PHASE I [ 9 00 ] The peace of the morning in the Residential District shatters just as the wall caves through. It’s a small segment of wall -- no more than five feet across at most. And yet the crash and groan of the metal being stretched is ominously accompanied by the distinct piercing screech of metal and another sound. A raucous noise, a combination of ungodly wailing and sharp, victorious laughter spills forth from the hole left in the wall as a myriad of ghosts and spirits erupt from the newly created exit. Characters with any type of spiritual sense will find themselves nearly overwhelmed by the amount of negative ghostly energy that suddenly floods Cerealia and characters with no sense of preservation will find any attempt to enter the hole blocked by the fiercest of ghosts, met with deadly force if they try to pass, as the ghosts won’t hesitate to do things such as reach straight into your body to try to stop your heart.
These ghosts are out for blood, and they don’t seem to stop no matter how you try to talk to them -- they just hiss out, over and over again, “Murderersmurderersmurderers.”
From there, the ghosts move on. Their true target, after all, is CERES… but to them, there’s no difference between the character players and CERES. They’ll go for whoever gets in their way, phasing through walls and becoming tangible long enough to reach for characters before fading away again. Characters with special abilities will find themselves in a similar state. Their abilities may increase and decrease in power sporadically, or be completely gone. They may attempt to cast a spell only to find that the wrong spell is cast instead, or an attempt at healing may end up a more dangerous spell. Be careful with your own magical skills!
Those with items or powers specifically intended to ward off spirits will still fulfill their intended purposes when used – unless malicious spiritual energy gets to them first.
PHASE II [ 1400 ] It seems the ghosts have more tricks up their sleeves. It seems that a not-so-friendly ghost has decided to play a game with you. It doesn't matter where you are, or what you're doing, because a moment later a voice calls out -- Hey. Can you see me? -- and once you turn your head, you’ll come face to face with a surprise.
Who is it in this world (or your world, or any world) that you have managed to disappoint the most? A family member? A friend? Yourself? They face you now, eyes full of sadness, and they say, “I need you to do something for me.” Without another word, they’ll turn away and begin to walk. Your vision grows foggy, focused solely on the need to do whatever this person wants – they need you, after all. Your legs move to follow them, unless you manage to somehow resist.
But you apparently don’t seem to notice that you’re the only one who can see this person – or that they’re leading you stray toward that monorail track with the sound of the train coming closer, or that busy intersection, or right off the sky bridge.
PHASE III [ 600 ] Other ghosts don’t feel like borrowing faces in order to inflict damage. No, they’ll inflict their damage on a far more personal level. They manifest suddenly and without warning – then all it takes is a simple touch. A ghostly hand reaches out to you and it feels like the cold wraps around your heart, and your vision skews, and then... they leave just as suddenly as they came.
Those who have been around for awhile may very well recognize the ghosts, at that.
But the damage has already been done. Depending on a character’s assigned sense, they will feel one of the following changes:
Sight: Hopefully you aren’t in the habit of bending the truth. Dead men tell no tales, they say. But what happens to a living person unable to tell lies? Any attempt at telling any lie or falsehood will cause the character to feel as though their throat has closed off, and they can do nothing more than choke.
Smell: The cold passes, but in some way that it never really leaves. And then everything seems perfectly normal. Nothing has changed, right? You're fine -- except that in a short period of time with how crazy things are, it becomes apparent that you're unable to feel pain. The damage to your body is the same as ever, but dangerously, you can't feel a thing.
Taste: It would appear as though the ghosts have a sense of humor. From those who rest in eternal slumber, try a few days of being unable to sleep. Everything seems fine at first... but slowly but surely, that lack of sleep will start to take its toll.
Hearing: Most others would feel relief once the ghosts left, finally a moment of peace. But you? You don’t feel anything – nothing kind, anyway. Rather, you have been left unable to feel joy. Everything seems either bleak or as though it simply has no emotional impact at all.
Touch: How many deaths have been caused in the name of heroics? Apparently in an attempt to keep future casualties down (or perhaps for their own laughter), the ghosts have left you unable to be brave. Suddenly, a situation you'd face fearlessly is one that has sent you running, panic sharp in your chest.
These effects will last throughout the event, if a character is caught by them.
