#starter.oblitus

[rampents]

open, town square

Muz squints up at the washed-out sky, the sun barely breaking through a layer of gray clouds, casting a pale light over the town square. The place looks almost normal in the daytime, like the night hadn’t clawed at it. He watches a few people drift while he leans against a bench, idly tracing a crack in the wood with his thumb, his gaze darting on occasion, wary glances.

A face crosses his line of sight, and Muz straightens, raising a hand in a lazy wave. ‘Hey,’ he calls out, his voice cutting through the quiet. ‘Get any sleep last night?’ He nods to the shadows under their eyes, a half-smile tugging at his mouth.

[fromemerson]

open starter where: her motel room when: during the storm

she pulled the shades closed tight over the windows after taking one last quick glance outside to the storming darkness. she always hated thinking about those things out there. most nights she would try to distract herself or pass out early enough to not have to think about them and let the memories of her first day sink in. but now, it was the middle of the day and they were out there. "well," she says clapping her hands together and turning around to her guest. "looks like we'll be stuck here for awhile. might as well kill some time." she walked over to the dresser and pulled open the top drawer. "this is why i always keep a stash of booze. never know when you'll need it."

[fromcamadams]

open starter where: outside colony house

"okay everyone," cameron clapped her gloved hands together. "i know last night was rough, but we have a lot of work to do to clean up and get things put back together." the bodies had been cleaned up before the funeral, but now they had to clean up the rest of the debris from the storm. "there's a couple windows broken that need to be boarded up, some trees down that could cut into fire wood. also need a couple volunteers to work on inventorying supplies that survived the night." it was a lot of work, but she preferred keeping busy, especially in times like these. "we have about five hours of sunlight left so let's get to work. new people, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask."

[purgatored]

STATUS : open ! LOCATION : outside benny's diner !

IT HAPPENS WITHOUT WARNING . one second cherry's minding her fucking business and the next she's blinking at a figure down the street, close enough to see but simultaneously too far to get to . she blinks twice more, her expression twisting in disbelief as her heart clenches something fierce . clenches with something like fear . emerson is there . emerson is right fucking there and she's looking at her . she's talking to her . cherry's eyes bulge as her breath quickens, her eyes pinned to where emerson's fuckin — ghost is speaking to her in broad fucking daylight . what the fuck ? what —  " what the fuck ?" it's half breathless , her breaths shallow and quick as she stares at emerson, at the place where she stands in the middle of the fuckin' street like nothing even happened . cherry feels panicking climbing up her throat like a physical thing . she turns to the first person in her proximity and grabs them by the arm . " do you fuckin' — do you see that ? do you see her ? she — " cherry chokes on her own alarm briefly . she swallows . " she — tell me you fuckin' see her . " it's half a demand, but also closer to a plea than cherry would ever want to admit .

[hcartcorruptcd]

Heavy clouds rolled in, far thicker and more menacing than the town’s usual light rainstorms. The feeling of unease crawled under El's skin. Their green eyes darted toward the woods, where they saw it—the unmistakable movement of the others creeping closer, shrouded by the sudden storm. As they turned to make their escape, El saw someone standing, frozen in place as the creatures neared. For a brief moment, El’s logical mind screamed at them to run, to save themselves but their commitment to this town, and these people, silenced logic and they acted on impulse, on duty. "Move!" El barked, sprinting over to grab the person’s wrist. They pulled them toward the nearest building as the creatures crept closer, their shapes distorted by the rain. The panic rising in El’s chest was suffocating, memories of their first encounter with this town rushing back. They slammed the door behind them just in time, the heavy breathing of both of them filling the small space. "We need to stay here until it passes," El muttered, more to themselves than anyone else, their mind still reeling.

[fromsaudades]

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐂𝐊 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐍 was where she spent the majority of her days, diligently ensuring that the animals were well cared for, nurtured, and as healthy as circumstances would allow. Though she had grown accustomed to the pungent odors that permeated the air, she couldn’t shake the anxiety that others might begin to associate her with that unsettling aroma. “You work too much,” they would often say, but for her, it was the only way to distract herself from the fear that threatened to seep into her very psyche.

With a stethoscope pressed firmly against the animal’s fur, she focused intently, striving to discern whether everything sounded normal. “So far, so good, I’d say,” she murmured, though she struggled to pinpoint the root of the issue—the newfound behaviors and erratic mood swings that troubled her. She frowned, glancing up at the observer. “Would you like to pet her? I assure you, she won’t bite.” / ( 𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐋𝐋 )

[infinityandmadness]

With: Anyone Location: Near Fuel Stop Gas When: Early morning.

