The Crossing Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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thecrossinglogs2025-02-05 04:26 pm
thecrossingmods) wrote in thecrossinglogs2025-02-05 04:26 pm
Entry tags:
- !tdm,
- akatsuki no yona: soo won,
- attack on titan: frieda reiss,
- chronicles of osreth: thara celehar,
- danganronpa: makoto naegi,
- danganronpa: nagito komaeda,
- heralds of valdemar: need,
- mass effect: allynbee shepard,
- omori: sunny,
- overlord: arche,
- pathologic: daniil dankovsky,
- toilet bound hanako-kun: hanako,
- toilet bound hanako-kun: nene yashiro
TEST DRIVE #2
TDM #2
Welcome to The Desert, wayward souls.
It's good to see you again.
The TDM is game canon and will be active FEB—APR. For further details about the setting, please reference our current setting page. All the information there is fair game for this TDM.
It's good to see you again.
The TDM is game canon and will be active FEB—APR. For further details about the setting, please reference our current setting page. All the information there is fair game for this TDM.
arrival
— BENEATH THE RIVER ( NEW CHARACTERS ONLY )
CW: claustrophobia, being buried alive
If your journey is starting here, you begin as all others have, and all others will: in The River.
You awake in the dark and the damp, with pressure all around you. In this case, however, it isn't water that surrounds you— but earth. Specifically, it is mud made from the sand of the desert and the standing water of the sparkling white salt flat that The River has become, and it behaves like quicksand. It has you here, and it doesn't want to let go.
You aren't in any direct danger; you may or may not notice that you don't need to breathe down here (or at all). But that may be difficult to appreciate in the moment: immediately on waking, you are seized by what was perhaps your last memory— or, at least, the somatic feeling of it. Panic, terror, pain; or (depending on the circumstances) maybe peace, or relief. It is the moment of your death as told by your body's visceral, emotional response, and it won't stop until you pull yourself out of the mud.
You are close to the surface. Even a bit of lucky thrashing might be enough for you to break through the sludge, and crack the shell of salt above. But The River will not release you easily; it will continue to suck you back down until you are able to fully pry yourself free— or someone else is able to lend you a hand.
— BEYOND THE RIVER ( EXISTING CHARACTERS ONLY )
If you arrived here from the Cavern, you'll find that the cave you came from opens up onto a rocky cliff face, not unlike the one you may have found yourself settled in before The Crossing. From here you can see the sprawl of the Desert ahead of you: the Oasis tucked against the base of the cliffs, the endless dunes, and the wide, white expanse of The River — though it hardly looks like one now.
There is no city to be found among these cliffs, though. They are steep and rocky, with dry, loose sand making finding and keeping traction difficult. There is a narrow, winding path to the Oasis below, but it will take time to hike, and the sun is already hot and oppressive above you.
Theoretically, there's a more direct route... if you're feeling bold. The cliffs are covered in jutting striations (as if, say, carved by a massive river, or maybe a River) that make halfway decent handholds and footholds for anyone hoping to climb their way down instead.
Just don't change your mind too much. If you turn back, you may find that the path behind has become impassable or now leads somewhere else entirely. You don't ever see it happening, but it's almost as if the cliffs are rearranging themselves whenever your back is turned.
shelter from the storm
— THE OASIS
The Oasis, as well as the rest of the surrounding Desert, is bustling with life. (Or do plants and animals have a Journey they need to complete, too?) It's a green, if not lush, patch surrounding a small lake of fresh water, partially shielded by the arms of the cliffs from the winds blowing across the dunes.
There are creatures besides you making their homes here: from small, skittering mammals to circling scavengers. If you look closely, though, you'll find it's a bit of a mishmash, as if an ecosystem appeared rather than developed... and, depending on where you're from, some of it might even be recognizable to you.
Those of you that came from the Cavern might appreciate the return of natural light, though you might be disappointed to discover that day and night don't always arrive at the cadences you might expect them to... In fact, they don't seem to follow any recognizable or even trackable pattern at all. Some noon suns stretch on forever; some sunsets speed run straight into dry, cold night.
