(event) WAY DOWN WE GO

[vestigemods]

EVENT LOG: WAY DOWN WE GO

AUGUST 14TH - 24TH

► THE BASICS

Not halfway into the month of August, the lake starts to recede - slowly at first, but then in great leaps and bounds until only a foot and a half of sun-warmed standing water remains. The lake going dry is concerning, for certain, but it's hardly the least of our problems... because on the lake bed is a hatch, askew and emblazoned with an unknown but eerie insignia, and beyond that hatch lies nothing but trouble.

Over the next few days, a brave and reckless team of explorers delve into the cave beyond - what is later revealed as a maintenance tunnel, just before the ceiling of that very tunnel caves in and traps them from both sides. Their supplies are limited, and phone signal is shaky at best. And what's worse, not more than a day or so later, the lake begins to fill back up, water pouring down into the open hatch. Can those who remain stage a rescue in time to save the explorers from drowning?

► MOD NOTES

• This log is a general dump for all log threads pertaining to August's Way Down We Go event - and in lieu of the lack of catch-all for August, you can feel free to do non-event log threads here as well! Go ahead and utilize vestigenet for any event-related network posts you'd like to make.
  
• The main chunk of the event takes place between the IC dates August 17th (reveal of the hatch) and August 22nd (the latest the spelunkers can be freed before they drown). No rush leaping on this event post, since I know most folks are honestly still plotting about it.
  
• All event information can be found on the July Event Infopost!
  
• Please take special care in this event to label your top-levels with identifying information such as the IC date, any prompts specifically pertaining to event roles (spelunker, rescue efforts, etc), and/or 'non-event' for any non-event prompts you may include. Just trying to keep things organized!
  
• I'm going to help solidify the plotting efforts over the next few days to help make sure everyone's on the same page, but none of it will be set in stone just in case latecomers want in too. If you want in, chime in on the spelunkers, rescue efforts, or support roles top-levels as applicable!
  
• Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.

Comments

[kinkprofessor]

[ A chuckle. He's already fun like this, honestly. That he's easy to startle is an interesting little note that the man tucks away in his brain for potential later use. ]

How about introducing myself? That seems like the polite thing.

[ And to stop torturing him with that tentacle in close proximity, he guesses. The final one finally draws back to his person. It slithers under his sleeve and out of sight. Honestly, looking at him now, one wouldn't know his monstrous nature. He looks like your average unassuming (but incredibly handsome) scientist. ]

Professor Quintalian, happy to meet you. You can call me Quin. Sorry again about the scare.

[porndealer]

[And just like that the scary half man half monster looks just like a regular man. It does help Huaisang feel a little less threatened for the time being, but just be cause he looks more human doesn't mean he's no longer not some demonic being.

Professor Quintalian, that's a mouthful of a name, but then again where he's from most people have two to three different names. So. No judgment here.]

Professor Quin... talian? Quin. What um... what are you?

[Huaisang you can't just ask a tentacle scientist what he is. That's rude.]

[kinkprofessor]

[ He's absolutely still a demonic being, but not necessarily because of the tentacles. ]

I'm a scientist, first and foremost. [ That's not the question, you unnecessarily dramatic fucko. Of course, Quin knows that's not what Huaisang is asking but he's trying to keep himself seem as non-threatening as possible. It's better to start off on a good foot with the people here, he thinks. ]

After that, just a man that has some genetic... enhancements. [ Flaws, most called them. Failure. He didn't see it as such though. ] And who might you be?

[porndealer]

[A demon-! Oh boy. That's a whole bundle of shouldn't get involved with according to where he's from, but that'll be something to get over another day.

Huaisang pushes himself up to stand, but he keeps close to the tree as if it's his emotional support tree. It will help him through this strange and mildly frightening venture.]

Oh- [Huaisang gives a little bow, raising his one arm up for a second and then realizes he needs two arms to do the little arm circle for bowing. Whelp. Quin still gets some what of a bow.]

Nie Huaisang...

[He's trying to be polite now that he's made a fool of himself and been downright rude. Doesn't mean Huaisang doesn't sound very nervous when he speaks.]

So... what's a scientist and gen- um... gen the thing you said before?

[kinkprofessor]

[ Unfortunately, Quin tends to find a way into people's lives whether they want him to or not.

