WEEKS 9 & 10

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WEEKS 9 & 10

AS YOUR BONDS DEEPEN...

The charity event and the dreamscapes have come to an end... and the Fashion District seems a little better than it once was. Your efforts are being recognized, acknowledged by the environment and by Braphine herself. There's still work to be done - the thinning fog allows you to venture even further into the Office District, where there are stronger foes lurking around the corner and in dark alleyways.

Speaking of Braphine, she is pleased by your progress as a group thus far, and has given characters a little blessing: If there is something you've always wanted to tell someone – whether it be how you feel about someone else here, someone at home, a secret you've been holding in, or something else entirely – but have lacked the courage to do so, you may find the strength to say it now. While the God of Conflict forced ugly truths out of you, Braphine would like ones that come from a place of willingness without fear. This sensation will last until the end of your stay here.

How nice, isn't it? To feel like you're finally starting to get somewhere with your fellow Chosen.

The God of Conflict, however, thinks otherwise.

A LOOK IN THE MIRROR...

The world around you has seen a few changes. There are the positives, thanks to your efforts in completing commissions and forming connections, both of which aid Braphine.

However…

If you look in any sort of mirror, window, puddle that will give you your reflection, The God of Conflict is there, looking back at you, gazing at you eerily, freezing you and holding you in place.

"Well, well, well. Fancy running into you here, Chosen. Tell me…do you really believe that you're aiding Braphine in her mission? Do you really think any of the bonds that you've made here matter all that much, so much that it'll stop me, in the end? Don't make me laugh. We'll see how much your flimsy little chains hold up in time."

And then, just like that, he's gone…not without another little gift, though. You will be surrounded by 2-3 Nekyia Shadows once he disappears…in the real world. The Shadows, notably, will not attack unless provoked, and the locals will not be able to see them. As always, the only way you can attack them is through using your Personas; as soon as you engage in combat, you will also disappear to the locals like the Shadows.

For those who decide not to fight them, they will simply stare at you as you leave... but they will each briefly flicker into another form: The God of Conflict. But before you can say a word, they’ll disappear.

However, should you choose to engage in battle with them, any harm done to the environment or the locals themselves through the battle will be tangible. If you slam a Jack Frost into a building, it will leave a dent, in other words. The locals will not be able to see the actual fight, but they will notice the weird explosions and damages happening to them and around them. An important thing to note is that, being outside of the Nekyia, you will drain energy faster as you fight them, but you can defeat them with your Personas as usual otherwise.

THE DARKEST BEFORE DAWN.

So, maybe you didn't spawn a Palace, or even create a weird Nekyia environment like Soujuurou and Joshua have. That, however, does not mean you are free of your Shadow selves.

However, you are trapped with them. If you venture into the Nekyia, every so often when you look over your shoulder, they may be there, watching you, taunting you, following you around, even interacting with people (yourself or others) as if they were corporeal-- blink and you may miss them hovering over your shoulder, and turn the corner and you may just see them in the distance.

What follows your Shadow selves even after you return back to the safety of the dorms are the nightmares... which you find yourself having a little more often than normal. If you happen to stumble into a shared dreamscape, it looks... slightly different from when you last saw it. The nightmares always end the same way, though, even if the dreams are different: your Shadow self is staring back at you, haunting you before you wake up.

For anyone who has already confronted their Shadow selves, however, there is a glimmer of hope. In the Shadow's place is the best version of yourself, reminding you that although this is a nightmare, it does not have to continue forever. You have changed thanks to the people around you. Perhaps this is Braphine's reminder to you that she is still here, and despite her quiet, she's still watching.

Speaking of quiet, though…

…Has anyone checked on Mina lately?

And why does a certain brown cat keep on pacing in the dormitory hallways?

