【MINGLE】 August Mingle

[starrystoryteller]

August Mingle

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welcome to august

July may turn to August, but the summer heat remains. Wind and Water spirits do their part to cool civilians with cool breezes and refreshing rain showers, while standing fans remain more popular than AC units as a means of beating the heat. All sorts of shops and food stands are popping up around the city, which offer refreshing cold drinks and ice creams for the low low cost of 'thank you.' It's the final stretch before the hot summer begins cooling into autumn.

It's also a time of appreciation for Fallen Stars. The Wonderment Talent Show was a great success and the amusement park is here to stay! The civilians are stunned by yet another miracle brought about by these amazing visitors from another world. They shower the Fallen Stars in small gifts and appreciation all month. The general atmosphere of the city is hopeful and excited, with a teasing question being passed around: "What kind of miracles will the Fallen Stars bring about next?

ARRIVAL

Arrivals happen a little differently than usual this month. Normally, a 'Fallen Star' would simply blink and end up in the city of Starsand. Their sudden appearance does not surprise the natives, who instead flock with concern and empathy for the other worlder's situation. Natives usually offer free food, clothing, and other resources to the new arrivals. They will even direct them to free housing options and help them learn the lore of the city.

But this month is a bit different. When people arrive in Starsand, they are flocked by the natives. The native population is extra excited to see them and extra excited to help them. New arrivals this month may find themselves receiving extravagant gifts, buffets worth of food, and high-end housing. The reason? Natives eagerly tell them that Fallen Stars are bringers of miracles. They can do amazing things that change fate, so everyone in town is eager to support them however they can..!

CLEAN THE TRAIN

Speaking of the Fallen Stars and their miracles.

Recently, some of the Fallen Stars discovered that there used to be a train on the lowest level of the city. Hidden deep in the forest and trapped on old, rusted train tracks sleeps the once proud Starrider Express. It is a black steam engine with purple streaks and it's also... rusted, covered in plantlife, and neglected. This train could once leave the city and take people to distant locations, but it has not been able to move in years. It requires a combination of faith magic and tlc in order to get it moving again.

That's where the Fallen Stars come in! The train's tiny kami has requested help in cleaning her train and spreading the word about it! For the first half of August, Fallen Stars are being asked to come down to the first level and help with this project. Weeding, painting, greasing, oiling, decorating... So much is needed in order to get the train ready to move again! But once her train can move, the little kami has promised to help the Fallen Stars with their future travels!

Check here for a Starnet Discussion re: What to do!

THE JOB FAIR

August also marks the last month of summer vacation for students living in Starsand City. Saint's Crossing Academy is a K-12 school located on the top level of the city and they are opening enrollment for Fallen Stars. In order to get the word out, the city has decided to hold a job faire at the top level's marketplace. Fallen Stars will be able to learn about the school, employment opportunities, and even take business classes in order to open their own business in the city.

Visiting the stalls has a few perks too. For one, people can try on every company's uniform using spirit magic. how exciting wow. Visiting stalls will also produce extra Starling this month, which can be exchanged for treats or luxury items. Including things like pool toys, fancy swimsuits, and loads of sunscreen. But why would that be important..?

NOTE: This prompt is being used to check interest in opening a proper school/SoL portion to the sandbox!

WONDERMENT WATERPARK

To celebrate Wonderment Amusement Park being a permanent establishment, the park's spirits are trying something new... a waterpark! Half of the park is now being used for water-based attractions. Some are simply water-driven rides, but there are whole pools and many waterslides. There is even a lazy river that drifts around the park. At night, the pools are able to stay open thanks to the fish shaped spirits that swim through the water and glow like stars.

While basic swimsuits are freely provided, fancier ones can be obtained using Starling. There are plenty of floaties and other water toys to rent or purchase, all of which can be customized using Starling.

COOL DOWN w/ CURSED ICE CREAM

Partially because of how grateful they are and partially because it's hot as heck, civilians are offering a lot of free ice cream this month. Everything from popsicles to ice cream cones to parfaits; If it's cold and refreshing, then someone is probably offering it for free! After all that the Fallen Stars did in the last month, this is the least that they can do.

All treats are made quickly and efficiently thanks to spirit magic. This doesn't just apply to ice cream, but to all foods and products sold in Starsand City. Usually this just means that things are made easier to obtain and scarcity isn't such an issue... But it also gives room for mischievous spirit to be, well. Themselves. Thinking that it's a way to show their appreciation, some of the spirits are adding a bit of extra magic to the free snacks. They think that a little prank will make the Fallen Stars happy!

If yelled at or called out, then the spirits will always back off and reverse the effects... but otherwise, the effects last until they 'melt' in the heat. The best way to get them to go away quickly is to make yourself hot again.

The pranks include...

