nature offers a violence

[singmod]

NOVEMBER 2023 EVENT

PROMPT ONE — WHITEOUT: Methuselah makes an unexpected early return to Milton to warn Interlopers of an impending monster storm, and boy does it surely come.

PROMPT TWO — A CHOICE: Following the storm, sightings of a mysterious stag prompts a hunt down in the Basin and out in the Outskirts.

PROMPT THREE — REST MY WEARY BONES: While the storm causes a great deal of mess, it also uncovers some far more pleasant surprises. Hot springs.

WHITEOUT

WHEN: Early to mid-month.
WHERE: Milton.
CONTENT WARNINGS: extreme weather; storms; blizzards; themes of survival; possible character cold-related injuries; possible themes of peril.


In the times that he is no longer occupying the Community Hall in the center of town to help tend to the newcomers, Methuselah is out in the wilds. Despite his growing age, he is a hardened survivor, and has been more than accustomed to life living as a nomad, out in the thickest, deepest parts of nature. Sometimes he can be encountered, sheltered in a cave or out in the woods, huddled by a warm campfire, or busying himself with his latest game catch. He seems to be always on the move, never staying for too long, and never coming into town — unless it’s to begin preparations for the latest batch of new arrivals.

To see him returning to Milton outside of these times is a curious sight, and the grim expression he carries is enough to make anyone wary. Even his voice is grave. The warmth and kindness usually found in his expression is gone, replaced with a deathly seriousness. He doesn’t speak in jest.

"I am long used to this world and its weather, even with the changing times to more bitter nights." he will say. "I have seen the years rise and fall, too many to count. Please, I beg that you hear me with this— a storm is coming. Greater than some of you may have ever known. It is in the air, and we must prepare to see it through. We do not have much time. Three days, perhaps. But no more."

He will tell anyone and everyone; encouraging the word to be spread around. He will instruct on what needs to be done, what needs to be gathered. The storm will be long and hard, and will last for some time. With that, Methuselah will begin to prepare the Community Hall as a place of refuge with a stock of food, fuel and water to get through the storm. Interlopers will be free to join Methuselah and bunker down together, or can choose to bunker down on their own in their own homes, or with others.

You have only three days.

And sure enough, the storm comes. Maybe you can notice the signs too: the sudden updraft, the slow gathering of clouds, the drop in temperature, the changes of pressure in the air.

Halfway through the third day, the storm rolls in: a ferocious snow-storm unlike anything you’ve seen before. Even with the fading amount of daylight as mid-winter approaches, the sky turns as dark as night as will stay like night for the duration. Strong howling winds batter the town, and even the sturdiest of buildings creak and groan under the weight. Trees will be felled, some buildings might not fare the storm.

Relentless snow that falls so hard it’s a complete whiteout, and will be impossible to navigate if one were to step outside. Even then, it isn’t advisable. The temperature is bitter, with a frigid windchill. Going out in this kind of storm would be a death sentence. Staying out in it for longer than a half-hour will certainly kill you.

It would be best to wait it out, to huddle around warm fires in the darkness. It may certainly be a test of patience, depending on your choice of place to stay. The storm will last a full week, a stark reminder of what you are, the words you have heard in your arrival: thrown to Mother Nature’s mercy, the Interloper in her design.

But will you persist?

A CHOICE

WHEN: Mid-month, onwards to end of month.
WHERE: Milton Basin, Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: survival themes; themes of hunting; possible animal death.


After the storm passes, there’s a certain kind of hush that falls upon Milton and its surrounding areas as Interlopers are left to pick through the wake. While the temperature certainly doesn’t get that much warmer, there’s days and nights of clear, calm weather — short afternoons of weak sunshine and nights of chilly peace, the moon hung high in the starry skies. Winter is drawing ever-closer, but it’s still for a little while.

In the early evenings, before the sun sets, there’s strange sightings of a particular white stag that can be found roaming the area — particularly down in the Milton Basin. It seems quite elusive, but there’s plenty of Interlopers that have been able to capture a glimpse over the coming days. Even Methuselah himself has seen this beast before, remarking there has long been tall tales of a ghostly stag that roams the Northern Territories and is said to bring good fortune to those who manage to hunt it down.

Perhaps you’re a little low on luck. Perhaps you’re feeling lucky. You’re going to find that stag.

Hunting down the stag, however, will take a great deal of patience and time. You might find yourself waiting several hours to wait for it to appear. Building a snow shelter, or hunkering down in some old shack might be needed in order to keep warm. But if you’re patient enough, and able to withstand the cold for long enough — the beast will soon make an appearance.

In the dying light of the day, it is there. It’s unlike any deer you’ve seen before: tall and majestic, with thick, soft fur of brilliant white. It almost looks ghost-like in some angles, it’s an incredibly beautiful creature. But it seems to have also noticed you, just as you have noticed it. It doesn’t dart away, however. Instead it stands before you, waiting for you to act.

You have a choice: slay the creature, or let it go.

It will not move until you make your decision, holding your gaze until you raise your weapon or until you lower it and give up your hunt. But there is a consequence to either action: if you choose to kill the stag, you will be rewarded with a sizeable bounty of venison. Eating said meat will help you feel fuller for longer, and the meat will keep for far longer than any other deer slain.

However, if you choose to spare the stag, the creature will lower its head, as if bowing to you. Then, it will disappear with a swirling of powdered snow. When you return home for the evening and go to sleep, the next morning you will find a gift at the foot of your bed: a pair of deerskin boots, or a deerskin blanket. These boots are supple, tough and waterproof — allowing for a great balance of mobility and warmth. The blanket is incredibly toasty, and will provide a great deal of comfort in the long nights ahead.

