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Fade Rift Mods ([personal profile] faderifting) wrote in [community profile] faderift2022-11-29 07:54 pm

MOD PLOT ↠ HOME FOR RIFTMAS

WHO: Everyone (more or less)
WHAT: Rifter Show & Tell & Steal.
WHEN: Early Wintermarch 9:49 (forward-dated!)
WHERE: The Crossroads and BEYOND.
NOTES: OOC post. Please use appropriate content warnings in your subject lines.



Since Corypheus began opening the Gates, Riftwatch has been noticing pockets of instability in the Crossroads—crumbling platforms, paths newly blocked by rubble or broken bridges, sections where gravity has been shifted and altered in ways unusual even for the Crossroads, with new intrusions of green-tinged rock outcroppings or corners of temple walls. The barriers between the Crossroads, the Fade, and the world are thinning. It's a problem.

But more recently, Riftwatch has been made aware of an ancient artifact known (now; one hopes this isn't its original title) as the Sealing Stone, now in pieces scattered throughout the Crossroads, and the approximate locations of those pieces. If brought together and activated, the Stone may stabilize the barrier between the Crossroads and the other realms and may provide a model Riftwatch could use to reinforce the Veil elsewhere.

So Riftwatch ventures into the Crossroads to retrieve the pieces of the Stone. It's an intensive effort undertaken by large teams, due to the many now-familiar hazards of the Crossroads, the potential for encountering the Venatori that also use the eluvian network, and the need to cover ground as quickly as possible in hopes of finding the artifacts before the Venatori notice the increased Crossroads activity and come join the hunt.

It's not as simple as merely locating the pieces, however. Whenever a group of Riftwatchers get near enough to one of the artifacts, they're alerted first by the triggering of a sort of protection mechanism. In some cases—specifically, on teams without any rifters—spirits suddenly swarm from the metaphorical woodwork in numbers so great and with such hostility that retreat is the only viable option. The spirits chase the teams only as far as necessary to push them away from the artifact's location, then mass into a circling shoal, guarding the spot until they're left alone long enough to decide the risk has passed.

But for groups containing at least one rifter, something with the mechanism goes wrong. Or right, arguably. Rather than being overwhelmed by spirits, they instead find themselves abruptly engulfed by what appears to be a rift, opening suddenly and rapidly large enough to swallow entire masses of people before contracting again to lie in wait like a carnivorous plant for anyone else who comes too close. Those caught in its radius tumble out into what appears to be a new and unfamiliar world–for most. For one or more of the rifters in each group, it will be perfectly familiar.

The first group to encounter this effect will be one including Tony Stark and Stephen Strange, and will drop them and their compatriots straight into midtown traffic. Any groups attempting to travel to the same spot in the Crossroads to investigate the apparent vanishing—whether they have rifters with them or not—will find themselves drawn through the same "rift" almost as soon as they get within sight of the place, before anything can be discerned about their lost fellows. They will likewise emerge into Stark & Strange's United States.

Subsequent groups including other rifters will be seemingly drawn into their companions' worlds by the same effect. In each, Riftwatch will have to navigate local hazards and retrieve a distinctive lyrium-etched artifact, at which point the world will dissolve around them like a dream and they will find themselves back in the Crossroads where they began, in possession of a carved chunk of stone glowing with lyrium runes.

1 ↠ MCU Earth-199999

Alternate-universe Earth, New York and Los Angeles, 2012-2025, Tony Stark & Stephen Strange.

Earth-199999 is very much like contemporary Earth as we know it, featuring the same historic events, same nations, same conventions. For the average person, there is no difference, except that they know magic and aliens and gods and superpowers are all real and have been causing problems for a while now, with NYC as the hub for most of the shenanigans. MCU Earth has also made leaps and bounds in all science fields as compared to real Earth, although these leaps and bounds are not widely accessible, primarily exclusive to private organisations like Stark Industries, mad scientists, and the likes of SHIELD, but can range from interactive three-dimensional holograms through to biotechnology that turns people into supersoldiers.

It's commonplace to see or hear about criminals causing havoc in the streets with superpowers or gadgets, and crime-fighting vigilantes trying to stop them. The Avengers, as the world's first superheroes, became widely-known commercialised celebrities in-universe with merchandise, documentaries, book deals, and memorial murals to the deceased Iron Man.

Special Abilities: Everyone is nerfed to regular human, unless you want a sudden onset of mutant powers. 1 individual themed ability per character; like pyrokinesis, superspeed, superstrength, etc.

Arrival: One main rift opens in the middle of New York City, ejecting our rifters into midtown traffic… except thanks to Strange’s own multiversal mishaps, people in this world will seem astonishingly accustomed to this sight! Bystanders will be startled, but then the rifters will likely be dogged by strangers snapping photos and videos and tweeting about their arrival.

The Fade-constructed timeline will be a little off: the old Avengers tower and its penthouse is still standing and still accessible to Tony, and Strange will also offer up the Sanctum as a sanctuary, and these will be the main mission hubs while the team gets their bearings and tries to locate the artifact. In the meantime: relax, take in the sights, maybe check out a Broadway show, wrangle your new superpowers.