• For Popsicles: Check your popsicle stick and pray that it says "good fortune!" Eating a popsicle will cause the fortune at the end of the stick to come true. That might mean incredible luck or a terrible curse. Bad luck won't endanger anyone's life, but it may manifest in the form of comical spirit pranks.
• For Ice Cream: There are many flavors of ice cream and many effects to go with it! Fallen Stars who eat flavored ice cream may sometimes experience a physical change: This might be a new hair colour, animal ears, or height changes. This is not an age changing prompt!
• For Parfaits: Parfaits require that you sit at a table and they're easy to share... Which is great, because the cursed parfait will force you to sit at your table until you share it with someone. The spirits will write the rules of their silly game on a cookie that sits under the first bite of whipped cream: Share Me or Stay With Me. Once the whole parfait is eaten by at least two people, the curse will be broken and you can leave your chair again. Until then: You and the chair are glued in front of the table!
• For Freezie Pops: Ice pops will give some Fallen Stars really persistent brain freeze. This prompt isn't fun and the spirits show a lot of concern when it happens! The best way to cure the brain freeze is with warm hearted friendliness: Holding hands, chatting, and getting to know someone will cause it to fade faster. Otherwise, it can last up to a whole miserable half-hour!
• For Iced Lemonade: A mood changing treat. It's supposed to make the Fallen Stars who drink it feel sweet, cheerful and confident! But sometimes it turns out too sour and they end up grumpy instead. While it won't inflict depression, it can cause a 'sour mood.' Bah Humbug.

... As always, spirits are not trying to get anyone killed or injured! If anyone seems to be in serious physical or mental danger, then a stronger spirit will always step it to reverse the prank.

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Comments

Chiaki Nanami | Super Dangan Ronpa 2

[goodgames]

1.001.01: Arrival

[It’s a scene that’s played out a few times already this month. Someone pops into existence and the locals rush to the scene, eager to supply their aid and knowledge to the disoriented new arrival. This girl doesn’t spend too long blinking at her surroundings. She stares calmly at the gathering throng, letting their words wash over her as they jostle for her attention. It seems she’s listening intently, but then—]

Zzz…

[Or maybe she’s gone into some kind of self-preserving, open-eyed sleep mode. Too much information to compute at once; maybe someone could take her aside and let her reboot?]

1.002.02: Starnet Post

UN: xXGalaOmegaGalXx

hello everyone…………… it’s mostly fallen stars who use this network, right? that’s what i heard… i think.

umm, do any of you like to game? when i told the people helping me that i’m a gamer, i was given a lot of games and consoles. but cuz i just arrived, i don’t have anyone to play with. multiplayer…… would be a lot more fun, probably. i’m ok with pvp or co-op in any genre. even crappy games… can be exciting, with the right attitude.

if you’re interested, please let me know. my gaming handle is xXGalaOmegaGalXx on every platform, just like my username. it’s nice to meet you all………… please take care of me.

1.003.03: Job Fair

[Nanami drifts idly about the student-oriented stalls at the fair. Her attention lingers as long on other young folks as it does on the information being offered. Eventually, she murmurs something softly to herself.]

I’ve never been… to a normal school before. I wonder if it’s as fun as it looks in different sims…

un: immegamegami

[doesplaydice]

[Mega honestly doesn't look at Starnet much. It's for Fallen Stars, after all, and she wants to respect their privacy and a place for them without butting in. But, well. Sometimes, she feels a pull. A pull towards very specific topics.]

WHAT KIND OF GAMES DO YOU WANT TO PLAY

[goodgames]

i really, really like them all! all kinds of games, with all types of mechanics or genres! what kind do you like, immegamegami-san?

[doesplaydice]

Oh right I should introduce myself.
Hello! I'm Mega, the Kami of Games!
As for which I like... Well, as the kami, I can't play favorites.
But I'm always happy to see games that have had a lot of thought put into them.
When you can feel the thought and passion a designer put into a game, that makes me happy too!
But I also love games with long histories.
I suppose I just love games where you can feel the human heart in them.

[goodgames]

[...

. . .]




yes!!!

[Boy, three exclamation points. That's a huge display of enthusiasm from Nanami.]

you understand! though...... i guess that makes sense, if you're the kami of games. still, to meet someone in another world who feels so similarly to how i do is pretty amazing...! wow.......

this isn't best online practice, but since you're a god, it seems kinda rude not to introduce myself properly. so............ my name is nanami chiaki. before, i was called the super high school level or ultimate gamer....... so it's a big, big honor to meet you! in a way..... you're like the god of my whole world.

......would you like to play with me sometime?

[doesplaydice]

It's okay! Everyone knows everyone here, so it's nice to get to match names to usernames! It's nice to meet you, Chiakicchi!

The ultimate gamer, though... What a title. It's an honor to meet someone who values games so much, really. Games have been the mirror to humanity's soul as long as humans have existed, so I'm always happy to see when people love them so much!

I would love to play with you!! Do you have a favorite game?

UN: K

[composalvation]

what sorts of games did they give you?

I've tried playing some games back home, but I'm not very good at them.
I like them, though.

[goodgames]

that's ok. though play can be competitive, deep down, gaming isn't about being good or bad. as long as you're having fun, then....... i think the games will be happy.

the games i have now are pretty varied. they gave me a couple fpses, platformers, sports and party games, puzzlers, a rhythm game, and even a subscription to a critically acclaimed, award-winning mmorpg....... and those are just the multiplayer options. what kinds of games have you tried before?

