#baskithreads

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @tempestaslokni location: THE BEACH timestamp: 11 DAYS AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Having Enhanced Hearing meant Baskar heard things he either didn’t want to hear, or things he shouldn’t hear. He felt like if he was prone to gossiping, this power would definitely be dangerous for him. Luckily, he was more often trying to refocus whenever he heard things that weren't meant for him: aka everything. Focussing on the sound of fridges, cooking sounds, waves, birds, animals, the wind. Really anything. But language was so hard to tune out. Even if he didn’t mean to do it, he’d refocus on a sentence. As if he was in a bar and he suddenly heard Bahasa Indonesian. Even if he didn’t want to listen in on anyone, it pulled him in. 

And as a result, Baskar usually walked through the area where most people were - with his headphones on - blushing. 

Sometimes however, despite how they didn’t want to, they picked up things that were useful. They picked up plans or suggestions or comments. They picked up talk about Lindi’s future town hall project, and decided they could make food for it. They picked up when people needed things that they were telling the wrong person. They could make themself even more liked by showing up with what people needed, at least if they were able to grant it. 

In this case: they felt like they could grant it. Or at least they could help enough. 

Baskar appeared near the stranger with a smile on their face, not even overthinking what they were going to say to explain why they showed up out of nowhere, and how they’d managed to pick this up from at least two hundred metres away. 

“Hi! I heard you talking earlier about wanting to try and fix communications on the ship!” They said excitedly. “Uhm, I have Enhanced Hearing so uhm…” they blushed again, of course. “I did two years of Electrical Engineering and two years of Robotics,” they said, not sure if that showed enough skill to the other, but hoping it would be enough to be allowed to help. “If you… uhm, if you’re still looking for someone to help.”

[little-baski]

Baskar: Iceland! Wow, that's so cool! Baskar: From the captal or somehwere mreo remote? Ive seen videos of the nature there and the whole tectonic plates. Baskar: okay im glad, i dont want to make reading my texts difficutl for you! Baskar: it is weird id say. i wonder if there is a reason whytheres no kids Baskar: uhm definitely not like either of those shows more uhm... lost, that big scifi show Baskar: only with less murders Baskar: oh well Baskar: no definitey less murders

Crystal: ever been to Iceland? crazy cold there all year round! got its name for a reason Crystal: well I wouldn't say it's annoying but it definitely threw me off Crystal: though thinking about it, it's kind of nice there's no kids here Crystal: really adds to that resort feel! adults only~ Crystal: or is it more of a love island/too hot to handle situation? you've been here for a while, yeah? what's the atmosphere like?

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @unathorn location: AT THE BEACH timestamp: MINI EVENT: THE SECRETS

Baskar had hidden the small secret within his backpack, the one he carried everywhere. He knew he wasn't the very last person who hadn't claimed a bungalow, but he might be among the few who wouldn't even claim one. He was instead sleeping next to the radiators. Even if the idea of using white noise to make sure he got some extra sleep had filled him with dread at first, he'd eventually given in because he was so tired.

The level darkness under their eyes reminded them of their time in school, sleepless nights to make both tuition, housing - Baskar had always tried to get something far away from the other students -, and school deadlines, but also the fear of their father showing up. This wasn't that different from before, but they were a bit older, they could feel how that made it worse.

With an additional lunch packed, Baskar found Una on the beach, they got the small Tupperware bowls out, their backpack hanging from one shoulder, and appeared next to her. "I brought lunch," they said with a wide smile.

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @chancedarling location: NEAR THE HUB timestamp: EVENT 02: PART 02: DEEP EXPLORATION

Arm bandaged, duct tape forcing the headphones even stronger against their face, and eyes that were constantly red, Baskar made for a sorry individual. But so did a lot of other residents on the island. So they didn’t feel like they were very different from most. There was a healer around, but either they hadn’t run into them yet, or they had no interest in healing small - and already bandaged - wounds. 

It was okay, they’d stay in the back for a bit, they’d keep away from people for a bit, they’d–

Baskar jumped, a loud noise from the hub then footsteps nearby, they swung around and almost collided with another islander. “I’m sorry!” they crooked.

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @selinswonderland location: NEAR THE MEDI-CENTRE timestamp: EVENT 02: PART 02: DEEP EXPLORATION

While given the stress of the day and the constant noise of the buzzing - and now the digging - in all honestly all Baskar wanted to do was to lay down in the water, submerge their ears far enough so they were completely covered in water, and pretend the world didn't exist.

The down-side to that plan was that they'd be willingly running away from danger and thus from helping people.

Which went against everything they stood for. So they ignored the constant noise - though they were constantly frowning - and tried to offer help where they could. And not spend too much time watching the hornets dig at the medical centre. Unearthing something.

