Entry tags:

AUGUST EVENT PT 2

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 8/13-8/15 Obon Festival

Lanterns start to dot the streets, hung by the front door of each house who still have an able body to hang them. From there, the lights spread outward, neighbors visiting neighbors with lanterns in hand and prayers in their hearts that the light will be enough to guide the spirits of their ancestors home, enough to heal their loved ones and bring the health and energy back into town.

The first day of Obon passes in silence.

On the second day, the oppressive heat starts to lift, skies clear with a cool breeze that passes through the streets and rocks the lanterns at each door, which opens as people trickle out onto the street. By late afternoon, the entire town is alive with chatter and laughter, the townspeople bustling about to get their late start in setting up the festival stalls and the large stage set on the lakeside in front of the school. Some of the missing have started turning up again, with claims of having recovered from illness or returned from a trip, and more than that, visiting relatives are introduced to one another despite no car or plane ever seen entering or leaving the town. With most businesses closed for the Obon holiday, the second day is spent catching up with one another, making last-minute purchases and renting yukata, and finishing preparations so that both the spirits of their ancestors and those who have become well enough again may celebrate with all in full. By the end of the night, everybody has returned, the town restored.

Loud drumming can be heard the morning of the third day, taiko drum performances starting early and lasting late into the evening. The steady beat fills the air no matter where in town you are, but standing right in front of the stage, it can be felt in your chest, as if the entire town's hearts beat as one. Though less compared to during the tanabata festival, stalls are set up for Obon and largely consist of games and shops selling toys and trinkets, food stalls focusing on small treats rather than meals. With the taiko performance in the background to keep the rhythm, folk dances are held on the stage and in the parks and are open to anybody, participants being pulled in from the streets to join the circles to dance. Traditional clothing like yukata can be seen worn by almost everybody, from young children to great-grandparents, as they gather around the lake at sundown to say farewell to the spirits. Lanterns are lit and sent off into the lake, where they gather at the center and burn bright until there's nothing left to burn, and the town settles into warm, sleepy darkness.

When night falls and the townspeople begin to clean up, retrieve the lanterns, and go home, the breeze picks up a little, soft and cool, cutting paths throughout town much like the freezing gusts of winds that first Lockdown night. Rather than to the schoolhouse, however, the wind gently nudges you towards the forest, towards the edge of forest blocked by caution tape to keep people out of scorched earth and blackened trees. Only one lantern is left untouched, hanging on a tree branch just before this forest fire site, fallen trees cleared out to widen the path, that leads into the forest.

Soon, the full moon hangs high in the sky, shining its light straight down onto the castle ruins below.

→ 8/15 Castle Ruins and the Shrine

Carried along by the breeze that winds through the streets and blows down this path, finding your way through the forest becomes simple, and soon the trees part to reveal the castle ruins hidden away inside the forest -—at least, what used to be castle ruins. The changes come unexpected and instantly, in a blink of an eye during the day for those who still live in the castle, and a sight to behold for those who haven't returned in a long time until tonight.

Entering the castle reveals a repaired foundation and pillars which stand whole again, stairs to the second floor still broken but with all the rubble underneath cleared away, the air inside the castle no longer choking with dust. In the main hall, red candlesticks line the perimeter of the room, the glow of fire illuminating the murals that have shown up on previously blank walls, images faintly visible under a layer of yellow mildew. If you carefully scrub them clean, they depict a small village surrounded by farmland, a familiar lake at the center, flocks of crows adorning the skies with one large crow standing on the peak of the mountain overlooking the town.

At the center of the castle's main hall, a mother bear and two cubs can be seen snoozing in the middle of the room, sleeping next to a meter-by-meter square that has been cut into the stone ground. If you can get the bears to leave or are brave enough to approach without waking them up, you will see that hinges on one edge suggest it to be a door, but there is no handle and no way to lift the panel, nor can the door or the surrounding area be damaged no matter how hard you try. Upon closer inspection, there are four impressions on each corner of the door matching the size and shape of the ofuda received as a reward for defeating the dungeon boss, currently in RO's possession. Placing the ofuda on one of the slots causes the edges of the door to glow bright blue for a second before the light disappears, and the ofuda turns to stone, just like the door and the castle around them. Nothing more seems to happen after, the other three impressions remaining exactly the same.

