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atonementooc2018-01-03 01:29 am
atonementmods) wrote in atonementooc2018-01-03 01:29 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive 001
 Welcome to Atonement's first test drive, and thank you very much for stopping by! Please refer to the prompts below for ideas, or simply make up your own, whichever is easiest for you. Arrival: You don't quite remember how you arrived here. It appears that you're suddenly in a dead land with eerily red skies. The grass is dead, the trees are dying, and there's absolutely no sounds of life beyond your own footsteps, even if it feels like you're being watched somehow. Eventually along the narrow path you follow, you walk through gates that seem to guard a quiet, abandoned town and a sinking feeling starts to settle in that you are far from home and there may not be an easy way back. The sign hanging above the gates simply says "Welcome to Penance: Home Between Homes" and nothing more. Within the gates, there are the leftovers of what may have once been a lively, welcoming little town, if it didn't look as if people either fled or somehow vanished in the blink of an eye. There are dusty shops that are still stocked with supplies, many with their doors busted out or left open. There are homes that haven't been touched in what feels like an eternity but they still have furniture and the remnants of the people who lived there previously. Cars and bikes are littering the streets that are in varying shapes of usability. The more you look, the more unsettling everything becomes... First Punishment: As a show of good will, your hosts will give you a very easy, albeit potentially embarrassing, task to carry out for your punishment this month. First: There will as few secrets in Penance as possible. Transparency is key to atonement. You will reveal at least one sin in a way that will be permanent, which means via tattoo, scarring, branding, or other permanent means somewhere on your person. For those who are unable to be injured or scarred, there will be enchanted items that will be able to pierce even the toughest skin, cut deeper than even increased healing can recover from. All necessary items will be available at the tattoo parlor in town. If desired, characters may also make an announcement on the network listing their sin(s) for judgement from their peers. Settling: It's time to settle into a home in Penance, either alone or with roommates. There is comfort and safety in numbers after all... Do try not to fight over housing if you've both accidentally chosen the same home... Your hosts will be very unhappy if you start a fight this early on over such a silly thing. If settling down isn't something you feel like doing, you may go and explore anywhere that you'd like, including outside the gates. Please be aware that there may be demonic forms of all types of common animals living outside them that move swiftly and silently. They will vary in aggressiveness and tamability, so please keep this in mind. As a note, all threads may be considered game canon if all parties agree. Hope you have fun and thank you! Game is set to officially open February 1st or when we reach a minimum of 10 players. |
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She looks around the room curiously. In a way it's a relief to see that he's new just like she is, still taking stock of things and figuring it out. The knowledge it isn't only her makes her feel a bit less lonely as she gingerly takes a seat on the sofa, smoothing out her skirt and wishing she'd arrived in something fancier than her school clothes.]
Well, I didn't finish school, so I'm afraid that's all I could really offer to help offset my stay, [she explains, idly fiddling with the white jade deer pendant around her neck as she watches his movements.] If you're going to be kind enough to let me stay, the least I can do is help you out in return. And it's not even that messy, so it wouldn't be hard.
[Food? How long has it been since she's eaten? She doesn't want to know or even think about it, but her voice betrays her exhaustion even though she's smiling.] I would like that. If you don't mind, I mean.
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But she's as much a lady as any debutante that he might have been forced to dance with at their turning outs and Goody is honor-bound to treat her as such. A lady caller need not toil. ]
You didn't finish school. [ He sounds a might surprised. Only because he can't think of any school that would have taken her. Girls schools are precious few, more finishing schools for brides to be than the educated school marm and he can think of even less that would allow one such as her into them. He knows his people and he rankles him to the bone that her people got such a poor deal of it. ] I can certainly tell you from experience that you aren't really missing out. There isn't much call for a man of letters from what I've seen.
[ He lets out a small breath when he finally gets the tender in the fireplace to light, prodding that small flicker into a warm blaze before he can return to the young lady. He signs because he knows. He knows he can't out stubborn someone who is this adamant. ] If you wish to than who am I to tell you no. But we must make a deal. It's 50/50. In this house, everyone shares the work evenly. I'm no one's master and you are no one's serving girl.
[ He'll hold out a rough hand towards her and ignore the seeping redness of the bandage under his sleeve. Of course, if she takes it, he'll likely be very much a Cajun gentleman and kiss her knuckles as a means to seal the pact.] If we have an accord? And then I will find you that food. You look like a strong wind might just blow you away.
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Her parents would have appreciated this, she thinks as she watches him fuss over the fire. Men with that sort of view of women are a dying breed.]
I, ah... you know how we're here to pay 'penance' for what we did in life, however that works? [Ray's gaze drops to her hands for a moment, clasped over her pendant tightly as she takes a deep, steadying breath and then exhales.] I was three months away from finishing school when I died. [The word has such finality to it, such an overwhelming weight, that her shoulders slump and she can't look directly at him. It isn't often she feels as young as she is, as helpless, but she does right now. Ray focuses the conversation back on him to try to make it less awkward.] I would have thought it was especially important for men. My father always said boys needed to be smarter than the generation before them to get ahead in life.
