![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
- !event,
- attack on titan: armin arlert,
- danganronpa v3: kaito momota,
- day 1: general,
- fatal frame iv: ruka minazuki,
- fate/: bb,
- fate/: charlemagne,
- fate/: merlin,
- fe3h: dimitri alexandre blaiddyd,
- ffxiv: tsubaki aoganei,
- metallic rouge: alice & ace machias,
- original: calia,
- original: nao mizushita,
- persona 3: minato arisato,
- persona 3: shinjiro aragaki,
- shadows house: kate,
- slay the princess: the princess
[DAY 1-]
The night drags on.
The moon, full and bright, illuminates the world below as demons rise in indulgence of the hunt. All those who are not securely tucked away become prey, whose blood runs freely down the streets, whose screams fill the air in symphony, whose lives are snuffed out one by one as the night grows darker- but not quieter, no. Towards the far west, wind picks up in a deafening howl that tears through the forest violently enough to uproot trees, followed by a thunderous explosion atop the wall that sends large chunks of rock crashing down on parts of the immobile train, creating shockwaves felt all the way into town. Dark clouds gather overhead, smothering the moon and unleashing a downpour that continues unrelentingly until dawn, when the paltry sunlight behind the clouds is only enough to see that the rain that falls is in fact blood, thick and warm, coating the rooftops and the streets. Rivulets trickle towards the east, where they spill over the edges of the world and into the cavernous abyss of a mouth below.
Those who sleep will dream. They dream of being flat on their back, lying on hard metal, a warm breeze caressing their cheek, the faint scent of cherry blossom in the air. They dream of their bodies feeling like lead, heavy and unable to move, hardly able to breathe— and all the while in complete darkness. Whether they give in to exhaustion or struggle valiantly against it, they will eventually open their eyes to a different scene: of somebody's home before here, you and that person reliving the very last memory they had before waking up in the train just yesterday. It's a memory that culminates in darkness. Give in. Struggle. Open your eyes again and again and again, and eventually you will wake up to what you wish were just another bad dream: the unfortunate plane of existence we call reality.
It may not be a good morning, but it's morning. If characters glance at their COMP, they will see a bright number 7 on the screen that disappears as their chosen AI chimes in with a good morning greeting ("Whoa! Congrats on surviving the night, boss!" or "Yikes, you look like shit. Did you get any rest at all?"). Pulling up the map function shows fewer blue ally dots as expected, but perhaps unexpectedly, much fewer red enemy dots as well: there are very few demons to be seen, and those that are, show little interest in hunting unless they are attacked first. The forest is still and quiet, red Mandrake leaves littering the floor in abundance but the demons remain rooted underground, the Hares of Inaba huddled snug within their dens, bird demons taken roost underneath the canopy to keep out of the blood rain. The concert hall is silent today, guards at the door watchful and ready to snipe intruders. Inside the powerplant, the giant Ooze spreads lazily across the first floor, filling the space wall to wall, acid seeping underneath the front doors and burning its way outside. Indoors, outdoors, demons keep to themselves, seemingly sated.
It's almost peaceful. If you didn't know better.
The drizzle of blood tapers off over the course of Day 1, replaced by normal rain once night hits. The water that falls is clear, though bitter and metallic tasting, and the stormy weather continues for several days more. The temperature outside dips, even during the daytime, and the hunger that continues to persist (unless you're BB, who ate a Pixie, maybe) is made worse by the appearance of a hot dog stand that has been set up in front of the school building. Its existence in this place is wholly suspicious, entirely nonsensical, manifested as if out of a yandere devil summoner fever dream— and yet the mystery meat smells divine, and you are so so hungry.
"Hee-ho! Get your hot dogs here-ho! What? What kind of mee-hee-t is in it, ho? Don't worry about it, ho!"
Can anybody resist that cute face? never mind the sales pitch. Jack Frost will operate on a barter system, though it really only seems interested in people's gemstones, or if they're willing to slaughter and bring it a Katakirauwa in exchange for a cold but still delicious hotdog dressed up in any variety of condiment. For those who muster the courage to go demon hunting to earn their meal, they will find that a single hotdog will stave off hunger for up to three days. For those who gave up their gemstone instead, K5 will be screaming at them not to do that, but also, please tell me. Maybe they'll rethink the offer, noticing that the gemstones they'd found on their person now feel slightly warm to the touch- growing warmer when in proximity to another person's gemstones, their colors more vibrant, stones faintly glowing as if with internal light.
