There must be something in the water

[maskormods]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: Lake Tahoe, the Nevada side
WHEN: May 17 all day
WHAT: Swear-In
WARNINGS: Some violence

Welcome imPorts new and old to the lovely city of Jeopardy! For the five minutes the swear-in is here, anyway. See, there’s been some unusual activity at the (relatively) nearby Lake Tahoe. The Better Believe It Museum of Cryptozology has appealed to the government for help, and the powers that be generously volunteered this Swear-In as a chance for imPorts to be voluntold to help. Of course, you can always skip the swear-in or just decide to kick up your feet at a nice lakeside property in May, but the local natives would really appreciate the assistance. So much so that they’ve rented out a legion of party buses to transport you from Jeopardy to the museum in style. Yes, there’s a bar and snacks (though only juice for the kids). It’s about a three hour drive, try not to get too sloshed on the way over.

Just what is the issue? It seems that Nevada’s most famous cryptid, Tahoe Tessie has...well. Been seen. And, yes, of course, there is that whole museum you are going to at the edge of the lake dedicated to fuzzy, shaky-cam ‘sightings’ of Tessie and other cryptozoological marvels over the years, but this is different. Like, ‘oh no, we actually found her’ different. And by all appearances, Tessie’s pretty pissed at being found. Any boats that attempt to go out into the lake are sunk, divers have vanished to never be seen again (whole, anyway. A few parts have washed up), and police have noted a sharp increase in random, violent attacks around the lake shores.

That’s where you come in.

The museum has requested Tessie be captured and transferred into their crypto-aquarium where she can be studied (and rubbed in the faces of all those ‘real’ scientists that called them crazy over the years). There are other options, though. The police are just fine with you killing the creatures; let the scientists dissect the corpse. And a very well funded individual party is more than willing to pay an exorbitant amount to the imPorts that hand her over to them.

While you ponder about the ethics and money involved, here’s the lay of the land.



First there is the cryptid museum itself. Not the tidiest of places, the museum is three floors of winding narrow aisles between shelves heaped with curiosities and walls covered in fuzzy photographs with plaques explaining what cryptozoological marvel is depicted in them, or poster sized print outs of ‘testimonials’ of alien abductions, bigfoot sightings, etc, along with artists interpretations of events described. There is also, of course, quite an expansive gift shop. Get your BELIEVER t-shirt before supplies run out. Please no powers in the museum, the owner is quite forceful about how everything in there is one of a kind.



For those of you not into monster hunting, or hunters that need to recharge, the cryptid museum is right next to a resort that has thoughtfully opened its doors to imPorts. It’s lingering around 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit at the lake, not exactly swimming weather, but there’s charming outdoor seating, fire pits to gather around, and free drinks and finger foods abound for every one to mingle with. There’s plenty of nice walking paths around the lake, some low-key events like horse shoe tossing or croquet to pass the time with. Just a nice break by the lake to recharge after a rough month.



Then there’s the lake itself. The locals have provided you with canoes, small fishing boats with radar, diving suits and snorkels, fishing nets, pretty much anything they could think of that will help you catch dear old Tessie (if you have a specific request for an unusual item, ask here if it will be provided!). A certain eccentric (the one offering cash money for Tessie to be turned over to them) even provided a one person submarine for use- though it doesn’t have any arms to grab with or much in the way of catching power, the gesture was still nice?

But catching a cryptid isn’t that easy. See, turns out that surge in violent attacks isn’t just dear old Tessie. If you just pressed A and skipped to the lake itself, you’re in for an unpleasant surprise. Those that took time to view the museum first, or chatted with the hotel staff about local legends, will have some warning of what is waiting for them. They’ll learn that in addition to cryptids lake Tahoe has a very real monstrous history- it’s a known mob mass graveyard. Through the 1900s, possibly up to today, the lake served as a very convenient spot for mobsters to send people to ‘sleep with the fishes.’ No one knows how many bodies have ended up under those placid waters, but it’s an unpleasant number. Just an interesting historical tidbit until you actually enter the lake. There you’ll see these dead are, somehow, awake. And not that happy about it.



