exploration mingle: branching out

[riverviewmod]

who: everyone in Riverview!
what: exploration mingle: branching out
when: August 15 - October 15
where: the quarantine, the delta, the jungle, and the forest
warnings: threads may contain violence, body horror, and discussion of injuries and illness; please put any necessary warnings in the subject lines

branching out

One of the major and most highly-valued cultural concepts in Riverview is that of exploration, expansion. Especially now that, with the recent influx of new arrivals, as the portal kicks into high gear for reasons not entirely known, the Inhabited City, already comfortably full, is rapidly becoming overpopulated. With all the refugees from other worlds pouring in from day to day, the city's safe space and resources are being taxed to their breaking point.

Right now, exploration and expansion is key, and the government is really focusing on exploration objectives, in order to unite citizens in expanding, securing, and supplying the city for everyone's benefit.

the story so far

Exploration & Expansion Progress Report ● Plotting & Questions ● Reward Submissions ● First Teams

It's normal to see drop-ships hovering in the sky over the Quarantine, of course, since the city is not self-sufficient just yet, and receives regular shipments of supplies, technology, merchandise, food, books, movies, and all sorts of other things from the Capital World. However, the number of drop-ships coming down has recently started to triple in frequency.

On August 10th, an announcement started being run on the Quarantine's networks, television stations, and on digital display boards throughout the city explaining the situation - Mayor Dichard explained in an official mayoral address that the Quarantine is in the process of taking in refugees from a planet in the solar system which recently became uninhabitable due to a massive natural disaster. Hundreds of people are flooding the city, and many of them are wounded, sick, or otherwise in acute distress.

How is a city already stretched to the limit for population capacity going to handle all these new arrivals...?

how it works

● ADDITIONAL OOC INFO: The refugee aliens are called the Frysh; they are humanoid mammalian and have a similar internal physiology to humans, however, they look somewhat insectoid, with mandibles, slightly shiny skin that is smoother and harder to the touch than human skin, and delicate wings that aren't capable of carrying the weight of the body (they cannot fly). Their skin ranges from pale to dark gray, and they have mottled or spotted/freckled markings in a wide variety of warm earth tones on their faces, necks, backs, and the outside of the thighs; their blood is dark rusty brown and slightly more viscous than human blood; eye colors are very widely varied. Average height is 6 feet, and doesn't vary based on sex (the species has male/female/neutral). The aging process is similar to that of humans, and refugees come in all ages. The species is very high-tech, but the tech is mostly related to entertainment rather than weaponry, medical, etc. as the planet the species lived on was quite utopian and basic needs were always taken care of by tech that was left on the planet when it was destroyed.

● Phases: Each prompt is a different phase of the operation. Characters may partake in whichever part of the operation they choose, whether it is a large and prominent part, or a more of a backseat or support role. Characters may participate in as many phases as they wish.

● Completion: When the next exploration mingle goes up, the mission featured on this exploration mingle will be considered complete, and game canon, providing the entry has 200+ comments on it.

● Thread Rewards: For this mingle, I have created five different items as rewards - two for the first prompt, and three for the remaining three. Any character participating in a completed thread with at least one other character, for any phase prompt by October 15 will be able to pick a keyword corresponding to one of these rewards when they submit the thread at the link above. Every character participating in a completed thread will be eligible to receive an item. Completed threads must take place on this entry.
ETA August 20th: New characters who complete a thread on August's Test Drive meme with the Tent City prompt, and who are accepted into the game are also eligible for a thread reward for Phase I only.

● Entry Reward: The reward for completion of this month's exploration objective will be expansion of the City, a more reliable electrical and power grid, and some new setting features as the Inhabited City grows in size.

phase i: tent cities

Unfortunately, this influx of refugees is going to be causing a serious overpopulation problem - for now, since it is summer, the new arrivals will be housed in makeshift tent cities set up in Riverview Central Park as well as other smaller parks around the city, any spare empty lots, along the banks of the river, and in a few of the sports fields. The resources of the city are going to be taxed to their limit, and while the Capital World will be contributing funds and helping to get together building supplies, Riverview's intrepid citizens are going to have to find ways to supply more space to build shelters for the refugees, and more power to supply the electrical grid in the city.

