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!
  

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Comments

[proposed]

[ It's fine, he always looks like that. He has the depression equivalent of bitch face. ]

Good. You seem to be gathering your bearings as well, so I'll start with something simple...

[ The final two words roll off his tongue slowly, and he taps his bottom lip. ]

... We can begin with something that you would be able to answer even if you weren't acting as a representative. For the equation 24x^2 + 25x - 47 / ax - 2 = -8x - 3 - 53 / ax - 2 is true for all values of x ≠ 2 / a, where a is a constant. What is the value of a?

[linkmakers]

[Wait was she supposed to know math for this job.

She just stares at him blankly.]

[proposed]

You don't know? Then perhaps...

[ There's no change in his expression, but he cants his head, not looking away from her. ]

Mushrooms are one of the more common toxic exposures. People will poison themselves while foraging due to identification... So tell me, which of these is safe: Coprinus, amanita muscaria, psilocybe, datura stramonium, or gyromitra esculenta? Do you know where I might find any of them?

[ They're all poisonous and datura isn't even a mushroom. ]

[linkmakers]

[Oh no at this rate she's going to get a bad grade in priestess UM, UM,,]

I don't... think... those are native to the island??

[Maybe????

Help]

[proposed]

[ please somebody save her. ]

I see... That's disappointing. I'd like to try amanita virosa in a salad, but it doesn't sound like that will grow here either...

[ The panicked reaction is familiar, so he doesn't pay it much mind past giving her a few seconds to collect herself. ]

Are you ready for the next question?

[linkmakers]

I'll do my best!

[proposed]

It's been long hypothesized that the universe is not locally real; however, it's only recently that scientists were able to prove IT. Can you explain to me what that means in simple terms?

[ There's no way. He'll wait just long enough to see her reaction before continuing, ]

... These questions are boring. You can answer this for me instead: If a person has amnesia never recovers their memories, are they still the same person?

[ These are just random questions...? ]

1/2

[linkmakers]

[He's getting more blank looks for his trouble.]

2/2

[linkmakers]

I think... probably? Even if they lose their memories, they're still them, right?

[proposed]

Even if you're no longer "you" to them? If they don't remember you, then from their perspective, the "you" that they knew never existed... They're still the same person as before?

[ There's no wrong answer. ]

[linkmakers]

Well, I'm still me, so we can just work back up to that!

[proposed]

[ There's a slight nod in response. His expression hardly shifts, but there is perhaps just the faintest hint of approval in that motion. Congrats on getting that from him girlie.

There's no wrong answer, but might be a right one. ]

... Yes, I agree. As long as you're still you and they're still them then it's fine, isn't it?

[ There's no particular reason for him to ask, not when he's set in his ways and his views, but Dazai does find this to be more interesting than asking repetitive questions of why and how... He's curious most of all as to why this person, who seems so painfully average, was chosen; why she's not afflicted by whatever disease is causing such unrest. ]

Well, I haven't asked you anything that matters. I wanted to see how many questions I would ask before you grew tired of being bombarded by a stranger with odd math and physics problems, but we might be here all day if I keep waiting.

1/2

[linkmakers]

[-? Oh, maybe she finally answered something right? Yay!]

[linkmakers]

[wAIT WAS IT A PRANK ALL ALONG?!]

H-huh?!

[proposed]

[ fortunately for her she's not one of dazai's men and he's far more entertained by this than he is them so he's much kinder, albeit no less emotionless. ]

I said none of those questions are related to the matter at hand.

[ Still, Dazai is... Well, he's as emotionally stilted as they come actually. But even he knows that look. Mostly because she's so emotive that he can't miss it. It's a bit nostalgic, actually. ]

Your answer was correct... I would have been disappointed if a shrine maiden couldn't at least understand that much.

[linkmakers]

W-well, at least it wasn't anything important...

[She is still doing her job properly!]

Besides, I'm supposed to be representing the goddess of community and connections... I wouldn't be much of a priestess if I didn't try to keep those connections alive anyway!

[proposed]

That's right. That's your job. But is it okay for you to neglect your own bonds...?

[ His head, which had gone back to a straight position, tilts to the other side now. ]

Do you know my name already? Most people would have lost their temper by now if a person were bombarding them with strange questions...

[linkmakers]

My own bonds?

[Nani.]

And, well... it's kind of my duty to answer any questions you guys have. Um, to the best of my ability, anyway! It's not like I know everything either.

[As so many people are finding out.]

I know everyone's names technically since I did write the room tags but I don't know who's who.

[proposed]

... Osamu Dazai. There's nothing I can tell you about myself that would be of interest here... [ Or that he could say back home willingly for that matter, but never mind that, ] ... So, you'll have to tell me something about yourself instead.

[ A single beat, then he clarifies, ]

What I want to know... Is why you're not effected by the disease that's been spread here, and why you were chosen by the goddess that you mentioned.

[ And that means knowing what manner of person she is, which was the entire point of those obnoxious questions... But on the plus side, despite him being like a ghost among the living, the answer to that last one means he's route isn't permanently locked and Dazai can address her just a touch more casually. ]

[linkmakers]

Oh! I remember writing your tag! It's nice to meet you in person, Osamu!

[Yay!]

As for me, hmm... I don't know this for sure, but I think it may be because I'm originally from the mainland. I only moved here recently, and the city I came from didn't have problems like this place does.

It looks like the only people who are unaffected in Sunshine City so far are people who follow Braphine, so since she started talking to me soon after I arrived, maybe she protected me right away so I could help!

[proposed]

[ Osamu... He blinks once at the use of his first name. He can't remember a time when anyone did, though he supposes it must have happened once. It's always "Boss" or "Dazai-san," and he thinks to himself with a hint of amusement that Chuuya would be all over it.

As for Dazai, he allows it well enough, choosing instead to focus on the rest of what Mina has to say. ]

I see... You're an outsider. You're not a deeply religious person, though you've had communication with Braphine. You know little about the situation at hand. You've had little warning as to what threats are going to appear, though it seems likely to escalate. On top of that, you're now in charge of a group of foreigners of varying temperaments and ideologies.

[ He holds up his index finger as he makes the first point, then holds up one more for each point that he makes before letting his hand drop to his side. He slumps forward slightly, closing his eyes with a soft sigh. ]

I'm jealous. I wish my job were even half as exciting.

[linkmakers]

It's, uh. Definitely pretty exciting now, that's true.

[A bit more exciting than expected, it seems.]

[proposed]

[ His job isn't exciting, just deadly. :( ]

By the way... How much protection is the goddess offering you? Or are you capable of protecting yourself?

[ He folds his arms. ]

From what you've said up until now, I can't think of any reason for anyone here to help save that they have no choice to. [ And even that's somewhat dubious. ] And with such a colorful group of people... You've been passing out weapons too, which means there's a bigger threat at hand.

[ Dazai frowns faintly. ]

[linkmakers]

Oh, I'm definitely no fighter! But... it's true that everyone will need to be prepared for at least a little bit of fighting soon.

[proposed]

That's ominous. You're not going to say that this is a game where we have to kill each other now, are you?

[ It's impossible to tell if he's joking by expression alone... ]