Opening the door to his house, he glanced around, taking stock of the area around the small little town. It wasn't too different from his own hometown. Smaller, sure. But, going by what he was told on the first day he arrived, despite his continued skepticism. He was sure if this were a normal town run by normal people, it would have been nice to spend on outdoor retreats. If you enjoyed a swampy environment. It was early. He couldn't really sleep in this strange place. Which was really interrupting his usual sleep routine. As Tali trailed behind him, he closed the door behind his son and began walking beside the other toward the more active part of the town.

Lifting his right hand up, he hissed under his breath, feeling the sting in his palm from his nails the night before. Tali looked over to Lainn and revealed what had happened, “Really? Wasn't too scary, was it?” Tali shook his head and said he had only been worried Lainn would hurt himself. Lainn turned toward the moving truck and opened up the back, “You think we packed the first aid kit near the front or the back?” Staring into the back of the truck, he frowned, not looking forward to going through items in it just to find anything like that. Not that it really mattered at all anyway, given their current situation. It couldn't all sit in there, anyway.

[moonlitworries]

where : the edge of the forest / town with : open

— RAYS from the afternoon sun shine through the trees , melting away the remaining frost on the yellowing leaves and warming greer's near windburnt cheeks . though a chilly autumn was no irregularity for the detroit native , there was something sinister in the air , something she tries desperately to ignore , that makes the cold air seem to seep into her weary bones , inescapable no matter how many layers she may wear . despite this , her glove - less right hand remains outside of her coat pocket , a nearly finished cigarette held tightly between two pinkened fingers , orange lighter clutched in the palm of her hand . the unease only worsens the longer she stares into the woods , the shadows among the trees looking all the more ominous . she takes a deep inhale , the harshness of the cold air stinging her nose and throat as she does so , refreshing and punishing at the same time . as she exhales , she closes her eyes , cutting herself off from staring into the forest , and the dark , irrational thoughts that seem to cluster in her mind whenever she was near it . footsteps approach , the sound of gravel crunching taking away from the otherwise eerie silence , and successfully pulling the young woman from her reverie . greer's eyes remain closed for a moment longer , this time to contain an eye roll . “ i'm not running off again , you guys don't have to keep threatening to ‘ restrain me ’ . ” forever assuming rather than asking , disinterest and annoyance cloud greer's voice . her eyes open only to fall into a scowl as she turns to look at the one who interrupts her moping . “ what do you want ? ”

[frommarama]

open starter where: benny's diner

halloween was over and thankfully they didn't have to go through that again for another year. she didn't understand why most people liked it so much. maybe it was a chance for them to forget where they were and pretend like they were back in the real world, but mara didn't remember the real world. every year halloween just marked another year of being here and how it doesn't get any easier. and of course it wouldn't be a halloween without a death. she remembered emerson but wasn't particularly close, she liked to take things from people and mara didn't like that. but that doesn't mean she wished the monsters would get her. it was just a reminder of where they were. the dinner seemed quiet this morning, maybe from mourning or maybe from all the alcohol that was drank last night, but marama was happy for the lack of noise. "it's okay, they only take as much as they need," she says out loud to whoever was sitting at the diner bar with her. her ominous words always given at the wrong time, especially because no one asks for her thoughts.

[rubyregret]

𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝘧𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦

josephine stood on the curb with the toes of her boots just barely hanging over its edge , balancing on the balls of her feet . denim-encased arms wrapped around her slender frame , a means of self soothing , as her misty gaze concentrated leftward towards the town center where emerson's body had been found the night prior .

it wasn't that jo was unmoved by her passing , not necessarily , but in purgatory ( as well as life ) , death was the inevitable means to an end . the people of oblitus could only hang in the in balance for so long — eventually , the reaper would come for them all . josephine's brows furrowed together , lips curling inwards to press into a fine line , gaze slightly narrowing as if trying to see through space & time to witness emerson's dance with the reaper first hand .

the clearing of a throat gave her a start , jumping , as if she had been yanked out of a hypnosis by the snapping of fingers . josephine's face flew to her right , meeting the eyes of who appeared to be looking for her attention , head cocking like that of a confused feline as the bridge of her nose scrunched . she took a step back , feet now fully flat on the sidewalk .

