(september catch-all) NOW WITH BIGGER, BETTER WAYS TO DIE

[vestigemods]

SEPTEMBER CATCH-ALL

► THIS SHITHOLE JUST GOT BETTER

The morning of the 10th feels just like any other. It arrives without fanfare, no itch at the back of your mind telling you something is different. If you're a homebody, you might very well go about much of your day without growing any the wiser... At least until you go outside.

The island is the first sign that something's amiss. Stepping out your front door and spotting the brand new tree-covered patch of land smack dab in the middle of your lake may not face some of you, but it's certainly not a thing that has happened before. Those who dealt with the hatch and the tunnel beyond in August might notice that the island very distinctly covers where that very hatch used to be, sealing off that tunnel system once and for all.

Those who live along the northern end of the lake will also hear the distinct sound of rushing water, a sharp contrast to the quiet atmosphere of the still lake you fell asleep to. Sure enough, a river now pours into the lake from the north, a whole ass river coming into existence overnight.

But the island and river aren't the only changes - they're just the most obvious. It may be today, tomorrow, or a week from now, but the next time someone makes their way to the north or east barriers in any shape or form, they'll find that the barrier no longer seems to exist. The trees are marked quite clearly, white spray paint on a trunk one per fifteen or so feet but you find that they're able to walk right through the area it's supposed to be. And walk, and walk, and walk. Is this a mishap with the barrier, or was it on purpose? Have the Technicians... set you free?

Maybe it's time to tell the others.

► LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'VE WON!

Those who make their way across the new and improved containment zone can encounter a fairly wide variety of things. Following the main road like a rational human being puts you on the direct route to town. Should you get curious along the way, you might detour off the asphalt to explore a stretch of farmland, with smooth rolling hills that may once have been idyllic before they fell into disrepair. If you're hungry, a grove of apple trees sit alongside the river, their branches heavy with fruits ripe for the picking. Consider sparing some for the horses fenced in the western field - they're too skittish to let you approach, but if you leave the apples inside their fence, they're certain to grab them as soon as you've backed away.

Conversely, heading due east from your cabin like the impulsive goblin you are will likely lead you smack dab into the swamp. It's dismal. It's disgusting. Use the damn road next time, and you won't be slopping your way through nearly knee-deep muck... And that's before you discover the alligators. (Are discovered by the alligators? Who discovers whom is just a matter of perspective, really.)

Whether you take the smart route or the soggy route, you'll (hopefully) end up in much the same place: the town. It's dirty and run-down and the alleys and back roads host a whole species roulette of strays, and you intermittently feel the distinct sensation of being watched or even followed, but it's not all bad. There's Foodland, which compared to the gas station pickings may as well be a five-star buffet. There's also a rec center with a functional bowling alley, if you know how to play - and across the street from that rec center sits an apartment complex, complete with nine mostly-clean apartments with fully-functional electricity and plumbing. I'm not saying the swamp-waders should hijack an apartment shower, buuuut that's definitely not not an option.

Finally, to the north, there's a bit of a mountain that I'm fairly sure that nobody is going to fuck with just yet, unless they happen to be some sort of overachiever who wants nothing more than to get a bird's-eye view of the landscape below. Mind the mountain goats. They like to shove.

► MOD NOTES

• This log is an introduction to the new expanded containment zone, but it also functions as the September catch-all log for all non-event starters.
  
• Refer to the Locations page for actual information on the various new areas and points of interest - the above flavortext is only meant to supplement the Locations page info.
  
• Also check out the September Infopost (most relevantly, the bottom two drop-downs) for more September-specific info to potentially include in your prompts.
  
• Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with the date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment)!
  
• Any questions (on the new setting or anything else) can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk. Additionally, if you catch any errors (incorrect links, etc) in the Locations post, please let Trace know!
  

Comments

[legbreakings]

That's curious enough - and suitably of interest to him - that it is enough to make him forget all about exploring the crafts store he has just forced their way into.

[ At first glance, it doesn't look terribly promising anyway; there is a musty and slightly moldy smell, and some of the bolts of cloth and balls of yarn that are scattered on the floor near the entrance look damp and moldy. Farther in, the store seems to be in far better shape. ]

These people, are they from your future? The people from my world were all taken from different points in time. Years from my past, or many years from my future. It is very strange, and disturbing. Although they haven't really told me anything about my future, I didn't want to know.

[lethechained]

[ Lips pressing into a line, Naminé makes a similar appraisal of the store's contents. By now she's seen enough of the library to know that some of the places in the town are hopelessly damaged, and feels her stomach sink slightly on his behalf. Still - some of it looks usable, and although she means to step inside and take a closer look, his question arrests her attention. Head turning, she gives him a surprised expression. ]

The future...?

[ That's a new possibility, one she's only just recently come to discover. Curling a hand thoughtfully against her mouth, she weighs the idea in her mind. ]

I did hear recently that something like that was going on in that other place. And if it happened to all of you here, too - then that could be the case. But I--

[ It's hard for her to parse exactly how she feels about that, and she falters. Already she's made her assumptions, but she still inquires softly with a melancholy sort of resignation on her face, ]

Well, there's no easy way be sure, is there?

[legbreakings]

[ Jiang Cheng nods solemnly, though he feels a little bit guilty now for bringing it up. He had thought it would help clear up the confusion but the idea of people from the future seems to be disquieting Namine rather than comforting her. ]

It's not that bad [ he offers weakly. Biting back the comment that it is much harder to be the one from the future. Keeping their fates from his family had been terrible. ] It can be... It can be a chance, having people from different points of time here. I have run into people again who are already dead at home.