PHASE IV [ 1000 ] While chaos erupts throughout the city, some of the more misguided ghosts (but still bloodthirsty, so very bloodthirsty) just happened to run into the wrong part of town and don’t know how to give a proper scaring. One ghost seems to think that it was a great idea to possess a masseusebot from the Spa. You’re grabbed suddenly! You fight for your life but can’t seem to get yourself out of its metal grip! With expert precision that only a robot can mange, it finds your pressure points – and releases all that tension from this Incredibly Bad Day. The ghost inside the robot is confused, distressed -- why is this human suddenly so relaxed? It only wants to murder. But the only illegal thing happening here is how good this massage makes you feel.
Maybe later you’ll walk down the street and get stopped by the ghost that possessed a balloon dispenser. Perhaps a ghost has possessed the friendly McCERES mascot, and is now handing out coupons with murderous intent. And of course, there are always the hug bots...
Look, they tried really hard, okay.
Of course... they might end up possessing technology a little closer to home as well, at which point it's not so funny.
BONUS [ xxxx ] Hopefully you have friends who have ghost-fighting skills. Or ghost-taming skills. Or ghost-bellydancing skills, who knows, we won't judge them if you don't. But what of those poor people who come from worlds where the supernatural is some weird television show?
Worry not, poor souls, for CERES is here to provide! Some time after the ruckus begins, characters will find what looks to be a hand-held vacuum cleaner situated innocuously in their rooms (only one per person, you greedy gus). The logo on the side will helpfully inform you that this is of CERES make, because the paper pamphlet beside your new device? Well, it's more like a picture book. Observe Stick-Man Sully as he uses his vacuum cleaner to capture ghosts! Learn from his stellar example! Do not stick the hose in your mouth or attempt to give the vacuum CPR, there's a big X over that picture. Also of the one where Stick-Man Sully sets his captive ghosts free once more, we don't want that, do we?
Your new ghost vacuum should prove effective against any ghastly ghoul that shoots your way, but beware! Should you capture a ghost and not turn in your vacuum to CERES for weekly ghost disposal, your ghost will serenade you in the wee hours of the morning with its song of choice. If you capture a whole horde of ghosts, well, congratulations. You have a boy band living in your vacuum.
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
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"it's freaky," he would say, but he stops himself from making a comment about it. there's definitely something wrong with fushimi, so he's yata's priority over the whole ghost situation. ]
You wouldn't be so careless. [ he looks around and nods towards an alleyway. at least if they move there, they wouldn't hurt anybody if fushimi's aura's really acting strangely. pointing to the dead end's wall with his thumb, he says: ] Try whatever you just did again.
[ he at least has a feeling that fushimi meant to use his blue aura and not his red one when he said it wasn't what he wanted. ]
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Once he's in a good position to try throwing a knife again, and also safely out of view of anyone else should another embarrassing accident happen, he drops a knife into one hand, flipping it between his fingers in agitation. Using one color aura over the other isn't difficult; if he wasn't able to switch between them quickly if he needed to, he'd be useless in a fight. Still, he takes the time to think about it. A pure blue, a defensive aura, that's all he wants.
Before he even throws the knife, he lets the aura wrap itself around the knife. So far, so good. As he throws the knife at the wall, though, streaks of red mingle with the blue. It doesn't make as impressive a hole as the previous knife did, but it's enough that Fushimi scowls and mutters about it.]
What the hell, I don't have time for this. See?
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especially now.
what thought does occur to him is that fushimi should have better control over his abilities like that. not that yata has an idea of what it's like to have two different auras, but he knows what it's like to activate it. it's concerning because it's his friend who's being fucked with by ceres, and that's an even worse crime than toying with his own mind. you can do what you want to him, ceres, but don't ever touch his friends. ]
'ch. [ he walks over to grab the knife from the wall. not that getting a closer look would help, but fushimi may want the knife back, who knows. but he doesn't return it right away, and just looks at his reflection from the blade as he continues; ] A ghost got to you, huh.
[ yata doesn't need a response to know what might be up. he's seen enough ghosts these past few days that he's decided to blame everything on them. (sorry, ghosts. but you're not exactly innocent.) ]
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It's not as though he expects Yata to be able to magically fix him or have any solid advice; auras not working is unprecedented and he doubts either of them are able to fix this immediately. All this is is a glaring reminder that things can, and will, go wrong for them without warning. He won't admit it out loud, but he's glad that Yata isn't experiencing the same problems. His own feelings are different, but he feels almost the same way; it doesn't really matter what he has to go through himself, but having this place mess with Yata would be enough to set him off.
