cycleofages | ARRIVAL LOG

Who; EVERYONE!
What; The new residents of HQ make their arrival!
Where; All unrestricted areas of HQ (and maybe some restricted areas, you naughty people)
When; July 24th, Mid-morning on
Warnings; None as of yet, can be changed if content changes

IT'S A MINOR BLIP IN TIME
Maybe you were showering, or sleeping, having breakfast. You might have been participating in your morning commute or fighting off a horde of zombies.

Whatever you were in the middle of, a strange sensation of disconnection comes over you, as though you're watching your life on screen, a passive audience to the proceedings. It's almost like, well, being sucked down the drain like every adolescent nightmare, the feeling of disconnection replaced quickly with a pain so deep, it's as though every atom of your being is pressed too closely together, and your vision goes dark. Then, just as quickly as the pain came over it, it's gone, reality snapping back into place like a stretched rubber band.

WELCOME TO NEW YORK CITY

When your eyes adjust, you find yourself in a slightly spartan room, standing on a platform that seems to be made of glass or some sort of crystal. Energy currents in blues and greens swirl within it, dizzying and hypnotizing if stared at for too long. You're shocked from the vision by a cheery, bubbly voice that belongs to a petite brunette grinning at you from the base of the steps that lead down from the platform. She apologizes for any inconvenience you may have been caused, and hands you a small package, explaining that inside you'll find a phone, a directory of locations within the complex you've arrived in, a charge card with a balance of $500, and a key to a room in the dormitories which can be reached by following the green line on your directory.

She apologizes again for how confusing this must all be, but assures you that everything will make sense soon!

OOC NOTES: Feel free to hit up any of the NPC starters, start your own threads under any of the locations provided, or start your own threads independent of the starters! Prose or brackets are welcomed! Once characters leave the Receiving Room, they will have full access to the Network, and you're free to post there as well!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Grace’s head turns, her cheek cradled by the long messy mass of wheat colored hair. Her lips part and a sleepy soft word is spoken.]

Papa…

[The word settles uncomfortably in the air between them, lingering as if it isn’t willing to get go. A sigh falls away from her lips while small fingers curl around the edge of her red cloak. She feels the weight of his stare, even in her dreams. Slowly her slumber falls away. Thick lashes part while light brown eyes slowly take in the small plainly decorated room. Her head turns towards Jefferson and for a moment she only sees a dream; her father, finally coming back home to be with her. She’d been so alone.

She wants to cry out, to hug him and hold him but something is wrong.]

Papa, why aren’t you smiling?

[Her voice is tired and sleepy. Grace hasn’t fully awaken and her mind quickly turns to catch up and register that the man in front of her is her father, that he’s here and that he’s finally found her.]

Papa?

[Grace whispers as her awareness rises, disbelief seeming into her voice. Another second brings a smile to her lips, wide and bright as she vaults off the couch.]

Papa!

[Her arms wrap around his center and she buries her head against his waist. Tears dot the corner of her eyes but she doesn’t care, she can hold him, smell the tea, dirt, must and mushrooms that linger on his clothing and skin.]

[ The way his heart banged against his ribcage when she said that single word was almost unbearable. God, how much more had she missed him than he'd missed her? He'd of course considered that line of thought before, but with her lying there in front of him, searching for him even in her sleep, the truth that he was responsible for making her own heart hurt and ache became more real than it ever had and it felt like drowning. The way the air seemed to grow stagnant and thick only added to the pressure he was feeling as it pushed him down and down, further and further. He had so many doubts that he could have gotten stuck on them for the rest of eternity if she hadn't spoken again.

Why aren't you smiling? Of course she'd ask something like that. He'd abandoned her for ages and ages and her first thought was why he wasn't okay. Jefferson squeezed his eyes shut and mumbled quiet apologies, turning his head up to the ceiling because he didn't believe he had the right to look at her. But then there was her small sweet voice again, and he opened his eyes and let the tears spill as he looked down and felt her tiny frame against his.

Wait. How did she...? ]

You... y-you remember me?

[ He slid downward, his arms encasing her completely. He didn't understand, he didn't deserve her, but the desire to hold his little girl trumped everything else in that moment. He craned his neck so he could place his face against hers and feel the familiar tickle of her hair against his skin. He savored that moment as long as he could before guilt came knocking at his conscience once again. He didn't pull away, but when he spoke his voice was thick and wavering. ]

I... broke our promise. I-I didn't mean to. I just wanted you to be happy, I just -- [ His body shook with a silent sob and he exhaled shakily. Jefferson's words came fast then, a frantic urgency to them. ] You don't have to believe me but I have tried every day since then to come back to you. I couldn't get it to work -- I tried, I tried so hard but I wasn't able to and I know that isn't good enough and you don't have to forgive me but please --

[ He had to stop himself. He was becoming erratic. He inhaled and swallowed roughly, trying to bring a softer tone to his voice. ]

Please, please don't think I didn't come home because I stopped loving you. [ He pulled back to see her face despite the fear of what he'd find there. His words were a whisper and he dared to place his hand on her cheek. ] You've always been the only thing that matters, my dear perfect Grace.

[Grace looks up at him, her lips set in a smile that she couldn’t have dropped if she wanted to. Her cheeks began to ache from the intensity of her grin but she only notices his tears. Do they match hers or are they different. Something’s changed in her father, she can tell, but she doesn’t know what it might be. A knot twists in her chest making her small frame shake nervously. What if he doesn’t want her anymore?

Just keep smiling.

She shakes her head feeling his arms wrap protectively around her. Her heart continues to tremble in her chest threatening the small body it belonged too.]

Of course papa, I love you. I’ll never forget you.

[She doesn’t understand and the stress of the situation begins to pull more tears from her eyes. She’s silent when he begins speaking trying to stop herself from falling apart. His words sink into her chest and the knot loosens its hold on her heart. The overwhelming rush of emotions surrounds her and she isn’t able to hold it back anymore.

Grace begins to sob and smile, releasing months of emotions she’d buried away.]

I’m so sorry Papa, I looked for you but I couldn’t find you. I missed you so much papa. Please don’t leave again. I love you and all I need is you. [She remembers searching for him in the woods, calling out as if they’d been playing hide and seek.] I’m sorry I asked for the bunny. I liked yours better. I did papa, please don’t leave.

[She continues to cry, her small fingers clinging to his shirt.]

ARRIVAL LOG - First Wave

DORMITORIES

DORMITORIES

DORMITORIES