☆TRACK VII: IN REACHING OUT PT. 1

[interdimanagers]

Who: Everyone in Pride and Virgo HQ.
What: Ghosts need your help.
When: The evening of January 30th, 2055
Where: Pride and Virgo HQ.
Warnings: Phantasmal violence, possibly some real violence.

“Hold your colours against the wall, When they take everything away, Hold your colours against the wall, With me (soaking through)” ☆IN REACHING OUT Starting around the 20th of January, the heavy lockdown and supervision of the musicians of both labels will begin to fade. While they still require escorts to be out and about, the guards that have been routinely stalking them around their own homes and HQs will be gradually phased out, until it is just the regular managers and security remaining. Sweet deal, right? Over a month after the hysteria of the ill-fated solstice party, things seem to be finally letting up a little. Whether because you've played nice for long enough, or whether their attentions are being directed elsewhere, it isn't clear. Either way, this is the also the start of some increasingly familiar paranormal activity. All the way back to the first tour of this generation of musicians, members of both Pride and Virgo have found themselves haunted by strange and inexplicable happenings. Starting on the 23rd, these happenings begin to flare up again - lights switching on and off, TVs starting on their own, and even things falling off of shelves unprovoked. (These minor happenings can be made up by you and don't need to be mod designated - however, they should not be anything that would be threatening or dangerous to the characters.) For some people this will be completely new, and for others it may even be faintly nostalgic. This will continue until the night of the 30th, when things finally seem to come into swing. The hauntings will become more pointed and explicit. The details are specific to each HQ, and there and you can make yourself open to an NPC haunting down below. ☆PRIDE RECORDS About halfway through the evening on the 30th, Predator will begin prowling the halls of Pride HQ. At first it won't be clear for what, but after catching a few snippets of conversation (this can be handwaved) characters will have a change to realize that they are looking for the ghosts that have been causing a fuss recently. How crazy this will sound to you will probably depend on how new you are. They will actively shake down random musicians they meet for information about what they've seen the last couple days. As usual, Jenny is leading the pack, with Cass and Donny (nsfw) providing back up muscle. Provided you lie well or tell them the truth, they will move along fairly quickly. If you start shit with them, they will probably rough you up a little. Any major confrontations with them will be handled on the companion OOC post, and a few top levels may appear over here that can be tagged into in limited amounts. Beyond those activities, Pride members will feel various effects based on their EMOTIONAL ALIGNMENTS: ► ALL: Their connection and desire to create music will be especially heightened. They will find themselves subconsciously beginning to tap out rhythms, hum, peck at instruments, or straight up sing things even when it would otherwise be totally inappropriate. Strong emotions will cause them to want to sing and play to each other. They may also feel very strongly that they want to dance, to a particularly addictive beat that seems to emanate from the air. It may shift and change as the night goes on, but at any given moment everyone will hear the same rhythm. It sounds like particularly great percussion. ► LOVE & DUTY: They will have no extra special effects, but they will feel this urge to create music even more strongly than the rest, as it seems to be focused on them as they are not being directly targeted by any other sensations. When Hope and Passion musicians hear music made by these characters, they will feel stronger, like energy is being gifted to them. ► HOPE: Characters of this alignment will feel increasingly like they are being drawn somewhere, or like someone is calling for them, but they can't quite make out the direction it's coming from. The aspect of hope will be empowered within them, and they will find themselves unusually trusting towards the other characters, as if they only have the most optimistic outcomes in mind. Beyond this, they may feel dazed or confused by the sensations they are