TDM: Mega Throwback Edition!

[polymods]

✖ TEST DRIVE MEME

Ⅰ. ARRIVAL
You can read all about your character's arrival in the game lore.
The island you find yourself on is a tropical paradise. The hair is heavy and humid, and a thick flowering jungle encroaches on the white sandy beach. As far as mysterious islands go, it could be a lot worse! Maybe there’s a bar with some Mai Tais set up here somewhere…

As you walk towards the jungle you become aware that something is moving in the bushes. Some sort of animal, probably - maybe your mind goes to jaguars, or monkeys. What comes running out onto the beach, though, is not remotely mammalian: it’s a dinosaur.

Just a little one - it’s about the size of a small dog, running along on its hind legs. Aww, he’s kinda cute if you ignore the sharp teeth and claws! Lucky for you it’s busy chasing something else and soon darts back into the bush unless you do something to grab its attention.

Listen closely and you’ll find that sometimes you can hear sounds that are distinctly mechanical. Whatever this place is, it at least sounds like it’s inhabited by something possessing intelligence. You could definitely go and find out. Just be careful!

Or maybe you think, hey, I’ve seen this movie, I’m staying on the beach! You could, but unless you’re good at diving for fish you might have a hard time finding food.

Notes:
1. Please remember to mark threads appropriately with Content Warnings when necessary.

2. These prompts are a jumping off point - how they affect your character and their development is up to you.

3. The people on the island are normal humans unless otherwise indicated. The dinosaurs are animals and can be killed. I mean, good luck with that, but.

4. Have fun!

---

Ⅱ. CRETACEOUS PARK
CW: Dinosaurs! Violence, possibly against dinosaurs!
The jungle is thick and it takes a lot of effort to move through it. You’ll have to crawl under vines, climb over felled trees, and just generally pay a lot of attention to your surroundings. This is the sort of situation where having someone with you certainly makes things easier. Occasionally you will hear animals calling, and you’re bound to see some of them eventually. Maybe you’ll luck out and spot a herbivore like one of the armoured dinosaurs, just chewing on plants and not likely to attack you unless you piss it off. Maybe you spot something about your size with a decidedly less vegetarian diet and you have to decide between hiding or trying to scare it off.

Eventually in your wanderings you come across an unusual sight: a dirt road. It cuts its way through the trees and ferns, and to the south you can hear what is probably a familiar sound: engines. And shouting.

It’s getting closer.

Suddenly there are cars and motorcycles rushing down the road toward you - try not to get hit! One of the cars slows and a guy with a ragged blonde beard hangs out and tells you to get in the back. At close to the same time a truck slows and another guy tells you to climb aboard and grab a gun.

Why would you need a gun? The answer presents itself almost immediately: big daddy T-Rex is stomping its way down the road towards you.

You can escape with the first car, or pitch in and try to shoot the dinosaur with the second. Or you could try and prevent them from hurting the animal entirely, or just run off into the jungle by yourself. Better decide quickly, though. That T-Rex looks hungry.

Notes:
1. You determine your level of dino encounter! And what kind - nobody is going to get on your ass if you pick one from the Jurassic period instead of the Cretaceous. It’s a magic island for crying out loud.

---

Ⅲ. SETTLEMENT
CW: Kidnapping.
Whether you throw in with the humans or maybe stumble upon it by accident, you wind up at their encampment . It’s definitely the safest place to be - there are high walls around a series of small buildings mostly cobbled together from wood and tin. But there’s cots, and food. Outside the perimeter wall are tripwires and very basic motion sensors that will alert the settlement if any sizable animals are prowling around.

You’re informed that mostly the dinosaurs leave the camp alone - too much effort for not enough food.

While you’ll be welcomed the first night, as soon as morning rolls around it will be made abundantly clear that you’re going to be expected to pull your weight. Pitch in with the cooking or cleaning, or if you have some mechanical skill you can help fix up some of the rattling vehicles parked around.

From what you can gather, this is just one of a few different settlements on the island. Some of the others have small farms, and if you can drive you will be asked if you’d mind running over a delivery to one of these.

Agree, and you’ll be handed the keys to what sure looks like a 1970s era Cadillac. The mulleted gentleman who has asked this favour of you hands you a piece of paper upon which a small map is drawn, along with written directions. A note at the bottom reads, “don’t look in the tunk.” You think he means ‘trunk.’

“Package is in the trunk,” this gentleman confirms. “Don’t open it, sunlight’ll mess it all up.”

With that he sends you on your merry way. Best to take along a buddy for safety!

Partway through your journey you will come to realise that whatever is in the trunk is making a banging noise. You can ignore it and keep driving, passing the keys off to the people at the farming settlement, or you can pull over and investigate.

If you choose the second option, you’ll find that your ‘package’ is a person. Not a human one - this person has scales and huge, bulging eyes above small nostrils. They’re bound hand and foot and gagged, staring up at you with terror.

Well, jeez. Now what?

Notes:
1. If you open the trunk and discover the Crazy Frog-esque figure within you can continue on to the settlement and deliver him as promised. If you choose the former, the people at both settlements will be angry and turn on you unless you can spin a very convincing lie about your prisoner escaping.

2. If you choose to free your froggy friend, they will indicate that you should follow them through the jungle to their home.

3. If you skip the delivery mission, you can still stay at the camp. It’s very bare bones, but there’s food and cots and bathrooms at least.

---

Ⅳ. REPTILIANS
Whether it’s because you’re led there, or because you find it by accident, you find yourself in a village - the houses are smooth stone, curving elegantly under sprawling vines and beautiful blooming flowers.

Upon your arrival several humanoid lizard people emerge from their homes and watch you, silent. One of them, stooped and wizened with age, moves to stand directly in front of you. When they speak, you realise that you can’t hear them with your ears; they communicate through telepathy.

You are welcome to stay in our village if you pass our Test of Bravery.

You’re half expecting that they’ll make you fight a velociraptor or something, but no - this village elder leads you and your companion both to the center of the village where there are several large flat stones ringed around one much larger stone. You’re both instructed to sit. More of the reptilian people approach, watching you.

Tell us a story of your bravery, the elder tells you.

You’ll have to dig into your memories to find a moment where you think you acted bravely, and then you’ll have to tell everyone assembled about it. You might be tempted to embellish a little bit, or to outright lie.

But if you do…

The moment you start fudging the truth, a different memory will play out just above the large center stone like a hologram. This memory paints you much more poorly: it's one of your most cowardly moments. Definitely not what you wanted to share with a village full of people.

When either your story or your memory is finished, the village elder will look at you with their strange eyes and pronounce whether or not you’re allowed to stay.

Notes:
1. Whether or not you are allowed to stay is not based entirely on how brave you were - how you react to having to share (willingly or not) these stories also plays a part. For example, if you ran away from a fight but in the present you don’t try to justify it with bullshit reasons, you will still be invited to stay.

2. The Reptilian village is a blend of nature and advanced technology. Frankly, it’s a nicer place to stay than the human settlements. They have a lot more creature comforts, like nice deep baths and soft beds.

