theafflicted | 00

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)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Maybe she won't recognize the usual fiction novels, but she might recognize other books like this hideous(?) math book he came across. He ends up shoving it into the fiction section. Math isn't real.

His weird checkered eyes stare at Shizuku for a bit as if gauging how much of a goody two shoes she is. ]

( oh--?? shizuku blinks, eyes wide for a moment... before she bursts into giggles. maybe too many giggles for such a simple joke, but when you need a laugh, you need a laugh. )

That's so-

( whatever she wants to say, she can't find the word. but she's smiling, at least- after an afternoon of anxiety and confusion, that's rather nice. )

[ With her reaction, Hien mentally notes that she's actually pretty alright. After seeing some cheery people today, it's nice to see someone who seems more... normal when it comes to being emotionally inclined. He kinda doesn't want to ruin it with his voice, so he stays quiet, even though his weird eyes are just There.

So he just takes his finger and puts it to the corner of his own lips. A smile suits her, while this sort of forced display of a smile on Hien, is not. ]

( oh- was he trying to cheer her up? or just taking advantage of the opportunity that his normal actions permitted? well, she doesn't know, but shizuku gives him a warm smile, nodding. )

Ehe, thank you. ... I take it you're not one for math?

[ It's most likely the latter, but he can also agree for the former, because cheering her up sounds like a good idea.

He shakes his head no. He hates math, especially if it's more complicated. He even stares at the math textbook disapprovingly before he casts a more normal gaze on Shizuku. He finally opens his mouth. Time to take risks with his distorted voice full of static that sounds like garbled radio-- ]

'm not the scholar type.

[ Even if he knows many things, only because time allowed him to. ]

( HUH??? shizuku's momentarily shocked- before immediately she frowns, leaning forward a bit- )

Were you hurt? Maybe some tea and honey could help. You don't have to force yourself to talk, it's alright.

( because yes, that's the reasonable assumption to make... though, given that three of her friends have very mechanized voices, maybe it's not too far-fetched for her. )

[ Well. Yes. It's a very reasonable assumption to make. He's assuming she glossed over his weird checkerboard-pattern eyes from contacts too, and honestly, he doesn't feel like correcting her if that's even the case. ]

'm fine. I was born this way.

[ Is that a reasonable thing to say? Maybe. There have been all sorts of conditions, so it's not like Hien can deny it. ]

Oh...

( maybe he was a virtual singer, but one of the ones pitched oddly? they weren't considered official, but they were just as important...

well, it would suit him, she thinks. miku and rin and luka did so much for her when she was down, too. )

I see. I'm sorry, that must have been embarrassing... but, um. What do you like then?

It's fine. I'm not embarrassed. As for what I like... I guess it would be physical education. You know, running around outside and stuff.

[ No study, all play. ]

That does sound nice. Maybe there's a field somewhere... the courtyard is lovely, but it's really not good for that sort of thing.

You know what this environment is perfect for? Parkour.

[ Is that mischief brewing? Yeah. ]

( parkour...? oh, like those videos! )

Do you do that a lot? It always looks so exciting to watch, but I don't think it's something I could do.

It's probably one of the longer running hobbies I have.

[ Despite being Very Old. ]

It's a challenge and it's freeing. Best of both. As long as you can lift yourself up from a ledge, that's half the battle.

How fun!

( though. she doesn't think it's her cup of tea, honestly. but she'll support him!! )

[ He honestly can't imagine Shizuku doing parkour. She seems... too dainty for that.

Though he suddenly thinks of something. ]

Is there anyone here that you recognize? ... Though, I guess you'd probably be with them if you did.

No, no one I know at all... I'm not sure if that'd make me relax or not, though.

( if her little sister were here, she's not sure what she'd do. )

What about you...?

[ Hien shakes his head no. ]

If those kinds of people were here, I think... there would be big trouble.

[ And murder. On Day 1. ]

Oh... I'm sorry to hear that.

( it sounds rough- enough so that shizuku certainly doesn't want to pry. and... lonely. )

I hope that when we get out of here, trouble won't be waiting for you.

[ Hien slowly blinks, staring at Shizuku for a moment before reaching out to gently pat her head. ]

Worry more about yourself. I'll be fine... but thanks for your concern anyway.

I can't help it. That's just the way I am.

( though, it's hard to look so assured when she's trying not to beam at headpats... after her growth spurt, almost no one did this for her anymore. )

[ Hien has a feeling that she likes the headpats, so he continues. He does his best not to ruin her hair too much though. ]

Yeah. I understand. I'm the same way.

[ He withdraws his hand. ]

Speaking of which, I need to go look for someone. I'll see you later. Don't tell anyone about the misplacement, okay?

[ It's a joke. He doesn't really care for it in the end. ]

Oh- of course, I hope you can find them.

( and then shizuku giggles, almost conspiratorially- but she's too much of a good girl for that, right? )

Of course not.

00 - prologue

bookstore

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i missed this i'm so sorry

pats, ur okay!!!