feeling. They may also experience strange visions, or the sensation of being another person they are not (and not just their true self this time, someone else completely). ► PASSION: Characters of passion will be targeted by the 'hauntings' much more directly than the others. More than random acts, the hauntings around them seem like someone is actively trying to communicate with them. Sometimes it will even feel like someone is trying to speak in their heads, though they won't quite be able to make it out. Passion characters who request haunting instances will get the most major effects. ☆VIRGO ENTERTAINMENT Soon after things start to get extra weird on the 30th, Juno and a couple Virgo veterans (Anansi and a man you recognize as a popular folk artist named Brett Hogan) will start wandering the halls. They will pull individuals aside for questioning in private rooms, asking about the strange occurrences. They will not attempt to rough anyone up, but excessively resistance or attempts at violence towards them may result in characters being locked in their rooms for the rest of the night. All three of them seem particularly hard to lie to for some reason, tonight. It's possible, but while you make the effort to do so, the words seem to be on the verge of falling out of your mouth. Juno seems to have something very particular in mind as she searches the HQ, like she can see something you can't. There will also be top levels for these guys appearing. Beyond those activities, Pride members will feel various effects based on their EMOTIONAL ALIGNMENTS: ► ALL: Their connection and desire to create music will be especially heightened. They will find themselves subconsciously beginning to tap out rhythms, hum, peck at instruments, or straight up sing things even when it would otherwise be totally inappropriate. Strong emotions will cause them to want to sing and play to each other. They may also feel very strongly that they want to dance, to a particularly addictive tune that seems to emanate from the air. It may shift and change as the night goes on, but at any given moment everyone will hear the same song. It sounds like someone riffing expertly on a guitar. ► HOPE & PASSION: They will have no extra special effects, but they will feel this urge to create music even more strongly than the rest, as it seems to be focused on them as they are not being directly targeted by any other sensations. When Love and Duty musicians hear music made by these characters, they will feel stronger, like energy is being gifted to them. ► LOVE: Characters of this alignment will feel increasingly like they are being drawn somewhere, or like someone is calling for them, but they can't quite make out the direction it's coming from. The aspect of love will be empowered within them, and they will find themselves unusually loving, connected, and emotionally open to others, even if this would usually be out of character. (This can also mean they are more inclined to get physically intimate, if you want to.) Beyond this, they may feel dazed or confused by the sensations they are feeling. They may also experience strange visions, or the sensation of being another person they are not (and not just their true self this time, someone else completely). ► DUTY: Characters of duty will be targeted by the 'hauntings' much more directly than the others. More than random acts, the hauntings around them seem like someone is actively trying to communicate with them. Sometimes it will even feel like someone is trying to speak in their heads, though they won't quite be able to make it out. Duty characters who request haunting instances will get the most major effects. ☆PLOT NOTE This will be a two part event, and the second part will be posted in a few days and will only include those that choose to help the spirits. This can be discussed OOC. Any alignment can assist, though the Passions from Pride and the Duties from Virgo will be the most directly pursued because they will be the easiest for the spirits to communicate with. Realize that participating is serious business, though: there are good odds the characters will be caught eventually, and there will be consequences. Do not volunteer your characters for this plot if you don't want them to suffer potential physical or mental trauma. “Fading gently, soaking through, And starting not to show at all. In reaching out and into you, nothing else could touch me.”

Comments

[stylistic_disloyalty]

...Are you asking me to come back to your suite and exorcise your ghost problem?

[sharktrash]

...maaaybe.

[ Is he afraid to sleep alone? Who knows. A grin twitches into existence. ]

Or you could exorcise me.

[ smooth ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

That's more like it. Ghosts don't bother people knocking boots, only horror movie monsters do that.

[She grins back and pushes the button to call the elevator.]

[sharktrash]

Really? Learn something new every day.

[ Soon enough there's a ding, the elevator door opens, and in they go. ]

Has there been field tests to prove it?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci shrugs.] That seems to be the deal in horror movies, at least. You think I need to scour the internet for an article or something?

[sharktrash]

I think that's just 'cause they wanna show the sex before the murder starts. Brings in money and all. [ For some reason, he thinks it's hilarious, and presses the button to MANTICORE's floor a bit more excitedly than usual. ] And no need. I'm for practical application.

[ ...the lights flicker and go out. ]

OH FOR FUCK'S SAKE!!

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Oh fuck no. [Luci immediately claps and lights her hands on fire for light.] There's an emergency phone in this thing, right?

[sharktrash]

I think -- [ Squalo suddenly shuts up, pales and sort of elbows her in the side. It looks as if someone invisible is trying to press the elevator buttons, but doesn't manage to push it far enough for it to actually work. It appears as though it wants to go to the very top floors... ]

[ It lasts for a few moments that feel like ages, then the light flickers back on as if nothing had happened. ]

What-- what the hell was that?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci watches the buttons shift too, looking distinctly unnerved by the sight too. Once the lights come back on, she closes her hands and extinguishes the fire.]

I have no idea, but I'm not going to Lesedi's office yet. [She repeats the button for Squalo's floor.] Happy place, please.

[sharktrash]

Me neither, thanks. If that fucking ghost was like this when it was alive, it's no wonder it died.

[ He shudders and huffs. The elevator finally moves, and they can breathe a sigh of relief. ]

Anyway --

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Amen.

[Luci breathes a sigh of relief too. This haunting business is insane, and she just needs to have a chill night with Squalo uninterrupted by ghosts.]

Anyway.

[sharktrash]

[ Soon enough, there's a ding, and the door opens on MANTICORE's floor. Squalo glances back at her thoughtfully as he moves to get out. ]

Actually, there's something else you could help me with.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Hm? [She follows him out, putting her hands in her sweatpants pockets.] What's that?

[sharktrash]

My hand. [ He's not giving out details in the hallway, but hey, he'll open that door soon enough. ] I asked Genos last time but he's out today and I don't feel like waiting, so...

[ He closes the door behind them and goes to stick the bottles in the bar. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci tilts her head, curious about what he wants her to do, but she imagines he's going to explain once they were in a more secure place. Like maybe his bedroom.]

Can I help with that? [She asks, gesturing to the bottles he's putting away.]

[sharktrash]

[ He gives her a grin and hands her a bottle. ]

Sure thing.

[ Whoops he assumed 'help' as in 'help to finish it all again'. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[...well, fair enough. Luci grins and breaks the seal on the tequila, knocking it back straight from the bottle. It's been a stressful couple of days, who can blame her?]

[sharktrash]

[ Damn it gurl you go. Once most of his purchase is put in order, he'll follow her example, though he'll probably chug vodka instead, as usual. Not as much as usual, though. He puts the bottle down and leans over the bar, almost conspicuously. ]

So. How easily grossed out are you?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci wipes her mouth on the back of her hand and tilts her head.] I've been to VorteQ during Oktoberfest, I think I can handle just about anything.

[sharktrash]

Great. Come on, then.

[ He takes that half-full bottle of vodka and heads for the bathroom. Once there, he'll put it on the edge of the sink, and hold his left hand out to Luci. ]

Handshake?

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci follows him into the bathroom, kind of curious about what's happening here. But when she's prompted by Squalo, she takes his hand.]

Nice to meet you, handsome.

[sharktrash]

Aw, me too!

[ As soon as she's holding his hand, he reaches around with the other one. A couple of quick clicks, and POP! - the hand and the forearm shell detaches from his arm, remaining in Luci's hand as he steps back. One of the oldest jokes in history, though rarely performed on actual prosthetics. ]

[ ...ugly hyena laughter commencing. ]

[stylistic_disloyalty]

[Luci had an inkling this was going to happen, but good gravy, really Squalo?]

You're fucking kidding me. I should beat you with your own arm right now. [But she's laughing anyway. Oh yes she is.]

[sharktrash]

[ YUP. :D ]

Careful, I might like it. [ okay managing to stop the laughing fit, he motions at the prosthetic and starts shrugging off his coat. ] Real talk, though, I figured I should clean it at least once a week but -- you could say I need a hand. [ please someone kill him. ] No, really, it's impossible to both hold it and scrub it at the same time one-handed.

[stylistic_disloyalty]

Only you could get a boner from being beaten with your own prosthetic arm, I'm just putting this into the simplest terms so you can understand what you're saying to me.

[There is MIGHTY eye-rolling at the needing of a hand, and doesn't encourage it.]

I'll clean your hand if you stop making dumbass puns, how about that?