However, it's not just the explorers that are able to help out with this particular problem. Any citizen who wishes is more than welcome to attend the tent cities where makeshift field hospitals have been set up with as many medical amenities as possible. While serious and life-threatening injuries or illnesses are taken to the Riverview Hospital, people who need first aid or more minor or moderate tending can attend the field hospitals and recover in their temporary homes. Volunteers are requested to help with many different tasks - medical staff to help heal the injured and ill, anyone capable to cook and serve at soup kitchens, members of the Perimeter Guard, police, or other capable fighters to secure the tent cities and make sure there's no violence or theft happening, and drivers and laborers to help bring supplies from the drop-ships and other parts of the city to keep the tent cities supplied. Of course, there are going to be a lot of other jobs that come up on the fly, so everyone is welcome.

phase ii: the delta

With fall rapidly approaching, and with it the colder weather, it's urgent that housing is set up for these new arrivals, and with new housing comes a need for more electricity. The electrical grid is already stretched to its limits with the current population in the city, and is essentially being held together with duct tape and hope - with all these new arrivals and their needs, there's no way the current grid can handle it.

Thankfully, during a recent exploratory fly-over, an electrical installation set in one of the massive waterfalls near the edge of the Abandoned City was noted. While at the time it seemed too far away from established civilization to risk a large expedition, things have changed with the new influx of refugees, and the installation seems like the best hope to bring more energy into the city. Characters who participate in Phase II will be taking watercraft down the river to the delta just above the waterfalls, finding the installation, and checking to see if it can be restored to functionality so the power it generates from the waterfall can be used in the city.

The dangers faced by people taking on Phase II will be primarily related to the long trek needed to get to the installation, down the river - a relatively straight-forward, old fashioned adventurous exploration mission. While using watercraft will help speed up the process, the river is heavily populated by monsters and predators who have flourished in the absence of civilization. Expect mutated piranhas, crocodiles, carnivorous fish, and just about anything else that lives in or near a river to try to take a swipe at the teams making their way to the installation. Once inside the installation, there will be the hazards associated with a damp building that hasn't been used by people in over a decade - it's in poor repair, will have structural damage, and the likely-malfunctioning tech means that electricity and water are almost guaranteed to meet at some point. This prompt would be well-suited to engineers, skilled laborers/construction workers, and fighters; people who can fix the damage to the installation and those who can protect everyone along the way.

For any thread completed under this prompt, whether or not characters made it to the delta, all participating characters will receive rewards.

phase iii: the jungle

The second line of exploration will be into the jungle north of the city, where fly-overs have located a series of skyscrapers and flat ground, overgrown with plant life and obviously left empty since quite a while before the Abandoned City was left behind. Despite being long abandoned, however, the buildings and land seem to be pretty well-preserved and would be usable with a bit of work and maybe a touch of magic. With the flat area cleared out, it would make a perfect helipad for transport and with a temporary fence that could be easily built up after the area is cleared, this could be the start of a smaller city that could eventually be connected by transit or cleared land and fences with the Quarantine proper! Adding this extra space would easily house all the refugees and some of the excess population from the Quarantine, which would be a major advantage for everyone in the city.The government wastes no time in dispatching teams from the Perimeter Guard and welcoming the inclusion of regular citizens with a taste for exploration, to head out into the jungle and see whether this could be a viable solution.

But why would what looks like such an easy area to inhabit have been left alone and outside city walls for so long?

Well, exploratory teams will soon find out - as they make their way through the jungle toward the buildings, characters will start to notice that the animals and monsters in the jungle are getting increasingly...strange. Rather than otherworldly creatures that still make sense, they look like weird, mutated combinations of animals, a mashup of teeth and eyes and fur and scales and claws that don't belong together. As the teams move further, they'll start to notice that some of these creatures are taking on plant-like qualities as well, vines winding into flesh and extending like tentacled appendages from monsters that are increasingly larger and more misshapen. After a point, they're almost incomprehensible blobs of melded flesh and plant life that can't move, can only sit and snap or swipe or grasp for prey.

It isn't just the monsters either. The trip out to the skyscrapers will take at least four days on foot for the fastest and fittest people in the Quarantine, and going by foot is the only way to get there, considering there's no cleared space large enough to land craft, and due to the unknown nature of the area around the skyscrapers, magic is not to be used to travel there. Day One of the trip will be pretty normal, aside from the surroundings starting to get weird, but on Day Two, characters will start to feel and see changes. Whether they're taking on physical traits of other members of their teams, or the creatures and plants around them, they will start to subtly change, whether it's eye or hair color, scales or claws or even superpowers or abilities, they'll start to 'trade' traits with people and creatures around them. On Day Three, it gets significantly worse, with characters starting to meld together with animals and plants around them, becoming more and more amalgamated with the world around them, whether it's vines under their skin or growing a tail, or any combination. By Day Four, characters will be experiencing intense changes to the very fabric of themselves, their physical bodies morphing and twisting into things that are completely alien while their minds stay mostly the same.

