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

[cirquedesang]

No... No, he isn't.

[Sure, Izou isn't, but heroic spirits as a concept sure are - especially when held up alongside 'fancy generals' and 'knights'.

But that's besides the point, isn't it? Brains are catching up to eyes, and just to really drive the point home, Celeste tugs on his own threads after making sure his hand passes right through Eli's. Funny how they work like that. No denying whose are whose.]

So it would seem. And... while we could pretend we never saw this... [While he might have wanted to, if any of them had been one-sided.] It would only be delaying the inevitable, I think.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Yeah, but Izou would sure like to boast about being put in the same tier as fancy generals and knights. Good thing he'll never know. ]

Y-yeah, especially with...

[ Their plans. Sheesh, he may never stop blushing for the rest of the night at this rate. A pleasant shiver runs through him simply Celeste passing his hand through the threads, and that has him making an emergency decision. He looks out at the dance floor, checking where everyone else is, and then?

He slips out from Celeste's arm and snags his hand in his instead, tugging him towards the tall velvet window curtain near them. ]

Quick, before anyone looks.

[ He's learned from McGillis and Izou's mistake. ]

[cirquedesang]

[He sure would. Maybe someday he'll get to know. As a treat.

For a moment, when Eli slips away, he gets an unfounded nervous jolt - is he pulling away? Does he want to pretend this never happened, go back to ignoring each other until later, until the threads are gone and they can carry out their earlier plans while pretending this never happened?

And Eli thought he was the stupid one.

Celeste spares a glance out to the dance floor as well, desperately hoping no one is staring at them, so he won't have to divert Eli elsewhere, pretend like they were simply headed to the dance floor themselves, don't mind the mutual blushing, don't mind how quickly they moved from the wall--

Maybe people have the sense not to stare after the fiasco with Izou and McGillis. Maybe he just doesn't actually care enough to notice if anyone is, despite the cursory glance. Whatever the case, he allows himself to be pulled to the curtain, and does his part of pulling the curtain around them in turn, for some illusion of privacy.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ There is ample space behind the curtain, thankfully, given how the ballroom's windows curve outward to offer little couches to sit on, revealed when the curtains are drawn back as they usually are during the day. Eli doesn't particularly pay those any mind, though. He's only grateful there was any space at all. Otherwise, they'd be two awkward lumps stuck between a flat wall and some fabric.

Yeah, he got lucky. He hadn't thought that many steps ahead.

Once they're tucked away from sight, he pulls his mask off and lets go of Celeste's hand, only for him to reach up for the collar of the vampire's fancy-ass shirt. He isn't going to stop and think about it. He isn't going to give himself room to chicken out. What he is going to do is pull him down to his level and mash his lips against Celeste's in a kiss.

It's a clumsy attempt, too eager by far, but he's decided to stop overthinking it. That's never been his style, anyhow. ]

[cirquedesang]

[They got lucky. Not that becoming an awkward lump behind some fabric would have stopped them at this point, it just would have made their little escape much more obvious.

As if it wasn't obvious already.

One mask removed becomes two, and while Eli might be expecting some teasing for the eagerness... there isn't any. Instead, the intensity is matched equally - Eli's hand goes to his collar, but Celeste's goes to Eli's hair, promptly ruining any attempt at coherent styling as fingers tangle in short strands and as he meets the kiss with his own.

It's clumsy and eager, all tongue and fang, desperation clearly betraying how much they've danced around the inevitable already.

There will be time enough to overthink later.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ All that effort to put his hair into a sensible style undone in seconds, and Eli, being Eli, doesn't even think to care beyond how nice Celeste's fingers feel in his hair. Similar to how messy his hair is now, the kiss is about the same: sharp teeth clack together, and he isn't quite sure what to do with his tongue, but he does his best to follow Celeste's lead.

There is a time, however, soon after they've started, that Eli has to draw back for air and a short, breathy laugh. ]

Damn, you're a terrible kisser.

[ This is hardly true, but it's an attempt at humor to bring some space back between them. He has no idea if Celeste actually needs to breathe, but Eli very much does. ]

[cirquedesang]

[It's fine, fluffy suits him better, anyway. Besides, it won't be the only indicator that they snuck away, should they decide to return to the ball, with masks replaced without mirrors, with clothing tugged askew, with makeup smudged between the both of them-

The curtain hiding a little alcove might have saved them, but it can't protect them once they leave.

