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

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Comments

[gardenful]

I wouldn’t say you’re easy to read, but… I know someone with a similar attitude.

[ So it’s easier for her to pick it out. ]

[bloodandstars]

Let me guess. Military?

[ Two can play at that game, if Aerith is projecting! Although she can't remember the last time someone saw a similarity in her that wasn't to family. ]

[gardenful]

More or less. Back home, they're called SOLDIER but they operate a lot like a military.

[ Just... for a private company instead of a government. Totally normal things. ]

[bloodandstars]

They named their paramilitary... "soldier"?

[ She doesn't even know about corporate hell. She's just judging right now. ]

[gardenful]

[ You know what? She understands the judgement. ]

Mmhmm. Their elite soldiers are all called, well, SOLDIER. Kinda silly sounding, but you've gotta be real good to get in at all.

[bloodandstars]

If you have to name your units something stupid, it may as well be the elites. No one will make fun of that twice.

[ Except Maika. Maika would. She glances over at Aerith in a flicker of amusement. ]

...That's what I remind you of?

[gardenful]

Yup. You sure do.

[ She smiles, mirroring Maika's amusement, though hers is much more obvious and plainly written across her face. ]

That a bad thing?

[bloodandstars]

You tell me. She's your acquaintance.

[ Sorry Cloud, Maika's only met like one dude that could remotely be counted as a soldier. Anyway. ]

...Elite, though. Fine by me.

[gardenful]

More like "he". Both my friend and the first guy I loved were SOLDIERS.

[ Maybe she has a type, but she won't be examining that one! ]

Lemme guess, most strong fighters where you're from are women? I can get behind that.

[ #Feminism. ]

[bloodandstars]

How did you keep picking up elite military? Starting a mercenary group?

[ She's... also inferring that Aerith has a type, but she's not kinkshaming yet. ]

Most... everything where I come from is women. Fighters, poets, leaders, pirates... the ones worth talking about, anyway. It's not like I've never met men before, but I've got no idea why the goddess here needed so many of them.

[ She's never thought to question why her world is about 80% women?? And now she's confused. #Feminism tho. ]

[gardenful]

[ She considers answering that question, but you know what? The possibility of being teased for having a type is just too great, so she decides not to.

Instead, Aerith just laughs. ]

Too many for your liking, huh? I don't mind, but... it's nice to have some girls around.

[bloodandstars]

[ Mysterious laughter, is it? Maika's eyebrows are going up. And she's definitely filing that away. ]

I don't care either way. It's just... odd. Like their silent cats. None of the pieces of this world fit where they should. This, though—

[ And she pauses and gives a shrug, not eager to try to pick a word for what hanging around this particular girl is. More comfortable? Like "home"? That's a little much. It's just something. ]

[gardenful]

[ "Is just like home?" Is what she wants to say, but she holds it back, if only because that might be a little too familiar in the first few days they're here. ]

So you're comfortable around me already, is what you're saying?

[bloodandstars]

[ Maika snorts, but it's notably not a "no"; the hairflick she gives as she looks for the photographer almost a "yes, if that weren't vulnerable." ]

You're like a cat. Everyone's comfortable around you even if you use the same charm on all of them.

[gardenful]

What can I say? I'm a charming girl.

[ She grins at Maika, and the photographer snaps a photo of it. ]

You're kinda like a guard dog. Still charming, but you look like you wanna bite sometimes.

[bloodandstars]

[ Guard dog? Should she be offended she's being taken for a pet? She tosses her hair, which at least makes the photographer happy. ]

I'm a wolf. I do bite. And my teeth are sharper than they look.

[gardenful]

[ There are so many things can be said to words like that, but... ]

Y'know, I got a feeling you're not speaking figuratively here about being a wolf.

[ Maika doesn't exactly seem like the joking type, after all. ]

[bloodandstars]

[ Exactly one person here who takes her words at face value? Maika will remember that. ]

I'm not. Not that it matters here. Seems like most of the people here are from worlds with just humans, anyway.

[gardenful]

[ When you've seen what Aerith has, you just have to. ]

My world's mostly humans, too. Aside from one of my friends... and me. Haven't found many others outside of Moogles than just us two, though.

[bloodandstars]

You, too?

[ Maika glances over more sharply in surprise, but not disbelief. After all, if she's just judging by appearances, she looks as human as anyone. ]

...How come? If your world is mostly humans.

[ Where do the nonhumans come from? Or why aren't there more of them. Or both. ]

[gardenful]

My friend and I are the last of our kinds.

[ She smiles ruefully, giving Maika a little shrug. ]

It sounds real depressing, but we’re both doing just fine.

[bloodandstars]

[ That does sound depressing?? Yes?? Maika is giving her a look of quiet disbelief. ]

That doesn't happen on accident.

[ She's not going to pry yet. She's just pointing that out, with a little shake of her head. ]

[gardenful]

It sure doesn't, but you make do with what you can, right?

[ It's all they can do, she thinks. Maybe she shouldn't be so positive about it, but sinking into despair over it isn't an option either. ]

[bloodandstars]

When there's nothing else you can do about it.

[ She's not arguing the fundamentals, it's just... hard for her to imagine being so positive about that. ]

[gardenful]

And that's exactly what it is.

[ She smiles, though this time there's a hint of sadness there. ]

I'll tell you more about it someday, when we're not in the middle of a photoshoot.

[ It's not as heavy a story as Maika might think it is, though it would definitely bring down the mood here. ]