The level of transformation experienced and the amount of physical pain and damage that the transformation causes to individual characters is up to player discretion, and characters that feel unable to handle the effects of the jungle route are more than welcome to turn back whenever they want. However, if any teams make it to the skyscrapers they will find that the buildings are inhabitable and the area would be easily cordoned off with fences, though the buildings are covered with mosses, fungi, and leafy herbs that seem unaffected by the mutations. Teams will find that as they turn back toward the city, the effects wear off as they leave the area, in exact reverse to how they appeared.

For any thread completed under this prompt, whether or not characters made it to the skyscrapers, all participating characters will receive rewards. The first team that makes it to the skyscrapers, collects samples of the fungi and moss, and makes it back to the city should respond in this thread to receive the "solution" to what is happening in the area and how the area can become inhabitable.

phase iv: the forest

The jungle isn't the only option for new areas to inhabit. The same fly-over expedition covered the deciduous forest to the south of the Quarantine, and discovered a sprawling, walled compound, overgrown with thick, lush vegetation. The compound seems to have its own water sources, an orchard, garden areas, and places to keep farm animals, as well as ample space where wild game can roam - just about any herbivorous creature you can imagine seems to have found a home here.

The most important part? Despite looking like plain old tall, thick stone walls that could easily be stomped down by some of the bigger predators in the woods, they are obviously doing their job. There isn't a single break in the walls and despite being in ill repair, the whole area looks pretty safe. On top of that, it's big enough to house the refugees and then some in relative comfort and self-sufficiency, enough that they could easily survive long enough to build a safe method of transport out to the compound so residents there could access the city with ease.

Just like the jungle skyscrapers, though, one wonders why no one is living there anymore. Unlike the jungle, however, the day-long trip out to the compound is relatively uneventful. Besides the usual predators in the area, there's nothing untoward, no unspeakable horror like what's going on in the jungle. At least, not until the team makes their way to the compound and opens the heavy gate to let themselves inside. Once they're there and exploring to make sure the area is safe to inhabit (a task that will take at least four days considering the amount of ground covered by the compound) is when strange things start happening.

It starts on Day One, with team members noticing strange apparitions out of the corners of their eyes. Like ghosts, they flit in and out of peripheral vision, make the sound of footsteps behind the person on night watch, touch an explorer's shoulder from behind when they're not looking, and immediately disappear when looked at directly. On Day Two, the apparitions will start to stick around longer, and look familiar, with explorers seeing things that trigger bad feelings, like fear or anger or grief. By Day Three the apparitions will be an almost constant presence, hovering around, visible to everyone, exposing the worst of every member of the team - images of dead loved ones, the scent of perfume or death, the sounds of an explorer's most guilty memory, all of it is there, ready to expose their darkest secrets to everyone around them. On Day Four, the apparitions will start to become more than that, physically attacking characters, enticing them blindly into dangerous places, and otherwise trying to kill them.

The types of apparitions experienced and the amount of exposure of dark secrets is up to player discretion, and characters who are unable to handle the events unfolding are more than welcome to leave and go back to the city. Teams that remain in the compound and explore for the full four days will eventually find a building near the center of the compound, with heavily riveted metal doors that have the words "Central Hub" spray paint stenciled on them and complicated electronic deadbolt locks.

For any thread completed under this prompt, whether or not characters made it to the Central Hub, all participating characters will receive rewards. The first team that makes it to the Central Hub and gets the doors open (in whatever way possible) should respond in this thread to receive the "solution" to what is happening in the area and how the area can become inhabitable.

phase v: wildcard

Have an idea for a mission-adjacent plot, or want to make up an unexpected plot twist or problem and solve it with your character? Just write up a starter, and don't forget to give yourself credit by submitting it for the Progress Report.

visual inspiration

click on thumbnails for larger view

Credit: image i: Daniel Gstir; image ii: Steven Cormann; image iii: Tom Nemeth

navigation

Comments

[bardish]

Athena... [ Jeff's trying to keep calm-- trying to keep her grounded-- even if he has to wince, because it's not like the thing's saying anything he hasn't thought before. Honestly, it's kind of tame, considering the depths his self loathing can take him to, when he's not careful.