---

Greetings, prospective Travelers! Welcome to the POLYMYTHOS test drive meme and thank you for your interest in our game! We invite you to use this TDM to explore but one of many, many islands within the Endless Isles; use it as an opportunity to introduce and familiarize yourself with the game, form connections with other characters, and just have some fun. (Perhaps while also getting some solid samples together for your application! Apps are always open!)

Use the prompts provided below as-is or feel free to write your own set within the environment detailed in each. You're even welcome to access the network via your character's ScryWatch. While there will be some inevitable changes, TDMs may count as game canon and some islands may be revisited in the future. Be mindful of your surroundings -- you never know how you and your fellow Travelers might affect this place in the long run.

Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

Comments

Questions, comments, concerns?

[polymods]

Ask em here!

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[polymods]

Q:what would happen in the tale of bravery prompt if a character lied to downplay their own bravery?
A: the actual events would be played out above the rock, embarrassing them entirely I'm sure

Juhani | Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic | OTA

[tarisian_cathar]

Arrival

The first thing she is aware of is the heavy scents of the place, and she will find it fascinating when the shock wears off. She pushes unsteadily to her feet, looking around and instinctively scenting the air. This place is certainly alive. Though she has no recollection of having come here, or how.

That is a mystery that she will have to solve. She brushes sand from herself, verifying the most important fact - she still has her lightsaber with her. She sighs, controlling her breathing, re-establishing her calm in the face of the unknown.

It takes a few moments, and - is disturbed by the creature darting from the bush. And it's nothing like what she has seen - so she watches it carefully. It darts away before anything much else can happen. She pauses, looking around, sniffing at the air. Staying on the beach, exposed, seems...a poor idea. This place is thriving, she can feel it with the Force - and smell it on the wind. Besides, whoever did this might be back.

Slowly, keeping close to trees, she makes her way into the thick trees beyond.

Cretaceous Park

The vehicles are primitive, deeply so - curious, given how she suddenly arrived here, which would suggest some higher technology. Then there's much running, and screaming - and then thumping. The creature that emerges into view is massive, and awe-inspiring - she swallows quickly, swallowing the instinctual fear. It's bigger than a rancor, and those jaws look vastly more powerful.

The men are lifting their slugthrowers- their guns and she gestures away.

"No! You will just enrage it further! Go! I will cover your retreat!"

She pulls her lightsaber free of her belt, igniting it with a flash of blue light and a hint of ozone.

She holds out a hand, using the Force to project calm - it may not work on the creature, but she has to try it first. She starts to look around, trying to see what to do. Fell a tree, perhaps, bar the creature's course...

All she needs is enough time to get things away. She is sure she can kill the creature - but it is a risk she doesn't wish to take. Neither for her, or for it.

Settlement

She emerged from the jungle, found the people, found the settlement. They all seemed pleasant enough, both to her and anyone who accompanied her. But something felt...wrong. It was an instinct she had learned not to ignore.

The next morning she was distracted a little bit by the...vehicle that they were presented with. She'd never actually seen a vehicle this primitive. Carts didn't count, those were carts - those would always be used, no matter how advanced a universe became, but....

Internal combustion? A key ignition? Were those...gaming dice, hanging from the rear view mirror? Her amusement, and the slight smile that came with it, lasted just long enough to find their 'package.'

She hissed, the slight fur on her skin rising where visible. She had been a slave, once, long ago. Clawed hands reach out to slash away the bindings, and her voice comes as a hiss.

"They are trafficking in people," she whispers, fiercely. She takes a few moments to calm herself, pushing back the instinctual anger and rage. But the look she gives her companion indicates this camp won't be in business by the next dawn.

"We will be putting a stop to this."

settlement

[threeterparker]

Peter agrees wholeheartedly with his (prrrrrrobably not human?) partner on this. As soon as they open the trunk and see the guy bound and gagged inside, he knows he can't just leave him there. And he definitely can't deliver him to this other settlement, what the fuck.

"No, yeah. This has to end. This is... This is real bad."

The first thing Peter does is reach in to untie the bonds holding the (also not human) captive's hands and feet together, making sure he approaches slowly, because the last time this guy saw a human being, it was probably when they were gagging him and throwing him in the trunk of a car.

"I'm not going to hurt you, I promise. I just want to get you out of here."

Peter Parker | The Amazing Spider-Man

[threeterparker]

[ ooc: as it has not quite been one full month since No Way Home released, I will be keeping Peter's canon point vague for now, but the intent is to app him from post-NWH. please let me know if you would rather avoid spoilers entirely. I will match prose or brackets. HMU @ millennialfalcon if you want to plot a different starter! ]

I. BEACH?! 🏖️

[ As he steps off the Ferryman's boat, Peter is full of questions. Questions that he tries to turn around and ask the Ferryman himself, but the boat has already started sailing away, having deposited its passengers on the beach. ]

Wait! What do you mean, "walking the line between reform and annihilation!?" You can't just drop a word-bomb like "annihilation" and not expect me to have questions!

[ The Ferryman either doesn't hear him, or chooses not to answer his shouted question, in typical 'mysterious spiritual guide' fashion. Peter just stands on the beach, looking a little lost, shaking his head. ]

I... don't know what I expected.

II. DINOSAURS!! 🦖

[ Peter isn't a jungle kind of guy. But he's a jungle guy more so than he is a stay-on-the-beach-forever kind of guy, so into the jungle he goes. Things go alright for him for the most part, climbing trees to try to get a sense of the layout of the land ahead. He isn't able to tell a whole lot from the view (man, he misses skyscrapers already!) aside from seeing the occasional Apatosaurus head peeking above the treeline. Which he has to admit, is pretty cool.

Finally he sees an indentation in the trees that he thinks must be a road, so he heads for it. Not long after he finds the road, the cavalcade of vehicles comes racing towards him. He dodges out of the way at the last second, deftly avoiding becoming road pizza.

When given the option to either flee or stay and fight the T-Rex, Peter chooses the latter, but he turns down the offer of a gun. Instead, when the king of the beasts arrives, he runs and leapfrogs off of the trees lining the road, up into the air, and loops around to land on the back of the T-Rex's neck, hanging on for his dear life.

It is at this point that he remembers that he doesn't have his web shooters. ]

I— Uh—! [ He hangs on for dear life as the angry dinosaur tries to dislodge him from its back. ] I really didn't think this far ahead!!

III.-IV. LIZARD PEOPLE?? 🦎

[ Peter doesn't stay in the human settlement long. He's too antsy to stay in one place, but he does want to make himself useful. Which is why he ends up volunteering to accompany someone on the car trip to the other settlement. Him, drive? No thanks, he's a city boy. He has his license, but definitely doesn't feel comfortable behind the wheel of a car. Heck, he'd feel more sure of himself surfing the roof of it than he would driving it!

