panopte: (Default)
panopte ([personal profile] panopte) wrote in [community profile] achates2024-09-17 10:10 am

[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!"

LOCATION
hot dog stand
STRENGTH
ice
WEAKNESS
fire
INFORMATION:
Jack Frost is a spirit originating from England who brings in cold weather during the winter and is responsible for the frost that forms on the windows of homes and buildings. Though it is usually friendly and innocent, it also has a mischievous personality and will freezes those it dislikes to death, smiling all the while.

SKILLS:
Mabufudyne: heavy ice damage (multi-target)
Megidolaon: mega almighty damage (multi-target)


NOTE: This demon is non-recruitable.

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.
kinglyheroics: <user name=104874334 site=pixiv.com> (39)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-03 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
What? No, that's not right. Ritsuka is the Master of Chaldea, and Hakuno is the Master of the Moon Cell. [The look he gives her is sharp, all thoughts that she might be joking fleeing from his mind. This is something more dangerous than that. Her memories were wrong.] We really do need Caster's help...

[He missed the flicker of scarlet in BB's eyes, his unthinking, unintentional jab at her flying over his own head as they awaited Merlin's arrival. Upon hearing his voice, Charlie leapt up and moved to the door, pushing it open and greeting the ancient mage with a smile.]

Caster! Man, I'm glad to see you, something really weird is going on! BB's lost her memory!
enflowers: (❃ 003)

[personal profile] enflowers 2024-10-04 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ Merlin greets Charlie with a courteous smile, stepping inside after having been invited in. He finally takes off the hood hiding his slightly-pointed ears (after looking around and closing the door behind him), the first opportunity he's gotten to do so in a while, it feels like.

His facial expression shifts to a more muted, neutral one. ]


Is that so? I was told it was the other way around.

[ Oh no. Did he step into a situation where there's two kids, each trying to tell Dad that the other one is lying? ]
devilishkouhai: (m56)

[personal profile] devilishkouhai 2024-10-04 12:24 am (UTC)(link)
Excuse me? The only one that has things out of order here is YOU, [ BB grumbles, looking over at Merlin, ] not that Merlin would even know who the heck the Moon Cell Grail winner was. Anyway, BB wants to let you know that Saber's memories are a bit out of whack because he thinks there is this "mysterious" unknown Master. That apparently, existed outside of Senpai(先輩) from Chaldea! Also, this all started because BB got an arm as a present, [ At this point, she, at least, presents the human arm on the table behind them both. ]
kinglyheroics: (4)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-04 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, it's definitely not me! Do you remember Ritsuka telling us any stories about all the times they were on the Moon? [Charlie is grumbling a little himself as he speaks to Merlin, before glancing back at the arm once again, feeling sick with the whole ordeal.]

That arm belongs to Hakuno - the Master from the Moon Cell. Our Master from the Moon Cell. Caster, I know you weren't there, but you've gotta know about them too, right?
enflowers: (❃ 063)

[personal profile] enflowers 2024-10-05 07:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ "Ritsuka". "Hakuno". Thanks to Charlie spelling it out, he now knows that "Ritsuka" is their shared Chaldean Master while "Hakuno" is the other mysterious Master from the Moon Cell. Unironically and silently, he thanks Charlie in his head for providing that piece of information that he lost. ]

...My eyes can only witness the present, so BB is correct in that I wouldn't know anything about any fateful encounters you two may have had in other worlds or eras. I can't say I recall any instances of our Master heading to the Moon, of all places, either.

[ Seraphix is Seraphix, the Moon Cell itself is the Moon Cell itself. Merlin turns his gaze toward the human arm on the table. He takes a couple of steps, right toward the arm, and bends over a tad. The fact that it's been separated from its original owner doesn't bother him in the slightest, nor is he too surprised that BB got a whole human arm as a present from a demon (probably) in the first place.

The mage then frowns, turning on the screen of his COMP to use as a light source of sorts, then uses it to examine the arm even closer as he speaks. If BB or Charlie missed anything on their first cursory examination of the arm, he couldn't blame them in the slightest given the absolutely dismal weather and poor amount of sunlight today dashing any hopes of enough natural lighting for proper examination. ]


But... We're still talking about Masters, yes? So there's something all of us here should be familiar with.

[ ...Merlin narrows his eyes when the light reaches the back of the hand, and stops to gently stretch the skin for a better look. He then steps to the side to allow the other two Servants to get a better look, while continuing to shine the COMP's light on the spot of interest.