All throughout the night, the candles burn along the perimeter of the hall, one hundred in total that cast the room in warm light. Whether you remember the fortune teller's words or are simply chatting with one another and catching up on all that's happened during your time here, each time a story is shared, a light blows out, leaving the castle dimmer and dimmer as the night goes on. The darker it gets, the more restless you begin to feel, Personas becoming more agitated and prone to lash out as the clock ticks closer to midnight. Those who choose to take a walk to the shrine to cool their heads find that the shrine looks different from before too, revealing unbroken steps, a thoroughly swept floor, stone lanterns whole instead of crumbled and broken, and the water basin filled to the brim with clear water that almost seems to sparkle in the moonlight— a far cry from how broken down the abandoned shrine appeared just a month before. There's still work to be done, however: in particular, the sign- restored and painted over in pure white so that it looks almost new- still displays no name. The paint is still a little wet, so perhaps somebody is just waiting for the paint to dry...

The night seems to drag on, but as long as people keep talking, no matter where they are in the castle or at the shrine, the candle lights continue going out until they count down to zero.

→ 8/15 Welcome to the Velvet Room

When the last of the candles go out and the castle plunges into complete darkness, a bright blue light begins to shine from beside the throne, taking on the form of a doorway set into the wall. Without fanfare, two figures step out, the taller with silver hair and a kind face, and the other with golden eyes that peek past long bangs to squint at everybody inside the castle. ...The latter immediately turns around back through the doorway to leave his partner to explain things to everybody here, who takes a seat on the throne as if he belongs there all along. If you have questions, come talk to this guy; but otherwise, there's nothing stopping you from going through the doorway to follow after the other one.

This isn't the only doorway that opens up: blue light shines between the pillars of the torii at the shrine, and similar doorways appear scattered throughout town to replace your bedroom door, the bathroom stall in a store you've run into for an emergency, set into the wall in an alleyway where there was no door before, even at the first floor of the school dungeon if for whatever reason you're there. Regardless of which door you enter, stepping through any doorway brings you into a small room, a bowl of fresh fruit and a bottle of some sort of non-alcoholic mixed drink in a bucket of ice sitting on the table in the middle of the room, two chairs flanking the table and a plush velvet couch against one wall. The ground shakes and rocks as you look around, curtains pulled aside to reveal inky blue darkness, spots of light floating past the windows out in the distance like stars. Each person arrives in their own room, a placard with their name and arcana set on the door labelling it theirs.

Down the end of the hall, the door opens up into a brightly lit lounge, wide windows set along the walls although the landscape outside remains as dark as ever. The lounge is filled with chairs and couches covered in the same blue velvet as the rooms and music seems to fill your entire being rather than just your ears. Passing through the door at the end of the lounge brings you to the conductor's cab where a young man sits, changed out of his costume into a more formal uniform in dark blues with a train engineer cap pulled low over closed eyes, slouched far back on his seat with his feet up on the control panel. Despite all that, however, the train simply zips along, the rail just barely visible from the front window of the cab. The attendant tilts his head your way, looking rather irritable, silent until you speak first.

→ MOD NOTES

⬥ As a reminder, characters are more likely to lose control of their Personas around the time of the full moon (8/15) but this can also occur at any time, especially with internal conflict and during Lockdown. This is an optional mechanic. Personas will also temporarily disappear once the character enters the Velvet Room.
⬥ The two Velvet Room assistants will have their own top-levels below for those who wish to speak with them in this log, and they may be contacted at the NPC contact page at any time as well. The NPC contact page will serve as an "IC inbox" for the characters to freely interact with the attendants to ask questions, receive and fill requests, hang out, etc. Please read this page carefully for more information about accessing the Velvet Room.
⬥ While each attendant may have individual requests for those who ask for them, they will also give tasks for the characters as a whole. These general requests will be listed on the NPC contact page at the beginning of each month. Successful completion of a request will earn characters rewards, and there is no time limit for completion.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Sure, he could just sit back and do nothing. But that isn't his style--even if he doesn't think he's as ready to jump into action as someone like Gon is--and he knows it. Killua makes a frustrated sound before smoothing his expression out again.]

Doing nothing would be worse than what we're doing now. [Then, he pauses.] How do we find the keys?

[ Minato finds himself smiling to himself a little, because that's what he thought. The people here care, enough to act instead of sitting and doing nothing. And that makes a world of difference. ]

You've already got one. Have you taken a look at that panel outside in the castle? The ofuda there belonged to Teikiatsu-no-Senso. The other keys... are probably something like that?

[Right. The one they'd used earlier. Killua brings a hand up, pressing his thumb against his bottom lip as he falls silent for a moment.]

