NO EXITS

The voices Malkavian network has been screaming at me for the past couple of weeks. Actually, no - it started with a whisper.

I may have ratted out a murderer, but a Prince will die at the hand of another murderer, and that's when things get messy. Power vacuums, vampires making a grab for the primo spot and just getting rid of - you know. Trouble, like a Malkavian prophet who doesn't stay in one spot for too long, and keeps certain Sabbat friends in uh, low places. Who's going to believe or put their faith in a Malkavian who's got a screw loose?

Anyway. That was a little long-winded, but I'll be sticking around these parts.

But I'll miss you all. You guys were awesome.

Filter: Friends

I have no idea what I'm doing yet. Is that bad? I thought I'd really want to go back to Fillory when I got the chance but... now I don't know.

Filter: Morpheus

You're going back, aren't you?

Margo, Hugh and I are heading to Salem to get supplies not found in town. This is your last call to add anything reasonable to the list.

I'll likely take a second trip to Boston for the less reasonable requests and club-hopping later this week. Just going to make sure this isn't a dimension run by a secret cabal of vampires or whatever first. Not sure how we're supposed to feel about the locals here just yet. Something has to go wrong, right?

Vax, you're also coming with. Hugh volunteered you.

Fuck

We lost Strange.

Okay.

This is upsetting in so many ways. I can't fix his disappearance. The only thing I can do is ask for volunteers to help pick up food stuff supplies. Stephen volunteered his time and services for this and we have a hole now.

I need new clothes (read: clothes that are me, not from a fantasy world or a city where I decide polos are pretty dang great.) and I need them, again, to be me. For reference, I am currently wearing an orange fishnet tank with a furry coat that looks like I've skinned the cookie monster. And leather pants.

Help me find stuff. This is an invitation for you to join me as soon as it gets dark.

Personal problem first: Is anyone else extremely hot this week? I know there's a hot tub, but is there an ice pool?

General Timeline Gathering Second: For those of you who are able to see things in the void, would you mind coming by the lab and telling me what you've seen thus far this week. I'd like to make notes of this as I am assuming next time we're in the void, they may not be visible - but if they are, or become more widely visible, we'll have some idea of what we're dealing with.

[Mobius]

Did someone show you the lab yet?

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 feel like we should be keeping a tally on how many times we got to some organized party in another world and it turns out to be totally fine or totally not fine.

Also, what is everyone planning on doing with their real life dolls in their rooms? Would it be weird if I swapped out the clothes? I actually really like the outfit she's wearing.

Filter: Margo and Eliot

I'm sure both of you are back and are relatively safe and reset and all, you know, but for my sake, I'd still like to see you pop up on the network. So, pop up, please.

Filter: Morpheus

I suppose for our first date wait was that a date? No, that was not a date But what if No time we escorted one another to some sort of group gathering, it could have gone better. I hope you're doing better now. And tell Matthew I said hi!

[FILTER: PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT DIED AND SUSPICIOUSLY COME BACK YET]

Are we sure that the people who have come back after dying are who they say they are?

Because this is starting to get a little Stepford Wives to me. I can't be the only one thinking that while reading the network.

[ETA: MARGO + FEN]

We're sticking together the rest of the week. No wondering off. I mean it. Someone is either Stepford Wivesing people, or this is a Cowboy VS Invasion of the Body Snatchers situation and there is no Daniel Craig.

( click the link for ic/ooc details! )

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?

Please know I make exactly zero guarantees, but if anyone would like to try something, I may have a solution to the flashes of memories from other worlds. Keyword being may. It's not comfortable, it's a spiky patch that goes on the back of the neck, but if this interference is psychic in nature it should do the trick.

Generally not a good idea to wear long term, but we're all resetting in a few days so I'm sure it's fine to wear the rest of the week.

Shopping list next time we land somewhere halfway civilized.

And go.

(No, this isn't me offering to collect everything. This is me encouraging everyone to help each other out. Almost like we're forming into some kind of community or something.)

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?

[Yelena & Eliot]

I'm pretty certain I found the script for the film that I'm supposed to attend a premiere for tonight.

Yelena, did you still want to come with me?

Eliot, if you come help me decide what to wear, you've got free range of the bar cart and I'll order in whatever you want for dinner.

I know most of the magic people don't have magic this week, but we could use your help with Luz. I think she's under some kind of curse, because every time she uses her magic--

[sound recording started - voice samples]

Hunter: Hey! Give that back!

chirping

Luz: You don't need to tell them everything, it's not that bad. I just turn into a cat.

Hunter: Just. You’ve lived with the Owl Lady how long and you think this is just turning into a cat?

Luz: It's not that bad, so far I keep turning back into my normal self. Just because I attacked Philip-not-Philip - he deserved it anyway.

Hunter: He’s not- he probably didn’t- nevermind, not the problem. And how many so fars did she have before going all beast mode? I doubt you got whatever ‘harpy form’ she keeps bragging about, so we need help before it gets to that point.

