snowblindrpg | [network|video] @captaininvincible; Live-Bloggin' Downtown; DAY 77 [open] [cw: Nathan]

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[network|video] @captaininvincible; Live-Bloggin' Downtown; DAY 77 [open] [cw: Nathan]

PROMPT ONE, MORNING

Rise and shine! Now, usually I'm not an early-to-rise kind of guy, but I'm like a kid on Christmas morning.

[He moves the tablet back so it's at arms length, balanced in one hand. Slowly, with the other, he holds up a key. His eyebrows waggle in triumph.]

This, boys and girls, was in the safe, and I'm willing to bet on my grave [You know, the one that he can't stay in.] that this beautiful little bastard opens the locked door outta here. Shall we?

[Behold, Norfinbury, as Nathan uses his key and opens the door to...a whole new frozen wasteland. Light floods in from the outside, and Nathan stumbles back, swearing in surprise. The tablet's feed shakes as he nearly drops it, but he catches it.]

Jesus. They could've put a warning up. Danger: retinas may bleed upon opening.

PROMPT TWO, DAY

[So, naturally, Nathan went through the door he opened in the post office. He's been keeping his tablet feed open all day, and ranting and talking to nothing (or whoever talks to him in return). It's safe to tune him out, or just check in every so often throughout the day. At some points, he seems to forget he even has the thing on and fades into slice, so all that can be heard is his huffing and puffing as he tramps onward through snow and rubble.

Or, well, if you're lucky or particularly vindictive, you might catch him as he turns the tablet around to make a stupid face, slides in the snow and falls face-first, his tablet flinging from his hands. The feed doesn't cut out, but everyone's getting a wonderful view of the snow and sky as he screams, sounding like a little girl.]

PROMPT THREE, EVENING

[This is when things start to get good.]

Is that a building, do you see that building? Christ, thought I was done for!

[There's still a bit of time left before lockdown, but it is getting late, and he hasn't run into anything. It's clear that he's nervous, getting antsy that he isn't going to find anywhere he can stay for lockdown. Nathan books it toward the building he sees, and when he makes his way inside...]

Holy Shit.

[He holds the tablet up. It's...a grocery store. There's food--fresh food, produce, even a bakery! Nathan spins the tablet around again to address whatever audience he still has at this point.]

Are you getting all this? I'm not hallucinating, am I? There's seriously real food here? Fuck, well, I guess I've come this far, might as well try it out!

[Excuse him while, as he moves forward through the building, he both shoves his face and his bag full of the stuff he plans to later shove into his face some more. It's legit, guys.]

PROMPT FOUR, NIGHT

We have reached the end of our broadcast day.

[Nathan is breathless as he addresses everyone for the final time. It's just hit lockdown, and he's breathless, having barely made it into a building in time to, well, survive. He sinks down, wiping his forehead. He's not paying much attention to the space around him, but anyone else will be able to see a backdrop of toys, toys, and more toys.]

So, recap: was almost a bummer, but if you want to brave nearly getting locked out because it doesn't seem like there's any houses immediately outside the post office so far as I can tell, you can find a pretty sweet food stash straight east. Oh, and I'm guessing it's one of those places that you can't stay overnight, because once it hit seven, my body was directing me the fuck outta dodge despite me having no idea where else the fuck to go. So, don't count on that as an overnight pad to crash in.

[He gives a thumbs up before shoving a piece of bread into his mouth and talking while he's chewing. You know, like the classy young man he is.]

Everything's fine, though! I've got the luck of the Irish on my side.

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[He is following the network, too bad Leon is days away from the ice caves and babysitting Ginger, he'd love to be there and map the area. Nathan's posts are costantly checked, it doesn't matter if he's walking or otherwise busy, but... ]

Is that a Croissant?

[A grocery store? A bakery?Shit, he'd kill for some fresh baked food right now. ]

Do you think you can check that place again tomorrow or.. in a couple of days to see if it gets replenished?

You're damn right it's a croissant!

[He chews even more emphatic. Is he gloating a bit? Oh, most definitely.]