[ But that is talk which makes him uncomfortable now, so he moves deeper into the store to explore the parts of it in better condition. Here, the bolts of fabric seem to be fine at first scrutiny, and he even finds racks with all kinds of... sewing supplies, he'd suppose. Needles and other things he doesn't know but which look to him like they could be vaguely sewing-related. ]

[lethechained]

[ As she thought, then; it can be no more than a theory without more information than is available to them. She gives a tiny hum, then falls silent as she takes a moment to mull it all over. No matter her own considerations, however, his attempt at encouragement draws her eyes back up. Since they happen to be keen eyes indeed, she doesn't miss his discomfort, and wilts visibly at the implications of that last comment. ]

I'm sorry, [ she responds gently as she watches him travel further into the store. Her sympathy is heartfelt, because for such an opportunity to mean that much, he must surely have lost at least a few people important to him. The girl takes a moment to set her bag of groceries on the nearest stable-looking surface before trailing after Jiang Cheng, a little frown still tugging at her mouth. ]

I can see why making the most of this situation would be important to you. There are people I... would really like to meet again, too.

[ Except that thinking on the past brings back all sorts of memories, not all of which are pleasant. Most of them, in fact, fall into that unfortunate category, so she amends, ]

And-- people that I wouldn't. [ There's an undercurrent there, a sort of heaviness in the context of that statement as her expression darkens - not with anger, but with old and remembered fear. Carefully, ] If your family came here with you from your world, then - what about your enemies? Have you met any of them?

[legbreakings]

[ Making the most of the situation... Yes, that really sums up his experience in Vestige quite well. He's not happy to be here, not at all, but there are advantages to it, blessings which he wouldn't be able to experience anywhere else such as being reunited with his dead family. And for this, he will make the most of it.

At her question, he shakes his head.]

Fortunately, I haven't come across any enemies from my world yet. I'm sure we will be getting them sooner or later, the Technicians have brought a lot of us in and... We don't have a track record of getting lucky with such things. But hopefully, it won't be for a while yet. Until we understand this place better, at least.

[lethechained]

[ Her features ease slightly at his initial answer. Though the rest of it isn't quite as encouraging, she can't disagree with the logic, considering how many people seem to have come from his world. Maybe it is only a matter of time, but, ]

I see. That's a relief.

[ To not have any enemies from home here. Except they aren't her enemies, and a beat later she falters, turning a slightly bashful look up at him. ]

For-- all of you, that is.

[ And for her, honestly, because she can't help sympathizing with others even when their fights aren't her own. (Besides, who would want a bunch of sword wizards duking it out in the middle of town? That just sounds like it would be a mess to clean up afterward.)

Turning away slightly, she considers the nearest shelves of material and supplies. Although she starts to walk along it, studying all of the contents thoughtfully, she finally speaks up again a moment later. ]

Sometimes - I wonder if we'll ever understand this place. Then... something like the borders changing happens, and suddenly it doesn't seem so impossible anymore. Little by little, I guess they're showing what it is they're really capable of.

[ The Technicians seem both more powerful and less the more she's able to understand how things function around here. As she comes to an abrupt stop partway along the row of shelves, she gives a soft, 'oh,' like she's just remembered something. Swiveling around, ]

That's right, I forgot to ask you - what's your favorite color?

[ Which would probably be pretty out of left field to inquire about on any normal day in a murderbox, but in this case there are practical applications. ]

[legbreakings]

My favorite color? [ he echoes blankly, staring at her. Trying to make sense of how that is even relevant to what power the Technicians may or may not have, before he belatedly realizes that he did drag her here to check for fabrics. Oh. Right.

He clears his throat, trying to cover up that slip and busies himself with inspecting a table holding all kinds of laces and trims. ]

My favorite color is purple, though I like blue and teal as well. Purple is the color of my sect, it reminds me of home.

[ He abandons the laces to go back to looking at fabrics. Well. No, he doesn't want robes with cartoon dogs and cats. Teddy bears aren't high on his list, either. ]

But I suppose color doesn't matter much here, as long as it is sturdy, warm fabric to make good winter clothes. Whatever the Technicians are capable of, it's bound to get worse. They have been conspicuously gracious to us after the nightmare that our first days here were.

[lethechained]

[ The way she tips her head expectantly at his echo of her question doubles as a nod. Returning his stare with one of her own, she gives him a few moments to catch her meaning and makes a mostly-successful effort of keeping her mouth from rising at the corners in the meantime. ]

I can see why you prefer it, [ she notes kindly, not calling attention to his slip, ] ... if it has such good memories for you.

[ Those are all nice, soft colors - although she's finding there's a lot more of the gaudy patterned stuff than she'd expect him to like. Casting a sidelong glance back at Jiang Cheng, she mentally measures the ridiculous flame print on the nearest fabric against his current attire and decides the idea clashes. This might be harder than she'd hoped.

As she gives a thoughtful hum of agreement, she pauses alongside another roll of red fabric. Reaching out to carefully brush it with her fingers informs her that it's quite pleasant to the touch, but-- it's awfully loud. Does one really want to attract so much attention in a place like this? Filing that option away as a 'maybe' on her suggestions list, ]

That's true. After everything they told us at the beginning and what happened in that cabin, I was expecting much worse, too. [ A frown pulls at her mouth, the distraction of looking for material not enough to keep the concern out of her expression. ] Do you think-- there might be something that they're waiting for...?