The Fifteen Strangers Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
strangerpeople) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
15strangers2019-07-22 09:04 am
strangerpeople) wrote in 15strangers2019-07-22 09:04 am
WEEK 2
[It is again early morning when the train docks next. This time, however, the dock is not as busy. There are few trains to be seen, and even fewer people. Only a man stands at the dock, teeth sharp in his smile, scelera a deep gold as he stares beneath his fedora.
"Unexpected," he said with a smile. A two-dimensional dog with the head of a scribbled black cloud hops by, ignoring him. "But not unwanted. Do make yourselves comfortable."
This new place is known as Victoria's Chasm, named after an Empress. No, not that one. Her Thrice-Renewed Majesty is quite comfortable on her Throne, and rulled for much longer than 99 days, thank you very much.
In the distance, black begins to erupt like tendrils. Lightning flashes through the clouds. This is the land of monsters; tread carefully. And do not despair, whatever you do.
There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]
MONDAY
INVESTIGATION
(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
It doesn't seem like there's any sign of the thing that attacked us... that's good.
[She's at ease enough now to give the new location a proper glance now. It's very different from their last stop, to be sure.]
This place feels very different than the last... there aren't many people here either it seems.
[Walking around, Towa appears to be making a new map of this location as well. Whether or not it will be useful, she can't be sure. But since she wants to look around anyway, it's not too much trouble. Even the Wastes of the Shadow.]
...I don't think this is a good place to linger.
[So she's more than happy to spend most of her time in the library, reading over the new selection of books it has to offer. She also visits the ballroom and dining room, but she spends more time in the latter. It feels like it would be a nice place for them to gather for another meeting, so she works on dusting and cleaning it up.]
Library
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Wastes of Shadow;
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dining Room
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
wastes of the shadow
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
no subject
And eventually finds his way to the ferris wheel! Which he watches from a distance for a little while. And then, turns to anyone who might be around, a small smile on his face.]
Think they'll let us ride?
[Somewhat later, he can be found on the outer terrace. He's yoinked a few bags, pillows, whatever he can make a sort of...semi-sturdy tower out of. Because he needs a training dummy. He's kicking it. It's pretty obvious from watching him that he has little experience in kicking - however he does have battle experience, and he is trying. If his hands are useless, he'd better learn to use his feet. He does periodically pause, though, to gaze out at the wastes. Like he's considering going out there.
That takes up a pretty big chunk of the day, so he is next find-able at dinner on board the train. He's there pretty late, and has his head on the table next to an only half-eaten plate of food. A heaping plate, but this is a bad sign for anyone who's taken note of his eating habits. His face is a little flushed, and he's not moving...
Actually, he's out like a light. Zzzzzz....]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Ferris Wheel
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
outer terraces;
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
ferris wheel
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
dining car because you know i have to
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
FOOD
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
Outer terrace
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dining Car
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
no subject
Don't mind him going up and tipping his hat at the cloud dog.]
Morning. Lovely day for it, isn't it?
[Later, he can be found in the theater, because of course he can. There's a real stage, after all. An audience would be ideal of course, as would a bit of music, but, well, sometimes you just have to get up and dance for the sake of dancing.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Good...Dog??
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
YOU ARE THE DANCING QUEEN
But instead of young and sweet, he's possibly ancient and definitely salty
...
...
...
...
...
cw: mild body horror maybe?
[After disembarking and a little bit of cursory exploration of their new grounds, Ris can be found in the hallway. She sighs deeply, looking up at the massive expanse of ceiling and all the layers of dust to be mastered.
This is going to be a laborious job, but what else is a servant for?
So, if anyone else comes through, they will find Ris dutifully dusting every surface she can reasonably reach. Which, admittedly, limits her a bit, given that she is less than 5 feet tall. If anyone gets close enough, she will actually lower her dusting cloth and turn to them.]
Hello. Is there anything I can help you with?
