002 - Growing Pains

[tabularasa_mods]

Growing Pains State of the World ▲ Locations ▼ Bestiary
OOC ▲ Comments A Light In The Darkness
Light seems to have been especially tricky for the world to comprehend, but it finally, finally seems to have figured things out. Light comes from more than just the sky, and now signs and lamps that were once dark have begun to glow brightly. From the Wall Market's dazzling exhibition of color to the dimmed street lamps of the City of Tears, the whole world has been made bright and lively once more without losing the comfort and tranquility that darkness brings. Even the broken screens of the Hammerlocke Stadium give off a pleasant glow, and the world doesn't seem to care that some lights need electricity to stay on - lights are simply lights, as far as the world seems concerned.

Unfortunately, these new lights are a little too simple. Without any need for a power source, there's no way to turn the lights off - if something is deemed a light source, it will always function as a light source. The only way to stop it is to destroy the object beyond recognition, but that might not be the most practical solution. Covering up the lights is the next best thing, but it's a task that's easier with some sources than others. At least no one needs to sleep yet.

Difficulties aside, now seems like the perfect time to start exploring all those new corners of the world that were previously too dark to navigate. Fire is an easy, safe and portable light source that anyone can use, and it even puts itself out after awhile. Just be careful not to get stuck in the dark by a stray breeze.

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Who's Hungry?
Animals need to eat. People need to eat. These are simple facts that people lost in the strange, changing landscape all seem to be well aware of, yet appear to not apply to this world. That is not to say that people can’t eat or drink, for many people do, but there is no actual need. Eating provides nothing but the knowledge that one has eaten, and anyone might go without food entirely. Lately, some might have found eating has become more satisfying and fulfilling an act, as though food is providing them with a vaguely-defined something they didn’t get before. It doesn’t seem to mean much in the grand scheme of things, but perhaps it allows them some sense of normality.

When hunger sets in, it’s sudden. Every person, whether or not they ever needed to eat in their homeland, is hit with a powerful, overwhelming sense of hunger, to the point it feels that if they do not eat they will soon starve. Those who have never eaten in all their time here might easily find themselves so hungry they can barely even move, and have little choice but to eat. Fortunately, food is plentiful. If it can be put in the mouth, chewed and swallowed, it is food, and thus will give a person temporary relief from their hunger. What goes in does not appear to come out, instead simply becoming part of that person and revitalizing them. How long it takes to feel hungry again seems entirely random, and each time there is no lead up - someone is either fine, or they are starving, without any in-between.

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Starving Mad Beasts
When people suddenly remember hunger, so too do the animals of the world. For some creatures this isn't an issue - the tall-necked beasts continue to graze on the treetops like they always have, and the smaller creatures seem content with snacking on whatever small scraps they can find. Not all creatures are so easily satisfied, however, and the more aggressive ones have turned to attacking other species for food.

The vicious water dragons are quick to clamp their mouths on anything within reach... but, lacking teeth, this doesn't amount to much. Still, they're as persistent as ever, and in a way their inability to viciously devour their prey only makes them more dangerous. These beasts are starving, and for all their skill in chasing down prey they can do little to actually eat their catch, which means they're constantly on the hunt and out to get anything that moves. Perhaps it might even be a good idea to help them out, if feeding the fish might make them a little less aggressive.

The machines are far better equipped for hunting, and all the more dangerous now that they're hungry enough to take a bite out of someone. Death is not a concept the world understands, so it's not like they're doing any permanent harm, but it's still a bit unnerving to see animals limping by with bite-sized chunks taken out of them. They haven't had a taste of people yet, but it doesn't seem like it'll be long before they try.

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Mushroom Hunting
Mushrooms are a new sight within the world, and a perfect snack to satisfy that sudden debilitating hunger! Harvesting them can be a bit of a problem, however. For one, they are massive, and the task of cutting one down and breaking it into edible chunks is made much easier with a group of people than one person working alone. Finding the mushrooms in their dark habitats may also be difficult... although, it is much easier to spot a mushroom the size of an entire person compared to something much smaller.

The real problem with mushroom hunting is where they can grow, which is nearly anywhere indoors. Though light now comes from other sources besides the sky, there are still buildings with dark corners that might suddenly acquire a giant mushroom or two (or three, or four) if left alone. And if those mushrooms are allowed to remain, they may just continue to grow, and grow, and grow...

So, if you don't want giant mushrooms bursting through your roof, it might be a good idea to keep an eye out for them before that happens.

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

[mightdoriya]

You don't know! He might suddenly...bite you, or something!

[He says about this little creature who could not care less about attacking people when Katsuki is LOVING on him like this.

Meanwhile, the mushrooms are expanding at an exponential rate as they're being ignored, circling Izuku and Katsuki with terrifying speed...]

[comburst]

[ One of Murderlord's legs kicks the air as his belly is rubbed. He's purring, clearly living up to his name not at all.