As faint as the bruise-like traces may be from time elapsed, slight decay, and lack of blood flow, Command Spells are still integrated with the bearer's Magic Circuits, not unlike a human's nerves...and he can't recall seeing ones like these. ]


...This was indeed a Master's arm.
devilishkouhai: (m76)

god i love this all so much lmfao

[personal profile] devilishkouhai 2024-10-05 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The absolute viceral annoyance she finds with this situation of the others knowing something she does not. Makes her blood churn and boil; ]

It doesn't mean that this is anyone, [ Anger, ] any of us know, and likely is just another master who died to the situation at hand.

Besides, whos to say that your memory isn't the one faulty here, [ BB spits back towards Charlie and slams her fist against the table. Feeling her chest begin to beat wildly inside of her. Finding the adrenaline pumping through her entire body, making her feel as if she needs to tear him apart - it's his fault, make him shut the fuck up! ] and you are misunderstanding something?

The Moon Cell Grail war was won by Ritsuka themself - you don't think that I would remember the one person who gave me the reason and will to live? [ Her voice breaks slightly, annoyed with Charlie trying to imply to her that she would EVER forget that persons name. Their face - their everything! Yet even as she is talking, there is this sense of doubt as if something is telling her - he is right, and she is wrong. That sense of doubt gnaws at her and makes her continuously act out. ] As if I'd believe a deadbeat servant that isn't even real? You of all people should get that, [ HIM, of all people who she thought maybe could understand her. ] so why the hell are you lying to me?
Edited (MY TYPOS) 2024-10-05 18:58 (UTC)
kinglyheroics: (7)

the TM Drama TM

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-06 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
...I recognise those Command Spells.

[He can't tell if BB's absolute refusal is meant to hurt him or simply throw doubt onto something he knows for certain, but it doesn't matter. He would never forget those Command Spells - and so it's distressing that someone with even more reason to remember has forgotten.]

Caster. Those belong to Hakuno Kishinami, my Master from the Moon Cell. I fought with them for seven days, and I know this is their arm. [He finally turns to BB, and this time he's actually frowning, her barbed comments drawing his ire even with his concern over her memories.] Because I remember them both! Hakuno and Ritsuka!

[The blow towards his nature as an unreal fantasy stings, and it's hard to keep from lashing out right away - so hard that even when he does speak, there's still some bitterness to it.]

At least I can still remember them! They gave me the chance to exist, they're the whole reason I'm here now! Whatever has happened to your memory, I can't believe you'd forget them!
enflowers: (❃ 070)

[personal profile] enflowers 2024-10-08 06:24 am (UTC)(link)
[ Please...........it has been literally one (1) day and the Chaldea contingent is already falling apart.......all because of this "Hakuno". Merlin would be impressed about just how quickly things are falling apart in record time, almost amused, if it weren't for the fact that he was caught right in the thick of it, instead of being an outside observer to the mess.

The mage breathes in, then out, his next words spoken in a firm, stern voice, the one he uses to deliver prophecies and command the attention of the king's court. Here's to hoping it works. ]


I understand that this is a heated subject for the both of you, but it would also be in both your best interests to take a moment to calm down, lest either of you say something or act in a way that you'll regret later.

[ He is not singling either one of them out, or assigning blame, or finding fault, or calling either of them a liar, merely requesting that they take a deep breath before continuing. He understands that much, at least, that this arm belonged to someone deeply important to at least one of them. That the two Servants from the Moon Cell are lashing out at each other because of some form of love—deep care for another. What a scary thing.

BB, STOP PROVOKING YOUR BROTHER. CHARLIE, STOP ARGUING WITH YOUR SISTER. MERLIN HAS NO CAR TO THREATEN TO TURN AROUND. ]


...And I, for one, will admit that I know for a fact that my own memory has been tampered with, because I don't remember who our Master, the last Master of humanity, is.

[ He has little issue with admitting that much, if mostly in hopes of diverting their attention from their current infighting and toward what he thinks is a more pressing problem at hand: it's possible that everyone has had aspects of their memory tampered with in some way. That it's not a matter of importance, or a personal failing, a lapse in devotion or attention. ]
devilishkouhai: (c2)

[personal profile] devilishkouhai 2024-10-08 04:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Unfortunately Merlins attempt at justifibly settling the matters between them, do nothing but feed her anger more. His comment means that it is entirely possible that she has forgotten someone, and that something is wrong with her database. This cements the ugliness of Charlemagne's words, and she immediately lunges from the other side of the table or wherever she was.

By every means, wanting to choke the other, claw his eyes out, end him where he stands. There is this sense of desperation to her that he has truly outdone himself this time, and the anger within her is so volatile she herself can't contain it. Something of which, if she were truly an AI, BB would be able to ignore easily. Letting it instead sit there boiling until she truly could just kill Charlemagne where he stood. However, not when she is an emotional wreck, burdened with the body of flesh.

