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

[cirquedesang]

[It was night, and suddenly, it's not. Certainly, that's what allows him to notice the general state of everyone around - it's hard to pay attention to an orientation when you're worried about bursting into a pillar of flame at any moment, after all.

But he doesn't. And the young lady up front continues to drone on in what sounds like a carbon-copy of almost every orientation spiel he's heard before, and the people around him continue to be more interesting. There will be time enough to figure out what's going on in the days to come - there's only one chance to observe the state everyone has arrived in.

Unexpectedly, there's one that tugs at his heartstrings, one that has him moving through the assembled crowd and digging through his bag while he does, to pull out a heavy cape, which he drapes over the young lady's shoulders as soon as he reaches her, casually adjusting it so the hood is up over her head and she merely looks as though she's hiding in it to be warm, rather than shrinking in on herself.]

May I carry you? No need to hold the weight of the world on your shoulders alone, and you look like you're about to collapse.

[No comment on her tears, her sopping wet state, her lack of shoes. Just a question in a quiet, even tone, intended to not draw further attention to them, and an excuse offered. She could simply be exhausted, you see. No need to overthink her state.]

[beathollow]

( mafuyu jolts, head jerking up to look at the man for a moment, eyes wide like a pray animal that's been caught. its only when she blinks that his own actions catch up with her. a blanket? no, a cloak. it's soft. will the water seeping from her ruin it...?

she quietly grips the edge of the cloak and stares, unsure of what to do or say to recover from all of this- but she can't, can she? she's a mess and it's obvious.

mafuyu nods, but says nothing at the moment. )

[cirquedesang]

[That's alright - she doesn't have to speak, doesn't have to do anything, at the moment, other than maybe, hopefully, take a breath and settle her nerves. But even if she doesn't, that's fine - she's already ever so slightly less curled in on herself, and that's a start.

Maybe the tiniest baby step, sure, but a start.

So with her permission, he bends at the waist to scoop her up just above the knees, holding her steady while he straightens, and making sure it just looks like he's giving her a little boost to see the orientation better, nothing more, nothing less, nothing to make an issue about at all.]

[beathollow]

( it might sell the illusion more if she didn't immediately cover her face again to try and wipe away the tears and stop any remaining sobs- her chest and throat hurt from the effort, but she can't keep this up. she's in public. people can see her. what will they say? it's inexcusable.

god she's so tired.

eventually, so as to not draw more attention to them, she whisers. )

Thank you.

[cirquedesang]

[Sobs? Tears? No, no, of course she's not wiping those away - she's sopping wet, she's clearly just wiping water drips from her bangs out of her eyes. Clearly.

The thanks, though - that dissolves some of the posturing, just a bit, and he softens, offering her a half-smile that's as reassuring as he can manage when he doesn't actually know what's going on right now, either.]

It'll be alright.

[It isn't now, clearly, but in time, if he has anything to say about it?

For now, though, he just shifts to hold her a little more securely until the orientation spiel is finished and he can take her inside and away from any prying eyes.]

[beathollow]

( "it will be alright."

...

it reminds her of her friends back home, and of the virtual singers. and if he was holding her even a little differently, she'd hug the man but to be honest right now is a bad time to break her back for some grateful affection towards a complete stranger.

once he starts moving, mafuyu has surely dried her eyes, or is at least wiping the tears away with her sleeve. only now does she look around. )

... I'm Mafuyu.

[cirquedesang]

[Once he does start moving, it's not long before they're indoors, before they're alone, before the floor beneath them is, well, floor and not ground, so it's safe to set her down as gently as he scooped her up without having to worry about her lack of shoes being a problem.

Though if she has any resistance to being set down, then he would, of course, continue to hold her as long as she seemed to need.]

Céleste. I'd say it's a pleasure, Mafuyu, but that should be reserved for better circumstances, no?

[Not... whatever all that was. It hadn't escaped his notice that she wasn't the only one in a state, and the fact he arrived unscathed (and unburnt...) seemed miraculous.]

Are you feeling steadier, now?

[Not "is everything ok?", not "what's wrong?", not any other invasive, prying question, because it isn't his place to know if she doesn't want to share, but he can inquire about her state at the present moment.]

[beathollow]

( she's almost reluctant to be put back down, but- it would be terribly selfish to ask him to continue this. he's been kind enough as is. part of her wants to hide behind him from the rest of the world, and another part wants to find someplace to hide in general. she barely knows what they're even here for.

steadier... is she feeling steadier? )

... I don't know.