[agaricus bisporus]
[After tiring of the endless cleaning (for now, she'll be back), Ris can be found in the library.
She's paging through – and seemingly is quite involved with – a book that seems to be about various types of mushrooms, judging by the illustrated figures that pop up now and again.
Eventually, when she thinks she's alone, she lifts one hand, palm-up, out in front of her. She stares at it for a moment, and it might appear for all the world like she's even crazier than she's let on...
Except right when it seems like nothing is going to happen, a little white button mushroom pops up from the flesh of her hand and then detaches, leaving her holding it.]
Fascinating...
[bounty]
[Late in the evening, before heading back to the train for food, if anyone is near the kitchens and food storage, they'll see Ris wandering into the various storage areas as if looking for something. The pockets on her coat are bulging.
After a little poking around, she seems to find what she's after, and begins unloading her pockets into an open area of some shelving.
It's all mushrooms. White and brown mushrooms of various sizes, all of which anyone familiar with fungi would recognize as being edible.
She does not seem to notice anyone who's joined her, so feel free to startle her and her mushroom hoard.]
"Clean-up, Clean-up, Everybody, Everywhere-" Except Here
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
hallway
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
library;
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
M U S H R O O M H O A R D
====D
...
...
...
...
Lounge
Hopefully, he can return the favors some of the others have been granting him by returning this wedding dress to its rightful owner.
He's currently whistling softly to himself as he works on doing... something to the black feather he also got from baggage claim while Friender dozes by his feet.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
TUESDAY
INVESTIGATION
Library - post-motive but before any meeting.
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
MOTIVE: Home Is The Prison You Go To When You Have Nowhere Else Left
Within seconds, a cadre of mailrats suddenly scamper to everyone.]
'Scuse me! Pardon! Whoops, wrong one-
[Soon enough, all fifteen strangers have received a package. In each package is a small computer chip, which can slide right into a small slot inside the side of the cuff everyone has. As soon as the chip is slid in-
A security feed pops up with the word LIVE. It's grainy, it's jittery, but it is running. And what is being shown are people. People the Strangers know. Friends, family, loved ones. All of them inside of a room with scant beds and no windows. All of them look...different from what the strangers remember. They seem slightly thinner, and more than that, they look older. The men have scruff at best and beards at most; those who don't shave have longer hair. All wear steampunk clothing, and all look miserable.
Those who were on the Vespertine will find that their feed contain people who seem even older than those who were not on that cursed ship. It makes no sense. But everyone can tell it's not false footage, even though no one can hear them on their cuffs, and of course, there is no way to use the cuffs to speak to them.
After a point, the feed cuts to show a message from the Conductor: MEET ME IN THE LOUNGE IMMEDIATELY FOR INSTRUCTIONS.
Once everyone has arrived, they will find that the Conductor has papers in hand. It's in the same eye-numbing color as the original rules.
Her expression betrays nothing as she speaks.]
I see the mail has come in for all of you. I do hope you're not too worried about them-they are fine. They are being fed and clothed, as you can see. Though, I have heard that Home Office's indefinite confinements tend to get quite boring. Nothing really to see out the windows, where they all are, I'm afraid.
Oh-but make no mistake! They are all in that state because of you. You see, your trip was...delayed by a bit, and the Empress was very, very displeased by this. And those who come under her displeasure tend to be punished. Don't worry-people have been detained for less. But detained those that you know are. And detained they shall remain, until they receive an Imperial Pardon.
[She folds her hands behind her back, eyes half-closed.]
...Now-as it so happens, I also have been given a package, with a single Imperial Pardon. My instructions are to dispense it only to the group of individuals whose representative on this train successfully conducts what we call the Little Courtesy. And--this offer of Imperial Pardon is only good until the end of the week. If the Little Courtesy is not successfully attempted, I am obliged on order of Her Thrice-Renewed Majesty to tear the pardon up in front of you all. In other words: someone must successfully get away with murder if they wish to free their comrades from eternal imprisonment at the Home Office. Otherwise....