A secondary rift also opens up on Hollywood Boulevard, in case people want to do some helplessly stranded on Earth RP. Tony can very easily find out this has happened and go collect them, with various degrees of efficiency according to what people want out of that OOCly. As this universe will be available to explore for a few IC weeks, people can assume some degree of Stark-provided financial freedom for basics (i.e. clothes and food, burner phones, etc), and they can stay in the Avengers tower and/or the Sanctum.

2 ↠ Shifterverse

Original alternate-universe Earth, Midwest US, 2022, Jude Adjei.

Real-world 2022, but what if Shifters?

Special Abilities: All superpowers are unfortunately nerfed. However, everyone's a Shifter now. Your choice of animal. Enjoy.

Arrival: Everyone will arrive in Yellowstone National Park, which is wholly staffed and operated by Jude's pack, but... not in an area where tourists are routinely and happily welcomed. Welcome to the deep woods and canyons and plains, where Jude's pack has built their den for some several hundred people. Characters will immediately be found by scouts in fur and feathers, who will be guarded and curious, but not hostile. The wolves and ravens will greet the interlopers as equals, and if they aren't offered any violence, they'll be treated as guests. Hundreds of pack members live in a mixture of hand-built cabin homes and meeting places, portable tiny houses and various shared spaces. There is wifi, a greenhouse, lots of tasty food and warm clothing to wear. If they stay several days and prove themselves trustworthy, they might even start to see children out and about, and there's nothing cuter than a toddler who can become a wolf pup at will. (Mind the raven toddlers and the bear cubs. They're less cute.)

3 ↠ Tassia

D&D Original World, Loxley & Richard Dickerson

Tassia is an original Dungeons&Dragons inspired world, a single continent divided into four nations that is otherwise completely isolated from any other possible world beyond it. These nations are Lloryndell, Sylvica, Ifrin, and Promias, and at its centre lies the Cruxal, a university-city of diverse cultural influence.

While Tassia resembles Thedas in its day-to-day technology levels, including its anachronisms, it is more heavily laden with fantastical elements. Along with humans, elves, and dwarves, there are goblins, dragonborn, tritons, tieflings, sentient robots, bird people, centaurs, and more (https://www.dndbeyond.com/races) (but no qunari). There are many different kinds of magic users who wield their powers openly. There are shops full of magic items, potions, and spell scrolls. There are monsters of countless kinds that lurk just about everywhere. Most cultures in the material plane are polytheistic and worship themed gods from the default D&D (Faerun) Pantheon. Some smaller cults and individuals worship ancient fey, fiendish, and eldritch beings who dwell on the outskirts of their respective planes and may provide power to the exceptionally loyal -- for a price.

Special Abilities: You can choose to be a normal depowered person, but you are equally encouraged to take on magical abilities, whether you're a mage or not. In brief, you can be a wizard, whose magic comes from spellbooks and knowledge, a sorcerer, who have innate magical abilities, a bard, who draws their magic from music, words, and performance, a warlock, who has made a pact with a powerful entity in exchange of magical ability, a druid, who draws their magic from nature, and a cleric, whose divine abilities are gifted to them by a deity. (Other classes have magic too, but it might be easier to pick one of these major ones if you are unfamiliar!)

Rather than overthinking it, we recommend you pick whatever sounds fun to flavour your magic with, and then browse magical spells using classes as a filter. (Eighth and ninth level are off limits, and it may be easier to limit yourself further due to how many spells there are.) Given the temporariness of these powers, don't worry too much about how many spells you get or how frequently you can do them, but know that higher level spells (anything above fifth) can only be cast one or twice a day.

Your character may be Tassia-ised, in terms of their race, but in a limited capacity. All humans will stay human, but elves may adopt D&D traits like seeing in the dark.

Arrival: Rifts will open in the streets of the Cruxal. People will be startled by the sudden appearance of rifters and stand offish, but otherwise: they've seen it all before! No one will be calling the guard on you, unless you decide to start something, so please don't. Or enjoy jail.

The Cruxal is a labyrinthian melting pot built up in concentric rings around a massive central university and library. Goblins scarper among humans, elves, and dwarves in the street. There are tusked half orcs and horned, scale-clad dragonborn mixed in among more familiar silhouettes. This is a university town, but while a large portion of the population are students, academics, and staff, it is also self-sustaining, with taverns, shops, temples, brothels, residences, and marketways.

The university itself is guarded and degrees of entry closely regulated due to the school’s extensive collection of dangerous artifacts -- one of which just so happens to have gone missing last night. News of the theft has been suppressed, but every temple, tavern, and brothel on the outskirts of town is abuzz with the rumor. The entire corridor, they say, was scorched black.

Loxley and Richard won't be too concerned about herding everyone but can provide some coin as needed for inn rooms and food. They appear to have a near bottomless stash, at least as far as living costs go.

4 ↠ Sulleciel

Original fantasy world, Petrana de Cedoux.