But it's too weird, seeing it coming from his own mouth, hearing it in his own voice. ]

It's not real.

[ Like he needs to remind them both that whatever this is, it's not real. It can't hurt them. ]

Sure I'm not. That's what you've been telling yourself for, what, twenty years now? [ The other him laughs, the sound vibrant and electric. ] Fuck, man! How was it you killed me? The drugs, the demon? Or... Huh. Was it everything after? The wife and kid, house in the suburbs.

[ GAG. Back to Athena! ]

He talks a big game about recovery, y'know. But is that really what you'd call it? Giving up everything that makes you you, settling for some half-life... I don't think so.

[ Okay, well, that's enough of that. Jeff takes Athena's hand, pulling her back. ]

Let's go, Athena.

[ Except even if they turn around, that thing's still there, still standing in front of them, looking so pleased. Persistent fucker. ]

[citharede]

[ Athena steps back against Jeff, not sure if she's shielding him or protecting herself. She wants his presence, solid and reassuring, she wants the real him, she wants this stupid fucker to go away.

She doesn't want to believe any of this. That Jeff would think Mel and his life now are some kind of mistake, that they somehow killed who he used to be. That she could be part of what killed his future, too. ]

He didn't. [ Her grip on Jeff's hand tightens, like it's the thing keeping the real Jeff from disappearing. ] You don't know what you're fucking talking about.

[bardish]

I think I know myself better than you do. [ To Jeff, though it doesn't seem to care either way if it gets an answer: ] What do you think, rockstar?

[ And now Past-Jeff moves closer, zeroing in on Athena, gaze focused like a predator's. ]

Awww... You like to act tough, but you're just a scared little girl, aren't ya? Afraid everyone's gonna turn their backs on you, turn you out on the street again. [ The apparition jerks a thumb in Jeff's general direction. ] So you cling to this loser.

Two perfect fuckups! What a pair!

[ Jeff's trying to keep his breathing steady, trying not to freak out too much because the longer Past-Jeff talks, the more real he seems. He squeezes Athena's hand, an assurance to the both of them that he's still here. ]

Just don't talk to it... It'll go away.

[ Advice for himself and for Athena. The apparition scoffs. ]

Oh yeah, and that worked out so well for you before. [ It taps the crook of its elbow and winks, like it's being cheeky. ] You know the only thing that'll work.

[citharede]

[ Athena flinches when it talks to her, wanting to hide her face against Jeff's side and knowing that will only prove the thing's point. From the corner of her eye, she sees Taylor sneering, but she's gone as soon as Athena looks her way.

(He's right, you know he's right. You don't want to be like us. You never did. Did you ever care about any of us, really?) ]

Yes!

[ Except Taylor isn't there. Athena lets go of Jeff's hand and scrubs the heels of her palms against her eyes, muttering fuck, fuck, fuck under her breath.

Then she picks up a rock and hurls it uselessly at the apparition's head. ] Fuck off!

[bardish]

[ Okay, this has gone on long enough. It's one thing for this ghostly asshole to spit venom at him; it's another for it to go after Athena. Throwing the rock seems to do the trick-- it shakes Jeff out of complacency, if nothing else. And the apparition goes away, at least, for a few seconds. But then that vision of his youth is reappearing as Jeff takes Athena's hand again and starts to walk them away from this spot.

Where, he's not sure. They've got to find Cam, that's all. Cam and, uh, all the supplies. The problem is, Jeff got all kinds of turned around when he mindlessly wandered off.

Everywhere he turns, he can see himself. Only now, it seems more interested in Athena than him-- probably because it's getting a bigger reaction from her. ]

Watch out, kid. The second he turns his back on you, he'll forget you ever existed. Just ask-- gosh, I can't even remember his name! What was it again? The one you left behind! [ It snaps its fingers, trying to jog a memory, though Jeff knows exactly who it's talking about. He flinches, turns his attention on Athena fully, even as it keeps talking. ]

What was the first song you ever sang to me? You remember it?

[ Look, they're bards. When in doubt, they can turn to music. ]

You're so fucking pathetic. You can barely make yourself sing, so you've gotta rely on the kid...