It's cold, but it's not green and it's not even stale, so I'm not going to complain.

[He shrugs.]

Yeah, I can swing that. Crashed in a place just outside of it. Don't think it'll take me too long.

[And if he goes first thing in the morning, he won't have to worry about rushing for his life; he knows at least one building he can stay at. Probably.]

[ Angel only finds a new tablet in the afternoon, and she's a little distracted by her own discoveries to pay attention to other people's network posts until the evening. So, she manages to tune into Nathan's liveshitposting just in time to catch Bakeryfest: The Delishening.

Because lbr nobody gives a crap about the other food THE BAKERY IS WHERE IT'S AT ]

Holy shi-- um, holy... heck. That's fresh, right? It looks fresh. Do they have, um - those things with the flakey poofy pastry and chocolate inside? Or - or eclairs? Cake?

[ Someone has a major sweet tooth. GOOD LORD. ]

Edited 2016-01-19 17:29 (UTC)

[It's true. Who gives a shit about fruit when there are fresh baked goods aplenty? Because Angel catches Nathan when he's starting to get the "gotta get out of here" jitters, she's going to mostly get a camera-full of food as he works his way through the store. Which is probably preferable to his face anyway, so a lucky break.]

Good question!

[He ducks quickly into the bakery, she'll get a brief view of some of the selection as Nathan shoves rolls and less sticky-looking confections into his bag. Cake? Looks like it, but he's not going to try and shove an entire cake into his pockets when he's in a hurry.]

I see some of the things on your checklist, love, but I'll have to come back to look for the eclairs and chocolate-whatever-the-fucks.

[He sounds excited despite his response being a touch callous. There's just so much to take in and so little time to do it!]

-- Pain au chocolat! That's what they're called! You should try one if you do see one, they're so good.

I mean, um, right. Lockdown's approaching. Gotcha. Wait - are you all on your own? Seriously?

Yep!

[He says, practically chipper. Hey, he loves company enough as the next person, but he's noticed company tends to have an aversion to him. And Company seems to result in acid-drooling lizards so. No complaints from him no sir.]

Haven't found a place I can actually sleep in yet but I figure I got a good...half hour to find somewhere.

[Ahaha...ha...]

Dude.

[ Angel sounds a mixture of impressed and horrified. It takes a special kind of bravery to go steaming on ahead into a completely unknown area all by yourself - sure, that bravery is also known as a completely idiotic lack of self-preservation, but still. BRAVE. ]

Why are you even still in there? Run!

Calm down, now, I'm working on it!

[He took a detour to show you some sweet bakery treats, okay? Well, he was planning on grabbing some of that anyway. Still, Nathan can't deny that he is getting increasingly worried, and if he doesn't see a building that he can actually crash in as soon as he makes it out the other side of the grocery...well, he'll probably devolve into hysterics.

But he'll just deal with that when he gets there, right? Abandoning the rest of the food in favor of actually having time to make it somewhere, Nathan throws his backpack over his shoulder and starts moving much more rapidly. The camera feed's a bit shaky and he's not paying much attention to it now himself, but he's still up for talking.]

What's the worse that can happen? Death? No big deal!

What? Of course death is a big deal, you... doof.

[ STRONG WORDS. ]

People don't always come back! And do you realise how scr-- how much trouble you'll be in if you do find a building but there's a monster guarding it? This is why you should always travel with someone!

Did you just call me a doof? You're going to hurt my feelings!

[And after he's done so, so much! His poor, delicate heart can't take it.]

I'm not most people. It's fine! I'm used to the whole revival process thing. It's what I do. [For a living, even!] And if I do find a monster, I think I'd be able to give it the runaround on my own. It's simple in theory, yeah? Go in a big circle and then slam the door in its face?

[The more he talks, the more winded he gets. Lord is this guy ever out of shape.]

Oh - erm - sorry. You've been revived before? Friend, I don't know how things worked for you back home but it's not the same here.

And no offense, but you don't sound capable of giving anything 'the runaround.'

