TDM 001

[erkumods]

TDM 001: TFLU

( 1 ) After leaving the teleportation chamber, you are gently coaxed out of the hospital and encouraged to find a place to stay. Maybe you've had time to check out your A5 app. Maybe you're just settling in. It's cloudy, overcast, cold -- you'll want to seek out someplace warm. Also, your device is beeping. A lot. The tech on the island works, it just doesn't work right. You can't seem to send a message to the correct person. It's time for... Texts From Last Universe ( 2 ) What's this? Your bingo card has just been beamed to a stranger's inbox...?! ( sample A5 cards -- NSFW, may contain triggering content, please feel free to use/ignore as you see fit) ( 3 ) And now you're receiving messages from other users that they don't remember sending: Nice shirt. It would look better on my floor. 10/10 would ride it into the sunset. This user thinks you're attractive. u up? 🍆 ( 4 ) Once you figure out that the robots have been hacking your devices, it's no easy feat to track one down and demand they stop. "So The Augur wills!" they wail in a monotone. "So it is done!" Any attempt to actually contact The Augur and get back into the hospital will be met with beefy robot bodyguards, who suggest taking a gentler approach to fix your devices. If you know what they mean. Wink. (This is your overt kink prompt. Please label any threads accordingly.) Note: All prompts are optional. The theme for this TDM is "malfunctioning devices." They can be fixed by indulging in the squares on your cards. For the sake of the TDM, you can use one of the pre-generated examples or a wildcard from the kink list. This can be used as a free bingo square completion once you have been accepted into the game. Players are welcome to wildcard their own TDM prompts; we only ask that you try to stick to the theme. ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● N A V I G A T I O N

Comments

Action

[bitterfrost]

[ The person he collides with has a hand out to steady him almost as soon as he steps back, putting space between them, his expression neutral as he surveys the stranger, the band on his own wrist beeping, even if muffled by his black and gray robes There's also a sword on his back and a horsetail whisk draped over one arm. ]

Excuse me. [ That's the translation at least, Song Lan offering a bow in greeting and apology if or when Constantine turns to face him. ] I was distracted by the noise.

[conjobs]

[They probably both look completely foreign to each other. At least, John is vaguely familiar with that attire, it has a somewhat historical feel to it. Conversely, some trenchcoat noir detective aesthetic is probably not something all that common.]

No uh- that was. Me. [His eyes latch on to that horsetail whisk. Yes, he knows what it's for, but it looks. Kinda kinky.] That uh... [John vaguely gestures.] Where'd you get that?

[bitterfrost]

From my master when I left my temple. [He answers after a moment, looking faintly confused, his gaze dropping to the whisk for a moment.]

I suppose it's not that common a sight in a place like this, though.

[conjobs]

Right. Of course. [Too bad, Johnny boy. Could have been submitting to a master in a temple instead of specialising in demonology and exorcisms.

He's mildly disappointed it wasn't something acquired here, but he'll get over it in short order. He's got priorities.]

Oh it'd be fairly common I would think, of the black and nine tailed variety. Hey I know it's a wee bit of a stretch but. There a pub or any sort of store nearby? [Yes, he's aware that it looks like this place got overrun by zombies or something nasty must have happened here, but. Doesn't hurt to ask, maybe someone knows something another block away or maybe the next town over.]

[bitterfrost]

They're usually only given to those leaving the temples to travel the world. [He's slightly confused over the comment but lets it slides. ]

I have yet to find an inn myself, but there should be somewhere...

[conjobs]

An inn. Right. [John purses his lips and looks around. He had assumed this lad has been around for a while so he wasn't expecting him not to know.]

Well we'd better get a move on, before it gets dark. [He tilts his head and corrects himself. It's already dark and kind of cold.] Darker.

[bitterfrost]

Your help is appreciated. [He might have a better idea of what things should look like here, anyway, with his strange clothing. Because there's nothing familiar at all that Song Lan himself has seen.]

I am called Song Lan. [He offers another brief bow.]

[conjobs]

[Oh, that's- formal? Polite. John feels awkward extending a hand so he just flashes a tight-lipped smile and gives Song Lan a nod.] John Constantine. [He can be a bit of a bastard but at the very least he'll stop the young man from doing anything dangerous.]

So, Song. [He's just going to call him Song, make conversation while they walk.] Where're you from?

[bitterfrost]

I would prefer Song Lan or Daozhang, please.[But the question beyond that has him quiet for a moment before he answers.]

Most recently I was in Yi City. It's not far from the borders of Yiling and Gusu.

[conjobs]

Oh, right. Song Lan. [John had spent some time travelling the world, collecting ancient artefacts that were said to hold magical properties. He knows where most countries are and been through several of them, even if he's not certain where individual cities are within them. It probably doesn't help that these place names tend to change over time.]

Why'd you leave the temple?

[bitterfrost]

I wanted to help people. [It's a simple enough answer, although he elaborates after a moment.]