[ FUCK YOU, GHOST. ]

Remember the last song we composed?

[ Jeff draws in a breath. No, no, this is the last thing he wants this fucker to dish about in front of Athena. ]

Let's just sing. Anything. Focus on each other, okay?

[citharede]

[ Athena closes her eyes and nods, trying desperately not to be curious about what the ghost-thing is saying now. These are things Jeff hasn't told her. They're parts of him she doesn't know.

If he wanted her to know, if she needed to know, she would. She would. There are things she doesn't want Jeff to know about her, either. It's only fair that there's stuff he hides, isn't it?

Voice shaky, she starts to sing. It's one she's probably belted out enough for him to know it. Her attempt at a joke when all she wants to do is cry. ]

If I was a guy,
I'd get to wear the pants.
Making all the decisions,
Asking girls to dance yeah yeah...

[ The beat is just a little off, not fast enough, her voice not quite rough enough, but she's trying. ]

[bardish]

[ He huffs out something of a laugh, picking up on the song after a beat. It's a perfectly Athena choice, and he loves that about her. Even if he can hear the emotional strain in her voice, at least she's singing, instead of engaging with the shared hallucination. ]

If I was a guy,
I'd be my biggest fan,
I'd be the skinny lead singer
In a grunge band, yeah yeah.

[ With a scoff, the ghost remarks: ] Wow, you guys, I feel sooo called out right now.

[ Yeah, apparently even the evil ghost version of himself is still... well. Jeff. At its core.

Actually, that's not a good thing. That's alarming. That brief moment where it's saying just what he would say only lends credibility to the rest of the venom it's been spewing.

It's fixing its mouth to say something else, but Jeff just raises his voice, because fuck it, they can drown out whatever it's saying, with music. And maybe it'll have the bonus effect of helping Cam find them. ]

[citharede]

[ The fact that that thing sounds so much like Jeff, like her Jeff, just makes her sing louder. ]

I'd say c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon c'mon here girl let me show you something,
I'm gonna rock your world.
And I'd say gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme some of your love,
I'd be the only one girl,
That you'd be thinking of.

[ And she gives Jeff's apparition the finger. ]

[bardish]

[ Though he isn't usually one to bow to peer pressure, Jeff figures what the hell and flips his apparition the bird, too. It's kind of weird, flipping your younger self off. Jeff would like to say it feels good, like, cathartic somehow, to do it. Like he hates who he was back then, like he never misses it...

But he does. That's the fucked up thing. He doesn't regret getting married (and later, divorced), becoming a dad, becoming a teacher, any of that. But that doesn't mean he's never wondered about what could've been. That other path...

Its remarks are still hanging over him, even as the thing's there one second, then gone in the blink of an eye, driven away by the song.

Jeff gives Athena a quick, one-armed hug as they keep on walking. ]

Sorry. Uh, that you had to listen to any of that... [ Like it's his fault, somehow. As if Jeff had been the one saying what the spectral version of his youth was spouting off. ] You did good.

[citharede]

[ She grabs that hand that circles around her shoulders so Jeff can't let go. She wants the comfort of having him close by. ]

Yeah? [ Something like worry eases away, like he might have been mad that she talked like that to who he used to be. ] What'd....

[ Athena bites her lip, drawing in a slow, deep breath. Bracing herself. ]

What'd he mean--

[ Laughter cuts her off. She stops short, staring at the trio blocking their path, still indistinct, but more real than they've looked until now. Michael, tall and thin with those stupid lenseless glasses he wore because he thought they looked cool. Nicky, short and skinny and probably like fourteen even though she always said sixteen when someone asked. Bev, round-faced and pretty with long, sharp red hair.

They stand in a circle, facing each other, whispering to each other and laughing every time one of them looks her way. ]

[bardish]

[ He's not looking forward to any of the questions Athena might have, and Jeff draws in a breath, readying himself... ]

What--

[ He thinks he sees what she sees, at least for a moment. Three teenagers, a burst of that mean, adolescent laughter he's heard countless times over the years. Usually not directed at him as the teacher, but rather, whichever unfortunate kid was on the outs at the time.

But for Jeff, they're only there briefly. A flicker. ]

They're not real, Athena. Don't listen.

[citharede]

Yeah. [ She exhales shakily, hanging on to Jeff's hand a little tighter. ] Yeah, okay.