The lake is crawling with revenants. These angry undead will fight tooth and nail anyone that comes into the waters of the lake, trying to pull you down to meet the same watery fate as them. We’re literal on the tooth part, their bites are strong enough to rip out chunks of flesh. They will follow anyone that disturbs them out of the lake, focused on destroying the life they no longer have. These creatures will need to be destroyed or laid to rest for the lake to be safe again. This can be done through sheer physical assault, break enough of the bones or destroy the skull and the creatures will collapse into the muk. Or they can be put to rest one by one with rituals specifically made for putting the dead to rest (from any religion or philosophy). Those that can talk with the dead and have the dedication can talk the spirits into releasing their mortal coil and returning to the void. Just remember their first emotion is rage at the living, and their first instinct will always be to attack. Those going for a more peaceful route may need back-up to keep the creatures at bay until they start seeing results.

Finally, there’s Tessie.



While legends have reported, and the cryptid museum lead you to expect, a more serpentine creature, characters are once more in for a surprise. Those that finally get past the undead to Tessie herself will discover she is none other than a legendary lusca: half shark, half squid, all attitude. For those still trying to apply biology to this, Tessie’s front half looks like a bull shark, a species infamous for its ability to swim in both salt and fresh waters. There is a little good news: unlike the revenants, Tessie isn’t looking so hot. Some of her tentacles are rotting off and teeth are falling out. She is mostly working to avoid anyone that wants to bother her, darting to deeper waters and running away from close encounters. Anyone that does get too close will face a fight, but it’s that of an animal in its death throes. While an unlimited number of characters can see Tessie, the final decision of what happens to her will be decided by a poll.

After a long day at the lake, imPorts are bused back to Jeopardy in the same party buses. Hopefully still more or less in one piece.

OOC PLOTTING AND QUESTIONS SHOULD BE DIRECTED HERE!

Comments

Shaun Mason (plus one prompt option with bonus Georgia) | OPEN

[irwins]

[ 1. Last Resort ]

[Shaun is reclining back in a chair by one of the fires. With the Believer t-shirt visible under his unzipped sweater, it's clear he's visited the museum (or at least the gift shop.) He looks, for all the world, casual and relaxed. He's not. He hasn't been in this world long enough to get used to people just hanging around in crowds and outside without significant security. This place? This place is a death trap. It's asking to be overrun.

He's already decided on the best routes of escape, what spots are most defensible, what could be useful as an improvised weapon (though the gun mostly hidden by his sweater and the extra clip tucked in his pocket are less improvised and get first billing before he results to improv), the usual Irwin checklist. Old habits die hard and all.

Still, there's an easy grin on his face as he opines to anyone within earshot,]

This is the sort of place you're supposed to call "quaint" right?


[ 2. Lake Monster ]

[It's probably a mistake to just head out onto a lake that has a lake monster supposedly in its depths, but here is Shaun, hopping into a small motored fishing boat tied to the end of the pier.]

So. Monster hunting. You coming or what?

[What could possibly go wrong?]


[ 3. Revenants ]

[The dead start walking and Shaun snaps into action on pure reflex. He's used to this. He knows how to handle this.

Shaun moves along the edge of the lake with a deadly efficiency. His gun rings out periodically, almost always followed by a splash as one of the swimming dead drops back to its watery grave permanently this time.

If he comes across anyone being harassed by these revenants, it's a quick burst of gunfire to drop the undead.]

Are you okay? [Don't mind the fact that Shaun's gun is now trained on you.] Were you bitten? Scratched?

[He doesn't know for a fact that this sort of undead will spread, but he's not taking chances until he finds out.]


[ 4. Double Trouble with Shaun & Georgia (two Masons for the price of one) ]

[This is all so familiar that it’s almost surreal. The dead are walking. Again. And apparently also swimming.

Not cool. That said, there’s something comforting about it, about glancing over and seeing George there, knowing she has his back. The dead are walking, and this is something they know. Neither one of them has ever been good at not running towards the action, so here they are. Shaun’s gun is drawn, safety off, ready. There's a pilfered canoe paddle in his other hand. He glances over at his sister and asks the really important question of,]

If they’re water zombies, does that make it a school instead of a hoard?

