[OPEN] Summer 2023 Catch-all!

[woocas]

Who: Lucas Kovach (woocas) & YOU
What: Getting settled and doing some investigations!
When: Anytime during the Summer!
Where: All over the isle
Warning(s): Will be noted in comment headers

(ooc note: I'm down for writing custom starters if anyone needs or for rescuing anyone from brutoks! poke me on discord (daranon)!)

Comments

[OPEN] Burtok Investigations

[woocas]

Nothing for it but to jump in with both feet and hope for the best, Lucas muses to himself. He's already in possession of the best tools needed for the job; a blank notebook and a pen. Well, a mostly blank notebook. Already the Medium has been busy jotting down notes, from the newspaper article, running into Ms. Leeds, and an unfortunate encounter with the little tree gremlins themselves. The notebook is a bit of a mess at the moment, but one thing is apparent already - more data is needed!

He posts a few handwritten flyers on the village message boards, hoping that other newcomers to this strange isle see them and help out, or that some villagers decide to get their heads out of the turnips and do something to help themselves. In the meantime he can be found in a variety of places from the heart of the village to the edge of the forest, notebook open and in deep enough concentration that anyone could get the jump on him.

"...Is this a burtok puzzle or just, like, a weird boulder?" He mutters to no one in particular.

Feel free to set your post wherever and I can roll with it or poke me on discord!

[echoablaze]

While she hadn't actually seen any of the brutoks yet, Andy had spent a good chunk of her time so far in Pumpkin Hollow thinking about them. Her usual methods wouldn't do any good here--no internet, no gear. The standard routine for a new story began with a day or two of dedicated research. The next step was a day trip to the location for photos and, ideally, a first-hand experience or physical evidence to substantiate the original claim. (Andy would be the first to admit, however, that when it came to the atypical kinds of reports she investigated, real evidence was basically unheard of.)

Anxious to get eyes on one of these Brutok herself, Andy practically ran toward the forest after reading the handwritten flyer, hoping to catch up with whoever had written it. There she saw him, notebook wide open as he considered the scene. Andy slowed, taking a look around before walking up beside him.

"Need a research partner?" She nods kindly in his direction. "I'm Andy. I saw a flyer?"

[woocas]

Lucas is so nose deep in his notebook that he doesn't hear anyone approach. Pouring over what little information he's gleaned, he curses the lack of proper equipment and the resources IOPSA provided back home. This kind of investigation shouldn't be taken alone, so it's a good thing that someone took interest in his flyer, even if they managed to sneak up on him.

"GAH!" The Medium startles and splashes a blob of ink across a thankfully empty page of his notebook. just as quickly he clutches his chest and sighs, "Shit! Sorry, I didn't hear you. Uh...Andy, right? I'm Lucas."

He offers out an ink-stained hand to shake, with a sheepish grin to go along with it. "And a research buddy is exactly what I need right now. You do this kind of thing back...uh. Well. Back home, I guess? Sounds weird to say that."

[echoablaze]

Andy laughs warmly as she shakes his hand. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, Lucas."

She takes a deep breath as she leans casually against a nearby tree, hands tucked into the warmth of her tufted flannel. The same flannel she was wearing when she arrived. Back home. Lucas was right--it did sound weird.

"Yeah, I did something sort of like this. It was more...theoretical?" Andy laughed again. Even on a normal day, explaining her blog to someone new always felt like crossing the Rubicon--either they shared an interest in the unknown, or they labeled Andy a conspiracy theorist and quickly disengaged. Luckily, saying she writes about "cryptozoology" in her spare time was usually just smart-sounding enough that people didn't press further.

"I'm actually a bartender, but I run a website. A blog. I write about mysterious sightings, local legends, creatures that most people don't believe exist." Andy stands up straight and pushes a loose chunk of hair behind her ear. "You know, I've interviewed 100 people claiming to see stuff like this, hiked the entirety of the state forest, but I've never come across something as tangible as whatever this is. And I've definitely never seen it publicized this way!"

[woocas]

It's striking the way Andy speaks around the subject and Lucas feels like calling himself out on it, too. Even with IOPSA operating out in the open he skirts the issue of investigating the paranormal, downplaying as hard as he can. He can recognize that in the way she speaks.

"Oh yeah?" For a moment, Lucas wonders. Her enthusiasm is infectious. "Okay, so...like, it sounds like this isn't really something a lot of people back home do, but. Have you ever heard of IOPSA?"

Still sounds weird. Back home. He can hope that she comes from the same place that he does - how cool would that be?

"And honestly, if the villagers are right, five years being stuck here there's probably not a lot going on aside from all this weird shit. Right? Something's gotta keep Yorick employed, I guess." He snickers quietly.

[echoablaze]

Andy crosses her arms instinctually as she thinks for a moment. "IOPSA...that an acronym for something?" Context clues would indicate that whatever IOPSA was, it was likely relevant to the oddities at hand, but Andy couldn't think of a time she'd heard of it before. "It doesn't sound immediately familiar."

