{ event 7 } A▒ E█SI▓Y ░▒▓25░9.▒░█

[expiationmods]

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY

March 11. The sun is shining, streaming in perfect sunbeams through uncovered windows. Birds and animals twitter outside, basking in trees that are verdant green and full of life. Outside, the town begins to wake, stirring to life with the sounds of ordinary everyday happenings. Footsteps, carts rolling down the road, the distant sound of friendly neighbors greeting each other.

And you–you have lived here your whole life. Or maybe you’re a visitor to this fine town. Either way, you’re a neighbor here, too.

Aldrip is having another beautiful day.

i. OUR TOWN

The town square is a bustling place to be for locals, and this week is no exception. Aldrip is a vibrant swell of activity: stores, stalls, and stands all open their doors precisely on time, welcoming the new day. Things are quiet, theoretically, while the local school is in session, but anyone playing hooky won’t get a second glance. Everything is fine! It’s too nice a day to be inside, anyway.

(Just like all the other days before, all too nice to waste.)

That being said, Aldrip is not without its own brand of nuisance. Fairies are rarely seen in town, these days, but this week, they seem to be in fine form. They can be found playing harmless tricks on people: taking things from them and moving them somewhere else, rolling carts when no one is holding onto them, mostly-unscrewing screws that hold together mechanical parts… They avoid magical pranks, for now, but these mundane tricks are such a nuisance! They even pull all of the wares out of a local vendor’s stall: dozens and dozens of colorful, patterned scarves. They had been on “deep discount,” leftovers from some “Day of Devotion” event, but the discount is about to get even deeper, on account of how dirty they are.

ii. TEMPTING FATE

A recent expedition to the Lorentia Caves uncovered a hidden gem–literally. Enterprising rock enthusiasts have brought back wheelbarrows full of round geodes, and have made a game out of cracking them open. Geodes that are green inside will get a lavish prize: a stay at a local spa or a gift card to a fancy restaurant. Purple or red inside will get a free drink at the local coffee shop, or a small gift card to use at a local shop. Brown or clear gems get nothing special–but you get to keep the rocks! They hold no special properties, but can be nice to look at and make great paper weights, and some of them almost seem to

g̵l̶o̶w̷

i̵̗̐n̷̯̉ ̶̞̒t̷̝̃h̵͙̆e̸̩̍ ̸̢̌d̷͕̀a̷̬̕ŗ̵̐k̷̼͝n̴̨̍ȅ̶͎ş̵̈s̷̟̽

…

ERROR: MULTIPLE REDUNDANCIES DETECTED
RECALIBRATING
LOADING UPDATES...
PLEASE WAIT

Occasionally, very occasionally, breaking open one of these rocks causes it to crumble, becoming little more than gray ash. Static pops across the surface before it disintegrates.

ERROR: DATA CORRUPTED
PURGING CONTENT

Those who have found these ashen geodes will find that memories of them disappear just as soon as they turn away from what they’ve just seen.

.̸.̷.̵.̴.̷.̸.̸.̶.̴.̴.̸.̷.̵.̵.̷

…

Anyway.

No one quite knows where the pop-up casino came from, but it’s doing a bustling business at night. Now, this establishment is small, nowhere near the size of the one in the past, and is not nearly as expansive. Nonetheless, it helps create a thriving nightlife in town: there’s games, drinking, dancing, and all sorts of fun. Locals are encouraged to participate either by attending or working, or even performing in some way!

It’s a beautiful day in Aldrip. Just like yesterday. Just like tomorrow. Just like every day s̴h̵o̸u̶l̵d̸ ̶b̸e̵.

iii. LOST AND FOUND

You wake in a maze surrounded by fog. You have no memory of entering the maze. You have no idea which direction you might have come from. You are simply here, and there seems to be no exit above. So. The only way is forward.

You may be alone, or have company. Either way, aside from you and any other characters you may find, the maze seems empty. Without end. Without purpose.

Whatever twists and turns you take, all will eventually find themselves in the center, in their own time. There is nothing here, either, except for an overwhelming sense of aloneness. There is nothing here. There is nothing there.

There is nothing–

ERROR: REDUNDANT PROCESS FOUND
PURGING CONTENT

...

You wake up.

It’s another beautiful day in Aldrip.

Like all the days before and all the days after, your morning proceeds apace. You start your morning, you say hello to friends and neighbors. You…

… you find something unusual in an area you frequent. An item. It’s small, and somehow, it’s something you think you should know. Some will feel compelled to pick these items up. Some will feel a deep sense of unease when looking at them, and refuse to interact. Turning your back on these items will cause them to disappear. You won’t have to worry about that anymore. Not on this beautiful day.

Picking up the items causes a rush of information to flood your mind. Something like a memory plays in your head: the person in this memory looks and sounds like you. But…you don’t remember living that life, or doing those things. So how does it feel so real?