At the sound of banging coming from the trunk, however, Peter would strongly encourage whoever is driving to pull over so they can check it out. And once they discover what their precious cargo is? ]

Mm-mm. No way. I am not going to be a party to human trafficking!? [ He spares a glance at the now freed captive. ] ...Frog person trafficking, excuse me.

[ And so he follows the rescued frog guy back to his village. He's a little weirded out by a whole community of reptilian (and amphibian!) people, given his unfortunate experience with Dr. Connors trying to turn all of Manhattan into giant lizard people, but he gets over himself once he hears one of them speak into his mind, quickly realizing that this is it's own whole thing.

When led to the test of bravery, Peter is expecting a fight. Honestly, he would have rather fought someone or walked across hot coals or something than toot his own horn with a tale of his bravery. ]

Uh, I mean, what can I say? I really haven't done anything special, or-or anything worth talking about.

[ Part of it is that he is humble, but another large part of it is that he would like to at least try to maintain his secret identity, even here, so far removed from anything resembling his home turf. He doesn't really get that chance however, as a scene from his memory plays out in the air above them... A scene of himself as Spider-Man, unmasked, saving a boy from a falling car. Peter is speechless, seeing the secrets he now has no hope of keeping hidden laid bare for everyone to see. ]

I, um. I would argue that Jack was the brave one there, actually...

IV

[detectivemiracle]

[ Chloe, by dint of also categorically refusing to participate in a kidnapping, is also here, and also preparing for a test of bravery - when the young man shows up, and - oh. Well, that is pretty brave. She supposes there are probably worse things to be forced to share, though it's still a little invasive, pulling memories from people.

Still, she can't help but smile faintly at the guy. ]

Seems like you were both pretty brave. Uh, I can't say I have anything that even comes close to that.

[ Which is kind of a lie, though she doesn't see it that way. Which of course means that now he gets to see one of hers. She frowns slightly at the memory, not sure what to make of it. ]

( I )

[dothelokimotion]

[ new arrivals were always so . . . fussy. loki waves his concerns away. ]

The fact that you expected anything means you're bound to have a bad time.

I

[foxtrots]

[minsu is also full of questions for the ferryman...how many of them were actually relevant to the situation at hand will just have to remain a mystery, in part because he's suddenly more curious about peter.

and also because they're being left behind.]

That was rude, right? He was rude to ignore you. I could never do that to someone.

I

[helpdesk_hero]

Yeah, you get used to the ominous statements. Sometimes.

[What? David really thought you did get used to it. He was used to it. Right? Maybe? He had sat next to Peter on the inbound, and now he was just stretching, not bothering to pay attention to the retreating ferry.]

Don't expect answers. We haven't had any for a while.

Bojji | A Ranking of Kings

[giant_heart]

ARRIVAL

[ Bojji's eyes are usually pretty big but this place has them wide and full of wonder as he looks around; he's never seen a beach before, and he can't help himself from taking off his shoes and smushing the sand in his toes, running into the shallow waves and feeling them hit his legs. He doesn't stop himself from making the joyful laughter and squeaking noises from the feel of it. If you want to splash around with him, he'll happily play with you, but he's content to play with himself just as well.

But eventually, he'll dry off and head into the jungle. He's wary but still delighted and curious, staring around, and his eye instantly catches on the dinosaur. Big eyes get bigger at seeing the creature and while it skitters off, he's going to start chasing. He wants to see what it is! ]

CRETACEOUS PARK

[ Looking at Bojji's size, you might think that all the crawling and climbing through the jungle and such would be difficult for him but you're discounting just how dextrous the little guy is, and that his small size actually makes it a lot easier to get through some areas. He'll take some time to take in any dinosaurs he sees, and he doesn't seem to indicate that he thinks any of them are mechanical in any way.

When he gets to the road? Well, it's a good thing he's lightning-fast because that motorcycle would have run him over! He watches it go and turns just in time to look at the man in the track, giving a good 'AUH!' of affirmative understanding while he hops up into the truck. The gun gets a headshake as he pats his trusty little sword sheath. Even when the dinosaur starts charging towards them, Bojji's resolve firms up and he pats his sheath a little more intently. He'll defend them if he has to! ]

SETTLEMENT

[ Bojji looks pleased as punch to see the settlement and he's more than happy to pitch in. For all that he's small and rather weak, he's happy to do what he can for cleaning.

...one woman learns very quickly not to let him cook for all that he'll happily take it up, not by himself, because what he makes it not edible to anyoen but him, but he's just as pleased to cut up vegetables and work on prep. Running errands? Sure! Bringing written messages to and fro? Definitely. Bojji's here to help! And running deliveries? Well...

If you find a frog person in the back of the car while running that delivery with him, he's going to look very dismayed and immediately try to free them. They sound scared and look upset and he can take care of it if he tries to attack you all. But he's not okay with just... doing this without being told what this person did. And they're definitely a person.

When they flee?

He'll follow. And urge you to follow too.]

REPTILIANS

[ Bojji is all wide-eyed wonder again as he takes in the reptilian settlement, letting his fingers follow the smoothness of the stones, gently touching the curling vines, cupping the beautiful blooming flowers to smell them with a happy chirp of a sound.

When the lizardfolk come out to greet him, he gives an honorable little grunt before dipping his head in a bow at the venerable elder, but his eyes are wide when he hears the voice in his head. He's never heard anything, ever, and he makes a noise of fear and confusion before shaking it off and trying to figure out how to answer. This is... new. Being able to talk like this; are they all like this? Can they all hear him and understand him in their heads?

He feels hot tears well up in his eyes at the idea, at the thought of a whole village of people who could understand him and who he can just understand in turn. People who don't speak like he doesn't speak, who don't need him to hear. When they offer a stay in their village, he accepts the idea of the Test of Bravery and he'll follow the elder dutifully before he's made to sit.

The test takes him a moment, but the memory is recent enough: when the guard came, when he found out about the civil war in his country, the time when he doubted Hiling, his step-mother, and considered that perhaps she had committed treachery. He had faltered for a moment, he explains silently, hands moving even as his thoughts are clear, but his friend Kage had reminded him to be brave, to have the greatest bravery there is: the bravery to believe in others, in the goodness of them, and he once again believed in Hiling, knowing that she'd never do something wicked like this, remembering all the times she had shown him love and caring and looked out for him, healing him from his hurts even if it drained her. He's forthright with his original failure, and with how intensely he feels about that kind of bravery, and he feels that strongly. Nothing in his telling, in his anything, is less than genuine. And when he's done?

The elder pats him on the head... and gestures for him to join them in the village as he gives a happy cheer. ]

WILDCARD

[ Feel free to come up with something; as a note, Bojji is deaf and mute and very small. He also has almost no physical strength. He does sign, and just like we fudge spoken translation, I'm good fudging signed translation. Ping me yarnzipan on plurk if you want to set something up.

...moved it down since it was originally on top of the mod question post ^_^;]

arrival.

[everythingship]

[There's a kid. Of course there's a fucking kid.