REST MY WEARY BONES

WHEN: Mid-month, onwards indefinitely.
WHERE: Milton Outskirts.
CONTENT WARNINGS: n/a.



The storm has blown in plenty of snow to make traversing the area much more difficult, but there’s something else of note that comes with its passing. While the storm has brought much devastation, and some places have been buried in snow drifts, plenty of snow in areas has been blown away, uncovering otherwise lost secrets within Milton. Clouds of what looks like steam can be noted not too far from town, towards the mountains of the north.

If Interlopers head to explore the clouds, they will find old trails leading up towards the mountains. It isn’t a particularly difficult journey, for once, and they will soon discover that the storm has blown away the previously blocked access to a cave. It appears that this is the right place.

The air is warm here, pleasantly so. Warm enough that hats and mittens and coats seem a little unnecessary. One might wonder if someone lives within, and that a great fire is stoked to keep the place warm. But there’s no one in sight, no sounds of life: human, animal or otherwise. If they press on, they will discover that the cave floor is well worn with footfall: plenty of people have come here before, and the reason why is soon revealed.

The air grows even warmer, and more humid. The space opening to reveal small pools of slow-flowing water, warm water. The stone houses a natural hot spring, and following the cave out the other side will lead to another space in the rock open to the air, where there are even larger pools of warm water, perfectly sized and deep enough to bathe in. It seems that this place was frequently used by the people of Milton, where their life of hardship could be forgotten for an hour or two.

The water is pleasantly hot, and incredibly inviting. After so long in the freezing cold without modern appliances and utilities, a natural hot spring sounds like an absolute luxury.

FAQs

WHITEOUT

1. Characters are free to play around with this prompt how they want. Maybe they're dumb enough to go into the cold and get injured or sick. Maybe they're stuck in the Community Hall for the week. Fights might break out as tensions run high whilst everyone's stuck together, or maybe you're actually having a nice time.

2. For those stuck in the Community Hall: there are board games and old school textbooks stored in cupboards. There is also a piano.

3. A floorplan of the Community Hall can be found here.

A CHOICE

1. .... Yes, you can pet the ghost stag.

2. Characters will get one choice only with the ghost stag, meaning they can't keep going back to find it to get extra gifts.

3. If characters can't agree on a course of action, whoever acts first will get their gift. The second character will have a chance to try again another time.

4. If both characters agree on sparing the stag, but players want different gifts (ie. one player wants the boots and one wants the blanket), characters will get the gift the player wants their character to receive.

REST MY WEARY BONES

1. The hot springs will now be a permanent fixture in the Milton Area, enjoy!

PLOTTING POST

Comments

Ruby Rose | RWBY

[guidemyway]

White Out (CHOPPIN' WOOD)

[Ruby was not a stranger to prepping for a crisis. On the bright side the panic here didn't immediately attract a monster attack like it did in her own world. Which was nice- it meant she could focus on other things.

When the day starts she can be found with axe in hand in a red flannel jacket chopping wood and piling it up to be taken over to the community center. For a seventeen year old she's got lot of strength and endurance to keep at the task for awhile. But as the day goes on she eventually feels the labor start to catch up on her and falls back into snow bank.]

Wooofff--- Okay. Gimme five and I'll be back in there, coach.


Gathering

[And because she doesn't know how to stop, Ruby can be found at the community center when she's not cutting up additional firewood. She glances around at the supplies already gathered and does her best to raise up a hand.]

Hey! Excuse me! Is there anything we're super low on!? Food? Blankets? What ever it is I'll do a run through town to see if I can find it.

[And she points to whoever else is passing by.]

Are you busy? Want to come with?


The Storm

[Ruby had figured sticking around the community center was the best bet to weather the storm. She was better suited and more at ease in a place with more people that she could help if the need came about. For the most part she's bundled up in her winter gear as best and a couple blankets doing her best to keep warm. Every once in awhile she'll pass by a window and try to get a look outside.]

...Is that, someone out there?

[She's not sure if it's her eyes playing tricks on her because she's bored. Or if it's someone actually in danger, but all the same she suddenly looks more tense and ready to act.]

Winter Fun

[With the storm having passed the best thing Ruby can do is try to lift some spirits. So in the most open area she can find she starts working to livin' things up a little. There are a couple basic snow men built or half built in an attempt to encourage people to join in and build their own. A snow angel or two around the edges of the little clearing. and last but not least, in the very center Ruby stands atop a fort she has built. A pile of snow balls at her side.]

Come one, come all! To Ruby's Winter Wonderland Extravaganza! Where fun is mandatory, or else!

[And she picks up one of the snowballs and tosses it into the air.

...Where it promptly falls down onto her head.]

Rest My Weary Bones

[Honestly after all is said and done, Ruby is absolutely exhausted. It takes some work to actually get herself up to the hot springs but she does manage to get there, she'll even drag someone else there too if she has to. No matter how she tries she can't shake off the need to look out for anyone and everyone else.

But once she gets there she strips down to her underwear and an extra towel that she's managed get a hold of and sinks in to the hot water. It's only then that it becomes a little more clear just how hard she's pushes herself, there's a handful of fading but still dark bruises on her arms and legs from pushing through to get the supplies were needed. Along with a handful of old scars from past fights.

Either way she doesn't seem too bothered by this, and gives a long sigh of relief.]