What if magic was real and holy emperors still kissed the ring in Rome, until someone beheaded the fucking pope? Welcome to Sulleciel, and specifically to Lamor City, capitol of Lamorre and the seat of the Lamorran empire, ruled over by Empereur Marius IX and his consort, Empress Petrana Solene. A nation and empire in the throes, still, of great upheaval — think Versailles or Orlais, but lurching ungainly out of its dark ages into a theoretically more enlightened time, control of which is being actively fought in the halls of power and at grassroots levels of social influence. Power vacuums abound, thanks to the fall of the church and the rise of a conqueror who is less interested in ruling than he was conquering; women are still the often-illiterate property of their fathers and husbands, but now there are more alternatives to family and marital homes, and dedicated studies of witchcraft are being encouraged, with pilot programs across the empire primarily in those early sanctuary cities, figuring out how this is all going to work. Known for her efforts to lean on the scales in the people's favour Petrana herself is, in this era, rumored to be imprisoned; graffiti of her crowned likeness can be found in some places in the city, with the epithet ""la reine du malheur"".

Special Abilities: In Sulleciel, magic is a skill that may be pursued like any other — and there are those of more or less talent, as if someone were to attempt the violin, or swordplay. It is practised primarily through incantations and foci, with more elaborate spellwork for more ambitious results sometimes requiring particular items or a full coven to achieve. As magic is limited in Sulleciel only by the will, imagination and stamina of those practising it, no one coming here will be subject to any nerfs; all mages and otherwise magical or powered individuals will be able to use their powers as they're used to using them. In addition to this, anyone who is as magical as a chair-leg ordinarily can feel free to have a go at Sulleciel's magic — it's up to you if they have a knack for it or not. Simple spells like casting a light or telekinesis of small objects can be mastered by toddlers; a powerful enough witch or coven might be able to summon a thunderstorm and alter weather patterns, but ""can"" and ""should"" are different and it's generally advised that you try not to do a climate change.
"
Arrival: The rift will open into a spacious, luxuriously-appointed tower on the grounds of the imperial palace but not visibly connected to it above-ground. It was at one point the sole domain of the previous arciduc's personal astronomers, but is now the primary residence and working space of the Queen's Coven. The Queen's Coven is a particular group of women, so named for having been among the first witches to come beneath the new regime's protection in the first city-state to bend the knee where Petrana was first installed as Queen Regent; they are private, secretive, and increasingly cut off from the power-struggles of the imperial court, having been actively distanced from the Empress herself by a variety of other players in the game. Both relatively prepared for sudden magical happenings and inclined to keep shit in the tower on lock, they will be prepared to pass you all off as "foreign witches, seeking our enlightenment" and see both you and the sudden access to Petrana as potentially useful in their maneuverings. Which will make moving around easier, but will probably be an active hindrance to getting where and what you need. An underground tunnel connects the tower directly to the palace, though there are also pleasant, covered pathways to walk across the palace grounds; guards at the main, above-ground entrance to the tower will inquire about movements to and from, and will be skeptical but limit their interference initially ... as long as they don't see Petrana.

5 ↠ Kalvad

Original fantasy world, Wysteria Poppell.

Kalvad—specifically the city of Somerset, the magic capitol of the civilized world—is a mashup of Regency Era and Industrial-Revolution-But-Magic! Nebulously England (with the serial numbers aggressively filed off). When in doubt, default to Jane Austen vibes. But if it seems fun to do some weird magic-powered technological advancements, then go nuts.

Kalvad is an imperial island nation ostensibly ruled by three kings, though they're largely figureheads overseeing an upper and lower parliament. The country has made itself rich and powerful by doing a whole lot of war and colonization. As historically one of the most magically powerful regions in the world, magicians have long been a vital tool in the empire's efforts to do both those things.

Unfortunately for Kalvad, the strength of magic in the world has waned considerably in the last 40 years. Where once Talent was rare but reasonably powerful, magic users are both becoming more commonplace and considerably weaker. Even older magicians and hedge-witches who once might have manufactured considerable arcane feats have seen some diminishing of their powers. A popular, but unproven, theory in academic circles is that those with Talent all draw from the same "well" of magic. As more people are born with the ability to tap into that resource, the less there is to go around. Resentment for those with weaker Talents among older generations of magic users is A Thing.

That said, increased availability of minor magics has kick-started a 'minor magic' powered industrial revolution. Parlor witches who perform small arcane conveniences are growing in number; minor charms and enchantments have become more readily available to lower classes. Meanwhile, the non-magical population is slowly being shunted out of their respective cottage industry jobs and into factories powered by great enchanted machines. The empire as the world knows it is clearly teetering on the brink of major social and political upheaval, both at home and abroad. The consequences of all this change just haven't quite played themselves out yet, though you can bet there are people rushing around in an attempt to cover their asses before they do.

Special Abilities Characters will be nerfed of any abilities they had in Thedas, but can be Talented in Kalvad terms or not. Any Talented character under 40 is likely to be able to produce only minor magics (think lighting fires in fireplaces, being able to heal minor injuries, and temporarily being able to enchant objects to do one specific thing). Anyone over forty can be a little flashier (think appearance altering glamors, temporary invisibility, transfiguration and significant healing). General magic flavor is: Brothers Grimm fairy tales and Arthurian legends, except that someone somewhere made all that weirdly pliable magic adhere to a strict ruleset. Easy, thoughtless channeling of magic is a secret lost long before the arcane powers in the world began to diminish. Now, all magic must be carefully and deliberately designed and constructed. The magicians most accomplished by Kalvadan standards are methodical and patient. Think clockmakers and mathematicians, not wizards on the side of a van.