[ At least Angel has an excuse for being physically wimpy, okay!! ]

Seems pretty much the same. [Except that everyone can do a cheaper, lamer version of what he can do which isn't cool but! Whatever!] I'll believe it when I see it, sorted?

[He reaches an exit and all but slams out of it. He gives himself a second to catch his breath.]

Hey! Nobody can have everything! If I was athletic and beautiful and smart, nobody would be able to compete with me! Generously, I've claimed solely beauty over brains and brawn.

[Usually Kelly fights his battles for him anyway. He's never needed to be athletic.]

Alright. South, east, or west? Figure I got one shot, what with lockdown and all.

Well, um, I suppose I can't fault your confide-- what the frick?

[ She almost drops her freaking tablet. WHY IS HE ASKING HER WHAT IS THIS NO!! NO? NO. ]

Don't ask me, I don't want your life in my ha-- east! No no, south!

[Nathan grins like his life isn't totally on the line right now and the fact that she's kinda freaked out is classic.]

See, I would've said west. But I'm shit where it comes to following my instincts. Most of the time, my instincts get me killed, or worse.

[Yes, there are worse things. He knows these worse things. They're gross. And usually involve elderly women.]

South it is! Cross your fingers for me, would you, love?

Oh geez - can you please stop smiling about this? And calling me love? I'm Angel.

[ And she holds up her hands to reveal a full set of crossed fingers. PLEASE DON'T DIE, GUY-WITH-THE-HAIR. ]

[Nathan would throw his hands in the air if he wasn't literally running for his life right now. His response comes out between beats as his lungs struggle to keep up with him in the cold air.]

Come on, it's slang! [Criminey. Can't an Irish boy just spout his Irish-isms in peace?] It's not like I'm proposing!

[But whatever, he's not going to argue right now. He'll...maybe stick with Angel. The "love" just kind of pops out here and there. Besides, he's distracted, because--]

Thank fuck!

[A building's quickly approaching! He shuts his damn trap long enough to all but dive inside just in time for the doors to slam shut for lockdown behind him. Winded, Nathan collapses into a heap.]

[ Angel would stammer out something about not meaning to imply things if she weren't busy holding her breath and hoping that she isn't going to be responsible for getting Nathan killed. Because N O P E.

As he makes it inside, she letsout her breath in a whoop of relief and triumph. YEEE. ]

Oh, well done! No, I mean hec-- hell yes!!

[ SUCH LANGUAGE ]

You do realise that, historically speaking, the "luck of the Irish" is absolutely terrible.

[England would know! He's practically the leading expert on that behind the actual country in question.]

Who the fuck cares about history?

[Nathan makes a face. Why aren't you excited about the food, England. Geeze! What a buzzkill!]

All I know is that I'm Irish, and I've had nothing but good fucking luck since I've gotten here. Granted, I'm comparing with the rest of you, and I did nearly get eaten by a lizard, but that doesn't matter!

[Oh, wait!]

Thanks for figuring out that code for me, by the way. Credit where credit is due and all that, guess it's worth a mention that I wouldn't have found any of this if you hadn't pitched in.

good find on the food kid
guess the cipher worked out
any booze in the grocery store or are they all light weights around here?

Edited (and then I saw England's reply...) 2016-01-20 07:11 (UTC)

[Nathan can't actually stop a look of annoyed disappointment from crossing his face. And he just got a "good job" from House. This is a prestigious honor! One he doesn't really appreciate, mind you, but one nonetheless.]

Not that I saw. Fucking cheap robotic bastards run this joint, I tell 'ya. I'm checking again tomorrow, first thing. Was in kind of a hurry, so maybe I just missed the spirits.

[Optimism at its finest.]

I'm not being funny, but I'm starting to think the admin's some kind of Puritan.

[The most optimistic. House isn't holding his breath. Especially after he and Hauchefant have been searching around the retirement home for days now and found nothing.]

i was guessing mormons
assholes just had to migrate up from utah in futureland
i mean
it explains all the cult crap too

[No it doesn't, but abusing Mormons is easy enough.]

