Week 1

[linkupmods]

WEEK 1

AWAKENING.

You were taken. That much is obvious when you come to your senses and see the world around you. You feel a little groggy – just how long were you asleep for? – but you should otherwise be alert, enough to realize that the surrounding area is unfamiliar to you. You are in front of what appears to be a modern dormitory (or, well, just a large building, for anyone who's never quite seen anything like it before). The area is decorated with balloons, streamers and other miscellaneous decorations with a giant "WELCOME" banner spanning across the front entrance.

You have a moment to look at the people around you. Strangers. No one here looks familiar to you whatsoever. Furthermore, it feels like there is something stirring in your heart, waiting to be brought to light, waiting to speak your truth...

You might need more time to let that sink in, but that time is interrupted by a voice.

"Oh wow it actually worked- Um, I mean! Hello!"

The speaker is a short, plain-looking young woman with dark hair in a bob cut, her hand raised to catch everyone’s attention.


"Welcome to Sunset City! The goddess Braphine needs your help, so she’s called all of you here to fix this place. Fortunately, it should only take about three months of cooperation, I think? Probably. So...

Welcome to your new home away from home!"

The young woman - Mina - goes on to explain the current situation: everyone here has been summoned by the goddess of community and connection, Braphine, in order to rebuild the connections of the people of Sunset City. Lately, the people have become more and more isolated from each other, getting into fights and arguments over the pettiest of details.

While Mina doesn’t know the details, exactly, what she does know is that the goddess instructed her to prepare these dorms for residents ("that’s you!") and to more or less act as her representative. Mina will also note that everyone’s dorm rooms have already been labeled with their names, and that the goddess has deigned to gift some in particular with the means to defend themselves - which is to say, when characters do eventually make it to their dorm rooms, those who did not arrive with one will find their gifted weapon waiting for them with their name handwritten on a tag attached to the item.

For now, people can use their phones to access an app that will allow them to see any currently open commissions - complete the commissions, and they will not only help the community, but also earn money and rewards! And if your character doesn’t know how to operate a phone, well... Mina will patiently guide them through the process, don’t you worry.

If your character has any other questions, they may talk to her at the party, or otherwise contact her via phone!

WELCOME PARTY.

After speaking with Mina, you may have an idea of what you're supposed to be doing here. Things don't have to be all work, though, because despite the state of the city, you are allowed to have fun and get to know one another.

Mina has graciously set up a welcome party for everyone, which will have refreshments inside and outside the dorm, and games available for people to partake in throughout the day at their own leisure! Indoors, there are a variety of board games for you to mess around with. Outside, there's a pool, basketball and tennis court set up with appropriate equipment. Of course, you aren't limited to just those, as there's a small open field at the dormitory where you can play ball in other ways, too. Interestingly enough, there are also some training dummies available for you to use...maybe to put your weapons to use?

Don't forget about the arts and crafts section inside, either, where nametags are laid out for you to create your own (or others')! You can also use this section to create decorations for the dormitory, your room, or even something to give to a fellow dorm mate.

EXPLORE.

You're free to explore the town, too, at your own leisure, to get used to your new home. The city is bustling with people, but for some reason, many of the residents don't have good vibes. They seem unsettled, unhappy for whatever reason. It's not pleasant, but nobody will go out of their way to bother you, unless you trip into them or initiate pvp yourself.…The random trash scattered around various parts of town might make it hard to avoid the former, though. Be careful not to trip on a banana peel, a stray canister, or even something as large as a throwaway tire on the side of the street. The residents will not react positively if you try to interact with them in any capacity.

That being said, for all that the city seems gloomy at a first glance, there is surprisingly an advertisement for a go-kart racing contest coming up in three weeks, and the go-karts are two seaters! The flyers posted around town read that this is a competition for pairs; the driver's seat (left) has a gas pedal, and the passenger's seat (right) has the brake. Looks like the events are being hosted by one of the popular arcades in town, too. Even so, there are prizes for first, second, and third place; the grand prize consists of a good amount of cash, a trophy, and one (1) free night at one of the hotels in Carnation Court for both people. Why not team up with someone and enter the competition, or just find some people to practice with?

