked itself away and natives have prodded and pushed to get you into your assigned home. Another message - one hour. Hands are pressed to young children's mouths. Any native close by rest their finger over their lips and implore you to be silent. The air, almost, seems to come alive around you. Their fear is palpable, heady, and thick. They don't move. If your character makes a sound, even the slightest, a native will subdue them. If they attempt to venture outside, they will be stopped. Once the hour is over, you can breathe again. Natives go about their nightly routine and if asked, will not tell you what it is they're so afraid of.
Quiet, Quiet.
Content Warnings: Danger, being chased, no way out without action
Themes: Survival, exploration, horror
There is always work to be done in Reims. The first part of each day is spent completely individual job tasks and the second half is dedicated to Sound Maintenance, which is checking the community for sound issues and repairing them. Free time comes in the afternoon and can be spent exploring, working, mingling, and more. A few natives ask for volunteers to head towards the forest lining the Seine to gather edible plant-life and hunt. It's rare for the natives to do so but the appearance of so many new arrivals has put a dent in food stores. You follow the sandpaths through the city, pause by the Seine for a break, and then head into the woods.
Without any notice, the light begins to dim as if the sun is setting hours earlier than it's supposed to. The natives panic and they run, never straying from the sandpaths but they don't wait for you. They're fast and they know the area better and eventually -
You're walking in the woods, there's only one other person around, and your phone is dead. Out of the corner of your eye, you spot them, about thirty feet back. A dark shape, a silhouette. It steps towards you. You step back. It gasps softly but the sound is loud, deafening when you've accustomed yourself to no noise. Teeth gleam in a wide set smile and it gasps again, softly. And again. Smiles wider. It's not advancing to hurt you, it's making sound nearby on purpose. It's blocking your path back out of the forest. You and the person beside you can head deeper into the darkness or take action. Which will it be?
OOC
From your mods:
The threads on this meme can be used as game canon. Feel free to thread out arrival style meetings as well! If you have questions, pp the mod account, use the faq or comment below. Have fun!
akira kurusu | persona 5
[ In all honesty, adjusting to silence isn't the hard part for him... Because the hard part, in his opinion, comes when he catches someone about to break that silence. Or when he notices something that is at risk of making a sound. Not to say there aren't moments he nearly slips up. Because, look. He's human and he's still used to what he's used to -- for many, talking is... actually kind of comforting. Funny he'd never properly realized that until he literally can't talk without risking lives.
So, it's after that hour-long pause on all of their lives, he can be found frowning hard at the ground just outside his temporary home.
He won't be turning anyone away -- in fact, he'll type a message on his device to them that stems from the depths of his very soul. He holds up his phone and it reads:
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH?!"
... Or maybe it just says "hi" if you're not someone he believes would find humor in (or even just give a decent enough reaction to) it. And, on that note, he's more than ready to have an actual... serious, silent conversation. He just needed to get that out of his system. How's it going, other person? ]
[ When all else fails: run... right?
He can't blame the people around here for having that belief firmly placed! Considering he's felt the air during those strange shifts, and he's seen the looks on their faces. That fear didn't just come out of nowhere, and he's seriously determined to figure out just what in the hell has them acting like this...
And, apparently some creature has decided to take the "run" part of that equation out of the picture for him and........? ]
the bird is the word??
Agreed.
no subject
One corner of his lips tugs into a smile, and he nods a head at the typed response. There's a pause just long enough for him to type up something else. When he shows it, there's a hint of exasperation in his expression. ]
I finally understand the meaning of "deafening silence."
[ But those words are going to be followed up by something more serious: ]
I've been trying to convince the natives to share more on what they're so afraid of, but... no luck so far.
How about you?
no subject
He shakes his head after reading the boy's response. No luck.
It might be clear he's not used to typing on cell phones, given how much longer it takes for him to reply.]
My hope is that they are unable to answer, and not that they are unwilling. The latter would imply sinister motives.
no subject
Akira suppresses a sigh. ]
Think they're just lacking full information?
"Hush little baby, don't say a word, Mama's gonna kill the whole damn world for you."
I feel like it was more than just a creepy lullaby. I wonder if it relates to whatever's haunting this place.
THE WORD!!!!
. . .
Slowly, Lu Li raises her communicator.]
SHH!
[Not a lot of people make jokes with her nowadays. She misses that.]
what the hell she's so cute.................
For just a fraction of a second, said robot will be getting access to clear, visual evidence of pure surprise. Waking up in some strange place is one thing, but waking up in some strange place that has robots... That's different
(and super incredibly awesome!!!).As for the response she gives?
His lips part, brow tensing ever-so-slightly for a grand total of one (1) fraction of one (1) second. He closes his mouth, which twitches the tiniest bit, possibly giving away that she genuinely caught him off-guard. To the point where he nearly laughed.
Well-played.