Okay. This is actually kind of nice.

Wild Card

[Want to choose your own adventure? Go ahead! Or feel free to contact me at jjabarrett on plurk or discord and we can chat.]

VASH | trigun stampede

[skelters]

01. WHITEOUT - pre-storm

[ the warning doesn't go unheeded - especially for vash, for whom this weather is still a new and unfamiliar thing. it is a different thing by far to the chill of the cryosleep pods, different to the vast emptiness of zero gravity, the hum of the SEEDS ship like a pulsing beat of a heart. but all those things have been such a long time ago, that he can no longer properly recall the feelings; it comes to him in fragments, rather, broken recollections that has no basis in reality anymore.

in any case, he makes himself useful - or feel useful, in any way that he is able to. he might be out in the forest gathering some firewood to stock up, or else helping to chop them up behind the churchyard or the community hall. he might be helping to repair a broken roof or window, strengthening them against the oncoming storm. maybe he is asking you to show him this or that, to better assist with the preparation. or maybe he comes trudging through the snow to knock on your door, wondering if you need any help?

note: he will be out and about milton and the community hall in the first three days before the storm hits, please feel free to catch him! during the storm he will probably be at the church. happy to write closed starters for anyone if you'd like :> other ideas for fun times: cooking in the community hall (please teach him), the piano which he will tinker with if he thinks there's nobody around paying attention, and a bunch of other stuff! ]

02. A CHOICE

[ vash is out in the forest, but not for the reasons that some others might be; he's heard about the stag - the ghostly white beast that roams the outer forests. he doesn't really think there is anything to the rumour that it brings good luck - but he is naturally curious, if anything, to see an animal that he's only read about ... and it would surely be a waste of such a creature if someone were to kill it out of some selfish (or unselfish) desires.

ostensibly, he is meant to be foraging, but really, he is just keeping a lookout. ]

03. SNOW ADVENTURES

[ the calm weather after the storm is a welcome thing; it doesn't feel any less colder, but the lack of the biting wind makes it better than the days in the beginning when he'd first arrived, and certainly much more of an improvement to the storm they just weathered. so he is out here, doing some much needed snow shovelling to clear the pathways.

please throw a snowball at him. or show him what else you can do with the snow aside from working. he needs fun times! ]

04. REST MY WEARY BONES

[ the hot springs are new ... and as welcoming as the steam rising from the water looks, vash doesn't seem very convinced as he hangs about at the edge of one of the smaller pools, looking down at the water with a slight, doubtful furrow set in his brows. surely he isn't scared of the water? or maybe he can't swim? or is he one of those people who take ice baths and refuse the comfort of a hot spring? please throw him in there i'm begging you. ]

05. WILDCARD

[ anything else in mind? please hit me up with a wildcard or we can chat! my plotting comment for the event is here if you need :> thanks! ]

Rabbit Season (whiteout) | Tim Drake | DC Comics

[ployboy]

> Movers, Shakers, and Producers
Whiteout: Community Hall (cw, discussion of animal death, breeding, and other survival themes throughout)

[It's been more than one day, less than four days. Maybe? It's dark and crowded and the sounds of the storm compete every second with the noise of the people sheltered here.

Sometimes there's a calm, some contagious feeling where the ruckus and moving around is minimal and it can almost be peaceful, being imprisoned with so many others, unsure of their tomorrow. Usually when there's food.

Food, glorious food.

There is also (bear with him here) a stage just next to the sleeping quarters with some cots sprinkled about. This rising little shelf of space where Tim can easily imagine a grade schooler singing their first big solo for the town Talent Show. Before the Interlopers, before the ghosts and the lost gods. The funny thing about people-- there's an urge to look up, when someone claims the space. It's almost involuntary. It's just a thing that happens.

Tim needs that moment of collective attention before it's stolen by some yahoo, the captive audience (literally. captive.) subjected to a very inspired cover of Master of Puppets. (It must be nice to have anxiety over public speaking, over demanding the spotlight.)

And so... here we are. He's hauled himself up the stage (one arm useless and stiff and protected against his middle).
He's projecting his voice just well enough, he's enunciating but not slow when he speaks. He's got a proposition and nothing to lose.]

I need your attention for a few moments. I'll keep it short. Under a minute if I don't stutter. [Dear captive audience, he won't stutter.]

I don't need to tell you that the storm is dangerous or that it won't be the only one we're going to have to face. With a good percent of us all in one place, it's as good a time as any to pool our resources together. I'm talking about our knowledge and understanding of our situation, because material things here are largely unreliable.

We won't keep wasting so many resources, people, weapons, energy, and time, on fetching something unpredictable. Risky. Something that takes us away from the safety of our shelters. Not when winter's approaching and we have an upper hand against Mother Nature in this community.

The project of farming a sustainable food source should start now to decrease the cost of feeding us all in the coming months. I'm asking you-- anyone who has worked with the animals, who hunts and tracks and traps. Anyone who knows their way around butchering. And who can do some good math. Help us out. We'll be discussing this so long as we're here, to put the plan in action when it's safe enough to do so.

Consider it, so the investment in this now grows to be worthwhile for everyone.

[--who is this mysterious 'we'. Anyway, the boy can be found here and there within the Hall as the storm rages on, clearly busy in that way someone is when they're always used to being busy, even when there's really nothing going on.]

01; door knocking

[alef]

[ When Vash knocks on the door of a small, single-story home, nobody answers. At least for a while.

