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
T-that’s true… not at all like the Mokke…
[Their soulless gaze caused her to duck her head, pressing her face up against Hanako-kun’s back. Maybe these apparitions would listen to Hanako-kun as well…]
no subject
Eheheh~ Just so you know, I’m not the leader of this place, so I doubt they’ll listen to me~!
[Still, he felt a little fuzzy inside that her first instinct had been to use him as a shield…]
I suppose if they won’t talk, we can put a bit of distance between them and us, can’t we?
[Turning around and grabbing Yashiro by the shoulders, he started to push her back in the direction of the Oasis. Not entirely, but just far enough that - when they got out of range - the Wraiths went back to wandering aimlessly. Odd.]
no subject
Haa... you don't suppose that changes at night do you?
[She instantly regretted bringing up the question, because knowing Hanako-kun, he would now want to go investigate... and normally she would be up for it... but given this strange area...]
Not that I think we should see if that's the case! [She flailed her arms a bit, trying to get her point across that they should not investigate that anytime soon...]
no subject
Good of you to think of the danger! How is it that you still get in so much trouble~?
[A bit of good-natured teasing before his smile relaxed.]
Don’t worry - there’s too much we don’t know right now. Even if we are dead, that doesn’t mean we are untouchable. I’ll be careful.
[On that note! He spun around abruptly to face her, leaning into her personal space with leering.] Are you really that worried about me? I should be touched~
no subject
[Her flustered response did have a truth to it. Since she had met Hanako-kun it seemed like she was a magnet for apparitions and other trouble that most wouldn't get into. Her face did heat up when he said the next part and she turned her face away so he wouldn't see.]
W-well of course! If anything happened to you I'd be in a tough spot...
no subject
Her words had something in him warming, and before he can stop himself…] Me too. If I lost you… it’d put me in a tight spot too.
[It was too honest of an answer, one that has him silent in a mild amount of shock before he turned away, hiding his own embarrassed blush.]
no subject
[A moment later, she felt her face flushing and she turned away.
Oh my gosh! In any other world, with any other guy that would have been a confession!!!
And yet she felt her heart beating way too fast, causing her to stand in awkward silence for a couple of heartbeats. She still didn't quite know what to call her and Hanako-kun's relationship... Her gaze roamed the landscape, trying to focus on anything but her friend when her gaze caught sight of something sticking out of the ground. It looked like some sort of stick?]
no subject
What to do, what to do…]
Of course! It would be really inconvenient if I lost my personal assistant after all this time! Imagine having to teach someone from scratch~
[Despite the fact there wasn’t a bathroom to clean here. He may have just mentally kicked himself when the words left his mouth, no matter how true they were.
They just weren’t the entire truth…He may have also completely missed whatever Yashiro had spotted because of trying to cover is own unidentifiable feelings.]
no subject
Why do you think that is?
[Yashiro went to reach for it- to try to pull it out- but then felt a familiar feeling around her feet. Glancing down, she saw herself slowly sinking once more into the sand.]
Seriously?!
no subject
…Sink…?]
Y-Yashiro?! [She stepped in quicksand?! He rushed over, grabbing what he could of her school uniform and pulling!] See?! This is why I can’t leave you alone!!
no subject
No! It’s gonna eat my legs! Hanako-kun!
[The girl devolved into a panicked mess of tears and flailing.]
no subject
Quit flailing around! You’re going to make it worse!
[Was that a note of panic in his voice? Maybe. Hopefully she wouldn’t notice. There was only so much a thirteen year old former ghost could do about pulling her up though when she was moving around this much. Quicksand absolutely adored extra movement.]
no subject
W-what should I do?? Is this how I lose my legs?!
[She stilled even further if possible, glancing down at her ankles... Maybe the quicksand could make her legs skinnier?]
I take it back! I wish for skinny tall legs!
no subject
Y-Yashiro!
[Her name maybe came out a mixture of panic and disbelief. Which simply made him pull all that more frantically. The quicksand may be slowly letting go of her a few inches.]
no subject
[She couldn't help whining before she froze once more.
Wait a minute... logic... use logic Yashiro Nene... quicksand never gave anyone think legs...
She paled once more, clinging harder to the boy.]
N-never mind! I've changed my mind! Get me out of here!!!
no subject
Really? You want to get swallowed by sand? Fine~ [And he started to loosen his grip on her. Some part of him inwardly panicked, but it was easily swallowed by his rising indifference - she was honestly going to be that short-sighted? If his words wouldn’t sway her, then maybe her own stupidity would-
Except then her grip tightened and her tune decidedly changed, wiping away the majority of that darker abyss.]
Ah, changed your mind, huh~? And not a moment too soon!
[The added gusto, along with Yashiro’s own floundering efforts, helped him to yank her just enough that they both fell backwards, away from the pit.]
Haaah, haah… [His breaths came in pants as he lay on the sand, unable to erase the irritation at Yashiro’s recklessness.]