[Have an actually chipper-sounding House on the network, everyone. Why, he's almost downright giddy. Someone has bounced back a bit from the says before. Music helps immeasurably with that. He's had a chance to play a little this morning and now discovered there's additional musical accompaniment playing from nowhere. Creepy as all hell, but who is he to deny the Six Feet Under Snow Band?]

Good morning, Snowhell. Or Vietnam. Whichever. Basically the same thing, but with cold instead of heat, right? With all this talk about people being eaten, rising from the dead, ghosts from the year 2050, and rousing pleas for camaraderie, I thought we could all use something to lighten the mood. So this one goes out to my darling Clementine. Unless your name's short for Clemydia or something. Then your parents suck.

[He begins to play the school piano, other phantom instruments joining in. House doesn't actually sing, but he's thinking the lyrics.]

Actually, that one goes out to most of the chicks here. You girls seriously need to simmer down. But here's a little something for my main man Hiro.

[This time something slightly less snarky.]

And last for this first round before I take requests from the listeners, two songs from Dr. Clayton Epps for his sweetie, Jane. Those crazy kids, getting up to all kinds of things! At least they must have been from the moaning I heard in the other room. Oh, cover your ears if you're under ten here. This is grown-up talk about romance.

[And there will be two more incredibly snarky instrumentals in honor of the pair of them.]

If you recognized none of those songs, you're a loser and need to be educated on Earthian musical history. Luckily, I'm here to take your questions and requests. Or make up requests for you.

[ The camera cuts on to Jim looking exhausted. He's got some patchy blood on the lower half of his face like he's had another nosebleed and his hair is … fluffy. Stuck-his-hand-in-a-lightsocket fluffy. ]

Uh. Hi. I’m traveling near the east wall, close to the slope. Found something we thought everyone might want to see. There was this house that had a room packed with furniture and it took us like two days to get it all out. Found some skeletons with a message and… something else.

[ He pauses, looking unsure for a moment before making some kind of decision and adding: ] It might be disturbing, just so you know before you go in.

( [ video.mp3 ] )

- So. Ghosts? The part at the end, when I tried to touch it, felt like an electric shock and then something trying to get in my body. [ Jim clears his throat, feeling slightly sheepish about having touched the thing. Only slightly, though; something important could have happened. ]

Anyway, Hiro said the numbers on the bracelet are an Earth date - that 50 is the year, maybe the full year's 2050.
--
[you may get a reply from Jim, Kunsel, or both!]

[ the feed turns on, the video shaky at best, like the person operating the tablet can't hold still -- maybe shivering? chills? fear? the video is focused on a set of doors, dented, worse for wear, a red spiral swirl painted on them.

the chapel. the only sound for the first few seconds? shallow, shaky breathing, someone young, the occasional hiccup, like someone's been crying or has been running, or maybe even both. it stays like this, the video swinging in and out of focus, trembling, the surroundings of a small chapel, abandoned.

it clatters to the floor suddenly, and in the dimly lit chapel Ed comes into view, his eyes wide, hair unkempt and loose around his shoulders instead of in its usual braid, his face pale -- whether fear, disgust, shock, or horror it's hard to say. ]

They... brought me back. Someone... someone brought me back. [ he whispers, dragging shaking fingers up to push his hair out of his face. ] Brought my-- her back. I died. I'm supposed to be dead right now, not here... not...

[ he reaches out touching his face, his hair, then reaches for the tablet. all he can remember is the twisted form of his mother, of Al's voice, of the bitter cold as he was knocked down. it was death. ]

I can't feel anything. I can't feel the cold but I'm shivering. I can't feel the tablet, but I know I'm holding it. What -- what have you DONE TO ME? Where's Al? If he's hurt, if anything's happened to him, I'll --- [ he chokes, like he might cry but it's not out of sorrow, no. he's angry, beyond rage, because bringing anyone back to life is wrong, it's just wrong on so many levels and whoever tried? they failed. ]

W-who did this? Which one of you did this?!

[ he shakes the tablet, his breathing going ragged again, his hair blocking his face, but the sharp scowl plastered across his face speaks volumes. ]

[ Ellana was going to make this post earlier, but then a monster attacked her group yesterday, so she put it off. But it's a new day, so she turns on her tablet to address everyone. ]

The other day I found a strange object in one of the houses. Just one of many strange things, I'm sure. But this one -- it affected me. And I'm curious as to how far that carries.

