In the Town of Hullane. Something is stirring. Awakening, and dragging many people into conflict beyond their limited comprehension. You are merely one of these people. Can you survive this ordeal with your mind whole?
Call from the Deep (Grimdark Urban Fantasy Quest)
- Thread starter Black.Horus
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Threshold
You do not know for how long have you been running for. All you know is how you are fastly approaching your limits.
Can no longer run
Light after light passed you by. Each coming out of the few flickering lamps still functioning above your head. Barely illuminating the narrow path ahead of you. One that looks very old, and unused for decades. With no doors nor a single piece of furniture to be seen anywhere.
Can not even hide
You can hear the sound of your frantic footsteps echoing loudly inside this decript corridor. Matched only by the sound of your ragged breath amidst the deafening silence of the structure.
Pointing out exactly where you are
"Gakh!"
A single misstep, and you fall roughly into the floor. Smashing your teeth, and nose painfully into the hard, dusty concrete. Adding more wounds to your body, one which is already full of it. You tried to ignore the salty taste in your mouth, instead focusing more on the clouding agony that you felt consume your entire being.
Slowing you down
You let out a painful groan as you pushed yourself up to your knee. Your body protesting weakly from the amount of injury, and activity that it had taken. Demanding you to stop, and take a rest. Even if only for a minute or two.
They will catch up
But you can't. You need to get out of this place. To get to somewhere safe. As quickly as possible. Where nothing can't find you. Some place where you can find help.
You felt so tired
You paused however, at the sight before you. Something that breaks the dreadful monotony of this place. Something else beside broken walls, decayed paints, and pieces of rubble scattered haphazardly into the floor.
Something that can give you hope
Which is why you felt nothing but dissappointment after getting a clear look of what it is.
There, laying in front of you, is a mirror. Cracked, and full of smudges, but a mirror nonetheless. Inside it you can see yourself. See the reflection of your sad, sorry state.
You see....
[ ] A Sniveling Child. Looking absolutely terrified, and wanting to go home. (Age 8-12 Years Old)
[ ] A Haggard Teenager. Looking completely exhausted, and lost on what to do. (Age 14-18 Years Old)
[ ] A Panting Adult. Looking very angry, and desperate to escape. (Age 20-24 Years Old)
You closed your eyes, and shake your head with a grimace. Not liking your current appearrance in the slightest. Something that you will never see in any normal day.
But this is not a normal day is it?
You gnashed your teeth, and withdraw a sob. Feeling miserable at what is happening to you. Not even remembering how you could have ended up here in the first place.
You wanted to cry
This is wrong. Wrong, wrong, Wrong, WRONG!!! Why is this happening? It shouldn't be like this. Nothing should be like this. Why is this happening to you? You don't deserve this. You-
You snap your head to behind you. Feeling your stomach drop from what you can feel is coming from the direction where you had come from. From how it is closing in.
They are here!
You quickly stand up to your feet, and recontinued your run, leaving the mirror behind. Almost falling over a few times due to how panicked you are, but you don't care. You can sense them! Coming in closer, and closer. Rapidly shrinking the distance between the two of you. You need something to lose them!
You do not realize since when did the path become a dizzying maze of twist, and turns. With every sources of availabe light becoming fewer and fewer the deeper in that you go. Leaving small areas of deep shadows between them where little if anything can be seen. You can only hope that they slows down what is chasing you. Giving you time to get away. To escape. To get out of this place!
You then saw something new in the distance. Something that eventually becomes clearer and clearer the more that you approached it, and with hope rising up from within your chest you recognized it as the way out! You can see the end of this dark corridor straight ahead of you, where a rusty door made out of iron is placed. One that is slightly opened, allowing a small glimmer of sunlight to slip through it's gap. Thus, with a smile blossoming on your face at how the goal is literally within sight, you rush towards it with all of your mi-
Too late. You realized suddenly in horror. None of those twist and turns had hindered your pursuer in any meaningful way. You can feel them right behind you as you continue to futilely ran towards the door. How you are practically within their arms reach while the door is still so far away from you.
Full of despair, you turn your head around to face them, and you see....
[ ] Nothing But Darkness
- Barest of Intelligence: Attack everything within range.
- Bounded: Travel is very restricted
- Low Attack Power
[ ] A Roaring Flame
- Low Intelligence: Capable of determining time to attack, and selecting targets
- Destructive Path: Travel will leave obvious signs of passage
- Highest Attack Power
[ ] A Wide Ferocious Maw
- Middling Intelligence: Capable of simple planning, and understanding of spoken words
- Messy Trails: Travel will leave recognizeable signs of passage
- High Attack Power
[ ] A Cruel Knife Stained With Blood
- High Intelligence: Capable of complex planning, speech, and creative thinking
- Controlled Steps: Travel will leave almost no signs of passage
- Middling Attack Power
Can no longer run
Light after light passed you by. Each coming out of the few flickering lamps still functioning above your head. Barely illuminating the narrow path ahead of you. One that looks very old, and unused for decades. With no doors nor a single piece of furniture to be seen anywhere.
Can not even hide
You can hear the sound of your frantic footsteps echoing loudly inside this decript corridor. Matched only by the sound of your ragged breath amidst the deafening silence of the structure.
Pointing out exactly where you are
"Gakh!"
A single misstep, and you fall roughly into the floor. Smashing your teeth, and nose painfully into the hard, dusty concrete. Adding more wounds to your body, one which is already full of it. You tried to ignore the salty taste in your mouth, instead focusing more on the clouding agony that you felt consume your entire being.
Slowing you down
You let out a painful groan as you pushed yourself up to your knee. Your body protesting weakly from the amount of injury, and activity that it had taken. Demanding you to stop, and take a rest. Even if only for a minute or two.
They will catch up
But you can't. You need to get out of this place. To get to somewhere safe. As quickly as possible. Where nothing can't find you. Some place where you can find help.
You felt so tired
You paused however, at the sight before you. Something that breaks the dreadful monotony of this place. Something else beside broken walls, decayed paints, and pieces of rubble scattered haphazardly into the floor.
Something that can give you hope
Which is why you felt nothing but dissappointment after getting a clear look of what it is.
There, laying in front of you, is a mirror. Cracked, and full of smudges, but a mirror nonetheless. Inside it you can see yourself. See the reflection of your sad, sorry state.
You see....
[ ] A Sniveling Child. Looking absolutely terrified, and wanting to go home. (Age 8-12 Years Old)
[ ] A Haggard Teenager. Looking completely exhausted, and lost on what to do. (Age 14-18 Years Old)
[ ] A Panting Adult. Looking very angry, and desperate to escape. (Age 20-24 Years Old)
You closed your eyes, and shake your head with a grimace. Not liking your current appearrance in the slightest. Something that you will never see in any normal day.
But this is not a normal day is it?
You gnashed your teeth, and withdraw a sob. Feeling miserable at what is happening to you. Not even remembering how you could have ended up here in the first place.
You wanted to cry
This is wrong. Wrong, wrong, Wrong, WRONG!!! Why is this happening? It shouldn't be like this. Nothing should be like this. Why is this happening to you? You don't deserve this. You-
You snap your head to behind you. Feeling your stomach drop from what you can feel is coming from the direction where you had come from. From how it is closing in.
They are here!
You quickly stand up to your feet, and recontinued your run, leaving the mirror behind. Almost falling over a few times due to how panicked you are, but you don't care. You can sense them! Coming in closer, and closer. Rapidly shrinking the distance between the two of you. You need something to lose them!
You do not realize since when did the path become a dizzying maze of twist, and turns. With every sources of availabe light becoming fewer and fewer the deeper in that you go. Leaving small areas of deep shadows between them where little if anything can be seen. You can only hope that they slows down what is chasing you. Giving you time to get away. To escape. To get out of this place!
You then saw something new in the distance. Something that eventually becomes clearer and clearer the more that you approached it, and with hope rising up from within your chest you recognized it as the way out! You can see the end of this dark corridor straight ahead of you, where a rusty door made out of iron is placed. One that is slightly opened, allowing a small glimmer of sunlight to slip through it's gap. Thus, with a smile blossoming on your face at how the goal is literally within sight, you rush towards it with all of your mi-
Too late. You realized suddenly in horror. None of those twist and turns had hindered your pursuer in any meaningful way. You can feel them right behind you as you continue to futilely ran towards the door. How you are practically within their arms reach while the door is still so far away from you.
Full of despair, you turn your head around to face them, and you see....