Are we talking dancing naked in the woods cult crap, secret blood ritual cult crap, or religious build-a-harem brainwashing cult crap?

[Because he is too new and too not invested to have caught up with any cult-like activities.]

Figure I best know what I'm in for in case I stumble into some building that turns out to be some giant sick altar surrounded by black candles. You know, in case I decide to light them for warmth with the theoretical lighter that was stolen with my theoretical drugs and end up summoning some bloodthirsty spider god or some shit.

Edited 2016-01-23 10:10 (UTC)

We're talking going door to door to tell you about Jesus and how your body is a temple to him. Don't drink alcohol, soda, or fornicate except to make babies. Also there's some polygamy and sister-wives crap going on.

Anyway, everyone knows the best way to summon a spider god is to cut off a finger. Keep 'em all attached, you'll be fine, kid.

[Being the attentive child that she is, Kesara catches the video about as soon as Nathan opens the door, and is instantly hooked. A safe, a door, a key - this has the makings of an exciting discovery. Despite the ongoing snowfall, she hurries to the relative shelter of the nearest wall - thankfully she isn't far yet from the house where she spent the night - and turns her tablet on for a report from the bold explorer.]

You mustn't use such language, [she says in the most perfunctory of fashions in response to his swearing, and moves on almost in the same breath:] What did you find? What's out there??

[Oh god it's one of those "children" that everyone's been up his ass to be mindful about. He's only had one other encounter, and he insulted the shit outta that one, so he doesn't have high expectations here.]

Ever heard of freedom of speech? When you're an adult, you can say whatever you want without consequences! [No, don't listen to him.] Besides, if there's ever been a time to use such language, I'd say that this snowy fucking deathtrap more than qualifies.

[Still using the language. Whoops. Anyway!]

So far? A giant...nothing.

[He turns around the tablet so she can see snow and rubble and snow and rubble]

A bit anti-climatic, huh? But there's gotta be something out here, and I don't plan on turning back!

[Probably.]

That isnt true at all, [the kid in question lets him know, tone perfectly dry.] When you're an adult people take what you say seriously, so instead of washing out your mouth with soap they might stick you with a bayonet.

[Listen to her. She Knows. But she is also a big proponent of manners taking a backseat to business. The all-important business of exploration!]

There has to be something or there wouldn't have been a locked door, would there? No one needs to hide more snow. We have so much already. Oh! Maybe this is where all the natives are hiding! Be careful you don't get shot!

Getting on the wrong side of a pointy stick or shot by some paranoid wacko's common where you come from, is it? Don't get me wrong, kid, but I don't envy you none.

[He laughs as he slogs forward through the snow, one heavy step after another.]

I'm guessing running into a native would be the least of my worries. I'd take a dickhead with a gun over a flesh-craving monster or some robotic, eight-legged freak any damn day.

Oh, it's common enough. The unexplored heart of Serindia is a lawless place, and the natives there are always restive. Danger is everywhere.

[She is perfectly flippant about it, this old hand at danger. She does wrinkle her nose in suspicion and lean a little closer to the tablet, though, for a good look at that virgin land. Well. Snow.]

Why would the freaks be eight-legged? That's a handful and a half, even for a freak.

[Not that she'll be able to see it due to the way he has the tablet pointing, but Nathan raises an eyebrow. Jesus. Exactly what kind of third world country does this kid come from? He doesn't recognize the name she gives him, but it could be anywhere for all he knows or cares. He didn't really pay attention in geography.]

Not if you're a spider, it's not. Freaky, hairy, or I guess metallic--whatever, poisonous fangs and overall sense of creepiness? Haven't run into them yet either, have you? Everyone keeps bitching about the spiders but I haven't seen so much as a cockroach and those things can survive anything.

I haven't seen the smallest little gnat, much less a spider... [but if everyone is talking about it, surely there is some truth there. That is how bazaar gossip works - a lot of noise and colour, but a kernel of truth.]

Are they poisonous spiders? I hardly see why else anyone would be worried. Why if I saw a spider now, I might just dance - spiders mean flies, and flies mean food!