[ Still, she doesn't move. The group pulls apart, all three of them turning to look her over like fresh meat, look her over like they would never actually do, would they?

(She tries to forget about the times that they were all just mean to someone for the thrill of it, scaring people on the street because they had a pack and nothing to do.)

Niiice sugardaddy, Thee. Michael nods to Jeff, like she could possibly be confused who he meant.

Athena lets go of Jeff's hand and steps away from him, bristling in spite of herself, bristling even though she knows they're not real. They're not real.

Nicky speaks next. Right, like. Jesus, girl, least you could do is share. Like that one guy, what was his name, Peter? Pedo?

Athena looks up at Jeff, horrified. ] I swear to god nothing happened with him.

[ Bev doesn't say anything yet, just watches Athena, a mean smile on her face. She doesn't have to say anything for Athena to sink in on herself, wanting to step back into Jeff's space and not wanting to give them more ammunition. ]

[bardish]

[ He doesn't know what she's hearing, but Jeff's been through this already, seeing and hearing things the others couldn't. Whatever the specters are saying, they're probably going for the jugular, giving voice to Athena's insecurities, every doubt she's ever had about herself.

Jeff watches Athena, brow furrowing in confusion when she mentions 'him.' Who, he's got no idea, and it shows. ]

Listen to me, not them. Whatever they're saying is bullshit.

[ It's easier to say when he's not the target of the ghosts. ]

[citharede]

[ She shakes her head. She's not sure if it's at Jeff, at the phantoms, or at both.

It's not bullshit. Maybe that's the worst part. A part of her is glad to hear that he thinks his own monster was full of crap, but hers...

Hey babe, says Bev.

Athena closes her eyes. ]

You're bullshit. You're bullshit. Fuck off.

[ You couldn't have told me that before you fell in love with someone else? ]

You can't hear them?

[bardish]

[ OH, ATHENA... Jeff totally doesn't think Past Jeff was full of crap. But he'll pretend to if that's what it takes to get her to shut out her own demons.

He thinks he hears a girl's voice, but he can't quite make it out, not yet. Jeff has to close his eyes for a moment, drawing in a shaky breath, because god, he doesn't know how much more of this he can take. Voices, visions, just like before...

Only now he's not going through it alone. It's not like when he was young. It's not. This is different.

Jeff puts a hand on Athena's shoulder, trying to keep them both grounded spite of whatever she just heard. ]

No, I can't. Not... not yet? [ Jeff casts a nervous glance behind, then ahead, just in case his own hallucinations decided to make a comeback. So far... still quiet, at least. Small mercy. ]

We need to find Cam.

[citharede]

Yeah, okay.

[ She's swallowing back tears now, trying to focus on him and ignore the rest of this place. Except the phantoms are coming closer now, apparently unwilling to be ignored, Bev in front and Michael and Nicky behind.

Nicky: Aw, come on, Thee, we knew you didn't want to give him all that attention.

Michael: Yeah. And it's not my fault he wasn't into twinks.

Athena covers her ears, but somehow that doesn't stop the voices getting in.

Bev: Maybe I should wait. Maybe I should let him hear about exactly what you did. He's always so nice, so supportive, so sweet. That's only because he doesn't know what a bitch you can be.

Athena screws her eyes shut. ]

Cam! Hey, Cam! We're over here! Hello!

[ She could almost swear she feels one of them touch her and flinches back.

And then she knows one of them is touching her, because she can feel the delicate fog of Bev's mouth against her own. ]

[bardish]

Shit--!

[ Now he sees it, the specter of a girl, mouth pressed to Athena's. Jeff jumps back in surprise, startled by her sudden appearance.

Not real, she's not real, just like the others weren't real.

It's so much easier to believe that when they're not standing here, moving, breathing, seeming so real... ]

She's not your daughter. Just leave her. Looks like she's having a good time, anyway.

[ Great, Retro Jeff's back again. He can feel the hairs on the back of his neck prickling, like it's right behind him. Jeff takes a step back, and for a moment, it feels as if he's actually bumped into it.

His skin crawls as he feels a weight settle on his shoulder. It's resting its chin on him, looking over his shoulder at Athena, smirk twisted on its face. ]

Remember how much more fun it was when you were me? Just walk away, and we can go back to that.

[ Then it's gone again. But the girl, she seems to still be here-- and the other two teenagers. All zeroed in on Athena like a goddamn pack. ]

Hey-- Get away from her!

