monstertruckers: (Default)
monstertruckers ([personal profile] monstertruckers) wrote in [community profile] memestertrucks2025-05-15 04:31 pm
Entry tags:

MAY TDM




Things are a little stranger than usual at the gas station and garage. Namely that gravity just isn't working as it should. Objects float, pieces of the floor float... Even unlucky new arrivals can also find themselves floating! It's going to be a challenge to get around without any scrapes or scratches... Though at least there's what looks like a hospital nearby? Granted, it's an upside down hospital, but it's better than nothing.

















01: SUMMONING CIRCLE


Drifters come to with an odd floating sensation hooked into their stomachs, and instead of laying on the concrete find themselves drifting a foot or two above the floor. An unfortunate few may be stuck on the ceiling. Whether they crash down hard into the floor (and the various vials, daggers, and broken glass scattered about) or remain floating in the air is a coin toss.

Still, it might be best to lend a hand with pulling them back to the ground, and hoping gravity will work as normal in another breath or two.

Once they make their way out, they can see a gas station and garage located in the midst of strange, floating rocks… And an upside down hospital close by, for those who had a rougher landing.

02: START UP
New arrivals will have a similar experience to before; a Convoy waiting for them, and a collection of vehicles, one of which feels like it belongs to them. The key to the vehicle may already be in the ignition, on the dashboard… It may have even been on their person, ever since they woke up in that garage. Either way, Drifters have the keys to the vehicle now.

…But there’s a few rough edges on these vehicles. Flat tires, cracked windows and mirrors, maybe some stuck doors and locks; all of them the sort of thing that requires two pairs of hands and supplies. The garage can take care of the (sometimes floating) supplies… Now it’s just a matter of finding some extra hands.

And hopefully no one's vehicle has decided to float. But one can never be sure in a place like this.

03: HUSKS AND HAUNTS
The inverted hospital seems to have trouble deciding the exact formation of its hallways, whether the new arrivals should be walking on the ceiling, floors, or walls. But one thing that is certain: this place isn’t entirely deserted. Warnings of “Beware the Husks” have been spray painted on the walls. Metallic bodies line those same halls, some of them broken open. A wet trail leads from the broken Husks to the rafters… Where several odd monsters wait to drop down. Some look like they’ve merged with the hospital equipment, while others look like they’ve been cobbled together from different body parts. And all of them look ready to turn the newcomers into a corpse, or part of a specimen collection.

Strange, malformed chimeric creatures that are Unknown stalk the hallways. Unknowns come in three different colors, red aligned with fire, green with poison, and purple with lightning.

Adding to that are the various screens flickering on, and diagnose new arrivals as infected. The screens declare the infection seems to be contained, but requires further study… And if the monsters aren't enough to worry about, there’s also the restraint systems trying to activate and tie the new arrivals down.
04: TESTING (CW: Needles)
The deeper someone plunges into the hospital, the more the building reacts to them. More defenses are deployed, treating them as thieves or intruders. Traps and monsters alike wait for them, with syringes melded into the forms of attackers, or lining places where someone might step or reach for. The syringes make a quick bite on skin… But it’s only a few minutes later where the effects become clear. Something in those syringes is now in the blood and forcing monster transformations. There might be an antidote amongst the supplies… Or the newcomers might need to rely on each other, in order to stay anchored.

The needles can also force temporary Swarm traits, along with:
+Group Mind: compelled to link thoughts with other Drifters, to share emotions, memories, and achieve cohesion.
+An increasing reliance on telepathy/empathy/etc in place of speech.
+Increasing collectivist mindset. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few; this becomes more evident during high stress situations.
+Compelled to hunt and share their prey with others.
+Gravity Affinity: If possessing wings or the ability to wall climb, may freely hunt/traverse corrupted gravity areas.
05: LONG WAY DOWN
A portion of the gas station breaks away with groan and a rumble. And it is slowly pulled up and up, taking a portion of new comers with it! They (and anyone watching) will need to act fast, as gravity starts to go weird the further they rise. They’ll need to find a way back down, taking any supplies from the now-floating garage that they can grab.