Job Fair

[violetlies]

[Kokichi glances over, hearing that faint mumble, and he snorts softly.]

Not that I've ever been to a normal school, either, but I reeeeeaaaaaaallly doubt it.

Schools in general tend to bite. S'why I'm not going again. That, and I'm not gonna push my luck.

[goodgames]

[She tilts her head.]

..."Push your luck?"

[C'mon, he's just begging the question.]

[violetlies]

Yeaaaaaah.

Baaaaad experience with a mascot. [He comments, glancing to his nails.] Well. Several mascots, but. Turned me off of schools forever. And bears, to a lesser extent. It's a long story.

[goodgames]

...

[/kill bill sirens

Chiaki, of all people, doesn't believe in jumping to conclusions. But this would be a really, really strange coincidence, wouldn't it?]

...Because the mascots you had a bad experience with... were all bears?

[violetlies]

Yup. Black and white bear and his multicolored freak kids.

[He looks up.]

Why do you ask?

arrival

[luminarian]

[ Up until now, Kaito hasn't been the type to approach new arrivals - not out of a lack of interest, but on account of his own arrival not being that long ago. But seeing as he's been here for a solid month now, he's found himself ready and raring to welcome anyone he can to the city.

Unfortunately, that also happens to be the idea of every single local. Poor newbies have been getting swarmed recently. And who better to rescue them than Starsand's resident hero?

He parts through the crowd with relative ease, both because of his height and the respect that comes with being an established Fallen Star. He tries to disperse the crowd a little as he goes, making hand motions to give the girl some space. ]

At ease, citizens! I've got it from here.

[ As the crowd begins to thin, he turns to Chiaki, leaning down a little to get a better look at her face. Did she really fall asleep? He's not discounting the possibility that she was faking it just to get everybody to leave her alone. He squints before slowly waving a hand in front of her face. ]

Hello? Earth to new girl, do you copy?

[goodgames]

[No, she is definitely, one hundred percent, observably asleep. Even with Kaito waving in her face, her soft, girly snoring continues until her head nods a bit too far forward and startles her awake. She wipes one eye and then the corner of her mouth. Was she drooling? Classy.]

Ah... I fell asleep...? Mmm, it's been a while since that happened...

[Only then does Chiaki register the guy immediately in front of her.]

...Oh. Hello. You... kinda look like an action protagonist. Am I in a tutorial...?

[luminarian]

...Do I really?

[ Kaito's face lights up in a dorky sort of grin - for just a moment, before he clears his throat and goes back to that put-on tough guy aura. ]

I mean, pull yourself together! This is no video game! It's real life, and you've gotta start taking it seriously!

[ He leans down a little to look her in the eye, his gaze so intense it's practically burning. ]

Listen closely to everything I tell you, you got that?

[ Well, he certainly isn't making it sound any less like a tutorial... ]

[goodgames]

[This information—it’s real life—actually seems to take the girl by surprise. She stares at him blankly for a moment, unfazed by the extreme proximity, before responding.]

…Yup. Got it.

[Video game or not, this is definitely a tutorial, and apparently, she’s got a whole lot to learn, stat.]

Even though this is the kind of setup I’d expect from certain genres, if you tell me it’s real life… then I better pay attention. Real life… doesn’t come with a pause screen.

…So what do I need to know?

UN: MatchPoint; private message

[forced_error]

Sorry 'bout the sudden message, but I noticed you said you were an Ultimate? We didn't have an Ultimate Gamer in our class, but a few of my classmates ended up here... I'm not sure if your situation was the same as ours but I'd be interested in talking with you about it.

If it matters, I was the Ultimate Tennis Pro.

permaprivate;

[goodgames]

ah........ yeah, my school recruited its students from high schoolers who were at the very top of each of their fields, calling them "ultimates"................

is that what you mean by "situation"...? were you.... also students at hope's peak academy...............?

[forced_error]

Something like that... my classmates were gathered because they were Ultimates, but I'm pretty sure we all went to different schools beforehand. It was called the Academy for Gifted Juveniles, though.

I don't remember a whole lot about the situation thanks to that stupid bear and his cubs though. Here's hoping you didn't have to deal with that part.

[goodgames]

he had cubs?

un: creampuffs

[aupologizes]

I'm still not too overly familiar with the kind of games they have here, if I'm going to be honest. These "video games" are rather new to me, actually.

But I used to be in a games club where we would play a lot of other games; board games, card games, sports and the like.

I'd like to learn more, though!

[goodgames]

then you might enjoy a party game! a lot of them are modeled on traditional board games, with players taking turns rolling virtual dice to advance and collect resources. these turns often trigger minigames or challenges whose controls don't take long to learn..... it's designed for all kinds of players to be able to jump right in.

but that doesn't mean it's easy! the competition can be stiff!

[aupologizes]

I've dealt with a lot of stiff competition before! The club's number one rule after all was to strive to win with everything you've got!

I think it would be lots of fun!

[goodgames]

me too! and something like a games club………… also sounds really wonderful. i’ve never been in a club dedicated to games before…

is there anything like that here?