If that were all the unpredictability the Desert had to offer, it might be tolerable enough... but the weather proves to be just as erratic. One day is clear and bright, with wide-open skies; the next brings dust clouds and lightning storms rolling in from the dunes. (And when today might be half as long as yesterday, those swings add up.)
Luckily for all of you, there have evidently been others here before you, just like in the Cavern. There is a collection of shelters lining the Oasis, no more than huts designed to keep everyone within as cool as possible. There's less space than there was in the Subterranean City, but that means some things are easier to find... The huts are decorated just like the city was before it, as if in layers with the odd familiar trinket from your home stashed in a drawer or under a mattress.
shifting sands
— THE DUNES
The Ferryman is holding vigil at The River, as they always are. They have positioned themselves (and their Lantern) so that their Light casts over the Oasis— but that aura can only cast so far.
The Lantern's Light might not be quite so obvious here as it was down in the Cavern, drowned out as it is by the desert sun, but you can still feel when you approach the edge of its protection, the way the sense of comfort and safety wanes. Beyond it are the rolling dunes of the Desert, where wraiths gather in great numbers.
Those who have been paying close attention will recognize that these are not the same wraiths you encountered in the Cavern. Or, at least, none of the wraiths you encountered in the Cavern are represented here.
These wraiths are not the violent, wailing beasts encountered by some during The Crossing. They are just the same as the wraiths originally found in the Cavern: silent, insubstantial, and always watching. The ones who have found the Oasis prowl the edge of the boundary; the others wander the dunes as if lost. Or, perhaps, searching.
If you, yourself, wander the dunes, you'll find them at best difficult to navigate— or, at worst, impossible. You may be swallowed by a sand storm, or lose sight of your landmarks when descending into a valley between the dunes. You might find yourself somewhere you never expected to be... Or, you might just need to send a message out to the others for help finding your way home.
If your journey is starting here, you begin as all others have, and all others will: in The River.
You awake in the dark and the damp, with pressure all around you. In this case, however, it isn't water that surrounds you— but earth. Specifically, it is mud made from the sand of the desert and the standing water of the sparkling white salt flat that The River has become, and it behaves like quicksand. It has you here, and it doesn't want to let go.
You aren't in any direct danger; you may or may not notice that you don't need to breathe down here (or at all). But that may be difficult to appreciate in the moment: immediately on waking, you are seized by what was perhaps your last memory— or, at least, the somatic feeling of it. Panic, terror, pain; or (depending on the circumstances) maybe peace, or relief. It is the moment of your death as told by your body's visceral, emotional response, and it won't stop until you pull yourself out of the mud.
You are close to the surface. Even a bit of lucky thrashing might be enough for you to break through the sludge, and crack the shell of salt above. But The River will not release you easily; it will continue to suck you back down until you are able to fully pry yourself free— or someone else is able to lend you a hand.
— BEYOND THE RIVER ( EXISTING CHARACTERS ONLY )
If you arrived here from the Cavern, you'll find that the cave you came from opens up onto a rocky cliff face, not unlike the one you may have found yourself settled in before The Crossing. From here you can see the sprawl of the Desert ahead of you: the Oasis tucked against the base of the cliffs, the endless dunes, and the wide, white expanse of The River — though it hardly looks like one now.
There is no city to be found among these cliffs, though. They are steep and rocky, with dry, loose sand making finding and keeping traction difficult. There is a narrow, winding path to the Oasis below, but it will take time to hike, and the sun is already hot and oppressive above you.
Theoretically, there's a more direct route... if you're feeling bold. The cliffs are covered in jutting striations (as if, say, carved by a massive river, or maybe a River) that make halfway decent handholds and footholds for anyone hoping to climb their way down instead.
Just don't change your mind too much. If you turn back, you may find that the path behind has become impassable or now leads somewhere else entirely. You don't ever see it happening, but it's almost as if the cliffs are rearranging themselves whenever your back is turned.
shelter from the storm
The Oasis, as well as the rest of the surrounding Desert, is bustling with life. (Or do plants and animals have a Journey they need to complete, too?) It's a green, if not lush, patch surrounding a small lake of fresh water, partially shielded by the arms of the cliffs from the winds blowing across the dunes.