( OOC: A few limitations to keep in mind regarding this prompt:
• Shadows can now appear exclusively in nightmares, in the Nekyia, OR BOTH.
• Since the Dream King has not been vanquished yet, those who want to continue the dreamscape prompt as your nightmares are free to do so (this is optional though). Your Shadows are going to be here regardless!
• In this prompt, Shadows are NOT going to possess any characters. They are haunting you in the Nekyia (and may engage with other player characters, should you desire to go that route)!
• On that note, you can let your Shadows manifest however you'd like – they can yap, they can be completely quiet and stand menacingly, they can appear in quick glimpses and jumpscare you or linger for as long as you're in the Nekyia. They can stick to you or talk to others. Either way, everyone will see each other's Shadows.
• At this time, Shadows cannot be defeated outside of Palaces and mod-run mini-events.
• The same limitations apply to those seeing their best selves over their Shadows. )

WEATHER FORECAST

Balmy weather with a light breeze. Weather looks fair and comfortable for the next two weeks but don't forget to wrap up warmly or risk catching a chill! You wouldn't want to fall sick, would you?

Characters who journey into the Nekyia when it is getting chilly may find that Shadows in combat may be randomly afflicted with Freeze during combat.

COMMISSIONS

REAL WORLD COMMISSIONS

NO HORSING AROUND

The zoo is looking for volunteers! They need hands available to feed and clean up after the petting zoo animals in particular. You won’t be dealing with lions on this job, but you will be face to face with goat kids with a penchant for headbutting, so do take care while you work!

ONE FOR THE BOOKS

A new writer is in town to promote their book at the library! The problem is... very few people signed up for the meet and greet. Library workers are looking for volunteers or, really, anyone off the street who can be convinced to at least attend the poor author’s reading and fill out the room a little. Those who do end up attending will be treated to a reading of a high fantasy tale with romance, trysts, and a surprising number of werewolves, but those who manage to stay attentive may just notice a suspicious individual slipping in partway through... A disgruntled netizen has decided to make a mess of the author’s first meet and greet, and will get violent unless someone stops them.

DABBLING IN DELINQUENCY

Some of the students on the island have decided not to return to the classroom after all - instead roaming in packs around the city and causing general mischief. Try to turn them back on the path of decency! Especially when the boldest of them decide you’re a prime pickpocketing target...

NEKYIA COMMISSIONS

FANDOM WARS

“Disgusting... Anyone could pick up that slop and read all kinds of depraved things... People who write that stuff should just die.”

It seems someone got a little too into fights online about books - because their gripes about today’s tales has created a Shadow in the form of level 39 Thoth in the Nekyia. Worse yet, those who are inflicted by Rage by this Shadow cannot be cured with a simple spell - instead, those afflicted will find themselves venting out their frustrations for their battle companion to hear. The effect ends once the battle is completed, or they finish getting everything off their chest, whichever comes first.

KILL THE LIGHTS

“Don’t they see? There’s so much money to be made! If we just expanded our influence...”

A crooked politician trying to drum up support for military activity has generated quite the shadow. A level 40 Eligor can be found deep in the Nekyia’s business district, muttering to himself about all the profits to be had with a little conflict. Needless to say, things will get very, very bad if he goes through with it - take him down before he can start anything!

HORSING AROUND

The Nekyia business district is overrun with Unicorns teaming up with Ganesha to make quite the formidable team of a fierce fighter and a powerful support. That said, those who defeat the pair may just find that their foes have dropped quite a useful healing item...

(OOC: Please turn in your threads for this commission on the rewards page to receive a Bead Chain, which fully restores HP to all allies (maximum 4 including the user) and is valid for one time use during any battle. This is only valid for the first turn in of the commission.)

OOC

READ ME!!!!

Welcome to your log for Weeks 9 and 10! Feel free to use this log for any developments that happen during the next two weeks. There will be no log next week.
We're heading into endgame and AC is due 30 September, Monday, at 2359 EST! The boon for this month's AC has been updated as well - please have a look!
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.
Palaces are still going strong - sign ups for Atem (here) and Kirumi's (here) capped palaces are still open, and sign ups for our FFA palace will be going up later today.

ic comm | inboxes | ooc comm | full nav

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Comments

[fullmoonmutt]

[ That stirs Eli into looking, propped up on his elbows. He gives Celeste a questioning squint, unsure... Does he want him over there? Really? After how stupid he was that whole time in the Nekyia? ]

[cirquedesang]

[He wants him wherever he'd be the most happy and comfortable, honestly. If that's doing a dog sploot over there, then so be it.

But he also wants Contact. So. Hence the weird little form of touching.

