biteys: (Default)
NIMBO ([personal profile] biteys) wrote in [community profile] turnout2024-06-29 09:53 am

WEEK 1

WEEK ONE


!
the beginning of the end

That’s what’s playing on repeat on a tape recorder, when the survivors come to.

Characters will find themselves in a humble, American townhouse, which other than being a bit dusty, is still mostly clean. All characters will be sprawled out on the floor and furniture of the living room, in front of what looks to be a giant portal. Characters will also notice they have a seemingly indestructible silver wristband around their wrists, and they have nothing with them but the clothes on their back.

Take a look around, and you'll realize that everyone in the room is likely a stranger. Aside from the tape playing, there's little explanation or proof that what's being said to you is even true. For all you know, one of the people in the room could be responsible for you being suddenly taken here.

Exploring the house's many rooms will reveal that there are small stockpiles food, water, weapons (a few guns, a few bats, a few knives), and maps, along with a large, strange container of blue liquid. The maps all chart a route from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and sport detailed recommended time stamps on them. Strangely, the recommended path occasionally diverges into two separate routes.

Upon searching the house, Haru Okumura finds a set of notes, while Leontuzzo Bellone finds a separate set. They are free to keep these notes to themselves, or share them with the group.

Nothing has anyone's names on it — not the notes, and certainly not the supplies. Everyone will have to compete for the same things. Or maybe all of you can be civilized about this, before anyone goes hoarding weapons and food? Maybe you can even introduce yourselves, while you're at it. For some strange reason, every window and door in this place is locked (and impossible to break), and will be for at least 72 hours, as if someone wanted you all to be cooped up together for a time before heading out.

Most interestingly, in the deepest basement of the house, there's a room with a large, heavy dresser shoved in front of it… and a low moaning and banging emanating from the other side. The door’s slightly ajar, and a closer look reveals a zombie is the source of the sound. Context clues around the basement, like the PhD in interdimensional travel hung up on the wall (for a Dr. Bei), hint that the woman inside is whoever left you this cryptic message - the woman who brought you here, allegedly. But she's long long gone, only this monster left in her wake. It seems she was smart enough to lock herself away to prevent you from being harmed, at least... and it'll give you a preview of the threat that looms outside.
sewer diving
After 72 hours have passed, one and only one door unlocks – in the very same basement that the zombie of Dr. Bei can be found. It leads down to a dark, dingy tunnel that connects to the sewers. Not only is the smell awful, but (non-infected) rats scurry about, keeping to the shadows – but the smell of any of the food you've taken from the house will attract them. Careful!

The party will need to create some light to navigate their way out and keep the rats at bay, or they’ll be bumping around in the dark for quite a while. Now might be a good time to share if you have some matches, or a special talent for being a lantern. Mercifully, there's only one exit that actually opens down in this labyrinth, as if it's a route the Doctor designed to take all the time.

At one point, Puppy falls into the sewage, and loses something they brought from the house.

oh! that's a baseball

Once characters make it out of the sewers, they’ll be a day’s travel to the first mark on the party’s map: “Dodger’s Stadium.” The road they’ll have to hike to get there is winding, curvy, and uphill, which will give the party a good overview of the now dilapidated Los Angeles, along with the many abandoned buildings and cars that litter the place. The stadium itself looks to have been cleared of threats and fashioned into a safe spot a long time ago, as all entrances but one have been completely welded shut. The high walls keep zombies out, and the winding path up here deters most of them from even approaching.

Inside the stadium, there’s some baseball merch (and equipment) to scavenge, not to mention some really old peanuts! Delicious. Maybe there are even some old fireworks laying around this place. Setting up camp here won’t be very comfortable… but at least it’s very safe. A luxury the party won’t have for much longer, if the map is anything to go by. You'll be heading through the city, next, so rest up while you can.

!
week one objectives

➤ make acquaintances with your fellow travelers
➤ decide what to do with the zombie of dr. bei
➤ arm yourself with what you can find
➤ scavenge some portable food from the house and while traveling
➤ make camp at the stadium
normalness: (🌟🕷️ 036)

[personal profile] normalness 2024-06-29 05:29 pm (UTC)(link)
the beginning of the end.
[Henry spends his first few hours trying his best to stay away from everyone here, uncertain about why he finds himself unwittingly moved from the lab to a house full of… strangers. He’s constantly, constantly tugging at the silver wristband clamped around his wrist, or trying to pry open doors or shatter windows with his powers — absolutely to no avail.

