Ινιθυις Ξασιβυς

[stringmods]

♠ ♣ A Game of Chance ♥ ♦

 

Who: Anyone
Where: Aramid Room
Summary: You enter the Dream World and are given a key. But will you use it? (Note that your character does NOT have to come to this log, the dream only happens for characters you want to come to the Aramid room)
When: Futuredated to the 13th
Warnings: Some characters may have terrible desires. It depends who is there, but this IS the Aramid Room.

That night, you find yourself falling asleep. It does not matter if you never sleep, somehow these things always find a way, if you wish to come here. The blackest pitch and the sound of nothingness is your companions for a few tense minutes; you can try screaming out, but nothing comes from your mouth. But when all seems truly lost...

The first thing you are aware of when rousing from your slumber is the distant, muffled music of a piano.

It coaxes you roughly back to the land of the living, and when you open your eyes - all you can see is a ceiling of pure red.

This is the Aramid Room - or rather, your own personal room within it. The room looks pretty lavish at a glance; pretty flowers, polished furniture, silky looking bed sheets... but when you look closer, you realize those flowers are fake, the furniture is of veneer, not actual wood, and the bed sheets are nylon. It is like a tacky love hotel - hell, even the bed is shaped like a massive heart, with black and red sheets.

Resting on the bedside dresser is a plain white mask, a bowl of apples which never seems to run out, no matter how many you eat, and a small red key. The mask has a little note underneath that says "Please wear when leaving for the lounge, thank you!". There is even a bell for room service beside it - or so you presume in any case, since this place is mimicking a hotel so closely...

As for entertainment, there isn't really much. Just a small television mounted up on the wall, and its remote resting beside you on the bed. If you try the television, all that is displayed is static, except for brief moments of clarity, where it seems just commercials would play - commercials that, strangely advertised for your deepest, darkest desire, no matter how fantastical or illegal it is...

But that's if you wish to stay in the room. You might want to explore, right? If that's the case, all you will have to do is don the white mask and leave. To your right, you will see rows of locked doors stretching infinitely down the hallway you entered into - no matter how long you walk, you'd find them all closed and impossible for you to get in. You could try knocking if you want, but who knows if someone else wants to answer. The stairs to the lower levl will be to your left.

Follow them, and enter the lounge beyond...

▼ OOC : Instructions

▶ Welcome to the Aramid Room. There are but a few instructions here:
▶ Create your posts and if you want others to knock on your door, leave it open. Otherwise, have fun creating the commercials tailored to your desires!
▶ The lower level post will be coming a little while later.
▶ You do not have to play out all the request ends or beginnings. In fact it's encouraged to just use the forms (reply this month for a request, reply the next month saying the request is done) and handwave. However, the mods will be happy to do a reply, if you wish!
▶ To get a new Persona, you go to [HERE] and pick a public persona, then fill out a request [HERE]. NOTE THE EXTRA RULES AT TAKING OUT A PERSONA IN THE ARAMID ROOM, THIS IS VERY IMPROTANT!! Remember, public personas only! You can request a Persona (or two if you are a previous Persona user).
▶ You can requests can only be given to Edgar this month [HERE] and remember you only get one request per month.
▶ You can interact with characters in the upper levels if you'd like, and go to each other's rooms, hang around, have a drink (what is in that drink anyway?) or just talk between yourselves.
▶ The masks makes it impossible to know who the other person is, unless they tell you their names. Even if they are un their underwear. Yes, you are allowed to use a fake name.

Comments

Open

[demifemme]

A figure wearing the blank mask is sitting on the foot of the unmade bed sitting in the middle of the room, apparently transfixed by the images broadcast on the television. Amid the blurry, lurid images filmed from too close and wanton feminine moans, however, sometimes a clip of a silhouette standing nude in the darkness, ankle deep in deep red blood can be seen for a few seconds at a time, accompanied by dead silence. As the camera zooms out more and more with each short clip, it reveals only more emptiness surrounding the shrinking silhouette.

[capitalbackup]

Miyako stood outside of the door, hearing those...decidedly wanton moans from the room. Either the room's occupants was having sex right now, or it's coming from the television.

Either way, she'll knock.

Knock, knock.

"Am I interrupting anything?"

Open

[capitalbackup]

When Miyako awakened, she sat up and looked around the room. One moment, she feel a desire to sleep and the next, she found herself...in this odd room. She moved to get off the bed, noting that it's shaped like a heart.

Her eyes was drawn to the mask and the key, ignoring the bowl of apples. She paused, vaguely paying attention to the piano, before picking up the mask. Turning it over in her hand, she read the note. Wear the mask when leaving the lounge? Was there a specific reason?

As she mused to herself, Miyako picked up the key as well. If this was here, it must unlock something in this location. The more she thought about it, the longer she fingered the mask in her hand. She glanced at it, before slowly putting it on. Hm, she can still take it off.

Miyako looked around the room again, her eyes fall on the television with static on the screen. Until it flickered and show a commercial, making her blink.

"...?"

Whenever someone entered the room, they would see a masked, androgynous figure watching the television. They seemed to be unaware of their visitor, but it can be tough to tell with the mask on.

