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!

ic comm | inboxes | ooc comm | full nav

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Comments

[gardenful]

[ How does the rest of the squadron do? Pretty damn good, honestly (19). Shalem's middle of the road performance means that he blends in rather well for each of their segments! For the most part. It doesn't stop a reporter from being a touch snarky, as they are wont to be in this world. ]

There you have it, folks! The performance from the Seventh Infantry drill team. We've seen some real talent here, enough to make up for the ones who still have a long way to go.

[ Aerith glances at Shalem and offers a slight shrug of her shoulders. The way she looks at him suggests... something, a sort of realization perhaps. ]

The patriotism today is on fire, and we can't wait to see what comes next! We'll announce our winners of the performance contest after we tabulate votes from you, the viewers.

[ And with that, they continue to march down the street as the crowd cheers for the next round of performances. At least marching is easy enough to keep up with. ]

Hey... how long have you been part of this drill team?

[prozaic]

[How do you even come up with a believable lie? You fuck around and then skedaddle before someone finds out. Given Shalem already has established himself as some odd, bumbling idiot, he can lean into that.]

Not long. [He would take his hair out of his face, but he would prefer to keep looking boyish, inexperienced. Long hair tends to help with that, and not to mention the shadows under his eyes make him look older... Tiredness is not conducive to looking younger.]

I was recruited for this, honestly.

[gardenful]

[ It seems like he's convinced her enough, because she nods along with no issue. ]

Wouldn't you know it, I haven't been here long either! This is actually my first parade.

[ She grins, a little look of excitement on her face that isn't just a result of the lively atmosphere around them. If Shalem is hiding something, so is she. ]

It's pretty exciting, right? Performing in front of all these people... I hope we win.

[prozaic]

[Good thing she bought it... He had to come up with that on the spot.]

I apologize if we don't.

[gardenful]

[ She tilts her head, momentarily taken aback. ]

Oh, you don't have to! It's a group effort anyway.

[ And a few mistakes won't kill them, she thinks. ]

Besides, we'll figure something else out if we don't win.

[ Figure what out...? ]

[prozaic]

You're way too kind. [The gratitude isn't faked at least. He would have hated to leave the memory before he got to the meat of it just because some people are mad at him.]

But... what'll happen if we don't win?

[Translation: what are we going to do? He thinks there might be some crime involved but he could also be wrong.]

[gardenful]

Nothing you need to worry about!

[ Her friends will probably take action in... some way. Honestly, she doesn't want to think about all the fighting that might break out in that case, so her grin is a way to ease her own worries as well as his.

She doesn't say much else, focused instead as they begin to line up in front of a large stage, an elegant podium set atop. This is probably where they'll find out the winner, but it looks like there might be some kind of speech too. A large man with black hair steps up, gesturing grandly at the crowd before them. ]

Allow me to congratulate you on a stirring performance. You've done your company proud. Your passion and patriotism is beyond question, and I know our president can't wait to thank you all.

[ For what's supposed to be a company... it sure feels a lot more like a government entity than anything else. There's excitement in the air, but it doesn't seem to reach Aerith. If anything, there's a look of quiet determination on her face. ]

[prozaic]

[Shalem was starting to relax... then he heard "company" and "patriotism" in two sentences back to back, and his brow furrows. He fights to keep a frown off of his face-- what's a company got to do with the country? What's the government got to do with a company?

Unless they run the place... Which he's not unfamiliar with, there's at least one nation on Terra with that sort of "governing". But, god, he wishes he didn't have to be right in one.

He should have seen the signs-- military drills? For a company? That only happens for a PMC... or if the organizer is the government. He has to look at his guide for her reaction, and notes that she's not smiling as much. Hmm.]

[gardenful]

[ It sure is curious, isn't it? They announce a few of the awards, and an air of anticipation starts to build up in the crowd, and Aerith is no exception. It looks like she wants to win for a reason, something much deeper than just winning for bragging rights. The man that was leading their squadron turns back towards Aerith and another woman, quietly stating some sort of reassurance that they both nod at.

Then, the president steps up to the podium. His jacket is well-fitted and his blond hair is nicely styled, his handsome features visible even from the crowd. He begins by bringing up his father's legacy and how he transformed Shinra from an arms manufacturer to what it is today before ushering the crowd into a brief moment of silence. Aerith closes her eyes, but it doesn't seem to be out of respect.

He then goes on to talk about his vision for the future, how he wants to usher the world into what he considers the promised land.

The speech seems to rouse the crowd, and the applause goes on for quite a while before finally quieting down so that he can announce the winner of the commendation—Midgar's Seventh Infantry. The excitement around Shalem is palpable and another soldier or two might even give him a pat on the back or try to shake his hand. Congrats!!

But there's a sudden shift as the top three performers are called up, and it's as if Shalem has skipped a few seconds because he's suddenly up at the podium with Aerith and her two friends and the president is asking for each of them to take off their helmets. ]

[prozaic]

[WAIT NO WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO HIM HE SUCKED AT THE PERFORMANCE-- Fine, okay, it's the internal logic of this dream or memory at work, clearly, and Shalem should just keep up with it. At the very least, there are no guns to be twirled, no stilted marching to follow that's not even to a proper beat, where is the beat-- A performance with no beat makes him want to... Nevermind. He pulls himself out of his own head to pay attention so he doesn't fuck up spectacularly again.

He gives the others a look when they're asked to remove their helmets though-- really? Should they? He has his hands on his but he's waiting for a signal.]

[gardenful]

[ The perils of dreams... sometimes you fail upwards, which is exactly what has happened to Shalem.