[conjobs]

[That's- quite a selfless answer, actually.] Fair enough mate. I left home when I was young. Not for such noble reasons though. [Only seems fair to volunteer some information after asking a few questions. It's either talking about this or about their 'to do list' to break the ice and, well. They can talk about that later.]

[bitterfrost]

Mate? [It's not a word he's familiar with, although the concept of leaving home isn't that uncommon, at least. That said, he's not one to pry either, so he leaves it for a moment as he considers his next words. ]

[conjobs]

Mate. [John lifts an eyebrow and then averts his gaze. Not... really sure how to explain it.]

Well you know, like a friend. But sometimes you call your mate a cunt and sometimes you call a cunt your mate. It's all in the tone, y'know? [So, basically, it could be anyone you like or don't like or... just anyone really. It's a very useful word. John presses his lips into a thin, flat line.]

Look I don't make the rules alright? It's a cultural thing.

[bitterfrost]

I see. It's not a word we use where I come from. [A bit too familiar for his tastes but things are different in different places.]

Thank you for the explanation.

[conjobs]

No I suppose not. [It's ill-suited for basically any circumstance that requires a modicum of formality.]

Doesn't look like this place has been lived in for a wee while... might have trouble finding some sort of motel.

[bitterfrost]

Abandoned houses may still be usable. I assume that's what you call an inn though?[ As it's unfamiliar to him but he had mentioned an inn himself.]

If there's some form of shelter, that would work just as well.

[conjobs]

An abandoned 'ouse? Well. [Squatting is slightly different from booking a room but. Beggars can't be choosers.] Sounds good to me, m-- unh. Song Lan.

[Yeah, that's going to take some getting used to. Constantine doesn't want to go too far from the hospital, but he does want a bit of privacy too. He slows to a stop in front of what looks like a residential building. Basic in all the right ways.]

This looks promising. [They just need to break in through the front door and poke their heads inside.]

[bitterfrost]

[He eyes the building, studies the door frame for a moment before nodding slightly.]

It seems stable enough, yes.

[conjobs]

[He's not really the charge through the door with his shoulder or kick it down and burst in grandly type. When the front door doesn't open, John starts around the perimeter and opts to pry a shaky, loose ground floor window open. Far easier and quicker to hop in that way instead without breaking anything.

The blond dusts his hands off as he takes a few cautious steps inside, glancing over his shoulder to check if his new friend is following. Old habits from expecting some kind of hex or magical booby trap to go off tend to die hard.]

Well it's not Claridge's but it'll do. [The musty, stale smell is easy to ignore and it's considerably warmer once he shuts the window again.]

[bitterfrost]

[Song Lan follows after a moment, dusting himself off afterward as he took a moment to let his eyes adjust to the gloom before drawing his sword, letting the glow provide some level of light in the room. ]

I have slept in worse places in my travels. [Including outdoors on some occasions when there's been no town in range. Warmer is at least something, even if he's picking his way carefully towards an inner doorway to see if there are any furnishings to speak of. ]

[conjobs]

[That sets John on edge for a moment, putting a larger than necessary distance between them. He's not completely unfamiliar with large, sharp objects but he doesn't come from that time or place either.

They seem to have come in through the kitchen, which at least has a counter to eat on even though there isn't any food. But the adjacent living room has a dusty old couch frame with threadbare upholstery devoid of any cushions, and there are corridors and doors in the shadows that likely lead to bedrooms or studies.]

I think s'alright, but. We could always just stay the night, find something better tomorrow. [John seems a little more interested in looking for signs of life or anything out of the ordinary, the kind of thing that would make people claim the place is haunted. But so far, so safe.]

[bitterfrost]

That is likely the most reasonable course of action, yes. [The sword at least provides somewhat effective light and there's no sound anywhere. If there was anything in the house, he'd have heard it already.]

We should check the rooms even if there are no signs of life. There's no way of knowing what may or may not be in this house, although the door is untouched which means nothing has broken in, at least.

[conjobs]

Right. You can take the left doors and I'll get the right. [He's got his zippo and technically he can ignite his hand but he doesn't want to present as anything more than some average Joe at this point. So lighter it is.

The first door he opens leads to a bathroom with a long bath. John is curious about whether there's any running water in this building, but he's also worried if the pipes are all rusted and the taps might sputter out unsanitary gunk or worse, he breaks something and floods the place.

So he leaves it untouched, much as he likes touching everything and goes to the next room. It's giving off haunted nursery vibes, peeling wallpaper and a bit of mould on the room corners, broken cot and bits of plastic string hanging from the ceiling where a mobile might have been. But otherwise, nothing of interest.]

Anything? [John pokes his head out from the doorway, holding his lighter a foot away from his face.]

[bitterfrost]

[ The rooms are empty, worn and dusty and abandoned, but there's nothing he can pick up that's not supposed to be there. He still follows through on a cleansing ritual in at least the rooms that look somewhat habitable for sleep before rejoining John. ]

Nothing that's going to disturb our sleep.