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Entry tags:
TDM: Mega Throwback Edition!
✖ 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…
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.
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.
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?
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…
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.
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.
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…
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…
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.
no subject
perhaps Ellie should be grateful for the distraction from dinosaurs, because chasing after the many-toothed creature that is vanishing back into the outskirts of jungle foliage probably wouldn't end well for her. she doesn't seem to be radiating much gratitude, though; instead, she's briefly startled by the sound of his voice as if she had been completely zoned out to the fact she has company. yeah, okay, maybe she's a little distracted. just a little. but dude, there's fucking dinosaurs?!
his half-plaintive, half-anxiety ridden plea seems to stay her hand, because she isn't shooting off across hot sand toward Dino Dog (it is not a dog), and she's adjusting the sit of her pack - the one supplied by the Temple; her own things are MIA like all the other new arrivals - over her shoulder to look at him.
...scratch that, look up at him. ]
--Jesus, how the hell did you sneak up on me? You're like, what, eighty feet tall? Man, not cool...
[ the novelty of dinosaurs is momentarily eclipsed by the novelty of Greg. poor, poor Greg. ]
no subject
as the dino creature skitters back into the jungle and the headstrong little girl loses interest in following after it, greg's shoulders sag with the first bit of relief he's felt since he stumbled onto the shore in a daze. immediate danger averted, moral crisis resolved. what was that the boat guy said about becoming great? is he great yet? he must be, right?
even if she's peering up at him like he popped up out of nowhere. and the stubborn yellow color on his wrist band suggests zero progress points for deciding not to run away and let ellie become dinosaur food. wtf? ]
What? No, no, sorry, that was not my intention. I can't say I engage in much sneaking? Primarily for the reason you, you've cited. [ hands fluttering up in a nonthreatening gesture! ] My bad. I heard you talking, and I said some stuff back, but I think you didn't hear me? I mean, that's fine, there's like, a lot to take in here...
[ 100% unbothered that she didn't quite notice him, as most do tend to tune out poor ol' greg, but his nerves have not abated. a little distracted himself, he checks over his shoulder before rescanning the edge of the jungle ahead of them. ]
God, does none of this freak you out? How old are you?
no subject
wow, he's a rambler, huh? super nervous too by the looks of it. he's so tightly wound she's kind of concerned that he might pop to be honest - would it be like a firecracker? or more like a boiler? hm. ]
I mean... yeah it freaks me out, but how often do you take a weird fucking sky boat across... wherever the hell we just went to Dinosaur Island?
[ Ellie says this with the kind of conviction only one who truly admires these prehistoric creatures could muster. she's basically living out some fantasy fostered since she was just a wee little girl with an already half-colored in dinosaur book to peruse. ]
Look. They wouldn't dump us here just to let us get eaten, right? Went through the trouble of giving us some supplies and stuff, too. So... relax! It's fine!
[ a beat ]
Probably.
[ speech 100... that was so reassuring, definitely. Greg's got to feel SO reassured right now. ]
no subject
okay, reasonably, he knows, as the adult, he's not supposed to induce panic in a child. except fuck the rules of society they're stuck on dinosaur island.
breathe, greg. he squirrels his hands together and inhales-exhales deep against clasped fists, closing his eyes in a genuine search for zen. her first attempt at encouragement works well enough. he's even nodding along, convincing himself she's right. just ignore the counterarguments flooding the mind -- what about what the boat guy said about consequences if we fail and it kinda sounded like some of us won't make it out alive didn't it i think it did --
probably? PROBABLY? ]
Oh fuck, fuck, fuck... oh my god, kid, I haven't even been like, camping? Not really.
[ he leans both palms against his bent knees. ]
I'm done for, supplies or no.
