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Link Up! Mods ([personal profile] linkupmods) wrote in [community profile] linkingup2024-08-08 07:00 pm

Week 2

WEEK 2
WAKE UP, GET UP, GET OUT THERE.
    Saturday rolls around and characters may see that there are notices from Mina, saying that everyone will be taking a trip at noon sharp on Saturday, and to have their weapons. Whether characters pay this heed or not, they will in fact hear a ding from their phones at noon, their screens glowing a sunset red with the word "TRANSFERRING..." the only thing to be seen. And then, just like that –

    You all enter.

    The new world before you can be described in one word: twisted. It doesn't feel great, but it doesn't feel extremely awful, either, depending on how you look at it – it's a distorted version of the already grim city that you've been brought to, and you are specifically in the shopping district. Everything seems to be darker shades of red, yellow, and purple, if you can see it through the haze ominously floating about.

    That feeling of something stirring in your chest seems to grow stronger, more potent, burning with the desire to be let free…

    …and you, all of you, are surrounded. Various monsters and demons are threatening to attack you, looking at you like you are their prey. That's because you are…but you don't have to be for long. The moment that you engage in battle with them, no matter who strikes first, is the moment your emancipation begins.

    Welcome to your awakening.

    You feel a surge of energy rush to your palm – for some, it burns like a fiery blaze. For others, it sparks with electricity; perhaps wind circles around it, or a mysterious frost begins to blanket it. Maybe you have a mysterious pink aura around it, or a bright turquoise light; a dark, sinister glow or a calming light. Whatever the case may be, it drives you to place your hand over your heart.

    You latch onto something. It is not your chest, it's not your heart, but it's something deeper than that, something from your being. You pull, you drag it out, and there is no bloodshed or any sort of pain, only a very bright light and some struggle as you unearth what is within. You finally, finally feel free as a new part of you literally stands before you. Say hello to your new friend: Your Persona.

    Your new skills feel intuitive, and you feel like you can navigate them well enough to at least try to survive. You don't need to question how or why you understand them just yet; all you need to do is let yourself experience your power, and you'll stand a chance.

    And with that, it's time to fight.

    (Note: Weapon attacks will always deal Phys damage, but Phys spells will naturally do more than just whacking enemies with your weapons. Go wild, dodge, parry – combat is more freeform here than it is in Persona, so play this out however you'd like.

    Furthermore, you'll be able to see everyone's cool Personas! You just won't be able to really interact with them directly.)

???

    (Picrew by ~danidoninha!)

    After the battle, there's the sound of a whistle. Turn your heads towards the source, and…huh? A cat?

    "Alright, newbies, it's time to roll out."

    …And it talks???

    She says it with a scowl on her face, and soon, she leaps up – poof, and suddenly, there is a cat train in front of you. Weirdly enough, this cat is the one driving it. How did she summon the train…who knows.

    "Get in, unless you wanna get your asses kicked!"

    And sure enough, she's right, because there seem to be more enemies flocking towards you. She will drag you all in whether you like it or not.
SAFE AREA.
    And, after a quick ride on the cat train, you find yourselves back at the dorms! ...Kind of. Much like the rest of this alternate world, it’s distorted in shape, though there’s none of the haze you saw when you first arrived. It seems this area, at least, is safe - characters would be wise to note it as a location to base any Nekyia operations out of in the future.

    Mina is also here! She looks, quite frankly, relieved to see everyone show up alive in the train. The train, by the way, is gone, because it seems like your mysterious cat friend is now back to her…first…form? And seems to be on her way out. Back to Mina, though:

    “Thank goodness... Okay, um, app hiccups aside...

    Welcome to the Nekyia - the world of the unconscious. As you can see, the unconscious version of the city is, um... Very, very messed up. The more commissions you complete, the more connections you forge, the more bonds you repair, and the more Shadows you take out will help return the Nekyia to normal - and with it, the real world!

    The people of this world don’t have the power to summon Personas... You’re the only ones who can save this city from the influence now. So please...

    Help me fix this city from the inside-out!”

    Mina has also set up a folding table set up with divinity cookies and water bottles from “Ambrosial Water Co”, judging by the labels. Characters who partake in these proffered snacks will find them rejuvenating - literally. Using a Persona’s abilities takes spiritual energy, but these snacks replenish one’s energy to full again with a single bite or sip. Any characters who want to try venturing back into the thick of the Nekyia today are free to take some with them, but do take care! Mina is only providing snacks for today, and after this characters will need to monitor their energy levels on their own.

    Characters with further questions may ask Mina and she will do her best to answer! You can also try to catch the mysterious cat from earlier, too.

    To go back to the real world, all characters need to do is press the "RETURN?" button on their phones. Much like the "TRANSFERRING..." message, this is the only thing on their screen.