Arrival: Members of Riftwatch will arrive through a rift and find themselves on the wooded outskirts of a sprawling city. Luckily, no one will witness their initial arrival. Even more convenient: once they've gotten their bearings and made their way into the city, they'll discover they aren't the only weird strangers in town (although they may want to strongly consider indulging in petty theft to make themselves stick out less—particularly as it comes time to infiltrate places). It seems that a sprawling months-long academic conference turned party turned cover for political intrigue and cold warfare has descended upon Somerset.

In the aftermath of what everyone is claiming to be a major military victory somewhere, delegations from a number of implicated countries have converged on the city at the invitation of the Kalvadan Crowns in order to share and demonstrate their various technical and arcane achievements. The World's Fair-like atmosphere has drawn a number of non-Talented tourists, scheming politicians, and cutthroat spies along with the legitimately academically and/or magically inclined.

While Somerset is something of a city of wonders by the world's estimation, it's still first and foremost a dirty and crowded industrial hub in a world that has yet to bother with paving all its major roads. The conference has quadrupled that effect, transforming it into a riot of sights, sound, and (often to its detriment) smells. At this point, finding a room and board in the city has become less a question of where you want to stay and more one of how many other people you're willing to timeshare a bed with.

Luckily, it doesn't seem like Riftwatch will be sticking around long. Some snooping around the of pamphleting/gossip will reveal that the artifact they're after is likely to be found in the grand exhibition hall, and that there will be an opportunity to get their hands on it that evening.

6 ↠ Abeir-Toril

D&D Forgotten Realms, Astarion

The D&D continent of Faerûn is loosely based on Eurasia—if it ran entirely on magic, was roughly stuck somewhere in the 14th century forever, and was filled to the brim with elves, dragons, gnolls, faeries, gods, demi-gods, and just about any myth (or mythological creature) you’ve ever encountered in your life. For the purpose of simplicity, everyone from Riftwatch is going to get plunked down in the titular Baldur’s Gate: the city is massive, it’s known as the jewel of Faerûn, and its cultures, districts, trades and pastimes reflect that remarkable splendor. Still, think of it like Kirkwall in that there are some pretty damn rigid socioeconomic divides separating the city via districts. QUICK GUIDE.

The Upper City is the fancy part of town where nobles (known as Patriar) and their servants live, and it also houses the city’s government and key recreational buildings. There are no bars, pubs, taverns or drinking halls. Anything rowdy happens behind closed doors, and if you don't have an invitation, you'd better look for fun somewhere else. Magical enchantments and lanterns make it beyond stunning at night to stroll through. Lower City is more varied: you’ll find taverns, shops, tons of entertainment and ample trade, as well as pirates by the docks (and their ships), and the harbor waters are absolutely gorgeous for sailing on calm days. Doors are shut and locked during nighttime hours aside from taverns, inns or gambling parlors. Visibility is also lower at night when harbor fog rolls in, particularly where poorer residents can't afford oil, tallow or magic every night. The Undercity stretches deep (and hidden) beneath both the Upper and Lower Cities: it begins at its most shallow within the city as sewers and along seawall cliffs as open-mouthed caves. The deeper you go, the worse it gets: undead catacombs, cultists, temples, blood sport and bloody magic prevail alongside monsters too dangerous to clear out. Outer City sucks. There's almost next to no law or order, and is inherently dangerous to explore. Treat it like Lowtown for the most part, and you'll be pretty smack on (slavers and actual kind impoverished poor included).

CULTURE: Baldur’s Gate is primarily run by humans, and to a lesser extent, elves. Other races aren’t really considered a foothold here, but they’re more than welcome in the city and treated exceptionally well with a few exceptions here and there (ogres, trolls, more ferally inclined goblins, etc). This is not at all like Thedas: someone more familiar with discrimination against non-humans, certain pairings and particularly mages wouldn't find it here. Most of the time if you dress nicely and carry yourself well, you’ll be well respected. Or robbed. Or both!

Special Abilities: Characters will be adjusted to fit D&D, and powers are optional for all. For D&D’s magic/power/race everything, please take a look at some basic classes.

Arrival: Characters will arrive via rifts torn into the Outer City, just along its riverfront sprawl. They won’t be too far from the city gates, but witnesses to the scene will be inclined to gossip and gawk, assuming everything from a freak magical incident to believing the new arrivals are wealthy travelers from somewhere far and exotic, who simply missed their mark in teleporting to the Upper City for sightseeing. Anyone wearing Thedosian clothes will be fine to go without changing— wearing something more modern or say, nothing at all for some reason, will definitely require staging some kind of Terminator II style clothing (theft) acquisition in order to fit in.

Ideally, the team will at least want to make their way into Lowtown in order to begin snooping around, but it’s a big damn city to say the least, and information is expensive. Astarion will help within reason, but being a vampire means that he can only afford to fund so much on his own.

