« 008 ⇢ event008.exe »

[reparator]

Who: CERES & you
When: OOC: 12/20-12/31; IC: 10/21-10/27
Where: Cerealia & Vidia's Secret
What: Event log
Rating/Warning: PG-13 | Horror Ahoy!

//event008.EXE You Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance You were always warned about the little things that go bump in the night, but you didn't believe them, did you? After all, ghosts don't exist, and things aren't really out to get you in the dark. As the month draws nearer to its final days, however, you're going to want to double check that belief of yours. On the eve of the 20th, continuing on, you'll feel the signs. It'll begin with a flicker, something barely noticeable. Conveniently, that day, the cinemas will start showing some creepy movies (maybe you'll have seen similar ones back home, or have you?) and you can access Ceres' TV stations- amazing show and movie line-up on their devices or TV screen. All seems to be normal, really... except for the weather that seems somewhat chilly and dismal throughout, with chances of storms every now and then. 'tis the season to be spooky, after all. It's just the weather being weird... Until you get the feeling that something is in your house... and you sure as heck didn't invite it in. How will you know? Well, you might hear it, whispering in your ear, or maybe see it as just appearing as part of that movie, or on a Holo-screen you're walking by, and disappearing as quickly as you hear or see it... "You'd better not shout, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout NoT TeLliNg YoU whY Gonna taste you, spit you out, smell you soon YoU STINKy LOuT. Hope you like the company. We've been dying to meet you."

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ xxxx ] Your first day will go normally enough, even if some things at work or school will behave a little oddly. Nothing too major, but enough to give you a sense of unease through the day. The real fun begins when the evening is in full swing, because things will feel even worse than before. Objects will disappear and reappear in the wrong places, your HoloGM at home or the workplace will decide to suddenly flicker into strange shapes and frightening objects before turning to normal, and who threw that lamp?? If you were planning on spending an evening of peace, well. We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but... on the positive side, there's a fun stream of spooky shows to watch?! Just ignore the possibility of someone joining you... or not. Ignoring a guest isn't nice, you know. Will you run into the arms of a lover or friend, or run and hide? The choice is yours. PHASE II [ xxxx ] You're going to really not like what comes next, deep into the hours past 3 a.m. Hope you're not a cranky sleeper, because you may want to be up for this. Your Cerevice will blink a strange message that will merely read "W A R N I N G" and flicker to normal before you feel that your privacy has been completely compromised. Or at least haunted. Because the next thing you know? Ghosts. Lots of them. And they're not going to wait before giving you chase and letting your senses take the hit. Of course, you might just get lucky and not be visited by any of the ghosts at all- but then again, things will just continue to make you jumpy and spook you out throughout the time the others suffer. Hope you weren't counting on a lot of sleep. And as for those of you who will eventually become victims of your unfriendly visitors, well... hope your friends are around to help. Your CereVice certainly will. PHASE III [ xxxx ] What a rotten week. If you haven't been visited by your ghosts of eternal damage, you're going to have a nasty week at work with things going wrong and everything just points at you. If you have been hit by a ghost, you're going to be suffering the after-effects throughout. The good news is, your CereVices will do their best to compensate for what you did lose. You can voice activate them or touch activate them, or have them give you textual directions. Your healer friends however, can come in very handy and attempt to fix you up- and may even succeed! Though some effects may be stronger than the rest. Even ViViD will have some intriguing new stages that may put your recent condition into focus and have you work through them to gain a better boost. Just don't be surprised if it isn't entirely effective, but hey, remember when we said having friends is a good thing? Hope you've been making some, because they might just be the only chance you have against suffering this alone. PHASE IV [ xxxx ] As the week draws to a close, the effects of the hauntings will start to wear off, and surprise and joy, things will seem normal again. People won't be experiencing any irritations and jumpy situations at home anymore, and all will be well. Then night will fall and they'll come again. For those of you who were lucky enough to escape, the only trouble you'll have is the screams of horror and the frightening situations your friends are in (did we mention you had to make friends?)- you may have to get out of bed to help, hunt around- and probably put your life on the line. Because those that did get affected, will be dragged into a place of horror and fright, of shivers and quivers- Vidia's Secret: Premium Lingerie to suit all tastes. A beast of horrifying proportions awaits there, ready to tear your friends from limb to limb, so we do hope the captives are prepared to fight, or die trying. PURGATORY [ whyo'clock ] You died while fighting against the final boss. Sucks, but it happens. That's why you're here, after all. There isn't much, but make yourselves at home. The surroundings will look pleasant enough, little recovery huts with some cute digital medics of all types waiting in there to help you out. After about 12 hours in Ceres time, the characters will step out of ViViD and be given gift bags with "You Tried" stars on them, each containing a sexy set of lingerie (and animal onesies for anyone below 16) and pampering materials like bath bombs, chocolates, candles and shampoos to take the trauma off the last few days. For those that survived, they'll be getting the same, as well as "Well Done!" stars on their bags (and an extra massage coupon)- and all parties will recieve a little note contained within reading: "We're sorry, have some gifts. You can blame one of your own for being too curious, though. Remember to read the instructions next time, and don't go on witch hunts!" For those exploring Purgatory, just relax and enjoy the view. Also, your characters might have woken up wearing the lingerie or onesies during their "recovery treatment"... we're sorry they're the only clothes they'll get until they leave. :( [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE Welcome to CEREALIA's latest event post. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing what's going on right here and feel free to consult the FAQ if needed. Please leave any lingering questions in the OOC post, and we'll answer them as soon as we can.