[ greg is not above pleading with a person half his age. fuck if he know what to do next. his round eyes peek over the gap between them and pitifully lock onto ellie's. she seems reliable and hardy for her age -- traits he's taking note of. ]
Unless, there's anyone who can help me out...
no subject
alas. the same cannot be said for Greg, it seems. ]
...Oh, man. Hey, you need to... I don't know, sit down or something? [ he's leaning over and looking on the brink of hyperventilating - and Ellie feels some mixture of sympathy and complete bewilderment by him totally McLosing it. bro?? do not pass out on the beach at dino island?? don't do it... she is pretty sure that won't end well for anyone, unless he wants to be the first Traveler to get eaten by something with many, many teeth. for science.
but then he goes and hits her with the puppy dog eyes..... and then the pitiful not-quite-pleading follow up...
oh. she sees how it is. Ellie's folding her arms over her chest, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in the sand and giving him a nonplussed look. ]
Alright, yeah, I get it. You're the world's most pathetic seventy foot tall asshole, whatever. [ whatEVER, Greg. ] There's got to be something we're supposed to be doing, and if you want to come with me to find it... I'm down, but let me make something clear. If you try anything stupid, I will feed you to a velociraptor. No regrets. Got it?
[ she's got her eyes on you, Tall Fuck.
she is definitely not caving because she doesn't want to wander into the jungle alone, by the way. ]
no subject
he's already adapting a new survival strategy: convince ANYONE he meets to help take care of him. specifically so he does NOT become the first traveler to die on his first day. whatever he has to do to be useful, however he has to beg. it's all on the table.
aaand she's in. whew. the world's most -- that is, that is, possibly, not an inaccurate description. ahem. he breezes past it, only blinking a little and listening with rapt attention.
Message received. Loud and clear. [ he says this, nodding enthusiastically, but the wheels in his head are turning slowly. what's the reasonable room for error before she chucks him into the path of a velociraptor? ] Yes, yes indeed. No trying, no attempts will be-- so, so, like, you want to lead the way? Is that what you mean? 'cause, you know, I'm totally cool with that.
[ there's nothing in his voice or body language to suggest otherwise. ready to take orders, ma'am. miss. ]
It's just that, whatever our mission is, I may have to request some... um, leeway? Like, a little wiggle room for the accidental, completely unintentional mistake or two? I don't know about you, but my former environment, it was, ah. It was a good deal more comfortable than this.
[ what's your deal, unusually badass little girl... growing curiosity about her is actually helping to calm greg down. ]
no subject
but this dude just cows? right away? she can't decide if it's more sad or impressive. sadpressive, she settles with, rubbing her nose and averting her gaze as she looks to the jungle. is he for real? if it wasn't for the earnestness in his eyes, she might not buy it. most of her does.
most. ]
Dude, I'm not going to chuck you into the dino maw if you... I don't know, trip or something.
[ Ellie says this with some exasperation creeping into her voice, as if she is totally affronted he would insinuate she'd do that?? as a fine upstanding young woman who definitely didn't just threaten him five seconds ago?? wow?? she's not a monster, gosh. ]
Just don't mess with me, do what I say, and we're good. Okay? [ half-turning toward where the foliage meets the sand, she bobs her head for him to walk.
yeah. Greg leading the charge. ]
Let's go. You first so I can keep an eye on you. You can say I'm watching your back, if that makes you feel better.
[ 'comfortable,' he said. what does that even mean? this guy definitely doesn't look like he's been roughing it, wherever he'd been. maybe he really isn't pulling her leg? ]
no subject
nice and simple. it's probably kind of messed up to worry that a little kid might try to screw with your head, anyway. too much time spent with groups of people who do nothing but delight in mind games. ]
Okay. Okay, got it. I-- [uh, wait. greg was straightening up slowly, but he freezes like a deer about mid-way at ellie's instruction. going... first? ] Wait, that's...
[ he wants, immediately, to ask so many obnoxious questions that nonetheless seem entirely relevant to ask. like:
1. exactly how attentive do you plan to be?
2. what prior experience do you have in watching backs, per se?
3. are you just planning to use me as bait in case something jumps out at us?
