WEEK 3

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 3

[Once everyone has gotten out of the elevator, those who go to look for Akira and Kurama will find that they have been put into one of their rooms, together, safely tucked into bed with a glass of milk for each of them. And - aside from the bruises of being suctioned into a death cylinder and tranquilized with some very strong drugs - they are alive and unharmed.

Naturally, this means that Akira and Kurama are the first to experience the dreams, but everyone will experience them, once they finally fall asleep, for good and ill.

Despite everything, too, the survivors will find many other new things facing them as they wake up. A new evolution for their powers, a new wing...and a new rule, updated after the execution. The profiles have also been updated, to reflect the Titled's ever-dwindling numbers.

This is going to be a long week, that's for sure.


There are ten strangers left in this place.

((OOC: Don't forget to do Activity Check along with memory regains, everyone!))

Comments

SUNDAY

[strangerpeople]

THROUGHOUT THE WEEK

[strangerpeople]

[If anyone investigates the toy store, they will find on one of the tables inside is a board game that's been left out of the box (and in fact the box is nowhere to be found.) However, the board looks like this. As you can see, it comes with a special coin... the instructions nearby will tell your characters that this is a game about talking to spirits. You just put a coin on the board, ask your question, and the spirit will move the coin to the appropriate area of their response:

WHITE means Yes.
BLACK means No.
RED means Neither yes nor no.

Sounds fun, right? However, there is one catch. Each session of the game can only last for 7 questions. The coin stops moving after that, no matter what! So you might want to take turns with this one...]

[theirmagic]

[ Ursula will definitely take the chance to play with the game on Monday. In fact, she stares it down in deep contemplation, before deciding to take the plunge. The first question is simple: ]

Um... is anyone here?

[incrediblystressedout]

A - Day

[Yeah, Joey's not going to be doing anything useful now. Just...going to Yuuri's Room with his phone to check and see if he left anything of note behind. One of those things is a very familiar old pair of Ballet Shoes, so she's just...going to spend a while sobbing uncontrollably since it's soundproofed and private. And also not realizing that the room unlocked itself. Awkward.]

[Later on, she hits Yotsukoshi for some stationery supplies and Death Crime Beast Rage for a new outfit with some more metal to it...]

B - LIME chat, Evening

okay.
so.
i know we're all incredibly upset by...one part of what happened or another.
i can't even think about it, not really. but i'm not going to make this about my personal thoughts this time.
not even the weird stuff i dream-remembered. i'm going to start keeping a journal for that junk.
i opened this chat to say:

everyone.
bedroom #1. now.
bring pens and paper.

C - Evening

Joey will be running a meeting here!

[eyesofdespair]

[Various locations]

[Loewe is definitely on a mission. He's going to be investigating all the new locations. He's looking mostly for hidden doors or rooms since he apparently is good at that, but if he doesn't find anything like that, he's definitely got an eye out for anything weird.

Feel free to catch him during this and ask about what he's up to.]

[Food court, then bedroom area]

[At a few points during the day, Loewe will be getting some food, but he's also putting some into containers to carry with him. He can be seen putting some miso soup into two thermoses made to keep liquids hot and also some juice in another container to keep it cool.

He'll drop these off outside the door to room 14 with a note. The note says 'I understand if you two don't want to come out for a time. Feel free to leave a note with anything you need and I'll leave it by the door.' along with sending Akira and Kurama a text message that he left them something to eat. Then he'll leave.]

[Later in the day, starting in the bedroom area and then various locations.]

[After dropping a meal off by Akira's room, Loewe decided to head to his own bedroom, though he left the door open. He decided he probably should investigate that weird ball he got to try and figure out who it may belong to.

Well, he gets it open in an eruption of white petals that are now all over his bed and then a weird creature comes out. It takes one look at Loewe and flies away, right out of his open door.

So for some time later in the day he'll be trying to find and catch a scared and confused Skarmory. Feel free to try and help him.]

MONDAY

[strangerpeople]

[beguiledcard]

[ This is the first day anyone will be able to find him walking around or sitting down where almost anyone could find him.

After a fairly long shower, he makes a point of heading straight to the food court. It's there he can be found, sitting against a wall, staring down at his phone.

His expression is... calm? There's no crying, no strain, not even an emptiness. It's the sort of calm that one might find on a person who's manage to win a battle against their stronger emotions.

By fighting them away, because he can't afford to be broken; there are lives at stake.

Just... never mind the look in his eyes, since that might still be giving too much away. Regret does still lurk there. Anger, big time. Anyone who's paid enough attention, might very well be able to tell how forced the calmness on his face is.

So, for now, he's intensely focused on thinking long and hard about recent events and discoveries. And he doesn't want to be cooped up in his room while doing so.