(OOC: Please see our OOC section for sign up details.)

NETWORK.

So, about those phones...there's a non-zero chance that you may post your live thoughts onto the network without meaning to. Likewise, you may also unwillingly comment on someone's post with your thoughts while reading it. Yes, this phone grabs from your psyche, for better or worse! Well, mostly worse, but oh well. There isn't a fix for this "bug" just yet, but you can still use the network intentionally! Just don't be surprised if you get a bunch of notifications for a post you didn't even know you made.

COMMISSIONS

TOP MODELS

A local boutique is looking for people to model their clothing, but they plan on taking group photos instead of single shots. This will be a summer-themed photoshoot with summer outfits (not necessarily swimsuits!), and the photographer (who is cranky, sorry) plans on encouraging all kinds of interactions between their subjects for some unique photos. Participants will be able to keep the outfits they wore for the photoshoot! How nice.

CLEANUP

You've seen the questionable state of the city streets. Should you feel like doing your part by cleaning up some of the trash, you may find something valuable hidden in all the rubble. And who knows? Maybe some of the residents might actually respond kindly to your efforts... (Cleaning up can unearth things like jewelry; collector's items; small, old electronics -- just to give you an idea! Go wild.)

PVP ENABLED

Basketball, volleyball, soccer match anyone? Monopoly? Uno? Or, better yet, a sparring match with your fellow dorm mates…? Whatever you feel up for, Mina would like residents to get some friendly ("friendly") competition going in the spirit of getting to know one another.

LEAVE YOUR MARK

The arts and crafts area has a large paper canvas taped to one of the walls with a "DRAW ON ME!" post-it stuck to it. There's a lot of room to be creative with this, and yes, you will get paid for just decorating the dorms a little bit through this commission!

OOC

READ ME!!!!

• Welcome to your event log! Currently, Personas and Elements are NOT in play but you have your weapons with you regardless. These things will be unlocked when we introduce the Nekyia in Week 2.
  
• Please use the OOC PLOTTING POST for all plotting purposes. Please do not plot in Discord.
  
• If you would like to sign up for the Go-Kart Contest, please fill out the form and submit it here! There will be a follow up to this in a Week 4 mini event. :)
  
• Furthermore, we have a very big series of events we are planning to do in later weeks. We will OOCly give details and open signups early in Week 2, with the introduction of the Nekyia. Keep an eye out for that as well!
  

ic comm | inboxes | ooc comm | full nav

code

Comments

[fullmoonmutt]

[ So if this guy gets it that fast, then... ]

Yeah. Guess this is how a regular human is meant to be. [ He turns around fully and crosses his arms over his chest with a huff. ] I can live without the strength. My senses are shit now, though. Didn't think I'd ever miss those, but here we are.

[ But now he's back to eyeballing Celeste. ]

What about you?

[cirquedesang]

Mm. I wouldn't remember the difference.

[Is this an approximation of how a regular human is meant to be? It's been so long, and he's changed so much since he was one, that it's hard to tell. Anyway, it's not like he's trying to hide that he isn't supposed to be a regular human, so Eli picking up what he was putting down isn't really all that surprising.]

It's been odd being awake during the day, but it would be inconvenient here if I wasn't. [Given, you know, everyone else seems to be, and that this doesn't seem like a nightlife city.] My senses are, as you say, shit now, too.

[And, just to further test the running theory, he runs from where he's standing to one of the dummies, tapping its "forehead" with the back of his knuckles. He's fast, sure, but the fact he's visible at all for this is the problem, and he does let an expression of disgust cross his face for a moment before settling back to pleasant-neutral.]

And I'm slow.

[fullmoonmutt]

Eh, you're probably still faster than most of the other losers who got dragged here.

[ Take what you can get, he supposes. Shit still sucks, though. He turns, gaze following Celeste as he goes after the dummy, ending with simply tapping it on its wooden forehead. At this point, with how pale Celeste is and the comment about it being weird to be awake during the day, well. ]

You undead?

[ Eli's asking outright. It's a pretty wide-reaching term, although he's sure "zombie" or "ghost" doesn't fit into the equation. Some undead, though, surely? ]

[cirquedesang]

[Take what you can get. It's not the best outcome, but... it could be worse, too.