Generous as Jack Frost is with providing dubious sustenance, it's a different story when it comes to the vending machine beside its stall. Inside are various drinks guaranteed to be cold, and include bottled water, coffee, teas, juices, blood and tears and many other questionable unlabeled liquids among its touted 100!!! varieties of beverage ("""beverage"""). Two problems: 1) there is no selection button, so you do not get to choose your drink; and 2) the machine will only take macca. Where to get macca? Figure that out yourself and earn your drink gacha.
[ Locked pending: SCHOOL investigation ]
[ Locked pending: GREENHOUSE investigation ]
[ Locked pending: HOSPITAL investigation ]
[ Locked pending: CONCERT HALL investigation ]
[ Locked pending: POWERPLANT investigation ]
OOC
»
Since I know a handful of you are still working on apps, this event log in general will be open to all players, but Investigations will be closed to current players only. See below for more information.
»
On Day 1 only, wild demon encounters will be scarce and it will rain blood all day, after which the weather will transition into normal rain and demon encounters will also return to normal rates, less during the day and more frequent after dark.
»
When characters fall asleep any time in the next several days (including victims of the concert hall lullaby that will begin again starting Day 2, as well as inadvertent naps for those of you who are like lmao yeah whatever, i don't need sleep, i'm fine), they will be able to see the circumstances around other characters' canonpoints. This dream may take the form of being a bystander, or from the point of view of the character, whichever would be more fun/interesting to play.
»
Players can advance time by posting new logs set on the current or next IC date— don't be afraid to advance time as needed! Plot beats will be adjusted accordingly, and there'll be ample warning if plot necessitates a deadline or specific event date for any reason. If you have any trigger warnings, please let me know here! Comments are screened, and warnings will be listed in the log format post for player awareness.
»
As characters investigate different locations in the setting, more aspects of the game will be unlocked and will be updated in the post above. In summary, from the previous TDM event, characters have found doors sealed by barriers in the school, greenhouse, and hospital. The concert hall and powerplant are still both heavily guarded by demons that prevent thorough investigation until dealt with.
no subject
Merlin shakes his head. It won't work. ]
I think I'm its prey of the day, for whatever reason. It's had its eyes (and horn) on me ever since it caught sight of me, and me alone, though I can't imagine why.
[ That's not true. Like any good bookworm, the mage skimmed the compendium's mythological information, and the Xiezhai is said to be able to see through any lie.
Wait, there are two of them. Merlin has two weapons. What is he doing, standing around like this? The Xiezhai shakes its head after its collision with the building, ready to run right at the mage yet again, seemingly determined to run him through for his falsities. They might be able to make this work. The two of them might be out of SP (and rapidly running out of HP, in Shinjiro's case), but they're not out of options.
He gives only a single warning before he tosses his staff, covered with colorful cloth, over at Shinjiro. It's not heavy, but it's still got decent heft to it, and it's sturdy, if nothing else. ]
Catch! I hope you know which end to use to bash things with!
[ He can't believe he's doing this, all but asking a clearly bloodied teenager to fight, with something akin to the Staff of Selection, of all things. But if it's good enough for that version of Artoria, it's good enough for this stranger who seems hellbent on helping despite his condition, right? (Not to mention that he's no stranger to seemingly making unreasonable requests of others.) ]
no subject
Shinjiro grunts in dissatisfaction at Merlin's explanation, typical scowl only deepening. He's never heard of a Shadow that picks its victims before. This damn place is shaping up to be even more a pain in the ass than the Dark Hour. He catches the staff fairly readily, though Merlin might catch the faint hiss from the pull at his wounds.]
Don't worry. Ain't my first rodeo with bastards like these.
[The staff is a far cry from the huge battle axe he's used to carrying, but that might be a bit of a blessing in this scenario. This he can hold up and swing easily without as much risk that he'll be spurting blood everywhere from the strain of the effort.]
Want me to come at it from the front or the back?
no subject
Back, please! I'd rather have a real beauty's attention on me instead, but we've got to make do with what we have...
[ The demon is either wising up to Merlin's bait-and-run tactics, or it's pissed off because of his comment just now. Either way, instead of charging at the mage once more, the Xiezhai lets out a loud snort, and rises up on its hind legs to cast Zio instead, leaving its back exposed to Shinjiro as Merlin deftly dodges, a quick step to the side of the lightning spell's impact. ]
no subject
Somehow I don't think you'd be these things' type either way.
