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]

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. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien stays on his bed with the pillow, holding onto it tightly as if it'll be the only thing in the world that will keep him safe. ]

Oh.

[ It's the little sadness that he feels from Fai that triggers his own. He also tried to prevent something and it backfired on him. The sadness he feels comes in droves, and it's pain similar to losing someone dear to you--someone you can call family. That sure is being broadcasted to Fai right now. ]

Forget it then.

[partymagician]

[ Fai has dealt with the pain of losing family so many times now, but it still nearly bowls him over, his chest clenching tight. It takes Fai a moment to compose himself before he stands up straight again.

He smiles at Hien, like he can't feel that pain right now. ]

Would you like some tea from the kitchen? It's not very good, but it is warm.

[selfconcept]

... Sure.

[ He has a feeling Fai wants to leave for a moment, which he can't really fault him for. Hien tries to stop feeling so sad, but it's hard, since the feelings were so raw. ]

Don't make it too sweet.

[partymagician]

[ The truth is that he wants to bring some comforting tea since he knows the feeling. ]

So, two spoons full of sugar instead of three. Got it.

[ He's joking to lighten the mood. Maybe. ]

[selfconcept]

Yeah.

[ Whether he's serious or not, who knows. He'll let Fai do whatever he wants, regardless of what he said though.

He'll wait for him. ]

[partymagician]

I'll be right back!

[ With that, Fai leaves. It takes him about as long as one would expect to walk to the kitchen, make tea, and come back. So maybe he wasn't using it as an excuse after all.

He barges right back into the room, only one cup in hand since carrying two was too complicated with the doors. ]

I'm back with tea~

[selfconcept]

[ Hien noticed the timeframe and he's surprised when Fai came back earlier than expected. ]

... Welcome back.

[ Despite the distortion and static, his voice seems much more gentle than before. ]

You can put mine on the desk.

[partymagician]

[ Fai notices the change and he hopes that means that the tea helped him forget about some of that sadness. He sets the mug on the desk. ]

Got it.

[ There are still some notebooks to put in his own desk, so Fai starts working on that next. ]

[selfconcept]

[ Hien eyes the notebooks while making his way to get the cup of tea Fai made. ]

You're pretty diligent, huh? If this was an actual normal school, you'd be all ready to go.

[partymagician]

[ Hmmm. That’s not it. Fai puts a pair of scissors on top of the desk. ]

They were free so I took them.

[selfconcept]

You're gonna make paper crafts with them?

[ Like origami?

... Please. He doesn't want Fai to be some sort of scissors wielding maniac. ]

[partymagician]

Something like that!

[ But he won’t say what, not as he organizes the different pens, pencils, and markers. ]

Like I said, I grabbed whatever I liked because it was free.

[selfconcept]

Hopefully, you won't have to stab me with those scissors.

[ He quietly takes a sip of the tea. ]

[partymagician]

Why would I do that?

[ Are you going to give him a reason??? ]

[selfconcept]

I dunno. I also don't know you.

[ He drinks the tea despite saying that... ]

[partymagician]

You have my profile. That should be a start, right?

[ He opens up one of the notebooks and starts doodling. ]

[selfconcept]

Yeah, but it honestly doesn't tell me much, like how it doesn't say much about me.

[ Hien doesn't seem to think of it as a big deal. It isn't to him, anyway. ]

It leaves a lot of glaring holes to fill.

[partymagician]

Whatever you say, Puppy.

[ Hien is actually right, but Fai doesn’t want to veer into the topic of whatever might be missing from those profiles. ]