[ ] Nothing But Darkness
- Barest of Intelligence: Attack everything within range.
- Bounded: Travel is very restricted
- Low Attack Power
[ ] A Roaring Flame
- Low Intelligence: Capable of determining time to attack, and selecting targets
- Destructive Path: Travel will leave obvious signs of passage
- Highest Attack Power
[ ] A Wide Ferocious Maw
- Middling Intelligence: Capable of simple planning, and understanding of spoken words
- Messy Trails: Travel will leave recognizeable signs of passage
- High Attack Power
[ ] A Cruel Knife Stained With Blood
- High Intelligence: Capable of complex planning, speech, and creative thinking
- Controlled Steps: Travel will leave almost no signs of passage
- Middling Attack Power
Alright, once more into the breach. I present to you all who is interested, another Quest of mine. With the theme this time around being horror. So expect a bit of gore here, and there. With traumatic scenes always lurking around in the corner. Don't know how far can I go with it in SV however, so I would try to not be too explicit in my wordings, and would welcome all suggestions in how to proceed. Update will also be sporadic for now to help me back into writing.
Character Sheet: Thomas 'Tom' Kawakami
Name: Thomas 'Tom' Kawakami
Age: 18
Sex: Male
Occupation: Assistant Librarian
Fund: 2
Health: 20 - - 20/20 (Healthy)
Sanity: 10 - - 10/20 (Exhausted - - Subtract 1 Weekly Action)
STATS:
Force: I (0/100)
Heart: I (0/60)
Mind: I (0/30)
Will: I (0/100)
TRAITS:
Creative: You are someone whose mind is always swarming with ideas. When committing an action related to creation of an object, add 1 dice. Give 15% reduction to Mind Stat Experience requirement.
Compassionate: You are someone whose heart is able to easily reach others. When committing an action related to expressing yourself, add 1 dice. Give 15% reduction to Heart Stat Experience requirement.
Bookworm: You are someone whose mind is filled with many knowledge. When committing an action related to knowing certain facts, add 1 dice. Give 15% reduction to Mind Stat Experience requirement.
????: ????
SKILLS:
Passive:
None
Active:
None
Inventory:
-A Plethora of Simple Crafting Tools: They are the tools you used to make simple homebrew crafts. [Add +2 to dice result related to crafting while in your home, Unlock New Actions]
-A Room Full of Various Musical Equipment: It's a room where you store various equipments that you have to play music. [Add +2 to dice result related to expressing yourself while in your home, Unlock New Actions]
-A Bookcase Filled With Books: It's a bookcase containing many informational books where you usually go to refresh your knowledge. [Add +2 to dice result related to knowing or learning something mundane while in your home, Unlock New Actions]
Equiped:
-Long Lived Flashlight: A Flashlight that you always carried with you. It has a long battery capacity.
GOAL:
Pay Your Tax: Collect 5 Fund for your Monthly Tax. Second Failure: A visit from your parents.
Dream of Peaceful Dream: Figure out a way to stop your nightmare, now! Failure: Insanity, and ????
Last edited:
Stabilize
"Guaakh!!" You loudly screamed yourself out in fear. Being utterly petrified by the incoming tide of Darkness headed rapidly towards you. Unable to do even a single thing as it reaches you in seconds, and swallowed your body whole.
You reacted with your mind being full of terror. You swung your arms and legs wildly in every direction, thrashing yourself around like an animal, desperate to push off the Thing smothering you entirely from head to toe. You can already feel yourself choke from it's hold. Feel yourself being tossed around by it from all sides, yet never being given a release from it's cold, firm grip. Making you wish, and beg for someone, anyone to come and save you from this torment.
Then, as if by some miracle, you felt one of your arms somehow managed get through it to reach open air. Giving you an opportunity to frantically shove a part of the Thing away from you, and allowing you out to see....your room?
Still gasping for breath, you felt yourself blink for several times in confusion. Eyes rapidly moving from side to side. Unconsciously scanning every single inch of your room for any signs of that Thing being present. Absently noting how every single light bulb that you have around the room is still on, and how you are halfway through from getting out of the blanket you had slept in the night before.
For some time, you just sat there staring blankly at one of the white colored wall of your room, with your mouth wide agape, and your back completely drenched with cold sweat. Mind still struggling to process what had just happened, until everything suddenly clicked. Making you drop your face into your palm with a heavy breath of realization.
"Just another nightmare." You said softly to yourself with relief evident in your voice, and a subtle shake of your head. Feeling completely helpless by how many times had you uttered those words in recent memory.
It's childish, you know, but it was just something that you had already accepted about yourself a long time ago, no matter how much you hate yourself for it.
Everyone told you that there is nothing to be feared, that there are nothing sinister where the light doesn't touch, how everything is just a product of your imagination.
You tried to listened to them. Tried to take the advice to your Heart, and convince your Mind of it as fact.
It never worked. No matter what you do, who you talked with, or what methods you used, you just can't seem to just Will yourself into believing it as true. Neither did using Force work. You always buckled before long, and runs off to nearest source of light.
To you, there is just something about the Dark, about places where nothing can't be seen, that had always unnerves you.
You don't know whether it's because of the inability to see without light, or the belief that there is something hiding just barely out of sight, or just something else entirely. What you do know is how you do not want to be anywhere near someplace without any illumination, and how you resolved yourself to avoid situations where you will be needing to be inside one.
For the most part of your life, you succeeded. Of course, there are some hiccups here and there, but you handled them pretty well if you have to say to yourself. You live off in a well developed area of the town where street lights are plenty, always carrying around a flashlight around where ever you go, and in situations where you were absolutely needed to be in a dark place, you managed to do what you needed to do pretty quickly before the pressure of being there started to become too overwhelming.
At the time, you genuinely believe that you can live off your days that way. That continuing your life the exact way you are then is fine.
Everything is perfect.
Until it wasn't.
You still remember it pretty clearly even to this very day. How could you possibly not? When the memory of it practically Lodged itself deeply inside your brain?
It just happened so fast.
To you, it was the worst day of your life. Something that marked the end of your childhood.
At that place, where you do not want to visit ever again.
Where did it happen?
[ ] At an elementary school in your home town.
[ ] At the edge of the Town of Hullane.
"Haaah...."
You let out another depressed sigh as you sluggishly come out of the bathroom. Feeling disappointed by how a refreshing bath just doesn't seem to cheer you up like how it used to be. In the past, a nice warming drizzle like what you just had is enough to brighten up your day, even if only for a little bit.
Nursing a slight headache, you slowly make your way into the living room of your house to cook some breakfast. Only feeling a slight apprehension by how silent everything is. Something that you need to get used to in a quiet town like Hullane. Especially this early in the morning.
Currently you are living only by yourself. You wanted to show to your parents how you can be independent from them despite your crippling issues. You can't be under their protection for forever, and you thought Highschool to be a good time for you to get some experience under your belt.
When you told them of your thoughts, they gave you this two storey house for you to live in. It's quite cozy, and the neighbors aren't a bunch of assholes. So all in all, it's a good place to move in. It was also just a few blocks away from where your distant uncle lived in where he can help watch over you.
You faintly smiled at the memory of your parents trying to talk you down from your decision as you fried several eggs on a frying pan. It's comforting to know that they cared about you enough to fuss over you. It's something that you are thankful for.
Even though it only reaffirms your course of action from then on.
It had been a year since then. You thought as you prepared your meal on the table, a simple fried rice with eggs. You are not a master chef, but from the taste you had from taking the first bite of your cooking, you like to think you were pretty decent.
As you continued to enjoy your breakfast, your mind began to wanders back to what you are thinking moments before. Now that you had completely settled in, you can honestly say that you like the place. You hadn't gotten close to anyone beside maybe one or two people, but you are confident that you can make something for yourself here.
Then the memory of what happened this morning resurfaces from within your mind, and you take your next bite with more force than what you had used before. "If it wasn't for the nightmares." You grumbled lowly with a taste of bitterness slowly creeping inside your mouth.
By all accounts, what happened to you That Day had totally ruined you. Your paranoia of all things dark had gone through the roof, and you can't go in one for more than five minutes without risking a panic attack. Your childish fear had basically evolved into a full blown trauma from your past ordeal.
But. You thought with a scowl more akin to a grimace as you push your unfinished plate away, no longer having an appetite. It was in the past! Time should have make it better right? More bearable? It has been years. It shouldn't have gotten worse!
