THE STORM

[enodiamod]

THE STORM

THE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING

It was a dark and stormy night...

Shortly after 2AM, the sound of howling wind accompanies the rise of a bizarre storm and wakes up just about everyone in Enodia Station. Outside, the dark sky is overcome with swirling color like a frenetic aurora borealis and chaotic bolts of energy leap through the air with unpredictable ferocity, leaving scorched patterns and destruction in their wake. The raucous gale continues too and some residents claim to hear a whistling, melodic sound obscured within it. Barely audible but just there. Zeke Zelizer even insists they recognize the tune (it's obviously Help Me by Alkaline Trio!), though nobody else agrees or believes them. Perhaps more importantly, Noah Moon remembers hearing a similar melody just before the pulse. How strange.

Despite the presence of several backup generators, the storm also causes the Station to lose power soon after it starts, leaving the buildings dark and stuffy and increasingly hot on this summer morning. Occasionally, power returns long enough for the lights to flicker, but it never fully returns while the storm rages. Even the forcefield that surrounds the Station goes down and stays down. Electrical devices are similarly impacted, going dead in an instant and refusing to work properly, though some sporadically come back to life. Enoch Waldinger is able to use their phone to get a brief recording of the storm from a cracked window before the device gives up the ghost.

In the midst of this unfolding chaos, the directors make the call that everyone should shutter up their windows, stay put, hunker down on the lowest available floor, and wait this out. This message is passed along to everyone via a telepathic shoutout from Director Mora's assistant. While a few residents are working overnight shifts for Medical or Security and end up stuck in other buildings, this leaves most of the Station's occupants on the first floor of the Residential Building and forced into an unintentional sleepover. Get cozy, everyone! Some arrive dressed in their pajamas and wrapped in blankets, ready to try to get back to sleep, while others show up with candles, snacks, and the intention to start games for a proper sleepover experience. Either way, it's going to be a long night.

AROUND THE STATION

While most residents stay put, not all do.

Those that want to access other buildings to check on things there are directed to Lenz Polzin, who can create a portal to send them where they need to go. Probably. Who knows how this storm might impact anyone's abilities? Shortly after dawn, Director Madgy directly requests that Eden Chen and Annie Song be sent over to the Research Building to check in on the Liminal moles. With the power out, the forcefields that reinforce their cells are down and the last thing he wants is for the creatures to escape or wreck the place.

Those that want to go out in the storm itself will either need to sneak out from an upper floor or walk directly past members of the Security Division that are now stationed by the exterior exits. While Director Riddle hasn't instructed them to stop anyone that wants to leave, she has instructed them to strongly discourage this because of the danger outside and to let her know about anyone that heads out into the storm.

OUT IN THE STORM

Any character that wants to leave the Residential Building, either via teleportation or by heading out in the storm, will need to fill out the form below just to see how that goes. They're taking a risk, after all!

Any character that chooses to leave the Residential Building may or may not be able to get back. This will be clarified in their results. Players should keep this in mind when making the decision to leave.
<b>CHARACTER:</b> The character that intends to leave during the storm. <b>DESTINATION:</b> Where does the character intend to go? Are they heading to the Commercial Center to make sure their business has been properly secured or the Medical Building to check on a friend working the night shift? Do they just want to go outside and risk the storm to satiate their curiosity? <b>METHOD:</b> How does the character intend to get there? Are they being teleported, are they going on foot, or do they have some other method to get around? <b>ANYTHING ELSE?:</b> Anything else!

AFTER THE STORM

The storm finally begins to calm in the early afternoon. The wind quiets, the sky clears, and the inexplicable energy crackling through the air disappears. Heading outside, residents find that the buildings are damaged, but this is mostly limited to the char marks from that wild energy and the occasional broken window. Unfortunately, [Character F] finds that they didn't secure their windows properly; at least one room in their apartment is filled with broken glass and was thoroughly wrecked by the storm. Hopefully it won't be too difficult to get things back in order! Around the grounds, the natural world is similarly scarred and the area is littered with the debris of unsecured objects and damaged flora.

