Unfinished Library Mod & NPC Account (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
libraryassistants) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
unfinishedlibrary2025-11-28 06:38 pm
libraryassistants) wrote in unfinishedlibrary2025-11-28 06:38 pm
Entry tags:
- blade runner: kd6-3.7,
- bram stoker's dracula: mina harker,
- dracula: jonathan harker,
- original: festival,
- sonic the hedgehog (film): shadow,
- the murderbot diaries: murderbot,
- the rising world: kaiisteron,
- the wonders of mundus: hikaru aozora,
- warhammer: konrad curze,
- warhammer: sanguinius,
- ~take a load off
I'm not saying that it's aliens - TAKE A LOAD OFF, LOG 2
Who: Readers and Actors
What: Beta Story final log
When: November 28 - December 11
Where: Woodhurst (UK) and the SS Radiance (in space!), 2019
Content warnings: Please tag warnings in comment headers!
In Woodhurst:
There is quite a bit of confusion in the village as the weeks pass by- by now it is clear that some people are very much not themselves, and there are multiple theories as to why. Aliens, obviously- the really weird bit is that it’s not just certain edgy teens purporting this theory, but since there’s been some (alleged) activity previously, maybe they’ve come back! Some tourists (and perhaps some locals) have made signs of the ‘Take me with you!’ variety, mostly loitering in the town square or in the park, whenever they get chased out of one or the other.
Suffice it to say, those people aren’t being taken seriously by those in charge- though even they have to admit that something strange is going on. Prevailing theories amongst officials are ‘gas leakage’ and ‘water contamination,’ neither of which are suitable explanations but no one seems to want to think too hard on it. As a result, the friends and families of those acting out of sorts are in a strange position. Do they try to seek medical help? Wait and hope it sorts itself out? Or do they join the crowds bidding welcome to their potential alien guests, demanding their real loved ones return?
Visitors of all stripes might find themselves a bit more scrutinized, as a result. Didn’t a bunch of weird people show up just as people seemed to start changing? Readers and aliens alike had best be on their most normal behavior, or it’s possible they’ll get cornered by someone asking what’s happening, or… a fanatic who wants to be taken up into their spaceship. Some of whom have some weird questions about probes. Good luck figuring out what that’s about.
On the IMW Group Supply Ship: Radiance
Things are not all well further up in the atmosphere, either. The staff have had to deal with much more pushback than they were expecting, including some people who seemed to not enough understand the concept of mental health (which was not in the briefing- shouldn’t they have at least heard of it before?). A few cases also seem to be quite severe, involving a level of intervention that they weren’t really prepared for- but of course, they’re here, so they’re going to do the very best they can to get all the humans the help they need! Hopefully legally.
Most alarmingly, however, it seems there have been some kidnapping attempts! …Kidnapping attempts that didn’t involve them! Someone, or multiple someones, have managed to get the patients off the ship without first filling out their discharge paperwork, and that simply will not do. As a result, security is ramped up on the ship… sort of. There’s very little in the way of a security crew, after all, and it’s not like they can call in reinforcements. So mostly this means that there are some very tired counselors who have been put on hallway shifts, and everyone has been assigned a little name badge that they MUST wear at ALL TIMES.
(There are actual people guarding the shuttles now, but again… there’s only so much security. The real question is, do you really want to beat up the aliens who are just trying to help?)
To their credit, the various Group members are trying to listen to the concerns of the patients who are here… less than willingly, and are beginning to filter some cases back to the planet by request. But they are going to do it properly, which means the proper forms. A wrap up visit with their counselor, a form agreeing to be finished with treatment, a politely worded request to maybe not tell people about the aliens (it’s not an NDA, because the Group has never needed those, it’s really just a form asking if they’re going to talk about it so management can figure out how badly this is going to go). Oh, and would you mind filling out this survey about your experience?
Of course, not everyone is in a hurry to leave- or at least needs something to do while waiting for bits of paperwork to approve. All the regular classes and sessions are still going, and they even retrofitted one of the spas to have water instead of… whatever it was before. Now certified safe for humans!
[Information on what's available on the ship is in the first log; info post is here.]
What: Beta Story final log
When: November 28 - December 11
Where: Woodhurst (UK) and the SS Radiance (in space!), 2019
Content warnings: Please tag warnings in comment headers!
In Woodhurst:
There is quite a bit of confusion in the village as the weeks pass by- by now it is clear that some people are very much not themselves, and there are multiple theories as to why. Aliens, obviously- the really weird bit is that it’s not just certain edgy teens purporting this theory, but since there’s been some (alleged) activity previously, maybe they’ve come back! Some tourists (and perhaps some locals) have made signs of the ‘Take me with you!’ variety, mostly loitering in the town square or in the park, whenever they get chased out of one or the other.