Acknowledgement. Freedom. Choices.

[primordial]

"Like what you see?"

The quiet voice comes from the doorway, and in the doorway is standing a figure. Sam's been wandering around, looking at what other people have got after he realized that everyone was in the same predicament, so don't mind if he just stares over at the TV, mask betraying no emotions.

"Actually, a better question would be...what do you see?"

NEVER SORRY

[tyrantball]

At first, Desco was kind of torn - the mask looked kind of cool, but it was ceramic. The yickiest of all building materials! She did not want that stuff near any of her mouths.

Then she realized how she could both wear the mask and prevent even the possibility of tasting the ceramic.

So now there's a completely anonymous tentacle monster sitting on the shredded remains of a tacky heart-shaped bed, a crude nylon bandana covering their mouth just barely visible behind the smooth white mask they are wearing.

This absolutely unfamiliar seven year old kid who is bristling with tentacles currently has their eyes glued to the television, where, in between bouts of static, is a never-ending parade of beautiful men kissing while all around them liquid chocolate cascades down in a decadent waterfall.

It's too bad you have no idea who this small, child-like shoggoth is, because this is obviously prime blackmail material.

best tv show ever?

[booyaka_boom]

Selphie had put on her mask and was bored, knocking round all the doors to see if anyone was awake, alive, or whatever. She was wearing a mask that really freaked her out - it wasn't the most attractive thing she'd ever worn, but never mind. She thought she'd stick to the rules, especially after that tower.

So there she is, knocking at this particular door, "Hello? Anybody here?" Yeah, Selphie was getting pretty bored and lonely.

OPEN TO ALL

[primordial]

A mask. Oh, how convenient. Not that he wasn't already wearing a mask, a flesh one, a sweet and pathetic persona which couldn't harm a fly.

He ties his long hair up, slipping the mask on afterwards. His slouching posture suddenly straightens, and he brushes off the dust and creases from his clothes. No, he can't be recognizable in this place, especially when a mask was provided for him to use.

He switches on the TV, and at first, there's static, but...is that?

Yes, it is.

He gazes hungrily at the sight of a building up in flames, the view of someone's inhuman remains strewn out on the streets. Yes. The one thing he wanted, the one thing he was prevented from doing...

His revenge finally brought to fruition. But that is a thing that will never happen now...

OPEN

[bondsofsuffering]

He awoke in confusion at first, frowning at the décor - as fun as a love hotel sounded, it's not actually a place he particularly wanted to find himself, for various reasons. Still, after he reads the note, he obligingly places the mask over his face and grabs an apple to snack on in the meantime. As he chews on the fruit, he turns on the TV, planning to idly flip through the channels, but...

The picture shown brings his mind and movements both to a halt as videos of happily smiling people play, enjoying their time together, entrusting one another with their deepest secrets, their joys, their fears. He's mesmerized, staring with slight disbelief even as a corny voice over begins to speak:

"Ever wanted a friend who understands you completely? Well, we have just the thing for you-!"

Re: OPEN

[capitalbackup]

After forcing herself away from her room--from watching that television--Miyako explored the area with her mask on. She didn't really know what's going on, but she intended on finding out.

She approached a door and knocked on it.

Knock, knock.

Open!

[trollsdragons]

After a period of poking around the strange room, and being mildly amused at the things the TV showed upon trying it - namely a whole lot of destruction of some fantasy-esque world - Xellos has opted to visit the lounge, to see just what's going on here. The mask, however, has given him an idea - they wish for people to don disguises? Very well, then.

He has changed quite a bit, as his normal priestly look is changed to something more befitting this establishment, both in physical and clothing terms. A slight shift of vocal pitch to match the look, and just enough sway to his walk to complete the illusion. And the provided mask, of course!

Now, time to investigate!

[genkibot]

[Xellos isn't the only one investigating: A blue-haired girl is walking around in wide-eyed wonder. She isn't wearing a mask though, this isn't a stealth mission for her after all.

Though, looking around like she is does run the risk of bumping into the others.]

Oops, sorry there miss. I wasn't really looking where I was going since I was looking everywhere else. I mean, this is a pretty interesting place, don't you think?

Open~ (AU Joshua)

[shibuyasmusic]

Blinking awake and pressing the back of his hand to his forehead as he slowly gains consciousness, Joshua lets out a soft sigh as he sits up on the nylon bedspread...

He looks around in confusion at the red room before him, wondering where in the world he'd ended up this time... Despite its tacky decor, which he would otherwise protest due to his rather picky taste, Joshua wasn't used to waking up in a bedroom that looked this... decorated. He was used to the stark white of Facility 1, or else the plain sheets and barren walls of his empty apartment building, both here in the city and there, back on Alpha Omega. It was almost a welcome change to see so much color in one room.

It takes a moment of exploring, but the drowsy Composer is able to get his bearings, the key stashed safely in his pocket and the apples left untouched. Gingerly, he places the white mask over his face, knowing better than to ignore written instructions in strange situations. Surprisingly, a perfect fit, covering his scarred complexion entirely and obscuring his expression.

