Baymod Helpers (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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bopbay2025-05-10 10:00 am
bayhelpers) wrote in bopbay2025-05-10 10:00 am
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003 ⟡ MAY TEST DRIVE
⋆✩ test drive 03 ✩⋆
The day begins like any other.
Routines, eventful scenes, and boring errands — no matter what you were in the middle of, there's a moment where everything begins to feel wrong. A searing pain tears through your body, so intense that it feels like every nerve has been struck at once. Muscles spasm, joints scream in protest, and as you double over, you find yourself clawing or clinging at anything within your reach. As your attempts to maintain composure fail you, your bones begin to twist with an agonizing force, the pain rising in a crescendo until it becomes unbearable to even breathe. Then, as quickly as it began, everything stops.
For a single, terrifying moment, there's nothing. No sight, no sound, no touch, no taste, no smell — just the weight of nothingness swallowing you whole. The absence of sensation might even be worse than the pain, leaving you adrift in a void you can't escape. Hopelessness threatens every fiber of your existence, and try as you might to fight it, your darkest thoughts begin to surface, flooding your mind in an onslaught of suffocating feelings and ideas.
In the darkness, you hear a voice.
It's faint, a gentle flashing of something warm along the edges of your mind, like sunlight itself. It's a voice, but you can't identify who or what it comes from, how it sounds, or what it means — still, you know it's directed at you. Something tugs at your heart, a powerful ache that throbs once and ripples outwards. You can feel the aches again, like fresh sores throughout your body. You feel off, like something isn't quite right, like you're not where you should be, or who you should be. But the voice continues, whispered just beyond your understanding. The sound is warm like hope, and it wraps around you, distant yet intent, before you wake up.
i. arrivals
FROM TUNNELS DEEP
The scent of must meets your nostrils, perhaps more strongly than it normally would. To open your eyes is to meet the dark — though if you're fortunate it could be that something about this new body, or perhaps the body of another, leaves some faint illumination to see by. Either way it soon becomes clear that where you are is somewhere underground. They are deep and sprawling tunnels, with corners of some unknown civilization storied away in their many carvings and ruined pottery. Portions of the cavern walls even bear the appearance of old structures and dwellings, as if the earth itself swallowed a city whole.
Trickling through the tunnels in quiet streams are tendrils of fog. It's difficult to see, but not in the least hard to feel. The mist is damp and cloying, clinging to every inch it finds on you to the point that it seems to grasp at the very soul; and the longer one lets it have its way, the worst it feels. You begin to question your body. Your mind. Your very memories — are they really yours?
Staying underground may be unwise anyway. Diglett and Dugtrio soon make themselves known to the weary arrivals here, and unlike these newcomers they have had far too long to succumb to the mist. They will attack without hesitation, and the only options are to fight or flee above ground.
The forest above unfortunately is not much better. The fog here is thick, even if some light somehow makes its way through the canopy above. What could have once been helpful landmarks become sources of dizzying misunderstanding, and the gnarled trees seem to move when no one watches. Rescuers from the city will have their work cut out for them once it becomes clear how many could be stranded out there, and time will be of the essence. The sooner that these wanderers can be brought to the clinic to be treated, the better!
ii. under the weather
RAIN RAIN, GO AWAY
The first thing anyone will notice as the month of May truly sets in, is the rain. Light or heavy, sunny or cloudy, a near constant rain pours down upon Bottlecap Bay and its surrounding areas. There's no escaping it; it pours, and it pours, and it pours ever long, until it becomes impossible to do even basic tasks outside one's dwelling without getting soaked to the bone.
While it's not unusual to receive rain at this time of the year, the amount of rain is unnatural according to the Guild Leaders. To ensure no one suffers any more than they already have, all three are quick to open their doors to these new Pokemon in their midst. Or at least, they're quick to offer other foreigner's doors. Pokemon who originated from other worlds soon find themselves with new bunkmates and housemates, and with the rain as bad as it is there’s no good way to refuse.
It's best to remain in similar company after all, and until there’s time to sort out who fits where, it’s all these newcomers have.
While it's not unusual to receive rain at this time of the year, the amount of rain is unnatural according to the Guild Leaders. To ensure no one suffers any more than they already have, all three are quick to open their doors to these new Pokemon in their midst. Or at least, they're quick to offer other foreigner's doors. Pokemon who originated from other worlds soon find themselves with new bunkmates and housemates, and with the rain as bad as it is there’s no good way to refuse.
It's best to remain in similar company after all, and until there’s time to sort out who fits where, it’s all these newcomers have.
THE WATER CYCLE
While Pokemon begin to settle into their new lives at Bottlecap Bay, the rain continues to fall. On some days it’s harder — hard enough to bring sheets thick enough to blot vision, sharp enough to leave unprotected pelts stinging for minutes after retreating inside. Thunder booms, and lightning flashes, a clear message to all within the city when they see it. These storms are bad. Dangerous. And the danger is in more than just the weather itself.
At first the signs are subtle. Those same symptoms from the forest can be felt, lasting only as long as a Pokemon is damp from the downpour outside. Even the gentle drizzle causes absent thoughts, an empty mind staring into the distant grey skies as you forget.