Might be a good idea to do some fetch quests or live your best Adventuring Party life, because you’re all going to likely be here for a (time distorted) relative while.

7 ↠ Orphan Black

Alternate-Universe Earth, 2014; Toronto, Canada; Cosima Neihaus.

Real-world mid-2010s, but secret unethical biology/biotech experiments including viable human cloning in the mid 1980s. Carrying out such technologically advanced work is a combination of international organizations including a private research company, at least one paramilitary organization and a shadowy organization that oversees both. (Orphan Black also features minor differences from our world typical of its genre, such as plot-convenient hacking and variably competent law enforcement, but the cloning project and related scientific offshoots are the most salient differences.) Relevant to this plot in particular, the Dyad Institute is a private organization, considered ""fringe"" by the mainstream scientific community, devoted to research related to human evolution and biotechnology. Some of its many employees had connections to the ""neolutionism"" community, the members of which believed human evolution should be actively shaped by scientific and technological intervention. The organization was responsible for the project that created Cosima and her sisters roughly 30 years before in-world present day. Also at the moment they're jumping to, Cosima works there, it's complicated. (If anyone is familiar with the canon, we're jumping in circa season two.)
A tiny pinboard.

Special Abilities: None, you're all just unpowered humans. Sorry/you're welcome.

Arrival: The group arrives at what turns out to be a nondenominational winter party for a local school; there are some mild shenanigans as Cosima clocks that it's a school attended by children she knows, and more pressingly, partially overseen by their mother, who has Cosima's face. Cosima press gangs one or more other people into helping her hide her own face while negotiating with Alison to borrow her minivan. She shuttles the group to Alison's large suburban Toronto home, which becomes the FR group's base of operation. (It is perhaps telling that while Alison finds this frustrating, she and her husband Donnie do sort of roll with it also.) If desired/depending on how big the group is, Cosima could also stow some Riftwatchers with Felix, the foster brother of one of her other clones, who has a big artsy loft downtown. She is not against taking anyone to her place, but she's a grad student; it's not huge. Everyone who knows how to use a phone or can be trusted to figure it out with a tutorial gets a burner phone for convenience. (Perhaps additionally telling how quickly Alison gets everyone a burner phone. She also decorates the protective cases for them. No, it's not optional.)

8 ↠ The Last of Us

Post-Apocalyptic Earth, Spring 2038, Seattle, Abby Lasterson & Ellie Williams.

This world was ours until 2013, when a worldwide pandemic broke out overnight. A fungus (cordyceps) that had originally infected mainly insects adapted to infect human beings. Anyone bitten by an infected person or who has breathed in a significant or concentrated amount of fungal spores becomes infected themselves. Over a maximum of two days, they utterly lose their humanity and deteriorate into violent monsters, eventually sprouting spores and fungal plates. There is no known cure, and the only human being ever known to be immune is Ellie Williams. 25 or so years later, humanity has crumbled into various factions in a struggle to survive. First came the Federal (FEDRA) response, resulting in Quarantine Zones and martial law. Life in the zones is highly regulated, with work assignments and rations that often aren't enough to go around. Many citizens are forced to turn to crime just to make ends meet. Orphaned children become wards of the state and are trained to become FEDRA soldiers by the time they're sixteen.

Various civilian groups rose up to rebel against FEDRA, forming factions such as the Fireflies (rebels who recruited scientists in an effort to find a cure), and the Washington Liberation Front (a militia-minded organization who overthrew FEDRA in Seattle). There are other smaller groups such as the religious zealots called the Seraphites, or the violent slavers known as the Rattlers.

Few and far between are independent human settlements like Jackson of Wyoming, where small communities have managed to gain self-sufficiency and safety with tireless group effort and highly vigilant defenders. They bolster their numbers by welcoming peaceful outsiders and engaging in trade with travelers.

Living outside of these groups, people are largely on their own, vulnerable to packs of hunters, bandits and even cannibals that prey on anyone brave enough to risk travel.

The infected are an ever-present threat everywhere, and the world is a ruin quickly being reclaimed by nature. (cw: body horror in the link) See board for world aesthetic and depictions of the Infected.

Special Abilities: Everyone is a normal human here. No supernatural powers, no magic, no non-humans.

Arrival: Welcome one of Ellie and Abby's least favorite places: Seattle. The Space Needle is visible in the distance, so despite the advanced state of decay, it's actually recognizable. Except it's been bombed, and rotting, and nature's reclaimed it for the last quarter-century. This adventure won't be for the faint of heart; there are no home bases and no safe space to be had. All clothing, supplies, weaponry and food are things you'll need to find yourself. Everyone can assume they'll get a quick lesson in gun safety and a rundown on various types of infected. Multiple rifts will open, so feel free to appear anywhere in the city (even apart from others) but expect to find no native allies. The city of Seattle is embroiled in civil war between the Seraphites (a religious cult who rejects anything "old world" and scars their faces, called "Scars") and the Washington Liberation Front (a ruthless mercenary coalition, called "Wolves") and both sides will assume you're with the other group and attack on sight. Better pick up a brick.
overharrowed: (tell me something bad you've done)

watch

[personal profile] overharrowed 2022-12-11 06:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Julius sincerely did try to sleep. He's aware of how important it is that he be alert, here. But no matter how much he shifts or tries to level out his breathing, he stays stubbornly conscious.

