NO EXITS

There's a gun shop within town limits on Linebrook Road and you only have to be 15 to get a license but it takes more than a week to get one and they don't have a public registry to see if I already have one here. You have to request a copy of your license history by applying with your signature witnessed by a notary. Can someone figure out a way for us to stock up on weapons and ammunition?

You can get combat knives on Amazon, though.

Uh, guys?

Weed is legal here. So this is clearly the best alternate universe or timeline or whatever.

Who has ID and cash to stock up? Technically I'm like 56 according to my ID but somehow I don't think anyone is going to believe that here.

FILTERED AWAY FROM THE LOCALS:

I've seen a few questions on the network about this place, and if this is the original Derleth. The answer to that is no, this is not the Derleth where the network was created and we were "attached" to this place. This is an extremely similar situation, but that was a much bigger town and campus. I remember it pretty clearly from the week I was there.

It seems that there is another campus out and about, like ours, with alternate versions of ourselves there. That means that there was someone who lived here who looked like you, and they've been missing for a year. We have a set time to stock up on items we need, so I'm not going to ask you all to stay on campus. What I am going to ask you to do is keep a very low profile. Don't use your real name. If someone recognizes you, tell them they have to be mistaken and then get out of that situation. Call me if you need to. I'm great at escapes.

If there's anyone in the science fields who would like to assist Professor Sanchez and his granddaughter on locating their Derleth, please let me know. They meant to get their Derleth back, and somehow managed to snag ours. That's not their fault, and if we can help, we should.

You know the usual drill on stocking up. Clothing, bedding, housewares, alcohol, food stuffs.

Once upon a time, I told an Egyptian goddess that I was going to be her avatar for a very temporary time because I had no interest in having super powers because I had other shit to do. Now, she's landed here with me and on weeks when our powers are not around at all, it's like I'm missing a walking crutch. I'm not entirely sure if that's a healthy feeling or not.

Filter: Marc/Steven

Hey. Where did you disappear to last night?

In my world, when a woman is cut off from the Source, no longer able to channel, we call it being Stilled. An unpleasant fate. It's most often a result of drawing too much of the Power, and more rarely, a punishment. Every young woman known to have the ability is cautioned against it.

I don't believe what I experienced this past week was entirely similar. The sense of loss was not so great it could not be overcome. But it was no less unsettling for it.

I was told it would be possible, but are we often stripped of that which makes us ourselves?

Okay.

I'm feeling generous. Or maybe it's all this alcohol I've been drinking. I'm going to ask a question, and you're going to give me a completely genuine, honest answer. If it's a bullshit answer, I'm going to tell you to fuck off so don't get butthurt over it.

What is you want most in the universe?

And don't fucking say you wanna go home or you want a stable universe. That's already being worked on. I mean YOU. Personally.

I didn't really care for being color blind growing up, but that was better than this.

No painting this week, I guess.

[Laura]

Hey, did you make it back to the campus alright?

[A bit later - Sam]

Hey.

You doing all right?

I'm having a bit of an issue here. I'm driving a horse drawn cart out in the middle of nowhere? Somewhere? I have no clue where I am, what I'm doing or how I got here. Looks like there are these crates in the back of the cart, and urm... blood.

This hasn't happened to me since before I came to Derleth, a blackout.

Can we trade the clothes we got? Because I'm not sure this is going to work for me all week.

On the flip side, free drinks isn't the worst thing?



[ooc: pretend the linked image is a selfie]

I hope you all like horses and dirt. Seems like we're in a small settlement in the old west called Sweetwater. Few people out late at night, but they're coming around this morning. Most of them seem pretty polite, but there appears to be an outlaw around these parts called Hector Escaton. He's got a gang, so I'd be concerned about that.

More importantly, I don't seem to have my super strength anymore. Anyone else having that issue?

Did I really skip a whole week?

I hate when that happens.

On the plus side, I got a really brilliant senet board. Dead chuffed about that.

I've been at work in my auction house, and since we're probably due to leave soon, I thought I'd open my stores for anyone who wants to own a historical, multi-million dollar weapon or artifact.

I can't take it all with me.

I've been staring at this movie poster in my living room this entire week and it just occurred to me that the sword my character, Leoren Silverwatcher, carries is my moonblade from Irkalla.

Also I found our costumes from Much Ado at a thrift store of all places. So I guess if we're trying to figure out if things from Derleth are here, that stuff is.

[Eliot]

I refuse to go on the Internet before coffee. Please tell me they've moved on to something else and that no one has tried to yell at you for dating a married woman because they thought you were me?

Steven's gone, I think I'm cured. He's been a part of my life since I was a kid, it's weird not having him around. My thoughts are quiet.

Khonshu's gone, too. And I have some sort of administrative job at City Hall. I finally have a regular life.

I've heard stories of placing fucking with your backgrounds and giving you other lives and I guess this is a first. I'm a history teacher at the local high school which I guess is cool? I never thought I'd try that.