Since Yata's been able to figure out at least that much, he doesn't feel the need to actually voice an agreement. Instead, he hunches his shoulders and looks away. He should've been faster, should've paid more attention, then maybe he wouldn't have had that run in with the ghost. Wishing the encounter had gone differently is useless now, but it still bothers him.]
It wasn't like I could avoid it... it just appeared before I could do anything.
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it's even more insulting because auras shouldn't be played with. it was mikoto who gave him his aura, and if it went haywire, then that wouldn't just be toying with him. it would be toying with yata, homra, and its former king, too. but that's thinking too much, and yata doesn't say anything about it out loud... at least, not now. it's no needed, but it does make him irritated that these ghosts could just pick on people like that. but if it's a fight they want, then it's a fight they'll get.
though as tough as his thoughts are, he can't exactly verbalise them properly. ]
Maybe- [ he looks away, blushing a tad bit. ] You should stick with me. I'm fine, so.
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How can Yata honestly say something like that? As if Fushimi wants some half-hearted offer like that-- a pity offer because he thinks Fushimi needs the help. The idea of making sure that Yata doesn't get attacked or run into other troubles of his own isn't entirely unappealing, but even now, it makes him uncomfortable in ways he doesn't want to think about to possibly act like they're that close. Despite current events, it would be better not to pretend to still be friends.]
That's not... I don't want help from Mi-- hrgh-- mi... [What should have been a simple dismissal to Yata's offer turns into a wheezing gasp as it suddenly feels as though all the air in his lungs vanishes at once with a closed off, constricted feeling in his throat.
He's had the wind knocked out of him before in fights, so he's able to squash the initial panic reflex he feels, but not before he reaches up with one hand to feel at his throat, eyes darting away from looking at Yata as he tries to work some air back into his windpipe.]
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[ yata immediately rushes to fushimi's side to check what's wrong, even going so far as to give fushimi a soft slap on the back. that's what people do to their friends when they can't breathe, right?
man... maybe they should go to a hospital?? yata knows only how to tend to his own wounds - ones that he got from fighting in the streets. he has no idea how to take care of other people, so this, well, he just feels helpless about the whole situation. he knows full well that fushimi can take care of himself, and that he's tougher than he looks but suddenly choking like the way fushimi is now just sends shivers down his spine.
he's already lost totsuka and mikoto. he can't lose somebody else now. not like this. not here. ]
Hey! Are you okay? Shit, water—[ not even waiting for fushimi to respond, he kicks at the ground and skates away, yelling "hold still!" when he looks back. HE'LL LOOK FOR WATER, OKAY. >:C BE BACK SOON, BRO. ]
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He makes a dismissive, annoyed gesture at Yata's back, but it goes unnoticed because he's too busy trying to play nurse. When the disappearing figure does look back at him, he just stares for a moment before setting himself to work just breathing again.
It takes more agonizing seconds, but finally he sucks in a ragged breath, then another, until he feels like he can breathe. He coughs, testing out his voice now that he can function again. The reaction his body had was too much, too harsh for simply having an itch in his throat. Why did it only happen when he tried to say what he did? Because he tried to say Yata's name?]
Misaki can act like an idiot sometimes. [Nope, that's not it.] Misaki is overreacting... Misaki might be gone for a while... I don't care if Misaki co-- hak-- ["I don't care if Misaki comes back," There it is. He's ready for it this time, though, and the choking spell doesn't last as long.
Frowning, then making sure that he doesn't see Yata returning quite yet, he tries saying a few more different things. I have prescription glasses, Misaki can't drive, I like to eat bamboo sprouts, I have black hair, I've never carried a sword.
He's starting to get an idea of exactly what's wrong, and it's mortifying. The things he said that were true didn't bother him at all, but the things that were lies couldn't even get past his lips without that disgusting choking feeling washing over him.
As if he already wasn't disgruntled enough, now he has to deal with the fact that some idiot dead thing put a stupid curse or spell or whatever on him too. He really, really hates ghosts.]
puts phase iv in here too #yolo
Shit!