Finally, he gives up and reaches for the canvas jacket he's been wearing, shrugging it over his flannel shirt. He also picks up the sawed-off shotgun he's proven himself a good enough shot to merit keeping. Julius has the vague idea of planning to relieve whoever is on watch, since he's up anyway, but when he sees who it his, he just comes to settle near Marcus instead, approaching quietly but not so quietly as to sneak up on him.

At first, there's not much to say. It's not as if it's a moment that merits asking how anyone else is, really. He's just grateful for someone he cares about in arm's reach, at present.
laruetheday: whole-ass one thing. (never half-ass two things.)

[personal profile] laruetheday 2022-12-11 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"Cool." Ellie's going way easy on her with this one. There are a bunch of good burger and shake places around; probably second only to pizza. "I can handle that."

When they get to the end of the hall, Clarisse hits the button for the elevator and while they wait, she says, "Do you want to walk? We could take a taxi..." But it just wouldn't be the same? And also she's kind of wanting this night to last? Sue her.
sprent: (you sleeping or)

» MCU; open

[personal profile] sprent 2022-12-11 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
As if the arrival itself is not enough to have to deal with, Gela seems to have developed a weaker sense of gravity? She's fine on her feet, feeling light, a little bouncy, and a single jump takes her much higher than should be physically possible: six, seven, eight feet in the air depending on how much she bends her knees. She gets the sense that she could go much higher, if she wanted.

"Excuse me!" She is taking the hand of the person nearest to her tight, thinking to use them as an anchor. However, another experimental jump pulls the both of them into the air, drifting, lagging at the point where their hands are joined. Gela laughs, wild, nervous, "What is happenin'."

Later, she seems to have developed the hang of it. It helps vastly that the fall back to the ground is slow, controlled, and soon she figures out how to account for the weight and drag of another person, bring them along. "C'mon," she coaxes, staring up. She's got her sights fixed on a very particular skyscraper that seems to tower above the rest... "I'm goin' up there. Come with?"

Even the mutant power isn't as strict a learning curve as the cellphones are. Gela struggles with all of it: the little buttons, the auto-correct, the screen that sometimes goes dark when she hasn't touched the thing for sixty seconds or so. Selecting any one contact is beyond the realm of understanding. The text goes out to everybody.

Where is the best place for 🍔
👍🍓
F odd
laruetheday: and that concerns me. (you seem thoughtful.)

[personal profile] laruetheday 2022-12-11 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
The sound Clarisse makes when Ellie's lips brush her cheek is something that might have been an attempt at a human word, but when it leaves her mouth it sounds more like she's being strangled. She feels her ears go hot, and she has to take a deep breath before she can even think about getting up and following Ellie to the door.

Fucking... embarrassing. Gods.

"Okay," she manages. "Where to now?"
sprent: (be anyone)

motherfuckin titanosaurrrr

[personal profile] sprent 2022-12-11 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Gela, catching up, is wide-eyed at the sight of it- something that big, right here in the room with them. She says, awed, "They had dragons too."

She's never seen a dragon before. Naturally she's heard about them; she hopes she never does see one in real life. Seeing its bones is more than enough! Ellie is reading the little bit of information provided for the exhibit, and what she says sends a little pulse of respectful fear through Gela. It makes sense, considering so many people here seem to have special powers, but it's still very impressive. "What do you think they farmed them for?"
sprent: (a sky full)

upper verandas

[personal profile] sprent 2022-12-11 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
(It's not exactly the silent approach that Wysteria had promised them; of course Gela notices the little whispers, the odd behaviour, she assumes they're doing it because of her! Something about her hair (not in the style of the period), the dress (borrowed) or her mannerism (ill-matched). She keeps an insistent pace with Wysteria all the same, ignoring everything as best she can, and only realises what's really going on when they reach and pass the group of little girls.

Gela, glancing over her shoulder, thinks it fair to ask Wysteria,)
What's goin' on? (As they hurry on by.)
notathreat: (59)

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-11 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
It's been a rude awakening for everyone, including the people most at home here. Ellie takes the invitation, settling down to sit. She's always kept her backpack on, weapons ready, hands careful, eyes wary.

It seemed out of place in Thedas. Here, it's just how things are.

"... same?" she says, and shrugs. "It sucks, but... coming back to this place just. Feels kind of like I never left. I know this is probably a dream, but right now it feels more real than Thedas."

Ellie takes a drink from her own water bottle, wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Did it feel like that for you?"
notathreat: (7)

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-11 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
"Awesome. And yeah, I'm good with walking." Ellie shoves her hands in her pockets, rolls back onto her heels, gives Clarisse a sidelong glance.

"Something about the city at night. I don't even mind a ton of people being around."

Not like she used to.
youwonscience: (Nothing really touches bro)

[personal profile] youwonscience 2022-12-11 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"I know what you mean," she says. "It definitely... even knowing it would vanish, it felt solid. I had to keep reminding myself I couldn't stay." But it had been, perhaps, a more tempting self-deception, in the world before this one. (Or maybe not; Cosima won't presume.)

