apocalypsehowcomm | Event

Entry tags:

Event - For Sport

For Sport

➥ Breaking It In

(cw: mentions of apparent mutilation of/violence against animals and animal death)

The conference room on the upper floors of ADI HQ is bright, airy, perhaps unnaturally so for the grim tidings that bring people here today. Those who have recently arrived will be ushered to the meeting by ADI employees or by Bonnie. It's not just the newest arrivals, but some other people who seem to be longer-term employees. The room is rather large and arranged like a lecture hall. Bonnie takes up a seat near the back, looking somewhat uncomfortable, but smiling at anyone who greets her.

At 9 AM sharp, a person steps into the room and heads to the front. They have curly hair and are wearing a gray business suit with a dark blue bow-tie. When they address the group at large, they speak in a calm, measured tone. "Good morning. I appreciate some of you may be here more reluctantly than others, but… there are matters of import to all of us to discuss. Some of you may have seen me already. I am Reyes Amador, assistant to Ms. Lehrer, the head of ADI. Earlier this week I sent out a message regarding some unusual activity at Coffin Beach. Thank you to those who investigated."

Their eyes seem to find the people who did, in fact, go looking, whether they found something or not.

"We have determined the creatures are shape-shifters. Some sort of, em... horse thing. In lieu of a term they might give themselves, we are referring to them as kelpies. Given the locations these were found, as well as other information into disappearances and deaths and mutilations of sea mammals in the area, we believe the kelpies are coming from the Essex Bay area to the north.

"For those willing to assist, we are mounting a reconnaissance mission. This is not intended to engage kelpies, just to find out where they are and how we might best approach an attack. All supplies, transportation, and monetary compensation will be provided. We will meet at ADI HQ in main lobby at 6 PM three days from now. Essex Bay is a remote site and conservation area, accessible only by boat, and not without a scientific permit. As you may guess, we will be traveling under cover of nightfall." Reyes smiles.

"I will be accepting questions about further details. I understand this is the first mission away for many of you, and you may have concerns. I will do my best to allay them. Bonnie also has some experience in these missions, if you would like first-hand accounts. Please also feel free to discuss amongst yourselves if this is a mission you think you are ready for. You will not be required to attend, nor penalized in any way if you do not. There is additional work to be done here, both with continuing examinations of the bodies we have and other efforts unrelated."

➥ Move the Goalposts

(cw: kidnapping, violence, sadism)

It happens away from the safety of ADI HQ one evening or so early in the morning, it's still dark, away from the potential for help, maybe. One moment, you (and possibly someone you're with) are walking, and the next, you will find someone has grabbed you and slammed you into the nearest surface. For those unable to fight back, a cloth will be held to their noses and mouths--chloroform, something to knock them out. For those able to fight or even to escape thanks to not actually being corporeal, they'll find that it is a trio of people who have attacked them. They wear jagged smiles and they're all much too sharp around the edges beneath their clothes. Those who saw the kelpies at Coffin Beach may recognize these people as something like them.

"Run, rabbit, run," one of the group says, voice rolling out like a gurgling tide.

Those who run will be chased and, if caught, chloroformed. Perhaps you're lucky, though. Perhaps you can race them back to safety. Or perhaps you'll find help along the way to protect you. Either way, the kelpies are relentless in their pursuit unless one of their number is injured or their prey can make it to ADI. The kelpies seem reluctant to actually enter ADI HQ or their housing, and will break off pursuit there, slinking back to the shadows.

➥ Curveball

(cw: kidnapping, violence/violence and mutilation against apparent animals, sadism, body horror, transformation, potential for claustrophobia)

For those unlucky enough to be caught, they'll find themselves waking amongst mud and bodies. Living, breathing bodies, thankfully. You have been tied up, but not gagged, and left with a group of other captives. A nearby fire casts light over everything, showing a large group of naked people with long, scraggly hair hauling a seal up out of the water. The animal fights them with a cunning that might seem odd, but the kelpies just laugh at it. They get it up near the fire, one raises a knife, and stabs into the seal, dragging the blade down its belly.