It's easy to think that nobody's home. All of the curtains are drawn and there's no light coming from inside - not even a fire. The front walkway hasn't been shoveled. The only sign of life are small sets of human-looking footprints going to and from the front door.

Inside, Rei is sat at the kitchen counter, looking at a pair of broken glasses and a can of beans. She's been there for a while. Don't worry about how long. But after a while, she pulls away from the entertaining scene. If she's learned anything from last time, whoever's knocking will probably enter, one way or another.

Rei opens the door a small crack, a single red eye peering out from the gap. She looks up at her visitor. She says nothing, trusting her silence and the fact that she won't open the door all the way to convey enough. What are you doing here? ]

Louis | event CWs apply

[flambeaux]

Whiteout Milton

Against advice about the impending storm, Louis stayed in his abandoned home. A starved vampire is dangerous, both because they've been weakened and because they're more likely to attack first and ask questions later. Louis still clings to inconvenient things like compassion and ethics and practicality, all of which tell him not to put himself in a position where he must kill the residents of Milton. He imagines them finding his resting place in retaliation and incinerating him, coffin and all.

He still clings to life, ungracefully.

As the storm rages on, he is forced to admit he cannot survive on his own. He's hungry, and the creatures of the night have retreated into burrows he can't access. Bundling up and shouldering a bag of supplies, he exits the house to make his way to the Community Hall.

He's normally very sure on his feet, but the cold bite of the wind slows him immediately. Within a few steps, he feels like he's dying.

"HEY!"

Whiteout Community Hall

cw: vampiric thirst

It's been days and the storm isn't letting up. Louis finds new hiding spaces to curl up to sleep during the day, his current favorite being hidden among backstage storage.

During dark hours Louis huddles in a blanket by himself, reluctant to be around people as time marches on. He's peaky, and there are shadows under his eyes. He chews a little at the edge of his lip. He looks lost in the intensity of whatever he's thinking about. It's not food... of a conventional sort.

A Choice

Ah--he's been made. Metropolitan man about town Louis de Pointe du Lac was prepared for this backcountry moment of failure: a deer noticing him and immediately bolting as deer do--

It's creepy when prey doesn't act like prey.

"You should know better than to trust the strange two-legged creatures with guns and knives and all manner of unpleasantries," he says deliberately. "Something wrong with you. I don't want what you've got. Go on. Get."

He makes a shooing motion with his fancy walking stick, not bothering to unsheathe the knife hidden in it.

Rest My Weary Bones

Though he's terrible at hunting without his vampiric powers, the hunt is always on his mind. It's his own hellish version of preventing starvation. Upon discovering the hot springs, he quickly figured his prey (animal, human) would congregate here. He doesn't want to disturb the peace directly in it, but if he can take a rabbit, say, quickly and quietly, he will. Waiting out the storm was rough on him.

Louis pilfered a pair of plain black swim trunks for this trip. He plans to go alone, but he knows he might run into anyone. The trunks are insurance against any embarrassing mishaps. He dated a European; that doesn't mean he's going to be bare ass to the wind about it. Furthermore, while he isn't slight, he's a little self-conscious that he isn't more muscular.

Changing in the privacy of an alcove, he isn't aware of anyone else here until he enters one of the little springs in the cave, carrying a small bag of toiletries. He stops, goes very still with his bright green eyes widening... then decides to pretend nothing is amiss. Deluding himself and others is one of his great skills.

---

Click headings to expand | Feel free to change details if these don't quite work | Plotting

Jason McConnell | bare: a pop opera

[triedtobelong]

(1) WHITEOUT: before the storm

[ Jason's a team player. He doesn't stay in the community hall -- living around that many strangers without so much as a door for privacy sounds like a nightmare, thanks -- but they're all in this together, right? He ducks out at night and makes sure his own little cabin is stocked up, but he'll be pretty visible those two days. He has no real idea what he's doing when it comes to fixing things, cooking, chopping wood, or anything else useful for preparing for poor weather. But he's good at following directions; and he's got height, strength, and the willingness to go up to pretty much any stranger that's struggling and ask them if they need a hand.

If the topic comes up, he'll be pretty open about planning to shelter out the storm in his own little cabin. He has blankets and wood and food and he's pretty close to the community hall if worst comes to worst. How bad can it really be? Feel free to try to convince him to change his mind; it's just not likely to work. ]


(2) WHITEOUT: mistakes have been made

[ The answer to "how bad can it be" turns out to be very very bad thanks. It also turns out Jason makes a shitty fire. In his defense, it's stacking wood and putting a match to it, he didn't realize you could be bad at that.

Anyway, he barely gets through a day before he's starting to realize this may not have been his best plan. He'll stick it out for night two, shivering under what might be every spare scrap of fabric he could find in this cabin, before finally accepting come morning that he has no idea how much longer this will last, and he can't stay here by himself.

Stepping out into the cold, even bundled as thoroughly as possible, feels like an even bigger mistake. But he's only, what, ten minutes from the hall? Maybe twenty with the wind? He'll be fine!

...He will not be fine. That becomes clear very quickly. Someone please help drag him inside. ]


(3) WHITEOUT & AFTERMATH: restlessness

[ Look. There's the storm of the... some amount of time out there. (He's not holding out hope there won't be a worse one.) There's a distinct lack of privacy. And Jason's nursing what he's hoping is just a rough cold from making his way to the community hall in the middle of the snow. There's a lot of reasons he should probably just be lying on a cot and getting some sleep, but this fails to account for one very important factor: he is easily bored.

