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route666rp2026-02-06 03:50 pm
monstertruckers) wrote in route666rp2026-02-06 03:50 pm
Entry tags:
- !event,
- digital devil saga: serph,
- downton abbey: edward courtenay,
- fallout: knight maximus,
- fallout: lucy maclean,
- fallout: paladin danse,
- fear & hunger 2: levi,
- hazbin hotel: alastor,
- hazbin hotel: vox,
- persona 5: goro akechi,
- rise of the tmnt: donatello,
- rise of the tmnt: leonardo,
- summer sons: andrew blur,
- the raven cycle: joseph kavinsky,
- tmnt 2012: raphael,
- twd: negan smith,
- werewolf by night: jack russell
FEBRUARY EVENT
The route back down to the flat lands is easier, now that the storm has subsided. Through the trees and the rocks Nirvana lurks on the horizon, trying to beckon the Convoy on. But as the slope becomes less steep and the trees thin out, a new feature arrives to take their place.
01: CRYSTALS
Tree and hand sized clusters of crystals grow up from the ground, and glow with myriad colors. Coming into contact with the crystals has a variety of effects; either prompting changes in the Drifters, or in the environment. Usually their color is a clue:
Purple: Summons lightning from the sky or arcing from crystal to flesh. Can also instill feelings of agitation and restlessness.
Red: Ignites fire in the air, shoots wildfire along the ground, or in the worst case sets flesh ablaze. It can also cause aggression, fury, and reckless action.
Green: Calls wind in either gusts or razor blades of air. It can also force feelings of claustrophobia if shut inside cars or the Convoy, and a need for open spaces.
Blue: Causes flooding or spikes of ice and frostbite. Drifters may feel their emotions growing cold and reserved.
White: Heal injuries or reverse a single transformation. Also the rarest color.
Black: Results in in a transformation and furthering of monster traits.
It is possible to harvest the crystals. But the process needs to be done with extreme care. Otherwise the crystals shatter into a surge of elemental power. Harvested crystals can be stored for power. Or for an emergency attack, as either a shattering explosion, or channeling magic through it for an elemental attack.
Purple: Summons lightning from the sky or arcing from crystal to flesh. Can also instill feelings of agitation and restlessness.
Red: Ignites fire in the air, shoots wildfire along the ground, or in the worst case sets flesh ablaze. It can also cause aggression, fury, and reckless action.
Green: Calls wind in either gusts or razor blades of air. It can also force feelings of claustrophobia if shut inside cars or the Convoy, and a need for open spaces.
Blue: Causes flooding or spikes of ice and frostbite. Drifters may feel their emotions growing cold and reserved.
White: Heal injuries or reverse a single transformation. Also the rarest color.
Black: Results in in a transformation and furthering of monster traits.
It is possible to harvest the crystals. But the process needs to be done with extreme care. Otherwise the crystals shatter into a surge of elemental power. Harvested crystals can be stored for power. Or for an emergency attack, as either a shattering explosion, or channeling magic through it for an elemental attack.
02: MONSTER SHIFT, FAE
The crystals often hide moon shards in their clusters… And these moon shards try to emit changes onto passing Drifters. With the crystals and foliage around, they also try to force a specific form to match the surroundings. Fae traits are the transformation of the month, and the following:
+Fairy Ring: Crystals and plants will form around Fae Drifters into a ring. Entering this ring will impart more Fae traits… Though also revitalize Drifters!
+Metal Repulsion: Contact with iron or even steel can hurt the Fae, from burn blisters to open wounds when making contact with the stuff.
+Flighty Demeanor: Whether resembling a fairy or rabbit, Fae become jumpy and prone to leaping and flying into the air at the first sign of trouble or scares.
+Flickering Presence: Gains the ability to become intangible and/or invisible. But control slips up when under stress, making fae shift in and out of states.
+Bespelled: Fae gain an affinity for crystals: pulling the visions they desire, or getting the perfect balance of elements from colored crystals.