There are creatures besides you making their homes here: from small, skittering mammals to circling scavengers. If you look closely, though, you'll find it's a bit of a mishmash, as if an ecosystem appeared rather than developed... and, depending on where you're from, some of it might even be recognizable to you.
Those of you that came from the Cavern might appreciate the return of natural light, though you might be disappointed to discover that day and night don't always arrive at the cadences you might expect them to... In fact, they don't seem to follow any recognizable or even trackable pattern at all. Some noon suns stretch on forever; some sunsets speed run straight into dry, cold night.
If that were all the unpredictability the Desert had to offer, it might be tolerable enough... but the weather proves to be just as erratic. One day is clear and bright, with wide-open skies; the next brings dust clouds and lightning storms rolling in from the dunes. (And when today might be half as long as yesterday, those swings add up.)
Luckily for all of you, there have evidently been others here before you, just like in the Cavern. There is a collection of shelters lining the Oasis, no more than huts designed to keep everyone within as cool as possible. There's less space than there was in the Subterranean City, but that means some things are easier to find... The huts are decorated just like the city was before it, as if in layers with the odd familiar trinket from your home stashed in a drawer or under a mattress.
shifting sands
The Ferryman is holding vigil at The River, as they always are. They have positioned themselves (and their Lantern) so that their Light casts over the Oasis— but that aura can only cast so far.
The Lantern's Light might not be quite so obvious here as it was down in the Cavern, drowned out as it is by the desert sun, but you can still feel when you approach the edge of its protection, the way the sense of comfort and safety wanes. Beyond it are the rolling dunes of the Desert, where wraiths gather in great numbers.
Those who have been paying close attention will recognize that these are not the same wraiths you encountered in the Cavern. Or, at least, none of the wraiths you encountered in the Cavern are represented here.
These wraiths are not the violent, wailing beasts encountered by some during The Crossing. They are just the same as the wraiths originally found in the Cavern: silent, insubstantial, and always watching. The ones who have found the Oasis prowl the edge of the boundary; the others wander the dunes as if lost. Or, perhaps, searching.
If you, yourself, wander the dunes, you'll find them at best difficult to navigate— or, at worst, impossible. You may be swallowed by a sand storm, or lose sight of your landmarks when descending into a valley between the dunes. You might find yourself somewhere you never expected to be... Or, you might just need to send a message out to the others for help finding your way home.
no subject
You're welcome.
[She doesn't comment on the way the kid just keeps going as if he hadn't just been dragged out of the mud.]
I'm fine - didn't come through the mud.
[She inclines her head toward him, curious.]
What's your name?
no subject
It’s amazing you could see or grab me at all! Most people can’t. Which means… you must have some strong spiritual power, or be an exorcist, or… [His smile turns a bit calculating now.] someone close to death?
[But then she’s asking for his name, and his demeanor grows more open again.] I’m Hanako! Most know me as Hanako of the Toilet, Seventh Wonder of Kamome Academy. Though… I’m sure that doesn’t mean much here.
[It didn’t look like there were any toilet stalls around, at least the immediate area.] Who might you be?
no subject
I figure we're all close to death here, but yeah I'm familiar.
[She waits for the reaction to that, decently sure it's not going to be the expected response. Which means his introduction almost catches her off-guard. She blinks once. Twice.
And commits immediately to never acknowledging the bit about toilets.]
Commander Allynbee Shepard, Systems Alliance Navy. A similarly useless title, I guess.
no subject
[That second question was more directed towards himself. The boy smiled again at her own introduction.]
I’m sure most titles seem moot here. Still, I think I’ll call you… Captain! Shouldn’t let all your hard work go to waste, now should we~?
no subject
[She smiles faintly at the post-mortem promotion and finds she sorely misses Tali. And the rest of her crew, for that matter.]
What are you thinking?
no subject
[That dampers his mood a bit, going from overly cheerful to introspective in the blink of an eye. He looks around. Sand. Sand. More sand…]
. . . .
Nope! At least, if I have I certainly don’t remember it! I’d think, if I was headed to the afterlife, I’d have a few more decades in me at least.
[There were things he still had to accomplish… at least, that’s what Hanako thought.] I don’t really remember how I ended up here though. It’s… fleeting. Certainly a demotion if I’ve ever heard of one.
no subject
[At least it had the first time. The second...