I do wish to, [Ray nods, looking up at him with slightly narrowed eyes. She's reminded of her friend Wei casually asserting that she couldn't help just because she's a girl, and she doesn't like that idea, here especially. If she's going to be living here, then she should help out the way that he'd expect a male housemate to.] I don't want to be a burden or something to take care of. That wouldn't be fair to anyone.
[She takes his hand, her own fingers still ink-stained from things done before got here, blinking in surprise when he kisses her knuckles. That certainly wasn't in any of the movies about Americans that had made their way over to Taiwan. The touch is odd, but not wholly uncomfortable; didn't Hakka people kiss each other's palms as a sign of respect in olden times? Ray pushes her thoughts aside and nods.] We do. But I'm not that thin, really; all the women in my family look like this.
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Unconsciously, he puts his hand on his arm as if it had hurt terribly for a moment. Even if it is true, he doesn't have to like the thought of some young lady being harmed by this place for anything. He''d happily have words with those in charge. But as he can't, he can only look at her with troubled understanding and let his hand fall from hers after the very old fashioned kiss.
It's easier for him to navigate around it. Focus on other things. ] You know, that reminds me of something my Daddy used to say. [ He pauses. ] He said a lot of things actually. I get that from him. But irregardless, it's a right shame that you didn't finish your education. You were so close. I can't claim to be any sort of school teacher, but I could try and help you finish. [ He's utterly unaware that education had come far past what he has learned. Her schooling was likely far more advanced than his college had ever been. ] If that's something you'd like.
[ He laughs then, flashing that warm and rakish gold toothed grin and he holds his hands up in surrender. ] I give. I give. I know when I am defeated. We have an accord and I will be grateful for the help. There is still much for me to go through here. Find what's useful and what's not. There's a lot here to work with. I haven't had this much opulence since I was back home.
[ His tone is airy, but his expression says that he doesn't miss it at all. ] Of course this is a bit smaller than there. Only four bedrooms. Three of which are free and open for you. I've taken the smallest for myself, but I know for a fact that there is a huge one in back with it's very own bath. It's quite amazing.
[ He shifts to move towards the kitchen. ] Well, I'm afraid I'm going to do something about that. I think I discovered a can of beans and some chicken that I can heat up over the fire. I'll be right back. If you need anything while I'm in there, just call for Goody, all right? [ Because honestly, Goodnight hasn't any idea how to use a modern stove and he doesn't want to make this young lady's first meal in this place to be cold beans out of a can and cold chicken. ]
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Her dark eyes are troubled, guilty. She doesn't care what this place asks of her. Ray has accepted that this is what she deserves. There's no fight left in her to challenge this system. Goodnight's face tells her he's less sold on the idea, which makes her wonder why he's here, but she won't ask.
Everything would be easier if she just kept the conversation going where he directed it.] I would love it if you'd be willing to teach me what you know. I know we don't have textbooks or anything like that here, but whatever you could figure out would still be great. Thank you.
[His laugh is contagious, and she giggles lightly in return.] Many hands make light work, right? It'll be easier to figure things out if we're both trying. The houses here are much nicer than anything I'm used to. But since the house is bigger than any back home, I guess it'll be harder to keep warm when it's cold out.
Oh, I don't need a big bedroom. My family's home in Huālián was fairly small, and that was fine. But I do like the idea of having my own bath - if you're sure you wouldn't rather claim that one for yourself, I mean.
[Tired, she slumps back into the sofa. Today has felt long in a way she doesn't want to think about. Whatever energy she'd had, she had burned through gritting her teeth and branding herself, something she wasn't sure if she could do again even though she was sure the people who ran this place would ask her. Sleepily, she tucks her feet under her and smiles at him, looking, for a moment, like the lost child she often feels like.] Thank you, Goody. You kind of remind me of my father.
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Oh, I'm certain that there is a library in this dreary little hamlet. If not, I'm sure I'll come up with something. Of course I'll first have to know how far you've gotten. To know where I must take over.
[ He speaks from the kitchen where there's quite a bit of banging around before he crows in triumph and comes back with a can, a knife, the chicken and a skillet. He uses the knife to cut through the lid of the beans like he's done it that way a thousand times before. ]
I am sure. I might have grown up in a large house, but these days, I've grown accustom to cramped rooms in inns or camping under the stars. So please, by all means, take it. Or which ever one you want.
[ Goodnight is efficient in use of skillet over open flame and he quickly has the simple meal warmed up to plop in a bowl for her with a spoon. He hands it over with a small smile and notes how she curls up a little. It takes him even less time to find a quilt and drape it around her shoulders.
His smile becomes one of shock and he sputters a little. It's terribly rare for him to suddenly be shocked silent, but she's done it. For a moment he wants to tell her that he's the last person she'd ever want to remind her of someone so important, but instead he finds himself laughing. He accepts it as flattery and something he knows he doesn't deserve. He's just trying to be cordial and help a young lady out. ] You're very welcome, Miss Fang Ray. And you are welcome to stay as long as you wish. I'll be certain to speak to my partner about it when he returns.