But it did get worse. You don't know when exactly it had started, but recently all of your dreams had been plagued by nightmare after nightmare. It was only once per week at first, but you got them for almost every single day now! Can't it give you a break!?
Just what am I supposed to do? You thought dejectedly as you lean heavily on the table. Suddenly feeling all the tiredness from days without proper rest at once. I can't go on like this. I am almost at my limit. Can I just go, and ask my parents for help?
You really don't want to. The whole reason of living alone is for you to learn to take care of every problem by yourself. You can't just go, and quit from it only after one year of doing it.
You guess you can go to your uncle instead, but uncle is....uncle. Never mind his behaviour, you just don't want to bother anyone with this for now without thinking things through.
"For now, I'll just look for something to distract myself with instead." You simply said to yourself while glancing to the side. Viewing the entire content of the room for a minute or two, and making plans to exhaust yourself to unconsciousness with them.
What do you see? What kind of people are you?
Pick Three:
[ ] A few sets of used up medical supplies: It's not a really healthy way to cope, but you found the feeling of adrenaline coursing through your vein as you fight someone to be a great release.
[ ] A door leading to a room full of music equipment: You do not want to be anywhere quiet whenever you have an episode, so music is usually your escape. They let you really able to express what is digging you inside.
[ ] A shelf completely filled with various kinds of informational books: Fear of the unknown is the most likely reason for your condition. Thus it's just logical for you to fight it off by stockpiling as many facts about the world around you.
[ ] A box filled with various kinds of new outfits: You do not really like your current self. So even if it was just for a moment, you wanted to be someone else. Acting in ways you thought you couldn't in your real persona. It's something that you can do very well surprisingly.
[ ] A set of expensive gaming equipment: It's pricey, and makes you look like a vampire in a good day, but you like to make your brain work in an enjoyable way without having to move your body around too much.
[ ] Several unopened bags from various stores: Spend, spend, spend, spend! When feeling down, you like to have something new for yourself, and will not hesitate to chat up to some people when something managed to caught your interest.
[ ] A case containing a well cared crossbow: A gift from your mother. You aren't quite sure what to make of it at first, but the excitement and the feeling of accomplishment from a successful hunt might be what you currently need right now.
[ ] A shelf completely filled with various kinds of fictional, and historical books: You like stories of any kind. Reading what the characters do, what motivates them, and what they feel is something of a guilty pleasure for you. Letting you able to witness their strong personality as if you are close to them.
[ ] Various kinds of scattered exercising tools: What is the better way of removing cold sweat than by replacing it with a warm one? A six pack you got out of using them reguraly is also a pretty nice bonus.
[ ] The latest version of a mirrorless camera: You want to feel included, but you never have the courage to actually interact with people. With pictures, you at least would be able to observe any ongoing camaraderie without actively participating in one.
[ ] A desk full of personally hand crafted creations: You wanted to be productive, and before long your itchy fingers just started to move on it's own. Expertly making what you desired like paintings, knitted clothes, sculptures, and etc.
[ ] A new diary: A completely blank book you had just bought. Soon to be filled with your experiences from day to day just like it's predecessor. Where you can get a closer look of who you are.
You reacted with your mind being full of terror. You swung your arms and legs wildly in every direction, thrashing yourself around like an animal, desperate to push off the Thing smothering you entirely from head to toe. You can already feel yourself choke from it's hold. Feel yourself being tossed around by it from all sides, yet never being given a release from it's cold, firm grip. Making you wish, and beg for someone, anyone to come and save you from this torment.
Then, as if by some miracle, you felt one of your arms somehow managed get through it to reach open air. Giving you an opportunity to frantically shove a part of the Thing away from you, and allowing you out to see....your room?
Still gasping for breath, you felt yourself blink for several times in confusion. Eyes rapidly moving from side to side. Unconsciously scanning every single inch of your room for any signs of that Thing being present. Absently noting how every single light bulb that you have around the room is still on, and how you are halfway through from getting out of the blanket you had slept in the night before.
For some time, you just sat there staring blankly at one of the white colored wall of your room, with your mouth wide agape, and your back completely drenched with cold sweat. Mind still struggling to process what had just happened, until everything suddenly clicked. Making you drop your face into your palm with a heavy breath of realization.
"Just another nightmare." You said softly to yourself with relief evident in your voice, and a subtle shake of your head. Feeling completely helpless by how many times had you uttered those words in recent memory.
***
You had always feared the Dark.
It's childish, you know, but it was just something that you had already accepted about yourself a long time ago, no matter how much you hate yourself for it.
Everyone told you that there is nothing to be feared, that there are nothing sinister where the light doesn't touch, how everything is just a product of your imagination.
You tried to listened to them. Tried to take the advice to your Heart, and convince your Mind of it as fact.
It never worked. No matter what you do, who you talked with, or what methods you used, you just can't seem to just Will yourself into believing it as true. Neither did using Force work. You always buckled before long, and runs off to nearest source of light.
To you, there is just something about the Dark, about places where nothing can't be seen, that had always unnerves you.
You don't know whether it's because of the inability to see without light, or the belief that there is something hiding just barely out of sight, or just something else entirely. What you do know is how you do not want to be anywhere near someplace without any illumination, and how you resolved yourself to avoid situations where you will be needing to be inside one.
For the most part of your life, you succeeded. Of course, there are some hiccups here and there, but you handled them pretty well if you have to say to yourself. You live off in a well developed area of the town where street lights are plenty, always carrying around a flashlight around where ever you go, and in situations where you were absolutely needed to be in a dark place, you managed to do what you needed to do pretty quickly before the pressure of being there started to become too overwhelming.
At the time, you genuinely believe that you can live off your days that way. That continuing your life the exact way you are then is fine.
Everything is perfect.
Until it wasn't.
You still remember it pretty clearly even to this very day. How could you possibly not? When the memory of it practically Lodged itself deeply inside your brain?
It just happened so fast.
To you, it was the worst day of your life. Something that marked the end of your childhood.
At that place, where you do not want to visit ever again.
Where did it happen?
[ ] At an elementary school in your home town.
[ ] At the edge of the Town of Hullane.
***
"Haaah...."
You let out another depressed sigh as you sluggishly come out of the bathroom. Feeling disappointed by how a refreshing bath just doesn't seem to cheer you up like how it used to be. In the past, a nice warming drizzle like what you just had is enough to brighten up your day, even if only for a little bit.
Nursing a slight headache, you slowly make your way into the living room of your house to cook some breakfast. Only feeling a slight apprehension by how silent everything is. Something that you need to get used to in a quiet town like Hullane. Especially this early in the morning.
Currently you are living only by yourself. You wanted to show to your parents how you can be independent from them despite your crippling issues. You can't be under their protection for forever, and you thought Highschool to be a good time for you to get some experience under your belt.
When you told them of your thoughts, they gave you this two storey house for you to live in. It's quite cozy, and the neighbors aren't a bunch of assholes. So all in all, it's a good place to move in. It was also just a few blocks away from where your distant uncle lived in where he can help watch over you.
You faintly smiled at the memory of your parents trying to talk you down from your decision as you fried several eggs on a frying pan. It's comforting to know that they cared about you enough to fuss over you. It's something that you are thankful for.
Even though it only reaffirms your course of action from then on.
It had been a year since then. You thought as you prepared your meal on the table, a simple fried rice with eggs. You are not a master chef, but from the taste you had from taking the first bite of your cooking, you like to think you were pretty decent.
As you continued to enjoy your breakfast, your mind began to wanders back to what you are thinking moments before. Now that you had completely settled in, you can honestly say that you like the place. You hadn't gotten close to anyone beside maybe one or two people, but you are confident that you can make something for yourself here.
Then the memory of what happened this morning resurfaces from within your mind, and you take your next bite with more force than what you had used before. "If it wasn't for the nightmares." You grumbled lowly with a taste of bitterness slowly creeping inside your mouth.
By all accounts, what happened to you That Day had totally ruined you. Your paranoia of all things dark had gone through the roof, and you can't go in one for more than five minutes without risking a panic attack. Your childish fear had basically evolved into a full blown trauma from your past ordeal.
But. You thought with a scowl more akin to a grimace as you push your unfinished plate away, no longer having an appetite. It was in the past! Time should have make it better right? More bearable? It has been years. It shouldn't have gotten worse!
But it did get worse. You don't know when exactly it had started, but recently all of your dreams had been plagued by nightmare after nightmare. It was only once per week at first, but you got them for almost every single day now! Can't it give you a break!?