+Rivalry: Fae gain a particular snappishness towards Cu Sith monsters, seeing them as rivals. The feeling is mutual from the Cu Sith, who will gladly target Fae.
+Rock Candy: Fae can also drain energy off of elemental crystals, and rather than use that for magic, use it for healing and sustenance instead.
+Fairy Ring: Crystals and plants will form around Fae Drifters into a ring. Entering this ring will impart more Fae traits… Though also revitalize Drifters!
+Metal Repulsion: Contact with iron or even steel can hurt the Fae, from burn blisters to open wounds when making contact with the stuff.
+Flighty Demeanor: Whether resembling a fairy or rabbit, Fae become jumpy and prone to leaping and flying into the air at the first sign of trouble or scares.
+Flickering Presence: Gains the ability to become intangible and/or invisible. But control slips up when under stress, making fae shift in and out of states.
+Bespelled: Fae gain an affinity for crystals: pulling the visions they desire, or getting the perfect balance of elements from colored crystals.
+Rivalry: Fae gain a particular snappishness towards Cu Sith monsters, seeing them as rivals. The feeling is mutual from the Cu Sith, who will gladly target Fae.
+Rock Candy: Fae can also drain energy off of elemental crystals, and rather than use that for magic, use it for healing and sustenance instead.
03: VISIONS OF CRYSTAL
The crystals lining the passage can also reflect things back on Drifters… Both memories, and fears. And potential monster forms. At sundown the crystals seem particularly fond of reflecting different monster possibilities and how they might shape someone’s form.
At other times the crystals try to reflect things from a Drifter’s thoughts; memories of home, fears and regrets.
And sometimes on the fringes is a vision of a broken moon, bleeding tar and corruption. Along with a sudden swarm of emotions: urgency, desperation, regret and fear, but mingled with a sense of compassion and sorrow. And it all extends to a blinding expanse, like it’s a feeling for the entire world.
The visions exact a price, however; gaze at them too long and they start bleeding into the world, trying to become real. The network of crystals tries to reshape itself to vaguely reflect visions of home, or project the visions across multiple surfaces so it feels real. While the crystals cannot replicate living creatures from the visions, they try to make up for this short coming by making Drifters hallucinate those people or monsters onto other Drifters.
At other times the crystals try to reflect things from a Drifter’s thoughts; memories of home, fears and regrets.
And sometimes on the fringes is a vision of a broken moon, bleeding tar and corruption. Along with a sudden swarm of emotions: urgency, desperation, regret and fear, but mingled with a sense of compassion and sorrow. And it all extends to a blinding expanse, like it’s a feeling for the entire world.
The visions exact a price, however; gaze at them too long and they start bleeding into the world, trying to become real. The network of crystals tries to reshape itself to vaguely reflect visions of home, or project the visions across multiple surfaces so it feels real. While the crystals cannot replicate living creatures from the visions, they try to make up for this short coming by making Drifters hallucinate those people or monsters onto other Drifters.
04: LIGHT RACE
Gradually the road splits off and forks, trailing over formations of rocks and crystal. On the fork roads is a bobbing globe of light and fire; a will-o-wisp that seems to be beckoning the vehicles of the Convoy, darting back and forth and whispering in a faint silvery voice audible through the vehicle speakers.
“Come follow. Come follow if you are quick, if you are sturdy. Come follow.”
Those who approach will find a path of road and crystal snaking through the wilds, and the wisp sinks into the ground to light a path. From there, it’s a race over precarious pathways slanted at odd angles or almost crumbling apart, trying to outrace the path of light that illuminates the race course. Fast cars have an advantage with being nimble and staying ahead, while Tough cars can handle the more rugged terrain of the race course, pushing and pulling other vehicles as needed or blazing the trail.
Those who reach the end of the race will find a cache of pure white crystals waiting for them as a prize, along with the fading laughter of the wisp.
“Come follow. Come follow if you are quick, if you are sturdy. Come follow.”