Comments

[cheats]

[ Ciel just gets a slightly stricken look as Zara thinks about this, and he glances away awkwardly. Did he barter for it or just steal it? The world will never know. ]

...Don't worry about it too much. This was the best I could do.

[sewayaku]

[ urgh. Zara's mouth presses into a thin, highly suspicious line, but he nods anyway, deciding that it's not worth arguing about. The important thing is that he is now one step closer to being fully clothed. ]

... As you wish. [ carefully, he steps out of the bush, pulling the robe tight around him and immediately glancing in the direction of the exit. Or, at least, where he assumes it is. Then, he looks back to Ciel - and his unusual costume. ] ... You woke up dressed in that, as well>

[cheats]

[ Zara, you've betrayed him!! He thought you were cool and wouldn't point out this stupid outfit! His face turns scarlet, because he had gotten that robe by more or less doing a Lamby Lamby Dance, so truly, he likes you, Zara. ]

Ergh, yes. And I'd like to leave as soon as possible to make sure to burn it.

[sewayaku]

[ listen, it's weird, he had to ask about it!! also, he has to admit that watching ciel get all riled up about things is rather amusing... Zara smirks, looking gently amused. ]

Oh? But it does look rather cute on you, earl... [ he shakes his head. ] I understand. Let's get out of this place before things get worse.

[ because he's like 80% sure that they will, somehow. he's not going to test fate. ]

[cheats]

It is not cute.

[ He says that rather venomously, but there's also the sense that he's either heard that a lot today or is rather used to hearing is in general. The Tragedies of Ciel... ]

But yes, let's... I can't stand another minute like this.

[sewayaku]

My apologies, [ he says unapologetically - but he won't push any farther than that. No need to put himself on the earl's bad side... Zara lifts a hand, indicating the top of his own head. ] Perhaps I'm biased?

[ it's a good distraction from how cold his legs are right now. He begins to walk at a quick pace, clearly sharing Ciel's sentiments on the matter. ]

[cheats]

[ He hears that unapologetic tone, Zara!! He's used to hearing it from Sebastian, thank you very much. He gives Zara a sharp look, but still, all the same, he finds he can't reject that so sharply. Would it be insulting at that point? ]

...Still. It doesn't suit me at all.

[sewayaku]

[ keikaku doori ]

It's certainly not the typical attire for an earl. Still, I'd say it's preferable to the alternative.

[ protip: what zara is wearing is the alternative. Count yourself lucky, Ciel. ]

[cheats]

...That's true.

[ His questionable adventures with Zara never end, and yet, he still hangs out with him, so Zara must be doing something right. ]

Er, on a different note, how were you the past week anyways? Did a ghost... haunt you, or something like that?

[sewayaku]

[ being respectful and easy to talk to will get you very far in life, he's found... Zara nods once, grimacing a little. ]

Indeed... I suppose that's what happened. I was deaf for most of the week, although Miss Natalia was able to restore my hearing to a small degree with her healing magic.

