week 4

[vicedirector]

seven vices week 4 28 players remaining ♫ monday - thursday Monday morning begins just like the rest, slow and uneasy. At 12pm, every television will go off with its usual bout of static, followed by a calm, albeit disinterested, voice. "Please gather in the hotel lobby within the next hour." That's all that it says before the televisions turn off. Anyone not in their rooms will hear the voice echoing around them as if through a speaker system, although there are (still) no speakers present. After hearing the motive, characters who choose to explore will find that the void around the town has retracted a bit, and there is now a police station to the far east of the chapel. On the chapel wall near the altar, black and white portraits of Youko, Zelos, and Morrigan have been hung up. Anyone looking for them will find that Youko's pink shoes and the fragments of Zelos's crystal are now gone. >Mingle? This is Week 4's mingle log, covering Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday. Investigations will go up on Friday. When posting toplevels, specify the time and location. If you plan on having any private conversations between characters, remember to let us know in the post linked below. More plot elements will be introduced this week. Mod comments will be occasionally distributed to open toplevels, accordingly. cast setting rulebook profiles private conversations

Comments

[symbologic]

[Settling for your weird Bill-approved nickname is really best, Faize would agree. You don't want to end up like Hajime "Bagel" Hinata, do you? Though Faize quirks a brow at him when he says "Curls". Really? That's the best you could come up with??]

I see. It's similar with symbology, though a single person can have an affinity for more than one type. Even if this seal was not in place, I would be limited to three elements, and a few support symbols. [But all those were nixed because THIS IS MURDER.] What is your element then?

[billarious]

[Curls is a cute nickname?? Excuse you? Better than Hajime "Bagel" Hinata.]

They were sealed?

[Hey, nobody minds if he asks his own questions too, right?]

[princessantly]

I'm not a seraph, so I don't have any particular element. I can't really cast much like the seraphim can, either, so most of my artes have to do with my spear-fighting. But I'm unable to use most of my stronger abilities, or my healing arte.

... Actually, maybe I should try... [ Her Mystic Arte? She hasn't had much of a reason to use it, but knowing if she's able to do it at all might help. ]

[symbologic]

Yes, Bill. Remember how I mentioned that I was limited to only my most basic symbols? It seems to be an effect shared by all of us with some manner of special ability. Even those of us who were not confined to a human body, as you were. We believe it may be some manner of seal due to the pendants.

[And there has yet to be evidence to the contrary, so it's still a solid theory! Turning his attention back to Alisha though...]

Ah, I see. I hadn't realized there were human artes in addition to seraphic ones. But, perhaps you should try what?

[billarious]

Huh... [That's...a pretty solid theory. And it kind of bothers him? He doesn't like seals. Not at all.

You two lovebirds have fun, Bill's going to ponder this while he listens to you chat about magic.]

[princessantly]

[ Alisha nods in agreement-- and WHO ARE YOU MENTALLY CALLING LOVEBIRDS, BILL don't make her theoretically flustered ]

...

There's something I'd like to try, [ she says, hesitantly. ] But I'll need some space for it, if the two of you don't mind backing up.

[symbologic]

[THERE IS NOTHING TO SEE HERE, BILL. NO LOVEBIRDING. MOVE ALONG.]

[Speaking of moving along though, Faize nods and does exactly as asked, stepping back a good five feet or so.]

Is this far enough?

[Genuinely curious about what she needs the space for. WHAT IS SHE GONNA DO. Other people's magic: always exciting.]

[billarious]

[Pretty sure he is talking to 100% lovebirds here. Gross.

Bill steps back as well, comparing his distance to Faize's and trying to match it. If that's a good distance, then he'll stand that far away too.

What are you gonna do, girly?]

[princessantly]

Yes, that's perfect.

[ She's going to pick up a twig and toss it up into the air, bringing her spear forward-- and doing this.

Which is nice and flashy and glow-y and totally murders a twig, but Alisha seems slightly surprised by something... and also a little wobbly as she lowers her spear. ]

[symbologic]

[But is she wearing that outfit as well?]

Amazi-- Alisha? [He's hella impressed and all because oooo aaaaa so glowy and neato and that twig was utterly annihilated but DON'T BE WOBBLY. Not that Faize is in much better shape, thanks to Bill's insistence on seeing each symbol more than once. Not that that's going to stop him from staggering over to her as fast as his fatigue will allow.]