For a second, Joe doesn't necessarily believe it. He's having a hard time accepting any of this at face value, but he doesn't remember the last time he fell asleep, and Love's been prattling on about lucid dreaming lately (something else he doesn't have the talent for), and right now, it sure as hell looks like that kid's headed straight for a dinosaur. And its teeth. Talons. All that fun stuff.

He snaps out of it.]

Hey! Kid!

[When there's no response, Joe frantically looks about (at least there's not a pack of them, small blessings), curses his instincts, and darts off after the child.]

That's - kid!!! You shouldn't -

[Joe stops wasting his breath: if the kid understood that maybe chasing a dinosaur through a dense forest was a bad idea, he probably wouldn't do it. Luckily, Joe's been running recently, and he's good at dodging debris. He can probably get just in arm's reach of his tunic, and he makes a grab to pull the kid away from the curious creature.]

Ellie Williams | The Last of Us (1)

[puntificates]

one: ARRIVAL

[ Ellie is, in a word... totally fucking lost.

okay, so that's three words -- but two of them are there to drive home the 'lost' part, alright? if there were a sliding scale of lost, this entire situation would rank way up there is the point. so there's a girl about fourteen stood on the beach, wiggling the sand between her toes where she's holding her shoes in one hand like she's forgotten they're there, raking eyes over her surroundings in a mixture of awe, wonder, and a hearty dose of wariness. wild... this is wild. ]

...Holy shit.

[ not the most eloquent, admittedly -- but it's what escapes her in a breathy exhale regardless. she's never been on the beach before, nevermind the jungle?? and she's so busy taking it all in she almost misses the rustle of something darting from the brush. even so, spacey as Ellie is -- it would take a solar flare melting her eyeballs out of her skull for her to miss

A DINOSAUR

skittering across hot sand. a dinosaur. it's a dinosaur. ]

Holy shit...?!

[ this time, it's an entirely different kind of eloquence that leaves her -- still awe-struck, but said with all the excitement of a Dino-enthusiast coming face to face with Dino. which is, incredibly, what's happening! ]

Are you fucking seeing this right now?! Holy shit!

[ ...is she about to chase a dinosaur? she is absolutely about to go chase a dinosaur. please stop this girl. ]

two: CRETACEOUS PARK

[ the jungle is a vast, expanse and overgrown place. it's hot and humid and there's some pretty gross bugs and no (conventional) wifi. a lawless land, truly.

have you been combing the island in search of a sign of civilization? maybe you're looking for water or something that constitutes edible in the foreign landscape? maybe you're just wandering and hoping for the best, but if you happen to be making your perilous journey through the greenery and hop over a fallen, moss-covered log barring your path --

-- a teenage girl's hand is darting out from the brush and grabbing at your arm, unceremoniously dragging you into the cover of thick vegetation. hope you aren't the scream-y (or punchy) type; either way, the girl crouched beside you will try and quickly gesture for quiet before pointing into the trees beyond. sure enough, something big seems to be rustling in the brush. and its head is jerking up, swiveling at the sound of the commotion nearby...

well. it'll be a cool story about how they met later, long as they survive? you've got a way out of this, right?? ]

three: SETTLEMENT

[ so, Ellie's driven before and passable enough at it to boot; even so, no one's eager to pass her a pair of keys for driving privileges. lame, but whatever.

it means she's accompanying you in this journey as a passenger rather than the one behind the wheel: which also means YOU have that honor! how did you end up saddled with escorting Ellie...? maybe she asked to tag along and you said yes. maybe she insinuated someone at the settlement said she had to come along. whatever the case may be, you're stuck together now. ]

Sooo... just curious, if you had to have a dinosaur eat you and take you out, which one would you pick? Any time period. Anything goes. Hit me.

[ look, it's an icebreaker, okay?

things are only going to get more awkward once the 'cargo' starts making noise in the back, isn't it... ]

four: WILDCARD

[ bring your own prompt or PM me if you would like me to set something specific up for you/have any questions! ]

two

[antifungi]

[ Civilization might or might not be what Joel is searching for - a decent spot to set up camp would do, too, but those distant, distinctly mechanical noises he can't quite pinpoint are also starting to grate on his nerves. He could've sworn he heard a car drive by him, not so long ago, hidden by a wall of trees and vines and brush so thick he couldn't have dreamed of dragging himself through it - not without a machete, and even that would've been slow going.

But he did get a sense of the general direction it was headed, still, and whether or not it was anywhere he'd like to be, what the hell else is there to follow, out here? Nothing they've encountered yet that even remotely resembled the civilized world has been outright hostile. He's willing to roll the dice.

He's a second too late to avoid the ambush, unfortunately - but at least it's Ellie who gets to him first. The sound of that heavy rustling through the brush only registers to him as an afterthought, as soon as he recognizes her. Steeled to wrench himself out of that grasp (and maybe start punching, yeah), Joel instead allows himself to be dragged a little too easily under cover, in his shock.

He wants to say something; Jesus, he's been looking for her for months, dreading the thought of her holed up alone somewhere, thinking who the hell knows what happened to him. But a branch cracks like a shot not fifteen feet from them, and he reaches out to grab her arm, instead, as his head snaps up, gaze darting toward the source of that sound. Definitely moving closer, which means it's time for them to move, too. ]

three;

[detectivemiracle]

[ Luckily, Chloe can both drive and looks old enough to, so when she spots the girl clamoring to make a delivery, she steps in and offers to pair up. The girl looks a little older than Trixie, maybe, but not by a lot. She hates it that kids wind up here sometimes. What could a child have to atone for?

That icebreaker question, though. Chloe gets a funny sort of look on her face and shakes her head. ]

I'm not sure I want to think about being eaten by a dinosaur right now. A little morbid, don't you think? Besides, we could start with, I don't know, names?

three

[threeterparker]

[ The fact of the matter is, the fourteen year old is probably the better driver between the two of them, even if Peter is about twice her age. Sure, he has his license, but it's pretty much only for ID purposes. So, the ride is a little bumpy as they proceed down the rough road. But even if he can't drive very well, Peter is glad at least for the company. ]

Ooh, good question. [ He drums his fingertips on the steering wheel as he thinks of his answer. ] If I had to pick which dinosaur to eat me... I think I'd have to go Parasaurolophus. [ He smirks, cheeky. ] But of course, they were herbivores, so that might be cheating.

one!