If Eli being stupid bothered him at all, then they wouldn't be together, though. (Not that he thinks he was particularly stupid this time in the Nekiya, either--)]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Yeah, he's going to be moody over here, sprawled out on the rooftop. Until people are either done talking with Celeste or, probably more likely, Eli gets tired of waiting. That's when he finally grumbles and gets to his feet.

...and goes over to scoop Celeste up off the roof and into his arms. ]

We're going to sleep. Arven, you and the boss find a different room tonight.

[ Yeah, nah, he's stealing his vampire boyfriend now. ]

[cirquedesang]

[Being moody is absolutely fair enough.

!!!

But, oh, he's being scooped. He's. Not exactly used to being the one getting scooped, so he actually kind of flusters immediately, arms going around Eli's shoulders and face going straight into the crook of his neck to hide how he blushes. Just a bit.

Don't look at him, he's cool.]

Eh??

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Celeste may have some height on him, but he isn't the only strong one out of the pair. He's plenty strong without his powers, too, thanks. ]

What? I told you. You can rest, and I'll protect you. Best place for that is right next to you.

[cirquedesang]

[There was never any doubt about that - but it was still a surprise, and now there he is, flustered in front of everyone.

But it's not like he's trying to pull away either - quite the opposite, as he tucks in a little closer.]

How am I supposed to argue with that? I trust you will actually be resting as well...

[Don't just sit up and worry--]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ What if he wants to sit and worry, huh?! Well. Celeste's in luck since Eli doesn't want to, and he'll head off towards the stairs down to his floor with the vampire still in his arms. ]

Yeah, yeah. I wore myself out being a moron, meaning giving up for the rest of the day and going to sleep is the play here.

[cirquedesang]

[Once they're safely out of sight of everyone else... he ends up kind of swinging his legs a bit.

But the disconnect in mood is palpable, too, so he presses a lingering kiss to Eli's jaw.

It's okay. I'm okay. Calm down.]

A... moron?

[Look, he doesn't even tack on a teasing 'more than usual?'!]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ At least he can feel the tension begin to bleed out of Eli's muscles at that kiss. Celeste is okay, he's okay, he's... ]

I was so distraught that all I did was get in the way, Celeste. They had to stake you to save you... and I would have stopped them if that asshole hadn't grabbed me.

[ Wow, he must be worked up about this if he's using words like "distraught" correctly. Regardless, the conversation doesn't stop him from getting them off the stairs and to his room's door. That one takes a bit more finagling since it's a round knob and not as easily opened by a hip and some pressure as the roof door was. ]

[cirquedesang]

You cut me free.

[Sure, technically it was a combined effort... but he remembers Eli had been the one most desperate to do it. Granted, that was when he was burning, but... he was also the first one to try using the scissors to do it, too.]

I... won't say it wasn't necessary, what they did, but... I can't say it was, either.

[Much as he'd love to be as reassuring as possible, he also knows that blunt honesty will make it more difficult for Eli to argue against - both now, with him, and later when he's with his own thoughts.]

I was so terrible to you, back there, but... you still tried to talk me out of it. That isn't getting in the way.

[And when it comes to the door, he'll shift enough, hold tighter around Eli's shoulders to at least partially support himself so he can have a free hand to open it.]

[fullmoonmutt]

Maybe not, but I can't keep freaking out whenever someone I love is in that much danger...

[ It sounds as though it might not be the first time. That's because it isn't, but that's also a history lesson for a time after they've both had a long nap. He'll shift along with Celeste to let him have an easier time opening the door, and in they go.

He'll kick it shut again after. First glance proves it very obvious who's side of the room is who's: one is super tidy and has items for a large dog. Normally, having items for a large dog could still apply to Eli's side, but the other side is sort of a mess, which points to it being the werewolf's. Random junk piled high on his side's desk, and laundry not put away in the dresser but left on his desk chair for easy access instead. Dirty clothes on the floor. Thankfully, he doesn't leave trash or food out and about.

The bed, however, is pristinely made.

That's where he deposits Celeste. ]

But that's a me problem. I can deal with it later.

[cirquedesang]

[He wants to say that he can. That it's a reasonable response to have. That any normal person would freak out in the same way.

He doesn't.

