THE SKY WENT OFF-WHITE.

[wastemods]

WHO: Anyone and everyone.
WHAT: Our inaugural test drive meme.
WHERE: Anywhere in the world core.
WHEN: Whenever your character arrives.
NOTES: Expect surreal horror and possible violence. Please use common sense when warning for other content.

Art by Basile Godard

THE SUNLIGHT SPLINTERED.

You reach the end of the ash-gray hall at a run, hands fumbling for an antique door handle. And then you stumble, fall, tumble—any number of adjectives, depending on where, exactly, the door opened—into a radio station.

The equipment is old and dusty, but devoid of cobwebs to the observant eye. And it's dark, save for whatever light makes it through the windows. They display disjointed locations; perhaps one shows an upside-down tower, while its neighbors frame the crumbling pavement of a rotting car park and the stripped out interior of a sewer. Whatever the case, peering through one window reveals a landscape that impossibly doesn't connect to the next.

The door is still there, the only exit to this grubby room. It opens somewhere, anywhere else in this distorted world. And once you leave, it no longer leads back whence you came.

Where do you go?

THE LIGHT, DIVIDED.

A sun on one horizon, a full moon on the other. They're luminous but unreal, like they were plucked from a sky and pasted to a flat, starless backdrop. You can see only one, depending on which side you entered; it's essentially random. Both "sides" overlap like alternate dimensions and you can't see anyone who isn't on the same side as you. Light or dark, you walk in the light of a muted sun or an overbright moon. It never feels quite real.

Neither star nor satellite seem to move from their position. The passage of time is at a standstill.

Regardless of which side you're on, you'll find signs that you aren't alone. What someone does on one side affects the other, so moving an item or writing something down will translate to floating items and mysteriously appearing letters. Speech doesn't travel...unless there's a radio. Radios may turn on and off, with voices audible through the white noise. And if you walk past a mirror, the reflection isn't your own. Instead, it acts as a window to the other side.

In-character observations:

• Anyone sensitive to time, space, and related dimensional shenanigans will feel they're distorted. And it isn't something they can fix, at least not with powers.
• It's possible to cross dimensions if a character has related powers, but they'll suffer backlash and significant stress from the transition. Successive jumps aren't gonna fly.
• If a character is affected by the sun or moon, they'll find neither holds sway over them here; e.g., vampires can walk in daylight and werewolves won't shift in the full moon.

TL;DR: Whatever this is, it isn't natural.

THE SHADOW REALM.

Outdoors, there are shadows on the prowl.

Silent and eerily insubstantial, they trail after you like blind spots given form. Staring at them too long is unsettling but, for the most part, they're content to watch you back...if they can watch. They don't seem to have eyes.

When that isn't enough, however, they attack. Stealing the shape of monsters from other worlds, they may lack special powers, but that doesn't keep them from being dangerous. When in doubt, you're safest indoors.

But maybe that isn't good enough for you. Or maybe you just fucked up. Either/or.

RADIO WAVES.

If you aren't wondering how you got here, you're probably at least asking why. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be anyone around who can answer your questions. Everyone else is as clueless as you.

But, some time after you arrive—whether it's days, hours, minutes, or seconds—the dead air stirs. The atmospheric pressure drops and playhouse lightning arcs across the facsimile of a sky. It's a storm that warns of what's to come, as an earthquake shifts the ground beneath your feet. Around you, buildings flood, and water pours out in falls only half aware of gravity. Wind hurls debris at such high speeds, it turns into shrapnel. Rain pelts you from above and below as the temperature plummets. It starts to snow.

Somehow, the sun and moon remain visible through the turmoil. A collection of mirrors scattered through the world don't reflect their light; instead, it passes through them and illuminates the other side. These specific mirrors, all set in ash-gray frames that match the halls, are untouched in the unfolding natural disasters, and standing before them will shield you as well. Consider them havens in the chaos, proverbial eyes in the storm.