Suffice it to say, those people aren’t being taken seriously by those in charge- though even they have to admit that something strange is going on. Prevailing theories amongst officials are ‘gas leakage’ and ‘water contamination,’ neither of which are suitable explanations but no one seems to want to think too hard on it. As a result, the friends and families of those acting out of sorts are in a strange position. Do they try to seek medical help? Wait and hope it sorts itself out? Or do they join the crowds bidding welcome to their potential alien guests, demanding their real loved ones return?
Visitors of all stripes might find themselves a bit more scrutinized, as a result. Didn’t a bunch of weird people show up just as people seemed to start changing? Readers and aliens alike had best be on their most normal behavior, or it’s possible they’ll get cornered by someone asking what’s happening, or… a fanatic who wants to be taken up into their spaceship. Some of whom have some weird questions about probes. Good luck figuring out what that’s about.
On the IMW Group Supply Ship: Radiance
Things are not all well further up in the atmosphere, either. The staff have had to deal with much more pushback than they were expecting, including some people who seemed to not enough understand the concept of mental health (which was not in the briefing- shouldn’t they have at least heard of it before?). A few cases also seem to be quite severe, involving a level of intervention that they weren’t really prepared for- but of course, they’re here, so they’re going to do the very best they can to get all the humans the help they need! Hopefully legally.
Most alarmingly, however, it seems there have been some kidnapping attempts! …Kidnapping attempts that didn’t involve them! Someone, or multiple someones, have managed to get the patients off the ship without first filling out their discharge paperwork, and that simply will not do. As a result, security is ramped up on the ship… sort of. There’s very little in the way of a security crew, after all, and it’s not like they can call in reinforcements. So mostly this means that there are some very tired counselors who have been put on hallway shifts, and everyone has been assigned a little name badge that they MUST wear at ALL TIMES.
(There are actual people guarding the shuttles now, but again… there’s only so much security. The real question is, do you really want to beat up the aliens who are just trying to help?)
To their credit, the various Group members are trying to listen to the concerns of the patients who are here… less than willingly, and are beginning to filter some cases back to the planet by request. But they are going to do it properly, which means the proper forms. A wrap up visit with their counselor, a form agreeing to be finished with treatment, a politely worded request to maybe not tell people about the aliens (it’s not an NDA, because the Group has never needed those, it’s really just a form asking if they’re going to talk about it so management can figure out how badly this is going to go). Oh, and would you mind filling out this survey about your experience?
Of course, not everyone is in a hurry to leave- or at least needs something to do while waiting for bits of paperwork to approve. All the regular classes and sessions are still going, and they even retrofitted one of the spas to have water instead of… whatever it was before. Now certified safe for humans!
[Information on what's available on the ship is in the first log; info post is here.]
1-ish?
That doesn't make therapy any less harrowing. After the rather distressing first session, he's noticed that they don't dig too pointedly at his homelife or family any more, even if they often tend to come at it a bit sideways. He's not sure what their goal is with that, but it leaves him feeling a bit sensitive all the same when he manages to scoot free of the one-on-one therapy sessions. At least during the group sessions and activities they seem to not push at that at all. It means he's a bit more willing to go with the flow for the moment. Even if he feels a bit tired in the moment.
That feeling flees him almost immediately when he spots a familiar face from across the common space he wandered into, whatever he'd been thinking of doing fleeing his mind immediately as he lets out a relieved little shout and all but rockets across the room to fling arms around his friend.
"Oh my god, there you are!" His voice pitches, cracks a bit like it always does when he's trying to play it cool, like he's not about to have himself a little meltdown from some sort of emotion- relief in this case, clear enough in the tight grip he has on that hug, face smacking against their shoulder with a breathless little laugh. "You're okay? Like... really okay? I've been... feels like I've been goin' mad, first that weird copycat alien, then here, not knowin' where you were-"
Re: 1-ish?
Michiko is carrying herself in a much more confident way, and is for some reason pitching her voice down a bit, but she's not fake or off the way her fetch was. It's her. It's definitely Charles' friend. You're getting hugged back.
"Gods, I'm so sorry they got you - I was in the first batch they shunted up - granola and yogurt for brains, all of them, I swear -"
And then that question at the end.
"This is - this is going to sound strange but. But yes, and for the first time, I think. I haven't been okay for a while before they got me, and - bloody idiots could have asked me to come here instead of what they did, but they helped me find out why."
no subject
"S'fine, I've been goin' mental worryin' about you and Shadow anyways, at least here I can know for sure now that you're okay, yeah?" No that doesn't mean he was effectively alone with a couple doubles for company, don't worry about it, because he's gonna breeze right past the implications of that to focus on her answer to him, brows furrowing as he draws back- still holding onto her arms, but releasing the hug.
