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vestigelogs2021-01-03 10:00 pm
vestigemods) wrote in vestigelogs2021-01-03 10:00 pm
(january catch-all) 2021 IS OFF TO A WEIRD START
JANUARY CATCH-ALL
► AT LEAST YOU FINALLY GET TO REST?
- Though the new year starts off uneventful enough, with sunny skies and an inch or two of snow melting away with each new day, that good fortune lasts a whopping two whole days. At 5 AM on the 3rd, those slumbering fall into an even deeper sleep, and those still awake (or already awake, you overachievers) find themselves struck with an abrupt and insurmountable wave of exhaustion. It's all you can really do to lie down deliberately rather than collapse altogether, let alone making it to any sort of bed. And this is how the population of the containment zone remains for fourteen whole days, dead to the world (figuratively, of course) and to anything which may or may not be occurring around them.
Then, sometime throughout the 16th, you wake up - though the ambient ache in your neck, back, and joints may make you wish that you hadn't. It's almost as if you slept wrong, or... y'know, slept on the floor, apparently. (At the very least, those who were outside at maintenance time were moved indoors for the duration of it, though they were moved to the nearest available building so... have fun waking up in someone else's cabin, I guess.)
The first time you notice the date (on your phone, or maybe someone else breaks the news in their own confusion or panic), you probably struggle to believe it. Two weeks that you've been asleep. It doesn't feel like two weeks - you're clean, only mildly hungry or thirsty, with only a faint weakness in your muscles as you stand. It almost feels more likely that the Technicians adjusted the date overnight to alarm you. Perhaps you might even believe it, but for the evidence otherwise. The milk in your fridge has expired. The snow outside your door is fresh and untouched, with no sign of your passage supposedly yesterday. And the animals are gone, as well. Perhaps not a sign of how long you've slept, but certainly a sign that something isn't right.
If you expected an explanation, you aren't going to get one. Unless by 'explanation' you mean 'goddamn blizzard'.
A GODDAMN BLIZZARD
- Because that's exactly what sets in on the 20th, a gale-force blizzard with increasingly limited visibility. Here's hoping you were smart enough to set out for home as soon as it began, because you aren't given more than a couple of hours before navigating outdoors is damn near impossible, between the visibility issue and the rapidly-deepening blanket of snow. As the afternoon fades to evening, it only seems to be getting worse. Those cabins with appropriately-slanted roofs find that the snow slides down to pile heavily against the cabin's exterior walls and door. Those cabins with a flat or gently-sloped roofs, on the other hand, are at strong risk of a part of their roof (and thus ceiling) collapsing under the weight of all that snow. As if having a blizzard outside the cabin wasn't bad enough.
And then things get just a little bit worse. Just before sunset, the cabins' electricity starts to flicker - just a little at first, but increasing in intensity until it finally goes out altogether a half hour later. This lasts through the night, and while it may seem promising that electricity within the town itself remains steady, that too goes into a blackout just before dawn.
This blackout lingers through the 21st and into the 22nd, cold seeping in through the windows and cracks as you huddle near the fire or generator-run space heater and hope for the best... But even the best isn't pleasant in the slightest. The lack of internal heat lets the doors and windows freeze shut, and snow piles high enough around the house's exterior that you'd have to climb out an upstairs window in order to exit. Not only is it cold as hell, but everyone's more-or-less trapped in it for now.
But not even the cold and the dark can last forever, and the blizzard lets up to a light dusting of snow mid-day on the 22nd. That evening, the power flickers back on as well, but some cabins/apartments/buildings may find that it's less consistent than others, continuing to flicker dangerously throughout the next day or so. But that doesn't mean the ordeal is over yet. The snow may have slowed to an almost laughable sprinkle and the sun may shine warm and bright in the rapidly-clearing sky, but that still leaves each cabin or building piled up with snow nearly as deep as you are tall (except you, Vivi - it's about twice your height). Might want to start digging yourself out, since it'll take nearly the rest of the month to melt down to reasonable levels if you don't.