[ She takes a breath and her arm can be seen moving out of frame. ]

When I look at this object, it hurts me. Like staring into the sun, but worse. I don't know if that means anything, or if it's an important clue. It could mean nothing at all. But I wanted to see if any of you have the same reaction when it's seen through the tablets. So I'm going to hold it up. Remember: it may affect you negatively, so if you don't want to risk it, look away now.

[ Then she holds up the object, tilting it back and forth in front of the camera. It's a Penrose Triangle, made of metal and fitting easily in her hand. And it really looks like it shouldn't exist. And, oh yeah, if you're looking at it, it does hurt, though not as much as it would looking at it in person. Ellana's face is turned away as she shows it off, moving it a little to make sure it'll be in frame at some point. Then she lowers and covers it so she doesn't accidentally see it. ]

All right, I've put it away. Please let me know if you've found anything similar, whether it looks like this or just hurts to look at.


[ ooc: mods say it hurts to look at via tablet, but not as much! ]

Characters: Almost a fifth of them--okay specifically Clayton, Enoch, Dio, Quark, Clementine, House, Miranda, Ellana, and Dorian.
Location Buildings 61 and 54 (M11 and I10 respectively).
Date: Days 42 and 43, evenings, probably after lockdown.
Summary: A bunch of people that met in a gas station meet even more people who are sad, and then the next day they get ambushed and realize that this is a Problem. More generally: Catch-all mingle!
Warnings: Discussions of death, unpleasant trolling via House, monsters, all your typical snowhell fare. More specific warnings can go in headers!

( Do I really need this cut? Oh well, here's a cut. )

Characters: Clayton, Enoch, Dio, Clem, Steph, possibly others if they happen to be around?
Location D11, building 58
Date: Day 039, night
Summary: Team B. and the Little Lady Brigade meet in the buried building and a mingle ensues.
Warnings: Typical snowhell discussions, anything notable can go in headers.

( (this is the part where I explain that this is a mingle) )

Characters: Clayton, Enoch, Dio, House, Miranda, Clem, and Quark
Location P10 - BUILDING 110
Date: Day 041, evening
Summary: Gas Station slumber party! Following a monster attack.
Warnings: Will add as necessary, but general House disclaimer for insensitivity.

( It was a Snowhell smash... )

Characters: Everyone in the pharmacy and hospital during the end of the event
Location Pharmacy and hospital
Date: Day 038, Various times
Summary: Event end badness
Warnings: Comas and memory loss and illnesses and all sorts.

( Read more... )

VIDEO

[Dio may not have been the best person to do this, but after this revelation, fuck it. This was much too important to let slide, and if someone was going to take into account whatever residents were left, it may as well have been him.

The video feed clicks on, darkly lit and with his intimidating presence as always. At least this time there were other, gentler people around who could come in to the feed at any point and maybe stave off some anxieties if Dio gets a little too real, but right now he wants answers, goddammit.]

This is directed to the Norfinbury residents. [As usual, Dio immediately takes what can be seen as an authoritative tone at best.] So we all know who survived, speak here so we can account for you. I would like any relevant information about what happened here, any completed maps of the town, more information about the Admin, anything you could possibly know about the monsters or giant spiders or whatever other blasted thing is here. I understand we're constantly being watched, so none of you have to say where you are if you're in hiding. We only want to speak with you and learn more about the situation.

I will expect responses as soon as possible.

[ooc: Enoch and Clayton may or may not jump in on Dio's video feed at their want, but otherwise, Dio wants answers.]

[ Steph is still pretty freaked the fuck out over having died, and now she's found that her notes are outdated and she doesn't have the spirit to update them. She figures some socialization will make her feel better. ]

[ Text ]

I can't decide if I'm offended or relieved that I beat my obituary.

Also reposting the link to my notes about this place. They're a little behind, but the map is up to date.

[ Attached: Infodump.doc ]

Characters: Anyone in the hospital exploration team
Location Starting on square D11, house 58
Date: Night of Day 34, All of Day 35, All of Day 36
Summary: Several mini teams converge into one massive hospital exploring team. Includes Team Dad over the tablets.
Warnings: Possible gribblies hiding along the way.

( Read more... )

Hey, uh, just - just a few things. Somebody had a key card thing a while ago, right? That - it got them into the tunnels? I need to borrow it. Or you need to come to the tunnels, I dunno. There's, like - one of those card reader things on a roof here. It was covered in ice and, uh, now it's not. So. Y'know. The card that worked before might work here too.