It's only an afterthought of curiosity that gets him to turn on the television set in his room before he decides to make his way out. Nothing but static, at first... which wasn't unusual to him. It'd been ages since he'd seen any legitimate form of media or entertainment on a television set.

However, just as Joshua reaches for the power button on the remote, something comes on the television and catches his eye, something brief and beautiful and almost frightening. The camera pans on the smiling face of a girl he once knew- someone now long gone- as if the commercial was advertising her as a model. Joshua is frozen in place as he stares at the screen, body gone numb and cold, as if he was watching an apparition dance before his eyes.

When she turns to the camera and says his name, when she says 'Josh' in that playful tone of hers, looking him straight in the eyes and laughing at him, the Composer has had enough. His grip on the remote becomes crushing, and furious, as he glares at the screen. He holds up the remote before himself. A sane person would simply turn off the television set and forget about the entire situation... Joshua was too angry for that. Instead, the remote lifts itself from his hand and goes flying forward, straight as an arrow, through the television screen, thoroughly destroying it...

That probably made a lot of noise. Oops.

[primordial]

"Wow, that was an extreme reaction."

There's a chuckle from the doorway, and if Joshua turns to look, he can see a figure, identity obscured by that helpful mask provided to them all, staring at the ruin that Joshua caused.

There's definitely an amused lilt to his tone, anyways.

"Saw something you didn't like, did you?"

open opeeen opeeeenn

[misogynistic]

Something had bothered Adachi ever since that day.

A GIFT, THEN! GIVE THIS TO KURANES WHEN YOU MEET HIM IN THE FUTURE. HE WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO.

Adachi never found out who Kuranes was. How was that even possible? Seriously, he was supposed to be the best detective, and even he couldn't find out a thing. What a pain... What a pain. It was as if he hallucinated the whole thing...

However, unlike the rest of the visitors, he already had a mask. His message was slightly different. 'You know what to do with your mask.' What? Wear it in this pseudo love hotel? Sure, whatever. Though, the tv was far more interesting.

Ugh, of course it didn't work. Adachi could've sworn it rippled against his fingers, but he must've been imagining it. The old used tv he owned didn't do anything, either. That would've been far too convenient. However, it did flicker on like the Midnight Channel. Images that didn't shock Adachi one bit, images that only made him curious.

What if he had gotten his way? Persona 4 wouldn't have even happene What if Mayumi and Saki actually had wanted Namatame for his money? What if...Adachi had been able to blackmail them for that? There were so many what-ifs flashing about the screen that Adachi didn't even know what to do with himself.

You know, actually... He could really use some food for this little show. Adachi glanced down at the little bell. Would it work? He doubted he'd leave soon, after all, so he might as well use it...

Come on, what's the worst that could happen?

Grammar is totally something you can eat

[timetoduelbitches]

As if in response to the fact he wanted to ring the bell, there was a faint knock at the door. Either room service was really prompt, or...

"Is someone in there?"

...it was just a kid. There was a pause, before he knocked again, as if making sure.

Open!

[poorlittleblueburdie]

Red. Deep, rich red everywhere and the soft fabric and it was a bed, and red too, and he was on it, oh gods--

A screech could be heard from outside his room, and a crashing sound, and then he burst into the hallway, scrambling away from the door as quickly as he could, to... rather un-gracefully hit the wall all the way on the other side of his hall, in his mad rush to leave the place he'd woken up.

Anyone who wants to come out to that part of the hall would get to see the burd sitting on the ground, pressing his knees to his chest, wings up around him, taking deep breaths to calm back down again, casting very wary looks at the room, if he looked at it at all, rather than burying his face against his knees. He hasn't put on a mask, so he's easily enough recognizable; he didn't stay in the room long enough to realize there was a mask, or that he ought to put it on in the first place.

The room's door was still wide open. Inside, it was already a mess. The bedspread had nearly been torn from the bed in his mad scramble to get off it, and his wings' flapping in doing so had upset the table. The bowl of apples, the key, the mask and its note, the remote control, everything had been dashed to the ground. It was probably a miracle that neither the glass bowl or ceramic mask had broken.

He had, however, stepped on the remote and turned the TV on. Should anyone look, it was quiet, showing images of a man being killed in disgustingly torturous ways, torn apart, beheaded, strangled, impaled, the list went on. Someone really hated that guy, apparently. In between those scenes, now and then, were images of someone else -- someone with long, curly gold hair, either as a peacefully, relatively neatly dead, skinny little androgynous teenager... or a similar someone, but clearly alive, a grown, obviously adult man, relaxing, hanging out in a pool or a tub or wherever that was, having a good time.

Feel free to WTF at him there in the hall, if you'd like. That screech probably managed to be heard from the other rooms, if that's what roused your interest.

[frequent_flyer]

Hinata would eventually detach from his own room, venturing out into the hallway. Well, he had a key in his pocket, might as well try some doors!

He stopped at one, trying the knob, but found it to be locked, so he'd be fiddling with the lock by the time a blue... winged... something came screaming out of one of the rooms.