► MOD NOTES
- This is the January Catch-All Log, for all log top-levels throughout the month. Large gatherings (parties, meetings, etc) are still encouraged to post their own logs for organizational purposes!
- This log also encompasses both Annual Maintenance (Jan 3rd - 16th) + Hey, Who Turned Out The Lights? (Jan 20th - 22nd), discussed at the bottom of the January Bulletin.
- Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with identifying information like the IC date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment), and be sure to clearly indicate event prompts.
- ( ! ) For the sake of organization, a top-level has been provided for all Annual Maintenance shenanigans and exclusively those. Please put any shared dream prompts under the top-level for the sake of organization, while any non-dream prompts should be posted as a regular top-level as normal.
- Cell phone signal does work during the blackout, but inconsistently! If you'd like to play with the trapped/isolated feelings, feel free to say they can't get a message out/in (or that it takes a long time to do so) even if others are able to more easily.
- Any questions can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk.
no subject
And isn't that she chooses not to respond so much as that she hasn't quite recovered enough from the shock before the voice starts giving her instructions, and... well, it seems like it's in her best interest to comply. So the first sound that comes out of the cabin is a sort of quiet shuffling and rustling as Naminé redoubles her attempts to brush some of the snow that fell in through the open front door back out again. It's a failing effort, and presently she gives up; there's enough debris out of the way to shut it, at least, which she does promptly. The beat of hesitation that follows is mostly silent, but presently she calls back, as if the sound of the door scraping hadn't already made it clear, ]
It's closed.
[ Her own voice is naturally soft, and in this case it's muffled by both the building and her uncertainty. Backing away from the front wall, Naminé folds her arms around her middle as she watches the window carefully, hoping to catch a glimpse of this supposed good Samaritan. It's not easy to make anything out at first - she's chosen the wrong vantage point - but she can hear enough to imagine what he must be up to. (The physics of it escape her, however, especially when he seems to be making such easy progress from the roof, of all places.) Perking at the question, she's less hesitant to respond this time. ]
Yes...! I'm alright. [ And curious, though that's beside the point. ] A little cold, but-- I'm not hurt.
[ Her shivering would indicate that she's more than a bit cold, but it's not as if he can do anything about that, right? ]
no subject
They're not out here all alone are they?]
Don't worry about coming outside right now. I'll take care of things out here.
[Down on the ground now, Winston tries clearing out near the windows close to the door and peers in, seeing a curious face back. Oh no. Oh she is just a young girl! Shock and then worry comes over his face, no doubt a face that probably scares her, being a giant gorilla and all. He does try to come off less big and scary, smiling a little and waving.]
Do you have anything to keep you warm inside there?
[It's been a couple days and if she's been stuck inside with no heat, who knows what it like in there.]
no subject
I won't come out.
[ Despite the reluctance in her tone, she doesn't intend to break her word; rather, there are other reasons for her reticence. Perking when she notices the snow in front of the window beginning to shift, she's quick to look that direction - meaning she catches the full range of his expression when it comes into view. Her own face freezes in open surprise, her eyes wide. She really does look like such a tiny thing now, curled in on herself for warmth in her cold, lonesome cabin. She can't be more than fifteen, skinny as a rail and delicate-featured in the way that makes her look even younger than she is.
But rather than fear, the other feeling that colors her expression is something more akin to wonder. It seems to take her a moment to grasp what she's seeing, a rush of secondhand memories taking hold of some of her attention; her recovery is late, and by the time she raises her hand to wave back in response to him, it feels awfully tardy. The gesture is as small as she is, and it pauses when he inquires further about her well-being. Drawing that same arm back in, she returns it to where it was helping hold the blanket she has wrapped about her slim shoulders as close to her as she can manage. ]
The firewood ran out last night, [ she admits, still preoccupied for a beat before she seems to draw herself out of it. Blinking, she gives her head a short shake to clear it. ] There's more outside, but... it must be buried under the snow.
[ She'd have gone for it already if she'd had a choice in the matter, but that wasn't an option for obvious reasons. ]
no subject
Thankfully she seems to understand he's genuinely here to help.]