    All phones will now have a Nekyia app that will enable them to come in and out of the Nekyia at will.
OOC
READ ME!!!!
  • Welcome to your Week 2 event log!
  • Here is your promised Persona debut. Fighting is very flexible, so please just thread the fights in whatever format you'd like.
  • A reminder for those of you who have gotten their Level 10 skills: These do not unlock ICly until Week 3, starting on 8/17.
  • As always, please let us know if you have any questions! Enjoy!
fullmoonmutt: (072)

[personal profile] fullmoonmutt 2024-09-01 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
[ Accept his affection. It comes in the form of punching. ]

Right, right, I'll try and remember that. Tiny balls good, whatever. How do you people end up with a Pokemon, anyway? Is it like adoption? Do you find them? Do they find you?
supherb: (arven62)

[personal profile] supherb 2024-09-01 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
All of the above, kinda? The main way you get a Pokemon is by catching a wild one with a Poke ball. They can also be traded or given to others. My dad gave Mabosstiff to me when I was a kid, 'cept he was a Maschiff back then.

[So many wild and fun(?) concepts being tossed out at once, huh.]
fullmoonmutt: (073)

[personal profile] fullmoonmutt 2024-09-01 03:15 am (UTC)(link)
You... Dude, that's poaching! And animal trafficking!

[ Pokemon is messed up if you think about it. ]

That shit was illegal where I'm from before, you know, all civilization crumbled and shit. I mean, I'd be pissed at you if you traded Mabosstiff away. He's your pal!
supherb: (arven11)

[personal profile] supherb 2024-09-01 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[Arven is absolutely dumbfounded by Eli’s reaction. He doesn’t even know how to respond at first.]

It’s…huh? Wuh??

O…kay, first of all, I would never trade Mabosstiff away. I was just explaining that some people do! Second of all, this is how it’s always been. Since like, forever.
fullmoonmutt: (077)

[personal profile] fullmoonmutt 2024-09-01 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
But if all Pokemon are as smart as Mabossiff, don't you think that's insane that anyone would run around catching them and then trading them away like they ain't aware of it?

[ He doesn't get it??? Hello?? ]
Edited (eli wouldn't use a big word like intelligent gosh) 2024-09-01 03:40 (UTC)
supherb: (arven28)

[personal profile] supherb 2024-09-01 04:03 am (UTC)(link)
[crying @ edit text]

I mean…Pokemon can break out of the balls if they don’t want to be caught. And people don’t just go around catching them just to trade them. They catch them to make friends with them.

I’m not gonna stand here and say there aren’t people out there that treat their Pokemon badly, but it’s not like they’re allowed to get away with it.
fullmoonmutt: (002)

[personal profile] fullmoonmutt 2024-09-02 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's the truth ]

You really sure about that? [ Eli still finds it all super suspect, but. Maybe. ] Well. I guess. S'long as they get a say in it.

[ After that, there's maybe half a minute of silence before he looks Arven's way again. ]

...do you think there's a Pokemon that'd like me? You know, other than the Boss.
supherb: (arven2)

[personal profile] supherb 2024-09-02 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
As sure as I can be. I guess this is one of those things that you gotta see for yourself to really get it, 'cause our worlds sound completely different.

[And he...doesn't just mean the fact that Eli's has apparently fallen apart.

Eli's follow-up question is a surprise, but a welcome one.]


Yeah. There are tons of Pokemon in the world, so I'm sure you'd find one to call your partner. Probably a dog species, heh.
fullmoonmutt: (050)

[personal profile] fullmoonmutt 2024-09-02 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Tch, that's an easy out. "A dog species". How many of those can there even be?

[ A lot.

But they're coming up to the dorms now, and Eli breaks off to look around for anything left behind by the hooligans.
]
supherb: (arven23)

[personal profile] supherb 2024-09-03 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
Can you blame me for pegging you as a fellow dog person?

[He actually starts to go off listing all the different species of dog Pokemon until he realizes Eli isn't even with him anymore. Oh, right. They were coming this way for a reason.]

There's at least a couple spray paint cans lying around. They even chucked one at the RA lady, apparently.
fullmoonmutt: (052)

[personal profile] fullmoonmutt 2024-09-04 12:39 am (UTC)(link)
Ha, well, I guess I am.

[ But then he's gone as the big nerd keeps listing off Pokemon names. He's tracked down one of the discarded cans, dropping into a crouch by it but not touching it. ]

Here. Boss, try this one.

[ Unfortunately, Mabosstiff will only smell paint, paint, and more paint without a hint of a trail to follow. ]
supherb: (arven19)

[personal profile] supherb 2024-09-04 03:06 am (UTC)(link)
[The paint doesn't smell very good, either. After a few sniffs, Mabosstiff sticks up his nose and shakes his head.]

Nothing, huh...? Well, dang. Guess it's a dead end for us.
fullmoonmutt: (006)

[personal profile] fullmoonmutt 2024-09-06 12:54 am (UTC)(link)
Shit, for real?

[ Pointless question. He has no reason to doubt Mabosstiff. Well, he'll give him a pat on the head regardless. ]

Ah well. Thanks for giving it a shot.