Four slots in the wall--so we'll need three more of them to unlock the way home. You're sure about this?

[ Minato gives him a blank look, one of those practiced ones where he tries to read the other person without giving anything away on his own face. ]

Does it matter if I'm sure or not?

You're the one giving out the information. [There's a bite to his tone at first, but then Killua closes his eyes and sighs.] It's better to check anything you hear.

There's not a lot of us; if some mistake gets someone hurt, it'll just end up setting us back.

Mm. Information is one thing, trust is another... faith is something else. Best to check everything, no matter who says it.

[ So it doesn't matter if Minato's dead sure or has no clue, they should be investigating things for themselves and coming to their own conclusions anyways. It's something about responsibility, that's too hard for Minato to string into words at the moment. ]

Mistakes are part of learning too, but we won't let you make any major ones. We're counting on you guys, so we'll support you. It's mutual.

[That's... enough for him. Trust is still kind of a new thing for him anyway, when he grew up being told to trust only his own instincts, that companionship was a waste of time. So, even if he and Souji want them to figure most of this out on their own, some support still goes a long way.

Killua relaxes, just a bit.]

I was planning on doing that anyway. [Then, he pauses.] What should we call you? If we're gonna be working together, we should know your name. [Killua looks off to the side, pretending (very badly) like the answer doesn't actually matter.]

[ Minato shrugs again, though Killua might miss it unless he's actually paying attention to his periphery instead of pretend very badly that it doesn't matter. ]

The guy out there is Souji.

[ Which Killua maybe already knows, because the polite thing to do when meeting somebody is to exchange names, and Souji likes being polite.

Minato does not. ]

For me... RO635 is fond of calling me "clown-denizen." You can make up whatever too.

[Killua snorts at the nickname despite himself.] And you're okay with being called that?

Anyway, I already know his name. I'm asking about yours.

Minato.

[ He says his name easily. Even though he likes giving people shit and makes it like pulling teeth to learn his name, all they have to do is ask point blank, nothing indirect, and he's responsive enough. Usually. ]

But clown-denizen is also fine. I really don't mind whatever.

Minato works just fine. [But he does smirk at him after a beat.] Though maybe that'll change if I think of something else for you.

[Then, Killua's eyes narrow.]

Just wondering... if we hadn't played Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai, would the two of you still have showed up anyway?

[ Nicknames are a sign of closeness, or something, even if it's mocking or insulting, it's something more than strangers. So it's a win-win, in Minato's book, whether it's his name or something else he's called by. ]

Hm... Probably not? It's not like I can steer this train. The rails are set, and sometimes they branch, but whichever path it goes down... [ He gives Killua another one of those half shrugs, just the one shoulder. ]

I can't remember how long the two of us have been here. I can't remember ever stopping anywhere, until now. So it was probably thanks to you all. Otherwise, we might've just passed on by.

Oh. [Somehow, Killua doesn't look too happy about it. His lips curl downward as he considers this quietly.]

It doesn't upset you, that we called you here? We sort of ended up doing the same thing to you, that happened to us, if you think about it.

[ A shrug, and a simple ] No. [ is all Killua gets.

He wanted to say something more about the chance to be helpful or useful or impactful, or that he'd been stuck in this train nearly bored out of his skull for how long it's been and getting to see the world is something of a godsend, or maybe even the opportunity to meet all these new people when before his entire world was just Souji and even if Minato doesn't want to admit what he thought about people, he liked people.

He should be happy, he thinks, but all there is is an overwhelming anxiety that buzzles at the back of his skull and that he keeps off his face. ]

It's different 'cause I have Souji. And this place that sorta passes as a home... I guess... I dunno if Souji minds, but I don't. It's probably a lot harder for you guys. Sorry. [ Though he frowns a little at the addendum, because it's not like he's the one who needs to apologize for anything. ]

[Killua watches Minato the whole time, watching silently for his reaction, any reaction, until he gets the apology. His shoulders crawl up toward his shoulders just slightly in his discomfort.]

You're not the ones who brought us here, so you don't need to apologize. [it's all said gruffly, like Killua's trying to hide any relief he feels that Minato doesn't blame them for being here.]

If you're okay with being here, then I guess that's... okay.

[ Minato dips his chin, pausing for a moment before bringing it back up, like a nod, but backwards and an afterthought. ]

I'm always okay, so no worries.

[ He stretches his arms out in front of him, fingers laced and palms out. ]

But I know the same isn't true for all of you guys. So it's not okay... But also sort of okay. Or- at least, it doesn't change much, I guess.

