WEEKS 7 & 8

[linkupmods]

WEEKS 7 & 8

THE SEASONS TURN...

Time really passes, doesn't it? Before you know it, you're halfway through the time that the goddess Braphine has promised that you'll be here, your home away from home. You are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, maybe, even through all the challenges and eventful (!) twist and turns that have followed you through your stay here. Surely there can't be anything else lurking in the wings, right?

Through the efforts of all of Braphine's chosen, the city definitely is starting to feel a little bit cheerier, in contrast to the temperatures that are starting to cool as the seasons in Sunset City turn and the leaves change their colour. The Shopping District and the Entertainment District look and feel decidedly more warm, and a quick trip into the Nekyia also show that the haze has cleared from both districts, with the Shadows lurking much fewer in number.

Further exploration will find that the haze has thinned to explorable levels in the Nekyia Fashion District - there are Shadows to be cleared, after all. Maybe if you are lucky, they might drop you a little something in reward for your efforts.

DO YOUR PART FOR CHARITY!

On Saturday, there's a notice pinned in the lobby of the dormitory:

CHARITY EVENT FOR THE TEMPLE OF BRAPHINE
9/21
FLEA MARKET AM
FORMAL MASQUERADE BALL PM
Come and support the temple when we need it most!



Yes, you read that right: There will be a Charity Event for the Temple of Braphine, hosted by no one other than her devoted followers. They sent this over to the dorms to request the Chosens' assistance, it seems, and as the flyer says, this is an all-day event to take place on September 21st.

In the morning, there will be a Flea Market! There's a note from the hosts that they'd like the Chosens to either find a vendor to assist, provide entertainment, or participate as vendors in the Flea Market. At night, a ball will be held with live music, dinner, refreshments, and an open dance floor for all. They are not asking for your assistance with the ball, however; rather, you are automatically invited as esteemed guests and are encouraged to dress your finest for the occasion!

Given that this isn't for another week, however, it is highly encouraged that you shop around to find an outfit you'll look snazzy in for the ball. You can also start preparing merchandise to sell; or maybe, perhaps, you'd like to save that street performance for the Flea Market? Either way, you've got a long week ahead of you…

…but it won't be all rainbows and sunshine.

KEEP DREAMING.

Late into the night on Saturday, you will dream. What that dream consists of varies with each individual, but you will have one, even if you've never dreamed before. This dream could be a core memory, or perhaps about something you've always wanted, your worst fear...the list goes on.

The next day, anyone who enters the Nekyia will find that, aside from the strange "Palaces" that have popped up, things aren't right yet again…but for an entirely different reason. No matter where you are, you enter the Nekyia to a hallway full of dressing rooms. It's a fairly long hallway, because venturing down it will eventually lead you to a door that has your name on it.

Why don't you journey there and find out what awaits?

–

After seeing "Sayaka" and finding your door, you'll find something even more strange.

That dream you had last night? Well, it's here. Your dream may manifest as a small, contained landscape from your dream; a creature that you may have dreamt of might be scurrying around; another version of you, different from a Shadow; or you could be unlucky and have one of your memories on full display for everyone to see.

This phenomenon will last for the next two weeks, and dreamscapes will shift with the different dreams characters have. It won't be a one and done ordeal, unfortunately…but there is, perhaps, a way you can stop it.

(OOC: Sayaka's top level is NOT time sensitive, nor is it a mod-run event. This can be treated like a regular top level to be tagged at your own pace!

Please see the "A Dream Unraveled" commission for some details on what's causing the dreamscapes to appear! Welcome to your dreamwalking/memory share event!)

WEATHER FORECAST

Temperature: hot and humid, but gradually getting cooler! Surprise showers may occur during these two weeks when you least expect it, so stay sharp and don't get drenched!

Characters who journery into the Nekyia when it is raining may find HP-restoring items dropped during combat with Shadows.

COMMISSIONS

REAL WORLD COMMISSIONS

BATTLE OF THE BRANDS

Two boutiques on Amaranth Avenue have been at war with each other - figuratively, at least. The sweet lolita brand Cookies for Mice and the punk brand Panthera Punks started out merely vying for advertising space, but have now been taking rather pointed pot shots at each other in their marketing. As the shops are across from each other, it’s plain to see the owners are taking it personally as they can’t seem to stop glaring at each other from across the road. Won’t somebody help mediate before it escalates any further…?

