[open] Crackplot post!

[wordoftheroses]

Once upon a time there was a sentient building that was very fond of snatching up people from whatever they were doing and forcing them to interact.

This was fun for the building for a while but it soon grew bored of just watching people and decided that it would have a little fun.

So now, along with snatching people up from their respective lives, it's decided to run a little experiment.

Hence the nice little spread you'll walk in on in the main room. One table laden with food, the other with drinks, but any option you stumble into will give you more than you bargained for.

There's a prettily laid out platter of fruit, for instance, but if you find yourself munching for it, odd things might start happening. Hearing things people didn't actually say, feeling things for no apparent reason. And if that's a regular occurrence? You just might find it happening a little more frequently, a little more constantly. Or maybe, you'll find other people looking at you as if they can hear what you were just thinking.

There's another platter with a nice little spread of cookies. Some are gigantic, more like a mini-cake than a cookie, and some are normal cookie size. If you much on the normal cookies, you might find yourself feeling odd. Not quite yourself. In fact, very not yourself. And if you go for a big one, you'll find the urge to share it even if you're not the type of person who generally does that. And that person you share it with? You may just find that you feel more like them than you do like you.

There's a bowl of nuts set out that look perfectly innocent, but those who steal a handful will find a few moments later something unfamiliar is happening to their body. An unexpected change in a couple of rather private areas.

Those who go for cake will also find themselves changing physically. Maybe the young are suddenly finding themselves a little more grown-up. Or maybe the grown-up suddenly rediscover their childhood. Or maybe you're somewhere in between, and then, well, who knows where you'll go?

And the last food choice of the day is an offering of pretzels. Those that go for the pretzels will find that, a few moments after taking a bite, something starts fading away. Maybe you can't taste the salt anymore, maybe you can't quite understand what people are saying. Things go dark. You can't speak. Something goes away.

The drinks table holds its own danger in a multitude of enticing liquids. You might be safer sticking with the water. Or, well, maybe not. Because after taking a sip, you'll find that things you don't mean to say just... slip out. That your reactions are a little more intense. Things that should be vaguely amusing you can't stop laughing at and things that are mildly irritating send you into a rage.

There's always tea, but sipping on that might just loosen your tongue even farther. In fact, you may find there's nothing you can think that you don't say.

The coffee is no safer. Sure, at first it seems a little less problematic, but then somebody might ask you a question. And whatever that question is, if you go to lie, you'll find it comes out as the truth anyway. And if you try to lie without being asked a question, it just won't come out the way you expect it to.

There's an array of different flavored juices sitting there to sample as well. But take a sip and you won't get the chance to finish it. Whatever the flavor, you'll find you're something you weren't before. If you're lucky, it's still humanoid. Not everyone will be lucky.

And as a final option, there's three delicious-looking flavors of milkshake set out. Those that go for strawberry might find themselves with butterflies in their stomach at the next person who talks to them. The chocolate fans will find their reaction something a little bit deeper, even if the next person they see is a stranger. And those who go for vanilla might find the exact reverse; the next person that looks at them just won't leave them alone.

Anyone looking for food besides this layout will find their search and/or request comes up with nothing. If you don't touch the offerings, you'll be fine. If you do? Well, good luck....


[OOC: ...Ahem. GIANT CRACKPLOT POST OF DOOM. A quick rundown in case anything's not clear: fruit=psychic abilities (either reading or projecting, and those with abilities are heightened); cookies=personality switch (giant ones are with the person they share with, small ones are just switch an aspect/entire personality as you wish); nuts=genderswap; cake=age (up or down is up to the mun, doesn't matter what age they are); pretzels=sensory loss (or muteness, that counts); water=heightens emotions and/or removes inhibitions; tea=speaks thoughts aloud; coffee=can only tell the truth; juice=species shift; milkshakes=fall in love/crush with the next person you see (strawberry is crush, chocolate is love, vanilla is the next person you see falls for you to a degree up to the muns). Go nuts. Post the same person doing several different cracks. Do several at once to someone. Multiple verses. Whatever. If you want to tag someone specific put their LJ name in the subject of your comment. Otherwise, go nuts

Note: it should be noted that this post was copied from a private musebox that allaroughdraft and I were in. I's copied practically verbatim, so all the credit for the crack goes to her, I just thought it would be fun to open it to mass response.)

Comments

Because you've spent more than three minutes with Theta.

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

He smiles brightly, promptly scooping up the Koscheicat and giving him a good snuggle.

Yes, we're all aware that he asked about petting, not snuggling. No, we don't think he cares.

Theta promptly plops down on the chair and puts Koschei in his lap, petting him and giving him a nice scritch behind the ears.

Having him around his mind is a little unnerving but he doesn't say that and he tries to keep all the dark and dangerous spots closed off. He's nervous though, scared that there's a hole somewhere that he might have missed and Koschei could just slip in and be lost.

He doesn't want him to get lost in Theta's damaged parts, he doens't want that at all.

You're a lovely cat,?i> he offers at a kind of consolation, even though he doubts it's much of a comfort to the man.

[learntobeyou.livejournal.com]

Koschei is careful to stay on the edges; he knows that Theta prefers he stay out, and he'd prefer it as well, never quite trusting himself in other people's minds. But there's no other way to talk to him, at the moment, and he'd rather not be entirely cut off from contact.

The petting is... far more enjoyable than Koschei would ever admit and the fact that it is entirely due to the shape does very little to alleviate the annoyance at that. He settles down in his lap anyway, though, more for Theta's benefit than his own.

Theta's words of consolation do very little to help, as well. He would much rather be back to his own shape.

You didn't have anything, did you? he asks as the thought occurs to him. He assumes not, he assumes that he'd have noticed if something had happened, but it's better to be sure.