Throughout the rest of the event, these items will continue appearing. Characters are free to interact with them or ignore them as you see fit. Regaining more memories means they may regain their powers, as well, though whether they remember how to control them is another story.

These memories will feature prominently in the event poll that goes up after this, and your choice of how many memories they regain (or don’t) may have a lasting effect on your character. Not filling it out will also have an impact on them. So please make sure to fill out the poll!

iv. MISSING LINKS

As this strange memory phenomenon takes over Aldrip, other odd things begin to happen. It’s small, at first, and barely notable except that it renders Aldrip slightly less idyllic than usual. There are a few clouds in the sky. You may get caught in a passing rain shower, or maybe sleep through your alarm…

It gets worse.

The end of the month crawls ever closer, slow and steady. As it does, things begin to go missing. Small things, at first: personal possessions, the lunch left in the break room, flyers that look like maybe they were torn down in the town square. Is someone thieving? Here? In Aldrip?? You’ve never known Aldrip to have a problem with crime. Everything is so…

…

Pleasant.

Everyone becomes a suspect. It could have been your neighbor who took your wallet, or a coworker. Maybe your friend took that bracelet from the counter while you weren’t looking. But close to the end of the month, this starts getting bigger. What happened to that tree along the path you walk every day? Wasn’t there a butcher shop on the corner there? Where have all the birds gone?

ERROR: DATA LOST

Things go missing.

They keep going missing.

Why have they disappeared?

And…where have they gone?

v. THE COUNTDOWN

Sunday, March 31.

It’s raining.

It never rains like this in Aldrip.

Characters wake in the morning to anxiety twisting in the pit of their stomach, inexplicable and impossible to trace. As the day wears on, this sense of foreboding ramps up. Characters may even see significant numbers throughout the day that seem to count…down.

Twelve. Morning. How funny, to see these recurrences. Odd.

Eight. Seven. Around noon. This must be a coincidence, and yet, you cannot help but wonder if it is meaningful.

Four. Late afternoon. Wonder and curiosity are replaced by dread. Whatever is at the end of this countdown–it feels like a finality. Terrifying and unknown.

Two. Night. Those going to bed will find their sleep restless and filled with bad dreams.

UPDATES INSTALLED
RESTARTING…

One. Midnight. The clock strikes twelve, and whatever your character is doing–sleeping, waking, etc–the whole of existence seems to blink out.

(Info about what happens after this will be forthcoming in the event poll results and April’s SOTG.)

vi. WILDCARD

Go wild! We know that you all have plotted extensively for this event, so go ahead and do what you'd like with it!

♡

Comments

Scott Summers | XMCU

[laserguy]

your boy next door;
[It's a beautiful day and your local boy, a known apprentice of everyone's favorite family owned sandwich shop, is handing out free samples at the corner nearby. Look, it's at least a little less embarrassing than spinning a giant sign around, not to mention that he helped prepare this sandwich with ingredients only used by the freshest that Aldrip has to offer! Maybe it's your local farm or butcher shop or bakery where he got the ingredients from, but Scott basically waves at anyone nearby, his bright blue eyes shining along with his smile.]

Hey! Come and try a piece! It's really good, totally promise.

[He's not the best marketer around, but there's something a little charming around him. Maybe it's that boy next door energy.]

why's the sky not red;
[It's not like this is the first time he's been to the glasses shop here, but for some reason, he's really drawn to it today.

Besides, with several sunglasses on display on a rack outside, it's pretty hard not to at least try on a pair, especially since something is compelling him to. Maybe he just wants to wear some cool shades for this beautiful day in Aldrip? Yeah, that's probably it. Kotone will probably like them too.

But hand reaching out to the sunglasses and holding them, Scott suddenly flinches and-- why is everything red and something's coming out of his eyes. The shades fall to the ground, thankfully unbroken, but the teen barely notices, eyes shut tight, afraid that if he opens them, he'll... blast the building down? How does that make any sense?

He stumbles back, hopefully not bumping into anyone in the process. He's just... afraid of opening his eyes again, not without ruby quartz covering them. Scott almost looks pained from how tightly he's shutting them.]

missing links;
[He often comes by the park with some leftover bread to feed the birds and everything, but... one big problem, there's no birds around. There's no chirping, no singing at this area, and as he looks around, there's not a single feather out here. No peep, nothing. ...Not to mention, the bench that he normally sits on is gone as well.

There's definitely something going on here, huh? The weird memories, things just... fucking disappearing, there's an unfamiliar anger in him that he hasn't felt in a long time. Who the hell is messing with them--

Scott's hand clenches around the bag he's holding, before looking at the person closest to him. Maybe it's time for him to stop pretending that everything is okay.]

It's not a fucking nice day here.

network/charms;
the sky's supposed to be blue, right. wait, pretend i didn't ask that.

