buttrinthum | TDM #10 OVERFLOW

Entry tags:

!tdm

TDM #10 OVERFLOW

Arrival / Enchanted Garden

Whether it be sleep or death, you feel your eyes close, and as your body begins to let go, you see a barn owl that is flying through the darkness, soon sweeping you across the clouded sky. You feel yourself mouth the words, “I wish, I wish..” and utter your deepest and darkest desire.

When you regain consciousness, you’ll find you are in an unfamiliar place with no recognition of how you arrived here. You have the clothes on your back, but nothing else. No weapons and if you had a particular superpower, you’ll notice it is missing. All you have is a satchel with a piece of bread, a vial of water, and a potion. The potion could be red, blue or golden. There are no instructions about these potions other than two words: Drink Me.

Will you drink it or not?

There is a parchment, handwritten in scrawling, jagged lettering that seems a bit... ominous:

“Welcome to my Labyrinth. Your CONTRACT is SEALED.”

You’re in a garden, surrounded by flowers and plants– most of which you cannot identify. However, there are a few that you can make out: Sunflowers and Hibiscus. You’ll soon find out that being around the Sunflower makes it difficult to pass through the already disorienting garden, even with the light guiding you. Where patches of them grow, even if only waist-high, you cannot pass through them, over them, or even destroy them to get them out of your way. In each grouping that blocks your path, there is one that has a key-shaped opening in the middle of the flower. Maybe the key is nearby? (Spoiler: it's probably under a rock nearby that you forgot to check!) The hibiscus offers an entirely different effect - inhaling the pollen grants you the temporary ability to shoot fireballs out of your hands. But be careful, those fireballs are difficult to control and seem to bounce in random directions no matter how hard you try to aim (cannot be used to destroy the sunflowers). The effect ends once you step out of the garden.

It's Dangerous to go Alone! Take This.

Somnius is once again recovering from a devastating blow. Buildings need to be restored to their former glory and the emotional turmoil of the previous weeks surely needs to be alleviated. What better way to lighten the mood than a little fun for the whole family? A new arcade has appeared in town, beckoning residents with its stone doors set wide open.

With multiple levels, a variety of games and even a snackbar, Appl3 Pi Arcade is sure to be a hit!

Of course, as with everything that ever happens in Somnius, the arcades appearance is not without some complications. For one, playing the games inside might see characters teleported into the machine itself, perfectly pixelated to fit the game they're in. Hope you weren't about to fight the final boss, because now you might be fighting for your life! The good news is, if you die in the game... you don't die in real life and are just popped back out into the arcade again.

Strange things happen outside the arcade too. Walking down the road you might suddenly see a healthbar pop up above someone's head. Are you supposed to fight them? Are they going to fight you? Best to be cautious and reach for any trusty weapons you have just in case. Weapons that have become pixelated and can be pulled seemingly out of nowhere like some kind of hammerspace. They are also prone to breaking and shattering into glimmering pixel pieces (your normal weapons are still intact, don't worry).

Boxes and pots around Somnius are somehow more breakable than usual, smashed open with a single swing of those pixel weapons and producing gold coins! What a shame gold coins aren't the currency here. But if you don't want to destroy more things around Somnius, why not try fishing instead? That seems safe - if not suddenly more difficult with the fishing minigame that popped up in front of you. Quick! Keep the fish icon in the green bar or you'll lose it!

All things considered? It's all relatively harmless fun up until-

But Enough Talk, Have At You!

Vaeros wakes up. For those new to town, this means nothing. For those that were here for the castle raid? They can rest assured that they're in for a surprise. The Overlord of Visium has finally awoken from his Hyalily induced coma and he is furious. A shout echoes from the castle:

"Did you think you had won, dear Dreamers? Did you think you had bested me? Go, play your games, but know that there is only one winner here, and it is me."

A wave of magical energy sweeps through the town, shaking it to the very core. Miraculously, the destroyed buildings and any remnants of the forest onslaught are gone and returned to their usual state. Perhaps Vaeros shouting was just another tantrum, an empty threat?

Not quite.

The town has been restored, but the locals? They are nowhere to be seen - cowering in their homes and fleeing to the sanctity of the Church of the Moon in hopes of staying out of sight of Vaeros and Dreamers both. The once tame video game effects are now far more intense - monsters from within those games are now rampaging through the town. They seem to shift through buildings, but if they run face first into a Dreamer, they will find them very corporeal and very deadly.

Not only that, but the lines are starting to blur between reality and fiction again, the healthbar above your head flickering in and out, the monsters turning from pixel beasts to real, live animals that roam Somnius - both feral and not. One second you are walking through town, and the next you are stepping onto a platform that starts to break under your weight, demanding you jump to the next platform before you plummet into an odd, multicolored abyss.

