starsand | 【WINDCHIMES EVENT】

【WINDCHIMES EVENT】

damn windchimes

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The Bonds That Tie Us

It’s the later end of June now and the summer heat is getting pretty stupid. Though Wind and Water spirits still bring cool breezes and rain showers, most of civilians hang around the pools or in their homes with wide open windows. There’s been a burst of curiosity regarding a new shrine that is being built for the Kami of Sin, especially with exciting talk of an upcoming festival. Whether intended or not, this eager gossip has led to the ghost stories falling in popularity. And now, the Fallen Stars are here to put those nasty Rumors to rest once and for all.

This event is split into a few parts and forward dated for convenience. It will end right before the Watanagashi Festival.

The Windchimes Rumor

The main Rumor for this event is the Windchimes Rumor. Though the scam operation will be successful in restoring the Love Kami's faith and discouraging the sale of more windchimes, the lingering effects of the curse will remain.

On the night of June 17th, a sudden meteor shower will be announced over the news. Everyone in the city gathers outside that night for the chance to see shooting stars and the civilians encourage their Fallen Star neighbors to participate. It's a peaceful night and nothing will seem out of the ordinary.

On the morning of June 18th, this will prove to have been misleading. Characters whose names were written thoughtfully on windchimes will have vanished overnight. Their beds are empty and there is no sign of a struggle. A quick investigation will find that the windchime hung in their honor has turned pitch black and somehow negates light rather than reflecting it. It's quite plain to see that the windchimes are involved in the disappearances.

Fortunately, there will be methods to find the missing characters. But the missing aren't helpless either.

Missing characters will wake up in a strange facility, lightly bound and sore from travel. They will be able to band together and not only escape the facility, but finally investigate the group that is causing Rumors.

In other words, there will be two groups for the event. Group A with be focused on action and fighting, while Group B will be focused on investigating a clue gathering.

This part of the event will not immediately go live, giving players some time to plan which group they want to be in. If you want to be in Group B but did not have your characters' name hung up, there will still be ways to get in Group B!

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Organization Rules:

Please limit yourself to 2 characters max for Group B.

Please understand that Group B is in a disadvantageous position power-wise.

The event is split into pieces so that I (the mod) can keep the timeline in order.

Table of Contents

PLANNING

Group A - The Rescue Group
Group B - The Investigation Group
Questions - Ask here!
OOC Plotting - For plotting!

JUNE 17TH
Meteor Shower Watching: A peaceful start to the event.

JUNE 18TH - GROUP A
Reactions: A section for reacting to missing people & realizing you did this.
Shrine of Love Meeting: Gathering to discuss the windchimes & get the tools to find friends.
Arriving at the Nightmare
Battle Rooms

JUNE 18TH - GROUP B
Arrival: A general reaction to arriving somewhere bad.
It Got Worse
【Trial Group 1】 YOR, MIZUKI, SORAWO
【Trial Group 2】 NOE, KEVIN, SOMA, JEANNE
【Trial Group 3】 Velda, Kokichi, Rui
【Trial Group 4】 AKUTAGAWA, TAU, LEO
【Trial Group 5】 Dazai, Inaba, Ryoma
Groups Begin to Merge

JUNE 18th - REUNION

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The crowd was thinned for all of the the second it took for Tau to think up more. Realizing that her monsters weren't even slowing them down, she made the ground into quick sand. The bigger they were or the more they struggled, the faster they'd sink in. They're sinking quickly regardless. The chairs are the only things not sinking.]

[She wanted them to be right though. She didn't want to have to fight them seriously. She wanted to go home. She was scared though. So scared. But maybe she could trust them? Meekly she asks.]

I-if we leave...They will not get Tau again...right? promise?

[Akutagawa's not in the business of lying to children. He doesn't know what the future will bring or if the ones who brought her here would pursue her again, but he did know one thing.

Turning to look at her, he wrapped a tendril of Rashomon around the Jabberwock's foot and pulled them over to it.]

Even if they do, we'll come back to rescue you. You will not be left here.

[He looks up to Leo]

We're on!