The seal bellows and then goes limp, seeming to collapse in on itself. It isn't long before a woman is drawn from the skin, shaking, fighting, wild-eyed with terror as her captors shove her around the fire in their own game. A few others turn their attention to the captives who are just beginning to wake and move about. They approach, one grabbing the skin the woman had come out of, others grabbing more skins from a nearby pile.

"Hush, hush... you'll have your freedom soon... while you can swim." The words come just before the kelpie slices your bonds and throws the skin over you.

The skin grapples your body, twisting tight around you, encasing and restraining. Your body is different now, thick and round, ungainly in the mud. Your legs have fused together and your arms have shrunk to thin flippers. This is not your body, you can feel how foreign it is, how you're crammed into the too-small confines of it... but you have instincts to go with it. Water is freedom! Or it's an attempt at freedom. It's either swim for your lives as some mockery of a selkie or stay and see how it feels to be cut open. Luckily for you, you'll find yourself psychically linked to the other selkies around you. Maybe you can do something together? Best think fast because the kelpies are setting their sights on new prey to chase once they've finished with their latest victim.

➥ Below the Belt

(cw: violence/violence and mutilation against apparent animals, body horror, gore)

The journey to Essex Bay isn't a long one, but it's somewhat treacherous as a small group of powerboats make their way into the refuge. The mission is simple: find where the kelpies are and see if there are any strategic points of-

Was that a seal? There are, in fact, many seals that pop up once boats enter the bay. The animals might seem to have an unusual cunning about them. Will they lead you somewhere useful? Perhaps try to flop themselves into your boats? The point is, there are seals accosting you in the middle of the night, and that's weird. Perhaps they have something they want to communicate.

Or was that a horse? A crocodile? There's something that seems to have noticed you, and it's smart enough that it's going to try to tip you and anyone else in your boat into the water rather than trying to engage otherwise. Sit down, you'll rock the boat.

➥ Sticky Wicket

(cw: potential for severe burns/injury, pain)

ADI is engaged in far more than one mission at a time, and for those not dealing with Essex Bay, or even before that, there are pick-ups to handle. Artifacts, you've been told as you're paired with someone else, whether you like it or not. The mission is simple: go to the Docks, collect a package from a locker there, and return with it to ADI. You've been provided an exact location and a code for the combination lock. The section of the Docks you've entered seems to be one with a lot of empty warehouses covered in graffiti, but the locker is there, something heavily reinforced and designed to be virtually impossible to get into. There's evidence that people have tried to gain entry without success.

Your code works, though, and you have your prize! You've been given strict instructions not to open the box the artifact is in… but there's nothing technically stopping you now, and there is a strange pull toward it.

Those who can't help themselves will find they have just picked up… some piece of sports gear! It looks wholly innocuous. Touch even a finger to it, though, and a horrific, searing pain will consume your entire body as 3rd-degree burns bloom across the skin where you've touched your artifact.

Or maybe you have a will of iron and sense enough not to touch strange, supernatural objects. What should be an easy mission is quickly derailed by some young punk darting out of an alleyway to try to steal your package. Or, at the very least, knock it from your hands. The youth is not alone, either. You've found yourself on someone's 'turf,' and they want what you've got. Are you cruel enough to let them have it?