AN ALTERNATIVE CANVAS

Up-and-coming makeup artists are looking to land a job with a new makeup brand in the area, and their final test: finding a model (or two) to model their work and prove their skill. Characters will find that these artists are on the prowl for willing (or not so willing) faces - but at least you’ll be compensated for your patience as they endeavor to make you look your best?

FISHY FUN FASHION

Saffron Street has been chosen to host a highly regarded fashion show! The theme: aquatic life. They need models of all sexes and sizes to walk the runway in ethereal clothing that brings to mind deep sea creatures like bioluminescent jellyfish, or even angler fish! For those who are not brave enough to walk the walk, volunteers are needed to help maintain the large, specially made tanks the city’s aquarium has generously lent out for the occasion. The tanks are full of friendly fish and plant life to create the perfect backdrop for the show! …You know how to use diving gear, don’t you?

NEKYIA COMMISSIONS

THE LION AND THE MOUSE

She thinks she’s so great… I’ll show her! We don’t need her prissy, holier-than-thou attitude around here! We’ll see how she behaves when her shop’s reduced to shreds…

It seems the owner of Panthera Punks having beef with the owner of Cookies for Mice isn’t just a real world problem - she has her very own Shadow in the form of a level 30 Narcissus. Take him on in battle and help to loosen its grip on her in reality before things get much, much worse.

HER HEART WON'T GO ON

How could he… After all I’ve done, after all the money I’ve spent… He leaves me behind for her?! I’ll make him pay… I’ll make them both pay!!

It seems one of the local models has had a rather nasty breakup, and the ex and other woman may end up suffering a rather harrowing fate if all these feelings of anger are left to fester… Characters who follow these angry rants will find themselves face to face with a Level 32 Leanan Sidhe, a jealous lover all too willing to enact a very real harm on those who wronged her. Fight back against the Shadow and teach her the value in moving on from a lover who was never worth her time to begin with.

A DREAM UNRAVELLED

Deep in the Nekyia, whispers and wails can be heard; a fashion designer bemoans their dearth of ideas, and hotly defends their choice to steal their designs instead. After all, this was their dream, and they can’t give it up now - no matter the cost.

Characters may find the Unfaithful Dream-King in a nest of collected dreams of the populace - including some of Braphine’s own chosen. He will be a powerful opponent for sure, but it seems solving this particular Shadow problem is the only way to ensure everyone can have a good night’s rest once more.

Once he is defeated, he will drop a rare item. Who knows, maybe this will help you in your journey ahead.

(OOC: Please turn in your threads for this commission on the rewards page to receive a stat boost item, valid for one time use during any battle.)

OOC

READ ME!!!!

Welcome to your log for Weeks 7 and 8! Feel free to use this log for any developments that happen during the next two weeks. There will be no log posted next week, but a top-level for the charity event will be posted instead on next Saturday!
For plotting, please feel free to head over to this post on the OOC comm to post your plotting top levels.
For Nekyia commissions, you can assume that the Shadows will respawn until they've been beaten enough times to go back to normal.
Don't forget that the deadline for applications and character swaps is on September 28!

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Comments

[vogelfrei]

[ There is a stranger at the ball......... is what I would say, if there were more than one 6'8" dorito-shaped man around. Wig and mask do little to disguise McGillis in the face of that telltale silhouette.

Not deterred by this, McGillis has shown up as the elusive Mr. Montag anyway. He got the mask back a few weeks ago, and he'd been itching to wear it again. A masquerade is almost too legitimate of an excuse.

At dinner everyone is saved their favorite food so... McGillis is presented with a big plate of chocolate truffles. It's not exactly dinner food. He seems pleased enough, even if you won't see him eating much. If he catches anyone staring, he will offer them a smile: ] I won't mind sharing, you know?

[ Later during the dance part of the evening, he's... well, he's not exactly wall-flowering, but he's also not dying to get out there. You'll find him with a glass of juice in hand (his right hand! it's getting better!), ready to chat with people who so desire. Maybe you can get a dance out of him...? He demonstrated in Argenti's palace that he's perfectly able to.

