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

[idealies]

[ Oh boy, there is a lot to unpack, but you must be at least a lvl 4 social link to unlock her tragic backstory.

Ai's perceptions of herself and the world are too clouded to see the potential he talks about, but consider her intrigued. If she were to treat this job they were summoned for like idol work, then...

Her smile grows and her eyes glint, practically glowing with a confidence that was absent before. ]

Not to worry. When it comes to making people smile, I'm something of a professional!

[beautifulknight]

[ HELP that's alright they have all the time to potentially become that level of friends...

Argenti watches the brightness arise to her eyes. This, too, can only be a shimmer of Beauty awakening deep within her soul.

He is glad to see it! ]

I'm very glad to hear it! I'll have to assume that means even when you're performing a job back home, you've done well in bringing people cheer?

[idealies]

I'm an idol! We dance and sing and move people's hearts!

[ Ai flashes him her most rehearsed smile, brilliant like nothing else on this street. Putting her hands out, she does a spin as if she were on stage instead of standing, well, in between heaps of trash. Her head cranes back to look at him, eyelashes fluttering. ]

How did you know? Are you an entertainer yourself?

[ Maybe it's the way he talks, but he gives her that feeling. ]

[beautifulknight]

It sounds like you would have much in common with Robin.

[ Though he does not know Robin all too personally, he does know of her decently, and of her popularity for her songs.

The smile may be practiced, but its shimmer truly embodies the effort placed behind it with an undoubtable magnitude that cannot be mirrored by those who do not have the heart to pour in the proper effort to meet it. ]

I wouldn't dare call myself an entertainer. Though, I have brought joy and brightness to those who were without it before, as a Knight of Beauty. Your words simply hinted that by 'professional', you truly meant it in exactly that sense.

Though, I wouldn't call your efforts any less genuine just because you have given them doing your job. To keep heart, to still be entrenched within that desire on-stage, and go forth to shower down with every part of your being to bring a smile to people even then...it is truly a beautiful thing.

[idealies]

[ ...

Aah, she messed up, didn't she? Did her words reveal too much? Was her smile not true enough? Did it seem too practiced? Ai lets out a breath, a sigh of resignation that sounds a little like relief. ]

You saw through me~ And that was my million-dollar smile! You're a sharp one, Mr. Knight.

[ Maybe a self-professed Knight of Beauty would know as much. Hehe. Oops. Idols are supposed to be genuine and pure. Ai Hoshino is but a good liar.

Her gaze turns wistful and she crosses her arms behind her back. ]

I wonder...does that girl smile from the heart when she's on stage? If so, you can't call us similar at all. Though I want to think I'm trying in my own way, idols have to sell the illusion, you know? [ She holds a finger to her lips. ] That's why you mustn't tell anyone.

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti doesn't think it's something she necessarily did wrong, not at all. In fact, he's finding himself as surprised as she is. But, he does recover to speak swiftly. ]

I grant my utmost apologies, fair lady. I did not mean to... [ See through it? Ah well. ] I suppose it is just what it is, though as I have more or less implied earlier, I don't think of you less for it.

[ It isn't like he thinks he knows easily her secrets or anything. And he may simply hold just a different opinion on how professional singers present themselves than some others, perhaps. But he thinks all of them truly try their best, whatever their motivations, and their efforts show, in essence their own form of Beauty. ]

I certainly will not go around saying that you have no heart in your smile, and so I shall promise to keep any such thoughts you may have on your presentation to myself, or what I may have said about it here and now. Though, I wonder...do you truly believe that all of your efforts have truly only resulted in an illusion?

[idealies]

[ She doesn't mind it. She can be a careless person, and his assurance that he'll keep her secret is enough. Honestly, she's surprised he doesn't find her shameful. Ai hums in thought. ]

I don't know, but I want it to be real.

[ The effect she has on the crowd, their cheers and their energy, they don't feel hollow to her. If the people are happy, then she'll keep on deceiving them so as to not dispel the illusion. ]

The truth would only betray my fans, so I'll lie with all my heart.

[beautifulknight]

That desire of yours must certainly be the furthest thing from an illusion.

I am certain, that your efforts are a result of something truly tangible and wonderful borne from your heart, no matter how difficult your situation may feel. And no matter how much you may feel as if it is nothing more than that.

