thecrossingmods: (Default)
The Crossing Mods ([personal profile] thecrossingmods) wrote in [community profile] thecrossinglogs2025-02-05 04:26 pm

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.
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.
knockingatthedoor: What? NO WAY (075)

[personal profile] knockingatthedoor 2025-02-20 05:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh. Oh gods, NEW FACES. Hello, hello! Kel didn't know if he was Happy or not to see someone new after being with the same group for... who knows how long. A blink followed as the teen saw the other approach water and then.... stopping right there?]

Why, hello? Welcome here? Do you... need any help?

[Oh, right! Maybe she was still wary of stuff surronding her, it made sense. He kneeled down by the water's side, patting his hand over the puddle.]

It's safe to drink, you know?
daikonheroine: (Default)

[personal profile] daikonheroine 2025-02-27 01:20 am (UTC)(link)
A-ah! Hello…

[Yashiro continued to stare down at the water warily, although she did note the stranger’s hand tapping the water.]

N-no that’s not it…

[Wait… maybe she should be worried about whether or not she could drink it? For all she knew there could be germs in the water… this wasn’t filtered like the water in their school…]

A-actually… has anyone… gotten sick from drinking it?
knockingatthedoor: (099)

[personal profile] knockingatthedoor 2025-02-27 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
Mh? oh, no no... it's... safe to drink this. We've been all enjoying water from the oasis and it's all drinkable. You may want to go look for a cup, though.

[He kneeled down by her side. Goddarn it, she seemed... so young? That was not okay on so many levels. Even if he forgot about Sally, his 'big bro' feelings kind of kicked in as he offered her one hand.]

What about coming with me at one of the shelters? It's all weird trinkets and stuff, but I'm certain we can find something to drink from.

[He didn't know how to say 'I doubt we can get sick since we're all dead', maybe the kid... doesn't know yet?]
daikonheroine: (Day dreaming)

Start of Ikeman dreaming XD

[personal profile] daikonheroine 2025-03-05 09:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah! Yes please!

[She quickly stood up, her expression brightening. She knew this place had to have something to drink from!]

I knew you'd under- [Whatever she was going to say got cut off once she got a good look at him, a blush spreading on her face.]
knockingatthedoor: I got your back buddy (037)

Not me writing while at work

[personal profile] knockingatthedoor 2025-03-05 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[He merely seems confused by how her cheeks turn red. The last thing he would ever expect is to have any effect on... anyone. Last crush he had, Jay, didn't even consider him a potential partner. So? His big brother tuned brain goes to the most logical explanation.]

Oh dear... I didn't know the heat could still get us like this. I... I got you, girl.

[He almost called her kid, fortunately biting his own tongue in time.]

Want me to carry you to a less heated olace? I can do that no problem
daikonheroine: (Day dreaming)

Hehe. just make sure to take care of yourself.

[personal profile] daikonheroine 2025-03-06 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
[If it was possible for her face to get even more heated it did. For a moment she thought she might faint. The possibility of this Ikeman carrying her was like in all the romance novels she had read!]

Y-yes please!

[She couldn't stop the frantic nodding of her head, which caused her to pitch forward towards the water. Bracing herself, she shut her eyes, preparing for the worst.]
knockingatthedoor: Deal with it I have pecs (065)

I did. Sadly tagging from work is really hard. TW: flashback to suicide

[personal profile] knockingatthedoor 2025-03-06 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[if Kel had any idea of what was in her mind, he'd be the first one to put an immediate stop to it- still, he basks in what feels like being actually able to feel useful is like. It's with a friendly smile that he moves a bit closer... when she falls.

It triggers something in him and for a moment he's back on the hospital roof, looking at Sunny pitch forward toward the parking area below- his body moves on instinctively, arms wrapping around her body and pulling her back between his arms. The stark contrast between that moment that still haunts him and this one? He managed to hold her back and pretty much sweep her up between his arms, very princess style. All his negative feelings almost knock him off his feet as he pulls her closer, pressing the girl against his chest- oh. oh. If only he had been to do the same just a couple of months before- it's a blessing he has no more hearthbeat or she'd feel how distressed he suddenly is.

Eyes close for a moment and he has to push down his emotions before giving her a bit of room and putting on his cockiest smile. All is good, all is fine, nothing there to see.
]

Well... this was sudden. Heh... but the result is the same. Come on, let's go make you comfortable!

[And he starts moving toward the nearest shelter, he needs to move away from that corner.]
daikonheroine: (Day dreaming)

[personal profile] daikonheroine 2025-03-07 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
[It was almost like a scene from a movie... were there sparkles? Was his teeth glowing? Did she had on a long frilly dress? Yashiro couldn't quite remember but it felt like a wonderful dream.

Please don't let me wake up!

She couldn't believe she was being held like this... it was every girl's dream come true! And yet here she was!]

T-thank you... [She couldn't stop the blush from spreading more and she buried her face in his chest to hide her embarrassment. She tried to ground herself- mentally that was- as she was being carried. Best of all she didn't turn into a fish in front of him!]
knockingatthedoor: Eheheh I guess? (050)

[personal profile] knockingatthedoor 2025-03-07 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[Was it? Because he didn't feel good about it, he was just glad he did manage to be helpful this time. For Yashiro maybe this was being held by a tall, muscular ikemen, but for Kel it was a grim reminder of how easily it would have been to prevent his own death if he only tried hard enough.

He still kept smiling.
]

Don't mention it. If you arrived here you're now part of the team and, guess what? We're all meant to help each other. Now..

[He did take her inside, under the cold shades, and... still held her for the moment. The kid seemed to need some kind of support or something so there was no randomly dropping her on the first soft surface...]

So... my name is Kel. Welcome here... I guess?
daikonheroine: (Day dreaming)

[personal profile] daikonheroine 2025-03-10 11:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yashiro took the time to just bask in the safe feeling that Kel exuded. The last person who held her like this had been Hanako-kun... but that had been when he was rescuing her from the fish who were trying to kidnap her...

Eh? Why am I thinking about Hanako-kun at a time like this?

She shook her head and smiled back at Kel.]

A-ah thanks... my name is Nene Yashiro.