[ ah... spoke too soon. what we have now is a yata being sent to the ground by a vending machine that's spewing all kinds of canned drinks yata's way, hitting on the face, the gut, the shin. SHIT'S PAINFUL, OK. and eventually, he makes the whole machine explode with his red aura. but these are things fushimi doesn't need to know... even though it might be weird that yata comes back looking like he just woke up, and then there's the fact that he's carrying all kinds of drinks in his arms. ]
Saruhiko! [ he immediately gets off his skateboard and leaves it by the entrance to the alley to rush to his former friend's side. he's back!! love him. ]
Here. I didn't know what you wanted, so I got everything.
[ more like he freaked out so he just picked up whatever was near him. close enough. pick one! ]
what a... winner...
What did you get up to? You look terrible. I was about to go and see if you had managed to get yourself lost. [Some people go with normal questions like asking if someone is okay, but whatever.]
You might as well put the sodas down... you probably shook them all up too much to drink now anyway.
[Which is why he's plucking a can of coffee from Yata's arms, and immediately popping the top to drink to sip at it.]
I know what the problem is. It shouldn't happen again.
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Ghosts in the vending machine. [ though he does sound a bit more annoyed than scared as he says it. but that comes along with unwillingly wanting to say it out loud. the only reason why he's telling the truth is so fushimi doesn't have to worry about him or anything. you know, just in case fushimi still has a heart.
but he also does what he's told. it's definitely a smart move to put the drinks down, so that's what he does. he's definitely shaken the drinks more than normal since he was going at such a high speed. he wants to rant about the ghosts, but when he hears fushimi say he knows what's up, he turns his attention to him with a soft "huh?" ]
What's the problem?
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You should pay more attention to what you're doing.
[In response to the question he's clicking his tongue and taking another sip of his drink. He knows full well that Yata is seriously about looking out for him, so he stands up a little straighter in defiance of being worried about.]
If I say it it will only cause trouble and Misaki will probably want to try and fix it. It's already been too bothersome.
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I was! Shut up! [ and it's not like he could go anywhere else that time. he would have taken longer, and for all he knows, fushimi could've died from difficulty of breathing if he hadn't come sooner. >:C but he'll take that as fushimi's way of saying thanks because the guy is emotionally constipated, anyway.
fushimi is totally right that yata would do something about it, though. he'd absolutely work on fixing what's going on. NOT FOR FUSHIMI OR ANYTHING, but because other people might be experiencing some problems, too. he's not going to let anybody die on his watch. ]
And just tell me!
[ totally yelling at somebody who almost choked to death. good job, man. ]
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He looks at Yata like he's slow, but he still has to choose his words carefully no matter how dumb Yata is being.]
I just said I don't want to. I know you heard me say that, Misaki.
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Fine. [ he crosses his arms and looks away, though for a split second, he glances back at fushimi. ] Don't tell me. Just don't blame me if something happens to you.
[ though in case something does, he'd totally be there ready to fight or blow something up. ]
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Stop pouting. It's gross.
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I'll do whatever I want.
[ yata even lets out a soft "hmph", but right after that, he feels something or someone tap him on the shoulder. he looks behind him and sees no one. ]
... shit.
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Auras working properly or not, he's instantly alert, not quite dropping his drink on the ground and looking around himself.]
Misaki? What is it?
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I dunno, I was probably just imagining things.
[ ha! nailed it. ]
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You felt something, don't pretend like you didn't. If you don't watch yourself, you'll end up with annoying after effects.
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wait. that's what he just did, not hitting fushimi or anything, of course. ]
I'm fine.
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As much as it's a good thing that Yata hasn't been burdened with the same sort of problems he's having, it's making him feel sulky himself that everything is fine for him, and even he can tell that he's mumbling out of childish resentment.]
I can see that, you don't have to tell me.
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he looks at the only direction out of the alley, then back at fushimi. ]
I don't want to be out here anymore. C'mon, let's go.
[ fushimi didn't even say yes to them teaming up together, but yata isn't going to have somebody whose powers are out of control to be alone. ]
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Since he can't trust himself enough to offer up his usual type of protest, he settles for a mumbled form of agreement to leave.]
I don't want to go anywhere stupid.
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[ ok, maybe it is. because fushimi might see a building like this as they continue walking. that's where they're going! ]
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