No words come to her mouth; she just moves to try to body him with her tiny frame and the ferocity of a hissing cat. ]
kinglyheroics: (54)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-10-09 07:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Despite the fact that their powers and abilities had been sealed away, there were a few major differences between the two — Charlie was taller, broader, and a trained fighter even without his powers. Every movement he made felt painfully sluggish, every thought and reaction unbearably clumsy, but he was still able to react to BB's sudden attack.]

Hey, cut it out—!

[He sidestepped her lunge and grabbed her arm, forcing it behind her back as he shoved her forward towards the wall of the cabin. In the same motion, he grabbed her other arm, pinning both behind her back and keeping her pressed against the cabin wall with his shoulder. It was strange to be doing something like this to BB, but without their powers they were left as mere humans.]

Calm down!
enflowers: (❃ 025)

[personal profile] enflowers 2024-10-12 06:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Welp, wizard mode didn't work, so it looks like it's time for dad mode instead.

Merlin watches as Charlie neatly sidesteps BB's lunge and pins her to the wall, both arms behind her back, lets out a sigh, and then lets his staff rest against the table before stepping closer.

He doesn't know what happened between the two on the Moon Cell, doesn't know why BB gets into a tizzy (understatement) at the king's mere presence, but surmises that it has something to do with this "Hakuno" that Charlie mentioned. Either way, they can't have this continue on for any longer than it has already. ]


You might have to allow me to take over for this.

[ For whatever reason, the King of the Franks is setting BB off, so having him be the one to restrain her to cool her off might have the opposite effect instead. Should Charlemagne let him, Merlin will try to take over for him and wrap his arms underneath BB's, hoisting her up a bit above the ground, allowing her some more movement for her limbs, but still sturdily restrained. It's fine, probably. He's got experience wrangling Artoria. ]
devilishkouhai: (BBD3)

[personal profile] devilishkouhai 2024-10-17 02:03 am (UTC)(link)
[ It was good that Merlin stepped in because BB was about to just spit in Charlemagne's face. In fact, she even attempts to, missing all the while as she stares at him with an aggressive over overbearing look that really details the loathing hatred she has of him right now. The audacity, that he has to tell her of all people that her memory is wrong and that she has forgotten the one person that means so much to her. Burns at her insides in such a violent way that she doesn't care who she is, what she stands for, or the fact that she is meant to be the Moon Cells' effective chosen progenitor. ]

...

[ There's a look on her face that is directed at Charlie, I will kill you. A look that immediately leaves as the quiet moment passes between them, and she turns her head away from him. Attempting to get out of Merlin's hold. ]

Get your hands off me; [ She means Merlin; she casts him a gaze filled with equal disdain. ] you perverted freak.
kinglyheroics: (58)

[personal profile] kinglyheroics 2024-11-17 06:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[He doesn't get it. He really doesn't get it. Sure, he can understand why BB would be so upset by him saying something that minimized her relationship with her senpai, but he hadn't. Something was very wrong with her memory, and he had no idea how to go about fixing that, especially not if she was going to attack him whenever he brought it up. Merlin's intervention is something he's grateful for, but still concerned that it was needed in the first place.]

Thanks, Caster...

[He frowns as BB glares at him, the killing intent in her gaze clear as crystal, but it's just a moment. When she breaks their eye contact, Charlie looks away too.]

You can let her go. It's fine now, I think...
enflowers: (❃ 045)

[personal profile] enflowers 2024-11-17 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The demand about him being a perverted freak who should get his hands off fo BB would normally be met with a glib comment about how the women he's (literally) held before would've demanded otherwise, but not now. Not in this sort of situation, not in circumstances like these, not in front of a king, and not in front of an entity spawned from love itself.

After a moment of silence, Merlin lets go of BB, keeping an eye on her—her and Charlie, really—to see what she'll do next. They're both not looking at each other, eye contact broken, so it's safe to say they probably don't want anything to do with each other for now. If she does try to make another swipe though, he readies himself to intercept once more, as much as Charlie might not need it. ]
devilishkouhai: (c64)

BB: PEACE OUT11!

[personal profile] devilishkouhai 2024-11-20 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ BB nearly throws herself away, and uses her arms to toss Merlin's hands off of herself. She then steps away from both of them, completely still irritable and mad; feelings don't go away immediately like she is used to. Eventually, she turns to them one last time. Giving the both of them the most adorable smile and saying: ]

I hope you both die ~ ♡!


[ That was that, and she then stomps away. Slamming the front door from which she came. ]