He'll politely keep his distance as much as possible unless invited closer, at least until the sniffling and the rawness in his throat clears up, not wanting to get anyone else sick. But he's still actively on the hunt for something to do pretty much as soon as he warms up again. Board games? Conversation? Exploring what little there is to explore in the community hall? Doing any little fixing jobs that people point out that he can figure out how to do? He'll try it at some point over the week. Feel free to join him. Or make suggestions. Or be annoyed by him. Or find him blundering in on an awkward moment of attempted privacy.

It's even worse once the sickness and the snow clear up. Fixing the town up after the storm, snowball fights, the occasional jog around a clear path: whenever the sun's up, he's probably outside taking advantage of the chance to stretch his legs. If anyone can find a ball, he'll probably try to talk people into some kind of makeshift game as well. Who doesn't need a little exercise, after being cooped up all week? ]


(4) REST MY WEARY BONES

[ Once news of the hot springs spread back to the rest of the Interlopers, you can find him there several times a week. It's warm and clean and why would you not take advantage of it? Not like there's a whole lot else to do.

He's modest enough to wear a pair of shorts as a makeshift bathing suit, but he's not particularly body shy, happy to strip off in front of anyone who's already there. Mostly he's here to enjoy himself, but he's friendly if anyone wants to make conversation, will even encourage anyone hanging around looking curious with a mild: ] You should try it, it feels great.


e. WILDCARD

[[ Feel free to run with something else. Or hit me up for a closed starter or to discuss anything, either at balsamandash, or at the plotting post. Happy to go for prose in any comments, just switch and I'll follow suit. ]]

Edward Little ⚓ The Terror

[fidior]

WHITEOUT — STORM PREPARATION

[ So much of it is familiar.

A warning, time to prepare, and the building dread, creeping and clawing. Edward Little is no stranger to those concepts, and some part of him immediately feels overwhelmed — the other part raises its voice louder, knows what must be done.

Three days isn't much time to prepare for what's coming, but he's going to make the most of it. He doesn't waste a moment. For those three days, the first lieutenant can be found anywhere in the town of Milton — he'll even go door to door, checking on each resident to see what their plans for the storm may be. You may be the recipient of a steadfast knock at your front door, and there he'll stand, formal as always in his uniformed greatcoat and officer's cap, brows lifted. He's not an unfriendly face, but he's clearly here on business — "Good day. Might I have your ear for a moment?"

Or perhaps you've decided you won't be seeking refuge in the Community Hall, and are beginning to prepare a different building for what's to come. He'll come walking up, attention alerted to any windows being boarded up, any supplies being hauled inside — "Planning to weather out the storm here?"

Much of his time is also spent preparing the Community Center, where he can be found hauling in wood and other supplies, preparing cots with extra sheets and blankets, or strategically arranging piles and boxes of food down in the basement storage to accommodate as much as possible. He's quiet as he works, and extremely serious, mouth a thin line, eyes tight, body language tensed. One might be able to perceive a certain upset there in the small moments, however, with the way he sometimes stands off on his own, eyes a little wide and unfocused, trapped in thought.

(What if he can't keep everyone safe? What if he fails, the way he already had once before?) ]

WHITEOUT — COMMUNITY CENTER

[ The storm hits, and it's cold and unforgiving. A constant howling thing. Edward's at times reminded of the worse nights at sea, and at other times of the unbearable cold of the ice afterwards and the way it sometimes screeched as the ship settled within it, but nothing can truly compare to what this is now. A storm the likes of which he's never seen.

He spends most of his time tense and quiet, and checking in on things, doing patrols even within the safety of the Community Center, trying to keep an eye on everyone there. He's well-used to endless Arctic nights, and how time can be lost within them. He also knows the particular issue of those trapped within a space, contained, bored at minimum and.... upset, frightened, irrational, hostile at the very worst. He was never particularly suited to raising people's spirits; some of the other officers took on that role much more easily, while Little was focused more on a different type of practicality.

Here, that's namely making certain they don't run out of food. So through that long week, he's very often found near food storage, whether that be in the kitchen or down in the basement. He tends to sit at a small table down there, sometimes reading a book, sometimes just sitting there, gloved hands folded together, seemingly deep in thought.

Or maybe you're playing a game — board or otherwise — and he happens to draw near, not quite within your personal space, but standing close enough. If you take notice of him, his eyebrows will lift slightly, and he'll tip his head both knowingly and approvingly, though his words perhaps prove that he has little experience with such things himself.... ]

Recreational activities. I've observed that they're appropriate for keeping the mind off of upsets.

[ Little.... have you ever played a game in your life.

The only time anyone will ever see this man dressed down, slightly, is when he's sleeping. Even then, he makes an effort to maintain as much meagre privacy as he's able, having chosen a cot tucked against a far wall. Once he's tucked in, he typically stays that way, but there may be a few rare times during the week that he actually slips from bed in the middle of rest. It's then you can actually catch him not eternally wearing that greatcoat, but the clothing beneath it — white collar peeking up from a black wool jumper, and a waistcoat over all of it. He may peel off that waistcoat for a bit more comfort in the night, and he may be found quietly moving through the Community Center, to sit at a lone table with a mug of water in his palms. He seems... restless, a little, though he tries to stay very still and quiet, so as not to disturb anyone else....... that is, until his stomach gives a very loud growl.

He's hungry. (He's always hungry, because even here in this town where there is food, Edward never eats enough to feel full, and especially since the storm began, he's been limiting his own rations.) ]

---

A CHOICE / REST MY WEARY BONES / ETC.