" hello , " her voice felt raw , like she had swallowed shards of glass . her shoulders loosened , sinking from where they had shot up to her ears . jo sighed , stare returning back to where the cooled corpse had been just hours earlier ; " — sad what happened to her . "

[insickness]

where: second chance thrift to: open

—

being stuck in this town shaped prison put a limit on the amount of hobbies mason could half-heartedly start and stop when he got bored. but where there's a will there's a way, and he was in desperate need of some kind of distraction. ever since the storm there was a certain unease that had seeped into his skin, even more prevalent than it had been before. it was growing increasingly harder to sit still.

so he decided to go thrift shopping. there was a feeling of normalcy that came with sifting through racks of second hand clothing, even if the options were considerably slimmer than he was used to.

there was already a vague idea bouncing around in his head of how he'd DIY whatever he could salvage into something he wasn't embarrassed to be seen wearing in public. but the hunt was proving harder than he'd thought. cold and slightly shaky hands came up to rest on a hanger, his gaze raked over the item when he noticed the other person in his peripheral vision. " i'm willing to fight over these pants, " he was joking, mostly. " i'm usually a pacifist but desperate times and what not. "

[crxwbound]

location: kang household open: 3/3

it all happened so quickly. one moment, daehyun and his daughter were simply enjoying time out on the porch before the rain began to pour. it wasn't unusual to get rain every so often, but this storm in particular was very unnerving. the dark clouds that had rolled in had daehyun rising to his feet--and then he saw t h e m in the tree line. with color drained from his face and the lunch he had eaten only a short while ago churning in his stomach, the teacher snatched three-year old bella up in his arms without a second thought. " get inside! " he yelled out, directed mostly at the person passing by on the worn sidewalk. " come on! " he called again as he carried the toddler inside, looking back out from the open door to ensure the other was close behind. if they didn't get up on the front porch in a few moments, daehyun already knew he'd be locking the door without them inside. thankfully, it was but a second or two later that he was able to shut the door securely behind the other, latching the lock and ensuring the amulet was securely attached to the wall beside the doorframe.

[gwcnbouchard]

location: township infirmary who: open to all

"All set," Gwen said with a strained smile, tying the cloth tight over the gash. "Keep it covered and clean and then come back in a week or so, just to make sure it's healing nicely." If they were here in a week. The thought was dark but tomorrow wasn't a guarantee anymore and now - with the sudden storm and creatures appearing during the day - well, who knew what the fuck was happening. Her head shot up at the creak of the door and instantly got to her feet. "Has something else happened?"

[rampents]

open, anywhere

Catie’s been back and forth to almost everywhere in this crooked town the past few hours, so much so she could draw out a map of it and only be missing the way out. This exit hiding out and the townspeople refusing to direct her to it, or worse, spinning tales of sundown is bubbling under her chest while she storms around the place, growing more desperate by the minute.

Suddenly she’s fixed on someone and giving them this hardened stare: ‘You!’ she snaps, pointing at them. Her words spill faster than her thoughts. ‘This isn’t real. I didn’t come all the way here, lose my mind halfway across the world, just to be stuck in this fucking town. Where’s the bus station? A car? I’ll take a fucking… a bike! A bike or something.’

[purgatored]

STATUS : open LOCATION : the motel

" WELL . SINCE WE'RE GONNA BE STUCK here for a while," the words are punctuated by the pop of a cork and a pointed arch of cherry's brow . she points the neck of the bottle to them . " can i interest you in some peace of mind ?" the sounds of screaming outside the motel kind of sours the proposal, but cherry simply clenches her jaw and moves to turn up the radio in hopes to drown it out . she tries to remind herself that they were locked in here now, that nothing was getting in or out . the thought makes her shoulders loosen, if only slightly . " now, said peace of mind might be temporary but it should last us until morning at least ." she shakes the bottle pointedly, jaw shifting . " this is the good stuff ."

[hcartcorruptcd]

The late afternoon sun filtered through the grimy windows of the town diner, casting long streaks of light across the cracked vinyl booths. Sullivan sat at the corner table, a half-empty cup of lukewarm coffee in front of them, the faint trace of a smirk tugging at their lips. One hand lazily flipped through a tattered book they’d snagged from the community bookshelf, the other tapping a restless rhythm on the table. "Y’know," they said aloud to no one in particular, their Southern drawl dripping with amusement, "for a place so hellbent on keeping people alive, you’d think someone would’ve figured out how to make a decent cup of coffee by now." Their eyes flicked up, scanning the room with a mixture of curiosity and mischief, as if waiting for someone to take the bait. Sullivan leaned back in the chair, balancing it precariously on two legs, the grin on their face daring anyone to join them—or argue with them. "Either way," they added with a shrug, "it’s still better than moonshine that tastes like it’s been filtered through an old boot. Guess you pick your poison."