While exploring the grounds, Minty Payne encounters the bizarre bird that had been previously captured in the Riftlands. It briefly imitates them before screeching and starting to get aggressive. They scramble to recapture the bird by bribing it with a snack and leading it into a corner where it can be captured and are able to do so! Fortunately, this was the only Liminal creature to escape and the Liminal moles remain safely in their cages in the Research Building.

» VIBE CHECK: How is your character feeling about the storm? What are they hoping for when they roll up for the Residential Building sleepover? Are they dressed in cute pajamas or looking like a scruffy mess?

» THE HALLWAY: Many of the residents end up camping out in the hallway of the Residential Building's first floor, clustered into small groups to doze, talk, or even play silly sleepover games. Whatever gets them through the storm!

» IN APARTMENTS: It's up to those that have an apartment on the first floor whether or not they want to let others into their homes. Let everyone know your verdict here and open up your room to scenes if your character is willing to take others in!

» AROUND THE STATION: Not everyone chose to stay in the Residential Building. Those that didn't can fill out a form here to see how that went!

» AFTER THE STORM: Once the storm has passed, explore the grounds to inspect the damage or just try to unwind.

» OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

(CODE)

Comments

VIBE CHECK

[enodiamod]

VIBE CHECK: Lou

[loudon]

Lou had taken a sleeping pill and had planned on being knocked out for a full eight hours, so he's stumbling down here acting very drugged and drowsy after he was so rudely interrupted by stupid weather.

He's wearing his favourite old old band shirt and some pyjama short shorts, so all of his silly old tattoos are on full display. He also comes complete with his lizard and a crown-of-thorns plant so that he can cocoon himself and sting anyone who tries to draw dicks on his face while he's sleeping.

VIBE CHECK: Linus

[crawlwaller]

Linus has been through a few hurricanes and tropical storms, so crazy storm doesn't freak him out. (The telepathic message does freak him out a little. He also thinks it's Neat.) He's a tank top and boxers sleeper, but has the sense to pull on a pair of shorts before venturing out into the world.

Once the power has been out a little while, he wanders around the floor and offers his collection of popsicles before they all melt :( He also has extra blankets because he thought Vermont would be freezing and wanted to be prepared, so hit him up if you need!

VIBE CHECK: Zeke

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

Zeke was still awake when the storm started and he doesn't intend to start sleeping now. He wanders down in sweats and a rumpled t-shirt that smells like stale cigarettes and doesn't bother to bring a pillow or anything. A wild storm wouldn't usually bother him. Like, most of the time he kind of likes them. But there's something about this one that puts him on edge and he holes himself up in a little corner somewhere with a blanket and a sketchpad, slurping down a gross energy drink because he hates the entire concept of sleep. His body language says everyone go away, but in reality he will never turn away attention.

VIBE CHECK: Eden

[littlehurry]

Eden was not awake at 2am, and if the storm's cacophony didn't make her nervous, the psychic announcement certainly did. It's exactly the kind of thing she dreads experiencing while on the outside shift, because maybe it means she really has gone insane.

But she hasn't!!! Hooray. Instead, she's free to fret over looking groggy and sleep-mussed in front of her coworkers, though her little pink cami and lounge pants are presentable enough. The star of the ensemble is a pair of gudetama slippers.

Before being asked to check on the moles, she can be seen scribbling in a tiny spiral notebook and half-heartedly participating in games.

VIBE CHECK: Hera

[burnplan]

Seemingly still half asleep, Hera drags herself onto the first floor wrapped in her duvet. There is a futile effort to sleep, sprawled out in a pair of tartan boxers and an oversized grey t-shirt, but this is abandoned in favor of shenanigans. There's too much shit going on to ignore, so she laces up a pair of boots and encloses her skinny lil shoulders in a big ol' hoodie. It's time to see what the hell is up.

VIBE CHECK: Vidalia

[mxpotatohead]

SLEEPOVER??????????????

Vidalia is actually very excited to see people coming down to their floor, and starts shoving clothes under beds and a towel over the bin they've recently designated for rogue body parts. Ohhhhh, Pickle Man will probably want to pick through these for his very important practice-slash-art-project.