"I tried to imagine it, some. When you described it. But it's ... seeing it is something else."
notathreat: (54)

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-12 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
Ellie tries not to obviously look back, but Clarisse's reaction is encouraging, flattering. Leaves her distracted and her cheeks hot as glances down at her stupidly full backpack.

"Well. We did find a bunch of food and supplies. I think we can start heading back."

Ellie pauses there, considering as she bites the inside of one cheek.

"Or we can, y'know. Take a minute."
portalling: ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴏf ᴍᴀᴅɴᴇss. (pic#15781120)

[personal profile] portalling 2022-12-12 12:07 am (UTC)(link)
“I can imagine,” Strange says. He’s medically-trained, prone to thinking of himself as the best-equipped doctor in the room, and even he knows how difficult it’d be to work on yourself, let alone in an environment like this. There’s a reason he’d always operated with a helping pair of hands, a nurse hovering by his elbow. And the lack of sanitation in this world alone—

“How did it happen?”

Polite conversation is a peril here, with Ellie’s kind of history, but he reaches for it regardless. It’s a little easier than staring down the barrel of admitting, just yet, hey so I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing here and this world is horrifying.
sprent: (you that I might)

Food!

[personal profile] sprent 2022-12-12 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
Is it not healthy? Gela wouldn't know. She finds him guzzling a- something. The can itself is a new feature all together, shockingly bright, a little shiny. There seems to be drink inside of it, and she comes closer.

Gela has a bagel in her hand, slathered thickly. There is a smear of cream cheese on the corner of her mouth.

"What's that you've got there?"
laruetheday: ... maybe the whole suburb. (the best in the whole school...)

[personal profile] laruetheday 2022-12-12 12:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah," Clarisse agrees. "It's cool, right? All the lights."

And New York is one of those cities where even surrounded by people, you feel isolated in a way. She can understand why all the people aren't bothering Ellie.

As they get into the elevator and head down, she adds: "I didn't used to go into the city at night too much. But when I did, it always felt, like, exciting."
portalling: ᴍᴜʟᴛɪᴠᴇʀsᴇ ᴏf ᴍᴀᴅɴᴇss. (pic#15781088)

[personal profile] portalling 2022-12-12 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
Surprised, Strange glances over at the other man. He’d seen him around, existing in Tony Stark’s general orbit — the Gallows was small even as it was very large — and then there had been the slog of ploughing through world after world, ushering him and others through Earth. Ellis. The name was Ellis, but that’s about all he knows.

His fingers curl around the rubber grip of the pole — for a second irrationally loath to let go of it, like a comfort blanket. This is his only weapon, now that his magic’s been stripped from him. Years of work gone in an instant.

But he still forces himself to let go, and pass it over. “If we’re going to judge my choice of weapon,” he says, with a grim attempt at levity, “I just need it noted for the record that it’s better than the brick I started off with.”
laruetheday: emotion could be a weapon? (you didn't realize)

[personal profile] laruetheday 2022-12-12 12:22 am (UTC)(link)
For a second Clarisse thinks Ellie is asking her if she's okay to head back, trying to be gentle with her feelings or whatever, and she mutters "I'm fine" as she comes up beside her. Jeez.

But then she sees the look on Ellie's face and pauses, more confused now than anything.

"You want to take a minute?" Isn't that... what they just did?
notathreat: (123)

too tall for hatosaur :(

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-12 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
"Kind of. But none of 'em breathed fire, and only some of them had wings. And they didn't farm them, they just- were probably getting the fields ready for planting and turned up some bones."

Ellie's grinning, eyes lingering on the bones before she pulls them over to Gela, taking in her awed expression.

"Don't worry, they all died out millions of years ago. Way before humans were a thing. We only know they existed because we find the bones once in a while, and put 'em back together like this."
portalling: ɪɴfɪɴɪᴛʏ ᴡᴀʀ. (pic#15613402)

[personal profile] portalling 2022-12-12 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
The doctor is biased, but like, it’s an extremely good library. The more gruesome and dangerous books are under lock-and-key in the back, some of them quite literally padlocked shut, but the shelves are still heavy with magical texts (and some fun frothy beach reads snuck in). The catalog is scattershot since Wong stopped his archival duties, although there’s still some remnants of organisation from where Strange tried to whip it into shape years ago. He glances up at Julius, glad to see him, although he hems over how to explain that particular bit of slang.

“A macguffin is… hm, it’s a term for a generic kind of… an object, device, or event necessary to the plot. The story will have big screaming signs saying this is significant but only insofar as it moves things along. So in our case, the Sealing Stone. Not that I doubt its existence, we caught a glimpse of it in the Crossroads, but— it’s the thing at the end of our road, the crux which we and even those Venatori are fixated on. So. A macguffin. It’s a term typically used for novels and movies. Have you caught a movie here yet?”

Strange is still chatty, still easy and talkative — and he looks even more at-ease than back at the Gallows, relaxed and at home here in the Sanctum specifically.
notathreat: (129)

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-12 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
"Man, that sucks." Ellie mutters it, puts her chin in her hand. To want to be home, to be unable to stay. To see the people you cared about, and know you'd have to wake up. Is it better or worse than being back in a place that was a nightmare when it was real?