4. are you going to want to pet any more dinosaurs along the way?
fidgeting, stalling, he only just manages to refrain from barraging her with this mental list of curiosities. he reminds himself again: he is the adult, he is more than twice her height, he should try to protect her. self-improvement or whatever.
so he takes another big, grounding breath. exhales loudly through his mouth. ]
Alright. Here we go. [ and we're walking. we're walking into this vast, dark jungle full of ancient predators and god knows what the fuck else. we're doing it, ellie. yaaaay.
but we're walking rather slowly, hoping for you to stay close behind. ]
So... um, I'm Greg, by the way. Gregory Hirsch, still hoping, no offense, that I'm going to wake up in my 3,000 square feet high ceiling condo in about two minutes...
no subject
it is absolutely and very much for the best he keeps his questionnaire to himself. what a good call. good job, Gregaroni!! Ellie can see the gears turning in his head, watches in real time as he internally debates this within himself, arching a brow as if daring him to say it.
but then he relents, and she relaxes. maybe resists the urge to roll her eyes, a bit. if she didn't know any better, she'd think he were being asked to trek into potentially life-threatening, man-eating, predator-infested jungles with a kid who may or may not shank him in the kidney from behind after all, haha, wow... ]
It's Ellie. [ that's all he gets in the way of reluctant introductions - just Ellie... no last name. like Madonna. ] Where the hell did you get a condo? What are you, some military brainiac or something?
[ that sounds so ridiculous as it leaves her lips, but even more ridiculous is the notion this dude is some, like, charismatic leader staking claim to nice real estate in some private settlement out yonder. no offense, Tall Fuck, he just doesn't seem the type? but being sheltered somewhere makes sense considering what he'd said before. hmm...
yeah, she still hasn't grasped that whole "other worlds" part of their little adventure. not sure if Greg is any more keen on swallowing that than Ellie was, but... suppose they'll figure it out the hard way? ]
no subject
gregaroni: 0.5
ellie: we've lost count and the number will continue to climb
ellie, okay. got a name for the dinosaur enthusiast. cute name for such a bossy little girl. there's definitely something curious about her, greg can't really put his finger on what that is... well, he never had siblings and he's the baby of his own family, so who's to say? what even are children supposed to be like? ]
Military brainiac?
[ alright then. the curious feeling is back. he glances over his shoulder at her, looking as puzzled as if she just lobbed MMA fighter as a guess at his career. ]
No, dude, what? I got the condo with, you know, money -- okay, it wasn't my money... maybe it's not really, not exactly, if we're using the strictest definition of the word, "my" condo either...
[ air quotes. details! who needs 'em. he is of course completely oblivious that he's unintentionally painting himself as that sketchy type of person. the hard way, indeed. ]
The important part is that, unlike Dinosaur Island, there's a doorman for an extra layer of security and it's a temperature-controlled setting where the fridge is always full. Cool view too. Lots of windows. You know, natural light.
[ brag harder to a literal child.
from the apocalypse]no subject
Ellie sure misses her switchblade right about now. she's painfully aware how unarmed she is, but she's a resourceful girl. even if he's tall, he's gangly and awkward and she's pretty sure she's small and agile enough to hit him where it hurts and run if it comes down to it. but he might feel the weight of her gaze slowly growing heavier... and heavier... where she is dutifully 'watching his back.' ]
Yeah, alright. What a bunch of bullshit.
[ she doesn't mince words, okay? this sounds like bull... shit. the only people who have that cushy a life are... Jesus, she doesn't even know. nobody?? this guy is full of it. ]
I don't know why you're trying to be all... weird? You're weird enough without going the extra fucking mile. [ WEIRD, Greg. you're WEIRD. weirdly tall, weirdly nervous, and weirdly pathetic in some way that both makes her feel guilty at the prospect of leaving him to fend for himself in the jungle and also tempted to do so at the same time. there's a lot going on, honestly. ]
For real, what's your deal? Where was this [ her turn for air quotes, now ] "condo?" Alleged condo.
no subject
greg cranes his neck backwards once again, after reviving some of that nervous energy, and shuffles around to face her. the deer in headlights look is back. an unpleasant kicking sensation in his gut tells him that something is suddenly very off. how on earth is she managing to come across as so... almost scary??? is that right? it doesn't feel like a game of acting tough - it feels like little ellie could and would actually kick his ass if she felt like it. if he gave her a good reason to.
is that an insane way to feel? she is so tiny. just look at her. ]
What... what's happening? Um. Not, not trying to be weird, I swear. Why would I lie?