[But the opening comes, and Shinjiro charges at it with the staff, adrenaline surging in to cover the pain enough that he gets in a solid few whacks while its off-balance on its hind legs. Probably not enough to kill it, but even stunning it a little should give Merlin a good opportunity to take it down.]
no subject
He dashes in, closing the distance between them with practiced, calculated steps. One, two, three, four. His sword strikes the Xiezhai true, and thrice at that, downwards, upwards, then wide, each slash clearly honed, with deadly intent behind each swing. The demon glares at him, the long horn on its head waving around wildly all the while, and Merlin parries each and every attempted thrash. A spellcaster who has the peculiar tendency to resolve things in combat by swinging around a sacred sword instead of casting spells won't settle for any less.
But it's still kicking, albeit barely, despite the mage's earlier attempts to take it down without any other help, surprisingly enough. A testament to how stubborn and oddly strong it is for an encounter of this type, even if they're in the final stretch.
Actually, literally too, as it tries to weakly but angrily kick Shinjiro with a hind leg. ]
no subject
Timberrrrrr....]
Finish it!
no subject
[ The creature falls with a heavy thud thanks to the whack. Taking the opportunity granted to him by this stranger once more, with a heave, Merlin stabs the fallen Xiezhai right through with his sword, and the demon's movements slow, though it does try to get one last parting chomp in with Merlin so close to it...only to get nothing but a mouthful of robe after he pulls away in time.
Finally, the Xiezhai's movements still completely. No dissolving, no fading away into magical particles or anything. ]
All the way until the end, hm? Talk about spiteful.
[ Rancor and hatred like that is beyond him, the man thinks to himself, before taking a step toward where Shinjiro's buckled on his knee, and offering the teenager his free hand to help get up, should he take it. ]
But that's enough of that. How are you holding up?
no subject
...Been better, [he admits, at length] but I'll manage.
[Though Merlin could certainly be excused for hitting that x to doubt, here. Up close, now that the danger's passed, it's clear he's not doing well. His front bangs are all but plastered to his face from sweat, and there's a faint wheeze underlying his breathing that's a lot more noticeable outside of the heat of battle. And of course, there's his bloody coat. Much of it can be attributed to being caught out in the rain, of course, but it's clear there's an injury there and the wound is bleeding again.]
You?
no subject
[ Which is true. Merlin did take some bumps and scrapes earlier on, including one hard hit, when he was trying to whittle down the Xiezhai's surprising sturdiness, but got himself healed up in the interim when needed.
He is hitting X to doubt, so hard right now. There's no hiding those sorts of wounds and fatigue from a trained eye. He looks Shinjiro up and down, clearly examining him. ]
Which means this...
[ Retracting his offered hand to Shinjiro for but a few moments, the mage navigates the COMP on his wrist, and summons his contracted Pixie, who steadily flutters her wings beside him. He did plan for this sort of situation, having ordered Pixie to hold back earlier while he was still battling the Xiezhai alone, precisely to squirrel away enough SP for a Dia in case it was ever needed. And now the time has come for some post-fight patching up, except the recipient isn't Merlin. ]
...Is for you instead. Pixie, my friend both fair and fae, would you?
[ The Pixie spins around, giggling, then casts Dia, pixie dust interspersed with green light falling on Shinjiro. ]
no subject
[He's honestly out of sorts enough from the pain and exhaustion that he doesn't quite realize what Merlin's about to do before it happens, and the mage doesn't need to be skimming thoughts to catch the note of genuine surprise in his features when it comes. He hadn't actually thought about it when he'd thrown himself into the fray, having reacted more out of instinct than anything--and so he feels a little embarrassed at the consideration being shown here.
Wasted on a dying man, perhaps, but he still has some unfinished business to return to, so it's appreciated all the same. The damage from the gunshot wounds is a bit too extensive for minor healing spells to resolve, of course, especially since he's been aggravating them all day, but there's a noticeable improvement in the wheezing and the pallor of his skin, and he seems overall less like he's a stiff breeze away from collapse.]
....You didn't have to do that. [...] Thanks.