"They did?" It hadn't been a surprising thing that Michiko was struggling with things back home, with the clear tension between her and her parents, and everything that came with it. So it wasn't really a shock to Charles that she'd not been okay. But that the aliens had somehow helped? "Well... suppose they're not completely useless then, if they helped you figure things out."
no subject
Mitch shakes her head, clapping Charles on the back when she does in a curious way.
"I - fuck it, you've trusted me for as long as I've earned it, and this won't change that. I figured out the problem. My parents wanted a girl. They got me instead."
Let that sink in.
no subject
And she can likely see the wheels turning- Charles isn't especially hip to internet culture, but he's also not entirely out of the loop, so there's a moment where his dark brows furrow, mulling over what was said before they lifted, eyes widening as the penny dropped. Because... well, even as roundabout a way as it was admitted? It made so much sense.
"Blimey," Breathed quietly as he processed it, but didn't draw back farther, giving his friend's arms a gentle squeeze. "Well, they lucked out, you're brills anyways. So... how'd you want me to call you then?"
yes, 1.
One down, hundreds to go.
"Well that's the question, innit?" he says, with a little laugh. "Mitch isn't a bad stopgap, but - I love my parents, I know they did what they did out of love and not understanding something it took a trip to bloody space and a goddamned bloody patient mindreader for me to work out. Mitch is a good name but it's not a Japanese name, now is it? And not having one of those seems a betrayal."
He sighs, thumb under his chin. Thinking. It's a pose Charles knows well: Mitch is directly emulating the tell of Commander Graves - second in command on the Ad Terra's OLSV Endurance, and a towering pillar of manliness - thinking hard about the Dilemma Of The Week.
"...And right now I'm drawing a blank," he admits. "But you've always called me Mitch, and you always can."
no subject
That's the impression that he got from the conversations after Mitch had been snatched. They might not entirely get it at first, but he thought they would love him regardless.
And he's absolutely clocked the pose. He doesn't say anything to admit it though, but his smile widens, becomes a bit more relaxed at the familiar sort of thing.
"Mitch for now then," He confirmed with a nod. "An' you can tell me when you think of what you wanna stick with past that."
no subject
He takes a deep breath.
"...did they hurt you, when they got you?" he asks, quite seriously. "Have they done anything to you but... talk to you about..."
He sighs.
"Your problems?" she says, not specifying what - or who - those might be.
no subject
It falters lightly when Mitch's concern turns to him, before easing again. Predictable enough anytime anyone so much as brushes over the topic of well... that whole mess.
"Nah, wasn't hurt," Confirmed easily, and honestly enough. "Don't think poor Min'a was expectin' my situation though. They all look real uneasy when I ask about goin' back."
As if there were any surprise about that.
no subject
Does it surprise Charles that his old friend is vouching for Min'a?
"...I. I think she's right to worry. I'd worry in her shoes," Mitch admits.
no subject
It didn't stop Charles making a brief face at the admission, but it smoothed over easily enough, no actual upset or offense in it.
"She's ridiculous," A complaint to be sure, but not out of any real ire, just a general sort of teenage annoyance at an adult being perceptive towards them. "...She did. Help though. A little at least, in figurin' some things out."
no subject
Careful, Mitch, he may resemble that remark.
no subject
"You're ridiculous too," Accused in a more amused tone than anything, before his expression shifted more contemplative. "But... nah. Like... we know my da's a prat and all, goes without saying. I just... I didn't realize how angry I am at mum too, about everything, until I was sayin' it."
Hardly a surprise with how fiercely he shoved down any and all fury and outrage over his situation generally- it didn't help anything, and he was more than a little afraid of letting it out lest he somehow turn out like his father.
no subject
“I mean. You’re - I guess you weren’t allowed. But you should have been. Getting angry at something unfair isn’t a bad thing.”
Even if acting on it might be.
no subject
There was also something cathartic in the anger, but... Charles was far too afraid of the idea of being anything like his father to really feel safe allowing himself any of it.
no subject
He pauses. Wonders how to put this.
"You know what Mum always told me about feeling bad?"
no subject
"What's she say? Don't think you ever told me that one."
no subject
He sighs.
"Like that's a goddamned walk in the park. Simple enough, yet harder than AP maths."
Of course he's in AP Maths. Nerd.
no subject
A soft huff. "Your mum's a smart lady though."
no subject
"She was cribbing from some bloke from India, but to see far you need to stand on the shoulders of giants and whatnot."
no subject
Which could be good or bad depending how much of a menace he felt like being.