In The Dust Of The Earth (Quest, Apocalypse)

[fallintolife]

The First Resurrection​

It's one of those days.

Too hot to be comfortable indoors without a fan, too cold to turn on the air conditioning. Your clothes constantly feel as if they don't fit right, and you're hyper-aware of every sound and passing breath of wind. The smell of freshly-thawed dog shit hovers at the edge of your senses, just enough to complete the package of awful sensory stimuli.

"Not feeling it today?"

The guy behind the counter looks over, smiling lopsidedly. You've been coming here a while, long enough to be on a first-name basis with him. Still, it feels a little uncomfortable to call him Rick, when you were introduced to him as Mr. Mason. Why, you're not sure, but despite his attempts to be friendly, you can't quite shake formalities.

He swaggers around the corner, dropping a tray onto your table. He's not normally one to give out free stuff, but here it is, one tray of:

[] ice cream. He hastily opened his shop last week when the first thaw turned into the first heat wave. Hasty or not, he's been making a killing while the other summer shops struggle to open their doors.
[x] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.
[] small candies. Usually it's his wife running the place, but she's away at a candy convention. Yes, a candy convention.​

You muster up a smile in return. It's not making much of a dent in your ennui, but you appreciate the effort.

He chuckles in return, and shoots you:

[] an outrageous wink. You're not sure why he feels the need to hit on everything female who comes into his store, but he does.
[] a finger-gun, complete with sound effect. By god, if that man does not stop trying to hook you up with every girl who walks in here just because you're a guy, you're going to... well, probably do nothing. The food here is still really good.
[x] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.​

You look at the tray, sighing to yourself and making a half-hearted attempt at eating a bit of it. It's fantastic as always, but the weather has soured your mood.

Before you can start feeling awkward about potentially wasting the free food, your phone chimes with a reminder. You fish it out, and see that:

[] your friends should be here soon.
[x] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house.
[] it's time to take your medication.​

--

Everything matters. All roads lead to ruin.

 

[fallintolife]

You

Your name is Jordan, called Wisely by your friends. You're former military (NCO, thanks), but came back to your hometown to take care of your dying mother. You like pizza and cats.

Your bonds

Mr. Mason: Rick Mason, owner of Mason's Firehouse. He's invited you to just call him Rick, but it doesn't feel right to you to do so.
Sammy: Your roommate, a third-shifter. You're close friends.
Wormwood: Your service cat. An unholy terror to everyone but you.

 

[fallintolife]

Skills

+1 DP toward mental skills
+2 DP toward physical skills
+1 general DP
+1 First Aid
+1 Leadership

inventory

• Key ring: house key, bedroom key, shed key, small plastic rewards cards
• Cell phone: 89% charge, powered on, standard smart phone
• Wallet: ID, bank card, condom, full-sized rewards card
• Clothes

 

[fallintolife]

You may post.

 

[Dark Ness]

[X] ice cream. He hastily opened his shop last week when the first thaw turned into the first heat wave. Hasty or not, he's been making a killing while the other summer shops struggle to open their doors.
[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.
[X] it's time to take your medication.

 

[NotAKobold]

[X] ice cream. He hastily opened his shop last week when the first thaw turned into the first heat wave. Hasty or not, he's been making a killing while the other summer shops struggle to open their doors.
[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.
[X] it's time to take your medication.

Might as well get on the ground floor of this, as it were.
Time to start the ice cream-eating drugged-up apocalypse of indeterminate gender!

 

[Daecl]

[X] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.

Pizza!

[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.

Yet another center of shipping chart! Here we go!

[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house

Let's find out the shiny!

 

[Jiven]

[X] small candies. Usually it's his wife running the place, but she's away at a candy convention. Yes, a candy convention.​

[X] an outrageous wink. You're not sure why he feels the need to hit on everything female who comes into his store, but he does.
[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house​

 

[Cornix Argentus]

[X] small candies. Usually it's his wife running the place, but she's away at a candy convention. Yes, a candy convention.
[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.
[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house

Nobody knows what gender we are, and we will never let them know.

 

[NotAKobold]

Furthermore, we should be(or at least appear to be) completely oblivious about this whole "gender" thing. Assuming that we even have one.

 

[fallintolife]

Furthermore, we should be(or at least appear to be) completely oblivious about this whole "gender" thing. Assuming that we even have one.

Click to shrink...

Spoiler: Relevant gif

 

[Vanestus]

[X] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.
[X] a finger-gun, complete with sound effect. By god, if that man does not stop trying to hook you up with every girl who walks in here just because you're a guy, you're going to... well, probably do nothing. The food here is still really good.
[X] it's time to take your medication.

 

[Tylonius]

[X] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.
[X] a finger-gun, complete with sound effect. By god, if that man does not stop trying to hook you up with every girl who walks in here just because you're a guy, you're going to... well, probably do nothing. The food here is still really good.
[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house

 

[Ysarsid]

[X] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.

[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.

[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house

 

[Ferretshock]

[X] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.

[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone asandrogynous as you, and it shows.

[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house

 

[Harly]

[X] ice cream. He hastily opened his shop last week when the first thaw turned into the first heat wave. Hasty or not, he's been making a killing while the other summer shops struggle to open their doors.
[X] an outrageous wink. You're not sure why he feels the need to hit on everything female who comes into his store, but he does.
[X] your friends should be here soon.

 

[assana73]

[X] ice cream. He hastily opened his shop last week when the first thaw turned into the first heat wave. Hasty or not, he's been making a killing while the other summer shops struggle to open their doors.
[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.
[X] it's time to take your medication.

