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

nametags!! (this one's cute--)

[destage]

[Sayaka turns a bit when called upon--she was distracted trying to find something she likes to make something similar, even if she's a little subdued trying to recover from earlier, but!

The question is an oddly cute one, and it finds Sayaka smiling a bit.]

Oh, um--I'm very fond of forget-me-nots and red spider lilies! [Higanbana, as she'd probably call them.] Are you looking for something to make your nametag prettier, miss?

[gardenful]

I am! I thought about putting my favorite flower, but I think I'd like seeing other people's favorites whenever I look at my nametag instead.

[ After all, they're here to build connections, and what's a better way to do that than finding out little bits and pieces about one another?

She grabs a light blue pencil, working on outlining a little patch of forget-me-nots in the corner. The red spider lilies can come later, as a nice little contrast to the blue. ]

You can call me Aerith, by the way. [ She offers a smile of her own. ] We're all living here, so we don't have to be so formal with each other.

[destage]

[...That's really sweet, what the hell--this woman shines so bright it's almost blinding. It's strange in a way, that it reminds her of those performances that enthralled her long ago, but it feels so much more...genuine.

...Sayaka's losing it. She discards those thoughts but she finds herself smiling none the less.]

So it's like...you're kind of carrying a piece of everyone with you, kind of? That's a really sweet gesture...

[Oh! Sayaka seems a little surprised at the very gentle callout, gently giggling a bit.]

Ah, I'm sorry about that, Aerith-san! I'll keep that in mind. [...SHE SAYS, STILL INSISTING ON THE HONORIFIC--] It really is nice to meet you, and--I think we're going to get along well, I hope! You seem really nice.

I'm Maizono Sayaka--Maizono's just fine. Can I ask what your favorite flower is, in kind?

[gardenful]

[ Aerith's smile only grows brighter with Sayaka's, and she can't help but find herself focusing on the conversation rather than her doodles. ]

So do you, Maizono. You're really polite, aren't you?

[ Especially with that honorific still at the end of her name, but that's something Aerith will confront her on later. Some things need to be worked on little by little, and she knows some of the more reserved ones need time. ]

Yellow lilies. They're a symbol of friendship! And they're great as a "thank you" gift.

[destage]

[Oh! Sayaka finds herself chuckling at being called out so effectively, but it makes her smile a bit.]

I always try to be! It's how I was raised, heehee...

[But hearing Aerith's actual flower choice makes Sayaka smile, giggling just a bit as she starts to grab a nametag to make for herself. And...a yellow gel pen--]

I should've expected that! They're so bright and wonderful, I can see why you gravitate to them. I don't usually see them unless I'm doing a concert abroad, but they're really lovely to see.

[gardenful]

[ She's a sweet girl, isn't she? Aerith can't help but find her spirits lifted a little bit around Sayaka, her turmoil over being away from an important mission back home quelled just a little, especially when she spots that yellow gel pen. ]

Flowers are pretty rare where I'm from, so they're in high demand. You tend to really appreciate what you can't see very often, and I think you get it too.

[ Aerith reaches for a red gel pen, one with a little bit of glitter in the ink. ]

But I bet we can find our favorites somewhere in the city. And if not... we can make it a little mission to find them or grow them ourselves.

[ Some flowers would brighten up their dorm rooms, she thinks. ]

[destage]

[A place where flowers are rare...]

Gosh, I feel like I can scarcely imagine a place where flowers are rare...even in a desert, there's at least a few--

[But Sayaka's eyes almost immediately light up at Aerith's suggestion, and her expression is deeply joyful.]

Aerith-san, that sounds like a wonderful idea! Maybe we could see if we could make a little communal garden? I'm sure it'll look super pretty by the time we're done, if we can do that!

[Sayaka's absolutely jazzed as she gets a couple of cute yellow lilies onto her nametag--Sayaka's not the greatest artist, but they look cute! And that's what matters!]

[gardenful]

[ Cute is all that matters here! Those yellow lilies have an Aerith Seal of Approval(tm).

The idea of a garden is just as exciting to her too, and she even sits forward in her chair a bit at the thought. ]

That's a great idea! Having our own plants to take care of and nurture will be great for the group! I've got some experience gardening, too, so you can consider me your advisor.

[destage]

[Oh, if only Sayaka had that stupid phone she gets later this week, one could physically see the shoujo sparkles coming off of her. At the very least, they're currently very metaphorical, but Sayaka seems so damn jazzed.]

Really?! I'd love that, Aerith-san! I've never really had time to do so with my managers arranging my time so much and with everything going on, but that's absolutely delightful--

I'm really looking forward to it now!

[gardenful]

[ Wow, her energy is really off the charts, and all it does is feed right back into Aerith's own energy too. ]

So am I, actually. How about we start getting a plan together once this party is over and bring it to Mina? I bet she'd be happy to give us some pointers, like where to find soil and seeds.