Also he's not wearing his glasses. ]

[incrediblystressedout]

[After a Cat Café breakfast, Joey will, true to her own suggestions, wait for someone else who wants to head for the new wing before heading over there herself, trying to stay in sight of at least one person. Still, she's not able to contain her curiosity about Toys Is You. She'll spend a lot of time wandering around, checking out the comic books and gaming paraphrenalia, as well as checking out the toy shelves for anything particularly solid or intimidating-looking...

...and maybe some stuffed animals. Her crew isn't here, but that doesn't mean she can't start adopting a new one.]

[After that, she'll also check out the Netfugee Café, both because it's a possible route to escape and because it's been forever since she checked out her 'sites. She'll be responsible first and see if she can figure out where the modem and phone cables (and whatever these extra-large phone cables are) lead and how they attach to the wall, but after that she'll be surfing the 'net and immediately getting distracted by Hamster Dance.]

Oh my God.

The internet of the future is incredible.

[byanyother_name]

[Rather like Akira, this is the first day Kurama can be found openly out and about, too. While he's come to like many of the people here, the first instinct of a wounded animal is to curl up in its den. Their bedrooms are a sad excuse for a den but they're what he has.

He's never all that far from Akira on this first day. While Akira lingers in the food court, Kurama visits the restaurants, picking at dishes here and there. It's clear that he's forcing himself to eat, aware that he needs it, but only able to make himself eat so much at a time.

And if he can also be found at the Barcade once or twice with a small cup of sake, well, not only do the rules say nothing about underage drinking, but Kurama is not actually underage.

His face is calm, carefully schooled back into Shuuichi's quiet gentleness, but his eyes are empty.]

[steelmagnolias]

[ Much like last week, Ren spends most of his morning drawing at the cat cafe after breakfast, mostly the same goth-looking woman along with a selection of Steel and Grass-type Pokemon. But he seems more interested in the cats this time around, scratching behind their ears and rubbing the belly of his favorite calico. A large metal bird joins him, and is in fact accompanying him for most of today.

Later, he'll be exploring the new wing, where he's found and purchased... a card game? From the toy store.

Arceus help us. ]

EXPLORATION TOP LEVEL

[scienceofmagic]

[ At some point in the day, Croix will send out a LIME message. ]

Let's look over everything. There has to be something we're missing. I'm sure we'll find something. We can partner up. I even bought some supplies. Water bottles, a few snacks, flashlights, and I made first-aid kits. I also got a few things that might be able to pick locks, but they're not much.

And... I bought small knives for everyone, just in case we run into anything like our executioner while exploring. Better to have something and not need it than need it and not have it. We can store them in the communal kitchen area when we're done.

Meet in the food court.

[ She'll be waiting there, with some tables pushed together with the items laid out. One explorer's kit for every person, backpack included. Croix will be sitting there, arms crossed over her chest as she waits. ]

MONDAY LATE EVENING - MOD PING

[byanyother_name]

[He knows he only has so long before Karma and Akira realize he's slipped away and start looking. So Kurama doesn't waste any time.

He goes to the translucent wall on the north end of Yotsukushi and knocks, polite but very hard.

Can Hateorbs come out, please?]

[theirmagic]

[ Ursula can be found making another potion on Monday morning in the food court, like she'd been the other week. After that, she can be found at Pagemasters, just losing herself in a book before buying a few to take back to her room.

Eventually, she winds up in the Cat Cafe, where she takes Antares. She's still attempting to socialize him--or her, now, is it?--it would seem. She's eating the lunch she's made in here--breakfast for lunch, with some earl grey tea. There's pancakes. She's not sure why, but they felt appropriate.

At night, she'll be looking for Akira in the food court, star charts and astrology books in hand... they still have a class, after all. You're free to find her then. Even after that, she'll be patrolling everywhere for a little while as best she can, obviously restless. There's now the addition of a small knife on her hip. ]

TUESDAY

[strangerpeople]

Motive: You Know That I Care (What Happens To You)

[strangerpeople]

[This should be old hat to folks by now. Same time, same kind of message, same rules. But the words are...different somehow.]

Good afternoon. You know, I did not realize so many of you had the blood of lemmings in your veins given that at least two of you decided to jump in and try to save a murderous culprit who killed two innocents. Yet I also recall that no one jumped after the first - indeed, you condemned him instantly. You are quite the fickle lot, aren't you?

If only you knew just what was at stake. But with your stubbornness, I can't trust you with anything truly important without assuming you'll just uselessly riot and throw curses my way. Not yet. But I will impart something to you, nevertheless. Perhaps it will give you perspective. The truth is, your world has been...compromised. Those you care for are in danger. They will be defeated before they even realize they are in danger. I'm sure you'll assume we've a hand in it, but sadly, you would again be mistaken. We are, of course, more than willing to explain just what this threat is, and how to stop it...on one condition.

By now, you should know what you will have to do to leave. Maybe one of you will actually succeed this time. Remember - lives hang in the balance beyond yours, now. The choice is yours.


