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The Mods of LifeAftr ([personal profile] lifeaftr_mods) wrote in [community profile] lifeaftr2020-01-02 08:51 pm

January Undercurrent: Growing Pains

JANUARY UNDERCURRENT
Who: Everyone!
What: Hey bud, how's it growing?
When: January 3rd to January 20th
Where: Everywhere!
Warnings: This event has a potential for body horror and character death; please mark anything as it comes up!

A Notion Growing Inside Me

Those of you who weren't with us the last time Umui entered the archipelago didn't have to contend with the lethal illness known as the Overgrowth personally, but anyone who remembers it probably doesn't remember it fondly. Fortunately, this isn't quite the same strain of the illness that you had to contend with the last time. It's not unrelentingly and uncompromisingly fatal, for one! That's always nice.

For those that need a primer on the Overgrowth, it is best described as a sickness that overcomes you with floral growth both inside and outside your body that can only be cured by expressions of emotional honesty. Expressions of truths, affections, and admissions of things that you have hidden from yourselves or from others were critical in dispensing of the illness. These could be as simple as admissions of past sins or the revealing of secrets, or as grandiose and overt as confessions of guilt or love. That general idea will remain more or less the key means of curing this strain as well, though the stakes fortunately aren't as high this go around! Which is to say, if you fail to have any grand emotional epiphanies by the time this event ends, you aren't doomed to suffer a character death; symptoms will simply dissipate come January 20th.

So what's this sickness going to be like in this particular instance, then? We're so glad you asked!
You can go the standard route, of course. Adventurers' first brush with the illness saw the following afflicted upon them:
[ ♆ ] Stage One: Germination. Initial symptoms involve fever, coughing fits, numbness to nerves and extremities, and general joint stiffness. Difficulty breathing or performing other basic functions will often occur. Fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and intense weakness or dizzy spells are also liable to occur as the flowers begin to harvest nutrients from the body. This will also generate extreme thirst and periods of intense nausea. Tremors and the sensation of something "itching" from inside are also common. The end of Stage One is usually marked by the act of vomiting or coughing up flower petals or spores, along with a not-insignificant amount of blood.

[ ♆ ] Stage Two: Budding. The floral growths spread more completely inside the body, and begin to grow on the skin or exterior. Difficulty performing basic functions will increase as, for example, airways become obstructed and flowers grow around joints and pinch them still. The site of affliction also yields rashes, blisters, and blood sores as the flowers sprout from the skin. The rate of vomiting or coughing up floral growths will increase dramatically. Flowers often bloom quickly, and very painfully. Numbness in affected areas will increase, oftentimes rendering parts of the body completely inert - a pair of legs claimed completely by blooms, for example, will no longer work.
This was followed by Stage Three: Bloom, which resulted in character death. However, this strain will not advance to this style of Stage Three. All symptoms will disperse by the time Umui resurfaces.

This strain is also rather more erratic, which can make emotional repression more of an inconvenience than a horrifying circumstance. For those who would rather not play around with intense sickness (or who have already endured this once before), you have the option to go that route if you like! With this variant of the Overgrowth, one can become, for example, so embarrassed that they hiccup up a flower. A vicious denial of their feelings may cause them to spontaneously erupt into a rash of dandelion puffballs, seemingly immediately. You might end up walking around with a bouquet for an arm for a few hours. Perhaps mortifying, but certainly not fatal! Isn't that nice?

Unless, of course, you want it to be...

I Can't Fight It Much Longer

Now, while the Bloom Stage isn't present in this strain, it has mutated its progression into a rather nasty end stage. Those of you who succumb a little too readily to this illness, who don't fight off the emotional repression quickly, who don't admit those difficult truths to yourself or confess to whatever you're bottling up, you'll be faced with a potentially horrifying transformation. Potentially, because it is your choice whether or not you see fit to commit your character to that fate - as stated above, this option might simply skip over your character entirely, and the worst they'll have to deal with are cartoonishly over-the-top effects that disperse in due time.

But maybe not all of you will be so lucky. Some of you might discover for yourselves how this particular variant of the Overgrowth has mutated.

We call this mutation Stage Three: Outbreak.
In this final Stage, those beautiful blooms wither and harden into a fungus-like carapace as the illness grows into the victim's brain and shuts down virtually all higher functions. This can sometimes render them almost wholly recognizable, but not always - oftentimes, it's very obvious who this person once was. The victim is reduced to a carrier of the virus, which causes them to act the way you'd expect most viruses to act: becoming intent on spreading. Advanced brain functions such as speech, rational thought, and so on tend to shut off and become wholly inaccessible.

Now that the victim's body is no longer fighting the Overgrowth, the illness lends them increased speed, strength, and durability, making them dangerous foes indeed. They will usually seek to infect others by whatever means necessary - usually via biting or exuding breathable spores - but in some cases, they will simply reduce to base instincts, and just outright attempt to attack and kill whoever is closest.

