WEEK 2

[strangerpeople]

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.]

Comments

[katzenpfote]

[He's still kind of out of it, but let's take a look through that Porter's Office when there's no one inside. What sort of paperwork can we find?]

[strangerpeople]

[Weirdly enough, no paperwork, but there are crates in the corner, one stacked on the other.]

[katzenpfote]

[He'll go and try one. Is it open, or will he have to be a bit more aggressive?]

EVIDENCE

[strangerpeople]

[One is open. Inside are ores of purple and blue.

On the side is stamped HOURS. FRAGILE. DO NOT JOSTLE.]

[katzenpfote]

[... He'd really like to swipe that ore, but there's no way to sell it off or use it. What are the other crates stamped with?]

[strangerpeople]

[The same thing.]

[katzenpfote]

[... Is there any kind of stick, ruler, branch, or otherwise long poking device?]

[strangerpeople]

[There are a few canes hanging on the wall...]

[katzenpfote]

[He grabs a cane, stands as far back as he can, and pokes one of the ores.]

[strangerpeople]

[There is a sudden sound of sighs, and an almost indiscernible mist seems to waft in the air from the ore. It's not just that ore, either; the ore jostles other ores, and it's a bit like a domino effect.

Suddenly, Caleb can time around him go faster, even as time outside the room seems to slow down. His face starts to feel very strange all of a sudden, especially around his chin and and neck and under his nose.]

[katzenpfote]

[... Is that... it's like a dunamantic field...]

[... Scritch scritch. What's going on with his face?]

[strangerpeople]

[His beard is growing much faster than normal.]

[katzenpfote]

[Great. And no Yasha to shave him.]

[... He's gonna poke it again.]

[strangerpeople]

[And...soon enough his beard is even longer. About a day, maybe two of uninhibited growth.]

[katzenpfote]

[... Fuck it. He moves close and attempts to touch it with a finger.]

[strangerpeople]

[The ore glows. Uh. You going to touch that for as long as you can?]

[katzenpfote]

[No, just for a moment. This is experimentation! You have to take things in steps!]

[strangerpeople]

[Well, it won't take long for him to realize that what's he's touching is what was on the box. This is time, petrified inside these geodes.

How good is Caleb at understanding time manipulation, just hypothetically?]

[katzenpfote]

[Pretty decent! He's spent some time with the Beacon and later picks up some related stuff quickly, so even if this doesn't play by his world's rules he's reasonably intelligent.]

[strangerpeople]

[Well, it doesn't, probably. But.

With concentration, he will find that he can sped up time to his will, or slow it down, at least around him, so long as the geode still has some juice in it. It's basic stuff, and it's likely more can be done with it using the right equipment.

Jostling it carelessly seems to speed it up, though. O b v i o u s l y.]

[katzenpfote]

[He's gonna attempt to pick up one and carefully wrap it in his stupid fancy coat.]

[strangerpeople]

[All right then. That seems to at least make the time less...timey at least. Which is weird, but time is fickle and weird in and of itself, anyways.

So, yes, Caleb now has a pretty scruffy beard to boot.]