Those who approach will find a path of road and crystal snaking through the wilds, and the wisp sinks into the ground to light a path. From there, it’s a race over precarious pathways slanted at odd angles or almost crumbling apart, trying to outrace the path of light that illuminates the race course. Fast cars have an advantage with being nimble and staying ahead, while Tough cars can handle the more rugged terrain of the race course, pushing and pulling other vehicles as needed or blazing the trail.
Those who reach the end of the race will find a cache of pure white crystals waiting for them as a prize, along with the fading laughter of the wisp.
05: MATERIA GUARDIAN
Sometimes, Drifters catch a glimpse of spider like legs moving through the crystals; they seem to flicker in number. Static electricity builds near the Convoy, jumping from crystal to metal; the contact is mildly painful, akin to a light zap. It finally builds to a thunderclap as a set of multilegged monsters lunge from the crystals. They view vehicles and Drifters as rivals and intruders, and focuses on those who are carrying crystals.
Claw Strike: The materia guardians favor sharp claws to puncture the Convoy and slice Drifters to ribbons. If they face stern resistance they try to climb the crystals to get out of melee range, and spit poison from their maws and tails.
Trine: After taking enough damage, the monsters again try to get distance, this time breaking apart crystals and infusing them with lightning magic. More sparks jump off the monsters as they grow more agitated, culminating in a massive electric storm attack.
Death Throes: The materia guardians spit both venom and lightning, trying to paralyze Drifters so they can be crushed in thrashing claws and bulk… But it’s a last desperate attack before the monster succumb to their injuries.
Claw Strike: The materia guardians favor sharp claws to puncture the Convoy and slice Drifters to ribbons. If they face stern resistance they try to climb the crystals to get out of melee range, and spit poison from their maws and tails.
Trine: After taking enough damage, the monsters again try to get distance, this time breaking apart crystals and infusing them with lightning magic. More sparks jump off the monsters as they grow more agitated, culminating in a massive electric storm attack.
Death Throes: The materia guardians spit both venom and lightning, trying to paralyze Drifters so they can be crushed in thrashing claws and bulk… But it’s a last desperate attack before the monster succumb to their injuries.
MICRO ENCOUNTERS:
PLEASE NOTE! These are small bits of set dressing for players to include in threads if they wish, rather than full fledged prompts or events. You may handwave your exploration of these areas, or thread them out.
Flowers: Glimmering flowers grow between the crystals, giving off a sweet and almost mesmerizing smell. If plucked, they can give off a calming scent.
Stream: The melted snow runs in a glimmering stream down the crystal path, crashing off of shards and forming sprays of rainbow. It’s mostly safe to drink, though may change a Drifter’s color for a day as a side effect.
Beware The Mushrooms: Ruby colored mushrooms also grow just off the path, with a slight gemlike sheen. They taste vaguely sweet when eaten… But also can force Fae traits onto the consumer.
Light Show: At night the crystals grow with an inner light and can project an aurora onto the sky; sleeping underneath it can prompt strange dreams about a field of crystals that once grew in a more orderly fashion, before multiplying out of control as the moon broke.
no subject
You're not, but that's alright.
[ Every time they ended up around each other it seemed the younger tried to say he was alright. Sometimes he was and other times something had happened meaning he wasn't. This? It was one of those times. ]
Who the fuck knows, kid. They just like keeping us on our toes. Want to head back toward my jeep? Away from these damn things.
no subject
And here? Here he was going to keep denying he wasn't fine, even if he started to laugh for a moment, a sound that was definitely on edge, before swallowing down the rest of it.
Shooting another sulky look at the crystals, he scratched lightly under one horn, where it emerged from the side of his head. They weren't new anymore, but they itched sometimes. He guessed that was normal; the rest of him itched sometimes, too.
He had zero protests to getting away from the crystals, less fussing than usual. Either because he was genuinely rattled from being so close to a lightning strike, or because his pack bonds were starting to blink to life. As if he hadn't already been fiercely protective over a handful of people for months by now.]