But call me a pessimist but I'm still waiting on the other shoe to drop and am kinda worried about the sudden lack of power people have. Somehow Taweret came through with me and she's here and so are my powers. Anyone else?

Filter: Marc & Steven

Where are you?

Hey. There's something about me people ought to know about. I've already told a few people already and... yeah. So, some of you have met me, Marc, and others have met Steven. But they're both me. This isn't some stupid game, and I'm not faking it, but... I have a mental health issue. Psychiatrists call it Disassociate Identity Disorder. I really do have two personalities, it's not pretend.

I wasn't up front about it before since it's not the sort of thing you lead an introduction with, hello I'm clinically insane. I've had it for most of my life and I've... managed to hide what's wrong with me because I don't have any many friends back home. I'm a loner. But here, it's harder to blend in with the crowd and keep to yourself.

Things are further complicated because, like Layla who wrote about herself a couple of days ago, I'm an avatar for an Egyptian god. Khonshu. God of the moon, the night sky, and vengeance. I wasn't supposed to be anymore, but Steven and I had a talk with him last night and... I guess we're still stuck. Being an avatar means that I'm supposed to follow what he wants me to do, and in return he gives me special abilities. We're still negotiating that, since these are unusual circumstances. Besides, Khonshu's strength is derived from the moon and only works at night, and since the void really doesn't have either of those, he's pretty useless. At least during those void weeks. When we were in L.A. and in zombie world, he told me he had his usual power.

It's harder to tell us apart over the network, but we've been trying to let people know who's been writing when we've been posting comments. But Steven Grant has a British accent and uses British slang. I'm American.

And that's about it. If anybody has questions, Steven and I will try to answer.

Hi. So Ed and Luz said I should introduce myself.

I'm Jim. New here. Let me know if you need help with the zombies. I'm pretty good at killing things.

Okay so you know how there's all these movies about how to kill a zombie you have to cut its head off or destroy its brain? Or at least there is where I'm from. Anyway, it turns out cutting their heads off does not work. You kind of just end up with a zombie head. It's not super great.

( Read more... )

This week's a huge deviation from the norm in some aspects.

» For most of us, it seems, we're in a world that I'm assuming has been decimated by a zombie apocalypse. We have no water or electricity. The kitchens and clinic have been raided. Even the theater's been picked over for clothing. We are not on the usual Derleth campus. The Green is an overgrown lawn, and the rest of Derleth spreads out from these buildings. Reminiscent of a few other alternate Derleths with full campuses.

» For some, they are on our "normal" campus in the void.

» We can communicate between the two through the network, but that seems to be it at the moment. I would recommend being prepared in case Derleth throws a trick at us and spits one campus into the other, with bonus zombies. It may not happen, but we also haven't had split Derleth's like this so I would be prepared for anything. UPDATE: The TVs on the void campus are showing those of us in the zombie world.

» Butler Hall has returned to what it was when I first arrived: regular dormitories, two people to a room. This could be because we're not on our usual campus. Has anyone tested the wards on the rooms? They weren't working last week. UPDATE: THEY ARE DOWN.

» The zombies, or undead, are shambling so they're slow, but we don't know the layout of this area, so I wouldn't suggest going anywhere alone. You could easily get backed into a corner with a whole bunch of zombies. Most zombie lore says they like to eat human flesh. Need to assess the zombies more.

» Magic appears to be on the fritz. So so super powers for some. If you're experiencing this, please let me know.

» One of the Lokis has been missing since the night of the reset. He was not among our people who turned to stone and didn't return from the ball.

I'm asking you all to please not go outside alone, and do not go without some kind of weaponry. Make the least amount of noise you can, and check in with people often.

I've been updating the list of non-fighting skills. Please let me know if there's anything you want to add.

All right, everyone. I went snooping outside the boundaries of the campus since it doesn't look particularly void-y (I know, I know... don't go anywhere alone, it's a flaw and I swear I'll work on it one of these days when it comes back to bite me harder than I feel like it should) and aside from everything we already know, positive or negative? I have good news, bad news, and worse news. We'll just go in that order, shall we?

GOOD NEWS: It seems we're in a town? City? ...there are buildings around, but I didn't go so far as to find out just how large a settled place we're situated in. Not the middle of nowhere at least, so it might be easier to scavenge ourselves a few things.

BAD NEWS: "Buildings" is about the most descriptive I can be of what's out there in the immediate vicinity. What's around looks long abandoned and in terrible shape, and at least the places closest to us look absolutely torn apart for supplies.

WORSE NEWS: I didn't see many people. Any people, perhaps? I don't know how much experience everyone has with the undead, but what people I did see seemed... that. Shambling, maybe not entirely whole but still making their way around, much more interested in a slow lurch in my direction than conversation. There were only a couple of them that I saw, but I didn't stick around to let them get close enough for a better look at them. I took the most roundabout way back here I could, so hopefully I lost them before I could lead them to our collective doorstep.