It feels like Eli pulls back too soon, and Celeste follows just enough to steal one more ghost of a kiss before straightening just enough to rest their foreheads together. He doesn't need to breathe, no, but he can share a laugh at the situation.]

Am I? Well, in that case-

[If he's such a terrible kisser, then he'll just go--

But the furthest he gets is straightening his back the rest of the way, is angling his head just so and leaning just far enough away that any further kisses will take effort to claim.

He can handle the teasing good-naturedly, but that doesn't mean he won't tease right back.]

I suppose you won't be wanting any more, then.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ It'll be whatever glitter Celeste's makeup leaves on him, calling it now. People will take one look at that and realize, though Eli wouldn't even fathom to think of that. That's a problem for future them to worry about — or not worry; let people imagine what they were up to, who cares?

In any case, there's a brief second or two of actual concern when Celeste draws back, face out of immediate reach, but then it hits him that he's only teasing him back in turn.

Of course. How could he have thought it anything else? ]

Hey, don't kid around like that. [ Though Eli's more than happy to carry on poking fun. ] It's very serious, and you're going to need a lot of practice to get better, you know? Good thing you have me here.

[cirquedesang]

[People will take one look at them and know... not that it matters. At most Celeste will think to fix any lipstick smudges, but glitter? That's a part of existence. Barely worth considering. And a dead giveaway for anyone else who may not have noticed them disappearing behind the curtain.

It's fine. People are allowed to know.

If the concern had lasted more than a few moments, he might have had to relent. But it doesn't, and Eli's quick to carry on.]

You're right, of course. [His tone is serious, like this is a grave matter, but he can't keep from smiling.] I'd be in a dire situation without you here, wouldn't I?

[fullmoonmutt]

[ It's fine, everything's fine, except the glitter, which is unavoidable. Eli finally realizes that Celeste isn't just playing with him, and it's unbelievably exciting. ]

You would be. I figure we'll have to spend all night practicing to bring you up to standard.

[cirquedesang]

Oh, all night?

[There's a brief glance to that little couch tucked in the window alcove with them. Did fate put it there? Maybe. Results inconclusive as yet.]

I wonder if that'll be enough time... maybe we'll have to spend much of tomorrow as well.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Sure, there's the little couch, which isn't lost on Eli, either, but he wonders how long they'll want to remain somewhere this public. All that stands between them and the masquerade is a curtain...

...ah. That suddenly brings him back down to earth. ]

Tomorrow? [ Look, he likes the sound of that. Celeste could suggest practicing for an entire week and he'd like that, too, but. ] Oh, fuck... Where are we even going to go after this? We both have roommates.

[cirquedesang]

[Even if they wanted to wait out the rest of the masquerade here, behind the curtain, that little couch would probably get uncomfortable sooner or later.]

Tomorrow. [Practicing for an entire week can be reserved for once they've left this world and don't have all these shenanigans going on...

But. Man. It has been entirely too long since he had to worry about roommates.]

Explaining why we would be banishing one of them from the room would be... troublesome.

[Would Yoon even understand he was being sexiled? ...Would his bed survive the night, since he's on the top bunk?]

Ah, we should have moved comfortable things to the roof sooner.

[Their spot...!]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Yes, the little couch would inevitably get uncomfortable, but that doesn't stop Eli from tugging Celeste along with him when he steps back towards it to take a seat. ]

Yeah, I don't know how either would take it.

[ Especially if blood gets involved? Can you imagine either Arven or Yoon coming back, and there's blood on Eli or Celeste's sheets? ]

I mean, we could use the roof, just bring a whole lot of blankets with us...? Or, well. I guess the temple would be empty by now, too.

[cirquedesang]

[For now, Little Couch can be their solace, because sure, he'll take a seat, but he is absolutely going to be sitting sideways on it so he can pull Eli on top of him. They're past pretending to be prim and proper - at least until they decide to leave the safety of the curtain - and sitting neatly next to one another is right out.

If thinking has to be involved, at least let there also be easy, casual affection.]