[greggs]

[ um. this is one wild fucking dream? when is it going to stop feeling, so, like... real?

in direct contrast to ellie's awe and excitement, there's a lanky, towering 6'7" grown ass man shrinking into himself nearby. despite being about fifteen years older than this kid, he has the demeanor of a lost, newborn calf. sure, he's gawking at their surroundings too. except heart-bursting anxiety and slack-jacked confusion are about all he can dredge up in response to whatever's happening here. ]

Yeah. [ more terrified exhale than voice, greg responds to her holy shit on auto-pilot. no matter their difference in delivery or sentiment, he agrees without thinking. holy shit. sudden movement in the brush makes him jerk back, flinching and bug-eyed at the presence of --

yeah, that's a dinosaur. no, no thanks, no thank you. greg whimpers quietly to himself and ducks down lower. his attention snaps back on ellie in the next second, another level of horror flashing across his face when he realizes that this crazy kid is about to try to make friends with that thing or run after it. like it's a dog in the street.

um. uh. none of this is real, right? so she's not real? so maybe... if she goes gentle and willing into that good night, he can save his ass in this totally-not-real scenario? ]

Y-yes, oh yeah, yup, there appears to be a, uh, prehistoric animal in our midst? Supposedly, preferably, of the extinct variety? I guess I'm having a dream about fuck, fucking Jurassic Park or something, island, I don't -- [ the stress in his voice grows and peaks near the end. greg exhales again, this time like he's made a difficult decision. then he slinks closer to ellie to stop her, keeping his pinched voice low: ] Hey, just a suggestion, but... I think it might not react too kindly if you try to, you know. Pet it or whatever? Let's please not?

Diamond | Houseki no Kuni/Land of the Lustrous

[diamondize]

Arrival
[This was familiar.

Diamond laid out on the beach, eyes closed as they peacefully listened to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, a small smile on their face. In the sunlight they glitter and glow, their iridescent hair and eyelashes sending rainbow lights scattering along the sand.

It's nostalgic, so Dia allows themselves to soak it in. They can't be upset over this new development--after all, Dia and their kind went centuries without any changes. Something like this was novel. The idea of being able to change was too enticing for Diamond to pass up.

But for now they were content to relax, at least until new, unfamiliar noises joined with everything else.

But this new little dino was just a delight-- Diamond had no idea what it was or what it could do, which is why they felt no sense of danger from it. In fact, they quite quickly scooped it up in their arms, leaving the poor thing dangling in Dia's grasp]

How adorable! I've never seen anything like you before! [The dino struggles and kicks its feet, but mostly goes still after a minute, just looking confused. It doesn't dare try to bite--the thing holding it doesn't have any heat or blood or anything else that would make it enticing for one to try and eat. It's very clearly not edible what the fuck.

Diamond just beams away, looking pleased when they see someone new] Hello! Oh-- You're so cute too! Hello there!

[Diamond looks delighted]

SETTLEMENT

I don't know how to... 'drive,' or even what this thing is. [Dia tries to protest, but the man has shoved keys in their hand and wandered off in record time, leaving Dia slightly put out and with no clue what to do.

They stare down at the keys, giving them a little shake in the direction of he thing the man had called a 'car.' Huh. Nothing happened.

There was some thumping and muffled noises though, which was curious, and it didn't take Dia long to figure out how to 'insert key, open trunk.' The man tied up inside didn't phase them either]

Oh! Is this a game? I'll let you keep playing! It looks a bit weird, but you humans are weird to begin with... [So what did Dia know?? They close the trunk lid again and look around for whoever might be able to provide help--or at least answers]

Hey, do you know how to play this game?

REPTILIANS

A... moment of bravery? [Dia falls quiet for a moment, looking down at the ground thoughtfully.] I don't think I was very brave, really...I was hiding until I felt like I had to act against a monster lunarian attacking. In the end, I still couldn't do much without Bortz stepping in...

[But as they speak the real memory plays out over the rock, making Diamond look embarrassed.] ....Well, I still needed Bortz to finish it in the end... [They reiterate, trailing off]

Arrival

[threeterparker]

[ Peter, for his part, is more freaking out over being stranded on a beach. Sure, it's a much nicer beach than the ones he's used to on Coney Island, but it is still Very Much Not Where He Wanted To Be Right Now. He walks along the beach, looking for some clue about where he is, how he got there, and how to get out of here, when he stops, raising a hand to shield his eyes. There's something— no, someone— who's glittering in the light up ahead, like some kind of living gemstone.

Well, he's seen weirder things. At least they don't seem to want to fight him. ]

Um. Me? [ He looks around, as though there might be another, cuter person standing behind him. But nope. It's just him. ] Uhhh... Hi?

Mary Kelly | OC

[fairginger]

Arrival

[This isn't the sort of island Mary's prepared for. Her dress doesn't help with humid weather and her boots, already worn with a few small holes, fill with sand. There are questions, many of them revolving around why she was here, how she was expected to be redeem, and how exactly she was supposed to survive in this place.

Mary was used to rough living by now, but living on an island with little knowledge of foraging and hunting? She could well be fucked.

The appearance of the dinosaur makes her jump. She had imagined a large dog, but it seemed to be something...different and unnerving. Never having heard of or seen dinosaurs before, she's more than adrift. Whatever it was though, she was quick to get away. There were sounds coming from the jungle, so she'd go into the jungle as far from the noises as possible.

It helps to see another person darting in the same direction.]

Which way?

Reptilians (CW: Attempted lynching; violence against women)

[Mary won't think about the fact she's standing in front of a number of strange, reptile creatures. She had wandered into the village and at this point, she's willing to accept what must be a fever dream. Whatever it takes to have something to eat and some water.

But the need for a test of bravery is the last thing she expected.

Falling back on old habits, it was easier to be an elaborate storyteller than to purge her heart. Was it true? Was it a lie? Apparently it was the later, for at the same moment she was recounting a story about saving a small child from a runaway carriage, images played nearby.

Mary was deep in a crowd, people were crowding together, screaming and circling around a disturbing scene. A blind man with a cane and a knife was standing over a woman, her face slashed and bleeding. The name "Leather Apron" was being shrieked. Almost in an instant, someone had punched the man and grabbed him, wrapping a self made noose around his neck.

String him up! String up the murderer.

'He's blind', Mary in her memory murmured. 'How can he be Leather Apron?' Logic and reason in a scene of madness, but she did nothing. She stood to the back of the crowd, afraid to move, afraid to attract attention to herself. Could she have done something in this moment? Perhaps, but cowardice kept her riveted.]

...You're conjuring dreams now?

[Easier to deflect than face.]



Wildcard

[Feel free to add your own prompt. If you want to plot, go ahead and friend me at la_fille_en_histoire]

Reptilians

[prodigalmess]

[ Malcolm is in the Reptilian village as well, though he hasn't yet decided if he's going to stay. He hangs back, watches as others take the test of bravery. What it really seems to be is a lie detector test.

Not long after the young woman currently sitting in the circle starts her story does a different one start to play like a movie above them. It's compelling, but what really draws Malcolm's attention is the phrase 'Leather Apron'.

The case of Jack The Ripper is one that all criminalists peruse at one time or another. Malcolm started studying it when he was about 15, when his interest in minds of criminals was starting to bloom. Since then, he's become very well-versed in the case, knowledgeable enough to know that Leather Apron was one of the killer's nicknames.

While the Reptilians are debating about what to do with the woman, Malcolm walks over to her. Her dress is that of lower to middle class Victorian London, so it's entirely possible that she could be from that time and place. ]

Quite a vivid dream.