So... there's some information for us. Definitely seconding the below wisdom of not venturing out alone, especially if you're keen to get a better look at what's out there. (You know how it is, do as I say and not as I do. Let me learn from your example. Other sage words so you won't get yourself killed out there.)

Yes, hello, I have a question: what in the actual fuck?

I'm usually one to keep my head down and try to avoid being noticed but...well, I'll admit that I'm entirely out of my league here.

After an hour disassociating from everything I've ever thought possible and browsing this network to get an idea of what is going on, I've managed to...get on board(?) with the circumstances and am assured that I am not, in fact, losing my fucking mind.

My name is Agathon, I'm from New York City. I'm not entirely sure how I might be able to help but, if I can, I will.

[Private to Layla]

Are you attending this party everybody's talking about?

So this ball is starting to look somewhere in the realm of serious to completely whimsical. In the interest to make sure we're not completely fucked perhaps now would be a good time to make sure you have a date unless you have your heart set on stag.

Comment with your name, flavor on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, qualities you may or may not be into, maybe something about yourself, age range, etc. Even if this isn't a romantic outing for you, let's not sell ourselves completely short, shall we?

You know, green's usually not a bad color — not my favorite — but this is the kind of green that my sister looked before she threw up on that landing on Saba Airport when we were kids.

Hoping for no anvils and no boots with faces chasing after me this week.

IKOL:

Do you remember that one dimension went to where Noh-Varr and his people took over Earth, and there were all those women whose faces were singularities? Yeah, this place reminds me of that one. Same sort of goosebump kind of feeling.

It seems like we've got a few folks scouting and working on finding food and medicine sources, so like Lara said, shelter's probably next on the list.

It doesn't look like the buildings are going to collapse, but they also don't seem ideal lodgings at the moments. Might make sense to see if we can clear some of the brush and make some shelters athat are more defensible and easier to access.

Let me know if you want to lend a hand. Bonus if you can help clear brush. But I'll take whatever help I can get.

Steve, Thor - you two want to lend a hand?

[ORLIN]

I might have suggested your tricorder could determine if food was poisonous or not. Is that possible?

If we could get a replicator working this week, that would probably be good.

( Private: Captain's Log )

Why am I in the infirmary? Did something happen? Are we under attack??

Wow. I feel incredibly well rested.

So I'm on board with the whole tiny dimension that travels in time. It's one of those shows that's on PBS, right? With the guy who calls himself the Professor and has the blue box, right? Celery? He wears a celery, I think. So I get the whole time traveling bubble.

What I DON'T get is why me? Why Steve? Why Eddie and Eleven? Why any of you? Who does those disappearance notices? How does it know?

Also, HOW COOL IS THIS BRICK? It can take pictures, type messages, AND play video and music?

I've been around for a few days now, mostly keeping to myself. I'm Marc, originally from Chicago. If you've spoken to Layla El-Faouly, who showed up around the same time as I did, we're close friends. We kind of determined we're from the same place as a few of you here, where Thanos snapped half of everybody away for five years.

Still not entirely convinced this isn't a hallucination.

[...]

[...]

[...]

And if you happen to bump into somebody who looks exactly like me but speaks with a British accent, that's Steven.

Well, this is certainly interesting. (Of course, being a horse was also interesting.) It's nice being able to see the sun as a human. I must say, the jacket is not a bad touch. At least the rest of the clothes aren't too bad.

The Terminal Station Bar reminds me of some of the dives we'd go to in San Francisco when we were cadets.

Since we're in Southern California, I was thinking of taking a trip out to the Mojave. It's only a few hours drive and I thought it might be nice to get out of the city for a day or two. (And I confess, I want to see what the stars out there look like in this time. I asked around and there's a handful of motels out there if folks aren't interested in sleeping under the stars. Anyone interested?

Bucky

I believe I owe you a drink. Or at least, I promised drinks and stories. Still up for it?

Yelena

I'm glad you're better. (Is that the right word?) Hopefully it wasn't too painful.

( Read more... )

[blocked from Marc and Steven]

There's no moon here?

My dearest friend,

Welcome to Derleth.

I am so sorry I could not be there to greet you myself, but I trust you'll find your way around soon enough. Most of the students have not yet arrived for the new semester and so I've arranged for [your?] lodging on campus. You'll find a key in your pocket. Just like old times, eh?

Should the experiment go as planned, for one week we will be able to displace time and space itself. I believe with my calculations we will be able to control the effects and no one shall be the wiser. To anyone not directly involved it will be imperceptible.

Feel free to wander the campus in the meantime. We'll begin the experiment at [muffled] Hall, on Thursday, precisely at midnight.

We'll show them, won't we?

Un Sacrificium Parvis ob Adagnitio.