[He coughs roughly after calling up to him though. He's straining his condition by using his powers this much, but it can't be helped.]

[Jabberwock accepts Tau like a precious bundle, holding her bridle-style in its creepy, long arms. The pull of the quicksand catches his back leg and he begins beating his wings to resist out of instinct.]

Now, Jabberwock!

[With the order given, Jabberwock fires a beam to destroy the ceiling. As it begins to crumble, Leo directs a second yell at Tau;]

If they come after you, we'll beat them up again and again! Hang tight-- We're going home! [He prays that she'll release Jabberwock from the quicksand, but his Chain will keep fighting it until then. Elliot is coming and Leo won't let him find a corpse.]

[That wasn't as reassuring as she was hoping for. But she didn't want to fight in the first place. And they seem to be really determined for all three of them to get out safely.]

...Okay...Okay...

[Tau hesitantly releases her dream sending the theater back to the way it was, the monsters returning to chairs where they started and the quicksand becoming normal floor again, and releasing Jabberwock]

Thank you...

[The beast is freed, and Tau has chosen to cooperate with them for now, so Akutagawa retracts the tendrils he'd had binding Tau and merely focuses on staying on the Jabberwok's foot.]

You do not need to thank us.

[Experimenting on children was just... disgusting. Of course he wouldn't let them take her back. Hopefully they managed to get out of here without much fuss.]

[Jabberwock is freed and he takes off- ~~Then the mod takes over Leo's account.~~

Carrying the 3 escapees, Jaberwock is able to fly through the broken ceiling. It continues to climb until the group is surrounded by pitch blackness. The theatre seems to be getting further away, but they haven't reached any second floor or roof to the building.

Then Jabberwock reaches a black ceiling, lighting bumping it with his had. Gravity shifts and suddenly they're all upside-down in a new room. Very far away, they can see the theatre hanging on their new "ceiling."

Jabberwock keeps a hold on Tau and uses its wings to prevent Leo and Akutagawa from slamming head first into the floor. Leo twists his body so that he can land on his feet and comes around to Tau. As Jabberwock begins to vanish, the Chain sets Tau down.]

Are either of you hurt? [Leo begins removing his red Baskerville cloak so that he can put it over Tau.] Let's hide your face, so they can't recognize you easily.

[Okay that wasn't the amazing escape she had hoped for. She was in so much trouble wasn't she? She really should've just listened and-]

[And then she was wearing two cloaks. She made sure her face was hidden, and hid behind Leo a bit.]

Tau is uninjured, but...

[She was pretty sure this cloak would do nothing to actually conceal her identity.]

[ The vast blackness around him reminds him of the more pocket demension-like abilities he's run across in the past, which doesn't particularly bode well for them.

As gravity shifts, Akutagawa twists to accomodate, landing on his feet easily, though he appreciate the Jabberwock's effort to save him. ]

I'm fine.

[ It's clipped and simple. He's not sure if they caught his coughing from earlier, but he's not going to let it make him seem weak. ]

... We should keep moving. It will be harder to track us that way. Stay close. We don't want to get separated out here.

[Leo nods towards Tau. As long as her colour palette is different, he hopes that she won't be as easily recognizable. With her pitiful disguise in place, he offers her his hand.]

Right. Anything is better than staying still.

[Which means taking proper stock of their surroundings:

They are in a dark and empty 'room,' with the strongest light source being that of the far off ceiling. The darkness goes on for a disturbingly long time, before they reach a suspicious metal door. There is an exit sign lit above it.

Seems legit.]

[Tau stayed as close as she could to the other two without actually getting in the way, looking around nervously as they went. Her anxiety was increasing with each step they took. Maybe she should've fought them seriously. She was going to be in so much trouble. She looked at the exit sign for a moment, before asking timidly.]

What are the chances...that this is an actual exit?

[Yeah, her anxiety was through the roof.]

Little to none.

[ Again, he's not going to lie to her, but he's clearly not about to back down from a fight should it be coming. ]

Remember, we said we would get you out. I don't intend to go back on my word.