[ he takes a deliberate step back and makes himself smaller on instinct, nonthreatening. don't hurt me please. ]
Look, Ellie, new, uh, new... island buddy...? [ friends........ ] It's not "mine", per se, because it belongs to my very rich cousin? He's letting me stay there. It's in New York City. The type of money he has is like, more than total GDP of some countries and it's just a really nice place? That's really all. I mean, there are actual pictures of me with the, um, surroundings I have described... I'd give you my instagram handle to prove it if we had the internet?
[ and, oh yeah, phones. ]
There's no deal. I- like, okay, where did you live? Maybe there's some context here to unpack?
[ what did she say about the military before? she's giving child soldier vibes right about now. ]
no subject
but oddly enough, the things that clue her in to things she'd already known but kinda-sorta willfully forgotten is the terminology he's using. talk of New York City and a rich cousin and whatever the fuck 'instagram' is (something to do with the internet, which is where the lightbulb starts going off).
so Ellie's standing there, looking up at this giant ass man who has somehow shrunk himself into looking like the world's lankiest kicked puppy on Dinosaur Island, and it's just beginning to sink in this whole... different worlds thing might actually be legit. ]
The Boston QZ? [ okay, she's getting a tiny bit freaked out. internally. ] I mean, I did, that's not where I was before... this. Whatever the hell 'this' is.
[ he's heard of the Boston QZ and will be able to tell her why his cousin has some swanky pad in New York and money where money doesn't really mean shit anymore, right?
right, Greg?? right? ]
no subject
and ellie. this is the impression ellie's been giving off to greg from the beginning. just a wee bit too intense and self-sufficient for a kid her age. weird, to put it in her own terms. something finally clicks as they're exchanging unsure, comically uneven gazes during this awkward moment -- ellie just got here and she hasn't once asked or talked about her parents, has she? hell, greg kept calling his mom after he moved to the big city. and he's pushing thirty. and that was nothing like this.
brow wrinkling, he purses his lips, shakes his head. sorry, kiddo... ]
Right. Okay. I know of Boston, yes, the city of Boston? There is quite the rivalry between our two cities, the baseball teams and such. The teams or the fans, or- not that I, uh, follow that sort of thing. [ not a sports guy. might be obvious. just the first thing that comes...to mind. ] Anyway, I guess you left?
[ she left the B-QZ... QZ? it's obvious on his face that he's trying to understand or guess at what she means, until finally he brings himself to ask the direct question he has no choice but to ask.
it's hard for him to ask. it really is. he doesn't want to cause her any distress by not knowing. or himself, for that matter -- he's not sure -- he's just not sure what it means or how she'll react, if he doesn't understand her background. especially given her suspicious nature.
but his palms lift up in helpless defeat: ]
You left the Boston QZ? What exactly is the Boston QZ?
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[ not the most poignant of replies, admittedly, nor the most helpful? but it's what leaves Ellie next, followed by the colorful addition of a: ]
Oh, fuck. You've got to be fucking kidding me.
[ she's pacing a few steps away with a nervous energy behind the motion before backtracking, swiping anxiously at her nose and staring up... waaay up at Greg. it's got the same sort of accusatory gist as before, but this time the intensity isn't radiating 'i could kick your ass' energy as it is 'holy shit please tell me you're joking' vibes instead. ]
Are you, like... from before the outbreak? Or something? Is that even... possible? [ she isn't even giving him a chance to respond before shaking her head impatiently and gesturing with her hands as if she expeCTS ANSWERS IMMEDIATELY, ] Hello?! Is this real life happening right now?!
