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]

[ Aerith, of course, is at the ball. She almost seems like she's in her element here, a smile on her face and her steps light and airy as she takes in the elegant decor that they've set up.

As for Aerith herself, she's chosen a dress that reminds her a lot of one she wore back home, red and decadent with layered ruffles that cascade down her legs. Her hair is down, too, and sits in loose waves. It's a ball, so she might as well go all out, right? A red mask is affixed to her face, a small rose sitting on the side as an accent.

Throughout the beginning of the ball, Aerith can be found near the refreshments, and if anyone approaches her while she has a drink, she'll offer it. ]

Want it? It's good.

[ It's some sort of fizzy, non-alcoholic drink.

When the music starts, however, she'll be nowhere near the food or the wall. Instead, she'll be on the dance floor, eager to reach out to whoever she can for a dance. ]

Let's dance! It'll be fun, promise!

[ ooc: just give me the string colors if you'd like to do that, and i'll respond with my own! if you want to pick out what they would be ahead of time/coordinate this, feel free to poke me on discord. not open to relationship changes this time, however! ]

[unweathered]

[ Schneider was about to slip out of the ball out of boredom - it wasn't nearly as chaotic as she would like to be and from what she could tell, the people she would be fine spending time with weren't here, when she sees Aerith reach out to her]

I certainly can't turn down a dance from a beautiful lady.

[Schneider's threads are light blue, dark blue and dark green, with faint intertwining of a deeper indigo. It's an odd mixture of affection, maybe with a touch of guardedness that comes from something not quite definable either. She wrinkles her nose and shrugs it off. One more round of dance wont hurt. She's dressed in blue, a matching mask of feathers on her face.]

[gardenful]

[ That earns a grin, despite the slight confusion the threads cause her. A guarded sort of affection, huh? She isn't that surprised seeing those mixtures of emotions from someone like Schneider, but the dark green... hm.

Her own threads are a lot more straightforward—light blue, dark blue, light and dark purple, and a medium green. Truth be told, it's all very Aerith. She considers Schnedier a friend, her emotions clear and easy to discern.

As she pulls Schneider out onto the dance floor, she takes in her dress, nodding in approval. ]

I love your dress!

[unweathered]

[That should be a medium green too because my phone makes me color blind but i will work with this. It's very straight forward from Aerith, and it make Schneider relax. She does dislike it when she has to play politics after all]

And yours. Red suits you.

[gardenful]

[ you're good i can mentally erase that sentence from existence ]

Probably because it's so close to pink. I feel like that's my real color.

[ She'll ease into a little dance, her hands on Schneider's shoulders. ]

Blue really suits you. I think it goes with your personality.

[unweathered]

You look good in both.

[One hand goes at Aerith's waist, the other at Aerith's shoulder in turn]

You think I'm a 'blue' person?

[Funny. She's only ever worn black and red for the longest time...but it's nice to know too]

[gardenful]

[ That compliment earns Schneider a bright smile. ]

I do! You're always so confident and sure of your decisions, and I think blue exudes that.

[unweathered]

[Well, it's not like she can deny that. She laughs a little openly. Have a little twirl, Aerith]

Mmmmm, you're not wrong. And I like to think I suit a lot of colours.

[gardenful]

[ She'll take that twirl with plenty of energy! ]

I think you do! And short hair goes with all kinds of styles, too. You could wear just about whatever you wanted.

[unweathered]

[ Can they pick up the pace with the beat? ]

Mmm? Have you thought about trying it yourself?

[gardenful]

[ They sure can! In fact, Aerith will take the lead on doing that. ]

Not really, actually. But I'll take suggestions if you've got any.

[unweathered]

[how did i lose this tag to the abyss

Schneider hums]

I think it would be stylish. If you cut it to here and evened it out just so.

[ Schneider makes a gesture at Aerith's chin. Like this]

[gardenful]

[ shakes fist at dw!!

Short hair, huh...? She hums, thinking about it as they dance. ]

I've never had short hair, actually. Maybe I really should give it a shot someday.

refreshments!

