week 4

[biteys]

WEEK FOUR

road trip!

As the doctor mentioned, the next leg of your trip is quite long, so walking isn't advised; hopefully, you've all secured alternative methods of travel between the abandoned cars and the wild pack of horses you found last week.

These cars are long abandoned, and most of them still have things like CDs and magazines in the gloveboxes and trunks - so at least you’ll have some entertainment for the trip! Conveniently, music you can find comes from the year 2024 and earlier, because in the Turnout universe, CDs were still widely a thing in modern times because I said so.

Be aware that there are not enough cars and horsies for everyone to go solo; you’ll need to group up and decide who’s driving! And, more notably...

Your drive won't be entirely peaceful! There are bound to be some zombies littering the street, which characters will need to clear in order to keep going. Whether that's through running them over, sniping them with your newfound long-range gun skills, or doing it the old fashioned way by hopping out of the car and beating them to a pulp, they've gotta move! Be careful not to let the horseys get bit.

respite

Whether or not you were suspicious of whatever the “SAFE” marked on the map was supposed to mean, when you come to the coordinates that are marked, you’ll be in front of a door that opens down into the earth — it's a bunker. The entrance is slightly hidden by foliage, seemingly intentionally so.

Inside, it’s obvious this place is not like the places you’ve been traveling to thus far. It’s clean, well stocked, and nicely furnished. Judging by the pictures on the wall, it’s a safe house that’s been used many times by Dr. Bei and her five associates. So, it was built by a bunch of super nerds surviving the apocalypse, meaning that it's pretty well fortified and self sufficient. It seems like the Doctor must have been here at least a few weeks ago, judging by the dust levels and quality of the food.

That means there’s clean running (and hot!) water, as well as a freezer that’s stocked up with some raw meat, vegetables, and a rare ice cream treat. Also in the kitchen are some seasonings and other staples: flour, rice, etc. There are cooking utensils too, of course! Characters well versed in cooking may just be able to throw together a nice feast for everyone.

There’s also, you know. Alcohol. Not a ton of mixers, though!

It seems like the nerds had simple things for means of entertainment: there are some party and card games hidden away in drawers — think pictionary, uno and twister, or other such party games. Of course, only your imagination is holding you back: while you have a safe place to rest, it might be easier to let loose and have fun.

The six rooms in the bunker all have one bed and a connected bathroom - each one is identical but decorated with sparse things, like stray trinkets or a picture frame. Only Dr. Bei's really has anything different about it, because in it, there's still a working computer.

Characters will be able to open basic programs like wordpad, MS paint, or iTunes for music purposes. Like everyone who had iTunes, she has U2 songs on there. There's still no internet, but there are some saved messages from her and another colleague using an alternative connection method.

While exploring, characters can discover a chat log between ♛, which appears to be Dr. Bei's display name, and ♝, another user.

Aside from the beds in the six rooms, there are also sofas and armchairs to rest on.

oops all memshare

While within the safe house, your bracelets will start acting strange. It might have to do with being underground, or perhaps just the highly advanced technology at work down here, but at inopportune times, you’ll find your mind linking with other party members’, especially when initiating physical contact.

When connected to another survivor, you may exchange memories, which may come with 1) the physical sensations you felt at the time, 2) the emotions you felt at the time, or 3) the thoughts you had at that time. Players can be creative with this mechanic and have the memshares be like watching a movie, or physically acted out — whichever is your preference. There’s no prerequisite on the type of memory that might accidentally spill over, and characters may share multiple memories with one person.

According to the map's schedule, you have some time to rest your weary feet from the long ride… you’re not scheduled to leave for two or three days. It seems the Doctor might want you to fill up and face the second half of the trip with your most well rested selves. So, why not relax while you can? What’s the worst that could happen???

code

Comments

b

[titlecard]

Me?

[ Mark can't help but point at himself, a little surprised. He's just been wandering aimlessly, trying to bask in the time they have to relax. Even succeeding a little! It's even easier with how in her element she looks, even if it's not entirely her element. ]

Uh... sure. [ What a weird thing to hesitate on, but at least he comes closer to take a look. ] Whatcha making?

[empression]

I talked to Hella-chan about curry while we were exploring the mall, and I did find some of the cubes for the roux, so I thought perhaps it might be good to make it. My friend is phenomenal at it, back home, so it won't be as good, but...

[ Haru shrugs, a little ruefully. ]

I think it's a comforting dish, myself.

[titlecard]

[ He offers what he hopes is an encouraging smile, even though it doesn't quite reach his eyes. ]

I'm sure it'll still be good. Everyone here's gonna appreciate it. [ At least the warmth is in his voice. ] It sounds good. Is it ready?

[empression]

Almost. The vegetables need to cook a little while longer.

[ But she's noticed the way the smile lingers on his lips and his eyes remain... distant? Oh-- ]

I'm sorry, were you in the middle of something? I'll be fine, you don't need to actually stay here--!