I'm not claiming to be an expert or nothing, but if I'm hearing correctly, the spiders are all part of some fucking mental computer hivemind. They're more likely to lead you to...I don't know, that NM poisoning shit than they are to food.

[Hey he's trying to protect you from a bloody end, kid!]

'Sides, if there were any flies around here, they'd get frozen to cubes before they made it to any food. Just check around cupboards, you might find things people've left behind for emergencies.

What, the spiders are also computers? [She's barely begun to wrap her head around the concept of a computer to begin with, and now it turns out to also apply to the native fauna?] There aren't any spiders in my tablet, are there?

[She would not like that one single bit.]

I found something once, but it was just the one time. And all the same rations, which are the vilest stuff. Even for food for the road, they're vile! We had tea even in the Karakum, I don't see why we can't have any here.

That's an amazing find. Where did you end up staying the night? Are you mapping the area and any of the other buildings you've found?

Some kinda toy store, straight south from the far end of the store, pretty close! You know, it's all cute at first, but all these little beady eyes are starting to freak me out. It's like they're all watching me or some shit.

[Seriously, how's he going to get a good old victory wank in now? Eh, he'll manage somehow. Either way, he lifts up his tablet to give Kunsel a quick pan of the building from where he's sitting.]

Mapping? Nah, didn't really think about it. Figure I should? I don't got a pen or nothing, but I figure this tablet's gotta have some sort of draw feature, yeah?

Far end? Far end in which direction?

[He shakes his head, though Nathan can't see it.]

Never mind. Just include it in your map. Look at your main menu. There should be a notepad app you can use that lets you draw.

[A pause, then...]

...the toys aren't actually doing anything, are they?

In the far direction! The east!

[Nathan scratches the back of his head. Shouldn't that be obvious? Geeze! Nonetheless, he looks down at his tablet curiously.]

Alright then, man. Thanks for the tip. Not promising a work of art or nothing, but suppose it outta be worth something so I don't get stranded in this goddamn hellhole with no idea how to get back where I came from.

[At the last question, his head snaps up. He definitely looks freaked out for an instant, but then his eyes narrow and he laughs, trying not to play it off.]

Other than talking shit behind my back? Maybe some of the ones in the back are having a go at it, stuffing flying everywhere all perverted--but in a cute kind of way. Thank god this isn't a haunted toy store for pets. The squeakers would keep me up all damn night!

East. Got it.

["Far" is a relative direction, Nathan. "East" is much more concrete.]

At this point, I think we'll all just be grateful for anything you can give us. Far better than going in blind.

[There's a distinct moment of silence from Kunsel's end following that last little bit. Is Nathan seriously...?

Kunsel has to resist the urge to press a palm to his face right now. Instead he'll just deadpan-]

Maybe they won't bother you if you leave them on their own.

Or maybe they'll try to initiate me into some freak toy orgy and when I tell them I'm not interested is when things'll start to get really mental.

[This is clearly the most important part of the conversation.]

[Refraining from a sigh has never been so hard.]

You know, you could envision as many scenarios as you want. It doesn't mean that they'll actually happen. I wouldn't worry about it unless the toys give you an actual reason for concern.

Hey! Hey!

[Seriously, what gives? Kunsel, you got him all worked up!]

You're just gonna leave it at that? You're the one who brought up suspicious toy behavior patterns! You got me started, now I won't be able to stop thinking about it. I've seen horror movies! I know what kind of shit happens when I turn my back to inanimate objects that have faces! What if they sneak up on me and catch me unawares because your skepticism lulled me into a false sense of security?

Edited 2016-02-10 06:14 (UTC)

Me? All I did was ask if they were doing something. I didn't even give you any ideas. You came up with those all on your own.

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[network|video] @captaininvincible; Live-Bloggin' Downtown; DAY 77 [open] [cw: Nathan]

@Griever , Voice

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@guardian; video;

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@SceptredIsle; text - prompt 4

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@hotstud_xxx; text (four)

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@hsiaoke; video; ONE!

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voice; @standardissue - [night]

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permavoice

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