[ He was trying to say something, but he thinks the point got lost somewhere, so he just shakes his head and sits upright in his chair. ]

Are you upset? About all this?

[That gets a skeptical tilt of his brow.] No one's ever "always okay".

[Even Gon, who Killua considered one of the brightest people he's ever met had been decidedly not okay once life piled on too much pressure all at once.

He sighs, rubbing at his nose.] I don't mind helping. It's being dragged here without warning that I don't like--there's someone I'm supposed to be protecting, and I can't do that while I'm here. If she'd been brought along, too, I guess... it wouldn't be so bad.

[ If things suck but he doesn't care enough to let it bother him, isn't it the same as being okay? ]

Things have always been okay. If life sucked before, I can't remember any of it. It's all locked away, my time before this train. Same with Souji.

[ As far as he's concerned, he's always been okay. He never had a reason to not be. ]

I'm okay 'cause he's here, and... I dunno, I guess that's the effect that friends have. Ones you knew, ones you'll make... it'll be okay.

[ He'd like to say something about the worlds people were dragged from and whatever effect on time or space there is, but it's a can of worms he doesn't want to prod at and spill right now, so instead, he asks ]

Tell me more about the one who's important to you?

Oh. [Killua says again, this time with surprise and a touch of guilt. How would it feel, to have your memories locked away like that? Though Killua knows the situation's different, he still can't help but think of what had happened to Palm when the Chimera Ants caught her.] ...do you want to remember?

[And now his expression softens again.] My sister. Her name's Alluka. She doesn't really know how to defend herself, so... I've been looking after her.

[ Does he want to remember? Minato shrugs, whether that's a "no" or "I don't know" or "I don't care" or simply an encouragement for Killua to talk about something more important, about his sister, which has Minato smiling a little too. ]

Lucky she has you. Older or younger? What's she like?

[Well, if Minato doesn't want to talk about himself, Killua's not going to press for the time being. Though, he does wonder how much of it has to do with what he'd said earlier, about always being okay.]

Younger. [A smile flits over his lips.] She's kind, playful--kind of excitable. She loves traveling and seeing new places.

[Granted, a lot of that's because she simply hasn't had a chance to see much of the world until now, but it still counts.]

[ Minato nods, which is all he can really do because he doesn't have much to draw on in terms of cute little sisters, so he ends up smiling more at seeing Killua smile than anything else. ]

...Do you wish she were here? Even with all the...

[ The smile drops as he gestures vaguely about the conductor's cab, with slow, broad strokes to indicate this entire mess of a situation. ]

Would that make you feel any better? Though, it's kinda a pointless question, when I can't do anything about it. [ he adds, as not to get Killua's hopes up. ]

Yeah. [There's no hesitation when he answers, which might be a bit surprising, considering the dangers here. Killua's quiet for a moment, and though his face manages to stay professionally blank, his eyes give away some of the conflict he's feeling as he considers his options here.

Finally, he sighs.]

Alluka...there's some dangerous people who want to use her for their own gain, back where I'm from. It'd probably be safer for her to be here with me than alone back there with those people still looking for her.

[ It's understandable, Minato thinks. Killua is strong, after all, so no matter what sort of dangers there are in a place like this, he can protect her and it doesn't matter. There are probably a lot of people who want to be with their family too, to have them here where they can look after them despite the danger, because there's nothing scarier than uncertainty. It's really too bad he can't do anything about it. ]

You're probably be here a while. Just realistically speaking... But, um.

[ He rubs a hand over the back of his head, then sits up straight so he can look at Killua and play the part of a proper guide, even though it always feels like he's just pretending. ]

This place is set apart from time, space, reality... That sort of stuff. Not just the Velvet Room, but this place in general. This world. So when you go back, I think you'll go right back to when and where you came from.

So we won't lose any time at all? [Killua shifts uneasily.] Sounds too good too be true. What's the catch?

[He won't waste his breath saying something like "that's impossible!" when he's seen first hand that there's an extra hour where the monsters appear every night. Knowing that, he can at least believe time manipulation is possible, when before he would've scoffed at the idea of it. Even dimensional pockets constructed from nen weren't able to bypass time like that, after all.]

AUGUST EVENT PT 2

premise ⬥ taken ⬥ faq ⬥ navigation

→ 8/13-8/15 Obon Festival

→ 8/15 Castle Ruins and the Shrine

→ 8/15 Welcome to the Velvet Room

→ MOD NOTES

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)