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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trowa barton | gundam wing
[ There's a bad feeling in the air.
He's already heard the rumors, about the spirits in the colony. Except, he has yet to encounter any of them. Maybe it's some weird form of luck. However, he has heard them and the whispers of murderer stick in his mind more than any threat. Because he can't exactly refute that blame. Those who kill, survive. That's been his life from the first time he'd ever been strapped into the cockpit of a mobile suit. Ever since his small hands could wrap around the controls.
It's something he's accepted. Death follows him closely and all he's been doing is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Then, it'd been to stay alive. Now, it's for a fragment of peace. They amount to the same thing, really.
Trowa's halfway through trying to push the critical thoughts out of his head when a chill runs through him, a shadow passing over. Glancing up, he's met with– Cathy? Unable to keep the shock off his face, he steps closer to her, even as she turns away, asking him to do something for her. At first, he hesitates, he's not close enough to her to just take her at her word right?
(Then he thinks about how she cares, actually cares and his feet start moving without delay). ]
Cathy, wait. What are you doing here?
[ He's got enough curiosity in him to question the appearance, but not the direction they're heading. Someone might want to stop him before he goes too much further towards the train tracks. ]
[phase III ]
[ There are flickers out of the corner of his eye. They've been coming in and out, never getting too close. But, never going too far either. Trowa's not sure if they're waiting for something or if they've decided he's not someone they want to bother with.
In either case, he picks up his pace a little, feeling as alert as possible. He doesn't have a chance fighting these things and he doubts he could actually outrun them. Still, he's going to try. Too bad that thought gets cut off as a ghost solidifies in front of his path, causing him to stop abruptly. With a speed he didn't realize the things had, it reaches out just as he leans back, attempting to duck under the spectre's touch.
That lean turns into a pivot, because he should be able to start running. Only there's another ghost blocking his way, a barely-there hand dipping into his chest with the feeling of ice. And then it's gone; he's still breathing, his heart is still beating.
He just feels oddly empty. Frowning, he stands there, hands checking his pulse and the rest of himself to make sure he's still alive. ]
[ phase IV ]
[ Trowa has never been one to panic. Even if the world seemed to be crashing down around his ears, it didn't seem fitting to him to start screaming or freaking out. If things truly did end, making a whole lot of noise wasn't going to change the facts.
However, it's this mentality that leads him to this...interesting position. This being caught in the arms of a Hug Bot gone totally wrong. All he wanted was to get some soup from the grocery, not to be accosted by an extra affectionate robot. The thing isn't totally big but with his small stature, his feet are off the ground and his arms are locked to his sides.
Anyone who passes by is likely getting a look that borders on helpless. ]
Can you get me down from here?
[ wildcard! ]
[ if you have another prompt you'd like to use, go for it!. ]
Phase II
Even today, Hiro wasn't sure what happened between the moment that the train smashed him and the moment he made the contract. But he definitely remembered the sensation of dying in that state of limbo. As he walked down the steps, he snaps out of his past traumatic thoughts and noticed Trowa walking by... Just where was he going?]
--Ah? What's he-- [When Hiro saw that the boy was heading for the train tracks... He turned ten shades of pale.] H-Hey! What the hell are you doing!? It's dangerous to go over here!
500 years later GOMEN.....
That's momentarily interrupted, a sound catching his attention off to the side. Trowa pauses, glancing towards the voice. Someone is trying to flag him down, vocally? ]
It's fine–
[ And the figure of Cathy gestures to him again, making him wave off the stranger. She wouldn't hurt him intentionally. ]
IT IS ALL GOOD
[Normally, Hiro would approach this a little more calmly. But considering the situation, he's at wit's end and the fact that this guy was about to sign his death warrant was making him on edge. He'll be running up to Trowa and aggressively put his hands on the boy's shoulders.]
We're in a subway! Those are train tracks! If you step onto those tracks, you're gonna become an instant pancake if a train comes along!
no subject
Thankfully (though annoyingly, for a brief moment), there are strong hands coming down on his shoulders. It's enough to physically pull him out of the weird trance-like state long enough to see he was about a foot away from the tracks. Paling, he looks up, trying to find Cathy– she's on the other side of the tracks, standing on the edge.
And then she's gone. ]
What's going on...?
phase iv
I could try, if you would be willing to let me?
[She doesn't know to much about robotics though....]
this is so late..........life happened
...If you wouldn't mind. I can't feel my arms very well.
[ He'll forgive whatever methods might need to be used here. Because he's tried wheedling, reasoning, and threats so far to no avail. ]
No worries! I hope everything's okay!
[Except she looks up at the robot for a moment before she walks behind it. The fastest way, she reasons, is probably to hit it with magic. Probably at a joint?]
Please hold on to the robot's arm if you can.
[Once she's sure that he is, she breaks off a piece of her hair and directs a spell at almost point-blank range to the robot's elbow from the front (so if this does work they're not going to both get crushed).]
all good! holidays u know
Trowa watches her as she circles around, presumably looking for a weak point. He doesn't hesitate to try and hold on after her response– falling directly onto the ground isn't an inviting prospect. There's a flash right after and then a horrible creaking sound. Tensing as the forearm of the robot falls away, he lets go of his weak hold and pushes away for the opportunity of a better landing.
Which he gets. Sorta. His knee will be smarting tomorrow, but he's at least on land. Brushing himself off, he regards the girl. ]
Thanks for the warning. [ He's sincere. ] And the help. How did you do that?
Holidays are super busy, that's true. Hope you had a good time!
Using magic. I thought if I aimed at the joints that it could break the hold. It is safer than trying to hit it from afar. Are you all right?
i did /thumbs up!!
[ He's seen magic before, but Naoki's version is more no holds barred. ] Close range usually delivers the best aim.
[ Just. You know. In general. Not speaking from experience with firearms or anything. ]
I'll be fine, it'll probably bruise, that's all. [ And as if to illustrate his point, he does a small hop from one foot to the other without grimacing. ] You've managed to avoid the ghosts?
Awesome!
I did, for the most part. But they are...different from the ghosts that I am used to. For one, they are attacking people and seem quite troubled. [Which is putting it lightly, probably.]
no subject
The ghosts you're used to aren't very violent? [ Ghosts of any kind don't really make much sense to him. ] I've never experienced anything like this where I'm from.
no subject
[They were just the spirits of the workers who had been responsible for building the secret passageways out of the castle she had been living in. Killed in order to keep the passages secret, they were used as markers and the thought of this still made Veronica quietly angry.]
They never hurt anyone and simply lingered, unable to move on. But it is a good thing that you have never experienced something like this.
iii
[ Xion sees the ghosts swarming on her friend too late. She's got her Keyblade - and still has her courage - and comes rushing over as fast as she can, but it's not quick enough. She skids to a stop once the ghost reaches into his chest, horrified, and then resumes running towards him, concerned even though his reaction is basically not to react.
She's very out of breath for what's a relatively short run, flushed and deeply ill-looking, but she cares little about that. Instead she'll reach out to put a hand on his arm, looking at his chest where the ghost reached into him, and then at his face. ]
Are you okay? What did it do to you?
no subject
Unfortunately, the chill feeling is pre-occupying his thoughts. It's difficult to think about anything without a tinge of grey falling over his mind. The sound of footsteps pause close by and Trowa turns just in time to see Xion putting a hand on his arm. Face more impassive than usual, he seems to consider her question. ]
I'm alive, I guess. I don't know what it did. [ He feels the spin of confusion but doesn't get the after effect of relief at seeing someone he knows in all this mess. Instead, it's just. Nothing. ]