Staring longer still, as you remember. But is what you're remembering actually yours? Something about the concentration of forest mist in the form of raindrops changes the effects as the days go by. The body and mind rebel against what it knows doesn't belong, and it finally comes bursting out with a shout! Those memories you've seen, they aren't yours! They're someone else's!
And the world needs to hear it!
At first the signs are subtle. Those same symptoms from the forest can be felt, lasting only as long as a Pokemon is damp from the downpour outside. Even the gentle drizzle causes absent thoughts, an empty mind staring into the distant grey skies as you forget.
Staring longer still, as you remember. But is what you're remembering actually yours? Something about the concentration of forest mist in the form of raindrops changes the effects as the days go by. The body and mind rebel against what it knows doesn't belong, and it finally comes bursting out with a shout! Those memories you've seen, they aren't yours! They're someone else's!
And the world needs to hear it!
iii. the archives
RECORDS KEEPING
The longer the rainfall persists, the more clear it is that staying outside is unwise. Not only is it dangerous to non-water type Pokemon's health for the most part, but the full scope of side effects only increase the risks. After one too many shouting matches caused by vitriolic memories, Polteageist offers a simple but beneficial solution. The doors of the archives are opened up, as senior members in the Lum Guild offer up their time as temporary librarians.
Polteageist's solution is as follows; instead of training their bodies out in the rain, everyone will be training their brains. There have been many questions raised over the last number of weeks, and now is the time for everyone to investigate the mysteries. Entering the Archives means entering a building of clear splendor, filled with couches and beanbags for sitting and beautiful flowers and plants to accentuate the green hues within the halls. The shelves are well stocked with records kept on stone tablets, and the additional guides within the guild are eager to help everyone find what they're looking for.
The illustrious leader of the Lum Berries is well aware however, that not everyone is willing to spend all their time reading. As it would be counterproductive to expect anyone to sit twiddling their thumbs (or tails, or ears) he has thus arranged for a few of the archive meeting rooms to host additional activities. They are simple things; there's classes on recording writings properly in clay before firing, minor history lessons where newly arrived Pokemon can share in what many others already know, and even community building exercises. They're nothing like the escape rooms organized during the last two months, but they're good for passing the time.
And eventually, the rain will hopefully calm down. A few skilled Psychic Pokemon are offering their services to keep others dry until then however, at least so that everyone can get home safely.
Polteageist's solution is as follows; instead of training their bodies out in the rain, everyone will be training their brains. There have been many questions raised over the last number of weeks, and now is the time for everyone to investigate the mysteries. Entering the Archives means entering a building of clear splendor, filled with couches and beanbags for sitting and beautiful flowers and plants to accentuate the green hues within the halls. The shelves are well stocked with records kept on stone tablets, and the additional guides within the guild are eager to help everyone find what they're looking for.
The illustrious leader of the Lum Berries is well aware however, that not everyone is willing to spend all their time reading. As it would be counterproductive to expect anyone to sit twiddling their thumbs (or tails, or ears) he has thus arranged for a few of the archive meeting rooms to host additional activities. They are simple things; there's classes on recording writings properly in clay before firing, minor history lessons where newly arrived Pokemon can share in what many others already know, and even community building exercises. They're nothing like the escape rooms organized during the last two months, but they're good for passing the time.
And eventually, the rain will hopefully calm down. A few skilled Psychic Pokemon are offering their services to keep others dry until then however, at least so that everyone can get home safely.
✩ OOC NOTES.
⟡ TDM CWS: body horror, disorientation, hallucinations, dysphoria
⟡ TDMs are game canon and act as events for the month they are posted.
⟡ New characters can link to their top level beneath the NEWBIE DIRECTORY
⟡ All new arrivals are not assigned to any one guild. However, if they participate in the Archive's bonding activities, they may receive a unique reward.
⟡ Remember that at least one thread for your application must come from the TDM! There is no comment minimum, but we will be looking for engagement, as well as for players and characters who take the time to delve into things like character thoughts, emotions, morality, and other deep themes. Take this time to engage with the setting as you would in game!
⟡ As a reminder, reserves and applications are permanently opened. Please see their respective pages for details on processing time.
⟡ Have any questions related to the TDM? Ask here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!
⟡ TDMs are game canon and act as events for the month they are posted.
⟡ New characters can link to their top level beneath the NEWBIE DIRECTORY
⟡ All new arrivals are not assigned to any one guild. However, if they participate in the Archive's bonding activities, they may receive a unique reward.
⟡ Remember that at least one thread for your application must come from the TDM! There is no comment minimum, but we will be looking for engagement, as well as for players and characters who take the time to delve into things like character thoughts, emotions, morality, and other deep themes. Take this time to engage with the setting as you would in game!
⟡ As a reminder, reserves and applications are permanently opened. Please see their respective pages for details on processing time.
⟡ Have any questions related to the TDM? Ask here! If your question is more general for the game, please make sure to direct it to the FAQ page instead. Thank you, and happy threading!
Under the Weather!