[ There is no denying that there are those who play roles, put on masks in order to keep going. It must be undeniable indeed that part of what Ai does is, in fact, something like that. So, in the end, is it more something like a Beautiful Lie? Or, is it a truly a truth that can never be glimpsed in hopes of others thinking it an element of Beauty? Or perhaps...is it the lie that has become the truth? ]

Are there those who know of your truth, back home?

[idealies]

Hmm, well, it was my manager who suggested it. I tried to tell him I would only be lying, but he said, 'what's wrong with that?' People want the illusion.

[ She tells it casually, a distant smile on her face as she reminisces. Saitou-san had been the one to convince her she could be an idol. She didn't think she was anything like those girls. She wasn't pure-hearted or loving. So acting like she is would be pretty messed up of her. But he'd said it was fine. Even though it's messed up, it's okay. She's okay. ]

It encouraged me back then. [ She glances back at him. What he's saying reminds her of back then, and she feels her heart stir (cue social link unlock BGM). ] Your words do, too...so thank you.

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti has a feeling that Ai's manager is quite an ugly person, promoting and encouraging such things. Perhaps it is true that people want an "illusion", though not all of them do.

And...some may yet be able to realize the true "joy" that unveils itself once those smoke and mirrors are seen through.

When the true self is shown before their very eyes. ]

...How unfortunate of him that he encouraged such a suggestion.

[ But, even so, Ai's words shimmer with hope as well as a gentle appreciation, and at that, Argenti lays a hand across his chest, smile certain and true. He has yet to know of this young lady very well, but he shall endeavor to do so. Perhaps, he can continue to encourage her, so that one day she may shine her heart while being unafraid of it feeling like it is untrue. ]

Even so, I am truly happy to hear that my words have reached your heart.

My name is Argenti. May understanding continue to develop between us as we navigate this new world together...and work as best as we can to help it once again shimmer with Beauty.

[idealies]

Not at all. I'm glad I became an idol.

[ There were things that weren't so fun about it, but it had led to good things. Specially, two little good things that she would never, ever regret. She'll do whatever it takes to fulfill the goddess' request and return home to them. He's given her an idea as to where to start. Ai turns to the man and bows. ]

I'm Ai Hoshino. It's nice to meet you, Mr. Knight. Next time, tell me about the way you see the world.

[ This man talks funny and holds faith in things she can't understand. Can they really make a difference here? She still has her doubts, but if there's beauty in this world, she'd like to see it, too. Then maybe she'd be able to love it properly instead of only pretending. Yes, wouldn't that be nice? ]

[beautifulknight]

...Well, I do certainly understand that!

[ If, without the suggestion, she could not become an idol. As much as Argenti does not like it. It still bothers him that such encouragement happened and must be the norm (he is certain of that.)

But, he is also certain that she does not fully regret it, and he thinks that feeling is important too. When she bows to him, Argenti also does the same, as he can be accustomed to doing; it's only right and polite. ]

I will certainly. I do recognize if I went about it now, it could distract from the current objective now. So, as much as it pains me, I shall use restraint!

That, too, is an important part of being a Knight of Beauty.

[ Though, Argenti is tempted to go on and on, picking up trash does have to happen, so he does return to doing more of that, tossing more things away. ]

[idealies]

Hehe, right. I think I've distracted us long enough!

[ But she appreciates him for listening to the ramblings of a stranger. She's curious too about this stranger who calls himself a Knight of Beauty. Ai rolls up her sleeves and does a little pump with her fist. ]

Let's get back to it!

[beautifulknight]

[ He is always happy to listen to ramblings of a stranger because he's weird like that. ]

Yes, let's!

[ Argenti picks up some kind of extremely valuable necklace and frowns. ]

A pity that people have decided to toss away something even this beautiful; I wonder if it even may be a mistake.

ohh oops i thought we were wrapping the thread but happy to continue

[idealies]

[ So fancy... Her mouth forms a soundless 'o' in surprise. ]

That looks like the kind of necklace a celebrity would wear.

[ The lack of care for precious things is just another one of the things she doesn't understand about the people in the city. ]

Maybe we could find a police station or lost and found to turn it into.

it's all good, I was planning to wrap in a couple of comments so we can do it here! o7

[beautifulknight]

[ Argenti gives a nod, and in fact... ]

...Let's take pause and attempt to find a lost and found or police station now then, shall we?

[ They probably have already made good progress on putting away items here, so it isn't like it's a terrible thing to have this done as a last part of assisting on clean up.

Whatever the case, he'll wait for her to follow, and then prepare to go off with her in tow. Regardless if they do, he will likely part ways for the time being, until they meet again. ]