☆TRACK V: I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE PT. 1

[interdimanagers]

Who: Everyone that isn't an opt out!
What: Naomi Rivers throws a terrible holiday party.
When: December 7th, 2054
Where: Naomi's ocean side mansion.
Warnings: Violence, poisoning, various murder attempts, mind control, general uncomfortable lack of consent. Also, probably drug use. Maybe sex? Who knows what you'll get up to.

“I will burn for you; Feel pain for you. I will twist the knife and bleed my aching heart, And tear it apart.” ☆I WILL TWIST THE KNIFE The first two hours of the solstice party are surprisingly normal. Members of both labels arrive by private sky shuttle, and are invited into the ballroom for food and drink. It’s even more surprising when both Lesedi Santiago and Edward Blanche arrive as well, and spent most of that first period speaking quietly in a nearby lounge area. Lesedi’s body guards and Juno watch the space around them, keeping anyone of lesser important from interrupting what looks to be quite the serious discussion. After food, the ballroom stage is taken over by a number of increasingly impressive entertainment pieces. It seems to be obligatory for everyone to stay and watch (not that it’s a struggle – the talent involved is unmistakeable), but not long into it Lesedi and Edward can be seen disappearing outside together, and show no immediate signs of returning. And that’s when Naomi Rivers takes the stage. To the Virgo that have heard it before, the song is more viscerally familiar than anything you’ve only heard once should be, and it awakens the ideas that were implanted there the night before. You have a job to do here, tonight. One that is only fair – almost righteous. Lesedi Santiago and her ilk will suffer for her transgressions. The performances end, and everyone is released out to the rest of the grounds, to mingle and celebrate at their leisure. While things may seem civil on the surface, beneath that something dark is brewing. You gradually begin to notice that almost none of the more veteran members of either label are present. ► BALLROOM: The central nexus of the party, the ballroom is the location of the buffet table, the stage, and the dance floor. There will be music available all night, even after the official “performances” have ended. There are tables set up around the edges of the room for eating and relaxing. ► LOUNGE: Where Lesedi and Edward were having their meeting earlier, the lounge is filled with comfortable chairs, classic art, and a large, ornate fireplace. If you figure out who to ask, there are a number of chemical vices available to all guests. ► BALCONIES: There is a generous series of balconies that line the exterior of the upper floor. The ocean can be seen from one side and the gardens can be seen from the other. ► GUEST ROOMS: Down the halls from the ballroom there are a few generous guest bedrooms that have been left open for use. ► GARDENS: Out towards the back there are a wide variety of plants, and a well kept stone path and manmade waterfall. The plant life is on the sedate side due to the winter, but it’s still green. ► OUTDOOR POOL: There’s a pool out front with a shallow and a deep end. The water is clear and artificially warmed. ☆OOC CONSIDERATIONS Please remember that any attempted assassinations are meant to remain covert, and if your character is incapable of being stealthy then you must assume that any attempts you make are happening towards the end of the evening – let’s say around 11PM. The spell compelling people to do this does not want a riot or a bloodbath – what it wants is for people to die before the rest of the group can realize that anything is even going on. Of course, this isn’t exactly going to work out, but if you are finding yourself getting into the realm of intense physical violence you might want to stop and slow down a little. Virgo members that didn’t hear the song the night before are free from any compulsions, and so are all members of Pride. If non-mind controlled characters start clueing in to what’s going on and start trying to evacuate in large numbers, that is where you’ll want to wrap up threads and wait for Part 2 of the log, which will contain the end results and will be triggered by any large amount of chaos. If any characters attempt to escape earlier in the evening, they’ll find that the shuttles have all been grounded, and wandering in the woodland nearby just seems to result in them getting lost and ending up back at the mansion. It’s a real pickle. If you’ve got any question about what’s going on please leave them on the original plot post and they’ll get answered! The opt out event will be posted ASAP. “I will lie for you; Beg and steal for you. I will crawl on hands and knees until you see: You're just like me.”

Comments

Nia Teppelin | OTA

[loveconservative]

Ballroom and Lounge

[Nia is a bouncy little thing, excited to be invited to such a high profile party. Her dress is more tame than normal, like an attempt to be classy, but there's nothing that can save her from her flyaway curls.

Still, she's absolutely trying to be charming. She's approaching everyone that she can, prior to her little murder stint. She's offering them a completely not-poisoned drink if their hands are drink-free. It's a way to start a conversation, right?]

Are you thirsty?

Do you want to be assassinated by a sentient piece of cotton candy?

[Leaving this one more open. Nia is literally going to resort to anything--she aims to please. She's already shoved a guy off a balcony, pushed a guy into a pool, tried to poison someone, and helped lock someone in a freezer.

Give me a method and I'll give you the tiniest assassin.]

[tigermillionaire]

[Tiger has been antsy all night. It would be bad enough if it was just as weirdly frenetic of an atmosphere as it is, but ever since he got himself mutated by those masked people...he's terrified that any wrong move is going to result in him revealing himself in front of everyone and getting killed.