Firewood... I'll keep an eye out.
[Since it's just snow, hopefully it'll still be dry enough inside to burn. Poor little thing must be freezing, that blanket is pulling a lot of weight keeping her even vaguely warm he's sure.]
I'll be right back, alright?
[Winston tries to assure her. He's on a quest for firewood! Off he goes to go digging. He assumes it'll be around the cabin if not close by.]
no subject
Okay, [ she agrees readily, less bemused than before; even through her distraction there's a flicker of gratitude in her voice. Falling silent, she watches him start to depart before remembering herself enough to call after him. ]
It should be along the left side of the house...!
[ Although of course the snow'll make it hard to figure out whether he's got the right spot, but at least there aren't very many places to look around such a small cabin. If he digs deep enough, in fact, he might find a few scattered chunks have spread out from where they were arranged thanks to the storm's strong winds, although the majority of them are still in place in what was probably once quite a clean stack. ]
no subject
Got it!
[Thanks to her advice he does find them in that general vicinity. After some hearty digging and snow flinging. He's gotten the snow out from around the front of her cabin which is the most important for now, let's try and get her warmed up.
Winston comes back to the door, five logs under one arm. Knock knock!]
These might take a second to get burning, but they should do the trick.
no subject
Studying him through the gap, she tilts her head back to meet his eyes as best she can; she really is a tiny thing, her cheeks pink from the cold. ]
Thank you, [ she says first, gratitude strong in her voice; she realized while he was out of sight that she hadn't said that yet. ] I don't know what I would have been able to do if you hadn't shown up.
[ Pulling a hand away from the door, she at first intends to accept the firewood from him. Glancing down at the amount held under his arm, though, Naminé is forced to run the numbers on whether or not her own (much skinner) limbs would be able to support quite so many chunks with as much ease. Coming up with a discouraging answer, she reconsiders her initial plan. After a short pause and another look up at him, Naminé takes a step backward, pulling the door along with her. ]
Maybe you should come in...? [ Not only for her own practical reasons; rather, ] It must be awfully cold out there.
[ The least she can do is give him a chance to warm up, right? Although the firewood is sorely needed; the inside of the cabin isn't actually that much more comfortable than the outdoors is, even if the insulation of the walls does help somewhat. ]
no subject
Oh- thank you, I think I'll take you up on that offer.
[Er, now it's time for him to awkwardly get in through the door, but with a little effort he manages.]
You're welcome. Glad I could help.
[He glances around and spots the fireplace, heading over with the wood still under an arm. May as well get the fire going since he's here. He'll split a couple logs apart with his hands to expose the dry wood inside, that will help it burn better.]
... you're not all the way out here on your own are you?
[Winston asks, concern in his voice.]
no subject
Sure, [ she says by way of her own 'you're welcome' as she shuts the door behind him. It offers relief from the moving air of the outside, at least, but she's still shivering as she trails after him a couple of steps, her arms quick to fold back around her middle. She doesn't quite cross the room, since he seems content to handle the fire himself; from where she is she can see the wood splinter as he pulls it apart, her brows raising slightly. Perhaps if she were a different girl she'd find that frightening, but Naminé is mostly just impressed.
He might discover it's a bit of a challenge, though, to actually spark the flame; there's no lighter or matches immediately on hand by the fireplace, which... might be weird, considering she was clearly burning wood regularly the past couple of days. ]
On my own?
[ She echoes the words as though the notion has only just occurred to her. Rather, she hasn't thought of that being a problem in a while, but she recognizes his concern immediately. That might be why she hesitates a beat before responding, a touch quietly, ]
I've been staying here by myself since the beginning.
no subject
Uhh... you wouldn't happen to have any matches or a lighter?
[He turns then, regarding the tiny human sadly. All alone in this cabin pushed back into he woods. Maybe he'd understand if the cabin were closer to the others even...]
Must be awful lonely, but as long as you're okay...?