At the bow, the man gives one back. He's familiar enough with off-world customs to know it's a greeting of sorts. A bit formal, maybe, but that's fine. ]

Technically, I'm a xenobiologist, which means I study alien species. [ That's the... easiest way to put it. ] As far as my genetic enhancements, that just explains my extra appendages. My genes, what makes us, are a bit different from the average person. [ Because of his own doing but... details! It's whatever. ]

[porndealer]

[Sounds a little like his best buddy Wei Wuxian, at least when it comes to certain people.

The bow Quin gives is respectful and appreciated, again it helps Huaisang feel a little better about everything.

Meanwhile Huaisang nods a little numbly. He hears what Quin is saying, but a lot of it is just word salad. It's a whole lotta huh?]

So where you born with them? They're very strange- no-not that that's bad! Just scary for someone who hasn't seen such things before.

[kinkprofessor]

[ The tip-toeing around trying not to offend is cute. You're cute, Huaisang. Which is really going to be horribly unfortunate for him in the long run, but for now Quintalian just seems pleasantly charmed. ]

I wasn't, no. It was the result of an experiment that was being conducted. [ That he conducted on himself, but- Details. Does he really need to know that just yet? No. ]

And no need to worry, I know they're strange. Even for me, sometimes! I assure you though they aren't quite as intimidating as they seem once you get used to them.

[porndealer]

[He IS cute. Thank you Quin for having working eyes.]

That must have been hard to get used to. I still have a hard time with one arm. You've got a whole bunch of weird uh... squirmy ones.

[What do you even call them?]

[kinkprofessor]

Oh, it was incredibly difficult!

[ Woe is him, he deserves all the pity. (no.) ]

Actually, there are still some lingering side effects but it's not all bad. Multi-tasking is easier than ever thanks to my tentacles.

[porndealer]

[It's good that they're both dramatic. They'll get along swimmingly once they awkward is over. Pushing away from the tree, Huaisang grabs for his fan that is tucked into the hem of his jeans. Yes. A very pretty paper fan.]

Have you had them for a long time now?

[And 'fwip!' he flicks his fan open and starts to do just that, fan himself. It's hot out here okay.]

That's what they're called, tentacles? Huh... so like, you can control each one seperatly and do multiple things at once? Like it doesn't confuse your mind at all?

[kinkprofessor]

[ It is hot out here! For more reasons than just one, but- He digresses. ]

A year or so, maybe. [ After the splice, he lost quite a bit of time. It took six months, they'd told him, to recover to a state he could function. Even now, he still isn't completely recovered and might never be. But that's alright. He works with what he has. ]

Yes, that's right. And it did at first, but now- It's just like having an extra arm. Or eight! [ To demonstrate, a tentacle slithers out from under his sleeve and waves side to side as a hand would in greeting. ]

[porndealer]

[None of that sounds fun, Huaisang will pass on genetic fuckery.

When that tentacle slivers out he'll take a little step back "cowering" behind his fan. He'll get use to then eventually.]

Sounds exhausting. That's too much thinking for me.

[Then he'll consider-]

What were you doing before? Hanging from the tree like that?

cw: mention of past drug use

[kinkprofessor]

[ That's probably a smart idea. He almost ended up with fins instead of tentacles, after all. It would have been a lot more like The Shape of Water instead of Dream of The Fisherman's Wife up in here. ]

It's not for everyone. [ It's not for most people. ]

Ah, well- I was trying to clear my mind. [ Detox, Quin. The word you're looking for is detox. He can already feel the itch of craving beneath his skin starting up again. Hm. ] This situation has been quite a lot to take in. I just thought taking some time to think might help me find a better way to approach it all.

[porndealer]

[Fins... doesn't sound as interesting or uh... useful as tentacles.]

Oh, so you mean meditating? Guess I ruined it, sorry about that.

[Now that the initial fear has worn off he's actually quite interested in this Quin guy, with his tentacles. Even if he's not a hundred on board of them touching him yet.]

... I can leave if you want to get back to that, meditation is very important.

[kinkprofessor]

Nonsense, you didn't ruin anything. I'm actually glad for the company. I'm still getting used to everything and friendly faces help more than solitude.