What’s more, they are drifting closer to the broken moon, and that seems to be having a strange effect on those stranded on the new floating ruin. They may start to feel their control fray, and their forms shift, the higher they rise.

In terms of getting back down, there’s a handful of tow lines in the ruin that might work as ropes. There’s also a few pieces of rock that are floating up more slowly, and could work as stairs back down… Or there’s just jumping and falling fifty feet and hoping for the best.
06: PSYCHIC ECHOES
There's one last quirk to this area; a few scattered bits of odd plantlife, and the odd dead brain monster. While these things aren't a threat on their own (beyond being unnerving) they still pack a psychic punch; mainly in the form of temporary psychic abilities.

It's possible that after coming in contact with either plants or corpses, newcomers will find themselves gifted with either empathy (projecting or receiving emotions) telepathy, OR the ability to share their dreams with others, and having their dreams influenced by others in turn. This effect fades in just a day or so, but is still capable of causing mishaps.

MICRO ENCOUNTERS:

PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.

Broadcast: The garage contains a few burnt out monitors. But a handful of them are playing a message over and over again on loop, filled with static. It’s a recording of important looking people in lab coats advising people to remain indoors and avoiding all objects falling from the sky. Especially “moon shards.” They insist that they are working to contain and cure the infection, but the safest action is to remain inside.

Warped Air: As seen in Long Way Down, the air overhead has strange warped pockets in it. There seem to be slightly different shards hanging suspended in the air, looking more silvery than the surrounding rocks. Almost like it could have fallen from the broken moon overhead.

Medical supplies: Most of the medical supplies found in the hospital seem to consist of healing salves and potions, a handful of healing herbs, and a few antidotes for poison or sickness. As for reverting transformations… It’s advised that new comers be careful of taking any experimental medicine. It may revert a change. It may also leave them hallucinating nightmares and fears, and they’ll be wanting someone close by to help administer the drug.

NAVIGATION || RESERVES || APPLICATIONS













propatriamori: (doubting your intentions)

beans!

[personal profile] propatriamori 2025-05-19 09:29 am (UTC)(link)
It's a mystery to Edward too, honestly. He wandered around and bumped into things until he eventually ended up in the hospital.

He cocks his head when Levi moves his rifle. That sound he recognises, and he's relieved, somehow, to know his new companion is armed.

The rough parts of Levi's hands don't pique his interest; he assumes they're calloused from rifle handling. He arranges his own arm in the crook of Levi's and nods when he's ready to go. "I will. If you see a long stick or something else I can use as a cane, would you give it to me, please?"
propatriamori: (questioning)

[personal profile] propatriamori 2025-05-19 09:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Her enthusiasm is catching--Americans, they're always so jolly and forthright--and Edward manages a brief smile in her direction.]

Am I pointed in the right direction? I don't feel like I'm upside down, but I want to be sure.

[Then she asks about the war, and it's another surprising question. Edward is starting to get a sinking feeling he can't explain in his chest. There's no reason she shouldn't know these things, unless...]

No? I was twenty years old when the war began. I'm twenty-three now, and there are lads far younger than me on the front.

[It's a disgrace, honestly. The recruiters should be more thorough before allowing literal children to enlist.]

Are you... I know the Americans only joined recently, but surely you'd have heard news about the conflict, wouldn't you?
cantgetoverit: (pic#17835507)

[personal profile] cantgetoverit 2025-05-19 10:26 am (UTC)(link)
[It's a relief when she hears the sound of boots echoing against the floor behind her. SecUnit's bravery does not override common sense, at least. Even with the stranger's weaponry and seemingly inhuman speed, she doesn't much care for the odds should they try to make a stand here in this hall full of things that seem hellbent on killing them.

It's a short sprint to the second door on the left, but it feels much further as the sound of more monsters dropping from the ceiling reaches Maggie's ears. She reaches the second door on the left, and shoulder braced against it, she turns the knob and shoves it open.]


In here, come on!
maidhem: (royal maid)

[personal profile] maidhem 2025-05-19 12:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm okay,

[She said with a reassuring smile.]

I've spent a lot of time serving in an old castle. It's not the same in here, but big, scary hallways aren't a problem.

[And, with concern still written on her face, she offered a hand.]

