[Open] Oh, Worm?

[codicies]

Who: Everyone who wants to get in on Worm Plot related things
What: There's a bug going around, and it might be a little more literal than you realize!
When: Backdated from the start of April through May
Where: Central City
Notes: Relevant context: April Confluence, May Confluence, and Mechanica's announcement.

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01. Hivemind Shenanigans (CLOSED)

(For any of Dylan's close friends who received a bit of symbiote goop from him get to be part of a little mental groupchat while this plot lasts. Keep in mind:

• Your character can shut the groupchat out at any time.
  
• Your character can choose not to project thoughts.
  
• If you want to have them accidentally project thoughts and emotions, that's cool too.
  
• Even if we didn't thread out your character getting a bit of Dylan Ooze, as long as they're close friends, we can handwave it and let them join the hive.
  
• This isn't permanent! Dylan will be collecting pieces of himself from the others once either the vaccine is developed and/or the worm plot ends. )

---

02. Interacting with the Infected

Many citizens of Central City seem... off. Some are exhausted, with fuzzy memories, and powers on the fritz. It seems like they're wasting away.

Then, suddenly... they're back to normal, as if nothing ever changed. Sick? When were they sick?

The symptoms are explained in detail during the April Confluence Post. Do your characters try to help the sick? Make them remember when they were sick?

Or did a firm handshake from the formerly-sick acquaintance leave you with a creepy-crawly feeling you're unsure how to explain?

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03.Vaccine Development (Location: Broadmoor Hospital)

Any science-y types who want to help with Pete Ross' attempt at making a vaccine will be directed to Broadmoor Hospital. Knowing that Dylan is immune to the disease, he'll be closely inspecting samples of Dylan's symbiote matter to isolate the biomarkers that repel the worms.

---

04. Wildcard

Is there another way you want to engage with the Worm Plot? Are you stuck in Central City when you just want to get back home to Sunset Falls? Are you loudly complaining about the Society's secrecy regarding the whole matter?

Comments

[arach_kid]

Slime creatures from outer space? I'm familiar. More than I'd like to be, but that's mostly because Bizarnage doesn't exactly leave a good first impression. Or a good second impression, for that matter.

[Partly because Bizarnage wasn't a natural born symbiote, but a botched Cadmus experiment that tried to recreate one from a DNA sample. Not one of the lab's better ideas.]

[demigoth]

We aren’t in a tunnel and gods you two are loud.

[definecat]

If your idiot brother had just announced they were going to let bits of them be dissected for science, would you be restrained about it? I'm tempted to track you down and do this in person where he can't run.

[demigoth]

I told him to be careful because what if they decide he has enough goo for them and their friends.

[definecat]

Is he listening to you any better than me?

[demigoth]

If he was listening, I wouldn’t be here.

[definecat]

Would you like backup?

[demigoth]

Hunter and me ARE the backup.

01 - wildcard

[demigoth]

I hate this so much. I can’t focus long enough to keep you all out.

[definecat]

I meant more. I am perfectly capable of knocking the idiot unconscious and throwing him over my shoulder.

And they aren't bothering to shield the conversation from the idiot in question.

[demigoth]

Am I allowed to do that?

[definecat]

I leave it to your judgement and willingness to deal with the consequences. You're sensible enough, and properly paranoid.

[codicies]

I CAN HEAR YOU BOTH

[demigoth]

[ Nico waves at him. ]

You did this to me.

[definecat]

And I meant you to hear if you were smart enough to listen.

[codicies]

Do you really think I don't know this is dangerous? Do you think I'm not scared?

If there's any chance of a peaceful resolution with these things, I have to find it.

If the government decides parasitic Starfallen don't get rights, how long until the Alliance decides you're too dangerous to keep around?

I'm sick and tired of losing family!

[definecat]

The fact that you purposefully did this without talking to me or inviting me alone says plenty.

They aren't happy, but would have been beside their brother if asked.

[demigoth]

No, that one’s okay. You don’t invite people on bad ideas.

[codicies]

Sorry.

I'll see if I can... manage the traffic in here or something. Route stuff away from you as it comes in.

[codicies]

[ Dylan winces when Nico corrects him, but the conversation's already started; No turning back now. ]

So... I'm a human/symbiote hybrid. Something about the symbiote... stuff repels the worms. Can you do anything with that?

[arach_kid]

Possibly. I can't make any promises without some research first.

Hypothetically, though? There might be some kind of chemical marker that tells the parasites when someone's already infected.

[codicies]

Makes sense.

[ And... boundaries. Gotta set boundaries. ]

Just some ground rules, though. We're not putting me under for any reason. And if at any point I say we're done, then we're done.

[demigoth]

Hello, operator? Hold all my calls.

[demigoth]

Or when I think we’re done.

[ He’s got the black-haired guy pinned with a glare. If he knows about symbiotes and doesn’t have a good impression, then it’s worse than it was two minutes ago. Now, someone who doesn’t like symbiotes is running the test. People don’t like to go against their preconceptions. ]

Dylan’s the nice one.

[badbutsadboy]

This all has to be done without hurting him.

And you should tell him everything you're doing.

[It'll help them have a better chance of telling whether what he's doing seems shady.]