None would blame the sunkern for choosing one of the others though, as there's a freaking six foot tall ostrich with a propensity for dismantling furniture in Emporio's house, so, that makes things weird.
Whether it was at his house or not though, there's a fair shot that Flowery did catch at least a glimpse of a cubone without a bone helm in the clinic. Emporio was helping around there after all, even if he's good at being unnoticed.
Regardless- here he is, with his little rain poncho because ground and water, oh no, and he blinks.]
Well, I don't know about 'a lot' of Archives, but the Archives are in this direction, yeah. I was going there myself if you want to walk together?
no subject
His brow twitches upon seeing the Cubone, who definitely saw him sniveling in the clinic. His memories are admittedly hazy; he thinks the Cubone helped look him over, but they didn't talk back then.
He probably pities Flowey. That's just great. Well, it's better than hating him.]
That would be great! It'll be 'walk' in a manner of speaking for me, but I'm getting the hang of hopping, heehee! [ He does a cute little hop to punctuate the sentence. Ugh.]
[He lets the stranger lead him to the archives.] I'm Flowey! You must be a doctor around here, right? I still owe you for your help from last time!
no subject
[Alas, if he only knew it was complete indifference-] My name is Emporio. Good to meet you Flowey.
Uh- [The cubone stumbles somewhat at Flowey's address, turning his head.] O-oh!
I'm not a doctor actually, I just help at the clinic sometimes...Dr. Denne is the doctor, [he protests with a rapid head shake.] It's really just basic first aid that I can work with...that and intake I guess.
no subject
[Emporio seems like the humble type. Flowey decides not to lay it on too thick.] I'm still getting my bearings around here. What was the world you came from like? Were you doing first aid there, too?
Mfw Emporio in canon has seen less of any world than monsters of undertale ow
[Humble is an interesting word to pin on Emporio, not that it's immediately evident why. There aren't many ways to hone in on the source of his particularly unique upbringing after all.
Though Flowey has, of course, scratched at one of those things as they walk.] Haha...not really. Not at all, actually- I only learned after coming here. Before that...
[He trails off.] ...Mostly I tried to give advice where I could. I could tell you a lot about what I read about the world because of that, but I didn't actually see most of it.
Technically I was never really outside until a week before coming here.
flowey handles things with such grace
[A little nagging voice reminds him, 'Flowey, that isn't polite.' He backpedals.] For me, it was jail in a sense. Humans trapped all the monsters underground in my world. I was born down there. I only went out once, and it... didn't go so well. Let's leave it at that.
IM LOSING IT HIS FIRST GUESS also vague endspoils for any thread readers
[He should explain that shouldn't he. He will explain that.] Uh- I mean, I wasn't incarcerated... ...I was just born there, so it was too dangerous to really go anywhere. I had to stay hidden.
[He ponders Flowey's fate though. Life in a prison under the ground... ...Even he was at least able to get a glimpse of the sun through a window, after all.]
...I could say similar, I guess.
[He might have made it, but everyone else with him didn't after all.]
flowey. dude
Hey, chin up, pal! You're free now, and you can go anywhere you want! You and me are like prison buddies! We could get matching tattoos!
[Why did he say that???] Maybe a teardrop tattoo under the eye or something cool... [Oh, god, why is he saying this? He's forgotten how to make conversation with someone whose lines he doesn't know!]
FLOWEY BUDDY,
Is as bad at social interaction as he is.
It's a bit ridiculous. Emporio blinks, slowly, and then a little faster as he comprehends what Flowey's even saying. And then he can't help it- he muffles a giggle behind his hand, but it turns into a laugh.
It shouldn't be funny. Any time this has come up it's honestly been fairly upsetting. But it's so...
Ridiculous.
...The laugh sounds pained after a moment- possibly because of those background thoughts that he's trying to push back again. It quiets, and with the clinic and the nearby archives around the corner, the cubone nods.]
Snf...
[And sniffs, clearing the last of what was almost a bit of a cry.] ...Y-Yeah, we are free here, huh? The forest is still pretty dangerous, and I can't really swim in the ocean but...
...It's definitely more than a ghost room in a jail, that's for sure.
no subject
Heh... yeah, look at us, moving up in the world! Literally in my case, since I was underground. And if we watch each other's backs, I'm sure it will turn out alright! [Cheesy, but he's not above platitudes.]
[Finally, the archives are near. This guy isn't too bad, Flowey decides. He can't exactly feel affection, but he's curious about Emporio. What type of person is born in jail? Besides him and every other monster, at least, but that's different.
Flowey doesn't want to push it now that he's got Emporio smiling, though. He has plenty of time to pry deeper.]
Boy, you've been a big help! Maybe we'll see each other around?
no subject
...And, at the very least, if you're around the archives much it's that much more likely. Other than when I've gotten an assignment from the quest board, I spend most of my free time in there.
Actually, [he adds with a beaming smile,] If you're looking for something specific, I'll probably be able to help find it- the archives are the HQ for the Lum Berries Guild, which I'm part of right now!
no subject
The archives... knowledge is power, and it's time to arm himself.] Thanks again, Emporio! I wouldn't want to hold you up for too long, but I'll definitely letcha know if I need anything!