At some point, when he's gathered up enough courage, he approaches someone and says, jaw set—]


Is this— is this another experiment? Where’s Dr. Brenner?

[Later, garnering even more courageousness, he sets to explore the house. He finds a bottle of painkillers, bottled water, and a baseball bat—which he will claim for himself if no one else fights him for it—and… a strange container of blue liquid?

He holds it up, warily—]


Is this… important? Can we drink it?

[LATER LATER, who wants to go explore the basement? Henry is looking cautiously down the steps leading to that gloomy space, murmuring to himself.]

I hear noises down there.


sewer diving.
[IT’S DARK IT’S DARK IT’S DARK AND IT STINKS DOWN HERE… Who has a light? Not Henry, which is why he’s stumbling forward after misstepping, grasping onto the back of someone’s shirt.

Or he’s just deadass reaching out to grab your hand.]


Sorry, I can’t see anything down here.


oh! that’s a baseball
[Henry’s feeling peckish once they all make it to the baseball stadium, and though they have rations between them, maybe there’s some food here that’s kept? Not likely, but you never know.

He finds an old pack of peanuts, though, and makes a face.]


Oh. No.

[That’s a nope on the peanuts apparently.

Maybe later you need help with setting up camp? Here’s an anxious teen, standing and watching, fussing with the sleeve of his shirt.]


Do you need help?
venomnom: (066)

the beginning

[personal profile] venomnom 2024-06-29 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[Reiju, in turn, spends that time observing for the most part. This is a very different environment from where she was mere hours ago, and she's drinking in the details as she goes with a neutral expression that loosens at Henry's approach.

What a thing to be asked.
]

I don't know. Is Dr. Brenner your director?
rifare: (by way of selfless means)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-06-29 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
The Note (note: this is not a prompt)

[ It does not take long into his searching of the house for Leon to find that set of notes. Moving inconspicuously out of the room if anyone else is in there with him, he'll take a better look at them, scrutinize the description, and consider the number of people he quickly counted when he awoke in this strange house. It doesn't take a lot of guess work to figure out what these notes are, but the numbers don't add up, which means somewhere else are other notes on the rest of them.

Unfortunately for everyone else, Leon's well aware of which category he was likely slotted into, and is perfectly comfortable acting according to the assessment of him. He pockets the note without a word for now, and for the rest of the 72 hours in the house will carefully be observing his fellow survivors for any sign of who might fall under the "resiliency candidates" category.

Whether he shares this information or not in the future depends entirely on his fellow survivors.
]

I. The Beginning of the End

[ Finding a bit of food hasn't been difficult, though it isn't exactly to Leontuzzo's more exacting palate. He'll have to get over that one though, because it'll be some time before he's able to have Siracusan cuisine again.

Assuming he ever is...

One that that would help greatly is access to a weapon, and as he moves through the house he spots one to his liking: a handgun. Unfortunately for him, it seems someone else has found it first, because it's currently in the hands of another survivor. As tense as the situation has been, Leon tries his best to put on a relaxed demeanor, composed and confident as he gestures to the gun in the hand of the other person.
]

Do you know how to use that? If you don't, I suggest you give it to me. I have plenty of experience firing weapons of that nature.

[ Whether or not he's successful in convincing someone to hand over their gun remains to be seen, but he won't stop looking for potential weapons regardless. He should probably be more concerned with food, but old habits die hard. It isn't a weapon that catches his eye this time though, but one of the maps that he's stopping to scrutinize.

He'll cut a glance to whoever happens to be standing nearby.
]

How good are you at navigation?

II. Sewer Diving

[ Sucks for the rest of you to be struggling so much seeing in the dark. Try being a wolf and having better night vision instead?

That said, in this enclosed space, it's not like Leontuzzo's having an easy time of it either. His ears perk up, twisting this way and that as the follow the sound of scampering rats, his nose wrinkled in disgust. In part because of the vermin, but the smell sure isn't helping matters either.
]

I would have preferred to face whatever was waiting for us outside the front door.

III. Oh! That's a Baseball!

[ Sometime after they've reached their big ring of arena safety for the night, and Leontuzzo has had a chance to do a thorough enough surveyance of the perimeter, he'll find someone still awake to take a sit nearby. ]

Can't sleep either?

[ Idle chitchat that sounds friendly and innocuous enough, though he's watching them carefully despite the fairly warm tone of his voice. ]

I suppose you did not come from a world like this one either?
normalness: (🌟🕷️ 010)

[personal profile] normalness 2024-06-29 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[This woman is very... pink. This is not an inherently bad thing, but Henry thinks the people here look so unlike those he's used to seeing. He doesn't know what to make of it.