What happened?

[billarious]

Incredible! You humans are so amazing! [Bill "Has Never Been A Human" Cipher is far too impressed to notice the wobble, applauding the light show immediately instead. And it's not until he sees Faize actually staggering over to her that he seems to realize maybe something is up with these two.]

...are you guys okay?

[Like. What's wrong with you two? Are you hurt???]

[princessantly]

[ Only in your dreams, Faize. ]

I'm fine-- [ And it's hard not to notice that Faize was staggering, so one tired princess is going to reach out to try and support one tired alien, they're doing great. ]

That wasn't remotely close to full power... but for some reason, it feels as though I've just emerged from some sort of strenuous battle.

[symbologic]

[Now you notice, Bill. IT'S YOUR FAULT, Y'KNOW. Some friend!!! But he'll look back at you anyway to answer your question.]

Yes, more or less. While using symbology normally causes mental fatigue, here it's as though that side effect has been amplified. Though there does not seem to be a hard number limit on how many times I can cast, I tire much more quickly than I would under normal circumstances. [Like...a nap sounds really good right now, honestly. He might go back to the hotel and do that once they're done here. He definitely can't finish his sword training in this state.] And it would seem something similar is rue of Alisha's abilities as well...

[billarious]

[LOOK HE WAS EXCITED ABOUT YOUR MAGIC.]

Wait, so you can't use that stuff however much you want?

[These "limit" things are new concepts for a guy like him okay?]

Man, I knew humans were restrained by all this weird limit stuff but it's getting kind of ridiculous the more I hear! But jeez, even Pine Tree was able to use a spell from that journal of his without any trouble.

[princessantly]

It doesn't usually cause me fatigue... but he's right that they seem to be imposing forced limits on us. If you're exhausted, Faize, you should rest...

... But, ah... [ Wait. ] You know a tree, Sir Bill?

[symbologic]

[He shakes his head. Nope! Can't use it as much as he wants, even back home. But at least in his own world he could just eat blackberries or choose from a variety of mental stimulants to fix the problem.]

I wouldn't go as far as exhausted, but I do plan on returning to my room for a bit once we are done here. You would probably do well to do the same.

[Okay now that we're done having mutual concern hour, let's hear about this tree guy. Do tell, Bill. Faize looks curious as well.]

[billarious]

[Psh, you guys and your mutual concern.] Oh, if you're feeling exhausted, you can just sleep and that'll fix it, right?

[Look Faize he's...kind of getting this sleep thing...]

He's not actually a tree though. There's this kid I...well, I don't really mentor him. He's Sixer's nephew, and I'm working with Sixer so of course I know the kid too. He's pretty smart for being a literal kid though. [Un...fortunately...Infuriating little shit.] His last name is Pines, and he wears a hat with a tree on it. So "Pine Tree". It's like his sister's got this shooting star on the sweater she was wearing when we first met, so I gave her the nickname "Shooting Star".

[princessantly]

... I see. You do seem to have a habit of nicknaming everyone...

[ Whether they like it or not. ]

[symbologic]

[Just chuckling a little because YUP. HE SURE DOES. Faize is one of the few who doesn't seem to mind though. Honestly, he's just happy to finally HAVE a nickname.]

[billarious]

Hey now, I only give nicknames to people I like! I don't hand them out like candy or anything.

[Half a lie but they don't need to know that right? Right.]

[princessantly]

... Oh! You like me?

[ ... SHE'S SO TOUCHED.

Alisha, stop being so gullible. ]

[symbologic]

[Quirking a brow a little because he's pretty sure that's not entirely true. Has Bill referred to anyone here by name? Faize sure hasn't heard him do so.]

Well, it would be a bit odd to give nicknames to people you disliked. [A beat.] Nicknames that aren't insults, at least.

[And "Curls" isn't an insult even if it is...a bit uncreative. Wow, Bill.]

[billarious]

[Hey, he called Kaguya by name in her trial! And...

...uh...

Yeah, okay, you might have him there.]

I do! You're a pretty charming gal, y'know? And I'm always fond of people I can teach things to, and I've clearly got lots I could show you.

[You didn't know the rubber pencil trick, Alisha!]

I've never given out insulting nicknames though!