In the dark, a radio turns on of its own accord. Is someone—something—talking to you?

INTO ALL OUR DARKEST FEARS.

Welcome to THE WASTEYARD's first test drive! Some quick things to remember:

• Our TDMs tie into the game plot. As such, any applicants can keep their TDM threads as game canon.
• The network is exclusive to in-game characters. TDM characters can only use radios.
• There is a language barrier, so please mention what language your character speaks somewhere.
• We don't have a fixed day ratio; instead, you pace yourself at your discretion.
• Characters may face backlash when using any powers.
• Mark if your character is on the sun or moon side of the divide. The choice is yours as the player.
• If you have any questions, please direct them to our FAQ!

And that's all, folks. So take chances, make mistakes, and get messy!

NAVIGATION.

PREMISE
RULES
FAQ
ACTIVITY
APPLICATIONS

TAKEN
HIATUSES & DROPS
CANON UPDATES
REWARDS
TPC CLAIMS

WORLD
EXPLORATION
DEVICES
QUESTS
INFORMATION

CALENDAR
SUGGESTIONS
MOD CONTACT
SETTING INBOX
CODEBOOK

Comments

[calculo]

I don't care. I'm not here to reassure you. ( he was here to give the shadows some time to disperse, something that would take longer now that she'd drawn them back to this building. )

And no, but I've seen a few people who tried. Can't stay something that's not really tangible. ( maybe, if he were able to deal with his own ability (or his own demon) a little better, he could do something about the shadow things but he had no control and the rider wasn't wanting to make an appearance. )

You have any sort of weapon on you? ( robbie has a chain looped around his shoulders and torso but even it's proven futile against these things. )

[rpms]

I don't remember asking for any. [ She moves away from the door. It would be stupid just to sit there. The door is made entirely out of glass and that means it's not really good at keeping things out for too long. ]

You've seen people? Lucky you. [ Her tone is flat, much like the expression on her face. She walks backward, towards the fridges that also had doors made out of glass. She's keeping an eye on him from the other end of the convenient store.

My brain, Raven thinks. Instead, she says: ] So you can take it from me?

[calculo]

I don't need your weapon. ( someone was defensive, weren't they? robbie taps the chain wrapped around him and then rolls his eyes. ) I don't want your weapon but if you're in here with me, I'd like to know you can defend yourself.

( because he doubts those shadows are going to keep at bay for long. they knew they were in there and they'd get hungry, if shadows could get hungry. ) I've seen people, yeah. There's a few people here. None as pleasant as you, though.

( jokes! )

[rpms]

[ What she does have are tools, various and useful in one way or another. Given to her by -- well -- Raven isn't exactly sure who gave them to her. She asked and she received. The tools are what keep her backpack heavy, makes her shoulders ache. Not as much as her hip right now but when does her bad leg ever feel good. ]

Don't worry about me. I know how to defend myself. [ He sounds like someone she knows, Murphy with his stupid jokes just like this man. The edges of her lips curl into a smirk, all smug and self-assured. ] You're not the first person to say that. [ Raven pauses for a beat and adds: ] You're the first person I have run into. Or seen. Did this place give you that? [ Nods to the heavy chain on his back. ]

[calculo]

No. This was with me when I got here. ( it was the one thing, besides the darkhold, that he'd taken to the hell dimension. the chain had come with him when he stepped through the portal.

the book had not. that's probably a good thing. )

I might be the only person you see for awhile. ( lucky her. ) This place changes. You noticed that?

[rpms]

Luck you. [ She started out with nothing and now she has a backpack full of tools. Raven will consider that a win for now.

He might be telling the truth. He might be lying to her. Raven will find out sooner or later because she's not going back out that door too quickly.

Raven sighs, exasperatedly. ] Yeah. Before here, I was in some building. Something was chasing me. Not a shadow. Just -- just this weird scratching noise it kept getting louder and louder. [ It felt like her brain was going to explode.