Yanking on a sweatshirt for her old boarding school and a pair of soft shorts, Vidalia is already digging around for food and music for their guests before she even stops to think whether or not Crysta actually wants people in their apartment. Everyone!!! Come hang out!!! They have hot chocolate!!!

VIBE CHECK: Minty

[exacutus]

Minty certainly doesn't seem bothered by any of this. In fact, she embodies the role of gracious host the moment people start filtering down to the first floor. She offers up her massive bottle of Starbucks cold brew and whatever else is in her fridge to share, but it's mostly stocked with beverages.

Her choice of lounge wear is predictably ostentatious, and she changes into a breezier robe to beat the heat.

KITTY VIBE CHECK: Le Souverain will escape no less than two times before Minty sends him to baby jail. He's very friendly, so he might bump into you and ask for pets. You're welcome and/or sorry.

VIBE CHECK: Dorin

[dorinlee]

An experienced nurse, Dorin is no stranger to being woken up in the middle of the night and he doesn't have any trouble adjusting to this sudden emergency. He dutifully closes up the windows in his apartment, gathers his blanket and pillow, and heads to the first floor, dressed in handmade goose pajamas and slippers (unfortunately not goose-themed). While he's keen to find ways to help, there isn't much he can do, and he eventually finds himself in a routine of checking on the storm, checking in with his peers, and lightly dozing so he won't be completely worn down later in the day.

...This will probably be fine!

VIBE CHECK: Lenz

[lenzpolzin]

Lenz is a night owl and a restless sleeper, so he's still lying awake in bed when the storm starts. Well, fuck. After hearing the telepathic orders, he considers disappearing into his pocket dimension instead before begrudgingly making his way down to the first floor. In situations like this, his skill set tends to be useful and Riddle will be on his ass later if he bails now. For the remainder of the storm, he's around to send people where they need to go. When he's not working, he's drifting among his peers in search of something entertaining.

While he sleeps in just his boxers, he did have the sense to pull on a few things before coming down, including dark track pants, a dark tank top, socks, and sneakers. His hair, slightly unkempt from tossing and turning, is tied back into the stubbiest of ponytails.

Though not brought back inside by Lenz, his mangy black cat Scratch appears to have made it back into the building before the storm started. The cat can sometimes be seen following his owner around or riding on his shoulders but can be found just as often stalking in corners and peeking out of unexpected places with his enormous yellow eyes. At some point in the night, he stealthily brings a dead lizard to [Volunteer]. Enjoy this gift!

VIBE CHECK: Noah

[bubble_boy]

Noah is not pumped about this situation, first because he wants to be asleep, and second because hearing a similar strange melody to the one he swore he'd heard before the pulse puts him on edge. He doesn't put in much of an effort to hide his mood, but he is looking cute in some bat pjs that Dorin made, and he's got Paganini in tow in a small travel cage which also looks pretty cute. It takes him about 30 minutes into being downstairs for him to bother putting on his arm. He will maybe try to sleep, but will probably fail spectacularly.

VIBE CHECK: Hypatia

[sticks_and_stones]

Oh no! Hypatia isn't scared, really, but she is concerned for her poor coworkers who had to leave their rooms :( Her door is wide open, and she's got all sorts of food set out for snacks if people want them, including donuts that were intended for Research. Candles labeled things like 'Fresh Laundry' and 'Bright Sunny Day' are lit around her place, and she's got a small pile of mismatched flashlights for sharing, along with a bunch of fans she's folded from printer paper to help people cool down. Wearing an oversized Iowa State t-shirt and ratty, loose boxers, she looks very, very sleepy even as she tries to play hostess. Her cat, Skittles, is doing his best to sleep on absolutely everyone he can find for 10-20 minutes, depending on their cuddleability score.

VIBE CHECK: Rory

[coulee]

a light sleeper on a normal day, the show outside's enough to keep rory occupied at his window until the directive floats into his head. he makes his way downstairs after scrambling around for something public-appropriate and coming up with an old-ass rockies tee and some little grey sweatshorts, and has his cat (miss christopher) on a leash and harness (which she's thankfully well used to). he brings a couple flashlights and camping lanterns for general use.

he spends the first few hours sticking to the common areas because even with open door policies everywhere he feels like he's Imposing. eventually he packs his lights into a backpack and heads off to look after the cats at the café, who are probably (1) scared, (2) restless, (3) hungry, or (most likely) (4) all of the above.