It's more than obvious that there's a reason it's a 'me problem' as he put it, and while Celeste might be curious, it's also not his place to pry. He loves him. Part of that includes trusting him to share what he believes are the ugly parts of him when he's ready to.

But he can reassure him, or try to.]

It was working, you know. On me, at least. It might not feel like it was helpful, but... I saw you. How much you care. It's not... something I'm used to.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ Panicking when in the middle of a military operation does not make a good soldier would be the core of it. It's rough when your leading officer is also your mother... ]

Better get used to it.

[ He'll swerve to a kinder topic. After all, they need to rest, not go over their pasts and all the ugly bits and pieces scattered across them. There's more than enough that Eli wants to ask Celeste about, too. To that point, he leans down, pressing a kiss to the top of the vampire's pale hair. ]

'cause you've ended up with a whole lot of people who care about you, me included.

[ He adds that as he draws back again and kicks his shoes off. He'll help Celeste out of his own shoes if he has any (unless the leotard that the Shadow had carried over). Regardless, he'll join him on the bed after and pull him down to lay alongside him. ]

C'mon. I said we were gonna sleep and I meant it.

[cirquedesang]

[It's rough when what makes a good soldier is often at odds with what makes a good man.]

Oh, if I must.

[It is easier to accept than he thought it would be, though maybe that is in no small part due to the abrupt and chaotic mess that involved the lot of them proving as much.

It's hard to brush away, in that case.

He hums softly at the kiss to the top of his head, leaning after the affection like he doesn't want to give it up. Yes, yes, soft affections are the order of the day, no more ugly bits and pieces until they've had a chance to rest.]

I'd be worried if you weren't included anymore.

[The shoes come off, flexible dance flats that have a decent chance of getting lost in the clutter, but it's fine. They don't matter. Not in the face of being pulled down to bed.]

You're a menace.

[It's affectionate.

Laying down, though, the exhaustion from the week, from the shadow nonsense, from being on such an odd schedule for months does hit him all at once, and it's by sheer force of will that he isn't out immediately.

It feels silly, but he isn't quite ready to give in just yet, in the face of soft affection and a clear outpouring of, well, love. Like if he sleeps, he'll wake up and it'll be another cruel dream.]

...I do love you, you know.

[fullmoonmutt]

[ There's a snort of amusement at being called a menace. It's truly a matter of having to be one to know one, right? ]

I know. [ It's been hard to believe, even now, but every day it feels more and more real. That makes it easy for him to say in return, ] I love you, too, Celeste.

[ Even as they settle down to rest, Eli will pull Celeste close to him, fully intent on cuddling up with him as he begins to drift off all the same. ]

Now go the fuck to sleep already, ya clown.

[cirquedesang]

[Eli cuddles up to him... and he cuddles up to Eli in turn, draping an arm around his waist and tangling their legs together.

At this point, if they were any closer, they wouldn't be sleeping any time soon.]

Mmn... I'd challenge you to make me, but I fear I may pass out in the midst of the attempt...

[No matter what making him entailed, really.]

[fullmoonmutt]

I mean, that would count as going to sleep.

[ But not in the way Eli would be hoping for?! In any case, he's settling in against Celeste comfortably, though not quite drifting off just yet. He wants to watch the vampire go to sleep first, to make sure. ]

But you might want to save it for when we wake up.

[cirquedesang]

Yes, I think you're right.

[He will shift ever so slightly to press a kiss to the closest bit of exposed skin, though.

It really doesn't take much time after that for him to give up and go to sleep. Unfortunately for Eli that does entail him appearing much more corpselike than usual, what with the lack of conscious breathing or pulse or any slight little movements that come with getting even more comfortable in sleep... but it's fine, surely.]

[fullmoonmutt]

[ It wouldn't be the first time he's seen Celeste sleep. There was the time on the roof, after all. Besides, he's met vampires before, he's spent some time with them... just... not like this. Still, there's no shock as to how dead a sleeping vampire looks.

So rather than worry about it, Eli smiles softly and settles in to fall asleep beside him, all cuddled up and comfortable. ]

[supherb]

[Arven's thrown off by the whole display. Wow, just kicked right out of his room.]

Oh, uh...okay.

[He gets it, though. Maybe Mafuyu would be willing to have him tonight.]