He tries not to stare, blinking, then casting his look askance, trying to figure out how to answer that.]


Director? He... he's in charge of the lab. [So, yes, technically, but-] ...You really don't know who he is?
hydrotherapy: (pic#17266269)

[personal profile] hydrotherapy 2024-06-29 06:05 pm (UTC)(link)
it's time for your check-up.
[ A doctor's duty, first and foremost, is to ensure the well-being of her patients. The eclectic group of people gathered here might not be her usual patients but, after listening to the recording a few times, it's clear that they're all going to be accompanying each other for awhile. Which means it's her duty to make sure everyone's taken care of. ]

Good morning! [ Is it morning? Afternoon?? Doesn't matter. ] How are you feeling? Does anything hurt?

[ Considering there looks to be a blue oompa loompa with ears and a curled tail standing in front of you, maybe you're not as okay as you think you are??? ]

[ Later, she can be found in one of the extra bedrooms, cutting up......spare bedsheets into long strips? Anyone peeking in on her will get a wave. ]

Hi there! I'm just making some extra bandages. The medical supplies they had in the house [ with a pat of the small first aid kit next to her ] wasn't nearly enough for all of us. Want to help?

rats.
[ So they're in the sewers. There are some interesting smells down here but in a weird way, the dark and damp is kind of soothing?? Reminds her of home a little—except for one main thing. A couple of rats skitter by, squeaking as their claws scratch against the concrete. Sigewinne watches one scramble into a hole, thoughtful. ]

You know, if we do run out of food, rats are supposed to be an excellent source of nutrition. I could make you something, if you like.

[ ???? (But also: Dimitri Fire Emblem would know.) ]

play ball.
[ Sigewinne stands in front of the forgotten merchandise stall, holding up old Dodgers jersey in front of her. It's almost the same size she is. She seems to be eying it critically as she turns it this way and that. If they're going to be on the road for awhile, she's going to need additional outfits. Still.... ]

The color's not bad...but I'm not sure my wings will fit.

[ It's rough out here as a Melusine. ]
venomnom: (004)

handgun

[personal profile] venomnom 2024-06-29 06:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I do.

[Reiju's posture is equally assured and poised as she angles her head in Leontuzzo's direction. Nevertheless, her motions are fluid, bordering on easygoing, when she holds the gun out with the grip pointed toward him. He can have it, if he's so inclined.]

But I admit that it isn't my go-to method in battle.
normalness: (🌟🕷️ 018)

iii

[personal profile] normalness 2024-06-29 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Henry's perched himself next to whatever lantern light they have available, legs drawn up and chin resting on his knees. He seems to startle when he hears a voice, sitting up and looking over at Leontuzzo.

Oh, it's the man... with the ears... and the tail...]


Um.

[Do NOT be distracted by that. He shakes his head.]

No. This looks like "my" America, I guess, but like it's been dragged through hell and back first.
hydrotherapy: (pic#17266270)

sewers.

[personal profile] hydrotherapy 2024-06-29 06:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ I don't know how he's reaching for her hand when she's three feet tall but we're making it work. They're holding hands now, though he might notice her hand is quite a bit smaller than his. It's very cute of him to do so, actually, and she reaches over and up with her other hand to pat his hand. ]

That's okay. We Melusines have pretty sharp senses, so I'll help lead the way for both of us.

[ Though he might have to walk a smidge slower to account for her shorter legs....sorry about that. ]

Are you scared of the dark at all?
rifare: ('cause my banner's clean)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-06-29 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[ With her not showing any signs of reluctance to share her fine, Leontuzzo doesn't even bother to hide the relief on his face. While he can fight with other weapons if he has to, there's a strong preference on his part for a firearm.

He takes care removing it from her hand, making sure the barrel is not angled towards her at any point, before holstering it at his hip. Arriving with his usual getup at least means he has an easy way of carrying the weapon, though it's a shame he didn't come with his usual, preferred pieces.
]

And what is that? Since you were so generous to me, I would be happy to keep my eye out for something useful to you in turn.
bicth: (pic#17160422)

[personal profile] bicth 2024-06-29 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I. beginning of the end
a.
[ In the earlier parts of everyone waking up, a small, lilac-haired girl can be found making a ruckus near the portal, banging her fists on the metal device and kicking it — possibly even waking you up? With an indignant squeak: ]

Fuck! Are you fucking kidding me? Take me back!