➥ Mod Notes

BREAKING IT IN (21 July): Both Reyes and Bonnie will be available to answer questions that characters might have or listen to their complaints. Please put "NPC Requested" somewhere in your top-level response if you would like a mod response. For characters who can access their supernatural abilities and have some measure of supernatural spidey sense, both Bonnie and Reyes will register as off, but in different ways. Characters are welcome to attempt to use whatever powers they believe will work on the NPCs. There are potential IC consequences for this.
MOVE THE GOALPOSTS (23-24 July): Characters are welcome to capture or kill the kelpies. The only information they will be capable of providing to those who capture them and attempt to compel them for information is that they consider the entirety of the Massachusetts coast as their 'hunting grounds.' Whether that's true or not, it's what they believe.
CURVEBALL (23-24 July): Kidnapped characters will become seals! Sort of. Psychic seals who are extremely ill-fitted to the skins they're in. The only way to escape their current state is to be cut open and pulled out. As soon as they start to flee, the kelpies will chase them. Those who are captured will be cut out, toyed with, and shoved back into a skin again and again to continue the chase until they simply can't go on anymore.
BELOW THE BELT (24 July - night): Characters may encounter their selkie-fied comrades! Unfortunately, while the selkies can communicate with each other psychically, they are incapable of human speech. They are also being actively hunted by the kelpies. Characters may kill any kelpies they come across. Capture will not be possible in this case while they're in their horse forms. If PCs do not eradicate the kelpie threat that night, NPCs who have joined the mission will do so. Unfortunately, reconnaissance has become engagement, whether they like it or not.
STICKY WICKET (21 July - 5 August): You may select any piece of sporting gear you'd like for your character to pick up as long as it can fit in a reasonably-sized box. The pain associated with the burning will last only as long as a character is touching the object. Holding onto it for more than a minute will likely result in coming very close to death. Characters with inorganic appendages will find that the artifact will start to melt that appendage, whatever it is made of and it will still, somehow, hurt while it does it.
↬ Main Navigation

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Under normal circumstances, there'd be a token protest about the helmet, but she hasn't had a proper shower yet, let alone had time to do her hair since everything. So it goes on without hesitation.]

Tying up the cane is fine. I think I'd rather have both hands free to hold on.

[There's a visible moment when she realizes how that might sound, given ~~what~~ who she'll be holding onto.

She decides not to course correct, though.]

[ For what it's worth, Chris doesn't catch anything off about what she'd said. ] Yeah, safety first, right? [ He's pulling some string he's wound around the bike's right handle, and with it he ties the cane down pretty securely.

With that done, Chris gets on the scooter, too. He waits for Meredith to get comfy holding onto him, and then sets it off.

The machine's definitely not built for speed, but the brush of cool air against their face is a welcome contrast to the warmth of the sun as they leave the premises and enter the streets proper. ]

You like paella, Meredith?

Yeah--I've even tried to make it once or twice, back home. Never turned out quite right, but I'm guessing you've already found out a place with an authentic Latina mama in the kitchen doing the cooking.

[There's a part of her that's a little nervous about being out in the open, exposed, given how she was grabbed off the streets and no one was able to save her. But she tries to shove down those thoughts, holding tighter to Chris.]

Maybe some flan for dessert?

[ Chris doesn't miss the tightening of Meredith's grip, but doesn't question it, either. Considering where she came from and what being in one of those bed implies, he doesn't think he has to ask.

He does chuckle, though, at Meredith's suggestion. ] I love flan. [ And it means they won't have to go anywhere too far after brunch (God, he hates the term "brunch"). ]

I used to move around a lot with my sister, and even more when I started working. [ He's gentle on a turn, curving with as little tilt as possible. ] First Redfield rule of moving was always "find all the good places to eat at that won't kill your wallet".

This place cooks really fresh seafood. But I guess you'd figure as much, huh?

You have a sister? Is she a lot like you, or...?

[The mental image is amusing, and she is genuinely interested in knowing more about Chris, and what sort of world he's from.]

I've found a good Thai place, in case you need one for your list. And an Indian hole-in-the-wall for when you're dying for butter chicken.

No kidding? [ Chris grins at the offer. ] Damn. Tell me when I can take my phone out.

[ Which won't be long, really. In just a few more turns they'll end up stopping at what looks to be like someone's house... because it is someone's house, just converted for the first floor to be a restaurant. The family, Chris had been told, lives on the second floor.

For now, though, he's more than happy to talk about Claire. ] My sister looks a lot different than me, but I guess we have... uh, similar interests. [ He can't help the "heh" that follows. ] She's got bright red hair, more leather jackets than me, the aim of an eagle... and she's brave like a hero out of the old legends. Just, you know, a lot less stupid.

[ The scooter will gradually come to a stop, and once he's sure Meredith's good about her balance, Chris will move to untie her cane to give it back to her. ]

You good to go?

Edited 2021-07-27 07:03 (UTC)

Yeah, I'm good.

[The fresh air and Chris's kind attitude are both helping a lot, actually.]