[ apparently Dinosaur Island she takes into stride, but this, this one is the brain melter?? alright. now they're both Losing It this is going so well, ]
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he does this helpless sort of reaching out gesture once she starts pacing, but it's so weak and ineffectual that he abandons it. instead, clutching at his chest when she directs that energy AT him. when she DEMANDS EXPLANATIONS. oh dear god he has no answers. what is she talking about??? no, we're not from before the outbreak, we'd never do that, of course not. we are pro-outbreak? all of us here? no, that doesn't sound good. that doesn't sound right. ]
I don't, uh, uh, I don- I think that- maybe not, I'm still hope, hoping not? Uh, that is to say, that's, that's not to say that-- [ ellie u broke him. ] When you say outbreak, that sounds like it could be bad? Please don't tell me that the, um, the plague is coming? Or something of the sort?
[ "outbreak", don't like that word very much. outbreak, outbreak, outbreak. he's stuck on it now.
yeah, it's a word you'd expect to hear at the beginning of a horror movie. fearful energy builds until he suddenly begins gesturing with both hands right back at her, desperation kicking him into high gear. JUST A MESS THEY ARE SO MESSY... ]
Do not tell me that, man, no! Come on! You can't do that! Do you get what I have going on back home?! It's big stuff! Big deal type of stuff!
[ ellie?! why would you do this, how could you do this to ME, this PERSONAL ATTACK
and only a couple of people from back home flash through greg's mind. tom is one of them. deep wrinkles etch into his forehead. he's surprised by how much he wants him around, how much he already misses having him to go to... don't kill him with the plague!! ]
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the fact he has no idea what "outbreak" she's talking about pretty much seals the deal on that one. then maybe what they'd said at the High Temple was true? maybe this isn't some elaborate, weird dream from eating something that may have been canned a little too long for one's safe consumption. maybe she didn't take a fall climbing over the ruins of where someone's nice ass fence used to be once upon a time. maybe she's on Dino Island, and Greg Tall Fuck is from before the outbreak, or maybe he's from a world with no outbreak at all.
...holy shit is seeming real poignant a thing to have said, in hindsight.
oddly enough, him spiraling into panic seems to kick her back into some semblance of control, because Ellie's reaching out for those madly gesturing hands and grabbing them in her own to try and get him to CHILL OUT. ...as if she is not single-handedly responsible for this descent into madness, her bad. haha, whoops, happens to the best of us. ]
Okay, first of all, maybe don't raise your voice and lose it in the middle of dino jungle? [ this is shout-whispered. helpfully. ] Just -- just chill out, okay? I have no idea what the hell is going on either! Obviously! Fuck. [ fuck.
there is so much to unpack here??
...like something rustling in the brush in the distance to their right, maybe. ]
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he'd almost tuned ellie out completely while working himself up into a frenzy, hearing nothing but a high-pitched sound at the back of his mind for a bit there. so when she stills his hands, greg startles -- but it does work to recenter him. hunching low, he blinks rapidly to refocus. he bobs out anxious nods to show that he's listening, that he's trying to get a hold of himself.
and then.
he hears it, too... head turning slooowly to the right... ]
Fuck. Oh, fuck. [ and he's whispering now, too. thankfully. clearly terrified again, but without the shouting. greg's hands have begun to tremble. ] What should we do?
[ run? try to fight it? use what's in their packs? at the very least he should -- when he tugs an arm out and across to sort of gesture at shielding ellie from the source of the sound, greg does surprise himself. not much confidence in the move, he knows he's a poor imitation of a protector, but. but.
she's so small and he's so. not. and did he just doom them both? it's the life or death of it all, really, that shocks him into thinking: this is why you're here, idiot. trying to con some little kid into being your dinosaur jungle tour guide, then relying on her for everything?
do something. anything. ]