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.

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( 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

[partymagician]

[ He folds up a t-shirt, nice and neat. ]

I've never been to a school before. I assume this isn't what it's like, though.

[ Do they partner people up for teams? ]

[selfconcept]

There are schools for many different purposes. I'm sure this kind of thing fits the bill in one of them.

[ He won't deny the existence of such schooling, because hello, they're in one right now. ]

School isn't great anyway, regardless of which one you go to.

[partymagician]

[ He finally turns to look back and up at Hien. ]

Really? I always wanted to attend one.

[selfconcept]

And a finger on the monkey paw curls...

[ Sorry for your kinda sorta wish, Fai. ]

You really are a nerd, nerd.

[partymagician]

Well... I can't deny that.

[ He practically devoured the entire library at the castle as a child, so. ]

Still, the school experience would have been nice.

[ You know, mentors and all that. ]

[selfconcept]

You just really wanna learn no matter what, huh?

[ He stares at Fai a little too long before deciding: ]

You look light enough. Can you step on me?

[partymagician]

[ He knows why Hien is asking, but that still doesn't stop the following from leaving his mouth— ]

Shouldn't you buy me dinner first before asking me something like that?

[ Anyway. ]

You want to see if I'll feel it too, don't you?

[selfconcept]

I don't have any money.

[ ...

Fai's second statement is a little more difficult to process, funnily enough. ]

What are you talking about? I just want you to step on my back. It's been hurting like hell all day.

[partymagician]

That's because...

[ He stands up and walks over to Hien, pinching his own arm. That is something he should definitely feel. ]

As for how I know? I felt that.

[ Fai pokes Hien on the forehead, right next to the little spot of blood. ]

I've been having strange phantom pains today. It felt like something bit my wrist, like a rock hit my forehead, and like I'd been kicked in the shin. When I heard we'd been placed into teams, I wondered if that was connected.

[selfconcept]

... Oh.

[ Yeah. Just "oh". That makes sense. After all, it's not like Fai was around when he got bitted and kicked by Mae or when Hien was too lazy to dodge the pebble to his forehead.

So obviously, the only thing left to do is pinch his own cheek and pull it to the point of pain. ]

[partymagician]

[ He rubs his cheek. There's still a slight smile on his face despite the pain. ]

Ow! What's that for?

[selfconcept]

[ He lets go of his own cheek and starts gradually biting down on his own tongue pretty hard (not enough to bleed but still painful), but makes sure Fai doesn't see what he's doing by hiding his own face with the pillow. ]

[partymagician]

[ That hurts. Fai stares at Hien for a long moment, trying to figure out what to do before he grabs the pillow to wrench it from Hien's grasp. It's his now. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Fai's not giving any indication of his tongue hurting, so he's not sure if he feels it. However, Fai will have a hard time taking the pillow away, because Hien has a very tight grip on it. He bites his own tongue harder. ]

[partymagician]

Are you trying to make your tongue bleed?

[ He continues to try to take the pillow. Stop biting your tongue!!! ]

[selfconcept]

[ So he knows. Hien stops biting his own tongue because that was painful and just like his profile said, he hates physical pain.

He's still clinging onto the pillow though. ]

If you take my pillow away, you have to provide me with a substitute.

[partymagician]

With another pillow? That defeats the purpose.

[ But he keeps trying to take it anyway. ]

Don't you hate physical pain?

[selfconcept]

[ He's not answering that last question. ]

Why are you tryna take my pillow away...

[partymagician]

Payback for all of the pain you've made me feel.

[ Yes, he is ignoring the fact that he's the cause of the back pain. ]

[selfconcept]

Then aren't you the one who gave me stomach and back pain? Fuck. It felt like I was on period cramps or some shit. And I didn't intentionally make you feel all that, but now I think I will.

[ He reaches up in an attempt to noogie Fai's head. ]

[partymagician]

[ He grits his teeth before trying to give Hien a noogie in return. ]

It was unavoidable pain.

[ Said with a smile. He doesn't regret his actions for once, even if it might kill him. ]

[selfconcept]

Every pain is avoidable--

[ He hisses in pain and tries to yank the pillow away from Fai while smacking his arm. ]

[partymagician]

[ It would have been avoidable in the sense that he'd feel another type of pain for not doing something.

Fai suddenly lets go of the pillow, ignoring the way Hien smacks his arm. ]

That's not true.

[selfconcept]

[ FINALLY. His pillow!! But his victory feels rather hollow as he looks at Fai. ]

Wanna give me the details on what you mean by that?

[partymagician]

[ He gives Hien a long look before finally smiling again. There isn't any harm in being somewhat honest, at least. It would keep other questions at bay. ]

I tried to prevent something and it backfired on me.

[ Some of that ebbing sadness Hien has surely been feeling surges before Fai manages to clamp down on it. ]