So, the Thai place is called Thai Choice, and it's on Main Street. The Indian place is called Anmol, and it's north of the Beverly Depot train station. There's also a board game cafe in that area, but I haven't had the time to check it out.

[There's a pause, and a bit of a wibbly gesture mid-air.]

Okay, that's a lie. I'm kinda nervy about going to a place like that alone.

[ "Nervy"? ]

Don't think I've ever been to a board game cafe. It exactly what it sounds like?

[ When they reach the door, Chris holds it open with a brief sweep of the arm to gesture ladies first. Then he closes it behind him once he's in.

Walls have been knocked down to make a bigger dining area, though the decor and colour scheme very much scream comfort food. They aren't the first ones here by a longshot, but it being a weekday and all, it isn't too difficult for Chris to spot an open table for them. They're lucky enough it's by a window, though if Meredith has any oppositions to the sun, he won't be fussed about moving.

Nevertheless, the scent of spices and seafood is clear in the air, and so is the generous smell of bell peppers. Though Chris' belly rumbles, he doesn't even bother feeling embarrassed about it. Instead, it makes him much more excited about flagging down one of the waitstaff to order seafood paella to share (good for 3-4!) and flan to be served for dessert. ]

Did you want the menu? [ He's handing Meredith the drink list, though, in case there's anything she wants. Chris, meanwhile, is more than happy with tap water. ]

Cafe with a bunch of board games, ranging from Connect Four and Candyland to Risk and Settlers of Catan. But, I don't really know the locals, and there's not many board games for one person.

[She settles into a seat, not minding the sun much. She waves off the menu, smiling slightly.]

If they have horchata, great. If not, water's fine.

[ So Chris orders a horchata, and gives a quick "thanks" before the waiter's on their way.

Then he turns to Meredith again, curious. ] I gotta ask, what's "Settlers of Catan"?

It's a board game about settling territory and managing resources on an uncolonized island. Find me a couple more players, sometime, and I'll show you.

Uh, if you like board games at all, that is.

[Meredith has a mild competitive streak. Mild, in that it doesn't rear its head over anything important. But where board games and Jackbox and other inconsequential things are involved? Well, she can be a little bit ruthless.]

Oh, I like board games enough. But you'll have to give me a pass when the most complicated stuff I've done is, uh... [ He rubs lightly at the tip of his nose. ] Monopoly.

And I sucked at it. Don't think I ever got all the mechanics.

[ He's easy about getting to places, really. All his life, the biggest hindrance Chris had for a personal life was work, and so far, his work with the ADI hasn't been nearly as demanding as his work with the BSAA had been. (He's not looking forward to paperwork, though.)

Planning shit with friends? It's a breeze here. At least, so far. ]

How many players do you need to duke it out over land?

[Paperwork? That's what a Meredith is for--leave it to her, she'll let you have the fieldwork in the meantime.]

Three to four, unless they have the expansions. Then you can go up to five or six.

[She glances out the window, then back at Chris.]

You know, you can ask the other questions, too.

[ Their glasses of tap water are put down, and though Chris does thank the waitstaff for it, it's only a moment's reprieve before he meets Meredith's gaze.

He's nothing if not certain about direction, at least.

Arms folding over the table, his brows furrow the slightest bit. ] ...you're okay to talk about it? [ It's important he makes sure. Personal experience on either end of the talking has shown him countless times how forcing it's a stupid idea. ]

I think so. And I know I'm good to tell you if you hit a landmine.

[She's still not sure if he's going to start with the seal thing or the medical stuff. The latter, she's used to having to explain, and she's done so for ADI staff repeatedly since arriving. So she knows that's safe territory.]

[ So Chris nods.

Thinking back to Spencer Mansion, and the way he'd laughed and cried alone in his apartment after, he decides to start simple. Inching in is usually better than stabbing in and finding it too deep. ]

You ever see anything like that, where you're from?

Like that...? No, not quite. I mean, it wasn't my first time being kidnapped. That doesn't get easier with experience, though. But. The kelpies and the sealskins and being hunted for sport, that was new. I don't think kelpies exist where I'm from.

[She flexes a hand and then balls it into a fist again, looking at her fingers quietly.]

