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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[speedingticket]

It's okay! I'll tell you a little secret.

[ He cups his now-free hand to his mouth and leans in slightly to whisper to Eli— ]

I don't either.

[ Teehe!

With a little giggle, he steps back and grabs Eli's hand. His bottle of wine is still in his hand, but he doesn't seem to notice. He doesn't seem to notice a lot? He's just happy to have found someone he knows the name of.

With a tug, he starts dragging him to the dance floor. ]

Just let the music carry you! Listen to your heart and your body! Nothing's easier than dancing!

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Eli at least manages to set the bottle he has down on the refreshments table before inevitably being pulled to his doom— i mean the dance floor by Rutile. This is a quick action after being frazzled by how he leans in to whisper. Hello?! ]

Whoa, whoa, hey, how are we dancing when one of your hands is all full?

[ With bottle?! Why bottle?! Is this guy already drunk?! ]

[speedingticket]

Goodness, I almost forgot!

[ For how excited Rutile is, he doesn't seem drunk...? There's no flush on his cheeks, his steps and hands are steady. For all we know, he's just like this normally.

Anyway, despite the tint to the bottle, there's still clearly about half of the wine left. And despite how much wine's left, Rutile...chugs it in one go, like it's grape juice and not booze.

With a satisfied ahh, he sets the bottle down nearby (on the floor?), and resumes his business of tugging on Eli's hand. ]

Let's go!

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Eli is so shocked by how Rutile downed that bottle that there's zero resistance to being dragged out onto the dance floor. ]

The fuck? What the hell, do you got no gag reflex or something?!

[speedingticket]

[ This question actually causes Rutile to come to a full stop for an extended moment to give it genuine thought. ]

Oh. [ Hand to his cheek... Thinking... ] I don't know!

[ He'll test it later!

He shrugs and glances over his shoulder at Eli. He opens his mouth to say something when something else catches his eye. ]

Hey... What's this? [ Why is there a pink thread coming from Eli? With his one hand now free of wine bottle, he reaches to twang it, only for it to pass right through... Without his magic, he has no idea what it is, but it doesn't seem harmful. ]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Rutile already confuses Eli so much and he's only known him in-person for ten minutes. Amazing. ]

You don't...? [ But then he's fiddling with the thread. Oh fuck. Oh shit. ] Hey! Don't do that! Leave it be!

[ He reaches to grab at Rutile's hand, but it's too little, too late. Passing his fingers through it only gives him direct access to that strong feeling of attraction and that one immediate thought Eli had upon seeing Rutile: 'Oh shit, he's hot. Why is everyone here so hot?! How is that fair?! I don't think I can take this anymore...' ]

/2

[speedingticket]

[ #justwizardthings

Eli's disembodied voice echoes loud in his head, and this is the first time Rutile actually stops in his tracks. His bright green eyes go wide, and he seems to be thinking, unsure of what to make of what he's just heard... ]

[speedingticket]

Oh, goodness, you think I'm hot?! Eli!

[ Rutile positively beams, and now he understands the pink thread, and it matches the faint brush over his cheeks. ]

I'm not half as hot as my mother was, but I'm still so flattered! Thank you!!

[ He takes Eli's hand in both of his and holds it up near his face. He's all smiles! Yay! He can't wait to go home and tell Mithra! ...Actually, he won't do that, because Eli would probably die. Because Mithra would kill him, somehow.

Anyway— ]

This means dancing with you is going to be so much fun! You're pretty cute yourself! [ Totally platonic! He tugs at his hand and takes a step backwards. ] Let's go!

[fullmoonmutt]

...as your... mom...?

[ What kind of reaction is that?! To say your mom is hotter?! Rutile?! Eli's simply too frazzled to deny him a dance at this point, so Rutile successfully drags him out onto the dance floor, the poor guy sputtering and trying to come up with an excuse the entire time. ]

I mean! Yeah?! There's... there's a lot of really hot people here, okay?!

[ Oh godddd, now he has to dance. He'll stand there lamely waiting to see what Rutile will do, only growing redder as seconds tick by. ]

And I'm... not. Cute, I mean. You don't gotta say that to be nice, man. It's fine.

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile just giggles lightly at that. Everyone is very good looking here! He's not complaining.

Anyway, there's no deep thought put into the dance, because Rutile runs on vibes. He adjusts his hand to lace his fingers through Eli's, rests his hand somewhere on his mid-back, and begins to pseudo waltz through the dance floor. It's not structured, and pretty free. ]

Hm? But you are! [ Rutile smiles, and his eyes soften as they dart over his face, taking note of what he sees. ] Your hair looks like velvet, and they complement your eyes so well! They make them look like stars in the night sky~

[ He pulls his hand up from his back to tap his nose. ] You have a cute nose, too. And your cheeks when you're flustered! [ Flushed or no! Just the way they move when he talks. He giggles, again! ] Has no one ever told you this before?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ His hair looks like velvet?! His eyes are like stars in the night sky?! Who is this guy, a poet?! If Eli was flustered before, it's only worse now. He may as well lay down and die now of embarrassment. ]

No?