^{For other plans & prompts, I will be sticking to tagins and closed starters! Feel free to hit me up if you'd like a thing — plot post here ⚓}

Re: Ruby Rose | RWBY

[flambeaux]

Well, that storm was hell and a half. The struggle with his dietary needs has never been more apparent. Louis is tempted to crawl into the ground for a century.

Louis shivers in his warm overcoat. He didn't grow up with snow. It doesn't occur to him why this girl would have built a snow fort other than just seeing if she could, like with the snowmen. He's walking within range without a care except for where he needs to find his next meal.

She nails herself with a snowball, and he freezes in place. "Does this Winter Wonderland Extravaganza involve snow in my collar?" he asks apprehensively.

Harry Goodsir | The Terror

[bestsir]

I. Whiteout

In the days before the storm, Goodsir is busy shifting medical supplies to the community hall. He sets up in a corner so that anyone who needs help will know where to find him, and as the storm begins, he moves in to stay there for the duration. Sometimes you may catch him staring out the windows, a haunted look on his face.

II. After the Storm

When the storm is over, he stays in the community hall for a few extra days before returning to his house, where he is once again available to anyone who needs medical help. When he hears about the stag, he isn't quite sure how to feel about it ... and soon may be noticed keeping an eye on Hickey a bit more.

III. Rest My Weary Bones

[ CW: References to self-harm, that thing he did in episode 10, you know the one. ]

When word reaches him about the hot springs, he makes his way there. He is not prepared for the intensity of emotion that hits him when he steps into the warm, humid cave—he hasn't felt air like this in a very long time. When he puts his hand into the heated water, he can't keep back tears.

He doesn't actually get into the water, however, until he's alone (or thinks he's alone). He's uncomfortable in his body now; he almost can't look at himself without thinking of what he did in the mutineers' camp—not to mention the scars on his forearms that provide a not-so-helpful reminder. But when he thinks it's safe, he plunges in ... and stays there for nearly an hour. Hot water. Imagine.

IV. Wildcard

[ Anything else? Go for it. Plotting comment is here, for reference. ]

whiteout - community center - food storage

[load_aim_shoot]

Raju's been restless even before any of this started. Finding something to write with had helped a little, doused some of that thing inside him which needs to grow and spread and burn until everything which can't be explained in this terrible place crumbles underneath the force of it. But there had only been so much to write, because there had only been so much to do to record after, and he'd seized onto the need to prepare for the storm with a passion which made it easy to ignore the fact that he had no idea what a 'great storm' in this place was going to mean at all.

What the great storm means is that he's trapped inside again. Trapped even more completely than last time. And it means that any gloves he'd been able to borrow or blankets he'd snatched from beds in order to endure going out during the three days before all this had to go back where they came from, and all he has again is clothes which were well-suited to the now forgotten warmth of the city, and terribly suited even for the insides of the buildings here. He paces back and forth in front of the fire whenever he can stand spending long enough in one place for the warmth to try and seep in. In the meantime, Edward isn't the only one who's been patrolling.

Keeping track of the food stores would be something, wouldn't it? And it isn't a bad way to push himself. It's colder still down here in the basement, of course, and he'll have to get used to this damned cold sooner rather than later. Raju's arms are wrapped loosely around himself with hands tucked under his arms, shoulders hunched, jaw tight, but his lips twitch into a little smile when he sees a man set up with a table down here, obviously standing — sitting — guard. After a moment to assess him anyway, Raju's eyes quick and watchful— but he does smile.

"I see you and I had the same idea. Any trouble yet? Who's been trying to take more than their share?"

[guidemyway]

Ruby blinks in surprise and a touch of embarrassment when she notices Louis standing there like a statue. He clearly had seen everything. This couldn't stand. He couldn't be left alive.

"Uh--- Yeah. I mean. It might." She says awkwardly as she very inconspicuously lowers herself down to get one of her already made snowballs.

"-Especially if you don't prepare yourself!" And the moment her hand grips the snowball she shifts into position to throw it. The snowball sails through the air threatening to get Louis right in the forehead unless he reacts.

Wynonna Earp | Wynonna Earp

[pacificator]

— open & closed starters —

PLOTTING POST | repeatandfade

whiteout — open.

[pacificator]

[ The little cabin she's claimed for her own is more than sturdy enough to survive the storm that's coming – she thinks – but even as she piles blankets onto the bed and stocks wood by the black iron stove, she can see Waverly's worried, disappointed expression. ]

I'd be fine on my own. I always have been before.

[ But the imaginary Waverly brooks no arguments, so Wynonna has wound up here at the Community Hall, carving out a little slice of space for herself, eying everyone else milling around. She'd brought some of the wood she'd cut earlier and she's managed a few neutral interactions with some of the other people here, so... Who knows. Maybe things will be different.

In the first few days, she can be found leaning back in a chair, boots up on one of the tables, idly shuffling a deck of well-worn cards and dealing them out to whoever seems interested. ]

The game is five-card draw, folks.

[ A beat, as she reconsiders. ]

Unless none of you know how to play, in which case: the game is 'go fish.' Buy-in... whatever the hell you feel like, I'm not a fucking casino.

[ But as the time goes on, tension sets in. It's there in the line of her shoulders, in the terse way she reacts to even the most innocuous of comments. She spends more time than she needs cleaning Peacemaker, considering she hasn't fired the old Buntline Special since she got here. Find her lost in her thoughts sipping a mug of tea by a boarded up window or prowling restlessly around the edges of the hall like a caged animal.