Luz: We don't need help! Maybe it's just normal beast magic and I'm a shapeshifter.

Hunter: Then cast something and don’t go cat!

chirping

Hunter: Yes, I know it’s a bad idea, but she’s being difficult!

Luz: I'm not being difficult! You're the one being- UGGG. FINE.

growling

louder chirping

Hunter: Ok, yeah, bad idea…

chirping mixed with tapping and more growls

[recording stopped and attached]

I am Princess Leia of the royal House of Organa, future queen of Alderaan. I have read your note and listened to your "voicemail," and still have questions.

Please respond.

Well, I've always enjoyed buying incredibly expensive art, so I'm not mad about working for a museum, I guess.

A few quick questions for data:

1. Does everyone remember Derleth?
   
2. Does anyone have actual memories of their life here?
   
3. I think most of us are in the apartment building - but who isn't?

ETA: Considering the consistency of responses, please only let me know if you do not remember Derleth, or if you have memories of your life here. I am curious still who isn't in the building.

I was nearly mobbed getting coffee until I distinctly heard the words No, that's the brother.

I'm "the brother" now.

Hugh, please let us know you're still alive? And maybe don't go outside on your own just yet.

Filter: The Magicians and Yennefer

Okay so first off, I did not touch anything. You should know that first. And I didn't attempt anything.

But, there are a lot of stuff in my apartment that make me think that I was probably dabbling in magic in this world. And by things, I mean spellbooks, potion bottles, weird ingredients, a scrying crystal, all that stuff. Do I have any memory of any of it? Not at all. But I think this case like that one time I turned into a magician from a werewolf which makes me believe I'm probably not a werewolf here either.

Any of you want to come and take a look? Help me out maybe because omg if I really have magic again!

Y'know, there are better ways to get my attention than a kidnapping and a creepy voicemail.

OH COME ON

back in this place again???

derleth can take all these 🖕🖕🖕🖕 and eat some 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕 and put 🖕🖕🖕 on that 🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕🖕 slice of 🖕🖕🖕🖕 cake

I need to know something. Anyone here actually knows what Mordoor Morrdo Mordor is? I have a bet that says there's more than ten people who never heard of it.

[FILTERED: Dustin Henderson & Eleven Hopper]

Hey, you two both know if you ever hear about any drugs or anything that So. Weed Why is it always me Ok, look. There's some choice relaxant plants around campus. I mean weed. There's weed. Now I'm not saying that you should try it out. I'm also not saying you SHOULDN'T try it out. What I'm saying is that if you two make any decisions about exploring that stuff just don't be all secret about it. You have people here that would hang out and make sure you're safe. Got it? Cool?

[FILTERED: Wizards? Magic People and Robin Buckley. NOT EDDIE MUNSON.]

I don't actually know if this got answered before but let's say someone you know is probably in for a really bad time if they get sent back home. You guys know how to make sure that doesn't happen? Not saying that's what I need right now, but trying to get a read on what's possible.

I can't be the only one wanting a little excitement of the non-murderous kind. So let's play

FUCK, MARRY, KILL

Derleth edition.


Maybe a little murderous. But just in the fictional way.

I just wanted to thank everyone who helped with boosting the magic and with planting new seeds that will hopefully lead to an even more plentiful harvest than this world has seen before. I am hopeful it will stick beyond the reset, but only time will tell. It's been so wonderful to see everyone working together, and for such a good cause.

In the meantime, I think I will be spending time in the Green communing with nature. You can learn a lot by speaking with plants what it's not that weird and that whole thing with the zombies was kinda awful, I want to make sure there have been no lasting effects from all that death.

Soooo I don't really have a point to this other than to say if you're wandering around and see me talking to what appear to be nothing I'm actually talking to the trees?? I swear it's not that weird

[Eddie]

So, um, we never got the chance to really talk after that whole weird fae ball thing. But you were, like, really good with all of that storytelling at the game night? So I guess I just wanted to say hi and yeah this is really awkward I'm so sorry.

( Read more... )

[Filter: Team Timeline*]

As Natasha and Eliot have both mentioned, Mobius was heading up the work to try to create a stable place for our Derleth, and fortunately he made certain that we had duplicates of all of his work. I've met with some of you already this week, but I know several others have expressed interest in helping, and it seemed prudent to set out goals:

• DATA RESEARCH. We have data collected. This includes items that have arrived from our home timelines, the timelines that we've visited with Derleth, and in some cases our own mental & temporal energies. We're looking for connections and clues, answers that may help magic and science with what they're doing. If you are good with sorting and finding patterns, this is the place for you.
  
  • Lara
    
  • Nancy
    
  • Paul
    
  • Chris
    
  
  
  
• MAGICAL. This team will be working with Eliot on the magical aspects of making this work. Eliot, I'm assuming you still want to head this up, if not please let me know otherwise.
  