"H-hey! Are you alright?" He heard something similar to tearing flesh coming from the television in the room the winged person had sprung from, prompting him to cast a wary look at the source.

Indeed, there was some kind of gruesome torture being shown. In comparison, his own television was quite tame. "Ah... do you want me to turn that off for you?"

OPEN

[linefacingforever]

...well, this felt familiar.

Yu was reminded of the first time he had arrived in the Velvet Room; he'd drifted off on the train -- there was nothing to do of course, but he hadn't felt tired. Next thing he knew, there was the sensation of riding around backwards, and the soft hum of the train was replaced with the louder sound of wheels rolling by on pavement. His eyes had flung themselves open at that sound, and he found himself sitting on the plush seats of the limo that was the Velvet Room, face to face with Igor and Margaret. He gave his name, agreed to a contract to take responsibility for his own actions, figuring this was all a dream anyway...

But it hadn't been a dream, just as he was fairly certain this wasn't a dream either. His attention, of course, was immediately drawn to the key left on the table, and he carefully picked it up, like he was afraid it would bite him any moment. It... looked like the Contractor's Key he had received from Igor, but... different, sinister. Something told him he didn't want to have anything to do with it, but he slid it into his pocket anyway.

His eyes turned to the mask next, a cold feeling settling in his gut as he was reminded of the Anoli. Did this place have something to do with them...? That thought turned the cold lump in his stomach to lead, and he almost tried to pinch himself, as if that would help wake him up. Instead he fought through the feeling, reaching over and snatching up the mask, not missing how cold and heavy it felt in his hands. If this place did have something to do with the Anoli, maybe he could get some answers...

After a moment, Yu swallowed his nerves, sliding the mask on before he stood up, heading for the door.

OPEN

[empyreanprominence]

Geis was floating above the bed, knees tucked close to its chest, the plain white mask grasped in its hands. It was turning it over, seemingly oblivious to its otherwise gaudy surroundings. Its life was so exciting suddenly. Shifting from one world to another... Geis wondered if this was a dream though.

Last time it thought something was a dream, it wasn't! So best to proceed with caution...

Ignoring the television entirely - which was just fizzing nonsensically - Geis remained floating above the bed as the various objects in the room began to be lifted up in the air. Carefully though. Geis was not playing with them, just inspecting! That was allowed, right? So long as it didn't break anything...

Just careful examination.

If anyone came in, they would see the strange energy being playing a bizarre game of juggle the furniture, the white mask resting securely atop of its head. The red key was even zipping about, mimicking a bird frolicking in the sky (okay so maybe it was playing a little bit).

i'll bring the josh to you instead OuO

[componere]

Joshua had put the mask on the first opportunity he had gotten and left the room, itching for something fun to do. His commercial break hadn't been all that surprising or entertaining, to be honest, and he had better things to do than sit and watch the more cloying parts of his personality air out. (read: he turned that thing off and bolted from the word go.)

He had been knocking on rooms at random, opening the door if there was no answer, but most have them have been mysteriously empty but for the same furniture in all of them... except for this one. Joshua's head tilts upon sighting the strange blue being. Now that... wasn't something you saw every day.

OPEN

[belfire]

Kazuya's initial thought when waking up was that he had been kidnapped by that one Succubus again, before remembering that he had left her long behind in his home world. How many times had he woken up in a love hotel, with her gleefully trying to seduce him in hopes of having the Demon King under her thrall? Far too many.

Far. Too. Many.

Kazuya sat on the edge of the bed, still looking about himself suspiciously as he munched on an apple. It was kinda sweet tasting, but at the same time, it was difficult to swallow down. He didn't know why. Whatever, there wasn't much else to do... the television was just giving garbled nonsense between blackouts, and Kazuya wasn't entirely sure that he wanted to leave the mystery love hotel with a mask on.

He felt like he had wondered into some freaky cult...

Re: OPEN

[capitalbackup]

Knock, knock.

It seemed like someone's at the door. Respond?

"...Are there anyone inside?"

Not just someone, but what sounded like a girl.

Open!

[bakegarasu]

[Otoha doesn't waste time. He picks up the mask and heads out, prowling around. With no one to know who he is, he's a bit of an imposing figure - tall, confident, and unafraid. He doesn't know what's going on here, but he's going to find out.]

[Eventually, he'll start heading towards the lounge... though he's in no particular hurry.]

[OPEN] [trigger warning: drug use]

[frequent_flyer]

[Falling asleep, his thoughts were poisoned by memories of his life. Screaming at his parents, getting thrown out of the house, searching desperately for his next fix... He remembered the nausea and the chills so... vividly.]

[And the staring eyes of a dead body he once woke up next to.]

[He startled himself awake, losing his place in bed and falling out of it. Wait. This... wasn't where he'd fallen asleep. Was he still dreaming? He untangled his legs from the crimson blankets now half-strewn across the floor, standing up and fixing his clothing.]

[He observed each of the items on the table, taking interest in the key specifically. Maybe he'd played too many adventure RPGs when he was alive, because he immediately slipped the key into his coat pocket without a second thought. You never know when it could come in handy! And the mask... he looked at the accompanying note, figuring it couldn't hurt to put it on, so he did.]