Meanwhile Izuku and Katsuki will somehow manage to be the first deaths while death doesn't exist...via mushroom. ]

The only shit he tries to bite is smaller animals!

[mightdoriya]

Well! That's something! Domestic pets don't hunt!

[Cats, actually, do. At least if you let them live outside...]

[comburst]

Cats hunt all the time!

[ Why

Haven't they noticed the mushroom cage is complete... ]

[mightdoriya]

[Lmao yeah they're, uh. DEFINITELY getting surrounded...to the point where the mushrooms are starting to stretch up and around them.]

He's not a cat!!!

[comburst]

[ One starts to grow around Deku's ankles... ]

He's half cat!

[mightdoriya]

That doesn't matter, becau-ah-!

[Izuku was standing, so as soon as the mushroom grows far enough...it unsurprisingly ends up pulling him to the ground when he tries to move, causing him to fall flat on his ass for the third time in the last five minutes.]

Wha- what?

[comburst]

[ Katsuki...

FINALLY notices the mushrooms.

Of course he's going to blame this solely on: ]

DEKU! Look what you did!

[mightdoriya]

[Oh, oh HE did it, did he?]

Y-you're the one who stopped cutting to pet "yooour cat"!!!

[comburst]

Because you were being a little bitch about him!

[ Wow ]

[mightdoriya]

So that makes this my fault??

[Okay...not Murderlord is starting to grow concerned. He pops back up onto his feet, chirping nervously as the mushrooms start to like...actually close them in here.]

[comburst]

IT'S ALWAYS YOUR FAULT!

[ Okay yeah they should uh

DO SOMETHING BESIDES YELL ]

[mightdoriya]

I didn't even do anything!

[He often doesn't, actually, it's just somehow a Deku problem most of the time.

And...this time it actually is, seeing as how those mushrooms aren't going anywhere. And as they grow larger, they start to buffet the two as the space left for them to like...exist grows smaller and smaller.]

[comburst]

[ That's cool, Izuku probably enjoys this more than Katsuki as it shoves them RIGHT up next to one another.

Or he would maybe enjoy it more if Katsuki weren't grabbing his shirt and shaking him. ]

[mightdoriya]

-!!

[Izuku feels his brain rattle in his skull as Katsuki shakes him viciously, both of them pressed far too close for comfort now as the mushrooms grow with reckless abandon. Murderlord is chirping with alarm now, fluttering as he tries to find an opening to escape from while these dumbasses just...die, he guesses.]

K-Kacchan, stop!

[comburst]

[ Okay, the alarmed chirping gets his attention at least... ]

Ugh...get back to fucking work, Deku!

[ Unless you'd prefer dying crushed to Katsuki's chest or something here. ]

[mightdoriya]

[I MEAN...]

I- I can't move!

[Izuku sputters the moment he realizes just HOW stuck they are. He can barely shift against Katsuki at this angle, with very little space left for them both. It's just enough for them to be there, but it won't be that way for very long. What's worse is neither of them have access to their Quirks still...or any magic, for that matter.

So, you know. This sucks!]

[comburst]

[ Yeah, this is...a problem.

They do still have their swords though. ]

If you don't start trying, I'll cut off any parts of you that get in the way!

[mightdoriya]

[Izuku huffs, trying to shimmy backwards a little even as the mushrooms are pushing them closer forward...he does at least manage to get his hand back on the hilt of his sword, careful to keep it at his side so he doesn't accidentally slip and take out part of Katsuki in the process.

It's not going to be a fast process, but he will start sawing at the base of the mushroom nearest him because his life actually does depend on it now.]

[comburst]

[ YEAH...Not exactly the right sort of heart-racing confinement here since Deku is really genuinely and CORRECTLY concerned Katsuki may murder him.

Though, for the record, he is aiming at the mushrooms for now. They just need to hack a hole big enough to escape... ]

[mightdoriya]

Come on...come on!

[Izuku struggles as he shoves smaller mushrooms away from his face, sawing as furiously as he can at the mushroom's stem. His only saving grace is the slightly broken, serrated edge of his sword helping him here, but even then...it's huge, and tough. And they're still growing.]

[comburst]

[ At least they get open enough of a space for Murderlord to dart through to safety...

ONE WILL SURVIVE! ]

Tch - goddamnit!

[mightdoriya]

[MURDERLORD IS FREE...he flies out with a squeak, turning around once he's a safe distance away from the mushrooms.

He's not really at any liberty to be able to help though, sorry guys.]

Keep cutting!

[comburst]

Don't tell me what to do!

[ Also, he hasn't STOPPED cutting, Deku! ]

[mightdoriya]

[Too late he already did!

It seems that the cutting is working though, however slowly. The effort and proximity to Katsuki is causing Izuku to sweat, hands shaking as he tries to cut themselves a gap big enough to escape through before they're trapped potentially for forever.

Almost...]