00 - prologue

[afflictionmods]

PROLOGUE

It doesn't matter where you are or what you're doing – something strange begins to happen. There's a sudden burning sensation that wraps around your right wrist and part of your forearm. If you glance at the affected area, you'll find that it's...glowing.  The glow is pale blue, and it's so bright that it hurts to look at. The burn itself isn't so painful that you feel like keeling over just yet, but it does hurt nevertheless.

But before you have time to try to soothe the pain, you start to feel lightheaded, dizzy. Perhaps some of you may attribute this to any injuries you may currently be sustaining. For those who were previously unscathed, however, there's quite possibly no explanation for this other than the sudden appearance of the mysterious burn on your arm.

There is no time to mull it over, though, because it is the last thing that you see before the world suddenly fades to black.

-----

When you regain your senses, your vision is blurry; but when it starts to even out and you survey your surroundings, you find yourself sitting in a rather uncomfortable chair. Looking around you’ll see rows and rows of chairs, all facing the same way towards a desk, a podium, and an empty wall. A projector hangs from the ceiling and the lighting is bright and artificial... For some of you, it might be reminiscent of a college lecture hall. For others, you might have never seen anything like this before.

Your wrist, by the way, feels perfectly fine...though there’s now some kind of strange marking on it. It looks like a scar of some sort, and if you choose to touch it, it doesn’t feel inflamed or damaged in any way...but that doesn’t mean you don’t experience any pain. Perhaps the last thing some of you remember is a hard-fought battle, and the aches from your injuries still linger; some of you might not even remember getting hurt, and yet, your body aches like it has; for the lucky ones who feel fine, well. Pray that it lasts for a little while longer.

Because the moment someone gets hurt – emotionally or physically – there’s a small chance you’ll feel it, too. Where and who and what it’s coming from, though, is on you to figure out.

In front of you on the desk is some kind of device – a tablet, for those of you who are familiar. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be capable of doing much of anything right now, other than take photos and videos with the Camera app. There's also a translating app for those of you who need help reading some of the text around campus, as it is all in English. (Verbally, however, you can understand everyone in your own language. Tablets are also in characters' native languages.) It seems to be incredibly durable and hard to break, but you may want to be careful with it regardless.

Something shifts in your pocket (or...in your socks/shoe/what have you, if pockets aren't a thing) as you move around. Should you reach in and feel for it, you’ll find some kind of card – those who are familiar with modern technology will recognize that this is some kind of card you need to swipe. It has your name and a photo of you on one side, and the back of the card has the word "KEYCARD" on it.

There are also other people here, scattered throughout this mysterious classroom you’re in. In fact, there’re a bunch of you — 29 others, to be exact.

And now... you’re free to do whatever you want. Mostly anything, at least, given that once you step outside and explore, you’ll notice an ominous fog behind the various buildings within view. Still, this is a good time to get your bearings, check on what you have - and don’t have - and talk to the people around you until orientation starts.

-----

( OOC: Welcome to your Intro Log! The partner system is in effect for the Intro Log, meaning that yes, pain share is happening! For some notes regarding the partner system, your character will not know who their partner is upon arrival. It’s entirely possible that they find out now if their partner gets or is already injured, or if they can pick up on their mood. Otherwise, they’ll find out later today...!

Anyone who tries to leave campus grounds will have to enter through the fog, but no matter what, they will mysteriously wind up back onto campus grounds. And for clarification, the keycards are what characters need to gain access to their dorms!

Finally, we will have an NPC Reveal at 6pm EST today! )

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Comments

[iubar]

That's right, you're playing a bit unfair. [ but he grins. ] Bet I could still take you.

[vivens]

[ in a fight, right? ]

I'd say we could give it a shot but it would probably be bad idea.

[iubar]

[ :) ]

What do you mean? Things seem like they'd be more interesting here.

[vivens]

I mean that whatever you do to hurt me will also hurt yourself and vice versa.

[ unless ace is into that sort of thing...? ]

[iubar]

Hm... Yeah, it probably isn't ideal.

[ HE ISN'T. sabo seems more like he's into it with the other thread, okay. ]

[vivens]

[ it's because ace is being a bitch. ]

It also means be careful. No reckless stuff.

[iubar]

Get into fights, punch random things... Got it.

[ sabo's also a little bitch! ]

[vivens]

[ ]

Be serious here, Ace.

[iubar]

I'll try my best.

[ since... his temper. but also: ]

It's not like I'd want to hurt you after seeing you again.

[ it's not like i like you, b-baka ]

[vivens]

[ and yet between the two of them sabo's temper is actually the one you should be worried about. ]

It's the same for me. [ if not more because lmao. ] We're also no longer children who pick fights with just about anyone.

[ OR AT LEAST SABO DOESN'T... ]

[iubar]

Yeah, who would do that?

[ clearly he's innocent. he would never do something like that. ]

[vivens]

I wonder.

[ ace is far from innocent here. ]

[iubar]

[ he's a good boy who did nothing wrong every in his entire life.

but he lets out a small laugh. ]

Is there anything you think we should do now that we've got the important stuff out of the way?

[vivens]

[ we both know that's a lie.

sabo will barely scoot an inch closer as he thinks for a moment. ]

Did we get all of the important things out of the way?

[iubar]

[ no lies at all. ]

Honestly? Probably not.

[vivens]

Then I guess we should be glad that we might have a lot of time together to make sure we get it all said.

[ lmao. ]

[iubar]

[ them speaking honestly?? hm. ]

Here's hoping for that.

[vivens]

[ ...a bit more softly. ]

...and I want to help with any other lingering regrets.

[iubar]

[ he debates how he wants to answer this, finally settling on: ]

Mine or yours?

[vivens]

Does it have to be "or"?

[ surely they both have things. sabo especially here. ]

[iubar]

...No. I guess it doesn't.

[ they do have a lot of lost time to make up for, at the very least. ]

[vivens]

[ at least ten years. ]

And I don't think we should have to worry about who is going "first".

[iubar]

You're right about that.

[ it'll come in time, right? ]

[vivens]

[ ...

....

sure ace was never much of a touchy-feely sort of kid when they last really hung out, it was likely due to their age and in the environment that they grew up in. touch from others usually resulted in pain but, you know, as you grow up you learn that not everyone is out there to hurt you.

he'll close the gap and take a page out of luffy's book to give ace a hug. of course it won't be all limbs and will far more normal. there's nothing wrong with hugging after all!!! also sabo is still not crying.

and in a very quiet voice: ]

I've missed you Ace.

[ as if it needed to be said (again)... ]

[iubar]

[ that feeling of the hug surprises him at first. he didn't expect it, even with their proximity in the bed together. his eyes go wide, but he seems to relax into it fairly quickly.

he's still riding off the emotions of his death and reunion with sabo that this hits him very hard. but it's not a bad thing. it just aches so deep inside.

his face eases into a content smile and he brings on arm to wrap around sabo as well. ]

...

I've missed you, too, Sabo.