[ YOU HOOLIGANS. Jeff's reaching for Athena, to pull her close in a protective hug, like he'd do for Mel in this situation. Give her someone solid to hold onto, remind her that she's not alone. ]

You're gonna be okay. We're gonna get through this.

[citharede]

[ Michael grins at Jeff. ]

Hey, the rockstar deigns to see us. Still hot, even as a burnout.

[ Athena presses her face against Jeff's chest, which prompts a laugh from Nicky. ]

Oooooh, you've got it bad for this one.

Shut the fuck up!

[ Bev's hand on her shoulder, the smell of that perfume she always wore, sharp and artificial and impossible to miss out here. ] Aw, come on, babe. Don't be like that.

[ Athena tries to elbow her, but she disappears, reappearing several feet away. To Jeff, she says: ]

Your little bard angel fucks like an animal, y'know. Always liked that about her.

[bardish]

[ Okay, so Jeff's actually pointing a finger at the apparition of a teenage boy. This is what it's come down to, chiding a probable hallucination. ] Okay... no, stop that.

[ Wow, so authoritative. Just... Please don't sexually harass him, ghost teenagers. He doesn't want to know how hot you think he is, or what kind of sex life Athena's had!

And the thing is, Jeff's not naive enough to think that teenagers don't screw around. He works with them, and he was one, once, so like. He's not operating under any pollyanna illusions here.

But this is Athena's past we're talking about here; she's the only person who should get to bring it up. These hallucinations or ghosts or whatever don't have the right to take that choice away from her.

He just tries to keep his attention on the only person who matters here: Athena. ]

I don't care what they have to say. You know that, Athena. [ He lowers his voice, talking only to her, like that'll stop the specters from overhearing and using it as ammo against them. ] We're gonna go, okay? If you need to close your eyes or cover your ears, it's okay. I'll walk you out of here.

[citharede]

[ She nods, keeping her eyes shut, gripping Jeff's hand like a lifeline. She can still feel them around her, like a shadow on a sunny day. ]

Yeah, fucking run away. Nicky comes close enough to whisper in her ear. That's what you did to Robbie. It's what you did to us. It's what you always do. How long until you do it to him too?

Michael doesn't bother to be quiet. Your aunt, all the rest of them, they won't always be good enough for you, huh?

You don't know shit about Robbie. [ Athena shivers, trying to focus on that. Nicky didn't know anything about Robbie. Neither did Michael. Just Bev and Taylor and they would never say anything, would they? ]

Of course I'd spill, Bev says. After you dumped me, why wouldn't I?

She cups her hands around her mouth and fake-whispers at Jeff: She's a little whore, use them and leave them. She never told you that I found her again after her aunt bailed her out. She never said--

Fucking shut up! Shut up! [ Athena pulls away from Jeff and tries to deck the apparition, which of course does diddly squat. ]

[bardish]

I hate these things.

[ That's all Jeff mutters as he takes Athena's hand and starts to guide her forward, back in the direction of where he thinks they might've left Cam. Hopefully, he hasn't wandered off, himself.

And the more they hurl their venom at Athena, the more Jeff tries to counter it, with an honesty he hopes she can recognize, even if everything's telling her to believe the worst about herself. ]

I used to run away, too, Athena. You'll always have a place with me. And your aunt. And Cam...

[ He's about to say something more, to counter the girl calling Athena a whore, but another voice cuts in and kills any retort he was working up to. ]

Use 'em and leave 'em. That sounds familiar...

[ He hasn't heard that voice in over 20 years. The ex. No, not the ex-wife; the ex-boyfriend. The one who came before Lisa. Tall and fit, with that dancer's body practically radiating a wounded strength, he's leaning against a nearby tree, somewhere between bored and amused with the proceedings.

Jeff remembers that smirk so well. It washes over him like ice water. ]

Hey, rockstar. Still talking yourself up with empty promises?

That's not what happened.

[ Jeff looks over his shoulder, back at Athena, who's lashing out at her own tormentors. He reaches for her, just so they don't both go wandering off chasing after their own weaponized pasts. ]

Athena-- stay with me.

[citharede]

[ She takes a step back, away from her own, and Bev blips out of existence again to reappear next to Jeff's specter. ]

The washout has good taste. Bev turns to study Jeff. I can't believe you left us for a cop and a loser.