Eponine Thenardier - Les Miserables

[lutin]

[For a moment after waking up, Eponine just lies on the damp, warm sand, enjoying the stifling heat so different from the freezing winds of Paris in the winter. She takes her time sitting up, puzzled by her surroundings. Carefully, she picks up a handful of sand, and lets it run through her fingers, laughing as it tickles her arms and bare feet as it falls. The sea she merely glances at before turning away. The water's a dangerous thing, beckoning and calling so enticingly, and Eponine, in this new place, or peculiar dream or whatever this is, is in no mood to be washed away.
She's unperturbed too, by the rustlings of the jungle, though the dinosaur emerging from the bushes makes her stop digging her feet into the sand and stare, slack-jawed, at the weird creature. Eponine's on her feet in an instant, running closer to it to get a better look. As it disappears into the jungle, so too does she plunge into the bushes, apparently unafraid of what might be lurking inside. When she spots someone else, she shouts.]

Hie! Hie! Did you see the - the - such a creature. So big - [She indicates] With the teeth of a fox only bigger, and the skin - skin like a frog? No - a toad, more bumpy! Only not so much like a toad. Oh! Did you see him? Do you see where he is? I mean - it is impertinent of me, I know, but will you help me anyhow?

Settlement

[Everything is peculiar here - the cars that made Eponine quite white in the face in fear for their noise and for how fast they went, the tents with the high fence, even the beds and the food. She doesn't mind pitching in - but she's often found near the food stores, looking furtively around before slipping a morsel of something or other into the pockets of her ragged skirt. When she spots someone watching, she lifts a finger to her lips.]

Don't peach on me, will you? I'll share if it means your silence.

Reptilians [CW for domestic abuse/ child abuse]

[By the time Eponine finds herself at the reptilian village, she is more convinced that this is all some strange hallucination brought on by lack of food or sleep or - or has someone made her smell those cloths they use? Is she drugged? Either way, she's convinced that none of this is real. She smiles at the reptilians as they lead her to the stone circle, and sits down.]
Is this the court? I ain't done it, if it is. I've not done nothing.

[But her assertions of innocence fall on deaf ears and Eponine is bade to remember when she has been brave. She's silent. Brave?
It's not a strong memory, and she's not really brave, but it's the best she can come up with.]

I ain't brave. Not really. There is no time for a hero and brave and that when there ain't nothing else. Me, brave is a choice, no? It is for rich, not for scum. Rich people have a choice to be brave, but when you try to stay just alive, it is not bravery to act, I think. It is just that - staying alive. I think this is a stupid test, Sirs, truly.

[But a memory plays out anyway, above her head. A younger Eponine's stood in a dingy room. There's sacking on the floor, and two thin mattresses with straw poking out. In the middle of the room is a rickety desk and a lopsided chair that's missing it's back. There's a bad painting of Napoleon propped against one wall, and the smashed window is grimy with old soot and dirt. A girl, younger than Eponine, but very like her sister, is huddled on a bed, whilst a giantess of a woman, ferocious and mean, ignores the girl's whimpering. A man, swarthy and thin, stands opposite Eponine, yelling obscenities at his daughter, as she yells back.
"Pa, she tried. She tried, but she is too stupid -" Eponine gestures furiously at her sister. "I brought you extra -" But her Pa is taking off his belt, and Eponine's arguments die on her tongue.
"She needs to learn. Hands, Azelma." He barks. Eponine looks at the scared face of her sister, and slowly puts out her own hands for the belt.
"I'll learn her better, Pa. Don't hit her. I'll take 'em for her. Do it."

The memory stops as the belt hits Eponine's hands and in the present day, Eponine shifts uncomfortably, looking down at her chapped fingers.]

It weren't brave. You'd do it too if you heard how much she screams for even one lash of the belt.

[foxtrots]

The teeth of a fox?

[only bigger. that's the part that gets minsu's attention, though what she goes on to describe doesn't sound like what he was worried about at all. he looks towards the jungle, trying to catch a glimpse or the scent of something - but between the salty air and the tropical flowers, there's just too much.]

Yes, I'll help you! What do you want to do?

Prince Damianos | Captive Prince

[giantanimal]

I. Arrival

This is, unfortunately, not the first time Damen has found himself somewhere strange with no memory of how he got there. At least he's not chained up this time. At all, which is its own sort of strange. He touches his wrist where he's used to feeling a heavy gold cuff. Best not to dwell for now.

The strange... lizard?? bird?? running across the beach gives him pause, but the rumbling noises are more concerning, and he doesn't have his sword. He instead picks up a heavy stick and starts stalking towards the sounds. He'd rather it not be something he has to fight, but he's ready if it is.

II. Cretaceous Park

The road is a welcome relief after the difficult time Damen's had navigating the jungle. But then there is the strange rumbling and metal... beasts? Vehicles? Some sort of combination? are charging towards Damen far faster than anything he's ever seen before. He barely manages to get out of the way. Then two of the vehicles--it turns out that's what they are--pull up and one wants him to get inside it which seems horrible and the other wants to give him something called a "guhn."

"What's a guhn?" Damen asks blankly.

Before the guy can explain, a creature Damen can only call a dragon appears. It's charging towards them, and Damen squares himself, ready to fight it. With just his body. This can't possibly go wrong.

III. Settlement

Damen can't drive, but he's good security, especially now that he's found a knife. He's still uncomfortable around cars, but he doesn't let it show as he rides along, watching the countryside fly past at dizzying speed (probably 30 miles per hour if that).

When noises start coming from the trunk he freezes and turns to the driver. "Pull over. Now."

He walks around back and opens up the trunk and what he sees makes his blood run cold. This... creature. It doesn't look human, but the way its restrained is far too familiar. This isn't how you restrain an animal. It's how you restrain a prisoner or a slave.

Damen takes his knife out now. The creature's eyes widen more, but Damen carefully cuts the bonds. He's freeing the creature. This is not up for debate.

[IV Wildcard]

[Do what you want or hmu on plurk at antivillain for custom starters!!]

ii.

[threeterparker]

Peter doesn't have his suit. He doesn't have his web shooters. Perhaps most importantly, he doesn't have any idea how he's going to fight the oncoming T-Rex. But is he going to do it anyway? You bet.

At least he's not squaring up to do it alone. He casts a nervous glance at the guy next to him.

"Are we doing this? I guess we're doing this. Hey, where'd you get that big stick? Maybe— should I have a big stick too?"

He's rambling, but mostly because he's nervous. No time for that though, because the T-Rex is get closer, and closer...!

Tess | The Last of Us

[dog_eat_dog]

1. Arrival

It's a beach.

Tess feels no small amount of wonder in that: it's a beach. It's been uncounted years since she got as far as Carson Beach, and that's just a three mile walk south of what used to be called the North End. Last time she was there, the water was as muddy as it had ever been, even before it was an abandoned stretch of worn-away sand flecked with broken bottles and whatever garbage had washed up while civilization slowly collapsed.

This is a real beach, with all that entails.