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

It's just not an idea situation for anyone, it seems. He knows though, that there's probably no other choice, so he represses the urge to tell Koschei to get out.

He cant; ehlp but warn him though. Careful. Stay away from the cracks and the dark spots. They'll break you.

He is content to pet him, stroking his cur and giving him a scratch under his chin every so often. He knows how to please a cat which means right now he know show to please Koschei which in turn is pleasing for him.

He shakes his head. Nope. I was going to tell you not to have anything either. Everyone who does have something seems to change somehow. Even people who don't change on the outside seem surprised with what's happening to them.

[learntobeyou.livejournal.com]

I'll be careful, he promises, though deep down where he's made certain Theta can't hear them the same thoughts run through his head as always, that he's sure he could do something about it, if he only looked, tried.

It's thoughts like that that keep him from feeling safe in Theta's mind.

Koschei doesn't know what to do with the affection even in this form, so he just lies there and accepts it and pays more attention to Theta's words. Good. He doesn't even try to hide the relief in the thought. He can't actually do anything for Theta, like this, so he's glad Theta picked up on what was going on. You didn't happen to see anyone change back into themselves yet, did you?

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

Good he says simply, even though it does little to deter him from being concerned. He stills doesn't feel right like this, he doesn't feel safe doing this. He knows that something will slip, a new crack will break, something will happen and Koschei will be in danger and he won't know how to help him.

He bites his lip, letting his hands stop moving. Maybe I should go...

At his question, Theta shakes his head. No, not yet.

[learntobeyou.livejournal.com]

Don't, Koschei responds immediately. Between the disorientation of taking on a new form and the worry that Theta will forget what might happen and take something, he'd rather not let the other out of his sight. I can get out of your head if you want, just -- stay here.

That is not pleasing, but Koschei doesn't say anything about it. He'd been hoping it would only be a few minutes.

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

I don't know he admits. I don't want something happening to you. Something will happen if you stay. Something bad. You'll trip and fall, there are cracks, so many cracks or you'll lose your way. It's easy to get lost in there. Too many dark places. You'llgetlostyou'llgetlostyou'llgetlost.

He doesn't want that. he doesn't want to lose Koschei, especially not to his own mind.

Theta would apologize if he knew he was disappointing him. Right now though, his brain is a little distracted.

[learntobeyou.livejournal.com]

I'll stay out. He's quick to make the promise and even as he talks he's withdrawing, detaching from Theta's mind. Nothing will happen, I promise. I'll stay out, just don't go off. I'd rather you stayed here.

And then he's out of Theta's mind, and it's even more unsettling, because it's like nothing's grounding him to who he's supposed to be anymore. He still has his own mind, yes, but it's conflicting with the instincts of the species and without that mental contact to keep him grounded, it's harder to ignore.

It's worth it, though, if it keeps Theta where he can watch him.

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

He sits there awkwardly, his hands working over Koschei's fur as he feels him move away. He doesn't know what to say now, he feels awkward saying anything. He should be better than this, have more control over his own mind. Koschei should be able to go in there if he so chose.

He bites his lip. Reaching out carefully again, only tendrils in comparison to what they had been doing before, he speaks.
]
I can try, he says though the worry is clear. I just don't want anything bad to happen.

[learntobeyou.livejournal.com]

You don't have to. Koschei is holding back, only using the links Theta creates. You can talk if you need to say anything, and I'll find another way. You don't have to if you don't want to.

I promise, I wouldn't let anything happen, either way, he adds, looking up at Theta as he does.

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

He watches him carefully, considering him and giving a slight scrach underneath his chin. The petting and scratching is as much for Theta's benefit as it is for Koschei's, having something underneath his hands is good, it's c9omforting and warm and soft. It eases some of the tension he's feeling.

Stay, he says, though there's still an air of caution to it. hH extends a little more of himself outward though, reaching for Koschei, if not carefully.

[learntobeyou.livejournal.com]

Had it not been Theta, had it not been more for Theta's benefit, Koschei would probably be a couple of feet away by now. The constant touching is still uncomfortable, as nice as it might actually feel in this shape. He doesn't move, though, waiting for Theta's answer.

If you want me to go, just say so. He's still holding back as he meets Theta, careful as he can go, barely touching Theta's mind.

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

Okay he says though there's still the air of apprehension to it. He's trying to tell himself that he trusts Koschei more than he fears his own mind. It's hard but he does believe it.

he opens hims mind a little more, not by much but enough that conversation can easily be exchanged. So much of him is closed off though, he still feels bad about it. It shouldn't be this way but it's the only way to keep him safe.

His hands still travel up and down Koschei's back, striking and scratching interchangeably. If he was asked to stop, he would but until then, he's going to be betting out 9of sheer nervous habit.

[learntobeyou.livejournal.com]

He's hesitant about saying anything now, so he settles against Theta in silence, welcoming the touch of his mind but still not reaching out to meet him.

Can we go back to the TARDIS? he asks after a few moments. It's all right if you want to stay here, but if you don't mind, could we?

He could go alone, of course, but he's not comfortable leaving Theta here while odd things are still happening.

[darkgathersin.livejournal.com]

He nods his head, arms curling around Koschei and picking up. he doesn';t think to let him drop to the ground and walk. Clearly he should be carried.

It doens't help that, if they go back, Grace can keep an eye out on things. He trusts her on matters such as this, he believes she can go into his mind and not get hurt more than he believes Koschei can. Maybe it's faulty logic but it's what his mind tells him to be true, so he goes iwth it.

he walks back, looking around him every so often, keeping an eye out for anyone who might n be acting strangely so he can ask them if they've found a remedy.