He's so stupid. Why does he keep doing this? Why does he keep risking things when he's already in so much trouble?

He's heading down the hallway to find somewhere he can hide until it's over - maybe he'll lock himself in one of the guest rooms and bury himself in a closet. It seems like people have been getting into fights all over the place, and the tension is unbearable. Being alone for a while seems really appealing.

But he doesn't quite make it to his goal.]

[loveconservative]

[Man at least she seems nice when she pops up alongside him, her hands clasped behind her back.]

You aren't looking very well. Are you all right?

[It seems innocent enough. She's failed so very many times tonight, she wants to make this one work. She's almost desperate.]

[tigermillionaire]

[Tiger startles, his hands clasping over his belly reflexively. He takes a step back, and then forces himself to stop and relax.]

I'm...I just want to go home.

[He starts moving again like he's planning on trying to walk past her. She seems okay, but...he just can't right now.]

[loveconservative]

A lot of the rooms are full. I can show you one that isn't, so you can take a break for the rest of the night.

[Because that's not threatening.

Really hope Greg is keeping a close eye on this kid.]

[tigermillionaire]

[While he may be expecting a confrontation, he's not really expecting an active murder attempt from someone his own age. Adults have always been the scary thing - Nia, though. She seems like him. He doesn't lend trust easily, but he doesn't instinctively distrust her either.]

...Which one?

[He comes forward a little, tentatively.]

[loveconservative]

[She takes his hand--it's a soft grip! Gentle, but not letting him go. Nia's pretty sweet around kids her own age, if pushy. She points down the hall to one further away.]

That one. I was just there, and no one else has come by.

[tigermillionaire]

[He reflexively tries to pull away when she takes his hand, but not hard enough to actually break the contact. He stares at her uncertainly, but then nods a little. Yeah, okay.

It's probably worth it if he can get somewhere more private.]

Okay. Um...thanks.

Lounge

[losingherhead]

[There's a small "hm?" from beneath the helmet. Oh hey, its that one kid from the festival. She pulls out her phone this time. She's so little, there's really no harm in it.]

Definitely.

[She has straws.]

Re: Lounge

[loveconservative]

[She holds out the glass with a smile.]

Here, then. [THOUGH SHE IS WONDERING HOW SHE IS GOING TO DRINK IT emergency induction port.]

[losingherhead]

[Her helmet is specially made to allow in stuff like bites of food or straws. Because science.

She happily pulls out her straw, put it in the drink, puts it through her little opening, and takes a sip.]

Not bad. Thanks.

[loveconservative]

[She tilts her head to the side. She can't help but watch.]

That's how you do it...

[losingherhead]

Its a special set-up.

[loveconservative]

It seems as if it'd be terribly inconvenient without it.

The not murder option, FINALLY

[faithfulflame]

[Rei will more than happily take Nia up on that offer, accepting the drink.]

Smells good. What is it, Nia?

NOT MURDER IS GOOD

[loveconservative]

[Nia smiles an absolutely happy smile to see Rei again.]

They said it's supposed to taste like raspberries. I haven't had any of it, but it seemed like it would be nice.

[faithfulflame]

Supposed to? Why haven't you tried it?

[Does drinking anything make cotton candy shrivel up?]

[loveconservative]

I tried a different one! [Basically, yeah.]

[faithfulflame]

Alright. Well.

[Here goes nothing. She sips the drink and tests it with her tongue...]

Huh. You know, I wouldn't say raspberries. I'd say more mulberries.

[eyettentionplease]

[There comes a time in every in-band friendship when you encounter the other crying after an attempted murder of another person. Y'know. It's a thing that happens to everyone at one point or another, right? Of course right.

Momo approaches cautiously, in case she tries to run.]

... Nia?

[loveconservative]

[She's leaning on the wall outside the room she left Greg and Tiger in, her face in her hands, and her shoulders shaking with sobs.

She didn't expect anyone to speak to her. Momo's voice startles her and she jerks back, eyes wide and face still wet with tears. She watches like a deer in the headlights, before she makes a beeline to Momo.

And there's a tiny thing basically coming to cling to her.]

Help... you have to help... please...

[eyettentionplease]

[Momo will hold her right the heck back, since that seems to be the order of the day here.]

What's wrong?

[loveconservative]

I did something awful. [The holding works. It helps a little. She doesn't have anyone else she can go to--Tsuna's just like her he did something terrible, too.]

I-I hurt people... a lot of people.

[eyettentionplease]

What did you do?

[It's not like she's any stranger to this... whatever it is, but. Good to get it settled just how much Nia's been doing. Momo's voice is reassuring, but firm.]

[loveconservative]

They were all from Pride. I-I pushed someone off a balcony, and someone into the pool and--and--

Tsuna and I locked someone in a freezer, and I poisoned Yosuke and--I just tried to stab someone--! I don't--

I don't know why! Why is this happening to me, Momo?