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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!
no subject
[...]
Not draining you to have to stay inside all the time?
[Says Siffrin, who has absolutely not been staying inside even though they should...]
[But yeah! That's definitely what they meant!]
no subject
[...................... the pun....
....] ..............why...
[With that tone, there's no question that he's upset about that pun!]
no subject
What, you can't weather a little pun?
[At this rate maybe Emporio will be relieved to talk about quicksand and timeloo - ...and fortune telling hallucinations!]
no subject
[wwWWwWwWwWhhyyyyyy]
Why do you even like those puns anyway..!
[Maybe he will, but that can be turned on you too don't test him!]
no subject
[...]
Or people hate them, and then it makes me laugh.
[Slightly less true, though not exactly a lie! In among the groans, somewhere deep down they're expecting to hear one specific someone chuckling. But they are simply Not Thinking About That Right Now, with great concentration and intensity.]
no subject
[It is, in fact, a true statement.]
You can come up with those pretty easy, huh.
no subject
I've got a lot of practice quipping them in.
no subject
There's no way you just came here for puns...
[Right?? Right??? There's more mercy in the world than this right??]
no subject
[But in all seriousness...]
[...] The forest last month was...
[They pause, trying to decide what to even say. Eventually they settle on the entirely insufficient:] ...bad.
[Implied: are you sure you're okay?]
no subject
[hey anasui come here he needs to learn to murder again-
...The topic changes, and Emporio immediately feels like he's sinking in quicksand again. He grows silent- blinking slowly, nodding just as slow.] I...
...yeah. ...Even if it wasn't real...it still felt real. It...
...it felt like a Stand attack. I didn't even know that kind of thing could be possible here...
[...He's probably not okay, but, Emporio also isn't self-aware enough to address that.]
...Are you okay? ...It...it was both of us, so...
[Apparently he's caring enough to turn it on its head though.]
no subject
[They are so not fine.]
[Though the false quicksand is honestly an afterthought to the, compared to what came after. It wasn't pleasant, but now that they remember dying hundreds of times... it's just kind of not a big deal?]
...besides, you're a kid. You shouldn't have to - it's not your job to make sure an adult's okay. Even if I wasn't!
[Which they absolutely are! Definitely!]
'its fine i had anasui' 'you mean the guy who stole three cyclizar tails???' '....'
[Siffrin is not only incredibly not fine, but not exactly subtle about it.
Emporio gives him a moment to think he's gotten away with it though. Or at least long enough to point something else out-]
...It wouldn't be anyone's job- well. I guess it could be a therapist's job, but that's not really the point.
...I don't really see why being a kid makes me any more important to check on though. I mean...you got pulled into the illusion too. I had Anasui even after we left the forest, but did you have someone?
[Frankly, if Siffrin learned one thing watching Anasui, it was probably that Anasui is not a comforting presence in any sense of the word!]
no subject
[(They were normally better about hiding this level of not-okay because... they were sticking to time loops of just a few hours towards the end, and in a situation where everyone was expected to be pretty stressed,)]
[(Something that being in the same timeline for weeks and not taking care of themself is not conducive to,)]
[...they're not going to answer that question!! (And Firepaw did check on them, anyway!) Instead:] But... the rest of us are adults. It is our responsibility to take care of you. Well, maybe not Guilmon...
[Is there anyone else who's a kid? They actually... have not realized about Firepaw or a lot of the older teenagers, given the Pokemon shapes, much like they didn't initially realize for Emporio. Anyway!]
...um. Anasui was very good at pulling us out of trouble, but he didn't feel like much of a talker... [Which is their nicer way of phrasing, "someone you'd go to for comfort..."]
no subject
...Uh.] But....why?
[No really, why, he's curious.] Uh...I mean, I guess that's true. He's not much for a lot of things, emotionally speaking.
...But he's still familiar, at least. He's the only one here who knew me in my world.
no subject
Be...cause you're a child? [They really can't explain it any further than that?? That should be enough?? Siffrin seems equally baffled by this line of questioning.]
[...they guess that's fair, about Anasui. That would matter. One of their ears flickers, and their expression is visibly slightly mollified. Still:] ...but did you have someone you could talk to?
no subject
[He doesn't even verbalize that one. He just, tilts his head. Blinks.
Eventually he throws Siffrin a bone.] I mean...sure, but that doesn't seem to mean a whole lot here.
Everyone of us are pretty close in power it feels like, not to mention the size variance. It's not really the same as when you're smaller than adults are...
[The fear of potentially getting throttled is far more diminished, it's very nice.]
...Uh.
I'm....assuming you mean other than Anasui when you ask that...
[That's a no isn't it.
...
He's saying no!!]
no subject
But you're still growing... [What do they even...] It's like how kids aren't allowed to drink, until they're old enough.
[That makes absolutely no sense, Siffrin.]
[...that sure sounds like a no!] You should have someone. Along with Anasui.
[Siffrin really doesn't think they're a good choice, but,]