04 - week four

[afflictionmods]

WEEK FOUR

Saturday comes to a close, and it’s time for some rest and recovery. Perhaps the TLC you deserve will come this week, or perhaps the nightmare will continue. It’s hard to say with things being so strange around you, from Wei Wuxian’s disappearance to the sudden addition of objects and places and creatures from your homes. Who knows what this week will bring? Nothing ordinary, that’s for sure.

You wake up on Sunday to an increase in those little glimpses you saw yesterday. What were snippets of songs, locations that might’ve seemed familiar, and creatures that were dormant, are now all alive and whole. When you go to the karaoke bar, the songs you once knew are there. Monsters and animals are alive and sentient. New business are abound. Vehicles are operable, and perhaps some of your old belongings are back, too.

However, some of these things aren’t even things that should exist outside of your dreams. They may be far too strange and unusual to be real, or just things you don't remember ever seeing. The only thing you remember about these things in particular is that they were, quite literally, in your dreams this week.

That being said, every few hours, all of these things from your homes and dreams fade out and get replaced by new sounds, places, beasts….only to maybe come back again at another time.

Well. At least there's one constant here: You’ve got a handful of new locations to look at, with the fog having spread once more, and they aren't going anywhere. There aren’t as many new places that are native to Estelline this time around, but that may be for the best, considering everything going on.


SETTING TRACKER

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

NEWSPAPER SUBMISSIONS + EDITION #1

SAGE / FLORENCE / LORELEI

MEM SHARE DETAILS

OOC NOTE

OOC: Details on this week can be found here!

Also, we have a lot of participants for the news activity from last week. Neat! Everyone who participated in some capacity will have a small polaroid camera delivered to their doorstep. There's limited film, though - 10 photos per camera. It doesn't seem like there's any extra film at this time, either.

Finally, there will not be any weekly tasks this week. You guys are going to be busy with memshare and dreamscape stuff; instead, enjoy the Estelline University Newspaper!

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[selfconcept]

i. cw may include: body horror, vore-like elements, mental torture, your character has a very high chance of getting swallowed whole

[ Everything is black.

Yet without an obvious light source, you can clearly see everything in the midst of all the blackness, such as a man with black hair and green eyes watching amusingly at the spectacle before him: a seven feet tall dark, wispy monster that definitely resembles some sort of bipedal beast. Its form is unclear due to the wisps that keep coming off it.

And in front of it is a pretty-looking marble that is the size of a person's head. It reflects many passing scenes that are easy to catch: scenes of nature, people happily talking to each other, and the like. The monster stands before it like a kid in a marshmallow test--hungry, the desire to eat it, but with enough "conviction" that it doesn't want to.

The man sees you, and his smile never comes off his face, though it's very much more like a sneer. It's hardly welcoming, but he welcomes you all the same.

"It looks like we have a guest in the void. Say hello, dear."

The monster roars. ]

ii. cw may include: blood, murder, hallucinations, suicidal ideations, attempted suicide

[ The portal near the tent in the courtyard leads you to a rather quiet place--a neighborhood full of townhomes on a snowy day. There are several things that stick out: a white tent in the driveway of a scorched townhome, presumably having burned down a long, long time ago, but no one having demolished it just yet.

There's someone who wears black shirt, black pants, a cloak without a hood that ends mid-thigh, and a white mask with two small eyeholes and no mouth--that person is seen exiting a tent, but then stops when he sees you. He says nothing, but definitely seems to be on guard. ]

iii. cw may include: blood, murder, stalking

[ The portal near the lecture hall will lead you to another university campus, but this one is much bigger and you're in front of a pretty large building with many windows. The nearby sign dictates that it's the library, for those who can read English. It's nighttime, and the scenery before you seems peaceful: it's a wide stretch of grass where students would usually sunbathe with towels out if it was daytime. There are one or two people walking across it to get back to their dorms and whatnot. There's even a fountain with three dolphins protruding out and someone shoves another into it. They both laugh.

But then there's a boy, 20-years old, who walks up to you after he comes down the stone stairs. His hair is a mix of orange, brown and black, due to his orange hair dye fading and his black hair growing out. His face looks a tad familiar to Hien's, except this guy's eyes are just black and he seems very cheery. ]

Hey! Sorry to keep you waiting. The ballroom should be close, so let's get over there before they tell us to buy drinks or something.

[ Yes, he's referring to you. He even takes your hand and starts leading you there. ]

iv. this is the one you want if you want absolutely no trauma dumping at all

[ When you arrive, you're at a school playground. The campus is much smaller and you seem to be the only humanoid here. There are small animals everywhere: birds, puppies, kittens, squirrels, and much more. Some of them suddenly crowd around you.

"It's a human!"
"A human? I wanna see!"