Just what am I supposed to do? You thought dejectedly as you lean heavily on the table. Suddenly feeling all the tiredness from days without proper rest at once. I can't go on like this. I am almost at my limit. Can I just go, and ask my parents for help?
You really don't want to. The whole reason of living alone is for you to learn to take care of every problem by yourself. You can't just go, and quit from it only after one year of doing it.
You guess you can go to your uncle instead, but uncle is....uncle. Never mind his behaviour, you just don't want to bother anyone with this for now without thinking things through.
"For now, I'll just look for something to distract myself with instead." You simply said to yourself while glancing to the side. Viewing the entire content of the room for a minute or two, and making plans to exhaust yourself to unconsciousness with them.
What do you see? What kind of people are you?
Pick Three:
[ ] A few sets of used up medical supplies: It's not a really healthy way to cope, but you found the feeling of adrenaline coursing through your vein as you fight someone to be a great release.
[ ] A door leading to a room full of music equipment: You do not want to be anywhere quiet whenever you have an episode, so music is usually your escape. They let you really able to express what is digging you inside.
[ ] A shelf completely filled with various kinds of informational books: Fear of the unknown is the most likely reason for your condition. Thus it's just logical for you to fight it off by stockpiling as many facts about the world around you.
[ ] A box filled with various kinds of new outfits: You do not really like your current self. So even if it was just for a moment, you wanted to be someone else. Acting in ways you thought you couldn't in your real persona. It's something that you can do very well surprisingly.
[ ] A set of expensive gaming equipment: It's pricey, and makes you look like a vampire in a good day, but you like to make your brain work in an enjoyable way without having to move your body around too much.
[ ] Several unopened bags from various stores: Spend, spend, spend, spend! When feeling down, you like to have something new for yourself, and will not hesitate to chat up to some people when something managed to caught your interest.
[ ] A case containing a well cared crossbow: A gift from your mother. You aren't quite sure what to make of it at first, but the excitement and the feeling of accomplishment from a successful hunt might be what you currently need right now.
[ ] A shelf completely filled with various kinds of fictional, and historical books: You like stories of any kind. Reading what the characters do, what motivates them, and what they feel is something of a guilty pleasure for you. Letting you able to witness their strong personality as if you are close to them.
[ ] Various kinds of scattered exercising tools: What is the better way of removing cold sweat than by replacing it with a warm one? A six pack you got out of using them reguraly is also a pretty nice bonus.
[ ] The latest version of a mirrorless camera: You want to feel included, but you never have the courage to actually interact with people. With pictures, you at least would be able to observe any ongoing camaraderie without actively participating in one.
[ ] A desk full of personally hand crafted creations: You wanted to be productive, and before long your itchy fingers just started to move on it's own. Expertly making what you desired like paintings, knitted clothes, sculptures, and etc.
[ ] A new diary: A completely blank book you had just bought. Soon to be filled with your experiences from day to day just like it's predecessor. Where you can get a closer look of who you are.
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Settle
Cold, damp, and dark. With only a small bastion of light. A place where it's exit is impossible to be reached. Where you spent hours screaming, begging, and scratching to be let out. No one come. They never are and never will and you will be left alone alone alone....
Stomach is hurting and throat is parching. Need to get out. Nothing useful in light. Something in dark? Light is broken. Everything too cold and too dark.
The barest of movements. Slimy, and wet. Mad scramble back to light. Something is in the dark. Waiting, and watching, and hungry, and watching, and waiting. Something is in the dark watching somethingis inthe dark waitingsomeThingisiNtheDarkhUngRy soMetHingIsiNtHedArKEYELetMeoUtlETmeouTLeTmeOU-
You painfully shake your head from side to side. Forcing the memory back to the dark where it belongs, and doing the best that you can to ignore the taste of bile at the back of your tongue and the shiver you felt on your spine. You can't collapse now. You still need to go to school. Think of your family who will be worried sick about you.
You repeat those sentences at the back of your mind over and over again as you struggled to finish cleaning up the leftovers from your breakfast. Unwilling, and used to not leaving them for later.
The few friends that you had always said you were a cleaning maniac, but jokes on them! You are able to just go straight to bed and sleep after an exhausting day at school unlike those lazy fools.
Weren't you?
You gave out another long sigh as you gently caress the scalp of your head with only one hand. Slowly putting your mind back in order. You really need to do something to finally get some proper sleep in. Even your inner voice is starting to sound delirious.
Giving the door leading to the musical room a last wishful glance, you swiftly snatch your bag from the sofa where it was laid down on, and began your casual march to the front door of your house. You will have time to spend on your hobbies later. Anymore delay, and you will break your perfect attendance record.
But. Instead of immediately leaving for school, you were stopped, however, by the sight of an object placed near the front door. Something that was left there by your parent when they gave you this house.
There, standing in front of you as if to mock you is a full person mirror. Where you can see very clearly your unsightly visage in it's smudge free reflection. See how worn out, and tired you are this early in the morning.
What do you see? Who are you really?
[ ] Name
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Gender
-[ ] Male
-[ ] Female
[ ] Image
-[ ] Pale Boy
-[ ] Pale Girl
-[ ] Write-In
How you so want to break this mirror to pieces to resemble it's dream counterpart.
But you can't. You thought as you take a long deep gulp of air down from your nose. Reigning harshly down on your brief impulses. It is still something that was gifted to you from your parents. Not only does it still have some sentimental value attached to it, it would also be headache for you to clean out afterwards. So you do your best to hold yourself in check. You are not a violent person.
No matter how much do you want to smash it.
"There's also the monetary issue to consider...." You softly murmured to yourself at the thought of value. Mind already going back to one of the challenge you had imposed upon yourself as a show of your 'independance' to your family.
While most of it were still handled by your parents, you had also made an agreement with them for you to pay some of the taxes of the house you lived in out of your own wallet. You weren't quite sure about it yourself at first, but you are recovering quite well out of your harrowing ordeal at the time, and thought it would be a good idea to ride out the momentum so to speak.
You had it all figured out too. The distribution of tax between you and your parents that you are able to afford, the allocation of time where you can get everything done while still have a time for some relaxation, and a seemingly stable well paying part time job for your livelihood.
Unfortunately, one of those three are unlike the others, and were one of the main contributing factor for your overall stress last month.
It is something that is sadly completely out of your control. You don't know what exactly is the matter, but it must be quite something for Mr and Mrs Smith to just straight up pack their belonging, and leave like that all of the sudden. While you do wish the best for them, and are thankful of them for employing you with care, you must also admit to be quite annoyed by your surprise jobless status.
You do not want a repeat of the month where you are running all over Hullane to find a prospective job for the rest of your life. It was a time full of distress for you. Even more so if you also count it as when your nightmares had started to become more frequent. Everything was just the worse back then.
Emphasis on was. You thought with a small smile as you opened the front door, and comes out to the small yard outside to finally leave your house. Fortunately you had quickly found yourself a replacement for your source of income. One where while it wasn't exactly ideal, it was one where you are hopefully able to stay comfortably for quite some time.
What is your new side job? You are....
[ ] An Artisan: You don't really have a job at the moment. Instead, what you did do is creating various pieces of art which you then sold to your uncle for a price. You don't really know what he is using them for, but the occasional requests he gave you does makes your mind race sometimes.
[ ] An Assistant Librarian: You are now working as a helper at the local public library. You hadn't expected it to be quite a tiring job at first, but the Head Librarian had thankfully managed to help you get used with your new position. Now if only she hadn't started to come less and less. It's something you didn't really mind if it wasn't for how unusual some of the patrons are.
[ ] A Baby Sitter: Rather than a baby sitter, you are more of a care taker slash tutor really. Looking after childrens, feeding the pets, guarding houses, giving tutors. Those are the kind of work that you began to do recently. Though the job descriptions that you are getting are starting to become quite concerning.
[ ] A Driver: You had now become the highschooler who does delivery, congratulations yourself. It's not something you thought you would use your new car for, but at least it's something. You are able to meet a lot of different people with it, and the few times you drove a passenger to their destinations was pretty interesting. Now if only most of them weren't ordering for you so close to night time.
Stomach is hurting and throat is parching. Need to get out. Nothing useful in light. Something in dark? Light is broken. Everything too cold and too dark.