The president—Rufus, the other man in their little group of four seems to mutter—waits for them to shed their helmets, and Aerith even gives Shalem a little nod before taking off her own. Then, Rufus holds out a hand to another man that was about to rush their little group—it's clear he has some kind of beef with them. ]

Cut the feed.

[ Sure enough, the screens mounted across the city are cut off, and the gravity of this conversation begins to weigh down upon all of them. Maybe this very moment was the reason why Aerith was so set on winning this little competition—it's a logical conclusion for Shalem to come to, given he noticed her lack of any real patriotism. ]

I have a proposition for you. My father left me a mountain of unfinished tasks. Like a recapture of a fugitive of Ancient descent... [ Rufus looks pointedly at Aerith, and her eyes widen sligthly. ] The recovery of a stolen lab specimen... and of course, the arrest and execution of Avalanche.

[ Rufus' gaze floats across the four of them, and in this very moment, it seems like he considers Shalem to be part of this "Avalanche." ]

None of which matters to me at all. I'd gladly wash my hands of it.... because I have a new vision for Shinra.

[ The blond in their little group pushes Rufus, trying to get him to say exactly what he means. ]

Sephiroth. Dead. He's an unsavory relic of our past and I want him gone. But Shinra currently lacks the resources to take care of this task. So I turn to you.

[ Aerith looks over at her friend, who nods and agrees. "It's a deal," he says, but no sooner than he says it than a large 4-point shuriken comes hurtling towards them. Maybe Shalem hears it whipping through the air before it approaches them, but he doesn't have to dodge anything, no.

That's because it's not aimed at any of them. It's aimed at Rufus, who just barely manages to dodge it as his bodyguard pushes him out of the way to take the brunt of the hit himself. ]

So that's your game.

[ Before anyone can do anything, they're all surrounded by soldiers, guns aiming right at them as Aerith and her friends whisper something about a "Yuffie".

She grabs onto Shalem's wrist. ]

We gotta go!

[prozaic]

[This is... a lot of politics-- and plot about what's happened in the past. And not a lot of time to digest it! He was only just about to come to a conclusion about this "Sephiroth" when chaos erupts, and he's pulled along.]

Fine-- [This time, he picks up his slack. He knows how to run without prompting, at the very least.]

[gardenful]

[ It sure is! It's at least enough for Shalem to know that, well, shit is kinda fucked.

Aerith is here, though, and she's given up all pretenses of being here for the parade, breaking out into a sprint as she drags Shalem into some kind of hangar, pressing a button to close its large doors before anyone else can get in. They're separated now from the other two, but Aerith has faith they'll reunited. ]

We were so close...! [ She looks over at Shalem. ] You're okay, right? Sorry to drag you into all of this.

[prozaic]

[He's not the least bit winded from the run, at the very least. He's doing well! Much better than the "march" from earlier.]

Don't worry about it-- But. [A pause, to sell the idea of someone being unsure about everything they'd just seen.]

What happened?

[gardenful]

An assassination attempt, it looks like.

[ She glances at Shalem. It seems like he’s not particularly bothered by everything that’s just happened, and he isn’t even winded either. Hmmm. ]

We should probably split up so you’re not stuck with the guys who’re accused of killing the last president.

[ She smiles wryly. ]

We didn’t actually kill him, but we did break into the headquarters. [ A pause. ] I kinda get the impression you’re not that bothered though.

[prozaic]

[Ah, she caught him, huh. Perhaps... she has noted that he's not actually part of this memory, a foreigner-- tourist, to be more specific-- because she's already speaking like she's now realizing that this is a memory.

Perhaps he should still be mindful of how he acts and what he says, though.]

Preventing assassination attempts is in my job description, though I don't work for that man, just someone more... feminine. Those sorts of things don't faze me.

[gardenful]

[ The realization is certainly beginning to dawn on her, the cold metal of the hangar wall feeling off in just the right way to further cement her suspicions. ]

Then that’s a good thing!

[ When she glances at Shalem again, there’s fully realized recognition in her eyes. He was at Yoon’s palace, wasn’t he? ]

Our friend has a real bone to pick with Shinra, so… it’s no real surprise she tried to assassinate him. It’s why I can’t really blame her, even though we were close to a deal.

[ Aerith pauses as soldiers run past just outside the door, and once their footsteps have retreated, she continues: ]

But getting into sticky situations is kinda our thing anyway.

[prozaic]

You have a back-up plan, I assume?

[A pause, before he amends--] I won't tell.

[gardenful]

You better not! You're kinda stuck in all of this with us now.

[ She grins, a touch playful even as she remains on high alert for anyone that might overhear them. ]

Our backup plan is to just get away. Probably to some other town... which is what we were gonna do anyway. I guess things are just back to the way they were before the parade, what with Shinra on our back and all.

[prozaic]

All right then. [He straightens up and flexes his arms.]

These things take a lot of time, so we best be off now.

[gardenful]

They sure do.

[ She'll reach out to grab his wrist again, if he'll let her. ]

I know the way out. Let's get outta here.

[prozaic]

[Shalem sees that questing hand and shies away from it. No thank you! He'd like to have both of his hands free.]

Lead the way.

[gardenful]

[ Aerith doesn't seem particularly bothered, quickly bringing her hand back to her side. ]

Roger!

[ And she will, in fact, lead the way out of the hangar and town proper, down to a boat where they meet up with the rest of her friends and enter through a staff only door when no one is looking.

...

The door leads them out of the dream and Shalem will find himself in his own bed once again. ]