[Georgia's gun is drawn as well, and she's got her eyes (and cameras) trained on the water. It's occurred to her that with her superpowers, she might be better if she just up and punched a zombie, but… it's suicide to go up against a zombie in close combat. She can't get her training out of her head. Also, she doesn't want to. She's still not comfortable with her powers. Even after half a year.

She is very comfortable with Shaun, though. It hasn't taken long for them to fall back into their usual banter.]

You're really working hard to make me regret missing you, huh?

[The grin he flashes her way is entirely unapologetic.] Too bad you’re stuck with me regardless.

[And then the grin slips, his expression turning sharper, more focused as he looks across the water’s surface.] There. Your ten o’clock. [When the grin resurfaces, it’s a bit grimmer.] Never gone fishing before.

First time for everything. [She focuses the cameras, making sure she’s got the water zombie in view, then nods at Shaun.] Do your thing.

[And Shaun will do exactly that, though catching sight of anyone else will earn a pause and a deceptive cheerful,] You might wanna stay back. [He's got zombies to harass dispatch.]

[ 5. Wildcard ]
(( Feel free to catch Shaun around and about. Hit me via PM or at seasided if you want to plan something! ))

4 {Fight or fall, it's one for all

[deadlycurves]

[Diego's no stranger to a fight, even with the weird and unusual-- admittedly the dead were really more his brother's area, but at least he can see these particular dead things. They're brutal, ruthless, and angry, which is fine by his count because it just means they're fair game. He grew up in such a way that death to anyone-anything, so long as it was for the ever-arbitrary "greater good", was really just a game to be played on par with tag for most kids. He is entirely in his element in a battle, has fun with it in a way most soldiers don't tend to have about them. He hears the banter between the two and it brings a smirk to his face, reminding him of the way things used to be, once, between he and his siblings. He kind of misses-- Shit! Distracted by his own reminiscing, Diego finds himself being yanked into the water by one of the revenants. Apparently, they're smarter than they look, because it's grabbed him in such a way he can't get to one of his knives to throw it. He tries to get out of its grasp, squirming against its hold, throwing his entire body weight against it, but to no avail.]

[choosetruth]

Fuck!

[Georgia turns the cameras towards Diego’s struggle, which is more instinct than anything else. Instinct she’ll feel bad about later, but she’ll have the footage either way. She points her gun, but she can’t get a clear shot without risking hurting Diego, and that could make things so much worse. She runs through her options quickly: her strength and flight mean she could probably tear Diego free, but there’s still risk of him getting scratched or bitten. She doesn’t know if these zombies work the same way hers do. She doesn’t want to find out. Plus, while she doubts she could actually get hurt, she suspects Shaun will have trouble not panicking if he sees her in danger.

There’s really only one plan that makes sense.]

Shaun, use your powers!

[irwins]

[The splash catches Shaun's attention first, because this is the sort of situation where splash is not at all a good sound. A quick glance to George shows her trying to line up a shot, but he can tell as quick as she can that she doesn't have the angle. Not with all that movement.

Shaun is already holstering his gun in motion when he hears his sister's voice, and yeah actually that's a good idea. He'll just pretend that was totally plan A (actual plan A was using his pilfered canoe paddle and doing some bashing, but this will be much safer and quicker). And nod at George with a grin. He's got this.

He closes the distance between himself and the man struggling the the revenant. His hand snaps out, Intent on closing around Diego's arm. His power snaps out -- a little too far at first, encompassing Diego, himself and the revenant. But he dials it back until it's just him and the other man, phasing them both out of physical contact. The water zombie can grasp and grab as much as it likes; it'll pass through both of them like they're not even there -- at least as long as they're in physical contact.] C'mon. Out of the water!