There's a pause of a contemplative second... and then he proceeds to type something on his phone. And then there's no pause as he slowly holds his phone up which now reads: ]
Sorry. I'll try to keep it down from now on.
she misses having conversations so ty akira
... she did almost make him laugh, though. She'll have to be careful about being too funny with him.]
GOOD (⌒‿⌒)
[She can't make any expressions. She may as well fall back on using these.]
ARE YOU SCARED?
and he loves having conversations so this works out nicely! :>
It has him giving a silent chuckle -- nothing more than a small smile accompanied by a brief shaking of shoulders.
The second part, however, has him blinking softly. More surprise that quickly become nonexistent when he remembers (yes, this is something that requires active remembering) this is a robot. ]
I've faced much scarier situations than this.
[ Annnnd hopefully it won't be pointed out that he didn't answer the question. ]
My name's Akira Kurusu, by the way.
no subject
LU LI.
[And because she can't hold back her questions--]
YOU'RE USED TO BEING IN DANGER, THEN?
(no subject)
th-the word?!
[Ryuji nearly chokes on the word he so very nearly uttered, startled into it by the message on his friend's phone. Furiously he pulls his phone out too, typing out his response as quick as he can...having to edit several times because typos, ugh, people were not made to communicate like this when face-to-face! Texting was for when you're bored in class and your only friends are in a different room from you...
Finally, he holds up his phone, all done!]
DUDE THAT'S MY LINE
But seriously, what do you think is going on here? And how long will we have to do this silence thing?? I dunno how long I can hang on, to be honest
[He shifts a little, his expression torn between frustration and worry. It would really suck if he screwed everything up by forgetting to hold his tongue...
...even though that's what it feels like adults are always telling kids. He hates this. He really, really hates this.
But, well. At least he's not alone.]
r-ryuji........oosdjksdhj
The message earns a... smile, though; there's clear understanding, a shared exasperation and frustration. He might very well recognize the flash in Akira's eyes -- a look he's had whenever the group was faced with a seemingly impossible task in a Palace, perhaps. Something that feels like it was forever ago, for him, at this point...
There's a faint smile when he types up the first line, but that smile melds with something much more serious before it falls away. ]
akira: babysitting ryuji since april 20xx
Again, it takes him a moment to type things out, aware for the first time of the barely-there sound of his fingers picking out the letters on the screen. This is just so ridiculous; not even moving through palaces had been like this!
He's got a bit of a scowl on his face when he's done, wishing communicating didn't have to be this tedious.]
Speaking of thieving tho, do you think this place is like the metaverse maybe? I was just thinking it would be so much easier if we could use our persona and take it out, whatever's got em scared shitless like this. Kind of hate the idea of not doing anything, y'know?
Gathering info, that's a place to start at least. Almost feels like searching for a target for the phantom thieves again, huh?
bird / obligatory p5 spoiler tag
He shoots him the most exasperated look he can possibly manage, then just... shakes his head at him. The disapproval is Tangible.
Why did he have to get stuck here with him of all people...]
it's a bird! it's a pain! it's......... actually a bird? /gasp
[ Yep, that sure is the next message to the uptight jerk.
...
Well, that's what he attempts to have his expression only somewhat jokingly saying. But the exasperation is softened around the edges, even as he releases the silent sigh.
... Dimly, he's reminded of some of those shows about rescuing stray and abused animals. Each animal is different, yeah, but they always have that same air surrounding them, right? Eyes that scream angrily at the world, daring the entire universe to try even one more trick: Fool me once, shame on you... Fool me twice, and I'll fucking kill you.
And the Phantom Thieves certainly did manage to fool him, in the end. Something of necessity, even if a part of him would have loved to have things go a different route. Namely one that wouldn't have had shock (and various other feelings, a lot of which were synonymous with "unpleasant" or "painful") slamming into him just from seeing Goro Akechi's face, while remembering the last time he'd seen it. But... while he can't begin to wrap his mind around how this guy is here, that's... kind of the case with all of them, isn't it?
All he can do from this point is try to find a way to work alongside (and... maybe, hopefully help) this particular lost bird. ]
It's a little overkill to go with the silent treatment in a place like this, don't you think?
Besides, we really do need to talk about everything that happened back home.
a pain? talk about kettle...
And despite all this, what might be the most infuriating thing about him... is that he can't bring himself to whole-heartedly hate him. Oh, he definitely hates him, make no mistake... just not as completely as he wished he did.
The first question has no change in expression, with that same unimpressed look, but what he types out after that...
Talk. Talk about what, exactly? He's pretty sure everything was spelled out crystal clear for him as he lost every ounce of self-control he ever had and completely broke down on the Thieves. He already knew they had successfully taken out Shido...
What more was there to discuss.
His gaze lingers heavily on the screen... honestly... why is he still even bothering with this cold-blooded killer... He tells himself he doesn't want to talk. He doesn't want anything to do with Akira Kurusu...
Why do his feelings towards him have to be so damn complicated?