Help me to help you. It kept on telling her when she had picked up the phone. Help me to help you. That's how she got the tools. Raven asked how she could help. ]

And now I'm here.

[calculo]

And we're both all the better for it. ( he sighs and finally moves closer, almost next to her because he wants to peer out the door. he doesn't touch her, barely even looks at her but right now, that's their way out and if it's not clear, they're gonna have to do something. )

Look, I don't care what you think of me. I'm not here to hurt you or steal from you. I just wanna figure out what's going on. ( he steps back and looks over at her. ) I'm Robbie.

( there, he'd offer his name up first. )

[rpms]

[ Raven moves, maybe an inch, just enough to follow his gaze. ] Whatever gets you to go to sleep tonight. [ She rolls them big brown eyes. ]

[ He says his name first and Raven can't help the smirk that sits a little lopsided on her face ]. Raven. [She holds her hand out. You know, to shake. ]

I'm thinking we're stuck in some sort of simulation. [ She offers, turning around to look out the door. ] You got any ideas? [ Raven looks at him sidelong. ] And what other people did you run into?

[calculo]

( his eyes flick down to her hand and, after a moment, he reaches out and gives it a brief shake before his attention goes back to the door. )

You think it's a simulation? ( hadn't actually considered that. he knows that shield's been caught up in some pretty realistic simulations so would this be any different? yeah, because they'd caught him and he would have thought the demon immune to this sort of thing. )

That means it's gotta end, doesn't it? ( or there has to be some exit point. ) Something to break the simulation.

( he doesn't answer the last question, too caught up in the possibility of getting out to think about it. )

[rpms]

[ They're both reaching some level of civility, good. Raven doesn't want to spend what little energy she has to argue with some man named Robbie. ]

Yeah [ , Raven sounds sure. There is a chance that she could be wrong. But her confidence outweighs that little doubt in the back of her head. ] I dealt with one before. It was over two-hundred-years-old. It was a bitch to find the killswitch. It's going to be a lot harder without an outside man [ Raven pauses before adding: ] Or woman.

But I do think we might have one. Remember when I said there was that scratching sound following me? Well, there's more. [ Raven watches him as starts to give him just a little more information. ] The noise stopped when I told it to. There was this phone ringing and I picked it up. It repeated the same message: Help me to you help you. Kept saying it, like it was on a loop. And then I asked to give me something to work with and -- [ Raven shrugs the backpack off her shoulders. ] Tools started to pour down from the ceiling. [ She zips it just enough for him to see. ] That's how I got these.

[calculo]

( he listens because this is all completely new information to him. he hadn't heard the scratching or see an telephone. he'd been dropped into the middle of nothingness and walked. if what she's saying is true, and he has no reason to believe it's not, there's a whole other side to this place that he hasn't seen.

he purses his lips and curl a hand around his chain. )

You think you could remember where you had all that happen if we get out of here?

( it's a longshot what with the landscape changing but it's the best thing they have right now. )

[rpms]

[ Raven doesn't expect him to believe her story because it sounds ridiculous but maybe he will. If he has been here in any length of time, he'd know things just do not make sense. ]

I remember what the building looks like. I don't think we're going to find it, though. It wasn't there when I stepped out of it. We can head back in that direction. It might still be there. [ She raises her shoulders and fall lazily, shrugging. Raven is still looking out the door, quietly assessing the desolate scene ahead of them. ]

All we have to worry about is running faster than those shadows. [ Running. That's going to be an issue for her. She's going to hold that thought for a little longer. He's going to leave her behind once he realizes she's lagging behind. ]

Once we go outside, we head in that direction. [ With her index finger, she presses it on the glass, in the direction of where she had come from. ]

You ready [ , Raven asks, peeking at him sidelong again. ]

[calculo]

Standing in here isn't going to get us anywhere. There's no food, no water and soon probably no building. ( he hasn't seen something disappear around him yet but he thinks it's only a matter of time. so, it's time to go.