They pushed their headphones closer to their ears. "I wish they'd stop, but I don't think we can stop them," they said outloud to Selin.

[little-baski]

OPEN STARTER  location: MIDDLE OF CAMP timestamp: EVENT 02: PART 01: THE DRONES 

Una had called Baskar brave some time ago. But right now, they felt anything but. Lost and scared was better. They were walking through the inhabited area hoping to meet someone who could help them, while most people were hiding or… or… Baskar could hear them, but the buzzing was much louder, persistent, constantly there. Either close by or far away, not that it really mattered, there were so many of them, and so much reaction to them as well. Their disorientation had resulted in being stung by one, leading to a memory. Of a person they didn’t recognise, crawling through the mud. Their hearing was normal for a moment, but that didn’t make the scream that ended the vision any less horrifying. The sight of a hornet with a hundred tiny cameras, different from those they’d seen before. 

They’d managed to run from the hornet, but now they were waddling through the area with a bleeding arm pressed to their chest and a face wet from tears. Sniffing as they roamed in the hope that something or someone appeared. Or not, they felt overwhelmed by the buzzing, the pain, and the memory. They saw a person - barely - coming from the opposite direction, and raised their hand helplessly. “Please, can you help me?” they asked in a whisper, barely audible. “It hurts. So much.”

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @zaidshair location: THE JUNGLE timestamp: SEVERAL DAYS AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Baskar thought they were doing well given the circumstances: haunted, hearing EVERYTHING, a little jumpy, but still managed to make people like them. Or well, they hoped people liked them. It would be sad if people didn’t. Though maybe they were more of a try-hard then. That was alright, they could be a try-hard now and be a friend later. They didn’t mind. They had more time now, they didn’t need to make people like them right away, they didn’t need to establish connections quickly. They were out of harm’s way, they could stay here, rest here, keep a life here. 

After the meeting - the one which Baskar did not attend because there had been far too many people - they felt like getting some goodwill with the island's chef. So they'd told Zaid about the bananas they'd found and asked him to come along. Maybe a chef would know what to do with the weird looking bananas.

“I know there are more around here,” they explained to him. “I’ve been in the jungle a few times before, they’re pretty high up, but when I lived in Indonesia me and friends would always go out and look for them. There weren’t a lot of wild banana trees, so we mostly had to beg older people if we could cut them down from their garden and share the harvest, but we always managed to get a few.” 

“Oh, there is a cave there, maybe we can check it out, there probably won’t be bananas in there, but I can try and hear if there is anyone, make sure it’s safe.” Adventuring. They really did feel like a kid back in Indonesia. They already had their hands on the construction headphones. 

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @akhilaasthana location: THE MEDICENTRE timestamp: DAY 7 AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Being the practical person they were, Baksar had quickly ensured they found at least some way to deal with the constant loud noises. Making sure there was a double layer of protection that muffled it all at least to a point where they still had constant jumpscares but didn’t hear the fart that was released a kilometre away. Or something, they had no idea what the limits of their power were. Just that they kept trying to stop focusing so hard on everything around them. 

Breathing exercises, yoga, meditation. 

So far distraction helped sometimes. And the best road to distraction was asking people if he could help. 

Cotton in their ears, construction headphones one, and the friendliest smile, Baskar roamed into the medicenter. They’d tied their long hair up and luckily hadn’t had to trade in the clothes they’d landed with: Chelsea football shorts, an oversized grey t-shirt from the official Paddington store that he’d gotten when he’d been fifteen. 

Nothing about them suggested they’d start talking with the accent of a Bristolian farmer. But that was exactly what came out. They were a South East Asian Samwise Gamgee. “Hi, I was wondering if I could lend a hand with something here?” 

[little-baski]

Baskar gritted their teeth, first the silence, then the tone that suggested Zaid thought he was so much better than them. Neither of them knew what Zaid would’ve done in this situation. If the island ever wanted to do a good prank on them: let it switch powers. They’d love to see Zaid in pain with the excessive headaches that Baskar got. “Yes.” The bad things he didn’t write down, but he overheard those too… actively.

Then the other held out his hand, and Baskar looked appalled. Of all people, Zaid was the last they’d willingly hand the notebook to. “Just because I know doesn’t mean you should too,” they shot back. “They’re still other people’s words! You just want to see it because you don’t trust me! I don’t have to prove anything to you!” Only… probably they did, because if they didn’t show it, who was to say Zaid wouldn’t go off telling everyone Baskar was writing down their conversations. Certainly while they thought everything in there was harmless, others might not always think so. They’d rather not let someone else’s judgment out on this. 