Once the threads start appearing more frequently and McGillis becomes aware that this is not going to be an isolated event, you'll find him trying to slip out the door as inconspicuously as possible. Stop him...? ]

((ooc note: I'm not doing the relationship-swap thing for McGillis, but if you want someone's feelings towards him to change you're free to do so. For the feeling reveals, just ping me on Discord to briefly make sure we're on the same page regarding which feelings are revealed!))

[goei]

[Yeah, like... There is also Yuri, but he isn't that dorito shaped and also surely would not make such an insane choice. This is a flavor of derangement only McGillis Fareed would arrive at.

Standing at a slight distance for Reasons;]

What the hell're you wearing, McGillis.

[Izou is meanwhile the prettiest princess he can be, in his fancy outfit. He has not worn a mask, he does not know what a masquerade is. So this is extremely inexplicable to him.]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis has been trying to keep his distance from Izou since That Night - an event he already regretted while it was happening and then regretted even more when he woke up feeling mildly sick the next morning.

It's unfortunate that this is a social gathering that does not permit 'accidentally missing' each other, but at least he'd had plenty of time to prepare himself for it. His smile is unfaltering.

Hey, did you know the mask's eyes have an opened and a closed mode? Izou is now finding out, because the mask eyes are opening to reveal McGillis' green eyes. ]

A mask, as you can see. It's a masquerade, what better occasion could there be to bring out my old friend?

[ McGillis finds that Izou looks... honestly pretty good? As always, he cleans up nicer than he has any right to. ]

[goei]

[Yeah that gets him to jump a little.]

That's why it's called a masquerade? I thought it was just a fancy french word fer party!
[WHY DID YOU THINK THAT?]

Anyway, yer weird bird mask is one thing, but the wig makes ya look like some sorta mountain hag.

[vogelfrei]

[ ... Izou, why did you not ask Celeste. He's literally French. ]

It's a leftover from a time when I had to be anonymous.

[ If it were anybody else, he'd be introducing himself as Montag about now - but Izou has seen his door in the Nekiya, and McGillis is not interested in re-opening conversation about All That. ]

[goei]

[He didn't think, as is his custom.]

I don't care if it's worth a million dollars, ya look like a crazy person, and yer makin' the rest of us look crazy by association. Take the damn thing off.

[vogelfrei]

I wasn't aware that there's ever been a time when our group looked sane.

[ They're an absolutely insane constellation on a good day, and constantly making a commotion. Fray is out here with literal cat ears. Nice flowing silver hair is not going to be what makes the city's high society suddenly turn on them. ]

[goei]

Bein' sane and lookin' sane are two different things.
[They are certainly not the former.]

And normally yer one of the most normal lookin' bastards despite being too goddamn tall.

[vogelfrei]

All the more reason to let me have some fun, isn't it?

[ That's the awful thing about all this - he likes the mask+wig combination. He likes repurposing his childhood name into a mysterious rogue merchant. Montag is a joy to him. ]

[goei]

[Damn now I feel bad for planing to rob him of it... But Izou doesn't know about bracket text so he is unmoved.]

It's fun fer you to dress up like a goddamn bird? Man, the Crane Lady'd have a field day with you...

[vogelfrei]

Do you not like birds?

[ Said conversationally, in the carefully neutral way of someone who likes birds a lot. ]

[goei]

[HELP IS THAT WHY HIS MASK IS LIKE A BIRD???? BIRD FAN MCGILLIS?????]

I like-
[He coughs.]

Birds are fine bein' birds and People look best bein' people!

[vogelfrei]

[ You like what Izou?

McGillis, just to be annoying, clicks the mask eyes shut again. How he is doing that? How can he see like this? It's a mystery. ]

The appeal of a masquerade is to transform yourself into someone or something else. Where is your sense of whimsy?

[goei]

[He's just choosing not to see. That's what Izou's assuming.]

I don't know what the hell whimsy is, but a fancy party's supposed ta be when you wear yer best clothes and look as cool and sexy as possible! So that's what I'm doing!

[Despite how grubby he typically is, he actually likes getting dressed up.]