Welcome to the elementary school for talking baby animals. ]

v. wildcard

[ If you want a different scenario, hit me up. I can write more!! I can also do threads that aren't memshare. These memshares will be throughout Thursday to Saturday. If you choose prompt 3, endearments will be replying to you. ]

ii leggo

[partymagician]

[ Fai immediately recognizes the tent, so it’s easy enough for him to decide to step through the portal. He stares at the burned down home, wondering why it was never demolished. It looks like it’s been in this state for quite a while…

As he’s pondering that, he spots Hien out of the corner of his eye. ]

Ah… [ He knows that Hien will remember this, so whatever he does here is important. He’s also well aware that his magic is actually active here, and that Hien can most likely sense it, so it’s doubly important that he doesn’t mess up. ] Hey.

[ Nailed it. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien stays wary and his body language clearly shows that from how rigid he seems. ]

We don't want whatever you're selling. Please leave.

[ Nothing personal, but he doesn't want anyone coming near this tent. But hey, there's no distortion nor static in his voice. His voice is clear. ]

iii?!

[cloudalike]

[ Chongyun never thought he'd be attending any universities, but here he is, getting pulled into two campuses against his will. It's the disorientation of yet another new place and the heady pain lingering from Wednesday's event that lets this stranger pull him along for a bit. ]

Wha - why would we have to buy drinks?

[endearments]

Because if we're making them wait, they should be compensated, right? At least, that's how they put it... I think they just want someone else to buy the sodas and haul them all over.

[ He laughs a little. ]

Oh, by the way! I'm Hyunjung. They told me that someone was coming for me to pick them up, but they couldn't even give me a description...

[ He sighs. Hyunjung sure shows his emotions very outwardly and obviously. ]

Anyway, what's yours? I'm sure I'll get to know you a lot better once he keep practicing and stuff together.

iii

[vedr]

Eh? Alright...

[ He won't mind being tugged along, probably! He looks around but is doing his best to not be dead weight. ]

What's in the ballroom?

[endearments]

Huh? It's just a ballroom. You've never been in one? It's the usual stuff—

[ Actually, that makes him pause. ]

Ah, wait. Sorry! I mean... it doesn't have much in it. We usually shove all the chairs and tables to the side so that we can space to practice!

[ The trip isn't that long either, since it's a few minute walk from the library and up a flight of stairs from the outside. ]

What kind of dances are you good at?

ii

[undertakings]

[When he gets sucked into the portal, there's a part of him that distantly wonders if perhaps he shouldn't have made that Narnia reference last week. But that thought is quickly forgotten when he finds himself standing in the middle of a street with a chilly breeze biting into his exposed skin. And while he's seen his fair share of frigid winters, he's dressed for spring right now as his uniform is being washed, so his top half is only covered by a thin t-shirt and a small, faded scarf tied around his neck.

Still, he can survive for a little while like this. He shoves whatever discomfort he feels from the cold out of the way and scans the surroundings, spying the tent and the masked man standing out in front of it. There's no one else in the vicinity at the moment, so Shin will step close enough so they can have a normal conversation at normal volume.]

Do you know where this is?

[selfconcept]

[ Shin finds a Narnia in the courtyard...

The masked man stands there, quiet. To him, Shin is a child. Seeing him cold out there like that... it concerns him. ]

... It's nowhere important.

[ It's Hien's voice without the distortion and static. ]

Do you wanna come in? You look cold... We have a fire stove and a blanket.

III

[herlocksholmes]

[Well! He just stepped in, and now he's being led to a ballroom. May as well follow along and see what the hubbub is all about]

I expect some sort of compensation for the wait, my good fellow.

[The similarities to Hien don't go unnoticed. They're not identical, but there's enough for Sholmes to notice. So this memory is his...most likely. Perhaps he's in the area?

But for now, he has to come along to the ballroom]

[endearments]

I'll buy you a drink from the Vending machine!

[ That should be good enough, right? Hyunjung continues to lead him to the ballroom. It doesn't take long to get there. ]

Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late—

[ "Hyunny... Why did you bring a teacher??" ]

Huh?

[ Hyunjung looks at Sholmes for a moment and then back at his friends. ]

Age doesn't matter when it comes to dancing! He's probably a pro at the windmill like you guys said!

ii

[festiverogue]

[Whatever or wherever this is, it looks bleak. And that may be putting it kindly. Madara is just nosing around where he doesn't belong until the person exits the tent.

That tent looks familiar, honestly. He's seen it around before now, while the weird dreamscapes were doing their thing, but he didn't bother whoever was in it or near it. Now he's going to find out, he supposes.

He puts his hands up at roughly chest height, palms facing the person, a gesture of harmless intentions.]

Sorry!