So. Mostly a new experience, I guess.

[ Surprise ticks his brows up, but Chris doesn't comment on it. "It wasn't my first time being kidnapped" actually isn't... all that hard to believe, not even where he's from. There's something like you must be something special, huh? on his tongue, but it doesn't feel like the right time for it. ]

Yeah. As far as I know, it was new for a lot of other people, too. [ And for him too, in a way, but this isn't about him. ]

Have any nightmares yet?

No. Well...

[Her eyebrows do a little up and down motion as she glances at the table.]

Haven't slept properly at all, since getting back. Cat naps at best.

[Part of the problem is that being in bed, under any amount of blankets, leads to panicked thrashing as she starts to fall asleep, too close to the sensation of being smothered in sealskin.]

I should've gotten you a coffee. [ It's a small attempt at levity, complete with a small upward tug of the mouth, but in the end Chris dips his head and spares the simple centrepiece on the table a glance with furrowed brows. ]

...yeah. [ Then he looks at Meredith again. ] Sorry. It sounds-- I can't even pretend I can imagine what it was like.

[ So he won't act like he gets it. ]

Does it still scare you?

[The question takes a moment of thought before she answers.]

Maybe? I'm sort of in the jumble-of-feelings state. There's some stuff I'm dealing with where I'm still figuring out the ratio of psychosomatic to...not.

[There's always a level of disconnection from the body for Meredith, but what's going on right now feels different. And she's not sure if it's trauma, or lingering side-effects of being sealed.

~~is there a difference?~~]

[ Offering a small smile, Chris nods slightly. ] I hear you.

[ He pulls away after, leaning back in his seat, but that's only because their food's arrived. It's just the paella for now, the scent of chorizo and seafood and bell pepper and saffron all blended together deliciously, and he looks up with a "thank you" as plates and utensils are laid out for them. Meredith gets her horchata, too.

Chris doesn't move to prepare it just yet, even as the steam rises between them. All he does is wait until they're alone again. ]

I, uh, can only talk about what I know. [ His hands have folded over his lap below table level now, albeit loosely. ] But this soon after all that... it makes sense for things not to make sense. The first time I came out of a horror show like that, getting back to my life felt impossible. I looked at myself in the mirror every morning and I looked the same, but in here [ one hand lifts, touching the space over his heart ] and in here [ then his temple ] I was different.

Nobody trained me to deal with fucking monsters-- but it was part of my life now. Still is part of my life now, and you never really get used to it, not when there's always something new, not when someone's always getting hurt.

[ Brows furrowed, Chris' eyes flick to the paella between them. ] ...I think a "jumble-of-feelings" is good, though. Means you're not taking it lying down, that you wanna work through the crap that happened to you, and.

That's brave. And it'll be a bitch, yeah, but...

[ He peers up at Meredith again, trying at a smile as he rubs lightly at the back of his neck. ] You're strong just to have gotten out of bed today, you know?

If I didn't get out of bed today, I'd be tempted not to tomorrow. The only way to keep going is to keep going; anything less means they've scored a sort of victory. Don't you think?

[Of course, this is coming from someone who's foregoing sleep to 'keep going'. It's indicative of her usual attitude, pushing herself as far as she can possibly go, regardless of the circumstances.]

[ It's a good answer. Chris nods. ]

Yeah, I do think. [ He chuckles, feeling a bit foolish now for worrying, but his expression is soft all the same. ] You didn't strike me as someone who gives up, I'll tell you that much.

But... the ADI's put us all together for a reason. So if you ever need anything, or you just wanna talk, or play board games, or whatever, just. I'm always down.

Locomotives need help to keep going... [ Embarrassed, suddenly, at the metaphor, Chris scratches lightly at his cheek. ] ...point is, it's okay if you do too.

Alright, that's the first time a guy's ever compared me to a train. I'm trying to figure out if I want to be insulted by it or not.

[She manages a bit of a smile, despite that comment, before turning her attention to the paella for a moment. Maybe more than a moment. Okay, this is good, she needed this.]

I imagine this is part of the reason ADI has roommates set up for everyone. It means we all have people looking out for us, at least a little.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject