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

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Well, he can't say this is the strangest place he's ever woken up. Maybe they'd done redecorating in hell just for him? Anyway, he's dealing with a common symptom of not wearing clothes. No pockets. So the moment his eye opens in the classroom, wide as he tries (fails) to breathe before coughing. Once, twice, clack, his hacked up keycard scatters to the presumably hard ground. Seems like trash. So instead of retrieving it right away, he turns to sit on the desk like a tiny delinquent. His cute little cat-sized tablet gets yoinked into his hands with the appropriate sound effect. Yoink. Was everyone thinking now was a good idea to figure out flash photography? Because he seems to have that part down surprisingly fast. Just in time to be annoying.

If anyone catches him leaving the classroom and out into the courtyard, they will get first row seats to Luci straining before bending at the knees and making a very confident leap into the air. ]

Later, losers.

[ Said under his breath and Punctuated with a heh heh heh. Except his wings don't sprout like he expects and he falls on his face instead with a soft thump, muttering curses. Sorry Mae. He'll stand up eventually.

Eventually he'll end up everywhere, so wildcard away. Chomping on uncooked ramen, taking photos of everything, the usual. ]

uncooked ramen

[goodfaiths]

[ This is a strange looking cat. Like, really strange. But more importantly, it shouldn't be eating ramen? Is that even good for it...

Riku looks like he wants to get closer, and he's holding his hand out like he should probably smack it away from the cat, but he's not quite doing anything yet. Just kinda awkwardly hovering. ]

[totalcatastrophe]

Hey, get your own-- [ A sudden eye narrowed down at his food.... before tossing the whole ass seasoning packet into his mouth. ] whatever this stuff is.

[ But Luci doesn't move away or anything. Audibly swallowing, his eye moves to size up carrot top instead. A decision is made. ]

[goodfaiths]

[ I'm sorry, but another talking cat???

Sorry, Luci, but Riku is just gonna stare for a moment before: ]

Another one?!

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Returning that stare, chomp chomp. ]

Are talking cats really the weirdest thing about this place?

courtyard

[selfconcept]

[ After the kitty fiend has taken his picture of him sleeping... Some time after that, Hien goes to the courtyard, where he spots Luci faceplanting on the ground.

...

He'd normally laugh, but he thinks this is some weird cat, so he goes up to Luci with his weird eyes and voice. ]

Did you sprain your leg...?

[ And he tries to grab Luci's leg. Gently, of course. ]

[totalcatastrophe]

Nah.

[ A short pause, before he fakes a wince and slumps a little. What hurts is the loss of his wings. His leg is probably fine, but it's hard to tell with these infernal creatures, isn't it? ]

Maybe. What are you, a doctor?

[selfconcept]

Maybe.

[ A talking cat wouldn't be too weird, considering Hien usually...

...

Anyway. He just returns that word back at Luci and tries to give comforting pats on the head. Good kitty. ]

I can heal you. Probably.

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Considering where he's from, that's not really the most comforting answer but whatever. He's got a thing going here now.

... But it's not like those pats feel nice or anything! It's just more convenient not to move his head away. ]

Reassuring. Just don't try any leeches.

lecture hall

[cheerfuldays]

A kitty...?

( shizuku blinks, and she doesn't mean to stare but. ... well. what else could he be? oh nooo, and she doesn't have treats... wait a minute cats don't use tablets. or do they???? )

Ah, even you have one- so strange.

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Luci blinks back before relaxing. Sure, he can be a cat for her. She seems nice, but too bad his-- ]

Meow.

[ isn't that convincing. With a flash, he takes her photo without warning. ]

[cheerfuldays]

pfft- You're sweet, aren't you?

( it's not a convincing meow at all, but shizuku doesn't seem to mind- though, the sudden camera flash certainly has her jolt a little, eyes wide- before she leans over, almost giggling. )

Goodness! That surprised me. Did it come out okay, though?

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Sweet? That's almost offensive. But, okay, he gives a little heh heh of a laugh. ]

I dunno. Thought it'd steal your soul. Did it work?

[ Luci levels the tablet between them, so they can both look down at it easily. He really wasn't very careful aiming it, so she's probably off center and making whatever face she was making. Candid shots are the best. ]

Courtyard

[herlocksholmes]

[Sholmes watched this odd creature leap in the air and crash. Without missing a beat, he approaches and crouches, tapping his fingertips into the grass]

Your approach at attempting to dig into the ground is enthusiastic, little fella, yet sorely lacking.

[Nobody asked you, Sholmes]

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Luci, now standing and brushing off his fur, still probably looks up at Sholmes. The cat thing sounds friendly at least! ]

Hey big fella, this the first time you've touched some grass in a while, huh?

[herlocksholmes]

Why, that's true! It's not often I get to stop and smell the roses! Or touch grass as you affirm!

[It's such a genuinely literal response, and as if to emphasize that, Sholmes press his entire palm onto the grass]

Almost no grass grows in the streets of a metropolis such as London! And of course, I don't enjoy so much idleness I can take a stroll in the park.

[That's a lie, he could do it whenever he wants and for as long as he wants. He just doesn't, hah]

courtyard

[cloudalike]

[ Chongyun crouches to get a good look at this little fella. He doesn't think he's ever seen a cat fall before. Is this weird-looking cat alright in the head? ]

Poor thing. I wonder if you've injured yourself somehow...

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Luci is probably all right in the head. For a demon. Dramatically, he roles over onto his back, arms spread and tablet beside him somewhere who knows. ]

You didn't see any wings laying around, did you?

[cloudalike]

[ But. Cats. Don't. Talk.

Chongyun stares long and hard at this creature and then sighs. He gives up on figuring this out. All cats are persons and all persons are cats. Or something!!

But cats also don't have wings so what the hey. ]

... No... I can't say I have... seen any cat-wings lying about.

courtyard

[tosa]

(Can he come over and just... roll him over? Pick him up? Mutsunokami has no concept of space. )

Hey there. Ya gotta be more careful. Wouldn't wanna get hurt on your first day here...

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Sure, whatever, Luci is disgruntled enough not to care. He's furry, dead weight in Mutsu's hands. Light, but dead all the same. ]

You don't even know where here is.

[tosa]

(It's okay, Mutsu is strong and warm. He will pick Luci up, set him upright, and pat him on the head,)

Sure don't! (And he's not even ashamed,) But here we are all the same!

(Laughing,)

And no matter where ya are, 's kind of a smart idea to not hurt yourself. Y'know?

courtyard

[unsinksyourship]

Ha? Haha? I could have sworn I heard somebody try to leave by failing at jumping?

[........... There's absolutely no reason for Tamamori to sound as smug as he does; he's absolutely loitering in the courtyard and not like, at a loss as to which building to go into, or what they're for, or what anything is for around here. The current thing he knows is that he's seen a talking cat fall flat on its face and that's the funniest thing he's seen today, thank god.

He crouches a little and waves a hand at the flopped creature. He'll get around to poking if Luci doesn't get up fast enough.]

And what are you supposed to be?

[totalcatastrophe]

[ Grumble, grumble, Luci swats away the offending poke after a softer oof upon impact. Tamamori might notice there is a bit too much give into Luci's body, depending on the level of finger violence here. The cat thing is up now though, drawn to full height (and for a brief moment maybe a fraction taller until he settles). ]

Oh, just a demonic agent of chaos. [ Spoken so casually it's hard to tell if he's serious. ]
What's your excuse?

[unsinksyourship]

Hmmm. What a strange feeling -- it's almost like you really are chaos itself. Chaos in a cute mochi package...

[Instead of being put off by the strange consistency of the not-quite-cat, Tamamori leans in; maybe the casualness helps... or maybe it's a mistake, because it's only a moment before he reaches out to pinch the creature's cheeks (or wherever cheeks might be) and starts trying to stretch them out.




Sometimes you just have no thoughts in your head and thusly this is your reaction to demonic beings. It's fine.]

Why would I need an excuse? I am where I need to be right now.