[ He has been trying to get to know his neighbors. Intimately. ]

Maybe we could meditate together sometime? Or a group session if people are interested! I think fostering a sense of community would be nice.

[ He really just wants to lead since he finds himself at a loss without being in a position of authority. Details. ]

[porndealer]

[Quin, you know maybe a booty call network post is in order. Looking for all sexually librated fun beings.

Huaisang tucks his fan under his arm and fusses a little nervously at the long thin bangs that hang on each side of his face as he moves to walk a little around "his" tree towards the ones he'd seen Quin meditating from.]

It's a lot here... I don't know if I'll ever get used it myself. Things are so different from back home.

[He sighs, looking up in the trees.]

That's why I was out here. There's a lot of really pretty birds and I like watching them. It's calming. Like meditation.

[kinkprofessor]

[ Don't give him any ideas. Though, to be fair, he'll probably end up putting out a personal notice before long. ]

It does seem quite different for me as well. [ For him, this place is primitive. He's grateful for phone services and working plumbing but after coming from Zenith - aptly named - he finds himself a bit uncertain. ]

Birdwatching is a nice pastime. I might find myself picking up some new hobbies with all this newfound time on my hands.

[porndealer]

[Do it, Quin.

And oh lord, if this place is primitive what would Quin think about Huaisang's home? Absolutely barbaric he's sure. Or primitive with a bunch of beautiful people in pretty flowing robes and swords leaping about and using spirit magic. Either or. A little of column A a little of column B.]

It seems we'll be here for a while, hobbies might be the only thing that keeps us sane.

[Huaisang pulls out his fan again to use it to peer up through the branches of the tree at the sunlight. It's bright, but the fan helps him not go blind. After a moment he'll look down, look over at Quin as he lazily fans himself.]

Is it better where you're from?

[kinkprofessor]

[ It'd be the worst of both worlds for him; archaic and magic? Disgraceful. Still, he'd appreciate the beauty of the people there. It's helping him adjust better here, at least. ]

I'm sure I'll find ways to occupy my time. [ He most certainly will. ]

'Better' is subjective. I'm biased, but... I'd say yes. More comfortable, if nothing else. I miss my AI companion already, honestly.

[porndealer]

[Wow Quin, what do you have against magic? But at least there are a lot of hot people in Vestige. Literally. Huaisang is melting every goddamn day here, even not wearing his robes anymore. Honestly drown him in the lake at this point.]

A... I?

[Every other thing out of Quin's mouth has him questioning everything. He knows what a companion is, but what does he mean by that exactly? Is it like... a concubine or a wife? Or just a friend? What does he meaaaaan.]

Maybe they'll end up here too, your companion. A lot of people from my home are here too.

[kinkprofessor]

[ If he's into that, sure. ]

Artificial intelligence. It's like a person, but in a computer - or network, like here - instead of actually existing. [ It's honestly a monumental effort to make this easier to understand. ]

I'd have to re-make him if I wanted to see him again, I think, but maybe I could find a way eventually.

[ Not that he's actually thinking long-term. He wants to find a way off this backwater planet sooner rather than later. ]

[porndealer]

[Drowning is not a kink for Huaisang, but thank you for being considerate, Quin. Bless the tentacled professor for attempting to explain things, even if it's still mostly going over his head. He "understands", but in the most basic sense in that he thinks that people can be in phones now. Or a person like thing... can be?]

Oooh...

[Huaisang nods his head a little, he gets it. Sure. Mhm.]

Could you make him in a phone? Is that a computer? It has a network, that's how we talk to each other right?

[kinkprofessor]

I might be able to, but it'd require time and I'm not sure if this network could handle the data and algorithms required to run a more complex AI... [ The only thing to distract him, really, it to start talking science. ]

I could make a more simplistic version of him, possibly, but I'd have to have a better understanding of what I'm working with.

[porndealer]

[Just more absent nodding as Quin is saying a bunch of stuff that is way over his head.]

So if the um, the stuff here is good enough then maybe you could have your AI? I hope it works out, it sounds important to you.

[kinkprofessor]

[ He's past the point of trying to simplify, unfortunately. His mind is now only on constructing his AI. ]

Maybe I could. Thank you for the suggestion. It's not necessary but it would be nice to have a comfort of home.