Yeah well, my toes are getting fucking sore. I'm ready to catch my breath.
[And not get almost murdered(?) by inanimate(?) objects. He really hated that he couldn't say, with one hundred percent confidence, that the crystals were inanimate objects.]
Getting away from them sounds a-fucking-plus.
[The standard 'swear a lot to seem alright' tactic. It'd always (never) worked out for him before.
A pause, as he took a few more healthy steps away from the crystals, his hands still fidgeting, restless, nervous.]
How've you been?
no subject
It was fine, to him, if Andrew kept denying that he wasn't fine. Negan would call his bullshit out on it every time. A give and take, so to speak between the two of them.
Crystals causing someone to question things was pretty damn bad. No one should have to worry about getting murdered by crystals, of all things. Even if he's sure there were some that would love to hit someone with those crystals. ]
Then we'll get the fuck away from the damn things.
[ Negan places a firm but gentle hand on Andrew's shoulder and leads him away from the crystals, back toward his jeep. He can feel just how restless the boy was. If he had to put himself in the damn way, even as they stop a moment, of anything then he'd protect the boy. The cat in him saw the boy as family, pard. Something that was dangerous. Especially for someone like him. ]
Been alright or as alright as anyone can fuckin' be. Found out, at some point, during one of our excursions that I can turn into a human fucking night light, if it's warranted.
[ That had been an interesting thing to find out. ]
no subject
Human night light wasn't the sort of thing he'd been expecting. At least it wasn't something bad.]
I'm so- what- you-
[He interrupted himself with a breathless laugh, and some of the tension unwound from his shoulders as he did.]
Sorry, not laughing at you, I just- here I'd thought finding love was big news, but glowing, that's something else.
[Oh, now he was just going to end up nervous rambling, cool. Great.]
So how bright?
no subject
To Negan? Being a human night light wasn't exactly a good thing. It was, however, good to hear Andrew laugh. To see some of that tension leave him. ]
It's all good, kid. Why in the hell would you think love was the big news?
[ Had he put it out there that he loved anyone? No. Not when he had a wife back home. ]
Bright enough that if we end up in a dark forest we'll never get lost.
no subject
Oh, I- because it is. For me.
[Even with nerves trying to lash up inside his chest, anxiety a pit in his stomach, his fingers trembling for new reasons, he continued.]
I met someone.
[He was in love--and the feeling was mutual.
But dark forests, on the other hand, had Andrew making a face.]
I've ended up in dark forests a lot more than you'd think.
[And not one single time had been a good time. Not as a kid when he and Eddie had ended up in the sinkhole, and not when he'd been sleepwalking, with the stag, just before ending up in Revan. Never. He used to love forests, but now he associated them with terrible things--if they were deep and dark, at least.]
So lighting the way might end up being important.
no subject
Who did you meet, kid?
[ The unanswered question was 'Are they treating you right?' If they weren't then Negan wouldn't hesitate to rip out their throat or worse. Andrew deserved the best as far as he was concerned. ]
I've ended up in enough forests and woods it isn't funny too.
[ Not that he talked much about his own world. Or the walkers he's dealt with. ]
Assuming that's all it is, yes.
[ He hasn't tried to do anything else with it. ]
no subject
His name's Edward.
[Andrew had been speed-running figuring himself out, and having his second relationship ever, and realizing there were so many things he hadn't ever fully understood before, and dating a man for the first time. A lot had happened since October, but Andrew's deep rooted fear and suspicion of how people would react--based on how everyone had reacted in the past--to him being gay remained the same. And between fight or flight, he'd always end up choosing fight.]
He's been kinder to me than I've ever been to myself. He makes me happy.
[Which felt like an understatement, both of those things. Edward accepted him, all of him, even the cold ghosts in his bones, his scars both physical and emotional, mental. His honesty and kindness and everything about who he was, meant the world to Andrew.]