[He sat back down on the bed, turning the TV on out of simple curiosity... only to see static. Ah well, it was worth a try. He picked up the bell, rolling it over in his hands before giving it a loud ring.]

[What's the worst that could happen? It's just a dream, right?]

[That's when the television started working, at least somewhat. The sound quality was grainy and the picture kept going in and out, but it was something.]

["And it's a pop fly to second! Gee, if he catches this one, that'll win the game, won't it, Daisuke?"]

[The screen flickered to an image of a dark room, several people cramped inside. One of them held a spoon over a lit candle, several pairs of eyes watching intently as the dark substance in the spoon melted into a liquid. The TV flickered back to the sports announcers after only a brief glance at the unsettling scene.]

["That's right, Eiji! If number four catches this one, that'll wrap it up for us here at Hanshin Koshien Stadium!]

[Oh. Oh. He stared at the screen, unblinking. The picture once again returning to the dark room. Someone with a filthy white dress shirt was rolling up his sleeve, tying a strip of rubber tightly around his upper-arm, feeling around the bend in his arm where veins were becoming more easy to find.]

["And he caught it! The crowd is going wild! Keep an eye on this team, folks, you might see their faces again in the big leagues!"]

[The dirty figure in the dark room was handed a syringe, trembling hands holding the needle to his arm. Fresh blood tainted the amber liquid in the syringe before he pressed at the plunger with his thumb, shuddering with relief as he emptied the contents into his bloodstream.]

[The picture snapped back to the stadium, zoomed in on the one who'd caught the ball, his team lifting him up in celebration, thanking him for their victory. He was player number 4, he had... blue hair.]

[It was him.]

[The reception failed as he saw his own overjoyed face torn in half by static, left with his stunned reflection on the glass of the TV screen.]

i'm late but i know you want to do something with this, so..!

[trainwrecking]

[ It should come as no surprise that Otonashi is simply not "deep, dark desire" kind of material. The idea of wearing the mask or using a fake name simply never occurs to him. Perhaps it would if he could still the heart pounding painfully in his chest (indeed, being alive means he must have this quality again) or the sharp breaths catching in his throat.

Whatever he witnessed on his own television was enough to startle him into seeking out one of the quieter rooms. Hearing noises of torture or wanton desire drive him away from the rooms. Should he go in and help? Should he find someone who knows what's going on?

Is there no safe place?

The familiar sound of baseball announcers from the TV within drives him to knock. Something safe, something normal, he thinks. He assumes, wrongfully, that maybe this room is functional ― and a break away ― from the apparent horrors of the rest of this twisted dream realm.

As out-of-sorts as he is, he won't barge in on this one. No, maybe if he heard screaming or cries for help on the other side, he might try. Instead, Otonashi frantically pounds on the door, the force enough to make his hand sore. ]

Is this a safe room..?! Something's wrong―! [ A very, very small part of him might also be expecting some kind of weird trap if he tries to open any doors, but that's minor in comparison to the rest of the terror eating away at him. ]

Open

[emperor_penguin]

Decor like this is actually pretty familiar to DeDeDe. He's an ex mafia don that used to run a chain of sex clubs in the slums of the Mushroom Kingdom, after all. At least one of them probably had a room or two that looked exactly like this. He's really not as bothered as probably should be by any of this, opting instead to make himself comfortable on the bed and enjoy a nice snack of apples. Kind of makes him miss that Whispy Woods guy.

"Well then, let's see what's on the old boob tube."

...And boobs indeed, apparently. DeDeDe's desires aren't all that deep; he makes no secret of the fact that he indulges in most if not all of the same pleasures that his club peddles to the citizens. Between the static, there are sensual moans and momentary flashes of naked female flesh and... multicolored mushroom caps? Well, that's a little odd.

"...Points for tryin', anyway," the penguin mutters to himself as he lifts himself from the bed to bang on the top of the set. "Damn porno channels are always fuckin' scrambled in these places."

Eventually, the TV flickers and changes scenes to display the silhouette of DeDeDe on his throne in Dream Land, with loyal hordes of Waddle Dees and Waddle Doos waiting on him hand and foot. Again, the images are hazy, but there are also the briefest flashes of a far more sinister looking figure standing ready to be executed, the headsman's axe swinging down as DeDeDe gives a thumbs down accompanied by a sadistic grin.

"Hahaha! Now that's entertainment!"

[demifemme]

Knock knock, DeDeDe.

"Hello? Who's there?" Behind the door is a girl in pj pants and nothing else, worried that what she has seen on her TV, as in, herself with a big harem, is exactly what everybody else is watching.

Open like Teddie on ice cream!

[dreamsonwings]

Just how many more strange places will she wake up to in a week?

The idea of waking up in a completely red room complete with heart bed and mask just made Sora more suspicious. Sadly she's unaware that this is something in a dream...they're not so vivid like this. The room itself seems to be welcoming with a bowl full of apples and even a bell to ring for service. One would think this could be a vacation. Just as she picks up the mask, the TV behind her turns on, playing a song she isn't familiar of.