he puts a hand on the door knob and glances over at her. )

We try to be quiet at first. Maybe they're gone and we can get away with sneaking by but if you see them, go. Don't wait for me. ( he'll be fine. he always is. )

Go. ( he rips the door open and gives her a nudge forward. )

[rpms]

[ She chuckles, airy and sardonically. ] You really sound like someone I know. [ Irrelevant information but it was better than saying, 'no shit'. Robbie readies himself to open the door and Raven nods her head in acknowledgment. ]

Sneaking I can do. [ He has afforded himself a sharp look from her when he tells her not to wait for him. ] I am pretty sure you can outrun me [ , she mutters before dipping through the door he has held open for her.

She takes a few steps before pausing, looking around to see if the shadows are waiting. For now, things seem to be quiet. ]

[calculo]

I'm not going to leave you behind. ( if she thinks that, she can stop. he doesn't know her, she doesn't know him but she's another human being and he's not the rider right now. he's not going to just abandon someone to these things. )

We'll get there together, okay? ( he doesn't want for her to answer before he creeps out behind her, one hand wrapped around the chain just in case it was needed.

the air outside feels still, silent. maybe they're going to get lucky. )

[rpms]

We'll see about that. [ Her trust is hard earned, Raven has been betrayed one too many times to let it go so freely. Most of the time she was betrayed by people who she had considered friends. Time and time again. ]

That's the plan [ , she says over her shoulder. ] Do you mind not walking behind me? I don't have eyes behind my head. [ No silhouettes have bled out from the shadows just yet. Raven sticks to where the sunlight is hitting the most. ] You part of Eliugus?

[calculo]

Whatever. ( he pulls up even with her, one hand still wrapped around the chain while his eyes hop around the area, trying to spot anything that might look out of place. everything's a little distorted but nothing outright shadow like just yet. )

I don't know what that is so no. ( eliugus was a name he had not heard before. ) I'm not part of anything. I'm on my own.

( besides his brother and his uncle, that's how he liked it. )

[rpms]

They did interstellar missions. Took prisoners to mine for resources. [ Her tone is nonchalant, giving him information that isn't pertinent in any shape or form. ]

That sucks [ , Raven comments to him not being a part of anything. She at least had friends. Family isn't too far of a stretch. But, currently, she was alone. From her periphery, Raven catches movement. A shadowy blur.] Here we go [ , she lets out a breath, ready to book it to the closest building. ]

[calculo]

Never heard of anything like them. I'm not part of their group.

( the rider worked alone and thus, he worked alone save for a few very specific exceptions. here, those exceptions weren't going to apply because he knows no one enough to trust them with the knowledge of what he is.

but, there's no time to keep talking because he spots movement as well. it's a void of black once again, something that sucks all the color around it. ) What does it look like to you?

[rpms]

That's good. I don't like them. [ Raven usually worked alone, too. Not a lot of people can keep up with her. Not a lot of people can do what she can do.

The shadow is a silhouette of her past. It reaches out to her, fingers extending to sharp tendrils of inky black. In its other hand is a drill. ] Does it matter? [ It's a reminder of being held hostage at Mt. Weather. It reminds her of the man who drilled into her body for bone marrow. ]

Let's get the hell out of here. [ Running is always hard. She wouldn't run if she had the choice. But she's not going to let a shadow touch her and so she runs. ]

[calculo]

It doesn't. Just looking for a commonality.

( but leaving? that sounds like a good plan. robbie reaches forward and nudges her shoulder, trying to indicate that she needs to go first. if she's hobbled, then he's going to watch her back at least till they get somewhere safer.

she starts running and he follows, unraveling the chain from around his torso just in case he needed to swing it at something. it wouldn't have much of an effect on the shadows but it was better than nothing.

he keeps on her heels, checking back over his shoulder at...god, he knows what that is and he doesn't want to deal with it so he turns away and keeps running. )