And strangest of all is that music coming from the labyrinth, growing louder when you approach and fading out when you move away.

OOC

Welcome to the labyrinthum TDM! Characters will arrive depowered and with only their clothing, and will be given a satchel with a crystal pendant, a communication device, some water and bread and a magic potion. If they drink the potion, they will manifest an elemental, healing or animal transformation ability.

With the exception of Castle Vaeros, characters are free to go as they please, so feel free to place them in any of the locations available on the map. Yes, this includes the Labyrinth - though characters will not be able to clear the maze.

You can find more information about the game here. Any questions regarding the TDM can go under the comment below.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Ymir was always the one who pushed her to be true to herself, but it was Eren who really saw Historia for who she was before anyone else in the Scouts did. At the time when she was fighting to care again, she needed his honesty. Back then... it was hard to really realize that.

At that time, she had no choice but to shed that mask. But, she's grateful for it. If not for that time, she wouldn't be the person she is now. She wouldn't have the bond she has with Eren if not for then.

She freezes up for a moment when he pulls her close before her gaze softens, hugging him in return. There's no doubting the concern and confusion she feels, but-- there's time to figure it all out. )

I'm glad we ran into each other. ( Out of all of the dozens of people she's seen, it almost feels like a chance encounter to see one another like they did. ) And, I'm sorry that I couldn't be here sooner.

No...[Eren doesn't let go. He's tired of letting go.]

It's not your fault. We can't control it...

[There's a moment of quiet; at last, he pulls away, blinking back tears. He sucks in a deep breath.]

For now. But we're fighting-- I'm. Fighting.

( Historia doesn't pull away until Eren is ready for it. It sounds like he's gone through so much...

What Eren is saying is true -- she had no control over being here. What's important is that she's here now.

Lifting a hand, she gently squeezes his shoulder before letting go completely. His words are more than enough for her to pause. Without titans here, it almost feels like the threat in this world isn't as dangerous, but it's too early for her to assume such a thing. )

Do you mean the monsters here?

[Eren shakes his head.]

Sometimes, there are monsters, and sometimes there aren't. They change. But they're not all you have to worry about.

The world itself changes. Our bodies might be messed with, or our minds. Now that you're here, I can promise you, that one day you'll wake up and something you never could have prepared yourself for will be happening. That's the boat we're all in.

[All at once, Eren's fists clench tight at his sides. His lips snarl. It's nothing Historia won't have seen before - should, in fact, be clear that the rage beginning to burn is something far more inherent than can be dictated by any particular environment. This is the rage that Eren always carries - only the target changes.]

That bastard plays with us like dolls. We're captives. Again.

( She trusts in what he has to say about the monsters. After all, they were both seasoned fighters at this point when it came to the titans. She may not be a member of the Scouts at this point, but she wasn't rusty when it came to defending herself or others by any means. )

It sounds as though we can only be prepared by expecting the unexpected.

( Was it for the best that others weren't here? Perhaps. A physical entity is far easier to fight against than what Eren is describing. )

This goes without saying, but... I'm with all of you, no matter what. I won't just let anyone be used by anyone as long as I can do something to help.

( She isn't saying that she won't fight victim to any of it by any means. If someone with as powerful of a will as Levi or the others can be affected, then... it's more than likely just a matter of time before something happens to her, too. )

[Historia is right about that. As for the "all of you," well...Eren isn't entirely sure that Captain Levi and Commander Erwin want the same things that he does. He trusts that Jean would remain by his side no matter what, but if their goals don't align, then their goals don't align.

[There's no need to get into that now. He trusts that Historia will remain his ally as well; aside from that, he'll always do whatever he needs to to protect the people he loves.

[He'll do anything at all.

[Historia is a powerful ally. Eren believes her when she says she'll aid in the fight - and he trusts her to take his side of things into consideration.

[He nods to her, firm.]

Sometimes, it feels like there isn't much we can do, but it isn't true. I didn't doubt for a second that you'd aid in this fight, Historia.

I'll tell you everything I know.

( It feels like they've always been fighting an uphill battle. Even though it's different here, it doesn't make her want to try any less. )

... It feels the same way at home sometimes. But, we've all fought as much as we could regardless of that.

( No matter how dangerous it was, even if he felt like it was hopeless, he always tried to give it all for those around him. )

Thank you. ... I'm lucky. If I didn't find a familiar face, I know that it'd be far more difficult to find my footing here.

[Historia speaks of their fight, and Eren can only think of their future.

[He takes her hand, squeezes it. He could lose her for this, but Jean, Mikasa, Captain Levi, Section Leader Hange, and even Reiner - they found a way to stomach him, somehow.