[It must be strange having this big talking gorilla show up and offer to help, but also question your living situation.]
no subject
[ And her weight shifts like she means to do exactly that, yet she pauses when he looks at her, pinned in place by the necessity of explaining herself. Her shoulders are already high, tucked into the blanket for warmth as they are, but there might be more to it than that when she pauses for moment, regarding him carefully in return. It is peculiar to have a stranger come asking about her state of affairs; she's usually able to avoid such questions given how rarely she has visitors. ]
I'm okay, [ she assures him at last, sounding briefly hesitant; she hasn't truly given it much thought before now. More certain is the, ] I'm used to being alone.
[ But that sounds like a poor excuse, and the sort of bemused way she studies him seems to indicate that she knows that. Turning her eyes away, she finally makes good on her word to collect the matches for him and steps past him to go into the kitchen. There's a quiet creak as she - presumably, since she's out of sight - opens a cabinet. Though she's efficient about it and doesn't waste time, she's still considering how she might assuage his concerns. Upon her return, she holds a barely-used book of matches out to him, finally admitting, ]
Sometimes it is lonely. But I think... maybe I'm more comfortable this way. [ She says that, yet her eyes are just a little sad as she looks up, asking, ] Does that make sense?
no subject
When she returns he gently takes the comically small matchbook from her tiny hands. Compared to his that is.]
... mm, it does.
[He'd grown used to being "alone", does an AI companion count, for some years now. After Overwatch was disbanded, he didn't really have any where to go. Where does a genetically engineered talking gorilla go live when he no longer has his "family" anymore?
Illegally squat at an old Overwatch base that's what.
Winston turns to the fireplace now, awkwardly attempting to light a match with big thick fingers not made for such tasks. He'll manage. Maybe.]
Sometimes it's easier to be alone. Sometimes alone is all you've got.
[Though he was attempting to fix that before he was nabbed to Vestige. After fumbling with the matches and having no luck, Winston clears his throat and looks rather embarrassed as he offers the matches back to the girl.]
Um, do you mind? Haha I'm all thumbs.
no subject
They sound an awful lot like personal experience. With a blink, she angles her eyes thoughtfully up at his face, unable to keep them from growing concerned. Well aware as she is that such a subject might be a delicate one, she hesitates to ask about it. Instead, ]
Easier... Yes, it's easier. [ A beat. ] And-- safer, maybe.
[ Not in the more practical sense; there's safety in numbers, as they say, but in her case it's hard to find the gumption to attach herself to others when it's always worked out so badly in the past. It feels safer, is what she means. Perking at the clearing of his throat, the girl tilts her head until his intention becomes clear. ]
Of course, [ she agrees without hesitation, reaching to retrieve the little book of matches from him with such mild gentleness that one would think she were the one big enough to hurt him by accident.
That carefulness doesn't really help much when she tries to strike the match, though; it doesn't take the first time, or the second. On the third, she hesitates, spares a flickering glance upward at him before trying again. A tiny hint of magic is all it takes to make the flame finally catch - and the faint extra glow just as the stick lights is hardly noticeable. (Naminé hopes it was inconspicuous, anyway, because that's not something she'd like to have to explain if it turns out this fellow comes from a world that doesn't look kindly upon the supernatural.) ]
... There. [ She breathes it with more open relief than before. Peering up at him, she resists the instinct to hand the lit match to him; they've already established the state of his thumbs. ] Here - I'll start it.
[ The fire in the fireplace, that is. He'll have to move out of the way, however, to let her through, which is probably why she regards him expectantly thereafter. ]
no subject
Safer... the situation certainly depends. I'm not so sure that applies in a place like this.
[His tone indicates that that's definitely her choice though. Winston offers a 'thank you' as she takes the matches and attempts to light one. It almost seems like she may have some trouble as well, but thankfully third time is the charm.
Lucky(?) for her he doesn't notice the bit of magic, but he would have been amazed if he had. "Magic" isn't real where he's from exactly, but people have special powers and such, usually through technology and experimental fuck ups. We won't talk about the brothers who can summon spirit dragons. Who even knows with that.]
Hey-! Good job.
[Oh wait- realizing he's in the way Winston apologizes with an "excuse me" shifting over to give her room.]