The barest of movements. Slimy, and wet. Mad scramble back to light. Something is in the dark. Waiting, and watching, and hungry, and watching, and waiting. Something is in the dark watching somethingis inthe dark waitingsomeThingisiNtheDarkhUngRy soMetHingIsiNtHedArKEYELetMeoUtlETmeouTLeTmeOU-
You painfully shake your head from side to side. Forcing the memory back to the dark where it belongs, and doing the best that you can to ignore the taste of bile at the back of your tongue and the shiver you felt on your spine. You can't collapse now. You still need to go to school. Think of your family who will be worried sick about you.
You repeat those sentences at the back of your mind over and over again as you struggled to finish cleaning up the leftovers from your breakfast. Unwilling, and used to not leaving them for later.
The few friends that you had always said you were a cleaning maniac, but jokes on them! You are able to just go straight to bed and sleep after an exhausting day at school unlike those lazy fools.
Weren't you?
You gave out another long sigh as you gently caress the scalp of your head with only one hand. Slowly putting your mind back in order. You really need to do something to finally get some proper sleep in. Even your inner voice is starting to sound delirious.
Giving the door leading to the musical room a last wishful glance, you swiftly snatch your bag from the sofa where it was laid down on, and began your casual march to the front door of your house. You will have time to spend on your hobbies later. Anymore delay, and you will break your perfect attendance record.
But. Instead of immediately leaving for school, you were stopped, however, by the sight of an object placed near the front door. Something that was left there by your parent when they gave you this house.
There, standing in front of you as if to mock you is a full person mirror. Where you can see very clearly your unsightly visage in it's smudge free reflection. See how worn out, and tired you are this early in the morning.
What do you see? Who are you really?
[ ] Name
-[ ] Write-In
[ ] Gender
-[ ] Male
-[ ] Female
[ ] Image
-[ ] Pale Boy
How you so want to break this mirror to pieces to resemble it's dream counterpart.
But you can't. You thought as you take a long deep gulp of air down from your nose. Reigning harshly down on your brief impulses. It is still something that was gifted to you from your parents. Not only does it still have some sentimental value attached to it, it would also be headache for you to clean out afterwards. So you do your best to hold yourself in check. You are not a violent person.
No matter how much do you want to smash it.
"There's also the monetary issue to consider...." You softly murmured to yourself at the thought of value. Mind already going back to one of the challenge you had imposed upon yourself as a show of your 'independance' to your family.
While most of it were still handled by your parents, you had also made an agreement with them for you to pay some of the taxes of the house you lived in out of your own wallet. You weren't quite sure about it yourself at first, but you are recovering quite well out of your harrowing ordeal at the time, and thought it would be a good idea to ride out the momentum so to speak.
You had it all figured out too. The distribution of tax between you and your parents that you are able to afford, the allocation of time where you can get everything done while still have a time for some relaxation, and a seemingly stable well paying part time job for your livelihood.
Unfortunately, one of those three are unlike the others, and were one of the main contributing factor for your overall stress last month.
It is something that is sadly completely out of your control. You don't know what exactly is the matter, but it must be quite something for Mr and Mrs Smith to just straight up pack their belonging, and leave like that all of the sudden. While you do wish the best for them, and are thankful of them for employing you with care, you must also admit to be quite annoyed by your surprise jobless status.
You do not want a repeat of the month where you are running all over Hullane to find a prospective job for the rest of your life. It was a time full of distress for you. Even more so if you also count it as when your nightmares had started to become more frequent. Everything was just the worse back then.
Emphasis on was. You thought with a small smile as you opened the front door, and comes out to the small yard outside to finally leave your house. Fortunately you had quickly found yourself a replacement for your source of income. One where while it wasn't exactly ideal, it was one where you are hopefully able to stay comfortably for quite some time.
What is your new side job? You are....
[ ] An Artisan: You don't really have a job at the moment. Instead, what you did do is creating various pieces of art which you then sold to your uncle for a price. You don't really know what he is using them for, but the occasional requests he gave you does makes your mind race sometimes.
[ ] An Assistant Librarian: You are now working as a helper at the local public library. You hadn't expected it to be quite a tiring job at first, but the Head Librarian had thankfully managed to help you get used with your new position. Now if only she hadn't started to come less and less. It's something you didn't really mind if it wasn't for how unusual some of the patrons are.
[ ] A Baby Sitter: Rather than a baby sitter, you are more of a care taker slash tutor really. Looking after childrens, feeding the pets, guarding houses, giving tutors. Those are the kind of work that you began to do recently. Though the job descriptions that you are getting are starting to become quite concerning.
[ ] A Driver: You had now become the highschooler who does delivery, congratulations yourself. It's not something you thought you would use your new car for, but at least it's something. You are able to meet a lot of different people with it, and the few times you drove a passenger to their destinations was pretty interesting. Now if only most of them weren't ordering for you so close to night time.
Finally done. Sorry for the wait everyone. Need to fine tune a few things a bit. Your previous choices had both opened and closed up quite a few doors. Anyways, the end of prologue is here! This would be the last of your character creation phase.
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Week 1: A New Day
From what you had gathered before moving in to Hullane, the town's center of learning, Hullane Highschool, had never shown itself to be anything but an examplar of the word 'ordinary'.
Not in the sense of the education being given was poor, but in the sense of how there's nothing truly noteworthy to ever came out of the establishment. Both the good, and the bad.
From your research, the school had always managed to constantly produce students with good grades every single year. A great achievement for sure, one that is worthy to be boasted about. Now if only they didn't also get constantly upstaged by those big names institutions from nearby cities. Always a different one every year. Apparantly because of that particular fact, most of the applicants seems to just skip over Hullane entirely due to preferring the more successful, but still near, places of learning.
The school had also managed to resolve any illicit activities committed by their occasional troublemakers so skillfully to the point where anything bad that you could had found about them are from dubious local gossipers. A source where the validity of any given information can easily be put into question.
If anything, the school's ability to always be on the recommended list of school to go to while being nearly unheard of is the only thing worthy of praise. The only reason why you had even became aware of it was due to it being in the same town where your uncle is living.
Truly, it is the perfect place for you to continue your study in peace, and tranquility. A place without any serious competition for you to strees over that is also able to keep any possible problem that you might have in the downlow while still capable of giving you a satisfactory level of education. What more could you have asked for?
Thus, it is with a mixed set of feelings stirring up within your chest did you finally enter the main building of the school's fine establishment this morning. Walking silently alongside the mass of other students with the occasional greeting being given to some of them. All while also steadfastly ignoring their annoyingly loud chatters mercilessly hammering in to your head.
In a year of being here you had gotten exactly what you had hoped from them, yet as you continuously tried to withold a grimace from forming on your face, you are now left to wonder whether it had all been worth your currently deteriotating mental state.
After all, one could say the possible reason for your predicament was due to your current proximity with a....certain place nearby.
"Heeyy, Toom! Yohoo! Are you even awake in there? Say something!" You were pulled out of your thoughts however, by the sound of your nickname being called out by someone. Someone who is right beside you.
You turn your head towards them, and after a couple of blinks, you managed to put a name to the slightly irritated face of someone who is now walking with you side by side. Someone who had apparantly been calling you for a few moments now.
"Oh, Jerry. Sorry, I didn't see you there." You simply said to him in lieu of a greeting. Something which was then met with a twitching smirk from the brown haired, glasses wearing, male teenager who you had grown increasingly well familiar with for over a year now.
"Oh, come on now Tom. That's it? No good morning or something for me? What, am I not good enough for you to tell me about the morning weather?"
"Considering how many have you missed what with your 'late night research'. Maybe you are."
"Hey! I only do those on special occasions. Besides, it's been a while since I had an overslept that bad."
"Watching every episode of an old anime series you had just found all in one sitting during school days is a special occasion?"
"Those are the fan favorites of the time with good plots, Tom! Of course I binged them. I would die of anxiety if I stopped myself midway through!"
You wryly shook your head and smile at the response being given. Not quite understanding yet still pretty amused by the way Jerry simply is. "Fine, good morning Jerry. Happy?"
Looks like he is. Because his smug smirk looks pretty casual now as you both walk together to your assigned class. "Kehe, yeah. Good morning to you too, Tom."
That's was just the way Jerry Turner is you suppose. Getting annoyed by random things while also quick to forget the source of those grievances minutes later. Something that also include his interest too if you're not wrong.
The conversation doesn't seem to be over however. As Jerry still have something to say to you while exaggeratedly acting tired with his shoulders largely slumped downwards, and him putting a show of his hands being put deeply inside his pockets. Something not very pleasant.