VIBE CHECK: Rufus

[kobalt]

Rufus appears looking like the human embodiment of a resigned sigh, because he's worked a late shift and being telepathically woken up is not the way to do it. Still, orders are orders, so he's here, in some appropriate-for-public sweat pants and a white t-shirt. Anyone who tries to speak to him for the first ten minutes will be met by bleary silence, because he needs time to wake up, thank u.

VIBE CHECK: Isaiah

[stgermaine]

Isaiah wanders down to the first floor looking especially cranky. He'd rather be in his own space, and doesn't find the darkness to be much of an issue, but he can't stay away. Curiosity (and a need to be included) draws him out of his cave.

He's nowhere near as formal as he typically is, in a white t-shirt, flannel pants, and a very oversized cardigan. Even without being woken up in the middle of the night, his hair tends to be messy. Right now it's completely untamed.

VIBE CHECK: Rye

[artificialgravity]

Rye may look nonplussed about this, but don't be fooled. This is kind of exciting. He immediately gravitates to Sal and Taby, but as the storm drags on he starts getting restless.

He's wearing boxers, a threadbare tee-shirt, and cheap slides on his feet. He's 0% interested in getting properly dressed. Sleepover rules.

VIBE CHECK: Enoch

[imaginist]

Enoch has a one-bedroom on the first floor, and is sorely tempted to just go back to sleep. But this storm is too strange to ignore, and as everyone finds somewhere to settle in for the night, Enoch is more concerned with figuring out what's going on. Limited resources on hand means all he manages to get is written observations and a phone video of the storm through a window. He wants very much to venture out to the Research Building to check on the equipment there, but they're supposed to stay put. He'll just have to find other ways to entertain himself.

He's dressed down compared to usual, which for Enoch means a black Stanford hoodie, jeans and sneakers. Sorry, this is a pyjama party? He's not that fun.

VIBE CHECK: Raine

[rainbowfish]

Raine is a light sleeper and is awake and properly dressed before people start filtering down to the first floor. He opens his apartment up to refugees, but both the bedrooms are off-limits to guests. Do not even ask. He's not in the mood for shenanigans.

General vibes: bad. If asked Raine would not say he's afraid of storms, but he's definitely in a particularly bad mood this morning. Being forced to socialize with no promised end in sight is just making things worse.

VIBE CHECK: Taby

[misapplied]

Did someone say PAJAMA PARTY? Taby is wearing a raccoon kigurumi and opening all the cabinets in every apartment they can get into.

VIBE CHECK: Parson

[emulsify]

After closing up at the bar this evening, Parson had come home and settled in for raid night. Unfortunately, his plans were cut abruptly short, and his static is going to be pissed. It's probably that what's got him feeling like his body's a glass jar of shaken hornets, and not the striking similarity this storm bears to the one three months prior.

He's more than eager to not be stuck alone in his room in the dark during the storm, so he leaves for the first floor quick, and doesn't bother to change out of the stitch t-shirt that fits him like a halter top -- he does at least put a hoodie on over it.

Once he calms down a little, Parson will not hesitate to poke into other people's apartments to see if anyone has anything weird hanging on a wall or decorating a shelf.

THE HALLWAY

[enodiamod]

SLEEPOVER GAMES

[enodiamod]

IN APARTMENTS

[enodiamod]

IN APARTMENTS: Zeke & Eureka Sssmokin'

[bwnedpronouncedboned]

"Fuck," Zeke hisses as the light on his phone sputters and goes dead for the third time in a row. Somewhere on the floor of some coworker's bathroom was the third to last smoke in his pack, and between the dark and his sunglasses he was halfway to fucked trying to find it. This is why he should have just tried asking if he could smoke in someone's room first. "Watch your feet or you're going to the commercial center to steal more."

AROUND THE STATION

[enodiamod]

BRAVE THE STORM

[enodiamod]

AFTER THE STORM

[enodiamod]

OOC - QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS!

[enodiamod]

MOD QUESTIONS

[enodiamod]

Have questions about this IC/OOC? Drop them here!