pumpkinhollow (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
pumpkinhollow) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
ph_logs2024-09-06 05:56 pm
pumpkinhollow) wrote in ph_logs2024-09-06 05:56 pm
September Mini - Ghost of the Past
The Visitor's Center
Just where the sands of Tawny Beach begin to fade into soil, grass, and cobbled roads, there is a new building. Much like the House of Cards, it seems to have appeared from nowhere overnight. A large and round structure of tastefully stacked stone, it seems to fit perfectly in between the town and the marina, with an exterior door facing each side and at both entrances. It reads, "VISITOR'S CENTER," in bold letters.
In mailboxes throughout town, there are flyers, advertising "offworlder visitation" running from September 6th to 19th. "Make appointment today!" it advertises cheerfully.
Regardless of which side you enter, the same receptionist sits at the desk on either side--- a pretty-faced young man with braided black hair, wearing dozens of pieces of delicate golden jewelry. He is working hard on some sort of paperwork or taking some phone call when you come in, but he quickly sets it aside to welcome you. "Hello! Welcome to the visitor's center! Would you like to make an appointment?"
Your host artfully dances around questions regarding the place, its abrupt construction, its purpose, and what your appointment actually entails, assuring you it's "self-explanatory." He'll gladly inform you that "people you know" are here for a visit, but won't say who or why or for how long. But you'll sign up for your appointment anyway, for one reason or another. Perhaps you don't even really know.
At the time of your appointment, you are sat down in a tasteful meeting space of your choosing (the options are listed below) and your guest is brought in. But it is not who you expect. In fact, in all likelihood, you do not know this person at all. But don't worry, they've been briefed, and they'll pass the information along to you if asked.
You see, you are not here to meet someone from your own past, at least not at first---- you're here to meet someone close to one of your friends or neighbors. And they're here to speak about that person to you.
Take as long as you need. The Visitor's Center does not close.
In mailboxes throughout town, there are flyers, advertising "offworlder visitation" running from September 6th to 19th. "Make appointment today!" it advertises cheerfully.
Regardless of which side you enter, the same receptionist sits at the desk on either side--- a pretty-faced young man with braided black hair, wearing dozens of pieces of delicate golden jewelry. He is working hard on some sort of paperwork or taking some phone call when you come in, but he quickly sets it aside to welcome you. "Hello! Welcome to the visitor's center! Would you like to make an appointment?"
Your host artfully dances around questions regarding the place, its abrupt construction, its purpose, and what your appointment actually entails, assuring you it's "self-explanatory." He'll gladly inform you that "people you know" are here for a visit, but won't say who or why or for how long. But you'll sign up for your appointment anyway, for one reason or another. Perhaps you don't even really know.
At the time of your appointment, you are sat down in a tasteful meeting space of your choosing (the options are listed below) and your guest is brought in. But it is not who you expect. In fact, in all likelihood, you do not know this person at all. But don't worry, they've been briefed, and they'll pass the information along to you if asked.
You see, you are not here to meet someone from your own past, at least not at first---- you're here to meet someone close to one of your friends or neighbors. And they're here to speak about that person to you.
Take as long as you need. The Visitor's Center does not close.
How It Works
Visitors.
Each offworlder on the island can have up to 2 "ghosts of their past." This is not meant to be literal, as these so-called ghosts will generally be no more dead than any other offworlder. Your ghost can be anyone who "haunts" you in some way, which can mean whatever makes sense to you. It does not necessarily need to be someone with a negative opinion of you--- it can be someone who loves you very much! This person can be from any point in your timeline, including after the incident that brought you to Pumpkin Hollow. It can also be a past version of yourself. Regardless, your own visitor is not actually the person you are here to meet. Your visitor will be meeting with one of your friends or loved ones from the island, and you will be meeting with someone else's "ghost."