Also a lot of what was written down was Darcy’s theories, Lindi’s one liners, and a jumbled mess of strings of conversation from a newcomer with a kind of flair to their voice. 

They took a step back, ready to fight for the notebook.

Baskar nodded. “No, I couldn’t. I think you’re more likely to change for the worse.”

Zaid folded his arms, eyes pinned to Baskar. No facial expression except one of cold ice, impenetrable until Baskar spilled his excuses and reasons. It was necessary, as far as Zaid was concerned. He had a right to grill the little sneak like this, shame them into admitting what they'd done.

The guilt was there, even if Zaid did see some inkling of fury as well. He didn't think Baskar was the sort to have a tantrum, unless they felt they were absolutely in the right. So instead, Baskar's words were squeezed out of him, shame wrapped around their voice like an anaconda.

Once Baskar was done, Zaid remained quiet, letting that silence settle on them. A warm, wet blanket to Baskar's heated reply. Eventually he tilted his head and spoke. "Right. So simply for distractions to your poor little head; nothing wicked reported, is that what you're saying? You just write it out to ease the tension building up in your mind, from all that intense hearing."

Zaid held his hand out then. "Give your journal to me, then. If it's nothing of import, then let me read what you've written. You're not a secret-keeper, so don't try to now say it's about integrity or protecting others or any of that bollocks. You have no right to know, to begin with, so. I might as well look as well, yeah? Give it to me."

Someone who changed for the better. Zaid snorted. "Of course. You couldn't possibly imagine I've changed for the better. Still a judgey little sod, aren't you."

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @unathorn location: THE RAIN FOREST timestamp: DAY 6 AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Hearing so much all the time was intense, it left Baskar with headaches that they had difficulty suppressing. But there were moments of clarity, when they were not thinking too much or focussing too much and when they could actually zone in on one sound. 

Which was exactly what they’d done now. And what they’d heard, had made them shoot up from their little spot on the beach and run into the thick rainforest, grabbing a long stick from the ground and carrying it against their body as they ran. 

The sound of a wolf, something growling, intense, sounding big and dangerous, followed by the crunching of bones, and a feminine voice. He was starting to worry that he was too late, that he wasn’t running fast enough, that by the time he was there, there would be nothing left. 

The sounds rushed at him with such intensity now that they told him he was close. 

He was almost there. 

He was…

Not looking at the carnage he’d thought he’d find. 

Stick in hand, ready to fight off whatever evil there was, but unable to locate said danger. 

Instead there was a woman under a blanket. “Uhm… OH…” 

Under a blanket. 

He turned around quickly. “Sorry! Sorry!!” 

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @darcyxpalmer location: THE BEACH timestamp: DAY 2 AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

The last thing they remembered was their father’s face, his lips moving, to form the question that had haunted Baskar for years. For almost half their life. And they hadn’t been able to step back from it, hadn’t been able to turn away. 

Fear had filled every corner of their mind. 

And then suddenly he was on a beach. Sand below him, the temperature suddenly a good twenty degrees warmer, a chill breeze hitting him from the side. 

His first thought was that his father had gotten to him, that this was where he’d wanted him to go. Back to Indonesia. Only this wasn’t Indonesia, he realised that instantly. 

He skipped around, no ghost. Nothing. No ghosts. Just sand, a beach, the ocean… a ship… a ship? A Tower? Very far away. A tower. 

We’re not in Kansas anymore.

They felt instant relief, battling the remaining terror. Was this freedom? Finally? They saw another person on the beach, and waved towards them, waved excitedly, slightly jumping on the balls of their feet. “Hey? Hey! Where are we? What is this place?” 

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @lindiwe-in-camelot location: AT THE HUB timestamp: EVENT 02: PART 01: THE DRONES

The buzzing was not fun. Not fun at all. Sure, Baskar knew exactly where the Hornets were, they knew where they were flying off to, what places they might appear in next, and so forth. But it was also far too much noise. Too much sensory overload that even if they were aware that if they headed to the left they’d run into a swarm of them, they also barely registered it. Running into the next group of them scooping over the area looking for a next target. What were they doing? 

They didn’t want to know. They wanted them to finish whatever it was that kept them busy and then disappear. There were tears in Baskar’s eyes. Their teeth gritted together, every new almost altercation left them five seconds away from freaking out. But intensity was something they could handle. It hadn’t ever left them unable to cope, survival mode was in their blood. 

So when they did run into the next swarm, they were quick to shoot away and seek a place to hide. Running past the hub’s kitchen and scooting low to disappear behind the bar. Not the most well-hidden spot, but hopefully a bit too crammed for the large robots to fly into. 