"Still. Jeez, such a sharp tongue immediately after daydreaming to yourself. Must have a pretty good sleep, right?" Said Jerry while leaning slightly towards you, before quickly pulling back and wincing at the possible darkening look on your face. "Ah, sorry. You still have one last night?
"Unfortunately." You tersely said to him while entering your class with Jerry following closely behind. You had shared your troubles with him, but beside a few encouraging words, he wasn't able to do anything particuraly meaningful.
"Welp, that sucks. Think it might be time to take some pills?" Said Jerry with a grimace as you both settled down on each of your seats.
....mostly encouraging.
"Might be." You said with a frown as you took a mental note of which of your classmates are currently present. Turning Jerry's suggestion over your mind, and not liking the sound of them even for one tiny bit. "I don't really trust those kind of medications, Jerry. The thought of forcing myself to go under, and be totally helpless during the night doesn't sleep well with me."
"Is that a pun?"
"It is not a pun."
"Well." Continued Jerry as he cock his head to the side to mull over the conversation. His eyes going over from one thing to another to let his mind race. "What about food then? They said eating good food let's you have happy dreams, right? Just what did you eat at home anyways?
You let yourself pause at the question Jerry had asked. Feeling a little bit surprised by the simple, yet possibly effective, suggestion. After a few moments of you considering them throughly inside your mind, you responded. "I...."
What would be your diet pattern for the week?
[ ] "....would eat sufficiently." : Tasteless home cooked food, and cheap street vendor's cuisine. Most of them you thought would be better off if an excessive amount of salt were to be dumped on them. They are nothing grand, but they are mostly what had kept you from getting hungry these days. Cost 0 Fund. No effects.
[ ] "....would eat luxuriously." : Home cooked food with proper seasonings, and warm tasty meals bought from various well known restaurants. Something which you had only allowed yourself to indulge in during the weekend. Although a bit pricy, the feeling of satisfaction you would have gained from a well fed stomach would definitely be worth it. Cost 1 Fund. +5 Health/Sanity.
[ ] "....would eat lavishly." : Mouth watering, thought provoking food from the best restaurant in Hullane. You had ate the food made there only twice, yet the taste of them still lingers clearly inside your mind. The food for the rich. They would be very expensive, but your wallet be dammed will you be happy to eat them every single day. Cost 2 Fund. +7 Health/Sanity. +1d5 boost to a random stat.
"....just what the heck have you been eating?" Said Jerry after he fully took in your words. His eyes immediately narrowing down on you in clear disapproval. Really? This?
"Something normal. You don't need to worry yourself over it." You expertly deflected. You really don't need this right now.
Something which Jerry seemed to heavily disagreed with. "Yeah, as if-"
"As if I believed that!!" Loudly said someone abruptly cutting Jerry off. Catching the two of you off guard with their sudden angry tone, and making the both of you swiftly turning both of your heads towards where the direction of the voice had come from. Where you both can clearly see a confrontation are currently building up close to the classroom's door.
On one side is a group of girls. Some of which you can recognize to originate from your class while others you haven't the slightest of clues. All with something on them that makes each of them distinct from one another. Something that makes them good to the eyes. None of them however, with all their little baubles, can outmatch the one who is currently shouting on top of her lungs at the forefront of the group.
She had a long blond hair, a striking set of emerald eyes, and a face many would say as beautiful. A visage that is only enhanced by her attire which you can only guess as the latest of trends. Her captivating image however are currently marred by the furious expression which are now adorning her face. One she is clearly using to her utmost to berate the opposite side of the confrontation from her.
A side which seems to only consist of a single person. At a glance, what had immediately caught your attention was how he is pretty tall compared to an ordinary highschooler, how he have a medium lenght brown colored hair which seems to be slightly dyed, and how he have a very obvious tattoos on his tanned arm. Same with the blond, the man also seems to be pretty angry right now. Though his is more on the massively irritated side based from his gnashed teeth, and barely controlled speech you almost couldn't hear due to the distance.
You know the two of them. Albeit not in the speaking manner. Who wouldn't in this school? They are Sherry West and Clayton Tucker. They are what people in general would call as the classic Queen Bee, and Troublemaker of the school. Monikers which definitely matches those two from what you had been hearing, and are currently seeing.
Or, there might be something more to them?
"Look, I already said I am sorry alright? I really didn't see you there." Curtly said Tucker with a calming gesture, palms open wide, in an effort to clearly appease the girls.
An effort which proves to not be very effective againts West. "Liar! Then why did you push me so hard!? You knocked me down to the floor!"
"The class is almost starting up, so I am in a hurry. I do not want to get into trouble, alright? Why are you just standing there in front of the door anyway?" Tucker defended.
"So you're saying it was my fault!?" West screeches in response.
"That's not what I am...."
Thus, that was how their rhythm basically goes on from there. Each trying almost desperately to take the lead from the other with West's extras providing background noises from time to time. You pretty much are just ignoring their jarring choruses from that point on. Letting the bunch of sounds that they make in from one ear, and out from the other. They will break it off eventually, you had reasoned.
"....yeah, pretty awful stuff. Though they seems a bit too farfetched to me Tay. What about you Tom? What do you think?" Conspiratorially asked Jerry to you, suddenly snapping you off from the thousand miled stare state that you was momentarily in.
A state that you really don't want him to notice. So you do your dammed best to act as if you had followed Jerry's entire conversation with a nearby student from the very start, and hadn't just doze off on them at the beginning. "Oh? Oh, yes! They do seems pretty farfetched. Why would people even say something like that, right?"
Your attempt at acting however, doesn't rang out the way you had wanted to. As Jerry's expressions are now turned to one of concern. "Are you really alright there, buddy? Maybe a short trip to the infirmary-"
"No!" You cut him off in a panic, not wanting to give anyone anymore reason to worry about you. After spending a moment to calm yourself, you continued, though with your words being much more sedate than before. "No. Thanks for the concern Jerry, but I assure you, I am fine. You don't need to worry about me. Just give me a few minutes, and I will be okay."
While Jerry doesn't seem to be entirely convinced, you at least managed to get a single hesitant nod out of him. You both know this wasn't over, but he also knows you didn't want this to continue for much longer either. He will have his chance to talk with you more later on. Where the place is much more private. For now however? This conversation is over.
Just like the one West, and Tucker have with each other too it seems. You mentally noted to yourself. Giving a side eyed glance towards the quickly dispersing crowd. Leaving the slightly smug looking class president behind who must had closed the act before it could truly take off.
For a moment, you wondered whether you could have helped her in some manner of form, but you immediately silenced those thoughts from completely forming within your head. You don't have the pleasure of having a large amount of time you could freely use to bother someone else randomly. Doing something ill preparedly or when not in your full condition would always resulted poorly.
You lightly shook your head to bring your mind back into focus. First thing first. You need to figure out a way to deal with your lack of rest. Anything else can wait.
What would be your schedule for this week?
You have 3 AP (4 - 1 = 3 from exhausted status)
PERSONAL
[ ] Scary Tale: There's no denying how you are in a desparate need for some recreation. Something to pull your mind away from all the nightmares. Jerry thus had offered you a solution when you had asked him for help. Spend some time with him at the local cinema watching horror movies. You....weren't quite sure why. Cost 1 AP, and 0 Fund. Reward: ????
[ ] Discordant Notes: While checking your music room for some quality relaxation, you had found some of your Musical Instrument to be in a dire need for a repair. Nothing particuraly urgent thankfully. They seemed to be the result of you playing them a bit too harshly in recent days. A quick trip to a nearby store for some necesary repair materials should be good enough for you to make them as good as new. Cost 2 AP, and 1 Fund. Reward: Removal of Broken Notes.
[ ] Drug Run: You didn't like it, but Jerry is right. It might be time to swallow all of your grievances along with some sleep medications to finally get some proper rest. You aren't quite sure what to take however. It doesn't seem to be the recommended course of action from what little information you had gathered. Some medicines are even said to make the nightmares worse you had found. A trip to the local clinic for some consultation seems to be necesary if you want to pursue this option. Cost 1 AP, and 1 Fund. Reward: +2 Dice to resist Dreaming.
[ ] Connected Threads: Socializing is an important aspect to a Human being. You are not an exemption to this, and honestly, you prefer company more than silence. It is time for you to spend some time with those you know to deepen up your bonds with them. You will be talking to:
-[ ] Jerry, the Story Lover. Cost 1 AP.
-[ ] Uncle Roy, the Distant Blood. Cost 1 AP.