At best, they'd ask too many questions.

[And at worst they'd worry. Especially considering there will almost certainly be blood involved. Double-especially if that blood is entirely incidental. Imagine the reaction if Arven or Yoon are the first ones to notice there's blood at all?]

The temple has certainly captured your imagination.

[It's not a no. It is; however, recalling how they'd wondered if drinking together in the temple would count as proof of a bond, and then how they'd considered going there earlier, as well.]

...And the roof is the first place we'll be looked for.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ There's a brief look of surprise from Eli when Celeste pulls him over onto himself, but that'll be all. He has no complaints and cuddles right in against Celeste. ]

Well, yeah. I figure it's usually empty and indoors, which is better than the roof, right? Plus, it's kind of Braphine's fault for not giving us all our own rooms, so she shouldn't be surprised if we end up using it that way.

[cirquedesang]

[...You know, she probably gave them roommates to foster "bonding" - forced proximity and all, but.

Yeah, she should have thought this through.]

Mmhm. If she's surprised, then she's far more innocent than a goddess of "bonds" ought to be. Ah, it'll be far more comfortable there than in the showers as well, I suspect.

[Not that he's, you know, opposed to any of the places that have been put on the table. Just maybe not for the prospect of "all night and also tomorrow-".]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ More comfortable than the...? Eli turns his head so he can properly eye the vampire, trying to decide if he's once again kidding or not. ]

The shower? Even if no one walked in on us, how would that even work? We would be standing.

[cirquedesang]

[He is not kidding! He does, however, look surprised that Eli seems to be confused at the prospect.]

...And? There is more than one position to do things in, Eli.

[Standing in the shower included.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ But in the shower?! Really?! What if soap gets into something?! Eli purses his lips, frowning a moment longer, but eventually he does decide Celeste isn't bullshitting him. ]

...I knew there's more than one, come on.

[ He thought there were two. ]

[cirquedesang]

[Then you just... deal with it...? Same as any other mishap...? Which. He is now starkly aware haven't even crossed Eli's mind. Hm.]

But didn't think standing was one.

[A light little laugh, another brief stolen kiss... and right back to teasing.]

I know I said I like to spoil you, but this is going to get ridiculous, you know.

[You've seen how strong he is, Eli. And how flexible. Good luck.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Eli leans in after the stolen kiss, making a slight grumbling sound when he goes back to poking fun at him. ]

Aw, c'mon. Cut me a little slack. You're the one with all the experience here, not me.

[ For all the teasing he had for Celeste's kissing prowess, he knew that must be true, and despite what the vampire might think, he wasn't including what he had to do before he was turned. That wouldn't be fair... that shouldn't count...

But Celeste all these years later?

He can't imagine he's had a shortage of suitors of all sorts because, yes, he has seen how strong and flexible he is. It's a huge part of why Eli was so fucking insecure in the first place. Like, why would someone like him ever choose Eli over, well, anyone else at all?

It's still amazing to him. ]

Now come back here and keep kissing me.

[ Because then he'll have fewer chances to say anything else stupid! ]

[cirquedesang]

I know. That's why I'm planning on spoiling you.

[To be entirely fair, his kissing prowess is usually better, too, but there's no accounting for what happens when tensions finally boil over and desperation overrides any skill. But that was a given, surely, and there would be many more chances in the future to knock Eli's socks off with a kiss.

But... it's not like he's wrong. He's had more than his fair share of suitors, but due to a practiced aloofness and the sort of people who would recklessly chase after someone they'd just watched perform, the quality of suitors haven't really improved much since his embrace.

Usually, that's how he'd like it. A decent night. An easy meal. No bothersome human attachments to speak of. In a case like that, Eli's crush would have been more than enough to make him choose him - for a night or two, anyway. An easy little thing to pull on and manipulate before leaving him in the dust.

After everything, though?

It hardly felt like a choice. Eli had sunk his claws into his heart and he found he didn't want to make him let go.]

What will you do if I don't?

[A curiosity, mostly. He fully intends to keep kissing him, but he will hold out for juuuust a bit longer with another too-short stolen kiss, to give Eli a chance to answer the question.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ what he's gonna do is going straight into an inbox thread instead tbh, see ya flatviewers ]