[There's another moment of silence that hangs, uncomfortably, as he tries to decide what to do next. Normally, he'd just leave and have this moment simply be something to never speak of again, like he would if this were Iwatodai. But instead ... if he actually wants to be able to get back and sort out those last affairs, he'll have to work together with the others in this situation.
A little awkwardly, he asks:]
What's your name?
no subject
Call me Caster, or Mister Mystery (Mister M, for short). Take your pick; I'm not fussy.
[ The Pixie disappears, having done her job. ]
Of course I had to give you a little something in return. I mean, you did take a wallop there, from both the demon and me [ He points at the staff, still in Shinjiro's hands. ], so it was only fair.
[ He shoots Shinjiro a smile, completely unapologetic about knocking him aside earlier. It was to save him from being mauled, so it's a-okay in his books. ]
no subject
How's just M, then?
["Mister Mystery" sounds incredibly dumb to Shinjiro's ears, and despite all the brooding, he is still enough of a teenage brat not to want to entertain it, and well...similar to Merlin's own Castor/Caster doubletake before, Shinjiro's instinctively shying away from that one.]
Didn't do much, really. Woulda just been in your way without this thing.
[Yes, he could've simply walked away rather than risk his own skin getting into the fight, but he is sir not acknowledging that. Don't worry about it.]
Anyway, name's Aragaki.
no subject
Aragaki. Good to know the name of my...
[ ......
The man pauses, and notably at that, fishing for the correct word. He. He can't call him something like "savior", because Shinjiro's first move at the outset was. Well. It didn't work. ]
...helper. [ Yeah! That'll do! ] I admit, I don't know what you were trying to do there before, but you did help, so all's well that ends well, don't you think?
no subject
Long story short, I...got a power that would've been useful back there. But let's just say I ain't surprised that it crapped out when I actually needed it.
[Castor has caused him nothing but grief over the past two years, why should he expect it would break that record now!! smh]
But sure, things did work out I guess.
[Neither of them died, which was hardly a foregone conclusion back there. So he'll take it.]
no subject
Unless Shinji holds onto his staff and essentially steals itMerlin moves to take his staff back, to sheathe his sword by sticking it back in the built-in scabbard of sorts intertwined within the staff used to hold it. ]What kind of power? You can't just drop a juicy tidbit like that and not elaborate.
[ He'll play the Castor card if he has to. ]
no subject
[And it'll make him sound like a crazy person? There's a reason SEES keeps it secret, after all.]
no subject
[ Also, there are literally demons all around them. Right now. As far as he's concerned, the bar for crazy has been set so, so very high (for most other normal people) already. ]
no subject
...Fine. Basically I can summon a monster from my soul to fight? He can dish out a lotta damage and take a lot too, so I tried to bring him out earlier. But he's kind of an asshole and doesn't always do what I ask anyway, so. Better not to count on him in general.
[Honestly, if he can't come out at all, it's safer than not being able to control a rampage if it happens. He'd rather be useless than actively dangerous.]
no subject
I see. So that's what that "Castor" earlier was about. One of the twins Gemini, if I'm not mistaken?
[ ...... ]
If it's summoned from your soul, it's not the real thing, is it?
[
Like. Does he have to prepare himself for an angry twink with a surprisingly deep voice popping out, if the day comes when Shinji can use that particular ability again and does so?It's not as if he has the power of an actual Greek mythological figure tied to his soul, is it? ]no subject
What do you mean, the "real thing"?
[This guy cannot possibly be implying that the figures from Greek mythology are in fact literal entities that exist in the world, right. Right??]
...All I know is when he awakened inside me, that's what he said his name was, and that he's supposed to be some kind of representation of my soul.
[I am thou, thou art I and all that good stuff.]
no subject
[ Representation of the soul, not the "real deal", in other words, more like a power that "merely" takes on the form of a Greek mythological figure, clad in the armor of human history and belief. Merlin lets out a "mm" and nod of understanding.
Oh man, he's getting a weird look. Right, yeah, Age of Man and probably not a mage. ]
Oh, I merely wanted some clarification. [ With a hand, he points to the Xiezhai corpse nearby. Then points to some other demon corpse, some distance away. ] Especially considering the circumstances.
I figured that since beings of myth and folklore such as faeries and magical beasts are popping up here, the possibility of some of the bigger players being able to pop up like so isn't out of the question either.
[ Like Shinji's already contracted to a very powerful demon (of sorts), or something. ]