-[ ] Miss Alice, the Head Librarian. Cost 1 AP.
[ ] Home Alone: It is unfortunate, but you often found yourself deep in the embrace of solitude. All for one reason or another. You usually spend those times doing something either productive, or calming to your soul. Now is not any different. You will be:
-[ ] Creating some Homecrafts. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1 Fund.
-[ ] Practicing some Music. Broken Notes: Availabe only for 2 Times. Cost 1 AP. Reward: +1d10 Sanity.
-[ ] Refreshing some Subjects. Cost 1 AP. Reward: +1d5 Mind.
[ ] Aimless Road: Sometimes, it's better to just let everything fade away, and go to wherever your feet would take you. Familiar, and unfamiliar. While they are still within the bounds of Hullane, seeing them still brought you a small degree of adventure. Cost 1 AP. Reward: ????
ASSIGNMENT
[ ] Strange Guests: One of your main responsibilities as an Assistant Librarian was to obviously assist the Head Librarian in their duties to the Library. This usually takes form in them leaving you with the tiring task of watching over the library's patrons. Quite simple on paper, but these patrons just kept asking you the strangest of things. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1d2 Fund.
[ ] Dusty Tomes: As an Assistant Librarian, you would of course be asked to help reorganizing the library's books. From those which had just been returned, to those which had just simply been out of place. It is your job to put them back to their proper order. Sometimes it could be pretty confusing due to the size of the library, but you could make do with less. Within the building, you had never felt alone. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1 Fund.
[ ] Late Collecting: People would always be irresponsible. It is a fact you had learned from your uncle. You now learned those facts again from these 'borrowers' who is incapable of returning their books back on time. Necessitating you to go to their doorstep, and ask them to relinquish those books directly. You need to be careful however. Miss Alice had told you how some of them might react pretty aggressively to your sudden arrival. Cost 2 AP. Reward: 2d2 Fund.
[ ] Resource Grap: Even a library would need to restock their supplies eventually. Ink, paper, and any damaged library assets. They would all need to be replaced immediately when their condition was found wanting. Hullane Library apparantly have prefered places where you could find these replacements without any sort of delay. All you need is to have an open mind, Miss Alice had advised. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1d2 Fund.
Not in the sense of the education being given was poor, but in the sense of how there's nothing truly noteworthy to ever came out of the establishment. Both the good, and the bad.
From your research, the school had always managed to constantly produce students with good grades every single year. A great achievement for sure, one that is worthy to be boasted about. Now if only they didn't also get constantly upstaged by those big names institutions from nearby cities. Always a different one every year. Apparantly because of that particular fact, most of the applicants seems to just skip over Hullane entirely due to preferring the more successful, but still near, places of learning.
The school had also managed to resolve any illicit activities committed by their occasional troublemakers so skillfully to the point where anything bad that you could had found about them are from dubious local gossipers. A source where the validity of any given information can easily be put into question.
If anything, the school's ability to always be on the recommended list of school to go to while being nearly unheard of is the only thing worthy of praise. The only reason why you had even became aware of it was due to it being in the same town where your uncle is living.
Truly, it is the perfect place for you to continue your study in peace, and tranquility. A place without any serious competition for you to strees over that is also able to keep any possible problem that you might have in the downlow while still capable of giving you a satisfactory level of education. What more could you have asked for?
Thus, it is with a mixed set of feelings stirring up within your chest did you finally enter the main building of the school's fine establishment this morning. Walking silently alongside the mass of other students with the occasional greeting being given to some of them. All while also steadfastly ignoring their annoyingly loud chatters mercilessly hammering in to your head.
In a year of being here you had gotten exactly what you had hoped from them, yet as you continuously tried to withold a grimace from forming on your face, you are now left to wonder whether it had all been worth your currently deteriotating mental state.
After all, one could say the possible reason for your predicament was due to your current proximity with a....certain place nearby.
"Heeyy, Toom! Yohoo! Are you even awake in there? Say something!" You were pulled out of your thoughts however, by the sound of your nickname being called out by someone. Someone who is right beside you.
You turn your head towards them, and after a couple of blinks, you managed to put a name to the slightly irritated face of someone who is now walking with you side by side. Someone who had apparantly been calling you for a few moments now.
"Oh, Jerry. Sorry, I didn't see you there." You simply said to him in lieu of a greeting. Something which was then met with a twitching smirk from the brown haired, glasses wearing, male teenager who you had grown increasingly well familiar with for over a year now.
"Oh, come on now Tom. That's it? No good morning or something for me? What, am I not good enough for you to tell me about the morning weather?"
"Considering how many have you missed what with your 'late night research'. Maybe you are."
"Hey! I only do those on special occasions. Besides, it's been a while since I had an overslept that bad."
"Watching every episode of an old anime series you had just found all in one sitting during school days is a special occasion?"
"Those are the fan favorites of the time with good plots, Tom! Of course I binged them. I would die of anxiety if I stopped myself midway through!"
You wryly shook your head and smile at the response being given. Not quite understanding yet still pretty amused by the way Jerry simply is. "Fine, good morning Jerry. Happy?"
Looks like he is. Because his smug smirk looks pretty casual now as you both walk together to your assigned class. "Kehe, yeah. Good morning to you too, Tom."
That's was just the way Jerry Turner is you suppose. Getting annoyed by random things while also quick to forget the source of those grievances minutes later. Something that also include his interest too if you're not wrong.
The conversation doesn't seem to be over however. As Jerry still have something to say to you while exaggeratedly acting tired with his shoulders largely slumped downwards, and him putting a show of his hands being put deeply inside his pockets. Something not very pleasant.
"Still. Jeez, such a sharp tongue immediately after daydreaming to yourself. Must have a pretty good sleep, right?" Said Jerry while leaning slightly towards you, before quickly pulling back and wincing at the possible darkening look on your face. "Ah, sorry. You still have one last night?
"Unfortunately." You tersely said to him while entering your class with Jerry following closely behind. You had shared your troubles with him, but beside a few encouraging words, he wasn't able to do anything particuraly meaningful.
"Welp, that sucks. Think it might be time to take some pills?" Said Jerry with a grimace as you both settled down on each of your seats.
....mostly encouraging.
"Might be." You said with a frown as you took a mental note of which of your classmates are currently present. Turning Jerry's suggestion over your mind, and not liking the sound of them even for one tiny bit. "I don't really trust those kind of medications, Jerry. The thought of forcing myself to go under, and be totally helpless during the night doesn't sleep well with me."
"Is that a pun?"
"It is not a pun."
"Well." Continued Jerry as he cock his head to the side to mull over the conversation. His eyes going over from one thing to another to let his mind race. "What about food then? They said eating good food let's you have happy dreams, right? Just what did you eat at home anyways?
You let yourself pause at the question Jerry had asked. Feeling a little bit surprised by the simple, yet possibly effective, suggestion. After a few moments of you considering them throughly inside your mind, you responded. "I...."
What would be your diet pattern for the week?
[ ] "....would eat sufficiently." : Tasteless home cooked food, and cheap street vendor's cuisine. Most of them you thought would be better off if an excessive amount of salt were to be dumped on them. They are nothing grand, but they are mostly what had kept you from getting hungry these days. Cost 0 Fund. No effects.
[ ] "....would eat luxuriously." : Home cooked food with proper seasonings, and warm tasty meals bought from various well known restaurants. Something which you had only allowed yourself to indulge in during the weekend. Although a bit pricy, the feeling of satisfaction you would have gained from a well fed stomach would definitely be worth it. Cost 1 Fund. +5 Health/Sanity.
[ ] "....would eat lavishly." : Mouth watering, thought provoking food from the best restaurant in Hullane. You had ate the food made there only twice, yet the taste of them still lingers clearly inside your mind. The food for the rich. They would be very expensive, but your wallet be dammed will you be happy to eat them every single day. Cost 2 Fund. +7 Health/Sanity. +1d5 boost to a random stat.
"....just what the heck have you been eating?" Said Jerry after he fully took in your words. His eyes immediately narrowing down on you in clear disapproval. Really? This?
"Something normal. You don't need to worry yourself over it." You expertly deflected. You really don't need this right now.
Something which Jerry seemed to heavily disagreed with. "Yeah, as if-"
"As if I believed that!!" Loudly said someone abruptly cutting Jerry off. Catching the two of you off guard with their sudden angry tone, and making the both of you swiftly turning both of your heads towards where the direction of the voice had come from. Where you both can clearly see a confrontation are currently building up close to the classroom's door.