 

[Arkatekt]

[X] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.
[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.
[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house.

This looks like it should be interesting.

 

[Ridiculously Average Guy]

[X] ice cream. He hastily opened his shop last week when the first thaw turned into the first heat wave. Hasty or not, he's been making a killing while the other summer shops struggle to open their doors.

I like Ice cream.

[X] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.

It's traditional.

[X] it's time to take your medication.

Somebody who needs to take meds in an Apoc setting? This can only go well.

 

[drake_azathoth]

[X] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.
[X] a finger-gun, complete with sound effect. By god, if that man does not stop trying to hook you up with every girl who walks in here just because you're a guy, you're going to... well, probably do nothing. The food here is still really good.
[X] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house.

 

[fallintolife]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

[] pizza. Mason's Firehouse has been around longer than you've been alive, and the pies here are widely considered the best in the region.
[] an awkward wave. He doesn't really know what to do with someone as androgynous as you, and it shows.
[] the package you special ordered just arrived at your house

You grin, standing. You've been waiting for this for ages. Amazon has just about anything you want, but sometimes it takes forever to ship, or get in stock, or process the order. You'd been hit by all three, unfortunately. Now, though, you will have your prize.

"I'm headed out!" You call toward the counter, pocketing your phone. Normally you'd stick around a bit, wait to see if any of the other regulars show their faces, but you really can't wait.

Mr. Mason tosses a pizza box your way, and you:

[x] catch it, your reflexes more than up to the task. [+1 Development Point toward physical skills]
[] fumble it a little, anticipating the throw from how well you know Mr. Mason. [+1 Development Point toward social skills]
[] botch the catch entirely; you're not very good at this kind of thing. [+1 Development Point toward mental skills]​

He laughs and shakes his head. "I should have known." A chime sounds in the back, signalling that someone's just placed an online order, and he disappears to make some pizza while you put your own into the box. That done, you:

[x] click to your service cat, Wormwood, to call him to your side. You didn't name him that, he named himself.
[] throw on your backpack, making sure to secure the straps. It's a damned good backpack; featherlight when it's empty, with a bunch of hooks and pockets and storage space.
[] pull out a scrap of paper to double-check the code for your bike lock. You've got one of those lightweight, foldable bikes, and you love it to death. (You've got the comfort seat on it and an air pump at home.)
[] check your belt for your multi-tool. You know it's probably still there, but it makes you feel better to check.​

Getting back to your house is pretty quick; you have the good fortune to live close to Mason's. The neighborhood is a little quieter than you're used to, but you suppose that's to be expected. It shouldn't be this hot in March, not when you had snowfall just last week. People are probably holed up in their house turning the air conditioning on and off every few minutes.

When you do get home, you lock your bike up out front, not intending to be back for very long. "Hey!" You call out into the silence of the house, pocketing your keys and locking the door behind you. When you don't get a response, you frown. That's weird. You should have been greeted by:

[] Asphodel, your annoyingly chatty Siamese cat. You aren't very good at naming things.
[x] your roommate Sammy, who should just be getting up now for his third-shift job.
[] your girlfriend, Anna. Things are a little tense between you right now, but it's her day off and she usually spends those relaxing at home.
[] your not-quite-boyfriend, Karl. He's been sick, and insistent on sleeping it off in your bed.
[] your father. You're a senior in high school, therefore not quite old enough to live on your own.
​

--

You can pick as many others in the house as there are options, but mix and match is done at your own peril.

 

[Cornix Argentus]

[X] catch it, your reflexes more than up to the task. [+1 Development Point toward physical skills]
[X] click to your service cat, Wormwood, to call him to your side. You didn't name him that, he named himself.
[X] your father. You're a senior in high school, therefore not quite old enough to live on your own.

 

[Ct613hulu]

[X] fumble it a little, anticipating the throw from how well you know Mr. Mason. [+1 Development Point toward social skills]

[X] click to your service cat, Wormwood, to call him to your side. You didn't name him that, he named himself.

[X] your father. You're a senior in high school, therefore not quite old enough to live on your own.

[X] Asphodel, your annoyingly chatty Siamese cat. You aren't very good at naming things.

 

[NotAKobold]

[x] fumble it a little, anticipating the throw from how well you know Mr. Mason. [+1 Development Point toward social skills]
What's an evil overlord hero without minions friends?
[x] click to your service cat, Wormwood, to call him to your side. You didn't name him that, he named himself.
[x] Asphodel, your annoyingly chatty Siamese cat. You aren't very good at naming things.
We need legions of feline terror ninja adorable fluffy pets. For morale. Most certainly not assassinations.

 

[drake_azathoth]

[X] catch it, your reflexes more than up to the task. [+1 Development Point toward physical skills]

[X] pull out a scrap of paper to double-check the code for your bike lock. You've got one of those lightweight, foldable bikes, and you love it to death. (You've got the comfort seat on it and an air pump at home.)

[X] your roommate Sammy, who should just be getting up now for his third-shift job.

If the development point was a long-term issue I'd say go mental or social, but to start out with physical skills will probably be important just to survive. Mobility is critical, a bike that is not only lightweight but foldable is big plus, whereas a multitool while useful can be replaced by a typical toolbox. It will also navigate streets full of stalled cars or whatever tight spaces show up better than a car. As for who we live with, it seems very likely when things fall apart we'll need to have someone we trust to watch things while we sleep. A third-shifter is actually a big plus from that point, they don't risk falling asleep on watch as much and won't resent it as much.