[He doesn't want Historia to hate him.]

I'll help you however I can. [...] Historia. We don't have to talk about it all right now. [They can, but they don't have to. He hopes they won't. Not yet.]

But you should know. The future doesn't go well.

( She meant what she said earlier. They could take their time and Eren could explain things at a pace that best suited Eren. Historia trusted him to explain everything that she needed to know.

But, what he says next is worrying. She knew that time was already strange here, but to what extent? The squeeze feels reassuring, but that won't stop her from feeling alarmed. )

... What do you mean? How can you know?

[At this, Historia's hand is released. The shame is too great. She'll learn. He'll answer her questions, as promised, but that doesn't mean he has to look her in the eye. He ends up looking at one upturned palm instead, the features of his face painfully pinching together.]

Jean...Mikasa...others...

They've lived it.

I have too, in a way. It's difficult to explain...

The Labyrinth, here...allowed me to experience the rest of my life to its end.

( Historia's expression shifts then, brows knitting in confusion before looking to Eren worriedly. The anguish on his face makes her want to reach for him again, palm gently reaching for his shoulder.

I'm here, is what she intends to say by doing so. Eren doesn't have to face any of that pain alone. )

... I'm sorry, Eren. I'm just relieved to know that you haven't had to go through any of this alone.

( She doesn't know what he's seen. She only knows that it must have been painful for him to have seen it all. With the horrors in their world, it comes as no surprise. They've been fighting for so long to make things better, but it feels like they've been constantly taking one step forward, and two steps back. )

Didn't you say that this world manipulates our minds? We don't know what's awaiting for us at home. No one can. And, no matter what future is awaiting us, we can fight to change it!

No. [It's sudden. Eren yanks away from Historia, shooting her a glare that's meant more for himself - for all those that doubted him, tried to give him hope - than for her. It feels like he went through it alone; that's his own fault, maybe, but it doesn't make it any less true.]

Sorry, but I don't accept that answer anymore, and I never will, so save it.

I've been here seven months. I know how this place works. Once you leave, you end up at the exact same place you came from, and everything plays out exactly as it's meant to.

There's no avoiding it, and there's no stopping it. You need to accept that now, or else you're only going to be disappointed when it all goes to shit. [By the end of the sentence, his voice is ragged with emotion.]

I'm saying that to help you, so just give it up and trust me. I know what I'm talking about.

( The glare is enough for Historia to give pause, but Historia doesn't seem to feel intimidated, nor does she seem to draw back. There's a sharpness to her tone, a firmness to her expression )

What are you saying? That we may as well not even try?

I won't accept that answer. Weren't you just saying that you'd fight?

( He looks so tired. She doesn't know what he's seen, but this isn't the first time that he's seemed defeated and Historia has had to knock sense into him. )

If the future looks grim, then we need to try to do something to change it. Isn't that part of what we've been striving for all this time?!

[As Historia speaks, Eren watches her. All emotion leeches out of his expression, green eyes going dull, lifeless. It's not something she'll have seen from Eren before - a glimpse at a future she's not even closed to prepared for.

[He's tired of this argument. She'll learn the hard way.]

That is what I'm saying. [His voice is deathly cold.] That's right. You may as well not even try.

A fight for this reality. That's all there is now.

If you don't believe me, you'll see soon. [He doesn't want that; doesn't make it any less true.]

Save your breath, Historia. I'm not having this argument again.

( She doesn't know what he's seen. She can't even imagine. They've all seen such horrible things already, but nothing that would make them want to give up hope like this. Her expression shifts to one of concern, and then confusion -- until it hardens once more.

She feels some disappointment, but there's concern too. Just what did this world show him? Will she see it, too? Or, something worse? )

Then, I'll fight to prove that you're wrong. Even if it means doing it on my own.

( She'll become the worst girl in the world for him, right? )

[Eren's heart is heavy. It's only a matter of time, really, until Historia knows the truth of their future too. If he could save her from it...

[He wouldn't. He knows he wouldn't. He did it. And he would do it. Again and again and again. As many times as it took.

[Maybe it's best she doesn't know yet...]

I'm still your ally. [A pause.] Your friend.

The fight has changed. That's all. [But he doesn't feel like arguing anymore.]

You can stay here as long as you need to. Get yourself cleaned up. I'll get you something to eat.

And, I'm still yours. ( Historia says quietly. ) That'll never change.

( The fight's changed - it's true. But, isn't it more dangerous when it's an enemy that they can't see? )

...

We can talk later. Let's go.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

TDM #10 OVERFLOW

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

we can start moving toward a wrap until app time hehe

o/