She listens and isn't sure what she feels. Weird, kind of. But not in a bad way, not in a good way. Just a kind of displacement.

"I think if you didn't see it, it'd be impossible to imagine. I used to imagine all the cities when I was a kid. Boston, New York, Los Angeles... we even had pictures, from back before the outbreak. Getting to actually see it was also something else."
Edited 2022-12-12 00:50 (UTC)
notathreat: (58)

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-12 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
"This is one of the worse places. It's not all so bad."

Ellie wishes she could find any kind of satisfaction in seeing Stephen humbled, even a little bit, but instead she just feels kind of hollowed out. They're all in the same boat here, and no matter how much this aches of familiarity, it's still so far from home.

The question doesn't surprise her. She even invited it, in a way. But she still has to order her thoughts, think of how to explain.

Her eyes are drawn to Abby, across the encampment. They stay there for a moment, without the anger, without the horror and the grief, just an empty sort of stillness. She can feel what they were but they're like ashes in her mouth. No longer the fire she was breathing back then, or even embers burning holes in her tongue.

"I was trying to drown somebody, off the coast of Santa Barbara." The words are flat, without satisfaction but also without apology. "Because she killed somebody I loved. She bit them off."

There's a beat of silence, before Ellie draws herself up straight, looks at Stephen. Her eyes are dark and steady.
notathreat: (33)

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-12 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
"All the lights," Ellie agrees, getting into the elevator and going to the opposite wall, putting her hands to the glass and her face close enough to fog itup, watching the bars of light travel over their faces.

"And how the buildings are so tall they almost look like they're leaning over to look down at you."

Ellie pauses, glances back over her shoulder at Clarisse.

"I get what you mean. That... energy. Like you feel alive."
notathreat: (133)

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-12 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Ellie pauses, pressing her lips together, and leans into the habit that's becoming easier and easier around Clarisse, and that's saying fuck it, no second guessing.

"Y'know that thing where we sleep together sometimes?" she asks.

"You think we could add kissing to that?"
armd: (the majestic of the henley)

[personal profile] armd 2022-12-12 05:32 am (UTC)(link)
Abby scoffs. She looks up at him for the first time.

"Why aren't you all working together to fight Corypheus?"
armd: (not too sure about that one)

[personal profile] armd 2022-12-12 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
Abby spits on the ground. "Tell me about it." She can wipe her mouth and tongue off on the back of her arm all she likes, the taste is... remaining.

She groans. "God. I'm gonna hurl," and for a moment, everything feels halfway normal. They moved seamlessly around the threat, together. She still trusts Ellie to watch her back even after everything that's happened.

Crossing the room, she finally takes hold of that axe handle and rips it cleanly out of the stalker corpse for her. She's holding it out to Ellie by the head of the weapon when something lunges toward her and she drops it, slicing the heel of her hand by mistake in her haste to get out of the way. The stalker disregards her, coasting by on its momentum, and slams into Ellie, hands curled into claws, tearing at the air.
armd: (jaw clench)

cw description of bodies

[personal profile] armd 2022-12-12 07:10 am (UTC)(link)
Abby nods, her eyes momentarily too-bright, and then she looks away abruptly and keeps walking. But that is exactly what she needed to hear.

Besides, she reminds herself, nobody wants to get hurt. The others, as useless as some of them are in this particular situation, aren't going to sit around and let the infected tear them to pieces. They'll fight back. It's gonna be okay.

A quick breath. She jams her hands into her pockets and squints toward where they're headed, and doesn't say anything more until they make it back to the first skeleton, wrapped up good and snug in their bulletproof FEDRA vest. Fat load of good it did. She'd take it if it wasn't wearing through in a couple places... these bodies have been exposed to the elements for a very, very long time now.

"Damnit," she mutters, "Thought they were in better shape."
notathreat: (81)

cw: more gore haha you thought

[personal profile] notathreat 2022-12-12 07:23 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, do it over there," Ellie gestures towards one of the empty cubicles; one of them probably has a wastepaper basket she can use, but she's almost, almost smiling, like she's giving her shit on purpose. It's good that Abby's here.

As she crosses the room Ellie follows her, keeping an eye on things. All is quiet, though Ellie stays ready. It almost doesn't come as a surprise when she hears it coming.

Unfortunately, she's just switched her knife to her off hand.

"Abby- shit!"

The stalker sails into her, and Ellie only barely has enough momentum to dodge backwards, and the thing's teeth slam on air where her throat had been just a second before. Another dodge back and she slips on the blood on the floor, creating just a split second of opening needed for the stalker to slam into Ellie, push her down on her back.

As they go down, Ellie's knife blade plunges downward into the thing's shoulder, lodged behind the collarbone and into the ribcage. Instead of glancing off the bone like her stiletto might have, the bigger, heavier blade sticks in it.

Keeping a death grip on the handle of her knife, Ellie slams the heel of her right hand into the stalker's nose, feeling it snap and break under the force.

It backhands her. Just for a second, her grip loosens.