Water is seeping into her shoes. Tess doesn't pay it too much mind at first, as they were already soaked before she got here, but the longer she stands in the surf, waves licking up her calves, she more she wonders: if this isn't real, and it's just a hallucination you have when you're bleeding out on the marble floor as your partner does the last thing you'll ever ask of him, would you really have wet shoes?

Why would that be in a dream?

Tess pulls herself out of the little fantasy that anything is ever that easy. There is no easy way out. Like the Ferryman said: you will become great. Apparently she's not quite done yet.

She hikes out of the surf, the shifting sand like walking across broken tile. Don't eat shit. Get up the sandbanks, reach the jungle. Find cover. The survival instinct kicking in feels calming. She'll deal with everything as it comes. Like little dinosaurs, for example: she makes a lunge to grab a branch to deal with that, lacking her usual handgun, but it spooks and vanishes again into the underbrush. Tess grits her teeth. She hangs onto the branch for next time.

She's ready to club whatever dares startle her in the jungle.


3. Settlement

Isn't this familiar?

Tess finds herself right at home, in a way. It doesn't feel as secure. The walls may be high, but they're not poured concrete nor reinforced fencing, and there's no soldiers brandishing semi-automatics and patrolling in their armored cars. The food is better, though, and satisfying in a way that only food that hasn't come out of a tin can be. The air is fresh. It'll do, at least for now.

She does fit right in, in her own way. Though she's never been afraid of hard work, menial tasks aren't her thing. She's slipped out of enough work details to know how this goes; you find someone in charge, and you make small-talk. Friendly. Tess finds it easy to slip into being smiley and relaxed, and while her reputation in the Quarantine Zone had people thinking she was insincere, the people here don't know her. It's real enough for them, and within days she's skipped ahead of some more basic tasks and doing inventory. It's a great job, much better than scrubbing pans, because it lets her assess the situation even more. She won't say she's casing it, but it's as close as it gets without actual crime.

Deep down, she feels a twinge of guilt. This is another chance, and here she is, slipping into her old ways.

When she's offered more work, she takes it. Being owed favours always work for her. If the Caddy comes back with a few dings, it was their fault for not asking if she's a good driver –– it's been the better part of twenty years. Worst case scenario, she figures she can pawn driving off on the person they've asked to accompany her.

She throws her bag into the backseat and turns to see whoever's coming, ready to tell them to hurry up. She's got no plans to be on the road after dark.

settlement (hi!!)

[puntificates]

For some, the novelty of being trapped on Dino Island had to wear off fast. It was hot, it was humid, everyone was fifty different shades of sweaty, and there were giant ass bugs. The fauna was a hassle to get through and carnivorous predators free-roamed the lands. It was dangerous. It was uncomfortable.

And Ellie has been so here for all of it. So fucking awesome.

Much to Joel's exasperation, she spent a good majority of her time wanting to explore dino-infested jungle and terrain and go dino sightseeing; making nice with the natives in exchange for some creature comforts was pretty low on her to-do list. Even so, after a few days of non-stop Prehistoric-flavored action (and perhaps one particularly close call with something that had far too many teeth in its head), Ellie had been convinced to give the 'civilized' life the good ol' college try again. Pulling her weight in exchange for food and shelter wasn't anything new. She does chores around camp and goes where she's told without much a fuss; Ellie's in a good mood. She's on Dinosaur fucking Island, so it's kinda hard not to be.

Weird, then. It's weird how it evaporates so fast when she catches sight of the woman tossing her bag into the back seat of the Cadillac. If an onlooker weren't to know any better, they would be forgiven for thinking this girl's looking at a ghost for the look on her face - and isn't that uncomfortably close to the truth? Because there's Tess, seemingly alive and in the flesh, casually preparing for a joyride in a Caddy into the jungle on dino island... simple as that. Here's Ellie stood a few yards away like she's been frozen in time for how still she is, footsteps gone and stalled on her entirely.

She's staring.

It takes a few beats before time starts up again. When it does, all she can get out is a breathless, maybe-too-quiet to pick up, poignant murmur.

"...Holy shit."

Holy shit, indeed. It can't be... can it? It can't. Tess has been... gone. Gone for a long while now - and both Ellie and Joel had seen how she'd ended up. But Jesus, if the sight in front of her isn't really god damn trying to convince Ellie otherwise.

joe goldberg / you

[everythingship]

arrival;

[For a long time, Joe just stands there, on that beach, taking it all in. The waves roll in and wrap his ankles in seafoam, white as the horizon that blinds him, and what the fuck.

That sun is too familiar even as it plays hide-and-seek in the clouds, the saltwater slices his nostrils with the same sting the memory of RIPPeach's bulging, dead eyeballs gives to his brain, and fuck, he had plans.]

Okay.

[Joe sighs and ruffles his dark hair, lifts his hands and lets them fall like a halfhearted attempt to take flght. He's angry, sure. His chest races, sure. His vision warps, sure, but gently. Something about Mr. Mooney, the bookshop, the cage. And he hears that mechanical whirring in the background reminding him about conspiracy theories and reality is a simulation, but come on, that's too on the nose.

When the dinosaur makes its grand appearance, Joe is somehow sure of even less and skitters back into the water, falling over his own heels and making quite a splash.] Shit. [Fantastic, supurb, perfect ten. His anger runs a little freer now, and sure, all that weird shit about redemption, but Joe never had a taste for the fantasy lit section. Too new-agey. All bullshit. He gets up, stomp-splashing through the tide, and at least he's out of his reverie as he treks across the beach.]

Did anyone actually watch Jurassic Park without missing the goddamn point?

[No, Joe, just you. Always just you.]

settlement;

[Sometimes, when you stare into the amphibious abyss, the amphibious abyss stares back into you.

No judgment, but Joe wasn't expecting a person. A creature a -] Fuck.

[Joe slams the trunk so hard the metal warbles in protest. What else is he supposed to do? His hands splay out across the surface of the car (whatever it is that's inside gag-screams itself hoarse and kicks and the metal bangs along with it) as frigid sweat drips down his back, his temples.

He's shaking. Gently, Joseph.

This still isn't the first time.

Joe sets his jaw and stares into the rear windshield before he straightens, rolls his shoulders, cracks his knuckles enough to shove the memories of RIPBeck out of his mind. Steady. Gentle. He walks back to driver's side and avoids eye contact with his passenger.]

Old gas cans. [He gets in, forgets his seatbelt, slams out of park a little too quickly. Motherfuck.] We gotta go.

reptilians;

[Before Joe can make some quip about being caught in the middle of a right-wing conspiracy theory, he's in the hot seat. He shifts on his stone and clears his throat (wonderful acoustics) and avoids the gaze of the onlookers.

But no. That's weak. They want bravery.]

I fought for love.

[Bravery, chivalry, romance - it's all the same thing, right? Joe is vaguely aware of light appearing above him, but he doesn't break his audience's gaze, holding eye contact with individuals in succession. That's how they know he's authentic, the real deal - and it's a tried and true sales technique. What a good bookstore manager.]

And let me shatter your dreams right here: it didn't work out. But that doesn't matter. We don't know that at the time, right? All we can do is our best, our all.