[cirquedesang]

[She could ask - the act of doing so would be exerting agency, after all, in contrast to removing the choice to stay from her had he not set her down. He is a strange man, after all, and if she wanted to dash away now she'd be well within her rights to.

But while they're still spending time with one another, he'll do what he can to set her back on her own two feet - metaphorically, at the very least, now that the physical act is done.]

Understandable. Do you know what would help you, right now? I'll handle it, if you do.

[Tea, perhaps, or cocoa. A warm meal. Some sleep. Some company while doing something mindless.

A change of clothes, certainly, but there's a sneaking suspicion the best he could do on that front would be to wash - and dry - what she has while she bathes or naps.]

[beathollow]

Kanade. ... But she's... not here...

( the name is said with such earnest firmness! and then it dissolves immediately. she's tired. she's hurting. she wants to be with her friends, not these strangers.

what would help... after a moment, mafuyu tugs at her wet uniform. )

Its cold. ( and uncomfortable. ) I don't have anything else, though...

[cirquedesang]

[That earnest firmness is a start, though - Mafuyu knows something that would help, she has the self-assurance to reach for it...

It's just a shame this Kanade isn't here to take her hand when she's reaching out.]

Keep this- [And he'll even readjust his cloak around her shoulders, making sure it lays nicely and will do its best to keep her as warm as possible, with her sopping wet under it.] I don't mind.

[But what else can be done... hm...]

If this sounds untoward, please, I don't mean anything by it, but... would you like to find your room, so I can dry what you do have?

[There must be a laundry around here somewhere, and some blankets would be much better than this, right?]

[beathollow]

( there's a moment of hesitation- everything is soaked, what would she do in the meanwhile? ... though, now that she thinks of it, she should probably try to warm up, right?

after a bit, she nods, tugging the cloak even closer. )

We're- we're supposed to be staying here, right? I can find the bathroom in the meanwhile and warm up...

[cirquedesang]

[She could warm up, she could nap, she could keep trying to steady herself, in whatever ways she could...

So he nods, seems to think about it for a moment... and then scoops her right back up again.]

Let's find it together, so you can just toss your things out the door.

[Gotta ensure her privacy, after all! ...And it'll probably be quicker if he just carries her up the stairs, taking them two, sometimes three at once until they're all the way up on the fifth floor. It's luck they both have rooms there - he was mostly figuring that others wouldn't bother investigating higher just yet.]

[beathollow]

--Oh-

( she holds on as he just scoops her back up to carry, blinking owlishly as he goes. ... well. he's nothing if not efficient. but that's alright. as respectful as he's being, she's had a long day week month year day, and not having to do much is a boon. )

... Okay.

[cirquedesang]

[Clearly, the less she has to do right now, the better, and he's more than willing to take matters into his own hands.

Well, at least until he has to set her back down in front of the shower room doors. He's not helping that much.]

Toss your things out, and I'll come back and knock when they've dried, alright?

[beathollow]

Alright...

( also good or she'd have to stop being such a meowmeow and kill him.

mafuyu does as told, also returning the cloak so it can dry- she fully intends on standing under the water until it begins to turn cold, you see, and a small load shouldn't take too long...

see you in like an hour? )

[cirquedesang]

[Murdergame...

Anyway - it really shouldn't take all that long, so he does gather up all her things - and the cloak - and goes off to the laundry to get everything dry.

And actually comes back with everything once the load has run and all the clothes are back to being dry and, now, warm.

Knock knock-!]

Mafuyu~ I'm setting your things just inside the door.

[Cloak included! He said she could keep it, and he meant it - so now it's a cozy warm blanket, folded neatly on the bottom of the stack of similarly neatly folded clothes she'd been wearing, which true to his word he does set on the floor just inside the door without opening it too wide. Yes settings page says there's a privacy room but, like, he didn't go in earlier to see that.]

[beathollow]

Oh-

( she absolutely has used all the hot water in the building. sorry everyone. by the time celeste returns, she's drying her hair with a towel and simply waiting. once the clothes are returned, she's out in a few minutes, but... shes barely bothered with the tie of her uniform's scarf, or putting her hair up. even if she hates who she sees in the mirror. )

Thank you.

[cirquedesang]

What for?

[She might not bother with the little details, but he does, tying her scarf neatly, running his hands gently through her hair so it lays prettily, even if it isn't tied up.

If you look damn good while you feel like shit, no one has to know the truth.]

Anyone decent would have done the same, no?

[beathollow]

... I suppose. But- its still warm.

( 'warm'. not kind, not gracious, but warm.

mafuyu lets him fuss though, and she feels like a child again. ... let that not be an omen. )