[ He looks to Leo as he walks up to the door ]

... If this is a trap, I want you to make sure she's safe.

I don't need to be told that. [Leo affirms Akutagawa's request, holding Tau's hand tightly in his own. Elliot and him do owe Tau a small debt. Even if it means sharing pain between them, Leo knows that saving Tau would be a priority for Elliot too.

He steps forward, keeping himself partially in front of Tau as he tries to reassure her verbally;] If it wasn't an exit before, then it's about to become one. I've got you.

[The door swings inward, revealing a room full of light. It's blinding at first, but a discerning eye may notice how it seems to come into focus like a camera's lens.

It looks like a hospital hallway. The walls and floor are white, clean, and lit by artificial ceiling lights. The lights flicker and suddenly someone is standing in the hallway. His back is turned and he doesn't immediately notice the door. His belt is limp and his pale hair falls flat on his head.

The account is on purpose.]

[She nods.]

[The room made Tau even more uncomfortable, maybe they should go back to the void and find another convinient exit. She's hiding behind Leo, peeking out just enough to see what's happening. At least, until she spots a familiar figure. Then she gasps, lets go of Leo's hand, and tries to get to the front of the group.]

Yuuto-nii! You are here! You found Tau!

[Her exclaimations weren't very loud, but she was clearly excited none the less.]

Weretiger?

[ Akutagawa is shocked still for a moment- Had Atsushi really come to help him over Dazai? What had happened for him to have just flickered into the hallway like that? Was he okay? Why was he alone? Thoughts buzzed around in his head but for a moment he was... happy to see someone who was familiar. Someone he knew would help them. As much as Atsushi detested him, he would absolutely help if it meant saving Tau.

Something in his heart shattered when Tau ran forward, calling an unfamiliar name towards the person he thought he knew. Of course Atsushi wouldn't come help him. He probably hoped that he died in here. Dazai probably would as well if he weren't bound to him through pain. He balled his hands into fists, his coat rippling briefly as he fought himself from lashing out in pain fueled anger. It would get them nowhere, and Tau hadn't done anything to deserve that.

There's murder in his eyes as he stalks in behind Tau, but he doesn't lift a finger to harm either of them. He has no reason to think that this man would hurt her if she was so excited to see him, but he was nothing if not cautious. And at the moment he'd gladly take the opportunity to thrash someone if it meant numbing his emotions. His voice was notably cold as he addressed "Yuuto". ]

You're her brother? Do you know the way out of here then?

[Leo has a moment of confusion. First Akutagawa seems to recognize the young man and then it's Tau rushing towards him. When Akutagawa resigns to Tau's announcement, Leo realizes that this is Tau's brother... But who was Akutagawa hoping to see?

Well. Now isn't the time for that. He chases after Tau, standing behind her. Like Akutagawa, he's cautious. He taps Akutagawa's hand and whispers to remind them both;]

That was the name under the black canvas. ["Yuuto." It feels too convenient for the person Tau wants to protect to also show up right as they escape.]

Tau!

[The stranger turns around, his eyes lighting up when he recognizes Tau. He walks towards her and holds out his arms for a hug. His feet don't make a sound as they touch the floor.

But he has his hands on her shoulders soon enough. Yuuto kneels slightly to her level and glances up at Akutagawa.]

Yes, I'm her big brother. Thank you for looking after her... I'm so glad that I found you, Tau.

[He frowns slightly and shakes his head.]

Sorry... I've never been here before.

[Tau hugs him back. She was too excited to pay any mind to him calling her by her name, instead of "oneechan" like he usually does. It probably wasn't anything to worry about anyway.]

Can we not just pop out of here, Yuuto-nii?

[Tau turns to the other two, without letting go.]

Yuuto-nii can go anywhere he wants like "pop". He will be able to get all of us out.

[She turns back to Yuuto.]

Right?

[ So the lookalike could teleport. Still he doesn't trust this. If they were siblings would they not have ended up here together at some point? why would he not know his way around this facility? And furthermore how did he manage to get here without that knowledge? ]

Perhaps it is disabled within these walls. They seemed capable of preventing us from using our powers before.