When speaking to a "ghost", you will notice a few things about them. The first is that they do have a sense of where they are and what they're doing---- they know that they're here temporarily, and that they've been asked to speak about or on behalf of someone they know. They're aware of who the person is that they've come to speak about as well, and they seem to have all of their memories intact aside from being a little fuzzy on the actual process of getting here. The second is that in most cases, they seem to have regular needs like any living person. The upper floors of the visitor's center have hostel-like sleeping areas, bathrooms, a cafe, everything a person might need. The third is that they seem to be weirdly forthcoming when asked questions. Perhaps you're not familiar enough with the individual to notice such things at first, but it becomes evident that they're pretty open about the person they're there to speak about even when they don't seem to want to be.
Want to speak to your own visitor? That can be arranged--- but your ghost must speak to someone else first. But not to worry, there's plenty of time. (Despite the IC dates, OOCly this can be backtagged as long as desired!)
Each offworlder on the island can have up to 2 "ghosts of their past." This is not meant to be literal, as these so-called ghosts will generally be no more dead than any other offworlder. Your ghost can be anyone who "haunts" you in some way, which can mean whatever makes sense to you. It does not necessarily need to be someone with a negative opinion of you--- it can be someone who loves you very much! This person can be from any point in your timeline, including after the incident that brought you to Pumpkin Hollow. It can also be a past version of yourself. Regardless, your own visitor is not actually the person you are here to meet. Your visitor will be meeting with one of your friends or loved ones from the island, and you will be meeting with someone else's "ghost."
When speaking to a "ghost", you will notice a few things about them. The first is that they do have a sense of where they are and what they're doing---- they know that they're here temporarily, and that they've been asked to speak about or on behalf of someone they know. They're aware of who the person is that they've come to speak about as well, and they seem to have all of their memories intact aside from being a little fuzzy on the actual process of getting here. The second is that in most cases, they seem to have regular needs like any living person. The upper floors of the visitor's center have hostel-like sleeping areas, bathrooms, a cafe, everything a person might need. The third is that they seem to be weirdly forthcoming when asked questions. Perhaps you're not familiar enough with the individual to notice such things at first, but it becomes evident that they're pretty open about the person they're there to speak about even when they don't seem to want to be.
Want to speak to your own visitor? That can be arranged--- but your ghost must speak to someone else first. But not to worry, there's plenty of time. (Despite the IC dates, OOCly this can be backtagged as long as desired!)
Locations.
There are plenty of places to meet with visitors within the Visitor's Center. If you'd prefer a more public meeting space, some lounge areas have been set up on the beach, or the cafe or recreation area within the center are all available. The beach meeting spaces consist of clusters of folding beach chairs or picnic blankets, and while swimming season is largely over, the view from the beach continues to be stunning this month. The cafe is a quaint bistro on the rooftop of the center with a round serving station in the middle and outdoor tables around the outer walls, which feels both spacious and intimate at the same time somehow. And the recreation room is an interior space on the second floor full of spaces for communal games, some of which are too modern to be there. (Not electronics, but definitely Cards Against Humanity.)
If you'd prefer a more private space, there are a number of tasteful meeting rooms, including those with tables as if for a more formal meeting or those with couches or chairs. One of the latter sort even has a fireplace!
However, visitors are not able to go further afield than the beach. If they attempt to go into town, their feet will plant themselves firmly to the ground outside. They will not be able to be pushed or lifted to get around this, and anyone who attempts to force it will be summarily accosted by the staff and their appointment will end immediately. They may not be eligible for another.
There are plenty of places to meet with visitors within the Visitor's Center. If you'd prefer a more public meeting space, some lounge areas have been set up on the beach, or the cafe or recreation area within the center are all available. The beach meeting spaces consist of clusters of folding beach chairs or picnic blankets, and while swimming season is largely over, the view from the beach continues to be stunning this month. The cafe is a quaint bistro on the rooftop of the center with a round serving station in the middle and outdoor tables around the outer walls, which feels both spacious and intimate at the same time somehow. And the recreation room is an interior space on the second floor full of spaces for communal games, some of which are too modern to be there. (Not electronics, but definitely Cards Against Humanity.)
If you'd prefer a more private space, there are a number of tasteful meeting rooms, including those with tables as if for a more formal meeting or those with couches or chairs. One of the latter sort even has a fireplace!
However, visitors are not able to go further afield than the beach. If they attempt to go into town, their feet will plant themselves firmly to the ground outside. They will not be able to be pushed or lifted to get around this, and anyone who attempts to force it will be summarily accosted by the staff and their appointment will end immediately. They may not be eligible for another.
Rules.
As far as OOC rules go, there are a few perks and limitations worth knowing. Any "ghosts" that you write are eligible for AC bonuses for the characters they are attached to. If you are writing a ghost for another player's character, you may decide where the AC bonus goes, but please make a note on your activity check indicating what you're doing. You may write your ghost from your existing journal (with or without a unique icon for that ghost, just as long as you make it clear), or create an independent journal for the character. As mentioned before, you can absolutely play a ghost for someone else. If you would like to have a non-member friend drop by to play your ghost, you may absolutely do so if you clear it with a mod, preferably by having said friend send the mod journal a PM. Be aware that if you recruit an outside player to write a ghost for you, you are responsible for their behavior, and any AC-length threads on their end will not be eligible for transfer because that will just kill Drake probably.
Characters appearing from Ghosts of the Past can also appear in the Villain's Lounge or be apped in later as permanent characters (but not both, as the two are mutually exclusive) and will have some unique lore from entering the game this way!
Ghosts are not capable of lying and will generally feel more compelled to be forthcoming when speaking to anyone OTHER than the person they're here to represent. However, they cannot be forced to meet with anyone they do not want to see or to answer questions they adamantly do not wish to answer. The compulsions are relatively subtle. They also do not have to volunteer information they weren't asked for if they don't want to. None of these compulsions are present if they speak to the person they are there to see. Their memories are generally accurate to whatever point you bring them from, meaning that they can be whatever you want.
If you're visiting with your own ghost, please be aware that threads between two characters played by the same person are never eligible for AC and this is still the case in this instance.
As far as OOC rules go, there are a few perks and limitations worth knowing. Any "ghosts" that you write are eligible for AC bonuses for the characters they are attached to. If you are writing a ghost for another player's character, you may decide where the AC bonus goes, but please make a note on your activity check indicating what you're doing. You may write your ghost from your existing journal (with or without a unique icon for that ghost, just as long as you make it clear), or create an independent journal for the character. As mentioned before, you can absolutely play a ghost for someone else. If you would like to have a non-member friend drop by to play your ghost, you may absolutely do so if you clear it with a mod, preferably by having said friend send the mod journal a PM. Be aware that if you recruit an outside player to write a ghost for you, you are responsible for their behavior, and any AC-length threads on their end will not be eligible for transfer because that will just kill Drake probably.
Characters appearing from Ghosts of the Past can also appear in the Villain's Lounge or be apped in later as permanent characters (but not both, as the two are mutually exclusive) and will have some unique lore from entering the game this way!
Ghosts are not capable of lying and will generally feel more compelled to be forthcoming when speaking to anyone OTHER than the person they're here to represent. However, they cannot be forced to meet with anyone they do not want to see or to answer questions they adamantly do not wish to answer. The compulsions are relatively subtle. They also do not have to volunteer information they weren't asked for if they don't want to. None of these compulsions are present if they speak to the person they are there to see. Their memories are generally accurate to whatever point you bring them from, meaning that they can be whatever you want.
If you're visiting with your own ghost, please be aware that threads between two characters played by the same person are never eligible for AC and this is still the case in this instance.
Staff.
Last but not least, there's a chance that you may encounter the staff of the Visitor's Center around. There are two men and two women--- Daanon, Caspian, Reyelle, and Nephera, respectively. Those here in February may recognize them from Merrymeet. They look fairly normal, generally appearing as humans (or an elf, in Nephera's case), but in reality they are the members of the Court of Betrayal. Whenever they speak about their "Manager," they are referring to Eligos. However, this is not immediately obvious, especially to those not familiar with these particular demons. If you know, you know! [ I will be keeping my demon thread load super light, so please feel free to handwave interactions with them as you see fit! If you want a demon thread, please reach out to me for plotting. -Rose ]
Last but not least, there's a chance that you may encounter the staff of the Visitor's Center around. There are two men and two women--- Daanon, Caspian, Reyelle, and Nephera, respectively. Those here in February may recognize them from Merrymeet. They look fairly normal, generally appearing as humans (or an elf, in Nephera's case), but in reality they are the members of the Court of Betrayal. Whenever they speak about their "Manager," they are referring to Eligos. However, this is not immediately obvious, especially to those not familiar with these particular demons. If you know, you know! [ I will be keeping my demon thread load super light, so please feel free to handwave interactions with them as you see fit! If you want a demon thread, please reach out to me for plotting. -Rose ]
CODE BY MARWOOD
no subject
Something changes in Crichton's expression, right around the eyes. There's a flicker of what some people might call insanity in those blue depths. When his lips spread and his teeth start to show it's a smile but there's nothing friendly about it.
"What about him was so crazy when you met him? What about a lonely drifter was so threatening to your perfect little community? Did you bother to ask him what he needed before you threw your badge in his face?"
no subject
There's crazy...and there's whatever that is in this guy's razor blade grin.
"I offered the guy a ride." Teasle replies with a huff, trying not to let that sudden flash of fear show, that lizard hind-brain impulse to run flee hide--and he's reasonably successful. He's an officer of the law--he survived his own damn war and he didn't expect to be treated with kid gloves when he came back from it, either.
"He wanted to find a place to eat, and I told him where he could go--anywhere but my town." he replies. "And you can't blame me for that, either. Lonely drifter my ass, guy was a good for nothin', entitled little shit who thinks a few stripes give him a free pass. Well it doesn't--the only thing an Army jacket, long hair, and a week's worth of stink will get a man is ten days in the clink, that's what. Anything else that happened he brought on himself by resisting arrest, being uncooperative, and thinking he's better than anyone else that's ever served his country. Period."
no subject
"He didn't need a ride. He needed a meal and some rest. How far away was the next town over? On foot, I mean?" Crichton is guessing pretty far if it was such a podunk little town.
"What about that sounds entitled to you? Was he not going to pay for his meal? Was he throwing his rank around at you? Or...were you just too intimidated by the fact that his dick was bigger than yours?" Below the belt and he doesn't frelling care.
"'Cause the funny thing is, in all the times I've talked to him, being 'better than anyone else that's ever served' never came up. You'd think it would if he felt that way, wouldn't you?"
no subject
Teasle is starting to feel like he's going crazy, and finally pushes his chair back to stand, pacing restlessly.
"Why is it that I'm the last sane person left in the goddamn universe? You got his CO telling me to 'let him go,' people telling me he shouldn't have to pay cause a few deputies gave him a hard time--a criminal is a criminal is a goddamn criminal!"
He finishes the last sentence by smacking the back of his chair.
"And Hell is gonna freeze over before you convince me that John-fucking-Rambo is anything more than a homicidal lunatic that's a danger to the public, and probably himself! If any last one of you had a single brain cell in your head, you'd lock that man up and throw away the key!"
no subject
Crichton stands and faces him with shoulders squared. He's doing the mental math about how much trouble he'll be in if he knocks out this guy's teeth. Might be worth it.
"From what I'm hearing, it was you that got your friend killed. You started this. You let it happen. For what? Your ego? Just couldn't leave the guy alone because it was your chance to feel important again. Yeah, I know your type. The only thing you're protecting and serving is yourself."