Allynbee furrows her brows momentarily, mind blanking on something that felt important. Like she walked into a room and forgot why she was there. It is comforting that she's met someone else familiar with dying, though she feels a little bad he seems so young. Though if he claims to be a spirit...]
A demotion? How long have you been around?
no subject
Well, this time it did! Probably.
[He still didn’t know. Like grasping for straws in an empty cup.]
Mmmmm. It’s hard to say. Time moves differently for an apparition… or maybe it’s just easier to not keep count~ A few decades, at least. Nothing like a century though! I’m still young in that regard.
[He’s been dead for at least 50 years, if the math is right! Hanako really doesn’t pay as much attention to things such as days or years anymore.]
no subject
You've got me beat. I was only dead for two years the first time.
no subject
Really~? I’d say give me an award, but I can’t really accept something like that. [He looked at her curiously.] By ‘first time’… I’m going to assume you were already dead too before showing up here?
no subject
[While not about to divulge the entirety of her history with Cerberus, Allynbee needed to know where this kid's head was - spirit or not.]
I can't be the first person you've met who's been dead before.
[At least, not by her logic. If being a manifested spirit was a thing where he came from, then a situation like hers had to be comparatively uncommon, right?]
no subject
True~ I’ve met lots of dead people! Some don’t ever really return to being ‘people’ but… that just means a little more work for me! [Well, not here. Everyone here was dead and was staying dead. That’s how it should be.]
no subject
So what else do you do besides keeping your spiritual fellows in line?
no subject
[Though it might not seem like it, Hanako is also keeping an eye out. Sandstorm, strange weather patterns, the sudden falling of night… looks like, for the moment, they were in the clear.]
no subject
The thought of the afterlife outside of this place makes Allynbee pause and she sobers. What if she's in a different afterlife because believed differently (or didn't believe, for that matter) than the people she lost?]
I have a...heavy question if you don't mind humoring me.
no subject
Coexisting… wouldn’t that be nice? That was the goal.
It’s almost like he can feel the shift in the atmosphere. Like the calm before an approaching downpour, though this time it’s an emotional one. All teasing is put aside as he looks at her.]
Sure. Go ahead.
no subject
Since you were keeping the peace between the living and the dead, did you have a way to contact the living?
no subject
Back where I came from, apparitions tended to coexist alongside the Near Shore - the living. Not everyone could see them, though rumors certainly helped in that case. The more well-known an apparition, the more they stuck in someone’s memory and perception. Outside of that, we had to be summoned. And in my case, the only people that could summon me were those with higher spiritual power - like exorcists - or those close to death.
All to say… if you’re hoping I might have a method that might bridge the gap back to the living here, unfortunately, that isn’t the case. [Something in his gaze seems almost sympathetic, despite the neutral tone he takes.]
no subject
But this is a problem and Commander Shepard solves problems. She can work with that.]
Well, it may be worth seeing if we can find a way to communicate with people in a different afterlife.
no subject
[Call it curiosity, but the person in front of him seems oddly pragmatic to start groping in the dark for answers.]
no subject
What was one more impossible thing?]
Communications, mostly. If we can establish anything across to the Near Shore, as you call it, it can help a lot of folks keep their heads.
[It would be worth it for the hope alone. And things people hoped for were not ephemeral to her. They were mission parameters.]
no subject
Maybe this might be the same. Or maybe…]
Sure. [He agreed without much fuss.] I won’t say it isn’t impossible… but maybe there’s a way. Right now, I know too little about this place to attempt something. [Plus, he didn’t have his haku-joudai with him. That made it more difficult but… a deal was a deal.]
no subject
We should figure out more before going any further with the idea.
[Gather information, regroup, then broach the topic again.]
I think I can get you to the shelters if you need the help.
no subject
[That was how he was used to viewing this sort of situation. Even if he was no longer in charge, no longer had a job… it wouldn’t change decades old thinking overnight.
He perked up happily at her offer, turning to face Allynbee.]
Ah, you can~? That would be helpful! I still haven’t figured this place out yet. Lead the way, Captain~!