On one side is a group of girls. Some of which you can recognize to originate from your class while others you haven't the slightest of clues. All with something on them that makes each of them distinct from one another. Something that makes them good to the eyes. None of them however, with all their little baubles, can outmatch the one who is currently shouting on top of her lungs at the forefront of the group.
She had a long blond hair, a striking set of emerald eyes, and a face many would say as beautiful. A visage that is only enhanced by her attire which you can only guess as the latest of trends. Her captivating image however are currently marred by the furious expression which are now adorning her face. One she is clearly using to her utmost to berate the opposite side of the confrontation from her.
A side which seems to only consist of a single person. At a glance, what had immediately caught your attention was how he is pretty tall compared to an ordinary highschooler, how he have a medium lenght brown colored hair which seems to be slightly dyed, and how he have a very obvious tattoos on his tanned arm. Same with the blond, the man also seems to be pretty angry right now. Though his is more on the massively irritated side based from his gnashed teeth, and barely controlled speech you almost couldn't hear due to the distance.
You know the two of them. Albeit not in the speaking manner. Who wouldn't in this school? They are Sherry West and Clayton Tucker. They are what people in general would call as the classic Queen Bee, and Troublemaker of the school. Monikers which definitely matches those two from what you had been hearing, and are currently seeing.
Or, there might be something more to them?
"Look, I already said I am sorry alright? I really didn't see you there." Curtly said Tucker with a calming gesture, palms open wide, in an effort to clearly appease the girls.
An effort which proves to not be very effective againts West. "Liar! Then why did you push me so hard!? You knocked me down to the floor!"
"The class is almost starting up, so I am in a hurry. I do not want to get into trouble, alright? Why are you just standing there in front of the door anyway?" Tucker defended.
"So you're saying it was my fault!?" West screeches in response.
"That's not what I am...."
Thus, that was how their rhythm basically goes on from there. Each trying almost desperately to take the lead from the other with West's extras providing background noises from time to time. You pretty much are just ignoring their jarring choruses from that point on. Letting the bunch of sounds that they make in from one ear, and out from the other. They will break it off eventually, you had reasoned.
"....yeah, pretty awful stuff. Though they seems a bit too farfetched to me Tay. What about you Tom? What do you think?" Conspiratorially asked Jerry to you, suddenly snapping you off from the thousand miled stare state that you was momentarily in.
A state that you really don't want him to notice. So you do your dammed best to act as if you had followed Jerry's entire conversation with a nearby student from the very start, and hadn't just doze off on them at the beginning. "Oh? Oh, yes! They do seems pretty farfetched. Why would people even say something like that, right?"
Your attempt at acting however, doesn't rang out the way you had wanted to. As Jerry's expressions are now turned to one of concern. "Are you really alright there, buddy? Maybe a short trip to the infirmary-"
"No!" You cut him off in a panic, not wanting to give anyone anymore reason to worry about you. After spending a moment to calm yourself, you continued, though with your words being much more sedate than before. "No. Thanks for the concern Jerry, but I assure you, I am fine. You don't need to worry about me. Just give me a few minutes, and I will be okay."
While Jerry doesn't seem to be entirely convinced, you at least managed to get a single hesitant nod out of him. You both know this wasn't over, but he also knows you didn't want this to continue for much longer either. He will have his chance to talk with you more later on. Where the place is much more private. For now however? This conversation is over.
Just like the one West, and Tucker have with each other too it seems. You mentally noted to yourself. Giving a side eyed glance towards the quickly dispersing crowd. Leaving the slightly smug looking class president behind who must had closed the act before it could truly take off.
For a moment, you wondered whether you could have helped her in some manner of form, but you immediately silenced those thoughts from completely forming within your head. You don't have the pleasure of having a large amount of time you could freely use to bother someone else randomly. Doing something ill preparedly or when not in your full condition would always resulted poorly.
You lightly shook your head to bring your mind back into focus. First thing first. You need to figure out a way to deal with your lack of rest. Anything else can wait.
What would be your schedule for this week?
You have 3 AP (4 - 1 = 3 from exhausted status)
PERSONAL
[ ] Scary Tale: There's no denying how you are in a desparate need for some recreation. Something to pull your mind away from all the nightmares. Jerry thus had offered you a solution when you had asked him for help. Spend some time with him at the local cinema watching horror movies. You....weren't quite sure why. Cost 1 AP, and 0 Fund. Reward: ????
[ ] Discordant Notes: While checking your music room for some quality relaxation, you had found some of your Musical Instrument to be in a dire need for a repair. Nothing particuraly urgent thankfully. They seemed to be the result of you playing them a bit too harshly in recent days. A quick trip to a nearby store for some necesary repair materials should be good enough for you to make them as good as new. Cost 2 AP, and 1 Fund. Reward: Removal of Broken Notes.
[ ] Drug Run: You didn't like it, but Jerry is right. It might be time to swallow all of your grievances along with some sleep medications to finally get some proper rest. You aren't quite sure what to take however. It doesn't seem to be the recommended course of action from what little information you had gathered. Some medicines are even said to make the nightmares worse you had found. A trip to the local clinic for some consultation seems to be necesary if you want to pursue this option. Cost 1 AP, and 1 Fund. Reward: +2 Dice to resist Dreaming.
[ ] Connected Threads: Socializing is an important aspect to a Human being. You are not an exemption to this, and honestly, you prefer company more than silence. It is time for you to spend some time with those you know to deepen up your bonds with them. You will be talking to:
-[ ] Jerry, the Story Lover. Cost 1 AP.
-[ ] Uncle Roy, the Distant Blood. Cost 1 AP.
-[ ] Miss Alice, the Head Librarian. Cost 1 AP.
[ ] Home Alone: It is unfortunate, but you often found yourself deep in the embrace of solitude. All for one reason or another. You usually spend those times doing something either productive, or calming to your soul. Now is not any different. You will be:
-[ ] Creating some Homecrafts. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1 Fund.
-[ ] Practicing some Music. Broken Notes: Availabe only for 2 Times. Cost 1 AP. Reward: +1d10 Sanity.
-[ ] Refreshing some Subjects. Cost 1 AP. Reward: +1d5 Mind.
[ ] Aimless Road: Sometimes, it's better to just let everything fade away, and go to wherever your feet would take you. Familiar, and unfamiliar. While they are still within the bounds of Hullane, seeing them still brought you a small degree of adventure. Cost 1 AP. Reward: ????
ASSIGNMENT
[ ] Strange Guests: One of your main responsibilities as an Assistant Librarian was to obviously assist the Head Librarian in their duties to the Library. This usually takes form in them leaving you with the tiring task of watching over the library's patrons. Quite simple on paper, but these patrons just kept asking you the strangest of things. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1d2 Fund.
[ ] Dusty Tomes: As an Assistant Librarian, you would of course be asked to help reorganizing the library's books. From those which had just been returned, to those which had just simply been out of place. It is your job to put them back to their proper order. Sometimes it could be pretty confusing due to the size of the library, but you could make do with less. Within the building, you had never felt alone. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1 Fund.
[ ] Late Collecting: People would always be irresponsible. It is a fact you had learned from your uncle. You now learned those facts again from these 'borrowers' who is incapable of returning their books back on time. Necessitating you to go to their doorstep, and ask them to relinquish those books directly. You need to be careful however. Miss Alice had told you how some of them might react pretty aggressively to your sudden arrival. Cost 2 AP. Reward: 2d2 Fund.
[ ] Resource Grap: Even a library would need to restock their supplies eventually. Ink, paper, and any damaged library assets. They would all need to be replaced immediately when their condition was found wanting. Hullane Library apparantly have prefered places where you could find these replacements without any sort of delay. All you need is to have an open mind, Miss Alice had advised. Cost 1 AP. Reward: 1d2 Fund.
Finally. I have finished this update!!
Sorry for the delay everyone. Like always, I am struggling to write character interactions, but I think I am getting a very good grasp of how I want to shape my characters now. So hopefully next update will come faster.
Nonetheless, I think I did very good with this chapter. There are a lot of things I have said here both in written, and unwritten way. I wonder how many could you guess right?
Sorry for the delay everyone. Like always, I am struggling to write character interactions, but I think I am getting a very good grasp of how I want to shape my characters now. So hopefully next update will come faster.
Nonetheless, I think I did very good with this chapter. There are a lot of things I have said here both in written, and unwritten way. I wonder how many could you guess right?
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