...okay, i'm going to ask an even weirder question. maybe.

anyone had really weird memories that don't feel like your own? or. the opposite. [If you know, you know!! But great, there goes his reputation as being some wholesome kid, but Scott has to ask about this. He can't just let it go now.]

wildcard;
[ooc: Wanna do something else! Hit me up! Scott's probably at the casino too having a good time before memory regains, or I'm down with meeting at the maze. Maybe some last minute gathering as the numbers count down? Feel free to plot with me as well at currykirby]

network

[solitarysoul]

maybe

[Levi usually isn't this cagey, but this memory thing has him paranoid.]

i guess you did?

[laserguy]

Man, what's with the 'maybe' response?

Would it help if I said yes? To everything?

[He feels like he's slowly going insane, but maybe they can be weirdos together.]

[solitarysoul]

...yeah. something is weird lately.

[Not right, he wants to say but is afraid of doing so where people can over hear--or read--it.]

[laserguy]

Yeah, obviously.

Have you noticed other weird shit happening in Aldrip too? Went to the park the other day and my favorite bench was gone, along with all the birds.

[He doesn't want to say it, but... Aldrip isn't really feeling like home anymore. It's a little scary to even think about, because he loves it here?? Maybe that's why he's trying to look into this in the first place.]

Network!

[drugsnotclubs]

I'm pretty sure blues the right colour for it yeah.

Your second questions less weird than your first one. It sounds dumb as shit but yeah. And all this shit started after a weird fucking dream I had, and I feel like a nutcase about it.

How bout you?

[laserguy]

So, that part is just a me thing, nice.

[At least he's not completely alone with the memory thing. He'll take it. Helps with feeling like not a complete freak.]

Yeah, the same thing pretty much happened to me. Some stuff about a maze, right? Thought that came from me eating something weird the night before, but since then, strange crap's been happening.

Mostly a few memories of seeing stuff in red and thinking it's normal.

[drugsnotclubs]

I mean it gets other colours at like.... sunset.

Maze? No, it was like a weird abandoned room full of computers that were freaking out. I usually don't remember my dreams so it's weird how well I know this one. Like I can't not remember it.

I guess they feel like memories but... I dunno. It's like they ain't mine? Or they are but I don't know it. Or they're impossible.

The weirdest part is having shit around you disappear right after.

[laserguy]

Yeah, I know that, but what I saw... it was always like some shade of red. No matter the time.

Oh, that's weird. I didn't have something like that, but I think I know how you feel?? Actually, I always had this weird dream, something that's more vivid than even some of the recent shit. I never thought about it too long until now, because I thought it just stuck with me because of how weird it was, but...

Ugh, okay, I'm not making sense anymore, am I?

Can confirm about things disappearing though. I know I'm not going crazy about that.

network

[geass]

[ohhhhHHHHHHHH is someone else catching on?]

Yes. It seems I remember some things as well, and something... that I know isn't mine.

[he doesn't really know how he knows That Memory isn't his, but he just knows.]

[laserguy]

Cool, at this rate, we can form a club.

Yeah, it's strange, right? Like, I remember stuff that's definitely never happened before, but they feel like they're mine. But there's this other memory I got that feels nothing like that.

...Okay, can I tell you something really fucking weird?

[Gasp he's cursing now, but he's sort of been in the mood for it now.]

[geass]

[oh GASP not the good boy cursing... tho Lelouch doesn't make a note of it.]

Go ahead. We've already confessed to having memory issues.

[laserguy]

The strange visions? The memories that feel like... me? They're always through a lens of red. Or surrounded by red.

But that other memory? It was entirely in regular color. I don't know what that means.

your boy next door;

[mapsio]

[It IS a beautiful day today, and this young lady is roaming the town. Acting like she isn’t totally familiar with it, weird right?

When she happens upon that charming sandwich shop, and Scott handing out samples she will approach. ]

Oh? How kind of you! Thank you.

[ She will take and try a piece, seemingly pleased! Because everything is fine and dandy and okay and nothing is wrong at all right now!]

These ingredients are incredibly fresh. Did you make these yourself?

[laserguy]

[A little strange, but every newcomer is welcome in Aldrip, that's how everyone should treat each other anyway. Greet people with a warm smile and open friendliness, it's definitely what his adopted father has drilled into him and it's a good value to have. He really owes so much to him, huh? Taking him as his apprentice as well...

But he watches with a grin as Haru tries the sample, looking all the more pleased when she extends her compliments, clearly enjoying the flavors and the fresh ingredients he gathered from everyone's favorite local businesses.]

I'm glad you like it. [He tosses in a wink, just because.] I didn't make the ingredients, but everything was gathered right here in Aldrip. The meat, the vegetables, and the bread...

[A slightly dopey smile takes hold of him for a moment.]