[ How does this stupid thing turn on?! Surely if she keeps whacking it, something will happen right?! Or... she gets a bright idea, and gives your side a little kick. ]

Come on, get up!

b.
[ Soon as everyone starts scoping out the rest of the house, Hella makes a beeline for wherever there might be food to be found. And, perhaps seemingly selfishly, she's shoving as many rations as she can fit into her big coat pockets, all while holding a stale oreo in her mouth that she's snacking on.

Is it scary that they were brought here by some interdimensional bullshit? Yes. But on the one hand, interdimensional bullshit is kind of a staple at the "job" she came from, and on the other, as far as she can tell, this place is about as well off as the world she knows, which means the first thing she should worry about is scarfing down as much as she can. There's no telling when her next meal will be — that's a lesson she learned growing up in the poorest, worst part of Syndicate. Who knows if there's any food to be found outside?

That, and... well, an oreo sounds good right about now. It'll soothe how pissed off she feels.

If she catches you looking, she'll raise a brow at you expectantly. ]


You should be quick, there won't be much left soon.

[ Her assumption is that everyone is going to go every-man-for-themselves mode, and she clearly doesn't have any remorse about taking what looks to be (way) more than her fair share. ]
III. oh! that's a baseball
[ Hella can be found flitting about the nosebleed section, twirling around a wooden bat she pilfered from one of the dugouts. She drags it haphazardly against some of the dilapidated seats as she walks, bending over to pick up something on the ground — a foam finger. ]

Now this thing is cool! [ Yeah, she's putting it on to dramatize her gestures while talking, apparently not caring that it's probably been there for, like. Years. The bat gets rested across her shoulders, and she wags the foam finger to and fro as she speaks, turning to face you fully. ] You ever been to a stadium like this? Were you ever — [ HOLDS UP FOAM FINGER ] Number one?

[ does she even know what sport was played here... not really.... it's fine ]
venomnom: (041)

[personal profile] venomnom 2024-06-29 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Labs aren't unfamiliar to her, but the name is another matter. Germa doesn't make it a habit of harboring children within its castle grounds, either, and this one is particularly bold in that context, which implies a few things.]

I don't recognize the name. What does he look like?
normalness: (🌟🕷️ 020)

[personal profile] normalness 2024-06-29 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's happening. Hand-holding is first thread canon and no one can stop us.

Henry shudders out a breath, steadying himself. Yes, she seems very petite and child-like, but she also seems fairly confident — more so than him right now, and he appreciates that. Borrows a bit of it. He'll ask about a "Melusine" later, but first-

Shakes his head.]


Not normally. I just don't want to run into another one of those... things. [Whatever had happened to Dr. Bei.] She looked awful.
rifare: (all the risk)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-06-29 06:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He does certainly stand out for that, doesn't he? Leontuzzo thought it was strange at first that so few of his companions here share those sorts of traits.

Don't worry, he will politely not stare at any lack of extra ears or tail in turn.
]

So similar buildings, similar landscape, but a different situation then?

[ He sits up straight, though looks down contemplatively for a moment, one ear canting to the side as he mulls it over. ]

What was your America like then?
bicth: (pic#17160405)

the beginning!

[personal profile] bicth 2024-06-29 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
Experiment?

[ She guesses it does sort of give that vibe, with the wristbands and the being tasked with something, but her head tilts at the way he words it, setting her gloved hands on her hips. ]

This is a shitty laboratory, if that's the case.

[ It's not even a lab! It's just a house! How are they supposed to get any reliable data here? Some scientists they must be. Psh. There's some bitterness to her tone, though it doesn't seem to be directed at him at all — her nose sticks up proudly. ]

What do you mean by "Dr. Brenner?"
hydrotherapy: (Default)

baseball

[personal profile] hydrotherapy 2024-06-29 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ After so many years as the Head Nurse of the Fortress of Meropide, Sigewinne's gotten quite used to late nights. She peers up at Leontuzzo from where she sits on the ground, a still-cheerful smile on her face. ]

My patients usually keep me pretty busy. It's hard for me to sleep until I've made sure all of them are okay for the day. What about you?

[ She'll get to the other question in a bit. ]
normalness: (🌟🕷️ 024)

[personal profile] normalness 2024-06-29 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[Ummmm. Well, that's not hard to recall, anyway, since he saw him just yesterday??]