Please don't let our love turn out into a tragedy like it was for Juliet
Take me away in your arms...
It's all I ask of you.

"...that's really weird." she mumurs as she takes the mask and slips it over her face.

To anyone in the hallway, there is a woman stepping out wearing said mask and nothing other than her underwear. Just what is going on?

"H-Hello? Is anyone out here?"

[demifemme]

Whoa. Forgive Shura as she does a double-take and nearly walks into a corner upon taking in the sight of the woman in the hall in her underwear. Not that Shura had much more on. Hell, despite wearing pj pants, she wasn't even wearing a bra.

"Are you okay?"

Open

[bluesdiva]

Well, this diva's slept in shabbier hotels before. Never one with a love theme, but that cheap, tacky feel the whole room gave was familiar enough to her that it brought back old memories. She had to admit the piano was really pleasant to hear.

The red was almost blinding when she first awoke on this bed, as if she woke up to the sun shining in her face. When her eyes do adjust to the room, she scans her surroundings. There are apples in a dish nearby, which she acknowledges. She is admittedly pretty hungry and hasn't eaten anything in a day or so.

Oh what the heck, she'll take one, not noticing that the same amount is still there after she does. Taking a bite, she picks up the remote, eyeing it curiously before switching the television on.

The images on the screen make her drop both the apple and the remote.

That song... there was no mistaking it even with the white noise littering it. It was Aya's song. More static. She could have sworn Aya's face was there in it. The camera pans after some more white noise, revealing Haru and her mentor performing together, their voices forming a harmonious duet.

Never did they have a chance to make a music video, let alone one together. They often spoke of it, but never put it into production. Aya left before D-Va raised enough cash to put one together and Haru went off on her own to sing.

Warm tears were beginning to trickle down Haru's cheeks, she didn't even notice they were there until it was too late. The diva slumps to her knees, wiping the tears with her gloved hands. She hadn't felt so upset in such a long time, at herself for allowing this to catch her off guard so easily and for whoever thought playing this in her room was a good idea.

Should anyone come to her door, she was gonna make damn well sure to put on the mask, even if there hadn't been any instructions telling her to do so in the first place.

[misery_hates_company]

The sound of a loud blast occurs in one of the rooms.

Should anybody choose to investigate, they might see a woman, her mask covering her face and hair, shaking angrily at the smoking remains of a television set, the bowl of apples nearby unsettled. Apparently whatever she had seen on the television had upset her to the point of violence. But... aren't they showing peoples' desires?

"Wretched thing... don't you taunt me with your wiles. Get out of my HEAD!" she barks angrily. Looks like the setup touched a nerve.

[photonicfighter]

Drawn in by the loud blast and the ensuing shouting, Dakki comes to the door and knocks. "Hello? Is everything okay in there...?"

And without waiting for an answer, she opens the door and sticks her head in. So hey, it's some lady in a bodysuit wearing a mask! Which is super-helpful and comforting and welcome, I'm sure.

Open

[photonicfighter]

This wasn't the first time that Dakki had awoken in a questionable hotel-like setting. But the last time this happened, she had been tossed in there with Gatt. (Boy, was that embarrassing...) Was solitude at such an undignified moment good, or bad? She wasn't sure. She didn't feel sure of anything.

At least she wasn't in clothing that wasn't hers. That, she could be thankful for. Though the undersuit that she slept in offered little protection and left little to the imagination, it was hers. And comfortable. Aaah, but where was this? She rose, checked the note, and picked up the key. Then she plucked an apple from the bowl, tossed it up into the air, and put it back. Everything felt real. But that meant little, if it was a simulation or another wild dream. And then her attention drifted to the remote control on the bed. Television? Maybe that would offer a clue.

"...ah, drat. Static?" She attempted to change the channels, and when that failed, came right up to the box to fiddle with it. Maybe she could... jiggle some wires? Twist some dials? Though there wasn't much to adjust. It was only when she had given up and was ready to turn the TV off that something flashed through.

"Ha! They're no match for US, are they?!" It looked like something midway between an action movie and a Saturday morning cartoon. It was a fight. A very sanitized, preposterous one, from what she could make out from between the bursts of static. One where a blond, muscular man with a powerful hammer attacked faceless baddies alongside a green-haired wizard who cast spells and quipped irreverently. Where an enormous and stoic knight with equally enormous weapons tore through the mooks, a priestess with powerful heavenly magic aiding his efforts. Where androids and magical girls with vibrant-colored hair and beautiful voices sang and cheered and dove bravely into the fray. Where a young boy and an old CAST fought back to back, calling out words of hope to those around them. Where a trickster with a crooked, scarred mouth fooled the enemies, where a silver-haired rogue let nothing stand in his way to victory. Where she could see the briefest of glances of herself, sometimes purple-haired and sometimes blonde-haired but always Dakki Sigal, in the midst of it all, beaming, fighting, winning, belonging.