[Rest assured, "All You Need is Love" is blasting in his head as he continues to ignore the projection above him. He reaches far into his memory, and even if these creatures can read minds, memory is fallible. Nobody will blame him for a story that's fuzzy around the edges. He's moved on. Defiitely.]

Her name was Guinevere Beck, and I loved her from the moment I saw her. And for a while, she loved me too. That type of connection - it's rare, you know? And the sad thing is when you both don't realize it. When she doesn't realize what a gem she truly is.

[Popcorn time! We get a lovely montage from Joe's POV, eyeing Beck through stacks of books, lurking on her street, following her to bars. We see his vision warp when he encounters his romantic rival Benji, Peach, all of it.]

Beck had flaws. Beck had troubles, maybe that's fairer to say. And I know I'm not perfect either. But I think people today have forgotten how important it is to truly fight for what's important - and that's love. In love, Beck and I were truly a team. We were meant to bring out the best in each other. She needed to be saved and I did that for her. I pulled her into a cocoon of safety away from shitty guys, vapid friends jealous of her intellect.

[Have you ever seen a murder cage? You have now. Memories of a bloodied Benji pounding on the glass walls melt into memories of Benji's decomposed body, the yanking of his teeth, the burning. Joe attempting to go down on Beck in a store without her permission and the fallout. Pulling her therapist's records, shooting Peach Salinger, all spliced with memories of Joe following Beck through dark streets, eyeing her from behind trees and too-thin posts under the shade of a baseball cap's visor.]

It was us against the world. Until something changed. [He pauses, but the projection doesn't. Beck is in the cage now, pleading her way out, greasy and mussed and bloody, and Joe doesn't let her out. There's a too long, uncomfortable memory of them together in there, sex that Joe's hung onto, and there's a flurry of activity as he chases her around a bookstore. Slams her to the ground. Chokes her, and silent wailing as he cries over her motionless body. Beck is awake, and then she isn't as he chokes her with pages torn from a book. She spasms, and the pages redden.]

We can't win 'em all, right?

settlement

[prodigalmess]

[ Bullshit. On so many levels.

When they pulled the car over for Joe to check the trunk, Malcolm watched him in the rearview mirror. His face upon opening it said it all. Whatever's back there isn't good. Malcolm's fairly sure he heard a noise too, a distinctly un-gas can like noise. Then Joe gets back in the car sweating, making no eye contact, forgetting his seatbelt, in a big hurry to get out of there, and telling Malcolm that what he saw were gas cans.

Not in a million years. ]

Stop. [ He's stern. Cop voice, when he has to use it. ] What's back there?

greg hirsch aka cousin greg | succession

[greggs]

arrival: doom & pining / action

[ it's been a couple of hours of greg pacing around the shore like a gigantic lost puppy. he's running out of ideas. refusing to disembark? staying glued to his seat in hopes that the inhuman seeming ferry guy might row him straight back home to NYC if he just stayed put and looked as unassuming as possible?

did not work. failed quite spectacularly, and in fact, that was his one and only idea. exploring the jungle? not an option he's willing to accept just yet. there are real dinosaurs in there.

he's gonna die here. he is. god, this is it, isn't it? greg is aching to catch sight of a familiar face somewhere in the crowd of arrivals, but with his search turning up no results, despair begins to override fear. he settles for perching at the edge of the water to stare out at the vast ocean surrounding them.

fiddling with the strap of a pack he hasn't bothered to open, furrowing his brow, waiting. just... waiting. for the boat to come back and drop off more people, or for another chance to bargain his way home. either or. ]

Come on, come on...

[ he'd offer his soul to the ferryman if he hadn't already promised it to someone else. fuck, this isn't fair. ]

scrywatch: i would like to register a complaint. / text

Anyone else a FT executive whose absence will have serious ramifications on the state of ur company?
I would add that its status as a corporation somewhat perhaps some would argue overly bloated, or teeming with worldwide power and influence, has been in question for some time. Maybe or maybe not. I'm not really sure. That's classified information and I'm not privy to all the details. However, even the smallest chance of presiding over any such major changes makes the consequences of my particular situation all the more dire.
I don't know how else to stress that this is very uncool and seriously disruptive? I don't want to complain but u (the ancient) kind of did this at the worst possible time?

[ thought you should know!! sincerely, gregory hirsch. a high powered businessman writing an email to the powers that be on the network. ]

arrival

[detectivemiracle]

It won't come back. Not for a while, at least.

[ Chloe says this - not loudly, but somewhat carefully. She can sort of guess at what he's thinking. ]

We're likely to be here for a couple of weeks to a couple of months.

Hank Anderson | Detroit: Become Human | OTA

[heavymetallieutenant]

[[CW: Mentions of suicidal tendencies]]
Arrival
When he comes to, his first thought is a numb, almost relieved one: Huh. It finally happened. Off and on bouts of testing your luck at Russian Roulette will do that, after all; enough tries and a long enough winning (losing?) streak and waking up on the other side of it all is bound to be a surprise.

The ferry, and Charon (the name his brain supplies, as if that's correct or helpful to him in the moment), deposits him on a brilliant stretch of sand, where he just...sits.

He's wearing a pair of old, comfortable joggers, a sweatshirt he's had for about ten years now, and his bare toes dig into the warm sand as he looks out over the beach. The back of his mind throws up images of Tom Hanks and his faithful volleyball, and he spends a moment wracking his mind trying to come up with the name of that, too. He barely notices movement from the trees. Instead, his eyes are drawn to the weird little band around his wrist, the colors swirling in it lost on him in their meaning. But it's pretty. He generally doesn't wear pretty things.

Settlement
The jungle is weird. He would like to think that he'd be pretty ok as a survivalist, he's seen movies and shows and youtube videos, he's been a cop for more than half of his lifetime by now, but then dinosaurs are thrown into the mix. That's something he knows he's not prepared for. And he's not about to go marching into the trees to confront something small and toothy just for the opportunity to meet something big and toothy. So he tucks himself into the foliage and makes his way around it all, being terribly careful about where he's putting his bare feet in case something bites him or stings him or stabs through the sole.

Finding signs of civilization bring both dread and relief in equal measure. He'd heard the commotion surrounding what sounded like a hunting party going up against a much larger dinosaur (and ain't that a hell of a thought?) and steered far clear of it until he'd come up against a wall that looked so much like those ramshackle construction projects he could recall from numerous pieces of zombie apocalypse media.

The thought is interrupted when he feels the press of a tripwire against his shin, and he simply frowns at it. But he doesn't have time to dwell on it all before he's met by someone that looks...well, not quite the way he expects a "survivor" to look.

But this is the afterlife, right? What's he actually supposed to expect from the end of the road?

arrival

[detectivemiracle]

From behind him, Chloe clears her throat. She's been combing the beach, looking for stragglers - and maybe picking up a seashell here or there, just for something to occupy her hands as she walks.

"Are you doing okay, there?" she asks, her expression neutral but friendly.