We should stick together if you're not feeling well. Don't worry, I can keep us both safe.
maidhem: (screee)

[personal profile] maidhem 2025-05-19 12:30 pm (UTC)(link)
"I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY!!!"

Felicia wailed, torn between terror and breaking down in tears.

"Things kinda break for me. All the time. Um... Usually it's ok? But not always."

She looked around uncertainly.

"We should get out of here before we float like soap bubbles again."
maidhem: (embarrassed)

[personal profile] maidhem 2025-05-19 12:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I haven't seen any large dragons? So we're probably mostly okay.

[The words were spoken with an odd confidence, as if dragons were an absolutely normal part of the equation. Felicia reached out to the other girl, and as their hands connected another problem was revealed:

Both girl and step ladder began to float upon physical contact.

Eyes widened in surprise, and Felicia looked around in worry.]


Oh, no. [She said,]

It looks like we've got trouble!
maidhem: (gasp)

[personal profile] maidhem 2025-05-19 12:38 pm (UTC)(link)
A-are you sure?

[There was no hesitation in regards to the boy's unnatural, dog like appearance. Instead, it was simply his build.]

I don't want to cause problems if there's others who need help ...

[Spoken as if she weren't just about to jump. ]
taediosum: (pic#12456996)

make yourself at home

[personal profile] taediosum 2025-05-19 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey! Over here!"

Hanging an arm out of an upside-down corridor, dingy white coat looking brighter against the hospital's shadowy halls, Arcade attempts to grab the fleeing stranger's attention before he can race by. There's a set of heavy doors propped open behind him, maybe heavy enough to slow down the monstrous looking thing in pursuit - but only if they move quickly.
taediosum: (pic#17385378)

long way down

[personal profile] taediosum 2025-05-19 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Arcade would prefer to back away from the floating chunk of garage, actually, his response a sharply skeptical, ]

I'm not exactly in power armor, over here.

[ He still steps cautiously closer, despite his better sense, watching for falling debris. ]

It's no use fighting gravity. We'll have to figure something else out.
facethefacts: (hint its the one with mr moody and the snakes) (which episode of cops is this)

[personal profile] facethefacts 2025-05-19 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
The shout grabs his attention, and he spares Arcade a glance before putting eyes back on the enemy. He knows better than to let himself lose track of it. Still, he rushes in the other man's direction, keeping his weapon raised and saving his shot for one he is sure will land, slowing the creature down enough for him to push in beside the stranger and help him close the doors behind them.

"Tell me you have something we can use to barricade this with," he says, taking a momentary glance around them to survey what is available. "Tables, chairs, the kitchen sink. Whatever isn't tied down."
taediosum: (pic#17791382)

[personal profile] taediosum 2025-05-19 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
"Take your pick!"

The hallway behind them is cluttered with the same debris that litters the rest of the hospital ruin, but there are gurneys and wheelchairs rusting away here, too. All of them toppled on their sides or parked at queasy, crooked angles halfway out of the doors that line the walls behind them (these right-side up, for no particular reason other than to be unpleasant and disorientating, Arcade assumes). There are a few plastic chairs, too, but none of them look weighty enough to barricade much.

"I'll hold the doors—" They rattle as if on cue, and Arcade leans into them, all four hands pressed to the rusting metal. The second set of arms he's been sporting for the past month and change are paler, coated in rough keeled scales from fingertips to shoulders. He's taken to hiding them, most of the time, because they've thus far been refusing to disappear again, like some of the other changes have - but in this circumstance, it's uniquely more of an advantage than a hindrance to have an extra set.
bespotted: (082)

[personal profile] bespotted 2025-05-19 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The strategy isn't lost on him, though he doesn't amplify his own presence to add to it any more than he does the opposite. Their quarry will come to them—is coming to them—and the most effective thing he can do in the moment is simply wait and preserve his advantages as they continue.

What the man describes is all a little bit off from the understanding he was given when he answered the Grail, and what he'd been able to conclude listening to the words his former Master had spoken without regard for being overheard by a mere construct bound by the will of magecraft. Still the pieces are near enough that they fit cohesively into an impression that gives Diarmuid as much reason to be wary as it settles into him with a sense of purpose.