[deadlycurves]

[Diego might have had objections about some stranger using unknown powers on him if he...wasn't about to be dragged to a watery grave. As it is, he's too focused on doing everything he can to prevent the ghoul from dragging him under. When the guy grabs his arm, Diego's whole body feels like it's under a muscle spasm and, at first, it didn't do any good because the power sank its hooks into the revenant as well.] Shit! [The revenant tries to grab him again, but Shaun's shifted his power to just the two of them and it misses its target. That's all the split-second it takes for Diego to snap into action, following the stranger's demands the second he gets his feet under him to scramble toward the shore. For good measure, he whips out of Shaun's grasp and back toward the revenant and curves two daggers, which go in wide, opposing arcs and both land in unison at the temples of the ghoul.]

[choosetruth]

[All good? Cool. Now Georgia’s gun is pointed at Diego’s head because, well, pulling him away from the bad guy is only half the battle. She doesn’t want to save him only to have him bite her or Shaun. They know how this goes far too well to take stupid chances.]

Were you scratched or bitten?

[Her voice is entirely too calm for someone holding a gun and pointing it at another human being, her aim steady. Only Shaun knows her well enough to catch the tension hidden behind her sunglasses. Being practiced at this doesn’t mean it’s fun.]

[irwins]

Whoa. Nice throw.

[That was genuinely impressive. And Shaun can admit that, even as his sister has Diego at gun point and he's reaching for his gun as well. George has it handled, but he's here if it comes to it. He knows full well how tense she is. His own weapon is in hand, and he thumbs the safety off, but doesn't level it just yet. He does take a couple steps back.

He's waiting for the answer to George's question too, but he adds,] Can't take chances with the undead.

[And if this guy was bitten, well, he supposes they'll find out if this sort of undeath is catchy or not.]

3

[honeybadgered]

[Gabby was having fun fighting the zombies, but she doesn't mind the rescue. There's always more to fight.

Except Cyclops-lite here has to point a gun at her now. Wow. Wow. So rude. She bares her teeth, not quite snarling, and unsheathes her claws with a snikt.]

I'll scratch you if you don't point that thing somewhere else, and believe me, it'll be worse than anything these lame-o water zombies can do. I haven't been shot in weeks. Why you gotta mess with my streak?

[irwins]

I'd really rather not shoot you. If I have a choice.

[Shaun answers, calmly. The calm is all superficial, but it's a survival instinct by now, a coping strategy. Stay calm in the field, fall apart later if you have to. Maybe no crying in the shower because so much bleach but that's the general idea. He doesn't lower the gun.]

Just answer the question. I don't even know if these undead are contagious or not.

[But if she's been bitten or scratched, he's going to have to find out.]

[honeybadgered]

There's always a choice, and shooting people who won't die from it is always a dumb choice because it's really not gonna work out well for you.

[He might not know she can't die, but hey. Maybe he should have asked.]

I don't know cause I don't feel pain and I heal too fast to notice unless it's a really bad injury. But I'm pretty sure I can't become undead if I can't die, so... [She shrugs.] That good enough for you Mr. Grouchypants?

[irwins]

Not always.

[Shaun's voice is quieter than usual at that. Sometimes there's only one real choice, and it's the worst choice and-- okay. Shake it off.]

You can't die?

[News to him. He lowers the gun.] I guess it's gonna have to be. If you wind up going zombie and eating a bunch of people, I'll probably never hear the end of it, but...

[He doesn't want to shoot a kid. Or anyone who isn't among the undead already, if it can be avoided. And just to clear up because he has questions,] You can't feel pain?

[honeybadgered]

I mean, I'm okay not testing the theory too much, but I heal too fast for most things to take me out for more than a few minutes, and yeah, I can't feel pain.

[She doesn't need to mention the special metal that can stop her healing, or how vulnerable she'd be if she lost her powers. She doesn't want to die, so she's definitely not giving any ideas to this guy who's only barely more than a stranger. He doesn't need to know.

Instead she gives him a sunny smile.]

Would it help if I promised to eat you first?

[irwins]

All right. Sure, why not. Indestructible teenager. Sort of sucks that it sounds like you've tested that theory at all.