I definitely recommend the bakery just a couple of blocks away.

[mapsio]

My Father owns a food business here in Aldrip, and I do not even think he could ever beat something of this caliber.

[ She WOULD openly say that. Her Father was more concerned about the money aspect of the business, and not the fresh meals and good cooking and laughter and love that come along with them. ]

My name is Haru, it's my pleasure.

[ But it's so strange, it feels like Déjà vu, she feels like she must know this gentleman already. ]

network - her first text in game...

[killjoyprince]

IT SHOULD B BLUE THIS TIME OF DAY

DID U C THE CLOUDS EARLIER

naoto!! :>

[laserguy]

Yeah, it's blue to me right now, but uh. Nevermind.

Definitely did, really weird, right?? Figures that when I start getting weird visions or whatever, clouds start to form too.

[...]

Wait, has that happened to you or no? If not, just forget what I said.

[killjoyprince]

[She'd been testing the waters. Internally debating if she should say something at the risk of sounding dumb.]

THERE WERE GREEN CLOUDS B4

why's the sky not red

[entreats]

[ Ange kind of stumbles when she suddenly feels someone larger than her bumping into her.

Thankfully she manages to remain upright, keeping her balance enough to keep from toppling over, but she does look a little bit surprised that someone suddenly walked into her in the first place. When she glances over with wide, surprised eyes, the surprise in said eyes only grows even stronger when she realises she recognizes the person who bumped into her. ]

.. Scott?

[ Wait, is he.. walking around with his eyes closed?

The confusion is so obvious in the girl's tone when she speaks. ]

Are you okay? [ He definitely does not look okay?? ]

[laserguy]

[Almost automatically, Scott apologizes to the person that he bumped into, because isn't that super rude of him. Not watching where he's going and knocking into someone else, what if they were eating something or drinking something and he ruined that? Wow, way to go and ruin someone else's perfect day in Aldrip!!

Doesn't stop him from closing his eyes though. He... he feels like he shouldn't, not without glasses on him?? But he's never worn glasses before.]

...Ange?

[There's some relief in his voice when he hears her calls out to him, because at least it's someone he knows, a friend that's close to him. He turns his scrunched face over to her, looking just a bit unsettled, certainly an odd look for Scott Summers.] I... I think so? I think I just have a headache or something.

[entreats]

Is that why you have your eyes closed?

[ Obviously he knows he's keeping his eyes closed too. There's no way he could be shutting them that tightly and intensely without knowing, after all. But it's definitely an odd sight, even more so now she's looking at it so directly, his gaze turned towards her.

What, is the light just too.. intense for him? All of a sudden?

She doesn't think Scott has ever really seemed sickly enough to be this affected out of nowhere. ]

You look like you're only going to hurt yourself more if you keep doing that. [ There's definitely some worry in her tone as she says that. Scott, this can't be good for you? ]

why's the sky not red

[bulleting]

[When you work for the government in a role such as Health Inspector, you get to know the local restaurants. She's been to sandwich shop Scott apprentices at often enough, for her job and just to eat there, that she recognizes him out and about. It's always one of those situations where you get confused, seeing someone outside of their usual environment that you do a double take, which is exactly what happens when he bumps into her after dropping the sunglasses to the ground.]

Oh-- Excuse me-- [She doesn't realize at first that he bumped into her and not the other way around, but then she recognizes his face, sees his eyes closed so tightly and the panic on his face. Forget who bumped into who, now she's just worried about what's happening to him.]

Scott? Is everything alright?

[laserguy]

[Normally, when he sees the health inspector, which is normally in the sandwich shop, he flashes her a bright smile and everything, as if his good cheer would somehow help with making sure that they'd pass the inspection. Not that he or his adoptive father have anything to worry about, of course everything is up to code, only the best for the people of Aldrip.

Doesn't stop Scott from being like that though, because he owes a lot to the man.

Right now, he doesn't even try to act like his normal self, eyes shut tightly even though he probably knows that things are okay. But... but if what he does open his eyes and he destroys whatever is front of him??? He doesn't understand, but that fear feels so real, to the point that it actually takes him a while for Scott remember his manners.]

Miss Caitlyn? [He calls out, a little unsure.] Um, y-yeah, just got a sudden migraine or something.

[Is that what this is.]

[bulleting]

[Aldrip is quite the town of orphans and runaways, isn't it?

Manners don't matter in times like this, so the only thing that really phases Caitlyn is how out of character he's acting. He's so tense, which yes, could be a migraine, so she's going to work with that explanation.

She puts her hand on his shoulder and attempts to usher him into a shady corner, to at least get him out of direct sunlight. She doesn't have anything cold or even any medications on her that he could take for relief, so hopefully the dark helps some.]

Do you get migraines often? [She's certainly never seen him get a spell like this before.]