[bloodandstars]

[ Maybe unexpectedly? Maika has also made it to the ball. And in keeping with bucking expectations, she's even dressed for the occasion. With the help of now having a second arm, she's tied her hair back into a relatively simple braided bun — if there were more than one cyborg-armed woman around, it might even be briefly hard to recognize her.

Of course, she anticipates Aerith having no such problem. She leans in to peer curiously at the drink, tilting her head in query. And it's possible Aerith might catch her doing the habitual sniff of curiosity. ]

Depends. What is it?

[gardenful]

Sparkling cider.

[ And all fancy in a little flute and everything. As Maika sniffs, some of the carbonation might even get in her nose. ]

You look really nice tonight.

[bloodandstars]

[ Fancy fancy! Maika gives a tiny sneeze and jerks her head back a tiny bit — either the carbonation, or the compliment, or both, caught her a little off guard. ]

I learned how to blend in when it's important. You look, um...

[ Maika halts awkwardly for a second. She can't just echo the same words back, and now that she's looking at Aerith, her tongue is tied for a second. That dress really suits her. ]

[gardenful]

[ She could mock offense here or let her heart fill with doubt when Maika doesn't say anything back, but...

It's pretty obvious that she doesn't say anything for a good reason. She's too flustered—or, at least, that's how Aerith will decide to interpret this. ]

Fantastic? Amazing? Beautiful? Feel free to pick one.

[bloodandstars]

I don't know. I think I should let you keep going. You already know all the words.

[ Maika's brow furrows briefly in wry self-deprecation before her expression softens into a small but warm smile. Aerith is good at reading people. ]

But if you need me to tell you what you already knew... you do look amazing.

[gardenful]

[ Aerith mirrors the warmth in Maika's expression right back at her, her smile widening. ]

Thanks.

[ She knows how hard it is for Maika to say things like that, so the fact that she actually does really means something.

Humming thoughtfully, Aerith sets her drink down on a random table and grabs Maika's hand, pulling her out to the dance floor. ]

You wanna dance, right?

[bloodandstars]

Do I get a choice?

[ Aerith is already drawing her onward inexorably — not that she couldn't dig in her heels and stop their progress right there. But her fingers curl around Aerith's instead, a little flicker of something in her eyes. ]

I've forgotten how.

[gardenful]

[ Does she? The mischievous look in Aerith’s eyes says that Maika does not, in fact, get a choice. ]

Then it’s time to relearn, isn’t it?

[ With a little smile, she puts one of Maika’s hands on her waist, the other on her shoulder. Right now, she’s real thankful that Maika got her arm back, though she wouldn’t have been too upset otherwise… not as long as Maika’s hand was still on her waist in some fashion. ]

You gotta stay in this position.

[bloodandstars]

[ That's what I'm here for, she thinks and doesn't say. To think she went all the way to Aurum for this — crossed the Shield Wall, fought the Cumaea — and if she wanted to remember what it was like to dance...

Well, all she had to do was come to another world. Maika's eyes crinkle slightly in amusement but she obediently settles her hands where Aerith says. And then, ignoring the fact that it's not in the instructions, uses her hand at Aerith's waist to tug her a little closer. ]

This feels stiff. Are you sure it's right?

[gardenful]

[ Oh!! She wasn't expecting that, and it's evident in the way her eyes widen ever so slightly... but she quickly smiles, clearly having no qualms about being tugged closer. ]

Feels right to me.

[ She'll move to the beat of the song, in a slow step so Maika can get used to it. ]

Maybe you're just nervous.

[bloodandstars]

Nervous? Over a dance?

[ Or at all? Who would ever credit that? Maika snorts softly, but she follows Aerith's movements, using their closeness to anticipate each step as she shifts.

It's helpful. It's also very distracting. ]

That doesn't sound like me.

[gardenful]

[ And if she presses a little bit closer, well... hopefully Maika won't blame her for that. ]

No? Then what does sound like you?