Dakki had been slowly backing away from the television as she watched, snatching snippets from between the bouts of snow, and she sat heavily down on the edge of the bed when she reached it again. This was a simulation. This was a vision. This was all something put on by someone that had to know her far, far too well. She wanted to see more... and wanted to see none of it, for it was all impossible. Absolutely impossible. And unsettling. For someone had to know how she felt, to put that there for her to see.... She felt for the remote, gold eyes still fixed on the set, and moved to turn it off.

[genkibot]

[Tachikoma was walking through the hallway when she heard a sudden burst of static and then sounds emanating from some kind of show behind one of the doors. That means someone is in there who just turned on their TV right? Let's find out!

She knocks on the door and follows up by speaking up.]

Hello? Anybody in there? Do you know what this place is?

Open

[echo_of_a_jedi]

The TV was left running and largely ignored, advertisements and all.

New homes on Alderaan starting as low as...

Meetra was more intrested in the accoutrements of the room. Tacky, but she's seen worse. A fruit bowl...probably wax, judging by the rest of the room, but they sure looked real.

Perfect for anyone from new families to retirees! Forget about all your troubles...

She looked carefully at the mask, holding it up to the light. Plain. White. Unintimidating. It didn't feel any more wrong than the rest of the room did, but somehow she knew what it represented. Anonymity. Unaccountability. Separation from yourself.

Maybe that was the real reason Revan and Nihilus wore them, and Traya, whose whole way of life was deception, hadn't. She was a responsible evil overlord.

No credit? War criminal? No problem! No one cares what you are or what you've done here...

This place felt - practically smelled - of the Dark Side. Or maybe not quite. Maybe it was more like what the Sith thought the Dark Side was like - a place of freedom from consequences and society, rather than the reality of a weapon that bends the wielder to its own atavistic purposes.

She wondered if it was possible.

Settle down, forget yourself! Alone or with your special someone, just let go. Be gone. Disappear. You can be empty again.

At length, she eventually set the mask down and left the room without it, turning the TV off on her way out.

[genkibot]

[And wandering the hallway is your blue-haired friend who instantly sees Meetra and runs over to say hello. Obviously, Tachikoma isn't wearing the mask either, but she's carrying it with her as she looks around.]

Miss Surik! Hello! So you're here too? Do you know what this place is?

open~

[trainwrecking]

((Not sure if a content warning is necessary given the nature of the log, but warnings are for suicide.))

Speak the words darkest desire to Otonashi and he might come back with "having coffee at a late hour to pull an all-nighter," "skipping class (with urging from fellow SSS members) to finish a game," or something about a spicy tofu dish. And as far as his memory reaches, each of these are absolutely true and cover the extent of any strong "secret desires" he might have.

So when he awakens in a strange room, his gut-reaction is concern. Who owned this room, and why is he in it? He leaves the mask and food alone, despite the note asking him to use these things. Always clean! In trying to find more information, he brushes with the TV remote. Maybe there is at least information on this thing? Unfortunately, he sees nothing but static. Strange... Until a faceless little girl appears. It's nothing pornographic: just a little girl laying in bed. Before long, she's walking, the colored, blurred lights of town catching her long, red hair.

"Don't you wish you could make her dream come true? She's so full of promise. Every year, so many wonderful children fall ill―" Static overtakes the screen. Next, a boy stands at the edge of a building, an identification card in hand. A donor card.

"I have no reason to live... I want to take your place." As the faceless boy falls, his wrists, his neck, his abdomen― parts of his body are snagged by a thin, phantom string, cutting through to harvest parts of the body later. Static. Then the girl again. This time, she runs, the wind whipping through her hair. "You can make a difference... A life for a life."

It only takes him a minute to shut the TV off and scream loudly from within about how awful this dream is. Otonashi wastes no time in throwing the remote entirely and tossing a blanket over the TV.

What is this?

[bondsofsuffering]

Knock knock, Otonashi! There's a certain masked somebody at your door, ready to start pestering you along with everybody else who's found themselves here.

Open | TW: Blood (Terribly Late on the Warning, Sorry)

[strangerfromthedesert]

Persona.

That was the word on Zero's mind when he woke from the bed. It rang out like a word spoken quite recently, and yet he couldn't recall much of the conversation it was spoken in. Gripping the side of his head in one hand, he sat up. Then he realized he was in a bed. His senses heightened, realizing his surroundings. The next moment found him off the bed and on his feet to scan the room. For some reason his senses couldn't be entirely sharp, his vision being hazy and his head swimming like he was living a dream.

What caught his attention first was that the TV in the room was already on. It displayed nothing but static, with noise to match. He stared at it with his peripheral vision for a few seconds while he made out the rest of the room. On the bedside dresser was a bell, a bowl of what looked like some sort of food, a mask and a key. An odd collection of items just sitting there. What was more troublesome was that none of his equipment was with him, noticing this while he quickly gave the room another once-over.

Realizing he was moving better than usual, Zero checked the places on his body he knew were most damaged. Instead, everything on him seemed fine. None of this made any sense. The last time he was aware he was trudging a desert wasteland barely holding himself together. Was he rescued somehow? The style of the room didn't match anything he knew before, though. Whoever it was, it definitely wasn't the Resistance. This made him even more wary. What if it was someone from Neo Arcadia? What if this was Neo Arcadia? The reploid moved to the dresser. The mask and key caught his eye. The mask had no interest to him right now, but the key... something about the key seemed important.