[vogelfrei]

[ Montag looks very cool, excuse you. ]

Well, you do look nice tonight.

[ A different strategy from just repeating an argument over and over, but also entirely truthful. Izou looks good. McGillis isn't particularly familiar with the fashion of the Oceanic Federation (where Japan is, in his time), but he can still tell the outfit is finely made and perfectly fitted to the man. ]

Your wardrobe never ceases offering surprises either.

1/2

[goei]

[??????????????????????????????????????????????????]

Dinnertime

[privatedomicile]

[Jesse did not exactly dress in ball attire: he's just in slightly less baggy pants than usual and a black jean jacket, with a simple half-mask in the shape of a skull on the side of his head. So when he sees a giant guy who has gone all out, he's briefly confused on who the hell this is. He's almost concerned it's another disaster waiting to happen, but the chocolate does give him some ease.]

Is that like that fancy delights stuff that rich people snack on? [He tilts his head curiously at them.] Y'like pizza? Cause I got pizza.

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis hasn't really talked to Jesse much in all the time they've been here, and currently that makes him a very appealing conversation partner. All his pre-established relationships are some level of tense or on fire right now. With Jesse, he can just chat with low commitment. ]

That's exactly what it is. A very indulgent treat, but not exactly dinner material.

[ He could eat chocolate forever and ever, but even he might get sick having nothing but that for dinner. ]

I do enjoy pizza, so how about we trade some each?

[privatedomicile]

[Hey, he hasn't gotten a ton of tense impressions to have about McGillis: the most Jesse knows is that he's a tall guy, he normally looks a lot more seriousness than the masquerade costume he's currently going all out on, and he might be macking on Okada? Which good for them maybe??

He is very quickly going up in terms of impressions on Jesse with the offer of fancy chocolate.]

That's what I'm talkin' about! [Jesse sets aside a few slices of his pepperoni pizza to give to McGillis.] This kind's the bomb, by the way, just make sure you don't get your mind too blown.

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis is generous in sharing his truffles in turn - he loves chocolate, but he's not the type to hoard his treats. If anything, he finds that sometimes sharing candy can be a very efficient way of buying goodwill from people.

In this case, though, he also just genuinely needs dinner. ]

Now that's quite the promising threat. Are you assuming I don't have much experience with pizza or is this one especially unique?

[ He could imagine both, seeing that he gives off the impression of someone too rich to bother with 'lower class' foods. ]

[privatedomicile]

I dunno what bougie pizza looks like, so who knows? Maybe they don't have the simple grace of cheese and pepperoni. Discount Venezia's just hits different, yo.

[Jesse pops a truffle in his mouth, and his eyes widen a little at just how decadent it is. What do they call that creamy center stuff again?] Holy shit, the panache. [Close enough.]

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis stifles a laugh. In its own way 'panache' isn't entirely wrong - these really are ostentatious chocolates. Sunset City spared no expense for them. ]

Oh, most of the wealthy houses would not be caught dead having pizza on the dinner table. But traveling the world as part of the military lets you taste much more varied foods.

[ He's also not born rich at all, but he was... in fact kinda too poor to properly eat pizza either. Help. ]

And I'd agree with you that high class cuisine can't hold a candle to some simpler pleasures.

[privatedomicile]

Sounds like actual hell, yo. I ain't bein' one of those types of rich folks if I ever get a buttload of money.

You get it though. Travel's how you expand your horizons and shit. I'd wanna get the hell outta Albuquerque if I had a shot at it. Somewhere way colder.

[vogelfrei]

[ McGillis is neither confirming or denying that it's hell, he's just munching on this low class delicious pizza and maybe that is answer enough. ]

And yet leaving is not in the cards, it sounds?

[ Go enlist, Jesse-- no, do not do that, this is terrible advice from someone from a very different world. (It is terrible advice in that world, too.) ]

[privatedomicile]

[Even if that wasn't terrible advice, Jesse does not have the discipline for the military. He would get kicked out within a few hours.]

Yeah, load of money to get out clean at least. If I tried to just skip town in my car like normal, my boss'd track me down. Plus I'd feel like a dick leavin' my partner to deal with it.