[Like. He gets it. Death is a fact of life in his world for anyone at any age. Wrong place, wrong time, bitten, scratched, just plain unlucky. Kellis-Amberlee does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation. It's an equal opportunity sort of asshole. But that doesn't mean Shaun finds the idea of a kid knowing that "most things" only take her out for a few minutes a little unsettling.

He does, however, make a face.] Pass. You eat me, I eat someone else, that's the whole damn problem. How's this: no shooting, no eating, unless one of us happens to wind up among the shambling dead?

☂ { Evil spirits flowed, she drank the blood like lemonade

[numberthree]

[ Allison Hargreeves has seen this movie.

She didn't like zombies any better when it was her brother's egging for watching them, or herself playing a bit part in the early stages of her Hollywood career. Having them suddenly real, and mobbing, for no better phrase, out of the water at the Swear-In crowd, as her brother stumbled about trying to make himself useful and figure out a power he'd been running from all his life, was even less of a reason to like them.

At least for anything other than target practice.

There's a clear, brutual simplicity to her thoughts that never exists anywhere other than a fight, and she gives over to it without a thought after she runs down with those who have. There are no ifs and buts, no careful plans, no trying to remember be or do or choose anything, when her entire world shrinks down to her opponents and taking them out. When it's the blissful crunch and crack of bones she gets from slamming a creatures head with the back part of a chair she broke on him only half a minute earlier, and following it with a kick to his chest that sends him falling back into the waters with a crashing splash.

The one going down, even as she hasn't yet spotted the one that's rage-running directly for her back. ]

[irwins]

[Shaun may be an Irwin, may be used to getting up-close-and-personal-ish with the undead, but close combat with zombies is downright suicidal where he's from. So he watches the woman with something between admiration and an oddly detached academic sort of horror.

She's good in a fight. That much is clear.

He glances back at George, just momentarily before he notices the revenant that Allison hasn't spotted. Shaun doesn't hesitate, sweeps his gun to aim, squeezes the trigger. A gun shot rings out and the water-zombie drops with a splash.]

Don't let them bite you!

[numberthree]

[ Allison's training is deeper than any choices she's made since leaving home, maybe any choices she's made in her life, and so when a voice yells something from one direction, the same time as gunfire, and a splash comes from the opposite side of her -- it's the second she turns to, not the first.

Your opponents and your surroundings always before any distraction, any interactions.
Another desiccated body is sinking beneath the waves as Allison steps out of the surf.

Close enough for wreckless baiting still, but not enough space to hide a body, to give them any chance to yank her under like some of the people have been. It's a fairer fight for her if her feet stay on solid ground. But without a close enough next target -- even though there are several still headed in toward the beach -- she does throw a look toward where the voice had come for.

There's a slightly surprised look, for the kid from the network, holding a gun. But all the same, she gives him a two finger salute from the from off the side of her brow with a smile. The last things she's worried about is anything biting her, when she's not going to let them even touch her. Still, she appreciates the cover. ]

[choosetruth]

[It should be pretty obvious advice, but it's amazing how often people forget to be careful. Or don't have a choice in the matter, since it's not like zombies really ask permission.

George steps up next to Shaun, keeping an eye out for his blindspots. She raises her gun and shoots another revenant before it can get close enough to even qualify as a threat.]

You okay?

[She certainly looks okay. If Georgia had any vanity, she'd probably be jealous at how completely picture perfect the woman looks. How can someone look so clean when fighting zombies? ]

[irwins]

[Shaun shifts, barely a noticeable change in his posture, when George approaches. He doesn't have to look at her to know; it's all muscle memory at this point in time. That thought alone is so comforting it almost distracts him.

Instead he's waving at Allison, cheerful enough even as he scans around to make sure none of the other soggy undead are showing up for the moment.]

Nice move with the chair by the way. Very vintage wrestling. [Really vintage. Pre-rising vintage.

Movement to his left has him raising the gun to aim a headshot at another revenant that has decided to poke out of the water. But he doesn't miss a beat.] George, this is Allison. Allison, this is my sister, Georgia.