[shrug]
Anyways, you have the rules for the Little Courtesy, so...you are more than welcome to consider your options. Ah-and taking the chip out will cut the feed. But no worries-you can put it back in and look at that feed as often as you like. I won't take that away from you.
CW: King Is Trying To Kill The Conductor
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
...
...
...
...
...
CW: mental breakdown, attempt to rush the Conductor
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
Another idiot assaulting the conductor
(no subject)
...
Cw: scccccrrratching
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Impromptu Tuesday Meeting
If I can have everyone's attention-- I know it's short notice but considering what we've just heard, I don't think it can be put off. We should meet in the Dining Room. Atsushi and I cleaned it yesterday, it will work for a meeting place for the time being.
[But the actual information waits until they're all gathered in the Dining Room. Well, she won't fault anyone who chooses not to come, but she does want to share what she's learned.]
There's something I want to share with you all too regarding the symbol I found in Menahoven. I was able to get more information about it from the Conductor.
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Evidence Sharing??
Evidence... Or Something. FALLEN LONDON SPOILERS AHOY
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
Evidence Sharing, with confidence (also, FL and Sunless Skies spoilers, I assume)
(no subject)
...
...
...
Evidence Sharing
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
late night, dining hall
So, here she is in the dining hall. She's whipped herself up a fairly simple and altogether flavorless-looking meal, which she's slowly making her way through.
What's probably more interesting than that, though, is that she's slipped off her cuff, and with a little jury-rigging, she has it set up almost like a tiny little makeshift television.
What is she watching? Why, the live video feed they were given during the motive, of course. It is the same greyed, lanky, bespectacled man as before, and Ris doesn't even look slightly upset at what she's watching.
Actually... she's not smiling, but there's definitely a little bit of light to her expression. Like she's enjoying this.
> Interact?]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Lounge
[Frumpkin is curled around his neck, but there's another cat curled up on his lap, her eyes closed as she naps. Next to him, his wrist device keeps playing the feed of the people the Empress has trapped.]
[... How long has he been in here? It seems like a while.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dining Car, Level 1 Kitchen (Evening)
Everyone (barring Ris and the Conductor) is likely to end up literally worrying themselves sick over this motive (it's already too late for Minato). They have no chance of finding a solution to this mess if they're all incapacitated, so Proto has taken it upon himself to keep everyone's strength up.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Lounge
He can be seen sitting on one of the comfortable chairs with his head bowed, and he's hugging his knees to his chest. One can note how his hands seem to be white-knuckled where they're resting, along with the fact that he hasn't really eaten a whole lot today with what's gone on with the motive.
Needless to say he really isn't taking things well either. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
Re: Lounge
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
Post-meeting. CW: Eye related body horror in the first prompt
Huh? [Wait, what are those lumps suddenly appearing under his bandages? He unwraps his arm for a closer look...
Only to see a yellow eyeball staring back at him.]
TITS ON CHRIST WHAT THE FUCKING SHIT?!? [Zack's freaking out. He tries shaking the eye off, but more eyes open up. He accidentally wakes Crown up by bumping into him. Now there's an eye on the deerling, too.
Now Zack knows exactly what he looks like because he can actually see out of every eye that's popped up.
Cue a shirtless, half bandaged Zack bursting out of his room and flailing about the apartment cabin's hall with his horribly scarred, half bandaged arm breaking out in eyeballs.]
Get 'em off! GET 'EM OFFA ME!!!
[If he bumps into you, he may accidentally put eyeballs on your body. You cannot see out of them. Please help this man.
Because eventually, once he calms down, he'll realize that this weird eyeball pox is actually a manifestation of his power. Great, Danny's getting revenge on him from beyond the grave.
After he manages to remove all the extra eyes and finishes bandaging himself up, he pulls on a shirt and wanders over to the baggage claim. He got three coins, he better get something useful here, at least.]
... The fuck is this shit?!