Right when he grabbed it, the TV started acting up. The noise coming from it grew loud enough to pierce the door to the outside, the visual static growing more violent. Immediately Zero's eyes snapped over to the display. On it flashed what looked like a large W, plastered entirely on the screen for a split second, and then again, reappearing once more for a few seconds before going back to static.

A voice could be heard from it, chopped apart by the noise interference. "Zero-o-o-o... my m-m-master-er-er-er-piece..."

The static warped to another flash, this time of a silhouette of some other person he never saw before. Or thought he never did, anyway. The voice was oddly familiar however. It cut to another static-like image for another few seconds. Zero walked closer to the television, his mind increasingly searching through its memory banks to desperately remember the things that clearly related to him.

Then he heard another voice speak, cutting through the noise but barely understandable against the static.

"I'm ... ster. ... purp ... kill, a... all. ... fight... for...?"

Was that his own voice just now? No, it was slightly different, with what he could make out. But it resembled him enough to make him step back in apprehension. The accompanying imagery didn't help.

"Every .... die .... ... T... ha... ... suff... ...tence ..."

And as if to mark it as some sort of joke, some text splatters itself in front of the image: Stay tuned for the season finale of "Back to ZERO"!

With some more sharp noises, the last image shattered into static once more, finally ending its barrage, the deafening volume cutting back to barely-audible levels. Zero couldn't help but stare at the screen, trying to make everything have sense. Nothing still did. A new sound started to make itself known then from outside the room, a distant and muffled sound of music playing, likely due to the noise dying down.

One thing was for sure... whoever had him as a guest here knew that Zero was looking for his past. He picked up the mask to study it, and then saw the note.

"'Wear this when leaving', huh..."

He flipped the mask over. This seemed entirely unnecessary, but without his usual weapons he had to be more cautious. Even if this seemed like some sort of joke, if he was indeed saved by someone benevolent, paying heed to a request couldn't hurt.

Still deciding on what to do with the mask, Zero moved towards the door. In any case, this reploid wanted some answers, and someone was going to answer for those questions.

Open

[genkibot]

[The first thing Tachikoma notices upon waking up is red. Lots and lots of red. At first she thought something was wrong with her eyes, but after staring at the mirror on the ceiling for awhile-Why is that even there?-she just realizes that's the theme of this place.

Having figured that out only leads Tachikoma wonder what this 'place' is and begins searching her room. She turns on the TV and flips through the static. There really isn't much on it, but one of the channels at least has a pleasant song that she leaves playing. She's humming along to it pretty soon as well as she goes back to exploring.

She finds the mask and looks it over, along with the note. Why are they asking her to wear a mask? Maybe she could find someone who knows. She picks up the mask and opens her door, looking out into the hallway. Well, it isn't the lounge, so she doesn't have to wear the mask out here at least, right? Time to explore! She starts down the hallway, looking over her surroundings.]

Hello? Anybody else here? Do you know where 'here' is?

[plunderbunny]

[A door creaks open next to Tachikoma. There's a pirate lady there who's also not wearing her mask.]

Actually, I was just wondering the same thing myself.

OPEN

[travelingtheworlds]

Sasha awoke in the strange room, remarkably unpuzzled. This "waking up in strange places" thing seemed to happen a lot to her; in fact, in the beginning, it was how she discovered new worlds. Noticing the TV, her first whim was to turn it on. She was disappointed when she got nothing but static and the vague sound of a voice saying, "Be free... be free from all your responsibilities."

Dismissing the sound as a simple advertisement, she got up to go explore. Passing the apples by, she read the note and put the mask on as she was asked to. No, it never occurred to her at all to check for traps or even have a little suspicion about it. If there was some kind of masked ball going on, she wanted in. With a cheery smile on her face, she exited her room and began to go down the hallway.

The Lounge

[stringmods]

As you step downstairs, just how red this entire place is becomes even more evident to you.



You see what appears to be a dashing young man in a suit, dealing out playing cards for what seemed like a blackjack game. The music you heard upstairs has picked up a faster pace than before. There are many seats, and a few drinks for you to take, free of charge. The Aramid's rooms mingling area. If you still have your mask, no one will recognize you. If you took it off, then you're free game, we're afraid.

If you chose to join the others in the blackjack game, their doesn't seem to be a wager of any kind, but you can sit down and play anyway. When the dealer speaks, his voice is soft, comforting and deep.


"Good evening, my friend. Please enjoy the company of others tonight."

[ooc: Feel free to mingle with everyone or to speak with this dashing young fellow here!]

Open to all

[misery_hates_company]

"My word. It's like they took that other place and flipped all the colors around. How... quaint."

The place puts the woman in blue hair on edge. It's all carefully designed to allure, entice, and intrigue. A way to tap into the part of the human mind that desires without rationality. A feeling she's all too familiar with.

And despises.

She crosses her arms, looking around. Hmph.