Reluctantly, his gaze draws away, head turning as if he intends on walking off.
So why won't his damn legs move...]
THAT ISN'T THE JOKE I WAS MAKING GOD. and akira will eventually stop cycling through formats
EITHER WAY... point stands that he's glad he's not taking off, in any way, shape, or form.
He quickly gets to work on another message, brow tensed as some of the frustration manages to leak through the cracks. Akira's dealt with enough crap, frankly, with people and beings lying (and trying to lie) right to his face. He fought to save his entire world, alongside his friends, taken out a being who was warping humanity's thoughts...
... and yet here they are, with him struggling at something like this?
Carefully, he shifts so he's able to hold his phone -- ...device, whatever -- so Akechi can see it: ]
yes yes he's crow, you're hilarious, a real joker
His head remains turned, but his gaze flicks to the screen, eyes narrowing a bit at the name Yaldabaoth. Again, his gaze lingers on the screen...
He... "deserves" to know the full story.
After reading the rest of it, his gaze becomes transfixed upon that particular word. There's a lot of emotions that come up in regards to it. Anger. Righteousness. Disbelief. A bitter, sardonic sort of amusement.
Does he really want to know? What difference does it make... he'd... died, hadn't he?
...
So much about all of this is still so damn confusing, and to be honest... he hadn't found the strength to sit down and really think about it all. After what had happened in the Metaverse, he'd been exhausted down to his very soul. Maybe he had survived, and he still had a chance to exact his revenge... but he'd become so numb to his own pain that he'd forgotten how much his whole damn life hurt until Akira came along and tore all those wounds open.
... he still feels raw and wholly unbalanced.
So he does what he usually does when he doesn't feel like talking: he leaves. Or attempts to, at least, though he doesn't anticipate being stopped. It isn't as though Akira ever tried to stop him from leaving before.]
i just wanted to do a fun twist on a silly phrase, let me live!!!!
hmmm sad to say akechi's track record doesn't really allow for that
he kind of hates you a little rn
the feeling is mutual, except by a hundred fold
[x] doubt
a thousand fold then
akechi plz......
the hate boner is strong
why's it gotta be a boner dude. now you're just making things awkward
his feelings are complicated and hate boner happens to be an accurate way to describe them
the word!! (let me know if you don't want spoilers!)
AHHHHHHHH!
i'm very familiar, so no need to hold anything back! :>
[ He'll even take one after saying that! Let's keep it together, Potential New Confidant-chan. That smile fades away, but his is expression soften into something reassuring as he shows the next message: ]
okay! c:
then he's introducing himself...and it's at least helping her regain some sense of normalcy. as if he were talking to her like he was a new classmate at school or something. he appears to be around her age. plus, he must be from japan with a name like that, right? they're just little commonalities that mitsuha's desperately searching for to feel more grounded.
finally, she types back on her communicator: ]
My name is Mitsuha Miyamizu. It's nice to meet you, Kurusu-san.
[ and then, she'll type again: ] Are you from Japan, too?
(and ngl i'd squeaked happily at seeing her)
He visibly relaxes a bit more, his expression softening just a bit at her next response. Mitsuha Miyamizu -- it definitely sounds Japanese, to him. He might be even more not surprised if not for some of the people (yes, he even counts the robot as part of the people) he's met up to this point. ]
(awwww i'm so glad!!!) SPOILERS
perhaps if she weren't so terrified of making any noise, she'd let out a little laugh. funny, how she gets to meet another tokyo boy in the most unlikely of circumstances. she's at least smiling despite herself, until she remembers what exactly had happened before she'd waken up here.
she shouldn't be alive.
mitsuha pauses, and then looks down at her phone somberly--still smiling--and typing out a reply: ]
I was at a festival in Itomori, watching Comet Tiamat.
Did you get to see it, Kurusu-kun?
[ since we're on a -chan basis now ]
i was thinking "-san" and typed "-chan" why this. also you managed to hurt me in one tag
hahaha no problem, AND I'M GLAD!!!
quiet gasp... that introspect is rude.
you're welcome
thanks i --love-- hate it (also P5 SPOILERS)
their cr is incredible already
agreed!!!
(no subject)
the second option
Maybe he might know something? Or at least have a feeling of if he had seen something. Poe walks over to him as he's typing out his message. ]
Have you seen anything out here? Besides for the frightened natives.
[ That's when he noticed something out in the corner of his eyes after showing the screen to Akira. Poe saw the dark creature, he visible gulped while pressing his lips together. A finger comes up to point in a direction as if indication or asking if they should maybe run in that direction. If Akira stays and fights though... Poe would create a distraction on the spot. ]
not QUITE a Goho-M, but.................
One tassel holds a bag of fruit painstakingly gathered from high branches, another holds a communicator, and a third reaches out to tug Akira's sleeve uncertainly, looking for direction. They can't just stand here and let whatever or whoever this is bring down something awful on their heads! They have to act, now. What should they do?]