[It's tea, a furry bandana, and a bucket of bolts. The exact opposite of useful. How can this day get any worse?]
Baggage Claim
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
CW: Eye horror
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Hallway c:
(no subject)
WEDNESDAY
DEEP CUT: The Second Floor
Clue: Ah what a waste of life that is.[The second floor, suddenly, is accessible. All over the mansion, a chime rings. A sigh echoes in the air.
What is happening up there?...]
(no subject)
1/2
2/2 [cw: death]
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
INVESTIGATION
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
no subject
And it didn't even look like a nice goat. But Mithos accepts it anyways maybe it couldn't be so bad!
... wrong. Mithos does go and try to catch a little more sleep after but the goat decides sleep in his bed and any attempts to stop it only led to him nearly getting bit (and the goat might have succeeded once. That's when Mithos gave up and just ... let it be).
Forced to give up on any sleep Mithos spends his early afternoon (after managing to slip out from said Goat) having a grand ol' time dealing with the chasm! Anyone is welcome to see him coming back Wastes of the Shadows, however.
And later towards dinner time Mithos can be found in the Dining Car. He ... has food? But everything is being eaten by the Goat who followed him out when he was grabbing everything else he got, plus a Diamond he got from the last time he went in.
So there's the Goat, eating plate after plate of food, and Mithos who is next to it looking absolutely defeated with the stuff next to time. Maybe ... he'll at least time some owners to these items ... That'd be nice... ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Wastes of the Shadows
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Wastes
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Dining car
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Wastes of the Shadows;
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
THURSDAY
INVESTIGATION
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
no subject
[Yes, Charlotte is singing. Very softly, though, almost as though she isn't aware she's actually giving voice to it. She's in the lounge, half-curled-up on a couch, staring at the screen of her wristcuff. At the very least, that might merit questions, but on top of that she's wearing an evening gown and combat boots in the middle of the morning....
As to the rest of the day, wildcard prompts are welcome.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Lounge
Re: Lounge
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
wildcard - lounge???
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
no subject
[Around mid-afternoon (so, you know, morning for Ris), Ris can be found standing on the very edge of the outer terrace, looking out into the wastes of the shadow.
She's holding a metallic object – upon closer inspection, it'll be obvious it's a folding knife – and idly flipping it over and around her hand, passing it back and forth, without so much as glancing at the thing.
She seems to be lost in thought as she stares out. It's probably not a good idea to startle the girl playing with a knife... thankfully, though, if anyone gets too close, she'll casually turn to them as if they've always been there.]
Can I help you?
[clean up, clean up~]
[Intermittently throughout the day, Ris will be in the ballroom, cleaning and dusting to the best of her ability.
It's hard out here for a shortie. Anyone got a ladder?]
[stuff and things]
[Around normal-people dinnertime, Ris is in the dining car, setting out a table full of stuff. She doesn't want these, please take them.
The offerings are as follows: A pictobox group shot of seven girls and a white cat, a red glove, a silver flip phone, a big blue can bearing an "E" label, a signet ring bearing the crest of a one-winged eagle, and a decently heavy box labeled "Lappy 5000."
She'll look up at anyone coming by and speak up.]
Please, if any of these are yours, or they interest you, feel free to take them. I have no need for the clutter.
Ballroom
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Things & Stuff
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
outer terraces;
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
outer terrance
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
I'm stuff (1/2)
2/2
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
stuff and things
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
MEETING!
Oh, who are we kidding? Zack's just gonna go find everyone and say:]
Hey, we're meeting in the theater. ASAP.
[Why the theater? Because Zack doesn't trust the train enough to share what he found.]
Evidence share.
(no subject)
...
Re: Evidence share.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Re: Evidence share.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
Evidence share
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Evidence Share
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
...
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Gallery of Pictures
(no subject)
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
(no subject)
(no subject)
Wake Up, Twilight
Re: Wake Up, Twilight
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Movie niiiiiiiiiight
(no subject)
(no subject)
...