Okay. So maybe things won't be so different, after all. ]

a black sheep — closed, for fidior.

[pacificator]

[ Rule number one: you never get off the bus.

In this case, the bus is a the warm building, where there are other people for company and help; where there's food and light and heat. Only an idiot would leave all of that for the slim promise of not dying frozen and alone in the middle of a howling blizzard. But isn't it better to leave than to be driven out?

She slams out the door, and then the storm is on her like a wolf. It's instant, sinking teeth into her flesh and bones even through her layers as the wind shrieks and ice pelts her face, helpfully as loud and chaotic as the howling in her own head. Raised voices and slamming doors; the Wynonna Earp special. She was an idiot to think things could change here, that she'd somehow be less... cursed.

No one from Purgatory has followed her here, but she hears them anyway, even through the howl of the storm around her.

(you are such a shit, Wynonna! )

True enough, but it still pisses her off. ]

Tell it to someone who cares.

[ Muttered between half-frozen lips as she stubbornly struggles onward. Peacemaker is an agonizing bolt of burning cold against her leg; she has no idea if she's heading towards one of the other town buildings or if she's simply hauling her ass through this blizzard only to wind up in the woods to die of exposure.

Still seems like a better option than going back, honestly.

Snow sweeps across her footprints as soon as her boots lift, her tracks vanishing into the storm. She doesn't notice; she doesn't even look back at all. ]

a choice — closed, for dimensionalcanopener.

[pacificator]

[ — tbd — ]

rest my weary bones — open.

[pacificator]

Oh. Fuck. Yes. Come to mama.

[ Groaned as she sinks into the steaming water, her eyes closing and her arms spread back over the edge of the natural bath. She's been cold before, but never like this, never for this long, the way it's seeped into every part of her. Even her hair feels frozen through, but the mellow heat of the water sends warmed blood flushing through her veins, flooding her cheeks and chest with color.

On arrival, she'd wasted no time in unceremoniously stripping out of her clothes, tugging coat and jacket and shirt and tank top over her head; stepping out of boots and socks and jeans, leaving them all in a haphazard pile with Peacemaker tucked tenderly on top. She keeps her underwear on – her only nod to the sensitivities of those around her – but given the top is a lacy black bra, it might do more harm than good.

Now that she's stripped down, it's easy to see the necklace that she wears: a long chain on which is looped a key inscribed with a Greek word, a tassel, and three small blue beads which look like eyes.

She sighs and relaxes further into the water. ]

Okay. This almost makes it all worth it.

Levi | Fear & Hunger 2: Termina

[solitarysoul]

Plotting Comment | ConnectiveTrick

Whiteout | All open

[solitarysoul]

1a

He'd never seen much snow before showing up here. It snowed some in the winters, but it never really lasted in Prehevil. And during the war it quickly got mixed in with mud (among other things) and lost its appeal. After a few months in Milton he'd gotten used to it, but this storm was the first time he's seen it really come down. Its amazing, if terrible, and sort of mesmerizing to watch. On and off during the first day Levi can be found peering out the windows, watching the snow come down. Its one of the very, very few chances to show that he still has some sense of childlike wonder within his tattered heart.


1b

But the wonder could only last so long, so by the time the second day came around Levi was over the storm. Snow was back to being an annoying, cold thing he had to deal with and wished was gone. Even worse now, since it kept him from going out. Normally he'd be patrolling during the day, but its not safe to do that. He doesn't really know how to occupy his time otherwise. He paces around the building every so often, and can be found in a corner stripping, cleaning and reassembling his rifle multiple times a day. Cause what else is he gonna do? Unless, of course, you have a better idea.


2

Though he tried, Levi can't stay inside the entire time. He's taken it upon himself to help protect the village, and what if there was trouble out in the storm? Between that worry and the need to get some air he does find himself outside sometimes. At least once a day, and night, he does what amount of patrolling he can. The storm is too strong for him to go far, so instead he just circles the hall, making sure he can always see at least one wall. He has his rifle in hand, but if he spots anyone he keeps it pointed at the ground. Wolves would be crazy to be out in this and other monsters didn't seem to appear, so odds were the dark shape he sees was another person.

"Hello? Do you need help?"

Rest my Weary Bones

[solitarysoul]

1

He'd noticed the clouds to the north pretty quickly while taking inventory of what the storm had done to the town. At first he didn't think much of them, but when he notices that later they're still in the same place it seemed notable. So he's eager to go out and investigate it. Heading into unknown territory alone isn't that great of an idea, especially when things are likely unstable because of the storm, so Levi asks around. Does anyone want to join his search? He doesn't really know anyone's capabilities here, so he'll be asking pretty much everyone. Do you want to help? He'll have his gun if you don't have a weapon. It could be anything out there!


2

This place was amazing! It was warm, which was a sensation Levi though he'd never really feel again. Practically hot, even. He'd abandoned his coat and the lighter shirt over his coveralls as they went further into the cave. He'd likely abandon the sweatpants too in time, but he's not so sure about going in the water. Why was it so hot? Was it safe? It could just be hot water, or it could be some weird chemical making it hot that would seep into their skin and slowly kill them all (It might be worth it, though). Or there could be some creature under there, waiting for its lure to bring it enough prey to strike. Or any myriad of other dangerous things that his mind kept going over...

So walks around near the water, peering and the pool, the cave around it, and anyone who'd dared to go inside.