[cheats]

[ The name clearly catches his interest, and he looks to Zara curiously. It's not an uncommon name, so it's quite possibly someone different, but considering there are already some of them here... ]

Natalia? Do you know her last name? [ All like, five of them ]

[sewayaku]

[ thinking, he rubs his chin, but comes up with nothing. Not that he'd be able to rattle off all those last names even if she had told him. Probably. ]

No... But she was a polite girl around my own age. She said she hailed from a place called Auldrant. [ he tilts his head at Ciel as they walk. ] Do you know her?

[cheats]

[ It sounds familiar, but he's not completely sure, since they hadn't talked much in the days they had been in that park. Ciel's expression cool, and as Zara looks at him, Ciel looks away, though it doesn't seem to be on purpose. ]

Blonde hair?

[sewayaku]

Yes, that's her.

[ assuming there isn't another blonde Natalia running around - but it's best to keep things simple. Zara nods. ]

She's been quite kind to me.

[cheats]

Then yes, I believe I know her.

[ He sighs, and that makes his expression flicker to something darker. ]

She was in the place I was before I came here. I wasn't aware she ended up here too.

IF CIEL TOLD HIM ABOUT THIS ALREADY YOU CAN HIT ME

[sewayaku]

England, you mean? Or, perhaps...?

[ ... he'd been in this situation before, as well? Like Edgeworth? Zara frowns, as well. ]

I THOUGHT HE DID but he did not so we cool

[cheats]

A place similar to this, I suppose?

[ He says it casually, but at the same time, his face is cool and dismissive. For someone observant, it would definitely give the impression that he's not being honest about what he's feeling. ]

It wasn't the same, but the idea of people being pulled from all sorts of places is the same, at least.

no beatings today

[sewayaku]

[ So it was true. He wrinkles his nose in distaste - not at Ciel, but at the misfortune he's apparently been made to suffer. His situation at home sounded difficult enough without being slung to different corners of the universe against his will. ]

So this isn't the first time you've gone through this, then. [ a pause. ] ... I'm sorry for that.

[cheats]

[ Ciel doesn't answer right away, and though it's no more than a moment's pause before he does, the pause is still noticeable. But when it comes, it comes with a wave of his hand as if to dismiss it. ]

Thank you, but it's fine. So far as I can gather, it's just a case of bad luck.

[ But continuing on: ] I'll have to speak with her, in any case. There's only so many people that can show up here from the same place before it is no longer simply bad luck.

[sewayaku]

[ "bad luck," indeed. That's bad luck on a monumental scale. Zara resented his current situation enough - he can't imagine having to go through it twice. He gives Ciel a sympathetic look, but lets the topic drop after that. There's no need to dwell on the painful past. ]

Mm... They may be connected. It's worth looking into. [ a gentle pause; then, carefully: ] ... Do you recall what happened when you left that place?

[cheats]

[ Ciel had been carefully stepping around elaborating, but when faced with the two topics here, it's much more difficult to. He pauses again, then looks away, though his expression is still careful and cool. ]

If it's connected, then we're in danger.

[ There's no question of that in his mind at all. Any place connected to that amusement park is definitely dangerous. ]

But I don't, no.

[sewayaku]

[ though he was trying to be gentle, perhaps it's best if he doesn't press further. He nods once, and resolves to ask Natalia about it later, if she's willing to speak of it. Ciel seemed like someone whose troubles didn't need exacerbating. ]

... In that case, I'll hope that they're not. I met one other man who said he'd been to a place called "Death City" before arriving here - he didn't seem to think the two worlds were connected.

[cheats]

[ Ciel at least shakes his head, because though the subject is uncomfortable, he has to get better at talking about it. It's important, even if it makes him deeply uncomfortable. ]

What about them? Do they have people that keep showing up here?

[sewayaku]

I didn't ask, but it's possible. His name was Edgeworth, I believe, if you want to ask him more about it.

[ he seemed friendly enough, if a bit stiff. ]

They'd been fighting a war there, as well, according to him. They won it. After that, it seems he came here instead of being returned home.

[cheats]

I will.

[ Ciel sounds very assured of that, and he certainly will track down Edgeworth, but to continue their conversation, Ciel shakes his head. ]

That's different from what we experienced, at least.