A lot's...happened. Shit I probably should've figured out a long time ago. But I've figured it out now, and he's- he's great.
[And there was a not-insignificant part of him that was worried about that fight becoming an real thing, but he was actually talking about all of this, and that alone was progress for him.]
no subject
[ It's the only Edward that Negan knows of, at the very least. He doesn't know of any other guy with that name in the Convoy. There were so many that came and went, so he could be wrong. He doubts that he is. If it was that Edward then he didn't mind the kid. ]
As long as you're happy, kid. You deserve to be happy.
[ Especially after the shit he's heard about, at the very least. He thinks the younger could use some happiness in his life. If he got that from someone within the Convoy then that made him happy. It made the inner cat in him happy, to hear that Andrew had found happiness. ]
Hey, sometimes shit happens and we don't find out how we feel or about things go until we're older.
no subject
[Andrew thought there had been another word Edward used to describe things, specifically his spider form, but his frenzied-bees-thoughts weren't letting him remember that word at the moment.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again, taking a breath. It felt like all at once, the tension started draining, veering so quickly towards relief that his knees wobbled. He was not, of course, under any circumstances going to elaborate on the things he should've figured out sooner--that was far too embarrassing--but the part about him being happy, he could address that.]
I am.
[There was something else, too, that went hand in hand with how much Edward meant to him, and if Andrew didn't just get it out there all at once, he might not manage it at all.]
I'm not going back. If I have a choice, you know- after we deal with the moon shit. If going back's an option... My home's here now, with him. There's nothing for me back in Tennessee.
[He didn't even know if his choice would really matter to anyone else. It wasn't like he was from the same place as anyone he knew; they wouldn't know if he stayed or not, if they got home.]
no subject
[ Even helped Edward. When they were climbing radio towers and shit was hitting the fan. He almost wondered what Edward was doing with those boxes. Especially when he remembers the kid actively keeping them, for some reason or another. ]
Good. You deserve happiness, kid.
[ Negan didn't care what anyone else thought, the younger boy deserved happiness. So, it doesn't surprise him when the other talks about not going back. Could they stick around, as it were? He's not sure, but there was no need for logical bullshit at the moment. ]
If they give you a choice then I'd rather you stay anyway. That way you've got a life and a place to call home, kid. Someone you can call home even.
no subject
Andrew's throat tightened and he blinked rapidly in his best attempt to push back tears that were determined to exist.]
I- yeah. He is my home. He's everything I've got.
[And he'd die for Edward. Not that he had any plans to die or anything, but he'd do anything to protect him.]
I've made friends here, too, and I don't blame anyone for wanting to go back, but I'll fight for them while they're here.
[He scrubbed the back of his hand over his eyes, trying to sniffle subtly. Subtlety was never his strong suit, though, no matter how much he tried.]
That includes you.
no subject
If he's your home, especially here, then I'm happy for you, kid.
[ It was good to hear that Andrew had made friends. That there were people out there that he would fight for. He moves over and places a hand on the younger boy's shoulder. ]
It's not your job to fight for me, kid. Though, I share the fuckin' sentiment. I'd fight for you too.
no subject
I know it's not my job. I don't feel obligated--I want to fight for you. I'm not going to just let something happen.
[He hadn't been able to just hang back as it was. The dragon thing, the speaker-- Andrew did and didn't run from fights. He didn't want to run from anything anymore, not unless it was a strategic retreat.]
Talked about things like that with Edward, too.
[And just like Andrew was determined to fight for Edward, Edward would fight for him. Knowing where they stood on something like that, if it came down to it, had been a great balm on Andrew's nerves. Not only that, but if they were given a choice on whether to go back or not, he knew Edward would stay with him, too.]
Whatever happens, whenever something happens, we've got each other's backs. And whoever needs help.
[He wasn't going to ditch anyone in peril.]
no subject
I'm not going to just let anything happen either, kid.