Andy mindlessly digs the toe of her dull white sneaker into the soil. "You're onto something with that, I bet. Even just being here right now proves that things I thought--things I knew--to be impossible are actually very much possible. So, frankly, the whole townspeople-can't-die-or-leave scenario feels like it's probably just the beginning. You put up the flyer, right? So you must think this is important to figure out, too."

[CLOSED] for Snakes

[woocas]

"Boy, I thought the Farmville office was small." Lucas glances around the mostly empty office the so called Enforcers use as home base. He's given free reign to pick out a desk while awaiting his first patrol route, finding a nice corner by a window to set up shop while biding his time.

The desks aren't arranged like the Farmville IOPSA office either, no cubicle walls, no dividers. Just an open room with plenty of desks and not enough people to fill them all. He fidgets, readjusting his newcomer set of clothes of the hundredth time, fingers drumming across the wooden desk's surface.

His seat does give him a great view of the rest of the office, so when a new face shows up, the Medium gives the man a wave. "Hey, you working here too?"

Re: [CLOSED] for Snakes

[worstorganplayer]

Snakes looked around. “It’s about what I’m used to.” He just usually saw it from the arrestee’s POV. How strange to see it from this side … to actually be on the other side of the law.

“Yeah … I am,” he said.

[woocas]

"Oh yeah?" Lucas raises an eyebrow, pale eyes darting around the room. He offers a hand out for the other man to shake, if he so wishes.

"Lucas Kovach, by the way. Glad I'm not the only newbie here."

[worstorganplayer]

Old West law offices were generally pretty small and without dividers and such, or the ones Snakes saw were, anyway.

He accepted the handshake. "Snakes Tolliver. So is there anything else going on besides these ... walking tree things?"

He tried not to sound as derisive as he felt. What nonsense. It had to be a prank somehow.

[woocas]

"Nice to meet you," Lucas's handshake is to the point, one shake and then release. He sits back in his chair, one eyebrow raising at the man's phrasing.

"The burtoks? I mean, nothing like that I guess. I did a little poking around the forest and someone else claimed to have seen someone else out there." And while Lucas did confirm it, it's not like he wants to lead with his supernatural abilities so he keeps his mouth shut on that for now.

"It would be nice to know why they decided to come crawling into Pumpkin Hollow to begin with, right? What if like...something else is out there?"

[worstorganplayer]

"Maybe. Or maybe it's an elaborate hoax. Distract people, keep 'em away from something, that kinda thing," Snakes says. "We should try to find out what kinda resources are here that somebody might wanna hoarde for themselves."

[OPEN] The curse takes its toll (CW: mentions of death, nudity)

[woocas]

Somewhere along a rocky cliff, above the sound of crashing ocean waves, there's a gasp. A drowning man taking his first full breath. Only Lucas isn't drowning, the last thing he remembers is falling from a great height and then...

And then.

"Fuck shit!" Realizing how close to the edge he is the Medium scrambles back over the rocks, scraping up his hands and feet, knees and elbows, along the way. "Fuck!"

His bloodied hands fly to the back of his head. There, trailing down from his hairline, is a raised scar, much like the way earned from home across his chest. Another death or close enough.

Seconds later, he realizes there's another problem. He's sitting buck-ass naked on this rock face and nary a piece of clothing is in sight.

The walk home is sure going to be fun.


((ooc note: feel free to run into a naked Medium anywhere, or poke me for a custom starter!))

[peoniesanddestinies]

Shino is... well, he's had better. Murasame is gone, he's a little sick, and...

Okay, he's so very used to being taken care of. By now, Sousuke would have found him and taken him home. And he'd have food, and be safe. And he's not about to admit that he appreciated being babied. But there are definitely some pangs of longing for it. He just misses Sousuke and Hajime. That's it.

But hey... at least he's an adult again. Right?

But that leaves trying to take care of himself, to quite an extent as far as he's concerned. So he's wandering around a bit. He should get used to this place (he's totally going to get lost). And that's how he comes upon Lucas.

...That sure is a naked man right there. And Shino's already about to wtf. But then he realises that Lucas is actually bleeding. Well, that changes things, doesn't it?

He heads over to Lucas.

"Hey, are you okay?" He has no idea what happened, but he should try to get this guy to some kind of safety. And while he'd really rather not, he takes the shirt off his back and holds it out to Lucas. Whether it be to cover himself or as bandages. "I don't know my way around, but I can try to get you somewhere."

Emphasis on try. He's as good as useless in the streets. But if Lucas can guide him, he can make it work he thinks.

[woocas]

It takes the Medium a few moments to realize that he's not exactly alone out here. He yelps and reels his legs in so his knees are pressed to his chest, face flushing hot. This would sure be a handy time for this guy to be a ghost instead of a regular person!

"H-hey there? Uh...I'm not really. Uh." He stammers, clearly trying to piece together a coherent sentence or two. "I've been better?"