Gathering

[solitarysoul]

[Levi has been back and forth preparing for things. In addition to the rifle on his back, he's acquired an axe for cutting wood that he's lugging around. He was currently going from one building to another to check for people/supplies but isn't holding any. He does however have his currently mostly empty satchel with him.]

[He blinks at Ruby when she points at him.]

Uh, I'm...

[Wait no, he's just doing the same thing she seems to be doing.]

Sure. Two people can carry more than just one.

[solitarysoul]

[During the spiel, when Tim asks for people who can do things, Levi raises his hand. He'll wait till Tim is done speaking to speak up.]

I can, um...

[And then it hits him that he's talking in front of a bunch of people and he barely knows any of them. Give him a moment to catch his breath.]

...I've hunted before. N-not much, but some. I, ah, think we should start doing it soon. And, um, I've, uh, I've followed human tracks...t-that has to be similar to animal tracks right?

[Oh god, why did he do this, why didn't he wait until Tim was alone or just put something on the board.]

vash the stampede — trigun maximum

[amo]

I. WHITEOUT

[ The church is well-stocked and as prepared for the storm as he and his fellow plants could get it to be. The smart thing to do would be to just stay put and sit out the storm right there where, despite the ominous creaking of the building, it's a lot safer than outside. The problem is that Vash has never been one to do the wise thing. Between going somewhat stir-crazy and the increased bickering between him and his brother, the temptation to go outside becomes too great to resist. Once upon a time the need to constantly move and never stay put anywhere for very long had been a necessity born out of being the most wanted man on the planet, now it's a habit that's simply too hard to shake. There could be people stuck out there and that's a good enough excuse to don his coat and goggles and slip outside when no one's looking with the conviction that it'll be fine so long as he doesn't stray too far from the church.

Perhaps you run into him in his search for stranded souls, ready to try and lead you to the community hall or the church, or maybe he's gotten himself hopelessly lost and is the one in need of rescue. Either way, there's a dot of red amongst all the white, calling out. ]

Hello!

II. A CHOICE

[ As curious as he is, Vash has no desire to hunt the stag once he learns of its existence. Even if it's only to catch a glimpse of it, it would feel mean to disturb its peace. He knows all too well what it's like to be hunted down. Still, as he's out and about in the forest gathering whatever he needs — be it foraging for food, collecting wood, checking traps — he does keep a surreptitious eye out for both the stag and those who might be hunting it.

If he spots anyone who seems to be actively looking for it, he'll offer a friendly wave and a cheerful: ]

You're not here to kill it, are you?

III. HOT SPRINGS

A — [ The hot springs are a blessing when the cold very much affects his tattered body yet Vash doesn't immediately leap on the chance to get a nice warm soak in. Instead he waits until some ungodly time in the night or morning to make his trips up to the hot springs. It's only after he thinks he's made sure no one else is around that he strips down and takes his prosthetic arm off — setting it down somewhere within easy reach — before settling into the soothing embrace of
the warm water. It's not that he's particularly ashamed of how heavily scarred he is, it's just that he's well-aware of how grisly it looks and he doesn't want to make anyone uncomfortable with his appearance. So to avoid that scenario altogether, he opts to only go when he has privacy.

Feel free to come shatter that illusion and stumble across him or have him have overlooked you in his eagerness to get in to soak weary bones and aching flesh. ]

B — [ His commitment to visit the hot springs only when he can have the place to himself falters the moment he starts feeling rather under the weather. Vash finds himself going to the hot springs more and more often in the span of several days. It starts with just a headache, then a sore throat and a runny nose, followed by coughing and what seems to be an inability to breathe properly. He's never had a cold before and it's turning out to be a very unpleasant experience. The warm humid air seems to be only thing to offer some relief and that's the sole reason he goes to the hot springs during the day.

He won't strip and get into the water though. At most he will put his feet in there, but largely he sticks to sitting (and sniffling) somewhere unobtrusive to the side, looking absolutely miserable. ]

WILDCARD

➜ plotting | permissions & info | gusts
( i'm down for any wildcard prompts and i'm happy to match format. feel free to hit me up on the plotting post or over on plurk if you want a personalized starter! )

I

[solitarysoul]

Some time after the storm hits Levi notes Goodsir and his medical supplies. That was right, this guy was a doctor. He'd taken Levi's stitches out when he couldn't find Clayton. But its much later and he still hasn't found Clayton, so he's assumed that at least one of their doctors is dead. That wasn't good. He knows a little bit about medicine, how to bandage a wound to stop bleeding...the best place to amputate a limb to stop infection. Hopefully that one won't be needed. But it'd probably be good to know more, right? Just in case.

He approaches the doctor shyly. "Um...i-if you need any help..."

01

[solitarysoul]

[With so many people out gathering supplies and stuff there are a few times the community center is empty. Or mostly empty. Its one of those times when Levi, carrying an armful of logs, intrudes on Vash's piano time. He stops but doesn't say anything. Maybe the other man hasn't noticed him and he can just listen for a bit.]

White Out - Storm Preparation

[guidemyway]

[Ruby had only just started to get settled into house she had found, but she was already packing up what she could to take to the community center. ...It would be safer over there, and she could do more good there than on her own in here.

She hears a knock at the door and she shouts back in response.]

Just a minute!

[Edward can probably hear the frantic scrambling of a teenager as she sets down a box at the door. There's a glass or gem sword poking out from the top of the pile.

She swings the door open panting for air lightly as she looks up to him.]

Uh- Sure. You can borrow my ear- Just don't leave it out in the snow or anything. I'm going to need it back.