[titlecard]

[ He nods. Right. The vegetables, of course, but— ]

Oh! No, no, I wasn't. I'd love to taste test. It's just, ah...

[ Awkward. He's made this awkward, which is maybe better than the alternative of, uh. Horrifying? ]

I'm not... sure if I'm the best person to taste test anything anymore. [ A beat. ] But I can still try! Maybe it's nothing.

[empression]

... Eh? [ Pardon? ]

Have you noticed something about your sense of taste recently, Mark-san?

[titlecard]

Um... a little. [ The fact that he has to be honest at all times now really is the driving force powering him through this. ] Or maybe it's not my sense of taste but in my head. Things I like just don't seem that appetizing anymore, and, um.

[ Exhale. ]

I'm not — I'm not going to do anything. I can hold out. But I think the whole zombie thing is starting to get to me more, so...

[ He shakes his head. ]

Maybe I could try a bit without the vegetables?

[empression]

[ Haru looks around, doing her absolute best to not look as though her stomach is sinking down to her feet. Things he likes no longer seem appetizing?

Does that mean... ]

I... I see.

[ Quietly, but then she shakes her head, mirroring him. ]

Then, would you like to try some of the meat?

[titlecard]

[ This is the worst part about this. Not the slowly creeping horror of what's happening to him, but that it's going to upset others. (Although naturally it upsets himself, too, but it's not like he can see it on his own face the way he can see Haru's when he tells her.)

So! He's going to force himself to perk up a little bit. It's not entirely real, but like. Maybe he can make it real? Positive thinking. Positive thinking, ]

Yeah! [ Wait is it too enthusiastic to accept meat after everything he's just said. Shitshitshit. Dial it back some, Grayson. ] I mean, yeah. If I can sustain off of that then we should be good, right?

[ Positive thinking. ]

[empression]

[ Even if he can, this just seems like it's only going to worsen.

But Haru isn't ready to think about that, simply selecting a bit of cooked chicken that she hasn't added to the curry itself yet and offering it up to him on a fork. ]

I think we can make it work, yes.

[titlecard]

[ He just has to hold out a little bit longer, and it'll be fine. Nevermind that a little bit could mean another month or so — as long as he takes it one day at a time, it'll be fine.

So, he can take the fork. (Probably keep it on him now, so he doesn't risk any cross-contamination — it's now his fork.) Take a bite, and, ]

It's... good. [ The pause there probably isn't the best thing, but at least he sounds more contemplative than distraught. ] Yeah, yeah. It's still good. I just might have to be a carnivore for a bit, huh?

[ Nevermind the possibility of symptoms progressing — as things stand right now, in this exact moment, it remains workable, and he is going to take that and not let go. ]

[empression]

Oh, good.

[ At the very least, he can still enjoy a meal, and the relief is warm in Haru's smile. ]

Then I'll make sure your portion doesn't have any vegetables in it. You'll still need to have enough sustenance to keep your strength up, after all.

[titlecard]

[ This is borderline normal — it shares the same cadence as most of the time he and Haru have spent together — that Mark almost beams right back at her. ]

Yeah, that sounds good. [ A beat. ] Thanks, Haru. You know, for all this... everything, really. I think that's why you're here.

[ Because she's just... good. An all-encompassing sentiment: she's just a good person, and he doesn't know about everyone else, but he isn't sure where he'd be without her. ]

[empression]

[ Haru blinks, less concerned and more surprised (her preferred kind of perplexed). She would have assumed that maybe it was the whole "Phantom Thief" thing, but...

... Well, there truly are so many competent fighters here, so perhaps not. But she flushes a little, despite herself. Now is not the time to get flustered! ]

I--it truly doesn't feel as though I've been of much use, but I also don't think you'd say that if you didn't earnestly believe it. [ Said with the slow reticence of someone who may not have ever heard something like that, that wasn't uttered for an ulterior motive. ]

[titlecard]

I wouldn't!

[ It comes out immediately, because really... he wouldn't. At least now it's Mark's turn to flush a little from the over-enthusiasm of his response, especially considering Haru's own hesitancy. ]

I mean... Okay, so I wasn't at the mall, but you tried breaking those windows before, and here you're making food for everyone. And you've helped me keep my head on straight, even now, so I just... I dunno. I think I'd be a lot worse off without you, at least.

[empression]

Then I'm happy I could help.

[ Earnestly. Even though they're both red. It's fine. Sometimes one just Gets Flustered in the moment. ]

I do think... even superheroes deserve to have people who support them while they support everyone else. I certainly don't have your abilities, but knowing I can still do something is more than enough for me.

[titlecard]

[ Sometimes the moment just gets to you...

Mark puffs out a little sigh, dipping his head in acknowledgement. And also a little awkwardly, because of the whole flustered thing. ]

Yeah... yeah. I agree with you. [ Lifts his head again, as back to normal as he's gonna get in this moment. ] You do a lot, you know? Just... don't forget that.