[ No, he would protect Andrew, Maggie, and a few others with his life. Even those that he didn't know he'd protect. He'd never allow anyone to get hurt if he could help it. Not unless they fucked around with those that he cared about. ]
I'm happy that you have him and that you two could talk about that.
[ That kind of thing was never easy to talk about with someone. ]
That's a good way to look at things. Same goes for us, kid. I've got your back and you've got mine. We'll help whoever needs it. That's a good way to go about things.
no subject
Nodding, he took a deep breath, starting to pull himself back together for real now.]
Glad we're on the same page.
[Another breath, and he brushed a stray tear off his cheek.]
Me too.
[Talking about this sort of thing hadn't been easy, at least not at first. He didn't like the thought of something happening to Edward, or Edward dying to protect him, but they felt the same about things, and knowing that they'd have each other's backs, that Edward would be at his side no matter what happened, had done a lot to settle Andrew's nerves.]
Yeah. I've- [Oh, he wasn't as put together again as he'd thought he was. Oops.] I spent a long while only relying on myself, after Eddie was killed. I didn't have anyone, no friends. I'd forgotten what it's like, to not be alone.
[But he remembered now, and he was fiercely protective of everyone he cared about.]
no subject
Were you worried that we wouldn't be, kid?
[ This kind of thing, this kind of talk, wasn't always easy. Talking about going out before someone you cared about did. Talking about someone dying before you did. That kind of thing was a lot.
He didn't mind if the kid wasn't put together or not. ]
Trust me, kid, I had to learn that the hard way a long while back too. I'm here for you. That's not going to change. You ever need anything you come to me, I'll do what I can to help you.
no subject
[A little, if he was being honest, which he wasn't going to be right now. It wasn't anything personal; he was still adjusting to having friends again, people who had his back instead of ditching him like all of his friends in Ohio had when he'd been lonely, and then grieving. At least he was only crying a little this time, compared to how he'd had to excuse himself to sob on the porch after Sam had reminded him how friends work, and that he and Riley were Andrew's friends now.
Nope, he definitely wasn't put together again yet, not with the way his throat tightened with emotion. There'd been a time when he'd thought all he needed in his life was Eddie at his side, the two of them against the world. Then everything had changed, and now... now he had friends, plural, who really wanted to be friends with him, because they liked him. People who wanted to protect him, who he wanted to protect in turn.]
I- you know, a few months ago, I would've said my problems are my own, and that I didn't need-
[Anyone's help, or friends. But. He took a breath.]
Thank you.
[Because now, he appreciated it. More than he could even begin to put into words.]
no subject
Things tended to change for people and he knew that. So, he keeps an arm around Andrew's shoulders. ]
I know, kid. I know you would've.
[ He knows that Andrew would've said that his problems were his own. That he didn't need or want the help. He remembers when they first met, after all. ]
No thanks needed, but you're welcome. You let me know if you ever need anything, kid, and I mean it. Anything.
no subject
There was a lot of shit I should've said at a lot of different times, and I'll never be able to change the fact I didn't. So whether it's needed or not, I'm gonna say it. Because I want you to know. This matters to me.
[And with as often as he wanted to load himself into a trebuchet to avoid conversations, he knew he was shitty at communication. But he was working on it. Edward's kindness and patience had helped him a lot, would continue helping him.]
no subject
Well, from here on out you can say whatever shit you need to. How's that sound? No matter what it is, put it out there for me.
[ As often and as much as Andrew needed to. Even more to those the boy cared about. ]
cw: brief mention of suicidal ideation
Sounds like I'm going to be doing a lot of work on actually talking about shit.
[Because he did want to tell people the important things--and the not so important things, too. He'd never realized how exhausting and stressful it was to keep everything bottled up until he'd, well...until he'd told Edward everything. That had been the start, hand in hand with the fact he didn't hate himself anymore, or the haunt power in his marrow.
But also- he weighed his options, the potential outcomes, the pros and cons--and then just decided fuck it. He moved, slow enough that his intent was clear but not so slow that he would chicken out, to hug Negan.]