lifeaftr | January Undercurrent: Growing Pains

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

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

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Suck It Up

[The scuffle with the fox was confusing in and of itself. Chip checked all their belongings once the thing had been chased off, but there doesn't seem to be anything missing. The weird itch that won't go away is annoying, but it's not around the bite and claw marks so it can't have caused that. But for some reason, the thought that the encounter was anything at all mundane is...not right, somehow.]

[Chip goes about their business around Enso perfectly happily, watering crops at the farm and checking the bee hives...very carefully. Honey is good, but not being stung is way better. They're more cheerful than usual, and much more outgoing--they smile and wave to anyone passing by, where normally they would have maybe nodded shyly and hurried along. But then again, when you've forgotten what made you hate yourself in the first place, a lot can change.]

Budding (cw body horror)

[It's less terrifying this time around, if only because they know what it is. The itching under their skin and ache in their lungs still raises a spike of panic in them with each flare-up, but they know how to fix it. They know what they need to say, even the people they should say it to, but...finding the will to do so is the hardest part. And of course irony being what it is, their options of a cure narrow sharply not long after they begin to bud.]

[It could almost look like a bouquet stuck in their shirt if not for the small stain of blood at the edges of the fabric. They've still enough room to breathe, but Chip's vocal chords have been shredded by the roots of the flowers tearing through their flesh. Dandelions peek out from their shoulder and arms as well, and as Chip stares into a vacant distance trying to figure out what to do they scratch at them without thinking. At first only petal and stem fall to the ground from their efforts, but as they slowly wander their nails dig in harder and harder, until blood starts to drip down to their fingers.]

[They don't seem to have noticed yet.]

DOGGO DOGGO DOGGO

[You know something that Chip loves?]

[Dogs. They LOVE dogs.]

[So it's probably not that much of a surprise to see them romping through the woods with an entire pack of blasphemes against biology and geometry, waving a stick and laughing with glee. The mob seems to currently be in the middle of a complicated game of chase-fetch-zoomies, with the wobbledogs jumping to try and get the stick from Chip, and when they succeed it turns back around as Chip tries to get the prize back again.]

[Just, uh, maybe watch out so you don't get run over, yeah?]

Edited 2020-01-07 03:45 (UTC)

[ Well, this has absolutely been a terrible month and Aziraphale has a lot on his mind.

Enough that he doesn't quite notice the fast approaching child and the entire colorful pack of wobbly creatures happily chasing them, until they're absolutely too close. He stops and blinks, looking behind him just in time. ]

Oh! [ He manages to step out of the way right in the nick of time, watches the strangest parade of creatures he's ever seen just trample on by. ]

[The parade doesn't go too much farther, as one particularly long member of the wobblepack suddenly rears up and knocks into Chip in what is probably meant to be just a playful jump, but turns onto a tackle that knocks them straight to the ground in a tangle of limbs, shrieking with laughter.]

Agh! Hey, no, be careful! I said no jumping!

[And then Chip catches sight of Aziraphale out of the corner of their eye, and the blindingly powerful angelic energy in him stops them cold. The wobbledogs don't seem to notice their sudden fear, obliviously licking their face and tugging at the stick now held with a death grip. But Chip's eyes are fixed directly on the Principality, and they don't dare to blink.]

[ Now that he's actually stopped to look at the child in question, it hits him: the whiff of demonic nature, and the principality can't help but to stare back. He doesn't mean to - he's simply surprised, as he's never quite seen anything demonic that looked like a young child, with the exception of a very specific child whose nature he hadn't been able to sense in the first place.

He doesn't mean to look threatened or threatening, as Chip is not the first demonic creature he's met on this island. But old habits and such, even when discarded, and he watches them for a few moments, before speaking up somewhat awkwardly.]

Er. Are you alright?

[Chip startles, which causes several of the wobbledogs to jump in response, which makes them yelp and scramble to get up properly, and honestly this would be very cute if Chip didn't assume their life was currently in danger. By the time they're on their feet they have somehow wound up with a puppy wiggling in their arms that they cling to like a teddy bear. (Don't worry, it's not being hurt.)]

I--um--yes? I--I'm sorr--I didn't do anything!

Edited 2020-01-15 04:13 (UTC)

[ Aziraphale watches the whole scene unfold, and he's, at the same time, both very confused and feeling a little sorry, even though he hasn't actually done anything to scare or threaten the child.

He falters, trying to think of what to say. Sometimes words fail you at the best of times. ]

It's-- it's alright. [ Missing any other reasons as to why they'd be so scared of him, he can only assume it's the obvious one. But, just to be safe: ] No harm done.

You're...you're not--

[No, no, don't ask that, that's just asking for trouble! Chip bites down on the rest of the thought, firmly deciding to accept the angel's mercy for what it is. ...but there is something else that's confusing them right now.]

Why'd you look like a human?

[ Well, that's certainly not a question he expected. No one's really ever bothered to ask that - in fact, looking at Chip (and other demonic entities in the island), he wouldn't have dreamed that would be a concept worth exploring. ]

Oh. Hum.

[ There isn't quite a way to answer this without bringing Her into it, he doesn't think. But, also, he shouldn't assume how things work wherever the child is from.