He cannot help his nature as a Heroic Spirit, but he can burn regret for crossing him into anyone else who might seek to misuse it.

Perhaps that's why the initial suggestion sticks with him, though he let it pass by without comment at the time. He doesn't dismiss that Sephiroth could be withholding some further information that would cast it in a different light, and still...

His pride cannot allow for the possibility that the man could think it necessary to take on a greater risk or sacrifice for his sake. Eventually, it compels him to speak up again despite his distaste for the grim acknowledgement. ]


...This body was already tarnished before it was summoned. Unless you have some other reason to seek this corruption, I won't have you shouldering its burden on my behalf.
phantomshow: (apologize for another day)

[personal profile] phantomshow 2025-05-19 04:46 pm (UTC)(link)
[Does he need help? Absolutely. But he’s not good at asking for help with things like this. Asking his team to help with reaching a common goal, sure, but being an emotional support beam? That’s his job.]

I …

[You’re very kind to offer, he says, telepathically. Spoken words have become increasingly difficult to form. I don’t want to make anyone worry about me.

He slips both hands in his pockets, making a stronger effort to calm his mind. Maybe that meditation training will pay off here.

Are you all right? I don’t think I’ve seen you here before.]
facethefacts: does this hat make me look dumb (hitman)

[personal profile] facethefacts 2025-05-19 04:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Deacon nods and bolts off once the other man has the doors held in place, slinging his gun over his shoulder. It doesn't escape him that there's an extra set of arms on the guy, but he also doesn't blink twice at it, because he's certainly seen weirder things back home.

Thankfully, he's agile enough to maneuver through the disorienting halls, and starts with a gurney thinking that the length of it would be the most useful, even if it's not exactly heavy. Hell, just one of the arms could be broken off and slotted through door handles so that the organic Mr. Handy he's run into can help him carry something heavier in front of it.

He tries just that, throwing it into a wall and then using his boot to kick the bar completely free and pry it from the its bearings, then rejoins his new companion to slide it into place.

"What's the over/under on this being enough?" he asks with a scoff, "We can either make a run for it, or you could help me push one of those examination tables over here if you're feeling particularly unlucky."
phantomshow: (with a mind that could be so sure)

[personal profile] phantomshow 2025-05-19 05:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, that’s. Unexpectedly sweet and a bit more forward than Ren is accustomed to. He hesitates for a second in deciding, but thinks maybe Felicia wants reassurance too. Ren knows the art of putting on a brave face all too well, so he gently accepts her hand.]

You’re very kind, [he says, quietly, suddenly feeling a bit shy.] I’ve been through one castle before, but it wasn’t too scary.

[Just gross. Ugh, Kamoshida. The rotten adult who got the Phantom Thieves started in the first place.]

I’m pretty used to keeping other people safe, though.
buffylives: (Default)

[personal profile] buffylives 2025-05-19 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[She realizes he's going to refuse to talk outside of his head. Oh good, she'll have fun with this one. She sighs just a little and gives a vague nod. I know what it's like to be a leader, she says quietly. It's okay to let people worry about you. I had to learn the hard way.]

[She wants to talk outside of her head, but she won't. She crosses her arms, unsure of herself.] I'm fine. No? I haven't been here yet. I'm just arriving. I wish I knew what was going on though.
Edited 2025-05-19 17:27 (UTC)
undyingcrow: (smirk)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-19 05:45 pm (UTC)(link)
"Why, thank you." He blows on the coffee before taking a sip. It's... comforting, even if it isn't truly real. "Still, I'm sure you can work with our supplies to make something palatable. We still have some bull gorgon meat in the freezer, as well as meat harvested from giant serpents."

Something intriguing, something exotic... Isn't that enticing?
solitarysoul: commisioned art (Default)

Re: beans!

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2025-05-19 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
"Okay. I'll keep an eye out." ...was that rude? He hopes it isn't since it's already come out of his mouth.

Levi looks around a bit before starting to lead Edward back the way he came. "You're new here, aren't you?"
firstsoldier: (pic#17626940)

[personal profile] firstsoldier 2025-05-19 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
And yet as far as I can see you lack fangs, or claws, or a second head and so on. You remain reasonably intact.

