mayfield_rpg | 1st Infection

[A: 749 Partridge Drive (Closed to Housemates)]

[Waking up was usually not so peaceful. In fact, this may be the first time in the last sixteen years where she hadn't been woken by one child or another needing something from her. These days it was most often Fred crying for his first feed, or two of her younger daughters fighting over who drank the last of yesterday's milk.

Yet this time she was coming to slowly, in a house full of peace and quiet. Though the contentment this brought lasted for only a split second before she was bolt upright in bed, covers brought up to her chin and panic making her breath shorter. This wasn't her house. This wasn't any house in the village.

Usually she could cope with most things calmly, but this was a bit of a sensory overload. Sorry about the ear-splitting shriek, housemates, your new mother has arrived.]

[B: Phone (Open to All)]

[She had seen relics of telephones in the past, though most had been nearly rotted beyond recognition or preserved as part of the 'history'. Phone lines hadn't worked since long before her time, yet this particular one looked shiny and new. Touching it carefully, she picked it up and gave a rather nervous laugh, voice a murmur to herself.]

This is insanity...

[C: Church (Open to All)]

[Going outside had been a MISTAKE, that much was positive from the moment she had reached the end of the street and run into her first stranger. She wasn't in her home village, she was surrounded by people she didn't recognise, and who knows if they were even safe?!

Spotting the church had been a relief. While they weren't used as centres for faith any more, the crumbly little chapel in her village was used as a place to store medicines. If she could be safe anywhere, it would be here. Darting in the doors, breathing as heavily as if she'd run a marathon, she looked around warily.]

Hello? Is anyone here?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Winry doesn't answer that directly; it's kind of a sad subject and this woman doesn't need to be worrying about that. ]

When people arrive in Mayfield they're 'assigned' a family that they live with. Up until now this family had a drone mother, but now that you're here you're assigned the 'mother' role.

But don't worry. I can handle most things here, so you can relax.

[This girl has been doing all the work? It always tugged at her heartstrings when children were left to fend for themselves now, all the more so because she knows how she used to think when she was younger.

It goes a way towards calming her down, though she's by no means relaxed.]

Will you tell me a little more about this place?

It's called Mayfield. Somehow people are being kidnapped and trapped here. Apparently this country is called America and its 1950, but I've never heard of America back home and it's not 1950 yet. So I guess people from all times an 'worlds' are here now.

[She's heard of America, it was mentioned in the history books, but that was far across the ocean...]

That can't be, how is that even possible?

I really don't know. Everything here is sort of crazy... When people die they get revived the next day and the people who run town do awful things to the people here. If you don't play along then you get "droned" and stop acting like yourself... Ah, that's right. We should check if you've been assigned any sort of job while here...

[...she's definitely hallucinating.

There's no two ways about it. Either this girl was ill and imagining all this, or this crazy situation was a fevered dream of her catching sick.]

This can't be real, I must be dreaming...

I promise you're not... oh! Wait here!

[ Winry leaves the room for only a few minutes before returning with what she hopes will be proof; a family portrait and mail addressed to Madeline. ]

Here, see? We've got family photos. This kid here is a drone... and this man here is like us.

[How does that prove anything, other than she must be the one hallucinating? She stares at the picture for a moment, reaching tentative fingers out to touch it.]

I have children waiting for me, I can't... be here.

[ That stings a bit to hear. Winry knows that she would be so much less "okay" with this situation if Ed and Al weren't here. ]

I'm sorry... I know it's tough, but we don't really know how to get out yet... [ She takes a deep breath, not wanting poor Madeline to worry. Even if there's not much she can realistically do. ] Time doesn't seem to pass back home while we're here, though... According to what I've heard, anyway.

[She has eight children waiting for her at home, she can't just rely on the word of a complete stranger.]

Time passes for everyone, nobody is exempt, however much we might wish we were.

Yeah, I know it doesn't make any sense... but I've heard people say they go home and it seems like no time passed.

People have gone home and returned? Can you show me the way they left?

Sorry, no one really goes home because they want to. It seems to just happen... and the they end up here again.

There must be a way home. If people arrive here, then there must also be a way out again.

I know, but we haven't really found it yet... And I have some pretty stubborn friends trying to find a way out. [ At least she thinks they are. If they're not then it's time to maul some Elrics. ]

Anyway... for now, I'll show you around town and everything. Getting droned won't help us get home.

[She could be talking a foreign language for all she understands that last part, brow furrowed in confusion as she tries to hold onto her composure.]

Droned?

Oh, it's... I guess it's like brainwashing? When the town needs to punish people, they forget their old lives and start acting like they've been in Mayfield their whole lives. We call it "droning".

[She looks sincerely horrified, that's one of the worst things she's ever heard in her life. She might have some bad memories, but she would never give them up if she had to give up the memories of her children too.]

How can they do that?!

[ And she jumps with a bit of fright. Then frowns more from renewed guilt. ]

I don't know... I really don't... But don't worry. I'll do what I can to make sure it doesn't happen to you. [ She steps back and offers a hand. ] And to start, it's really important that you get a look around the house. We need to find proof of any job you have and you probably need to meet the drone kid.

[Her heart twangs viciously. This drone boy, he had broken the rules somehow and was brainwashed now? She just can't resist a child in distress, so she's standing up (though not taking Winry's hand), and nodding.]

I'm right behind you, and in your hands.

Right.

[ Winry isn't sure about leading. She knows she can do it, but in a situation like this? She has a few doubts about herself, but keeps them to just that. ]

All of the houses in Mayfield look pretty similar, so if you visit someone else their house'll have this same layout. My room's down here and my "brother" is in this room.

What did he do?

[The question is quiet and a little angry, as she follows Winry into the hall.]

The little boy, I mean. What is he being punished for?

1st Infection

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