[Attached to the text are various photographs of peculiar shadowy creatures clinging onto unsuspecting people going about their day, along with certain spots the Titled will see as part of their worlds. And the people they're close to? Those close to the Titled. The text is right about them not even realizing what is happening around them. As before, the number cannot be reached and the person will not respond.]

CLOSED THREAD.

[strangerpeople]

THOUGHT....???

[strangerpeople]

[Though it's more like a mood. Maybe even a big mood.

The effect of the motive - and Helena's actions - is immediate. The weight of everything seems to slam into them at full speed, and for the first time, the anger and frustration seems - is - endemic. And quite easy to give into, now.

The intensity of emotions will vary depending on the person, but everyone will start to feel incredibly negative about the situation around them - really, about anything and everything in general. It is an effect that will last an unknown amount of time.]

WEDNESDAY

[strangerpeople]

not your typical funeral...

[beguiledcard]

preparations

[ Early in the day, Akira is going around asking various people their thoughts on what they believe the lost members of their group might like -- did they remember anything they particularly liked (favorite drink, colors, etc)?

He might even shoot a question to someone he recalls having been close to one of the people... but either way... ]

the ceremony

[ After setting out various items on the place where everyone fell, he will be heading up to the roof.

Wake gets a white, stuffed dove and a bouquet.

Torri gets a white, stuffed dove (it does, in fact, match the one Wake got) along with a bouquet.

Yuuri gets a white, stuffed dog along with a bouquet.

Helena gets a white, stuffed mouse and a bouquet of the closest thing he could find to English daisies (fight on, fellow rebel heart).

All bouquets are made with the help of Kurama. Everyone else's input will have been taken into account on these for any other items.

Up top, there's going to be a bouquet resting on the spots for both Dio and Goro. Dio gets a black, stuffed cat and Goro gets a black, stuffed crow.

Again, there's room for other things. People are welcoming to give some kind of speech for the dead, if they want. Akira won't be saying anything, but he'll sit and listen as long as he can... ]

post-gathering

[ With all that said and done, he'll be sitting in the food court, staring down at a cup of coffee...

Not drinking it, but... baby steps. ]

[incrediblystressedout]

[Joey spends a chunk of the middle of the day attending the funeral and another bit with that luigi board game, but aside from that...]

[Earlier in the morning, she can be found at Touch of Fitnesse, practicing a dance routine and generally trying to work her stress from yesterday out with exercise. It's not really working, but it sure is getting her blood flowing.]

[After the funeral, if she can find a partner to tag along with, she'll explore the new 3E in general, a bit disappointed that it's just more shops, and not any she's particularly interested in. Maybe Mystery Maze Mania, but she's definitely not going into the obvious deathtrap without a partner.]

[Finally, in the evening, Joey can be found in the Food Court, staring intently at a Mr. Mew doll she bought on Monday.]

Okay...I'm "the Impossible", huh? Going to just...Frankenstein myself up a cat here. Well, you weren't alive in the first place, so it's more...Pygmalion-ing myself up a cat?

[She sighs, and carefully sets her phone up against a cup so it can record the proceedings. There's no way in heck her babysitter would ever forgive her for not recording an experiment like this.]

Here goes nothing.

[She holds the doll, closes her eyes, and imagines it coming to life. You can do anything with enough Imagination...]

EXPLORATION!!!! Feel free to join in.

[scienceofmagic]

[ After everything with the funeral, Croix will decide it's time to explore the new area. She'll start by scouring the smoke shop. There has to be information here somewhere. There has to be. Following that, she'll be looking through the salon and then the restaurant before stopping in front of the maze. She looks determined, but she also doesn't want to. Tackle it on her own. ]

EMERGENCY MEETING????

[scienceofmagic]

[ Croix is sending out a LIME. ]

Everyone, meet at the Netfugee Cafe. It's important. I'll explain when everyone is here.

AFTER EMERGENCY MEETING - MOD PING

[byanyother_name]

[Kurama is going to visit Cafe MYJL first and order a hot chocolate. Coffee and tea having both been ruined...

During the time when that should be being made? He's going to try snapping a wide-angle picture of the preparation areas.

He's also going to search the cafe in general for anything that seems odd or otherwise like it could be a clue or a message.]

THURSDAY

[strangerpeople]

[steelmagnolias]

[ After breakfast, Ren spends most of his morning exploring the new floor. He seems fairly unimpressed with this wing, although he does stop by the smoke shop for a bit. Because he is the only smoker in this damn mall right now. You'll probably find him having a cig right then and there. He also has the plastic gacha ring from Helena's room on his pinky finger, for how ridiculous it looks.

Later, he can be found at Pagemasters, idly flipping through various books on art history and the like. The usual. He sends out this via LIME chat: ]

I've been thinking of having a little get-together in the bar later tonight. Drinks are on me, and I'll make sure you guys don't starve, either, but if anyone wants to pitch in, I'm not complaining.

I just don't want anyone to be lonely.