  • Eliot
    
  • Margo
    
  • Ronan
    
  
  
  
• SCIENCE. This team has two goals currently. Unfortunately the tempad that we used to take a lot of readings went with Mobius. We have some information about that device, but we need to figure out new ways to take readings and collect data. The other is to work with team magic to see if magic and science together can fix the reset and jumping problems.
  
  • Spock
    
  • Ben
    
  • Ianto
    

If you don't see your name on here, it's because I wasn't certain where to put you - let me know where your skillset makes the most sense. If I've got you in the wrong place, let me know that too and I'll clean that up.

I'll be working in the Lab pretty much every day this week, so if we haven't yet talked in person, let's do that.

I want to rethink Mobius's work.

Before, he went through data attempting to find a timeline we could anchor ourselves to. It limited when we could attempt the jump and I think may have been why we still reset. That's not mentioning the issues a majority of us had remembering who we were.

I say we make our own timeline. We still have all the research necessary, but I was looking at the metamath, and I think this could be much more feasible without the drawbacks of attempt number one.

So if those of you who worked with Mobius are willing to work with me on this, let me know.

Okay, first off, holy crap, do I feel super well rested. I mean I normally don't have any issues with sleep in general, I could probably sleep anywhere at all, but it's just particularly extra refreshing this time.

Second, why.. are we still in the void? I thought this was the week we land somewhere? Did I miss something?

Third... anyone else still got their clothes from the time the fairies tried to fuck with us at the party?

[Cast and crew of Much Ado]

It is really good to have all of the cast and crew in the same Derleth again. And with that in mind, please officially welcome our newest cast members and new castings:

• Robin will be replacing Richie as Borachio
  
• As understudy, Allison will now be Hero after Rita’s departure
  
• Luz will be replacing Allison as Margaret
  
• And Thor will be covering Messenger One’s lines

Additionally, Steve, Chris, and Silena will be assisting with set design, construction, make-up and costumes.

The good news is that all of the things that we did during the week in 1945 are still present, that means the costumes we picked up, the set pieces, everything is still in Peaslee Theatre. For those of you who weren’t there in that week, we did pick up clothing for the costume room generally, so there’s a good chance you’ll find something that we can use for costumes.

The other good news is that we have not lost any additional cast members. With this being a rest week, I am proposing that we aim for a performance at the end of the week. We’ll rehearse daily, afternoons and evenings and I’ll work up a more detailed scene rehearsal list for the first three days, and we’ll run full performances (hopefully twice through) on the fifth and sixth days with performance on the final night and maybe we’ll invite everyone to the cast party afterwards, cause I’m with Allison, we need more parties.

Questions, thoughts, concerns? I’m thinking we should start tomorrow afternoon.

[Orlin]

You survived last week?

[Yelena]

How do you feel about having a Shadow this week?

[Eliot, added after talking with Yelena]

I'm going to go over to the lab and check on if there's anything of Dad's that isn't related to the research that we might want to hold onto. Do you want to come with me?

Zombies. Is this how you usually welcome newcomers?

Magicians/Wizards/Sorcerers/Mages: Do any of you have skills in growing things? I suspect the survivors' base probably has some fields growing food, considering there's no much to scavenge around here. Anyone wanna give them a boost? I know magic is on the fritz, but we can try.

Donations: I'm not asking anyone to give up their rations, but if you find it in your heart, we're taking donations of anything useful to supply drop on the survivors we've found. They're skittish as both Pike and Steever have mentioned, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to help them. We have two and a half days left here, they have who knows how long. Anything you wanna donate, I'll be waiting with boxes.

Fliers: Sam Wilson has volunteered, but if anyone else can, it would be much appreciated.

[ELIOT]

You still doing okay? I promised that if you weren't I'd keep a better eye on you, so let me know if I need to be watching you sleep or anything.

I also promised not to make things awkward. I won't watch you sleep.

[NATASHA]

I think I I messed up.

Hello? I appreciate the letter. A paper airplane's better than a creepy doll. I still have questions. Does this have anything to do with Russians? Is there any way to contact home? What do I do if I run into a zombie?

More questions will come as I think of them.

I helped stop one zombie apocalypse. I really wasn't keen on showing up in another one so soon after. Sharp weapons are easy to come by, but I'd rather not get that close to these fuckers. Green and sallow are not my colors, and I'll be damned if I eat the brains of anything.

MAGICIANS (ELIOT, JULIA):

What are we doing for wards?

So this is a post for all the magic users out there.

I'm attempting to work on the magic issue. There are, as far as I can tell, two possible causes.

One: The flow of magical energy is basically non-existent. Unless any of you have acquired any personal stores of energy or batteries on you, or want to try your hand sleeping with one of the resident gods, there's not much that can be done about that.

Two: The circumstances of the planet are fucked. Thankfully, I do have Brakebills' very own circumstance control panel. If anyone would like to try and provide assistance, I'll get it set up in the library. It has a short range but maybe we can use it to get some wards back up around campus.

And if anyone else has any ideas...?

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.)

Did everyone make it out of that ball okay? Who's missing?