[selfconcept]

[ Despite the harmless intentions, the masked man still stands there. It's obvious that his body language shows that he's on guard. Maybe he's paranoid? Despite that, a boy with blond hair and right red and left blue eyes peeks out of the tent. He's about to say something, but once he sees Madara, he immediately withdraws into the tent like a turtle hiding into its shell. ]

... You're not from here.

[ It's Hien's voice without the usual distortion and static. ]

iv!

[cheerfuldays]

( i think it's time to swarm shizuku like a disney princess. which is to say, she finds herself quickly surrounded, eyes wide in surprise before she starts giggling, oh my god this is so good- )

Ehehe, hello!

[selfconcept]

[ "She's so pretty!"
"She smells nice too!"
"Pick me up! Pick me up!"

The baby animals crowd around Shizuku, some even jumping up to get her attention. There are even several small birds that perch on her shoulders. Despite the crowding, it's easy to see beyond it. There's a small, black, fluffy pomchi that stares at her as if it's looking over everyone else like a guardian. ]

i. gamers it's time to die

[ignihidden]

[The portals reminded him a bit more of the mirrors than anything else. The uncomfortable orbs of darkness? Terrible, scary. A 2D plane that seemed to lead into another place? That was everyday life at school. Seeing a glimpse of a figure that his brain instantly clicked as "Hien" only cemented the desire to step in.]

[It was probably a mistake, but, well.]

[In the darkness, Idia's struck with a multitude of feelings at once. The space is simultaneously cramped and yet otherworldly lonely. There is a weight pressing down inside of him that is comforting in how familiar it is. The flames of his hair seem to reach out to the darkness yet don't really cast a glow anywhere.]

[It's too strange to be reality. A dream? Another world he's managed to step into? There's something more important,]

... um, I'm looking for someone...

[his eyes dart between the man with the cruel expression and the eldritch being, neither one quite "right."]

... if he's not here, I'll just leave.

[Easier said than done?!]

press g for respects

[selfconcept]

[ Unfortunately for Idia, being here means getting the attention of the person with the cruel expression on his face.

"Oh, but you just got here. Why don't you stay for dinner?"

His smile only widens, forming into a sneer. The monster roars again, finally pulling itself away from the marble-like object and fully turns its attention to Idia. ]

ii

[exofractured]

[It's probably just as well Phantom dresses like it's not summer to begin with. Despite his sweater, he wraps his arms around himself more tightly to ward off the chill of the snow, looking around in disorientation. A neighborhood like this is strange enough to him even without the sight of the scorched building.

The tent is the only thing here that looks at all familiar. He gravitates towards it a little cautiously, recoiling a little in surprise when a masked man emerges. That's... unsettling. But so is being lost.]

Excuse me...

[selfconcept]

What is it?

[ He seems a little wary, but much less so when they first saw each other. If Phantom can sense things, he'll be able to tell that this person isn't human. Moreover, his voice sounds like Hien's without the static and distortion. ]

i

[totaltrashfire]

[Oh no. Oh hell no.

Mae doesn't recognize this monster, of course not - she's never seen it before. But it reminds her so much of him, the unknowing shape and the very real fact that it seems to want to swallow anything in its path.

Oh no. She's been here before and she'd rather not be here again. She knows he will likely inevitably kill her but she'd like some time before then.

She turns, trying to run.]

[selfconcept]

[ The man laughs.

"Where are you going? Why don't you stay for dinner?"

The monster finally pulls its attention away from the marble-like structure and turns to Mae's direction. No matter where Mae runs, everything is still black, yet she can still see the objects around her without any lighting.

Instead of the monster instantly running after Mae, it seems curious of Mae's existence and only walks at a decent speed. It doesn't seem hungry for her just yet... ]

i for some fun

[iubar]

[ At the scene, Ace seems more bothered by the man than the monster itself. Sure, he can sense the danger, but the presence around the man himself makes him feel off. His eyes fix on him, at first, rather than the monster. ]

What's going on here?

3;

[sicklysweet]

[Well, Owen sure can't ready English, so he has no idea what this building is. He wasn't expecting to end up here, but the familiar(ish) face approaching him...]

Hah?

[His hand is still cold as ice, even in a memory, and he tugs his hand free.]

I'm not going to any ballroom today.

[He doesn't even know who you are, kid.]

iii

[partymagician]

[ Fai has... no clue where he is, other than the knowing that he's on some sort of campus. Hm.

It's really a shame he can't read that sign, so he just waits around people-watching until someone walks up to him. Huh. This guy looks a little bit like Hien... Fai tilts his head slightly, smiling. ]

The ballroom?

iv puppy time

[partymagician]

[ Oh...

He really likes this memory already. Fai squats down so be closer to the baby animals. ]

Hello~