[ Eli scrunches up his nose when it's tapped, stumbling along after Rutile's lead as they dance.

Has anyone told him that before? Look, he isn't counting his own mom telling him he's as handsome as anyone else because that sounded so fucking juvenile and would likely prove to make things worse. He isn't sure he'd be able to take it if Rutile asked anything about how his mom looks. ]

Why would anyone bother?

[speedingticket]

Because it's true.

[ Rutile isn't a liar, or a flatterer. He says things because he believes them to be true, and even though they just met, he still looks at and describes Eli like he would a meadow he's seeing for the first time. It's just how he sees the world and the people in it, and all of these things are beautiful and worth his time.

But he also isn't stupid. He sees his friends in Eli's embarrassment; his smile softens, and he tilts his head as he spins them 'round. ]

I'm sorry, was that too much?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Eli looks down, angling his mask so it's more difficult to see the blushing. Honestly... Well, at least he can watch his feet now, which means less stepping on poor Rutile's toes. ]

A little bit, yeah. I mean, it was nice of you to say all that stuff, but kinda weird, too. Like you were trying to write a poem or something.

[speedingticket]

[ If Rutile hasn't stepped on Eli's toes already by now, literally.

He doesn't say anything for a moment, just studying him as best he can past the mask. ]

You're right. I let myself get carried away, and I wasn't thinking. You remind me of a friend—not everyone likes excessive compliments. Learning what's normal and acceptable for people in a new place is going to take some getting used to. Forgive me, I only got here yesterday.

[ The poem part he just lets slide past, because that's just how he talks sometimes.

He smiles, and pulls the tempo of their steps up as the music grows livelier. ]

Let's start over! I'm Rutile. Thank you for dancing with me, Eli.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ This just in: wizard naturally a poet, didn't know it. ]

Start over?

[ Even more weirdness! But Eli likes the idea. He looks up again, only stumbling a tiny bit as Rutile picks up the pace. ]

Yeah, okay! Er, thanks for... dragging me out here? I'd been avoiding it, to be honest. [ Dancing is scary, okay? That said, he is curious about what Rutile mentioned only a moment ago. ] How do I remind you of a friend? Are they moody, too?

[speedingticket]

Moody? [ Rutile chuckles (giggles?) a bit at that. ] I don't know if I'd call him moody, but he is shy.

[ There's nothing to be scared of with dancing, at least in Rutile's mind. He does momentarily stumble over himself, but he pays no mind to it and keeps talking. ]

He has a friend that adores him, and showers him with compliments. [ He chuckles again at the memory. Is it really a memory if it happens multiple times a day? It must be, now, if he's not going to see either of them for a while— ] Oh, he gets really embarrassed and cross every time. They fight so much over it.

[ He draws himself out of his memory, and smiles at Eli. ]

Not that I'm looking to fight with you. But I do hope we can be friends.

[fullmoonmutt]

Ha, you're lucky you didn't show up here when I first did, in that case. All I wanted to do was fight.

[ He still does, of course, but not as quickly! ]

But nah. I won't throw any punches here at a fancy ball. So, I guess we have to be friends instead.

[speedingticket]

[ Rutile laughs lightly at that. ] Yay! I'm glad we can be!

[ He's interested, though, considering he just got here and is. kind of anxious to get back, he can't help but ask— ]

How long have you been here, then?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Well, there we go. That's one easy friendship. Probably. Rutile hasn't done anything to earn his ire, so there's that? ]

Nearly two months now. It's been a pretty wild ride for such a short time, to be honest.

[speedingticket]

Two months?

[ Rutile sounds pretty disappointed by this...even though he flings out his arm to spin Eli. Will he spin? ]

What's happened, then? You haven't found a way back yet?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ He... does? Since he's going with the flow here, but dang, if he isn't confused. Why did Rutile spin him?! Is this a dancing thing?! ]

...uh... wait, what? [ What was that? Oh. ] Er. Nah. I mean, Braphine says she'll send us back when the thing with the God of Conflict is all settled.

[speedingticket]

[ It is a dancing thing!

Rutile is dancing to the beat of his own drum (figuratively), not really noticing Eli is thrown off by the spin so he just carries on the conversation as normal. ]

Oh, okay... Mm, do you think that will happen soon? In, say, less than a few months...?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ While Eli simply does the best he can to keep up. Oh boy. At least he's slowly getting the hang of this? Kind of? ]

I'd say less, yeah? It didn't sound like she expected us to be here forever, in any case. You worried about stuff back where you're from?

[speedingticket]

[ Good!! At least, even as the music changes, Rutile doesn't throw any surprises at him. ]

I am. [ That's a tense smile he inserts there. ] I think I have a time limit. But it should be okay if it's only a few months...

[ His greatest fear has probably already come to pass, but, ahh... Trying not to think about that... ]

I'll just work as hard as I can so we can get back quicker!

[fullmoonmutt]

Time limit? Huh... Well.

[ Continuing to dance, it seems, even as the music changes. ]

We summoned Braphine to talk to her directly. We asked about time passing where we're all from and she told us we'd go back to the same time we were taken from, so... You're probably fine on that?