He's tall. Short brown hair. He's always dressed formally except when he's in a lab coat. [Idk man he just looks like an average white dude with a superiority complex.] Actually, there's no way he'd just let me end up here... purposefully.

[Which means... something else is happening? Something bad?]
venomnom: (028)

bedrooms

[personal profile] venomnom 2024-06-29 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Hello.

[Reiju's smile is politely cordial, even as she wonders the extent of the inferred dangers beyond these walls. She walks up, reaches for a strip of makeshift bandage, and begins to roll it for easy pocketing on Sigewinne's part.]

Are you a doctor?
hydrotherapy: (pic#17266270)

baseball

[personal profile] hydrotherapy 2024-06-29 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[ That foam hand could probably fit on Sigewinne's head. She is idly waving a little flag in her hand though. Go Dodgers??? (Who's Dodgers.........He must have been famous.) ]

Nope. But I have watched a few of the fights at the Pankration Ring before. It's not as big as this place, but the fights in there can get really heated.

[ She's assuming this 'baseball' must be the same....... ]
bicth: (pic#17160435)

i

[personal profile] bicth 2024-06-29 06:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Does she know how to use a handgun.... no.... does it LOOK like she knows how to use one, based on the way she's holding it.... also no....

But as soon as he makes that "suggestion," her lips curl into a smirk, holding it closer to her body. One gets the sense she's very guarded and not very trusting, at least not with strangers — not even ones with cute dog ears who are trying to be relaxed and calm. ]


And you want me to just hand this thing over because you're good with it? Do I look stupid?

[ That's like asking to get shot. He'll have to come up with some better reasons to convince her, it seems... ]
rifare: (crumbled walls)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-06-29 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's a certain strength of character that is required to keep up that kind of cheerful demeanor regardless of the circumstances. He won't fault her for the smile, even if this is not exactly a situation that calls for it. ]

I tend to keep late nights as it is.

[ He doesn't always get a lot of sleep these days, having taken on a fairly Herculean task of running a city through different governing means than any other his country has ever used. ]

You are a doctor then?
normalness: (🌟🕷️ 019)

[personal profile] normalness 2024-06-29 06:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[This is fine; they are going to politely pretend not to think each others' animal features or lack thereof are weird.]

Something like that. Like an "end of the world" situation.

[A beat, as he thinks again on how to explain it.]

I'm not a big-city kid. I've only been to towns in the middle of nowhere, and I think this is supposed to be LA. Los Angeles, I mean, a huge city. But I'm sure that back home, it's a lot more populated than this. Normal.

And even then, it seems more... futuristic than what I'm used to.
hydrotherapy: (Default)

[personal profile] hydrotherapy 2024-06-29 06:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Wow. Reiju is so smart. And so cute! Look at that pretty pink hair. Sigewinne beams, happy to be acknowledged for her hard work. ]

Yep, I am. But you can just call me Sigewinne. I've been studying medicine for hundreds of years now [ says the girl who looks like she still needs a babysitting ] but there's always more to learn.

[ She cuts off another strip, gets to work on a third. ]

What about you? Do you study medicine too? [ Can they nerd out together.... ]
rifare: (free hearts are never broken)

[personal profile] rifare 2024-06-29 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He should have expected this. Shared circumstances aren't a great basis for trust, and Leontuzzo isn't exactly being an open book here himself.

Still, he frowns as she pulls it towards herself, ears pressing back, but not stepping forward towards her.
]

If you continue to hold it like that? You will look very stupid soon after you shoot yourself in the gut.
normalness: (🌟🕷️ 032)

[personal profile] normalness 2024-06-29 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Her personality clashes with his—ever the quiet, anxious, and sensitive type—for him wrinkle his brow a little when she replies. Henry makes an attempt to force timidity out of himself. It's not going to do any good here.]

Yeah. I just don't understand why else I'd be put here.

[If not for an experiment. He fidgets with his hands when she intones bitterly, and holds her chin up proudly.]

Dr. Brenner, he's the one who runs the lab...? [Henry is hoping(?) that the name provides some context, even if they're not in the lab. Otherwise, he has no idea what's going on. And that's frightening on its own.] Head scientist. He usually tells me what's going on.
venomnom: (030)

[personal profile] venomnom 2024-06-29 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, he's glad. A firearm is better off in relaxed hands, so this is good news—more so when he handles it with care for her end.]

If you find a canister with a zero on it, would you return it to me? Otherwise, I was trained to wield a sword.

[It's a tertiary method at best, but it'll do if she's in need of the variety.]