They weren’t alone in thinking it a safe spot. 

Despite not having been to the meeting - because it had been far too busy - they’d seen Lindi a few times before. They recognised her without needing to hear her voice. 

Though right now it seemed a good idea to keep quiet for a moment. They pressed their finger against their lips, because they could clearly still hear the buzzing. The never ending buzzing.

[little-baski]

Baskar: my bet is on aliens or ghosts Baskar: qualify for what? Baskar: yes ssure tomorrow sundown sounds good Baskar: but whcih is the bar?

Unknown: HMMM well that sucks! Aliens? God? Are we on a music video set? Or is this another one of those immersive experiences? Unknown: NVM! You do that sweetie. Unknown: OK you might qualify but I need to judge you in person. Drinks at the bar? I'm busy tonight. Tomorrow? Sun down?

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @choihyejinx location: THE RAIN FOREST timestamp: DAY 6 AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Baskar didn’t think help was coming, or that they necessarily want help to be coming. Why would anyone trade a tropical island for real life? Unless if real life was on a tropical island. Of course they could understand that people might have family they’d left behind, loved ones, friends, colleagues, a pet. And they felt badly for those people. But at the same time there was a real desire to stay here, to throw everything else into the wind and keep living on this island. They gladly took the headaches, the hearing everyone fart any moment of the day, and the voices, even the hauntings, just to be here. They’d be able to befriend everyone, but unlike all the other times they had, they wouldn’t have to say goodbye. 

It excited them not to have to say goodbye. 

And so far, their father hadn’t shown up yet. They hadn’t heard his voice. A lot of others that had made them unsure, but the more days passed, the more certain they became they had nothing to worry about. 

He wasn't going to get them here. 

Smiling, they walked through the bungalows with their construction headphones on and a crate of bananas that they’d managed to get from the rainforest. It felt like home… back home when they’d lived in Indonesia. 

“Hey, would you like a banana?” they asked, brightly at the first person to cross paths with them. 

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @elijahbell location: THE OBSIDIAN BEACH timestamp: DAY 8 AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Baskar set out to do what they did best: help as many people as possible, get to know as many people as possible, and be as useful as possible. But now there was an added happiness because for the first time in a long time: they didn’t think they’d be found out and then had to move again. They didn’t think their father was going to take them away. 

Sure, they had actual ghosts haunting them now, and they were jumpy and scared all the time when they heard the voices. But it was a small trade for being rid of their father. Because everyone around them had always said they were imagining their father, but they knew he was real, not a ghost, but real. They’d gladly trade that in for ghosts any time. 

They were carrying a bag filled with hand-made lunch-boxes, handing out lunch to people who might not be thinking about such a thing like food right now. Good thing that some of the jobs they’d held over the years were in the food industry. They were certain that everyone could appreciate a good home-made lunch filled with whatever they could find. No two lunch boxes were the same. 

“Hi, hey there, uhm, I’m just… walking around and uhm… giving people lunch, have you had lunch? Are you hungry?” he asked the first person he’d seen since trading the camp for the Obsidian beach. He scratched behind the construction headphones, the only way to keep the voices and the sounds out. His accent was rough, the Bristolian never having left him.

[little-baski]

CLOSED STARTER for @vig1lantnakia location: THE JUNGLE timestamp: 7 DAYS AFTER MARIEXPLOSION

Baskar thought they were doing well given the circumstances: haunted, hearing EVERYTHING, a little jumpy, but still managed to make people like them. Or well, they hoped people liked them. It would be sad if people didn’t. Though maybe they were more of a try-hard then. That was alright, they could be a try-hard now and be a friend later. They didn’t mind. They had more time now, they didn’t need to make people like them right away, they didn’t need to establish connections quickly. They were out of harm's way, they could stay here, rest here, keep a life here. 

And Nakia seemed the perfect person to hang out with, someone who actually had a power that was interesting to Baskar, who’d attempted to get a robotics degree. The fact that they’d managed to get the other to come with them to find more bananas to cut down was both a surprise and a gift. Though he tried not to go into asking questions right away, instead leading Nakia through the jungle and telling them of all the other places he’d found bananas before. “I know there are more around here,” he explained to them. “I’ve been in the jungle a few times before, they’re pretty high up, but when I lived in Indonesia me and friends would always go out and look for them. There weren’t a lot of wild banana trees, so we mostly had to beg older people if we could cut them down from their garden and share the harvest, but we always managed to get a few.” 

“Oh, there is a cave there, maybe we can check it out, there probably won’t be bananas in there, but I can try and hear if there is anyone, make sure it’s safe.” Adventuring. They really did feel like a kid back in Indonesia. They already had their hands on the construction headphones.