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

[exofractured]

[Hien's technique is super effective! Also Phantom is entirely preoccupied with his argument and not inclined to notice anything. When Hien peers into the room he'll see two Phantoms each alike in dignity perfectly indistinguishable from each other. Face, expressions, clothing, mannerisms - perfect reflections.]

You don't know! Ix Nieves is dead. What you should be doing is creating a future for you and Mileena, not trying to revive an Ix from the past.

Mileena's never thought of me like that. And you know I care for Ix. If they can be happy together, then... then I...

You think you can fool yourself? I know your heart. Even more deeply than Marcus does as our mirrite.

[Both Phantoms are looking pretty agitated, the first a little angry, the second with his arms wrapped around himself as he frowns. Looks like a very personal argument.]

[selfconcept]

[ Phantom said something about this, didn't he... Hien squints, watching the two argue. The only thing he questions right now is that why are they wearing the same exact clothes??? ]

[exofractured]

[Wait until Hien finds out that thanks to Rays' "budget," Phantom has the exact same sprite for ages 10-25.

The argument continues more in the same vein - whether the angry Phantom really understands, whether said revival is ethical, what each of their motives are, with maybe a few highlights...]

All you're doing is trying to erase the past where you stabbed him!

[...Well. Now both Phantoms are angry, at least. Improvement?]

If you intend to interfere... I don't care if you're me. I won't forgive you.

Even so, I won't give up. In order to save you, I'll create a world where you can be saved. ...And I'll eliminate anything that gets in my way.

[They might be winding down now. Currently-angry-previously-worried Phantom is turning towards the door.]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien pokes his head out. Despite his earlier sneak tactics, he just blatantly asks him the one closer to him: ]

Are you done? Can I come out now?

[exofractured]

[Both Phantoms turn to look at him in surprise and alarm, Phantom-the-further reaching up to touch his monocle.]

You're rather shameless, for a spy.

[Nearer-Phantom resumes looking more worried than angry, his brow furrowing.]

Who are you? You shouldn't be here...

[selfconcept]

But I am.

[ He opens his arms as if he's creating a pseudo rainbow from them. ]

Surprise.

[ In the most deadpan voice ever. ]

[exofractured]

[Congrats to Hien, who has thoroughly managed to confound both of them with that gesture. The nearer one seems about to speak before there's the sound of footsteps in the corridor and: "Biqe?"

The Phantoms glance between each other, and slightly-more-angry one nods towards the door.]

I believe that's for you. I'll get to the bottom of this.

Ripa...

[But whoever is looking for him calls again, so not-Phantom-Phantom slides politely out of the thread, with a little worried frown at Hien in passing.]

So do you at least have an explanation to offer?

[selfconcept]

I'm a world traveler, so I ended up here. I'm also something like a god, and if you'd like me to demonstrate that, I will.

[ He's mostly just fucking around, but he's also very curious. ]

[exofractured]

[Phantom's eyes narrow a little, and the pretentious monocle-looking thing starts to glow a little.]

For such an absurd story, I would hope you can do that much.

[selfconcept]

Alright. Then answer me this.

What's your favorite color?

[exofractured]

[Villain-adjacent posturing is on hold for a few seconds of confusion.]

What?

[selfconcept]

What's your favorite color?

[ Say it. ]

[exofractured]

[Maybe rather than alarming, this guy is just... strange? Phantom grimaces, but the monocle stops glowing.]

Blue.

[He's lying, because honestly, what is this.]

[selfconcept]

Alright.

[ He pulls out a film reel from his hand, each film slot with moving pictures of Phantom's memories. He pinches the end of the reel, making it disintegrate into fine powder. This should force Phantom to forget what color he just said. (He'll put the memory back after this and won't do anything else to Phantom about it) ]

What did you say your favorite color was?

[exofractured]

[Phantom is watching this with fascination that dulls the skepticism for a moment, curiosity overriding suspicion. But--]

I...

[Oh. That's... an unpleasant feeling. His eyes narrow in suspicion, but he can piece together that he would have lied, so:]

Red.

[selfconcept]

You said blue.

[ Hien puts the memory back and the film reel disappears as a whole. ]

Believe me now?

[exofractured]

[Oh. Phantom doesn't like that one bit. He takes a moment to absorb everything that happened, his expression darkening as he reaches up for the monocle.

And then he pauses again.]

Interesting. So you can tamper with memories without remaking them whole. I'd hardly call that "godlike," but...

[HM.]

[selfconcept]

Do you want me to further demonstrate?

[ If it sounds like a threat, that's just his usual way of speaking. ]

[exofractured]

No. I want you to teach me.

[The maybe-threat just gets a little smile, this conversation is happening at a very normal level of intensity.]

[selfconcept]

Why should I?

[ He feels like bullying Phantom now. ]

[exofractured]

Why shouldn't you? Unless you'd like to admit what really brought you here.

[Phantom is perfectly happy to start escalating this to threats instead!]

[selfconcept]

My endless curiosity.

[ You don't scare him, Phantom!!

Also, that's not a lie if Phantom can sense that sort of thing. ]

[exofractured]

[Hien... why (affectionate!)]

Then I see no problem. You should be curious what I would do with that sort of power.

[selfconcept]

Not really. This power isn't meant for people with personal goals.

[ Rejected. ]

You wanna fight me for that right?

[exofractured]

Ridiculous. Everyone's goals are personal, ultimately. Even a self-proclaimed god's.

But I have no objections to taking that answer from you by force.

[Phantom lifts a hand and a circle under the two of them starts to glow. Barring interruptions, he's just going to teleport them somewhere more convenient for this.]