[ He sounds thoroughly uncomfortable. Largely because he is. Tim can't remember who exactly has custody of the keycard, but that doesn't really matter all that much when his entire modus operandi is currently "KEEP THE FUCK AWAY FROM EVERYBODY AT ALL COSTS."

He really wants in that hospital, though. For reasons. ]

And on the subject of stuff people have found here, uh. Did - did anybody find anything that's theirs? Like, maybe something that you left at home, or. Or it's got your name on it...? You know. Something like that.

[ A-ASKING FOR A FRIEND. Honest. His discomfort was obvious before, but now his tone is maybe just a teeny weeny bit too casual for anyone good at spotting liars with their pants very much on fire. ]

Oh, and - cigarettes. If anybody has any I have stuff to trade. Don't, uh - don't try smoking chewing tobacco, it's... Just don't.

[ Tim. Tim, pls. ]

[Until now, Clementine has mostly kept to text. Not necessarily for speed, since she stopped going to school at age 8 and isn't the best typer (though not bad for her age), but more for hiding the fact that she's an 11 year old girl. People don't usually take kids seriously, which can have its advantages - but not so much here.

In any case, now she feels like she'll do better to show what she needs to, and to explain it properly.]

Please listen, okay? I think... this might be important. I found something. Me and Lea - we were exploring in the tunnels, south of that giant wall. We found this door in the snow, but it's locked. It needs a key card, look -

[The video pans to the door of building 131, which does indeed need a key card to enter. There's a lot of ice and snow around it.] I'm gonna head back out the tunnels... I don't have much food left. Lea isn't with me anymore, he's - gone.

[He's dead; she knows that, and the despondent way she said that probably says as much. She's lost people, here in Norfinbury and many, many more back home. It's just something you have to live with. But it's still not something she likes admitting. At least she knows the threat of walkers here seems low.]

I thought it was important to let people know. Especially if someone out there found a card that could fit. I could show you where to go if you want.

[When the video feed flickers on, it shows Yuuri slumped over and out of breath, sitting in a bedroom that seems pretty sparse except for the full-length mirror set into the wall behind her. The reflection in it, seen over her shoulder, shows that the mattress that is usually on the bed has been propped up against the door as if to block it. It's still day, but the sunlight reflecting off the mirror doesn't seem to bring her any comfort]

What... the heck... was that?

[She's done her fair share of running from people who want her dead, but this was something else entirely.]

First I die, then I wake up in some weird temple, and then... when I get to a house there's... it chased me! It almost grabbed me, and I think it's still outside!

[She leans forward and listens carefully. ...she's not really sure if it's there or not (it is, and will be until nightfall), but the uncertainty of not knowing whether or not it's gone is more frightening to her than anything else.]

...I don't want to spend the night here... I think I've got enough time to run for another house, but... how do I get around that thing? Does... does anyone have any ideas?

[ When the video cuts on, Jim isn't looking at the camera. His head is twisted around to stare somewhere over his shoulder as his chest heaves with exertion (or maybe fear.) There's a bruise blossoming on his cheek where he'd fallen trying to escape and a dried trail of blood from his nose to his chin that he's forgotten about.

The microphone picks up the noise of the monsters outside in the snow over the rattle of Jim's breath. When there's a break in the sound Jim seems to remember what he'd been doing and turns back to the tablet. ]

Please tell me someone else is seeing these things. They're some kind of - of - of shadow things.

[ Jim has seen weird. He's seen creepy, thanks to Captain Flint. But he's never seen anything like those. Still, something about them had seemed almost too familiar. It's that which makes him wonder if it's all in his own head. ]

If you are? Don't fight them. Just run.

Characters: Zelda, Link, Max, Lea, Clayton, Clementine, and whoever these poor schmucks might hail on the network.
Location E10 (Building 50) + D11 (Building 58)
Date: Day 013, day
Summary: Using a key on a locked door is just common sense, right?
Warnings: Possible aggression and panic on the part of said poor schmucks.

(I've divided this log up into two parts to hopefully ease threading. Also if those on the door team want to make network posts about their shenanigans, just make sure to put NETWORK somewhere in the subject line! Anyone is free to answer threads marked as such, of course; hence why this log is 'semi'-closed.)