But after a moment or two he reaches out to take the shirt. So, this guy isn't a ghost. Lucas gingerly inspects the scrapes on his bleeding hands before deciding they're shallow enough not to bother. Same with the others he's picked up from scrambling over rocks. He carefully shimmies the shirt on to avoid dirtying it as much as possible.

"Thanks. Sounds like you're new here?"

Sorry for the delay, got eated by real life

[peoniesanddestinies]

He's used to surprised reactions. But a timid one with him is kind of different. Not like this, at least. He's used to being a more calming presence. But maybe that's easier when you look like a kid, which he clearly doesn't anymore. He'll just have to do his best.

He nods.

"Yea. That old lady really inconvenienced me."

Seriously, old lady, couldn't you at least have given him Murasame to keep? Or Sousuke? But then, he guesses he would be dead if it wasn't for her. This is still dumb, though.

He misses the others. He remembers his selfish choice. And now... now they have to live without him. Now he has to live without them. He wonders how things are going back home. He hopes Murasame hasn't eaten them.

He wonders about Lucas' wounds, though.

"What happened?"

No worrries! <333

[woocas]

"I guess it could be worse." Lucas remarks casually, concerning the white-haired lady that's apparently handpicked them all for helping out Pumpkin Hollow. "But it really could be better..."

Lucas holds out a hand to inspect as the question is asked, frowning lightly. "I, uh...I fell off a building and died. But no one stays dead here so I woke up here just a minute ago I guess?"

It feels surreal to even say any of that, much less experience it! He looks up to Shino, smile fragile. "Thanks for the shirt, I'll try not to get anything on it, but these rocks are like razor blades." The wind up on the cliffs isn't fantastic either. He shivers. "We could head back to my place and I can give you the skinny on this place, if you want?"

[lordoftheozarks]

A familiar voice reaches his ears, and so does the scent of blood. What's that boy gotten into now?

He zooms toward the sound, stopping just in front of Lucas where he still sits, bare-assed, on the rocks. To Lucas, it will appear as if Erik has materialized out of thin air--already grinning.

"My, my, what have we here?"

[woocas]

"GAAAAH!"

The sudden appearance by anyone is enough to send the Medium flailing backwards. he catches his arm on a rocky crag and hisses in muted pain as it slices into his skin.

"Jesus fucking Christ, Erik! Warn a guy next time!"

[lordoftheozarks]

"But that would ruin the fun," he teases. "What? This is nothing I haven't already seen." And taken full advantage of.

Fresh blood scents the air, flaring his nostrils. He tuts, "You're injuring yourself. Care to let me mend that for you?"

[woocas]

Lucas grumbles, mostly because the vampire isn't wrong. Because of course he isn't!

"I'm not trying to! I woke up here," He huffs, gesturing to the rocky cliff. Then, like to world's saddest puppy, he sighs. Nodding and pouting at the same time. "...Please?"

[pinandcove]

Milo had been out chopping firewood and about to head back, a bundle of neatly split logs tied up and hooked onto his new prosthetic, when he heard yelling. Swearing, specifically.

Jogging past the treeline to the bluffs, he saw Lucas sitting on the rock ledge, not noticing the problem at first.

"Lucas! Hey, you okay over there ma--- WOAH." He halted, realization setting in as he got close enough to see the breadth of the problem. He averted his gaze, ignoring the heat in his cheeks. "Dude! What happened!"

[woocas]

Lucas does start a bit at Milo's appearance for two reasons. The first is that he's not expecting company out here and the other is a tad more obvious. No one's sitting out here in their birthday suits just because!

He tucks his legs in closer, trying to hug them to his chest with one arm while his left hand remains over the fresh scar on the back of his neck. "Well, uh...I kinda...sorta...died?"

[pinandcove]

"Aw jeez," he muttered. "And dying made you... naked? Y'know what, nevermind, I don't wanna know. I need both hands free to get my shirt off so hold this for a sec."

He handed his bundle of wood to Lucas, barely refraining from making a crass pun about "logs". With a bit of effort he tugged off his linen shirt. Beneath it was the harness he used to operate his hook, an array of leather straps converging on a silver O-ring, allowing him to operate the clamp with a pulley system. This also revealed that he was unsurprisingly quite muscular. Toned and tan shoulders framed a broad chest that had been earned with years and years of hard labor. He took the wood bundle back and gave Lucas the shirt.

"Hopefully the size difference will make it long enough to cover the important bits."

[woocas]

"I guess?" he says sheepishly, reaching for the kindling Milo holds out for him to take. He's too rattled to make a quip, but not enough to avert his gaze as Milo strips off his shirt.

Lucas is looking and not exactly respectfully.

"...Uh! I'm sure it'll be fine," Relinquishing the firewood Lucas takes the shirt and pulls it on over his head. He's real glad he's too emotionally whiplashed from waking up to pop a boner, but that feeling might not last. Damn...Milo is cut!

"Thanks." Lucas hugs his arms around himself, trying to summon the energy to stand and to tamp down on the fire in his cheeks.