Unfortunately, at this point, there is no hope of a cure; it's hard to make someone be emotionally honest when they're capable of little more than blunt, animal instinct. At this point, you can either wait for the Stage Three symptoms to disperse come Umui's return, or take manners into your own hands. You can probably guess what that might entail.

If you decide to put your Overgrown friends out of their misery, this will count as a character death. If it comes to that, be sure to let us know on the Deaths page! Death penalties, however, will not be reduced for this event.

Try to Get Through It

Of course, there's a lot going on in the background as well. You're free to use this log as a catch-all for the duration of January's Undercurrent Event, as well as any of the other minor events listed on our Monthly Rundown post. And, of course, you are always free to create your own individual logs and posts as needed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them over on the Questions header on our Rundown post!
January Timeline
[ ♆ ] January 1st: "This Sucks" begins and lasts until January 10th
[ ♆ ] January 3rd: "Growing Pains" begins and lasts until January 20th
[ ♆ ] January 11th: "No Water is Safe" begins and lasts until January 19th
[ ♆ ] January 20th: Umui returns to the archipelago
[ ♆ ] January 21st: "Impawsible Geometries" begins and lasts until January 31st
LOGSOOCSTORIESMAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )
barberian: (winter was coming)

[personal profile] barberian 2020-03-31 12:07 pm (UTC)(link)
(It's not impossible.

Thankfully, Yasha is pulled sharply off of that trail of thought by Beau's next statement; she reaches out automatically as Beau staggers, and steadies her with an arm around her waist. There's no need to panic. Beau knows that there is a cure, and she has notes, she has so many notes. She is taking notes all of the time. So those will include a way to find and deliver the cure to her, and she will be fine. It's better than the alternative.)


Okay. (Yasha still feels a little out-of-body herself, but it's easy to let Beau rest most of her weight on her as she helps her inside.) Don't move too fast if you're dizzy.
deathfindsaway: (« [Smile] his eyes light up when he sees)

[personal profile] deathfindsaway 2020-04-02 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Kravitz chuckles, moving as if to raise his hand to the back of his neck but not quite making it there. Still, the movement loosens some of the plant matter, and the smile- however small- feels nice on his face.]

No, you're-- you're quite right. I just tend to get caught up in my own head sometimes.

[He looks towards Crowley, a bit lighter than previous. Every step counts.]

Thank you. I know we haven't... talked, much. I appreciate that you're willing to spend this kind of time with a man who is practically a stranger to you.
deathfindsaway: (« [Look] what the fuck is this)

[personal profile] deathfindsaway 2020-04-02 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
He bobs his head in a gentle nod of understanding, trying to bring himself down and back to the task at hand. He came here to help, not squabble about his own uncertainties that won't bring him closer to the truth. This, at least, he can commiserate on.

"Yes, I... that, I understand." Kravitz sighs, but tries to offer a small smile regardless. "Well, I know it's difficult, but I'm happy to lend an ear to any troubles you may be having. At least, ones I can help with. As difficult as it is, it needs to be done. The alternative is... far worse."
forwearemany: (other side)

[personal profile] forwearemany 2020-04-02 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
Negative.
deathfindsaway: (« [Kiss] gettin all schmoopy)

[personal profile] deathfindsaway 2020-04-02 05:17 am (UTC)(link)
[She doesn't need to get it. That's the fun thing about Ren- she can be completely, entirely incomprehensible and her presence is still somehow comforting. She's like Taako in that sense, one of the only things to ever really give him peace.

He leans down, curling in over her and giving her a little kiss on the top of her head.]


And so did you. You can tell me a story anytime. But right now, you should sleep. Alright? I'll be there when you wake.

[Likely dangerous to promise something he doesn't know he can keep, but... maybe if he speaks it into existence now, it will have to be true.]
semistableman: (☔ did not occur to you)

[personal profile] semistableman 2020-04-02 05:38 am (UTC)(link)
I'm going to be keeping score!

[He says, while charging at the nearest ghost shark.]
yakyuuman: (262 homeruns)

[personal profile] yakyuuman 2020-04-02 08:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Well, that went a bit worse than he expected because he kind of expected Ichimatsu to wholeheartedly accept Strike One into his life without conditions. Even if the weed options were out of question no matter how hard Jyushimatsu begged for even a whiff of the prohibited material. But it's fine after all! They have a jelly dog and maybe he can make a deal for two more strikes and their cottage will be full of love with a pseudo family of their own to take care of!

... Maybe adopting four dogs and naming them after their brothers would have been another viable idea, but Ichimatsu might object to that. And Ichimatsu can be very deadset on his opinions. Jyushimatsu won't take any chance to fight with his nii-san... although wrestling matches are always on the table to take out some stress.