Maybe you don't mind being out here, but if you do ever need help, you're welcome to call. I'm Winston, and besides cold, you are?
[He's trying to joke around, lighten the mood. He can imagine the girl must feel a little odd having this giant ape in her cabin talking and all.]
no subject
Maybe not. It is true that I'm not the most able to defend myself.
[ Of course, she's working on that. But since that's still very much in progress, she can admit to her failings in that area - although if she had the presence of mind she'd be proud of herself for getting magic to work the first time. The practice has really been paying off. Mouth curling just a little bit at the corners, ]
Thank you...! [ It's not every day that she receives praise, so it's a nice feeling. Her features are still kind as she gives a grateful nod of her head once he's out of the way and steps over to the fireplace. This part she's had some experience with lately, and before long she's made use of the match and is coaxing the firewood to burn. That doesn't stop her from glancing up, though, when he speaks. She looks pleasantly surprised by the introduction, and though it takes her a beat to comprehend the joke, it seems to amuse her once she does, judging by her gentle smile. ]
Naminé, [ she responds. ] My name is Naminé. I'll... keep that in mind, Winston. [ Although it feels rather like she's asked a lot of him already, what with all this snow clearing business. ] It's very nice to meet you.
[ Ah. Perhaps she ought to continue the humor, so-- after a second's hesitation, she adds a careful, ]
And that's-- not just because you made it so that I can leave my house again.
no subject
I'm sorry you're in a place you have to concern yourself with defending yourself.
[She's just a kid after all. She shouldn't have to worry about that. No one should as far as Winston is concerned, but unfortunately that's not the case for a lot of people.
Thankfully Naminé has more luck in getting the fire going and soon it'll start to warm up.]
It's very nice to meet you too, Naminé.
[He chuckles, shifting closer to the fire again.]
I hope otherwise you're doing alright out here? Good on food and such?
no subject
It's alright, [ she responds, placidly enough to sound matter-of-fact about the whole thing, ] I'm used to it. Actually, you could even say that most days, my life here is more peaceful than the one I had before.
[ Then there are the days where it isn't, and those are the ones that really put a damper on the whole situation. With the fire handled and matchbook set aside, Naminé places herself close to the hearth, exhaling a quiet breath as the warmth begins to reach her. She looks as small as ever, legs tucked in to try to make the most of the heat the fire and the blanket provide. ]
Oh-- yes. I've been very lucky; I had some food stored already before the storm came in. I didn't even have to open the extras that girl left for everyone. Other than the firewood and how hard it is to draw in the dark, I haven't had much trouble.
[ Aside from, you know, the fact that it is pretty lonely out here. ]
What about you? You didn't seem to need any help with the snow.
[ Which makes him better equipped for all this than she is, to be sure. ]
no subject
I guess we have to take whatever silver lining we can.
[And good, he's glad she's not gone without food. Bad enough she'd been cold. Winston tilts his head curiously as she mentions drawing.]
Oh you like drawing? It must be nice to pass the time.
[And Winston does consider himself lucky, being so big and having fur he can handle the cold a wee bit better. Though the fire feels great right now, especially since he's been out in the snow for a while now.]
Thankfully not. Though I hope you don't mind if I warm up a little before heading back out.
no subject
I do, [ she confirms, and it feels like such a new development that she can actually say that. Before, she hadn't really known if she liked art or if it was just a matter of course for her. Now, she feels more confident that it actually is something she wants to participate in. ] It took me a while to find the right materials to keep up with it here, but I've been sketching my entire life.
[ He might even find evidence of that in the cabin if he's looking; a picture on the wall here, a stray pencil there. A touch bashfully, ]
I guess I just didn't know how else to keep busy once I arrived here.
[ The girl is quick to shake her head at his last comment; ]
You're welcome to stay as long as you like. It's the least I can do after you helped me out. Although... [ That hesitant shyness is back. She must admit, mustn't she, ] I'm not really sure what you're supposed to do when you have guests. Not many people visit me out here. So-- I'm sorry if I get it wrong.