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I was in my last year of high school. We'd begun study sessions for university entrance exams, but I was doing poorly in math. Languages, I was fairly good at, I just... I struggle with math.
[She watches him with a pang of longing for the way her family used to be. It wasn't that long ago that her father used to make her something light to eat after she came home and complained about the neighbors or the radio's poor reception while asking her about her day. Back then, the future didn't loom like a monster in the night.
If she's being honest with herself, she doesn't want the small rooms because they'll remind her of home and Ray's not sure she can take that.] A bath of my own sounds like a dream come true. But if you change your mind, we can switch at any time. I'm not that selfish.
[Ray, curled up within the guilt and with a bowl in her hands, blinks innocently up at him. Despite the impressive trail of destruction she left in her wake back in Taiwan, here and now, she looks younger than she already does, already is, which probably doesn't help the situation. After a second, she giggles along with his laugh, which gives her long day much-needed levity.] Oh, right - as Americans and Europeans order names, I guess it would be Ray Shin Fang. Ray is fine, though. I don't like forcing formalities on anyone; it's a little presumptuous after everything you've done for me. Really, in a place this far away from home, I would have been fine sleeping on the couch, to be honest.
Is your partner someone you know from before? I haven't seen anyone I know here.
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[ Goody find his way to the couch as well. He makes certain there is a proper and polite bit of space between them. ] Well, ma patite, you are in luck. I happen to be very good with numbers. So I'll be happy to help you with mathematics. As for languages, I know five. [ Six if she were to count his pretty spotty Korean. ] And I promise you, heaven is my witness, that that big room and it's big private bath are all yours. You're not being selfish at all.
[ He's still smiling when she corrects her name. He might be a little embarrassed, but honestly, he hasn't met too many from the Far East. The one he knows the most goes by an English name of his own making. ] Ray then. And no need for sleeping on the couch when there are perfect good beds for you. In strange places, we need to take what comforts we can.
[ There is another pause and for a moment, Goody goes silent. There is the slightest hesitation. He's trying to decide what he can and cannot say. He knows this is by all rights and purposes, his house, but there are things that he just doesn't talk about. Things that are too dangerous to put out there. And while he feels a little guilty about lying to her, they aren't his worst lies. If anything, they are half truths, omitting important details of the things he just can't say that lie somewhere beneath the surface of his words. It's there in the soft fondness he can't hide.]
I should hope so. Billy's been my business associate and traveling companion for nigh on a decade. He might be a little grumpy at first, since you are a stranger, but I can promise you that he won't turn you out. And even if you do find someone you know and decide to stay with them know that you are welcome here. [ It's the least he could do. Because he can't abide the idea of this young lady out there on the street all alone. ]
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She eats, feeling whatever tension was still in her diminish as she does so. True, the food isn't anything fancy, yet it's warm and homemade, and that's enough in this moment, with another person's voice to drown out the roar of thoughts in her head and redirect her attention. It's almost comfortable.] That would be wonderful. Math may be hard, but I don't want to give up trying. If I'd done that with words, I never would have gotten anywhere, and now I speak three and read in two. [Technically four if Taiwanese Mandarin and mainland Mandarin were counted as two, which she didn't count on because that was kind of arrogant.] I'm just glad you're willing to put up with me at all. I know all of this is a lot to take in, but you make it look easy, just randomly ending up here.
[Ray's sure she'll mess up someone's name here if given enough time. There's little in the way of East Asian anything in this place, rendering it all foreign and surreal in the way only imported films were before.] This place could be worse. At least we're not completely alone.
I'm glad you have a friend here. [Sort of. She doesn't wish the things their hosts inflict on anyone, she wishes they could all just move on to the afterlife, cross the bridge to Heaven and leave Earth behind entirely. But a suffering shared might be a suffering lessened, if only for Goodnight and Billy, and for that, she really is grateful. Living with two friends seems like it'll be more peaceful than living with people who disliked each other, too. Waiting until she's done with the bite of food she's eating, she asks,] How many people are there here? When I was walking around town it all looked empty. It's a little unsettling.
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Well, I suppose that comes from a life lived traveling. I've been drifting from town to town for quite some time now. You learn how to adapt in a new place because in a few days you'll just be in another new place. And yes...Though I try not to challenge the powers of worse, this isn't such a bad place to spend some time in. [ He's honestly been in much worse places, though he's unsure what their magnanimous benefactors have in store for him. Surely the wound on his arm is only the start of it. ]
Well, now I have two friends here. I have Billy and I have you, ma petite. I am a very fortunate man indeed. As for your question, I am afraid I can't rightly say. I've drifted through some ghost towns in my time, places where people just up and left for better prospects. This looks much like that in a way. The only ones I have seen are our mysterious hosts and those like us. And those I can count on both hands. I would say it's only a matter of time until you meet more of us poor unfortunates. Even so, you're always safe to come back here.