☂ + Mental Network

[numberthree]

[ Allison's look toward the girl joining them is more just evenly appraising and muted because questions are harder when she doesn't have the time, and she certainly doesn't have her notepad now. It was left on the deck with Ben's book, and her bag, and the rest of the people who hadn't fled entirely.

Shaun waves and hers eyes go back to him.

Then, to the girl. Georgia. The sister Shaun had mentioned.

There's no real change to Allison's expression as she makes the decision. She doesn't have the time for thinking about it out here, and Shaun helped, and Georgia was someone he'd spoke of like he trusted. A second later a small text box appears before each of their visions, lower and to the side of in front. ]

To: Shaun & Georgia Mason

Nice to meet you.

And, thanks. For the cover.

#1

[obediences]

[ Luther is strolling along, carrying two cups of hot cocoa -- one for himself, another for an undetermined sibling -- when he hears the remark volleyed his way. ]

Wouldn't know, to be honest. Never been to a resort before.

[ And then. As he looks over to the young man who spoke, he does a complete double-take, almost spilling the steaming hot drink all over himself; it sloshes onto his sleeve as is, while Luther stares. This guy is familiar. He knows him. Recognises him from a dream. Knows exactly who this is.

Shaun Mason.

But he can't really say anything about it, can he? So instead he fumbles for something to say, to fill that gap: ]

-- Is it comfortable?

[irwins]

Yeah me neither. I'm gonna go with quaint.

[Instead of a tirade about the place being an indefensible death trap. Choosing the optimistic-ish path anyway.

The next moment, well, that's not a reaction he's expecting, or at all used to. He's never met this guy before -- hard to forget a person that looks like he might have trouble with the height and width or standard doorways -- so he can't have pissed him off, which is probably good.

Still, Shaun finds himself blinking at the question.]

Comfortable? The chair or the t-shirt? [Well doesn't matter. He summons up a grin and makes a show of crossing and uncrossing his legs and settling back into the chair.] I've had better seats. Fire's nice though. As for the t-shirt... kinda scratchy, but it's going to annoy the hell out of George, so, you know. Worth it.

[obediences]

Either. Both. Your spot by the fire, this place as a whole.

[ Like Shaun, there's a similar calculation going on behind Luther's eyes in a place like this: doors and corners and angles of attack, and an anxious restlessness if there's too many people around. Shaun's already taken the best spot: back to the wall, clear view of the exits. It's the chair Luther would've chosen. And -- oh, thank god, he's gone and named her, so that's an easier way to cover that impossible segue: ]

Who's George?

[ He tries to sound light, nonchalant, in asking it. Luther is absolutely terrible at keeping a straight face. ]

[irwins]

The place as a whole is weird.

[But Shaun is pretty sure he recognizes the look, that sizing up a location and breaking it down into its various parts, just in case. It makes him curious, but not nearly as curious as that forced nonchalance makes him. But Shaun doesn't mention it, instead answering,]

My sister. Georgia Mason.

[Another easy grin.] She's been here a while. You might've seen her around. Short hair, always wearing sunglasses, pathologically low tolerance for bullshit.

[obediences]

Oh, okay. [ That slightest loosening of tension in his shoulders, an odd relaxation. ] I was wondering if that was who you meant. We've... met. She doesn't really mince words, does she?

[ Luther's voice is rueful but approving -- although he grinds to a halt, then, on what in the world to follow that up with. She's alright? I like her? He did, well enough at least, but it was impossible to describe George after that shared dream, which had trampled over intimacies never meant to be shared. Things he now knows about Shaun, in front of him. So in the end, he settles for the most carefully-phrased niceties: ]

She must be glad to have her family back. I know I would be, if I'd come here without mine.

[irwins]

[That particular description draws a laugh out of Shaun that he doesn't even bother trying to suppress.]

No, no she does not. [He says this with a fondness he doesn't bother trying to hide either.] It's not really her fault. She's a newsie.

[Comes with the territory, though George ramps it up to its highest setting.]

So your family is here too? [Interesting. He stands then, making his way over to hold out a hand to shake.] Shaun Mason.