And then Eli asks outright, and Celeste turns, head tilted just a bit as he reassesses him.]

Mhm. And you're not, I take it?

[There wasn't any camaraderie in the question like there probably would have been if Eli was also some manner of undead.]

But still more than human.

[fullmoonmutt]

I am human.

[ Oops, that was the wrong thing to say, it would seem. Eli contests that comment, his face falling into an immediate look of irritation. Yes, totally human, with all his sharp wolf teeth and his bright yellow eyes. ]

Just a human with... like, extra stuff. [ Right. Anyway. ] But nah, I'm not undead. Know a lot of 'em over in the RH district, though.

[cirquedesang]

Are you? My mistake.

[Totally human with the "missing heightened senses" and, quote, "extra stuff." Sure.]

There is a... district? For undead? Are they not hunted in your world?

[fullmoonmutt]

...shit, you don't know?

[ Eli had hoped at least one person as from the same place. What a mess. ]

Not just for anyone undead. Anyone who's an RH, uh. [ Eli gestures vaguely, like that'll help explain at all, but he's thinking. How to say it? ] Folks who the demons messed with and changed but want to get back to living a regular life, so, no? No one hunts them, not unless they're up to some shady shit.

[cirquedesang]

[What a mess!!

But that all does sound... inconvenient, at best. Demons? Not living a regular life? He'll take kindred politics any day over that.]

Can they not live a regular life as an undead? Why else would they wish to change back?

[fullmoonmutt]

I mean, they are doing that. Living a regular life as undead, or trying to, anyway.

[ It's a huge mess, absolutely massive. ]

[cirquedesang]

So then why... want to turn back?

[Being nonhuman is just... better?

...Well, maybe not in Eli's world, granted, but. You know. We're learning about each other, wow.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Eli gives Celeste a long, blank stare for a good minute before scowling at him and listing off, ]

Everything? Most of them can't go out in the daylight. Some don't have physical bodies, others do, but they're falling apart and have to keep repairing shit. Some need blood. You know how hard it is to convince regular folks to donate blood for dinner? C'mon, man, being undead sucks ass, and it's really hard on them.

[ And yet... ]

Plus, I didn't say nothing about turning back. There isn't any turning back. All we got are ways to manage it.

[cirquedesang]

["And it's really hard on them" - that, at least gets a slow, understanding nod. Just because it's not hard on him doesn't mean everyone is the same - much less everyone from other worlds he knows next to nothing about.

On the one hand, their existence seems like common knowledge... but on the other hand, their existence seems like common knowledge. A blessing and a curse.]

One would think they'd rather donate on occasion than risk the alternative. Though I must admit, one of my coworkers is the only other one I've seen share your opinion.

[And she's just a paranoid little weirdo.]

Though perhaps a ghost or a zombie would as well.

[fullmoonmutt]

You'd think... I figure normal folk just aren't used to RHs, and now they have to share a city with them, so, I don't know. Complicated bullshit or whatever.

[ In the end, what else can Eli do but shrug? ]

[cirquedesang]

Mm.

[Complicated bullshit or whatever, indeed.]

And you. You said you're a human with 'extra stuff' - does that mean you're free from these RH districts, then?

[fullmoonmutt]

They're human, too, though?

[ Which... he didn't explain. He reaches up to idly scratch the side of his face, thinking. ]

RH just means Recovered Human. It's a stupid name, but it's more or less what we are. People who were recovered from whatever demons changed them. None of us have to live in the district. Like, I don't really need the services and special housing offered there, so I live outside it.

[cirquedesang]

Are they?

[Probably the wrong thing to say, honestly, but... if they've been changed that much, to the point where some are being referred to as undead... well.

They don't sound human to him.

But then again, that's not a bad thing to him, either.]

Or have they become something else? Something more, perhaps?

["A human with extra stuff" sounds like a supernatural creature in denial about being no longer human, to him.]

[fullmoonmutt]

Most don't want to be considered something else...

[ He did say it was complicated! ]

I mean, like me? I have lycanthropy but I don't exactly want people yelling "werewolf" at me and shit.