[ Athena takes Jeff's hand. A moment of solidarity, something to keep them both steady and close together.

Michael tugs on her other hand, lightly, a barely-present pressure that doesn't do anything to drag her away from Jeff. ]

Stay with him, Thee, because he totally gets you. I mean we didn't, right? We were only there when everyone was starving. We were only there on the night we all got run out of the squats. It's not like we took care of each other before you ever met these guys. And what took your aunt so long to find you, anyway? I bet she wasn't even really looking.

[bardish]

[ Jeff pulls a face at the red-haired specter and her MEAN GIRL-ISMS. The ghost of his ex doesn't seem to pay her much mind, at least. He's just pushing himself off from the tree, to move around to Jeff's side. Between his ex on one side, and the boy on Athena's, he's starting to feel caged in. ]

You don't even know if I'm still alive. After all your promises, you never checked up on me.

[ Fingers extended, reaching out for his face... Jeff could swear he really feels fingers tracing his jaw. With a flinch, he steps back, into Athena.

To Athena, his ex says: ]

He'll do the same to you. Out of sight, out of mind.

[ These fucking ghosts. Since when do they get to tag-team them?! Jeff shuts his eyes for a moment, trying to will Ayo away, and with him, the memories of his own cruelty-by-neglect. The sight of him, still young and beautiful, Jeff can't stand looking him in the eyes, even if this thing isn't the real deal.

He hates that everything the specter's saying is true. Jeff abandoned him, out of sight, out of mind... Doesn't even know if Ayo's still alive, or where his life took him. Not just Ayo... He's done it to so many people. Drifted into their lives, acted like they were front and center in his eyes, and then walked right out without a care. He'd never meant to hurt any of them; he just... didn't think about it, really. The 'what happens next'...

His moment of cowardice only brings back the other apparition. When Jeff opens his eyes again, there he is, Past Jeff, young and carefree, arms slung over Ayo's shoulders as he cuddles up against the other specter-- OH DEAR GOD THERE BETTER NOT BE SOME SPECTRAL PDA ABOUT TO GO DOWN.

Oh. Oh there is. Past Jeff totally just nipped at Ayo's ear, please stop that, there are children present. At least he then turns his attention to Athena and Present Jeff. ]

You've both been lost for soooo lonnng. [ God, he's starting to hate the sound of his own voice. Was he really this obnoxious? ] Trying to fit in where you don't belong. How's that working out for you?

[ The ghost of Jeffs past extends a hand: ]

Just follow us. We'll take you out of the woods.

[citharede]

No.

[ Athena answers too quickly, speaking for them both, not wanting to give Jeff a chance to say something different. She doesn't think he will, not really, does she? She doesn't, she knows him too well.

Nicky whispers in her ear: ] Out of sight, out of mind.

[ Michael: ] You two are fucking perfect for each other.

[ Then a new voice, a musical alto. A voice that Athena loved to listen to, loved hearing say her name. ] They're being dicks about it, lover, but they're right. Just come with us.

[ Robbie, tugging at the knot on her bandana. Thick curls springing outward beyond it. That little scar on her lower lip, that little hole from the eyebrow piercing she stopped wearing, the only marks on perfect brown skin. She smiles at Athena, eyes sad. ]

I miss you.

[ Athena can barely speak. ] I miss you too.

[enveloped]

For fucks sake.

[Cam comes crashing out of the underbrush with... every backpack slung over his shoulders, a rifle in his arms, and his hood pulled up over his head. After Jeff and Athena went missing and with no idea how long it could take to find them, Cam didn't want to assume they would or could find their way back to the original campground. He grabbed as much as he could before following after them.

Easier said than done.

He thought he heard them, saw them, only to stumble into one empty grove or clearing after another. There were voices in all directions. He felt breath against his skin. The sensation of being watched, followed, and surrounded, yet impossibly alone.]

Are you alright? Where the hell have you been--

[Then Cam sees them. All of them. Jeff. Athena. A flock of youthful dark-eyed shades, and more. One man. Two. They flicker in and out, like film projected from a faulty projector. Soft at first, then sharper at the edges as his eyes focus.

What he doesn't see is the tall (even taller than Cam) man standing behind him. An imposing figure dressed in black with a hawk upon his shoulder. Dark eyed, dark skinned, and wearing an even darker expression.]

I think, I think we might have stumbled into some kind of glamour-- have either of you tried casting out of it?