[That's an interesting way to put it, but Diarmuid may not yet know what fate awaits them. He raises his right hand, palm up, and flexes his fingers slightly, unsheathing dark, sharp looking claws through the holes in the tips of his gloves.]

I am not. I have less to lose.

[For all that it's said as calmly as one might hope, it's a fact that displeases him terribly. And already they're drawing attention, by the sound of things shifting above and in front of them. Sephiroth seems to ignore it, but it's certain he's not actually doing so. Bait that startles too early is terrible bait indeed.]
undyingcrow: (calm)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-19 05:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Nodding, Akechi shoots into the air and flies off, mindful of the unstable gravity.

It takes a few moments for him to return, as he has to rummage through his luggage.

Eventually, he swoops back down, offering the bottled water to her.]


Drink as much as you need. I can always refill it with tap water later.
solitarysoul: commisioned art (Default)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2025-05-19 05:58 pm (UTC)(link)
"Uh." Was he friends with anyone? Levi tends to think people are just working with him out of convenience. "I-i guess something like that. We've worked together a few times."

"Oh, um, okay." He probably wouldn't get whatever explanation the Personas had, anyway, so it's just as well.
solitarysoul: commisioned art (Small smile)

[personal profile] solitarysoul 2025-05-19 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm sure. I'm stronger than I look, I promise.
undyingcrow: (wtf)

[personal profile] undyingcrow 2025-05-19 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[A talking dinosaur. Well then...

Akechi himself is quite the sight. Large, black wings and matching feathers covering his face and neck (and likely anything concealed by his clothes). Crow-like talons poke out from the fingertips of his black, leather gloves. Large, hooked horns curve out of his forehead, big cat-like ears flick, and a scorpion-like tail lays at his feet.

He brings a hand to his chin, a crease in his brow.]


I may be able to bring you down, though it would help if we were somewhere more spacious.
androidvictoriam: (you sure?)

[personal profile] androidvictoriam 2025-05-19 06:56 pm (UTC)(link)
"You want to know who I trust?"

That's certainly enough distraction for Danse, anyway, who arches an eyebrow almost to his hairline as he heads for the shelves lining one side of the garage. It's kind of a truth universally acknowledged that any opinion Danse might hold on anyone else's trustworthiness or lack thereof, Deacon would have good reason to think precisely the opposite. Their standards could hardly be more diametrically opposed.

But then, Danse supposes that would still make his own opinion a pretty good bellwether, if Deacon just takes the extra step of filing away whatever he says and then assuming the converse of it. It's probably what Danse would do himself, if he had any talent for reverse psychology. He'll allow it.

Though it would have been a much easier question to answer a few weeks ago, and now he no longer knows exactly what to think. He considers it, as quietly and non-echoingly as he possibly can (inasmuch as he has any control over that) while he pulls the chain from a drawer and begins to loop it around his arm.

"I don't think anyone's demonstrated an inclination to be a threat to general security." This is a decidedly recent development in his view of the situation. "So far, there's been an encouraging level of cooperation." He doesn't know about the guy who got his finger chopped off.

"I'd say our fellow captives seem to have a fairly varied and useful range of skill sets, though entirely too many of them are underage for my comfort. I suppose it's probably for the best in that case that alcoholic spirits have been somewhat difficult to come by, and if any of them are brewing their own, I don't know about it. But there is a bar, and people try to keep it stocked with what we find in our travels. I'm doing my best not to monopolize the whiskey."
taediosum: (pic#17385316)

[personal profile] taediosum 2025-05-19 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Arcade only takes a moment to consider, backing up a careful step as he pulls away from the doors. They rattle again dangerously, that thing on the other side battering against them, but the bar holds. Still. He hesitates, watching the flicker of darker shadow-shapes moving along the narrow gap beneath the doors. Those creepy tentacles - like it's looking for a way to reach through.

"Let's go with... pretty unlucky." He nods toward the nearest exam table, reaching it in a few swift strides. Dislodging it from the debris and broken floor tiles is going to take effort, but less than having to waste the last of their ammo killing that thing. Hopefully, anyway.

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