Strike One lets out a sound that sounds like wet paper getting slapped on a wall. He then proceeds to lick Ichimatsu's face. Jyushimatsu smiles luminously at them. ]


There! The deal has been sealed now! Hehehe!
yakyuuman: (043 homeruns)

[personal profile] yakyuuman 2020-04-02 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ice is spreading inside his muscles. Every second they speak, every breath they take, every word they shed, feels crucial for Jyushimatsu. His older brother might cough massive blood up and die on him anytime. It's difficult to think his efforts will be rewarded. He hates being uncertain, knowing jackshit about this curse, shooting in the dark even when there's supposedly a way out of dying from those shitty flowers.

When Ichimatsu moves, taking a hold of his other hand, Jyushimatsu feels the skin to skin contact with his painfully clenched fist, and inhales shakily. Ichimatsu's only so gentle with cats, and while Jyushimatsu's not new to the feeling, it's so refreshing and wonderful and just so good he eventually can no longer hold the tears back.

It's okay if he's a little fragile right now, because Ichimatsu's with him... but man does he hate being this bare when he's supposed to be the pinnacle of support for his sick brother.

His head tilts slightly, perking to attention. ]


... No, I don't know.

[ He could know, he could just think about it some, but he's not up for guessing games and he'd really like to hear Ichimatsu pour more of his feelings out.

Even if they're going to be ugly and hurtful for his ears. ]


What is it...?
yakyuuman: (113 homeruns)

[personal profile] yakyuuman 2020-04-02 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
"You'll get water then, very soon! Keep guard or something!"

And just like that, he's gone like a flash of lightning. This is pretty good exercise indeed. Won't make up for the time he's wasting that he could have used practicing, but accidents and setbacks happen all the time. Ginko is a fine enough guy to deserve some help, either way.

Jyushimatsu finds water, but it takes him about twenty minutes in-between departure and arrival before he reappears by the tree, a satchel of water in his sleeves.

"Here! Drink away!" He shoves it to Ginko's hands. If the satchel weighs lighter than it should, it's because Jyushimatsu dawned half of the content down on his way back.
yakyuuman: (130 homeruns)

[personal profile] yakyuuman 2020-04-02 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Even the slightest bit of struggle from the shark sends his mind spinning, and he feels as though there's a clear cut disconnect between his head and the rest of his body, judging from how tight he's still holding onto the beast despite himself being kinda out of it. He quakes under Beau's blows and is pliantly set aside when she yeets the creature back into the ocean, hopefully never to emerge again.

...

Jyushimatsu opens his mouth, the gears in his brain turning rusty from all the blow he spilled. Not that it's much, but he's gotten nerfed quite a bit here and it's annoying to think about anything at all right now. He dumbly nods. ]


I would make a victory dance if I could, but here we are, haha...

[ He stretches his arms forward. Whichever way she wants to carry him, he'll try to make it easier for her. ]
yakyuuman: (203 homeruns)

[personal profile] yakyuuman 2020-04-03 12:21 am (UTC)(link)
Hahaha, really? In that case, you can call me uhhh... Shitty NEET Jyushimatsu! I get called that a lot!

[ He and all his five brothers get called that a lot. ]
suspecteverything: (oh yeah?)

[personal profile] suspecteverything 2020-04-03 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
[There's a very long pause.]

Right.

[Does he sound skeptical? Yes. Very much yes.]
agathokakological: ([127])

[personal profile] agathokakological 2020-04-04 05:04 pm (UTC)(link)
[Crowley's lips turn into an exaggerated frown as Kravitz tries to make a moment out of this.]

It's fine. I needed to make sure this worked. Aziraphale is sick, and I can't seem to get the same results with him.

[Which is Crowley's own hell, in a sense.]
salutosinedelectat: Confused (What the hell)

[personal profile] salutosinedelectat 2020-04-05 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I see. So I suppose there's never been anything like this before? Creatures suddenly appearing where they shouldn't be?
onegreeneye: (touch face)

[personal profile] onegreeneye 2020-04-07 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Yukio is curled up and shaking, and suddenly Ginko is worried that he's pushed too far already. His stomach twists with guilt, and he can barely think of what to do next, how to fix this.

His hand shifts uncertainly again, this time in a somewhat awkward attempt at rubbing Yukio's back. Maybe this would be easier if he had any model of how to comfort a panicking teenager to work from other than his own fumbling attempts. He's never been good at this.

"I'm sorry-- if you can't say anything you don't have to, alright? It's okay."
reflash: (ever wanna raise)

[personal profile] reflash 2020-04-07 03:09 am (UTC)(link)
He has to stop. He has to figure out how to shut this down, to kill the panic rising in his chest, but he can't. He can barely manage not throwing up on Ginko's floor.

And then Ginko is apologizing. Why? Why is Ginko apologizing? It's Yukio, it's him, he's the one messing everything up, it's not okay. Yukio's the one who came in here, feverish and sick and coughing flowers all over Ginko's house and not leaving when he should have and not answering when Ginko asked a simple question.
deathfindsaway: (« [Confused] no im very competent really)

[personal profile] deathfindsaway 2020-04-07 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
[He blinks, a surprised sort of look, but... well, that sort of bluntness has always served well with getting through to him. Kravitz is quiet for a few moments, before he nods dumbly as if to just give some sort of response.]

Right. I'll... I'll do that.

[Certainly better than nothing. The reaper nods again as if he's resetting his own brain, shuffling some paper around on the desk.]

Well, uhm, let me know if you need anything regardless.
deathfindsaway: (« [Thoughtful] well i'm out of ideas)

[personal profile] deathfindsaway 2020-04-07 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
[Kravitz hums in response, an understanding sort of nod.]

I understand. That sort of blatant honesty is... not in many of our natures. But you must try to sort through your feelings. Just because we return from death here does not make it any more of an option than elsewhere.
onegreeneye: (i was prepared for this)

[personal profile] onegreeneye 2020-04-07 07:01 am (UTC)(link)
Ginko stays put for as long as it takes for Yukio to calm down, still awkwardly rubbing his back as his tail switches anxiously back and forth over the floor. Crouching like this is starting to hurt, with roots wound through the muscles of his legs, but he doesn't want to leave Yukio alone like this.

He'll stay quiet until it seems like Yukio is starting to get ahold of himself, if only a little - and even then he only speaks quietly. "Do you want water?"
reflash: (ever wanna raise)

[personal profile] reflash 2020-04-07 12:43 pm (UTC)(link)
It gets worse before it gets better, hyperventilation setting off another coughing fit, and he chokes on flowers for far too long, spits out blood and clumped petals for what feels like forever. His vision goes grey around the edges, exhaustion threatening to take over but he can't pass out right now, he can't, no matter how much his body is trying to.

Eventually (how long has it been? hours? a few minutes?) Ginko says something and it takes a second to process but then Yukio nods.
onegreeneye: (and that's how i told nature to fuck off)

[personal profile] onegreeneye 2020-04-08 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
"...Yeah. Same to you." He's got to make that as clear as he can; he's no more comfortable one-sidedly talking about himself than he is letting someone help him with an illness while he does nothing for them.

His brows pull together as he considers what... what he can say. "I guess I don't... feel the way I should here. If that makes any sense. Maybe I'm supposed to talk about that."
onegreeneye: (meh)

[personal profile] onegreeneye 2020-04-08 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
"...Got it." It doesn't even really matter that Jyushimatsu is gone by the time he speaks. He's just saying it to say it.

And then he's alone, sitting in the quiet shadows of the forest and waiting. He closes his eye for a while, but this time it's really just for the sake of resting; he's feeling better, moment by moment, even if the progress is slow.

He opens his eye again when he hears Jyushimatsu approaching, and barely reacts in time to take a hold of the satchel. "--Ah. Thanks." Saying that is the only pause he takes before taking a swig. He doesn't really notice or care, honestly, that the weight doesn't match up to the size of the container; as far as he's concerned, if Jyushimatsu needed a drink while making the trip, he'd earned that just by helping Ginko out like this.
onegreeneye: (and that's how i told nature to fuck off)

[personal profile] onegreeneye 2020-04-08 07:26 am (UTC)(link)
"Alright. Lie down if you have to." He gives Yukio one last pat on the back before straightening up, casting another uncertain glance over his shoulder as he leaves.

He's just glad that he and Epsilon had refilled their drinking water not long before; otherwise, he'd have to pick between making a mana-pool round trip to and from the farming islet or braving the bridge to the next one over just to get to a well. Far from ideal, especially when he's got a panicking teenager in the living room.

Instead, it doesn't take him more than a minute to return with a jug of water in one hand - and a spare blanket in the other. Just, in case.
reflash: (my biggest dream is to calm down)

[personal profile] reflash 2020-04-08 11:20 am (UTC)(link)
He stays where he is, more because the thought of doing anything at all is overwhelming than for any other reason. It's all he can do right now to not throw up and not pass out and just keep breathing.

"Sorry." He manages, forces out a quiet apology when Ginko comes back. It's not enough, and he knows it, but for now, for right this second, it will have to be.
yakyuuman: (007 homeruns)

[personal profile] yakyuuman 2020-04-08 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Right! Or just Jyushimatsu is okay! Or... if you can't spell that, find something else!

[ He shrugs. He's very flexible with names. ]