It takes him a few seconds to answer. ]

It is my...preferred look, shall we say.

[ That was absolutely the most awkward way he could put it. ]

I've looked like this for longer than you'd imagine. I'm quite fond of it.

[ ...he eyes Chip, awkward and curious for the most part. ]

What is your name?

Oh.

[They don't really...get it, entirely, but it's not like they can argue with an angel about how he should look. They look down at the wiggling wobbledog in their arms (the rest of the pack has started a tumbling in-fight over the stick) and sets it back down before answering.]

I'm...my name's Chip.

Chip. [ He repeats. A simple enough name. ]

Well, Chip. My name is Aziraphale.

[ Still possibly one of the most awkward interactions he's had in these islands so far. But no one else had reacted to him with such obvious fear until now. ]

I take it you're not quite... [ How shall he put this? ] Er...human? Maybe?

'S-nice-'t-meet-you. [The whole bit comes out in a rushed mumble, just barely understandable for the nervous attempt at manners it is.]

My dad was...half demon. He wasn't--he wasn't really around, I didn't...

[How exactly does one say 'I'm totally not affiliated with the Devil Mafia Of Evil despite my parentage' and sound legit about it? Chip would love to know, really.]

[ Well, perhaps someone else could tell the poor kid how to do so, but it really wouldn't mean much to the angel. In fact, he's caution is reactionary, more than anything else.

He seems genuinely surprised at the answer. ]

Half-demon you say?

[ Yes yes, different worlds, different rules, all of those things. But still close enough that he could sense it, and different enough that he's made curious. ]

[Their brows crease a bit and they nod again, looking a little confused.]

Y...yeah. Mom said he--he left before she knew she had me.

[ They're both confused, really. Aziraphale, blessedly awkward, is just trying to be polite. But he's also fairly curious. ]

Oh, I...I see.

[ He clears his throat, fussing his hands faintly. Then he stands very straight - straighter -, and tries to make himself look non-threatening.

He's never been threatening in the first place. ]

Well, there's no need to be nervous. Perhaps be a bit more careful about where you're going, your colorful wobbly friends do build quite the stampede.

[Chip isn't put off by the questions--really, they're just thrown off that that's all they're getting. Sure, different worlds and all that, but it's still...he's an angel.]

[Mention of the wobbly pack turns Chip's attention back to them, however, and they look around to try and figure out where the stick has gotten to in the mess. Spotting two of the wobbledogs having a game of tug over it, Chip wades through to attempt to reclaim it.]

I didn't...think anyone else was around. I'll be careful.

[ Well, it might have something to do with how Aziraphale isn't really like most other angels. He suspects any of his kin would have a much more adverse reaction to Chip's existence - even if the antichrist does exist, but he was always expected -, and would probably not be shy about it.

All Aziraphale is, right now, is curious, but he's far too polite to pry more than he has. ]

Right, then. Carry on.

Also- they can be quite slimy. I'd advise you to be careful.

[ The one that's apparently chosen to follow him home is...an experience to deal with. ]

[Erika won't pretend to be quite as interested in animal care as Chip, but she is glad they've found something around here that they're this into working on, and she'll hang around to look after them on and off while they work.

Of course, if she's watching them, she's bound to notice their demeanor. It doesn't strike her as a bad thing, of course - but it is weird. And she's still a little sore over those leather things messing with everyone's behavior, even if it did benefit them in the end.

She just hopes, as she moves a little closer to them (not too close, she does not trust those bees) that this isn't some weird shit, and is just her nibling being in a good mood. Like, a really good mood.]

How're you holding up out here?

[Well, they are in a good mood, that part isn't wrong. Chip shakes their head and starts to open their mouth when one of the bees happens to bumble on past their face and they snap it shut befote any unfortunate accidents can happen. Instead they opt to put two enthusiastic thumbs up and nod vigorously, then run over so they can speak safely.]

I'm doing fine! There's two of the...uh, the rack things that can be scraped off. I dunno if I should do that part alone, though.

[Their bee-based fumbling gets a quiet noise of amusement from Erika, and she waits for them to make their way over.]

Good. If you know how it's done, I should be able to help out with that. [Like, she'll admit, she's got no idea how this works - but if Chip does, she can be... heavy lifting, adult supervision, whatever.]

I only ever held the frame before, but...I think I can scrape it? And we gotta get the stuff out of the hives first, too.

[And they weren't, uh...allowed to help out much with that part. Stinging and all, you know.]

I know there's a watering can you're supposed to use for smoke for that...

Smoke watering can... okay! Got it. [What the fuck even is beekeeping.] Any idea where that's stored?

[Some kind of bullshit magic, man, I don't know.]

It's...um, that shed! [Chip points and starts pulling Erika along.] I think the tub for the honeycomb is in there, too.

Edited 2020-02-06 05:22 (UTC)

[Oh they GOIN', APPARENTLY. Erika laughs, quick and startled, as Chip pulls her toward the shed, and follows along without resistance. Apparently they really are feeling pretty great.]

Alright, awesome! Might as well get it all out at once.

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January Undercurrent: Growing Pains

Chip Abaroa | OTA

Doggos!!

I should apologize in advance for this mess of a kid wheeze

have you met Aziraphale? no apology needed

FAIR

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suck it up

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