Crichton shakes his head like he can't believe how pathetic it is. "You'd think, after all the repetition, you might get it through your thick skull that they're right? All I'm hearing is you squawking the same thing over and over again. But, what is it Einstein said? 'Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?' Pretty sure that's how it goes."
no subject
He pauses, narrowing his eyes.
"Now, you tell me, friend--what sort of sheriff would I be, what sort of boss...what sort of friend would I be if I let any of that go and just allow John Rambo to do it to someone else, huh? And in what world does a goddamn murderer get to go loose after taking the life of a law enforcement officer? How does any of that make sense?"
no subject
"He's not a vagrant, he's a veteran. I know you got shit for brains but does the concept of post-traumatic stress disorder sound even a little bit familiar to you?"
no subject
Teasle's had it with this shit--coddling the bastard like he's the only one that ever fought, ever served. He's sick of seeing these kids out of 'Nam getting treated like they were the only ones--
"I served in Korea, so did a lotta fellas, and we didn't get any special treatment!" Teasle snaps. "We did our job, we served our country, and we didn't ask for a damn thing in return! We came home and we made something of ourselves, not like these kids that came outta 'Nam that think they deserve better for the same kinda shit we had to face--act like the world owes 'em something for seeing rough stuff. Well, I've seen rough stuff, too, and you don't see me blowing up half a town just cause someone hurt my feelings!"
no subject
It's rare for someone to get on Crichton's shitlist so fast but, boy, has this prick earned it. He's the worst kind of lowlife there is: a bully who thinks he's the hero.
"You know, the way you tell the story, I didn't hear about John asking for any special treatment. Unless having a bite to eat in town is considered special treatment these days? Way I see it, you're the one who came up and started offering him the special treatment, like, say, a ride out of town he didn't ask for. Maybe, just maybe, you're afraid to admit that it was actually your own damn fault for blowing up the town over your bruised ego. Because you just couldn't leave the guy alone, could you?"
no subject
"And you know what he did when I drove away? Started walking right back into town. What's that tell you, huh? If your boy's so normal and innocent and sweet, if he doesn't feel like he's entitled to buck me, the sheriff, why the fuck would he do that, huh? I was more than happy to leave John Rambo alone, but he came at me! That's how it went down!"
no subject
Crichton doesn't give an inch, not even with this man in his face. He's faced down things this know-it-all couldn't even dream up in his nightmares. It's almost pathetic how small and insignificant this sheriff is in the vast scheme of things. He wouldn't last two whole seconds in space. That doesn't mean he gets a pass for what he did to John.
"Why can't you just admit none of this would ever have happened if you hadn't decided to play power games with someone who's outside your weight class, huh?"
CW: mentions of capital punishment
He doesn’t intend to say all of that, not just so—but it’s true, and it’s out there, so…
“If anyone is outta their depth it’s him.” He continues sharply. “I made something of myself after Korea—it’s small, but it’s honest and it’s mine. Two gets you seven that asshole couldn’t even get a job parking cars after a hot minute in the service, and Special Forces is just a fucking name. Power games? It was no fucking game, Rambo’s just got a few big names in his pocket to get him outta trouble. On his own? He’d be in the electric chair for what he did, and he would deserve it!”
CW: mentions of capital punishment
Sad. It's just sad.
"Growing up, I heard about people like you. Met a few, too, though they usually do a better job of keeping it under wraps. You say it's his fault but I wonder how you think he was supposed to make anything of himself when none of you were ever planning to give him the chance. No matter what you think you've made of yourself, history isn't going to remember you kindly. Assuming you're remembered at all."
He's wasting his time here. That much is obvious. So, he starts to turn, intending to leave, but he can't help letting off one last parting shot.
"I'll give you a free bit of advice. If every single person tells you you're wrong about something, maybe you ought to hear them out. Just a thought."