[ An intentional wrong answer to see if the suspicious individual would agree. He'd very plainly seen him teleport in or something of the like. ]

[Akutagawa isn't the only one who is becoming suspicious. How did this person arrive? Where was he before? If he's part of the rescue party, then why can't Leo hear Elliot's yelling filling the halls?

That is, sadly, a real point that Leo considers. But also with the consideration that "If one of them came here, they wouldn't split up."

He glances at Akutagawa while reaching casually for the metal pen in his breast pocket.]

[The 'Yuuto' that has come to Tau's aid holds onto Tau tightly at first, responding to her love with his own. He is made of Yuuto's love for Tau, after all. But without other emotions or knowledge to inform him, the manifestation of love is failing to play the part.

He looks at Akutagawa with a smile.]

You're right. I can't leave. [And then, back at Tau.] We can't leave, Tau.

Terrel would kill us both.

[Mu stands down the hallway behind a corner, just out of sight. She can't get the Yuuto to say such things on his own, so she has to influence him with other emotions. The result is a voice that sounds distorted. The Yuuto stands up suddenly and spins Tau around, pulling her against him as he faces the two dark haired boys.

She knows Yuuto's power. Mu concentrates and begins turning bits of the Love for Tau into a psychic force that tries to force Akutagawa and Leo back against a wall.]

Let's stay together, Tau.

But...

[Something was wrong. He was right, but something was wrong. They really were stuck here forever, weren't they? She looked up at Yuuto after he attacked Leo and Akutagawa. She whines. This was all very. Wrong.]

...H-he really would...kill Tau before we could leave...

[She sighes, and continues.]

...Yuuto-nii...would be fine though, would he not? Because Yuuto is not here...

[She sounded resigned about that. Their escape attempt failed, and the person who created Faketo is probably not too far away. She tries to wiggle out of his grasp, but doesn't bother to move far away.]

I would...rather talk to the person who is really here...

[She's looking around, so clearly not talking to either of the boys.]

[ It doesn't surprise him, even a little bit when this fake revealed its true colors. His response is immediate. ]

Tenma Tengai!

[ The phrase is spat out as his coat proceeds to wrap around him, forming armor that covers him almost completely. The psychic wave comes but Rashomon eats right through the force, a visible distortion being the only indication of its power. He presses through and once Tau is free of the fake's grasp, the wrappings around his arm morph into a giant set of jaws. ]

Tenma Agito.

[ And the jaws clamp down hard on the fake, eating at whatever it is holding the fake together as he tosses it aside and moves into a defensive position beside Tau. If she's going to talk to the one responsible, he's going to flush them into the open by removing the puppet from play. He looks at the girl, a considering look in his eyes though the pain is still present. ]

Are you alright?

[Call him crazy, but Leo is pretty certain his metal pen won't even hold a candle's light compared to Akutagawa's killer fashion. He stumbles back from the psychic blast, but is quick to regain his balance and rush back to Tau. There's not much that he can do, but he does cover Tau's eyes from behind so that she doesn't have to see her brother die.]

You're still safe. We won't leave you, Ms Tau.

[The Fake Yuuto is just that... 'Fake.' It is made of the real Yuuto's love for Tau, true, but it is still incomplete. Without any nuances, no restraints, and none of her real brother's empathy or kindness. It really is yandere siscon Yuuto.

'He' doesn't know that he is being destroyed by Rashomon. As lovingly as ever, the illusion keeps speaking:]

Do you not... love me... enough to stay?

[The illusion is split in half by Rashomon's shadowy jaws. As the lower half of the body falls, both pieces break apart into glowing orbs. But Mu recollections the broken emotion and tries to reform the illusion. This time, he's missing pieces like a broken puzzle and has a more concerning appearance.

Mu continues to use Yuuto as her mouthpiece. She doesn't pretend to be someone else this time and her own soft voice mixes with Yuuto's:]

Stay or I'll rip your real brother to shreds. I'll tear his heart to pieces and leave none of them for you to cry over.

Stay with me. Tau.

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Organization Rules: