EVENT: Kind Gestures and Dark Mirrors

[spoofer]

Characters: Ensemble cast, any/all characters of Xistentia!
Summary: While F.A.T.E.S. encourages kind gestures to repair the city's shield, D.E.S.T.I.N.Y. sends their agent to sabotage everything with a virus. Infected characters turn into dark mirror versions of themselves, ready to burn the very bridges we were supposed to rebuild.
Date(s): 9 - 26 May. Check out THE MOD ANNOUNCEMENT for more information.
Warnings/Notes: Psychic influence, potential trauma, violence and upsetting themes. Please use subject header warnings appropriately!

KIND GESTURES & DARK MIRRORS EVENT

It's emotional warfare on a dimensional scale.

NOT SO/GRAND GESTURES

While the confessions might have helped some, hurt looks and uncomfortable silences abound across the city. The shield over the city has started to flicker and transmit odd, geometric shadows across the ground. One thing is clear: we have to fix this.

F.A.T.E.S. has a solution. On the morning of 9 May, F.A.T.E.S. will send a message to all residents through their daemons:

F.A.T.E.S. WARNING SYSTEM
Threat Assessment: Moderate
Phenomenon Type: Shield Fluctuations
Predicted Duration: 2 weeks to Critical Failure

The psychic bomb has crippled the defense system over Xistentia. As a result, the modified laws of physics that protect physical consent within the city limits are experiencing problems. Be aware that this means mild injury from physical assaults are now possible within the city.

To repair protective functions, residents are kindly requested to kiss and makeup. Just kissing would also be helpful. Friendly gestures varying from gifted coffee or morning salutations will also be extremely helpful contributions. Your cooperation is appreciated.

In other words, it's time to rebuild bridges. Residents are all encouraged to talk, to reach out to the people around them. Do something nice for a friend, or an acquaintance, or a stranger in need. Of course, if it feels a little forced— that should come as a surprise to no one. F.A.T.E.S. is but an awkward SUPERCOMPUTER, after all.

Good Samaritan: Help a little old lady across the street. Alternatively, given the consent defenses are dialed down, maybe you'll catch somebody about to be hit by a falling pot plant from a higher-floor window. Time to rescue!

Grand Romance: A single rose, a bouquet of flowers; their named tattooed over your heart, or a sword engraved with the insignias of one's ancestors; a boombox held outside the window or an acoustic guitar solo among the fireflies. If you love somebody, this is the time to let it out.

Family Dinner: Whether it's blood or a found family, this would be the time to reconcile over a spread. Or at least-- to try. Funnily enough, even conflict technically feeds energy into the city; a little bickering never killed anybody. But of course, if the argument kills the relationship... that's a turn for the worst, for the city as well as for you.

Apology Gifts: If you made a mess during the psychic bomb event, this would be the time to clean it up. Write a letter, send the text, or show up on the doorstep amid pouring rain.

Wildcard: Want to make a different gesture? Be F.A.T.E.S.' guest.

Enter the Villain

That doesn't really work for D.E.S.T.I.N.Y.


The enemy takes the opportunity to contact their agent Ignacio, giving him instructions to plug a data stick into the Chronological Cartographer in the Temple, in order to release a virus.

During the early hours of the morning on 9 May, Ignacio carries out his mission. The virus takes F.A.T.E.S. by surprise, crippling their internal defences and spreading quickly through their system. All computer systems managed by F.A.T.E.S. suffer disruption, including characters' daemons. All over the city, individuals experience change. The infected have turned into Mirror Versions of themselves. They remember everything about their lives, but their personalities and perspectives have changed. Instead of trying to rebuild, they want to tear down everything they once held dear.

DELETING THE VIRUS (May 26 +)

Over the course of the month, F.A.T.E.S. will be working desperately to clear the virus from their system and from every infected timeline. Daemons will continue to experience glitches, lag and crashes throughout the month.

Finally, by 26 May, F.A.T.E.S. manages to isolate the last pockets of the virus and stop it from replicating. From there, it's a simple matter to delete it from the rest of the system. Over the next few days, all afflicted individuals will return to normal.

Over the next few days, all afflicted individuals will return to normal - and then it's time to pick up the pieces.

Now feeling much more like themselves again, everyone who turned into a mirror will remember everything they did while infected. Now is the time for damage control - both for your personal lives, and for the city's defences. Xistentia is now more vulnerable than ever.

The deleting of the virus will mean a sudden and immediate change for some, and a slower, more gradual change for others. However, all characters will have returned entirely to normal by the end of the month.

ANYTHING ELSE

You can find more information on this event, as well as opportunities for plotting, in our Event Plotting Post!

Comments

[dothelokimotion]

[ He stares a little longer before shaking himself out of it. ]

And what would you want, from a God?

[shadowblends]

[the longer he stares, the wider kurt's grin becomes, until his fangs are entirely bared, amused and prideful.]

That depends. What does a god have to offer me?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's eyes narrow. ]

Gods do not offer gifts to mortals. No matter how special they might believe they are.

[shadowblends]

Quite the point you make, fair prince. [his smile broadens a touch more, eyes glittering.

since he hasn't forgotten, loki.]

[dothelokimotion]

[ His nose wrinkles at "fair prince". ]

A legitimate one. Unless you wish to contest it.

[shadowblends]

Absolutely not. I mean— [he hesitates, gestures around them offhandedly.]

One should not question the gods, yes?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Huh. Loki eyes Kurt thoughtfully. ]

That has rarely stopped anyone before.

[shadowblends]

Sounds as if you're spending time with the wrong people.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's voice is dry as a desert. ]

There isn't much choice here.

[shadowblends]

Ah! Your words are wounding, [he huffs, obviously for theatrics, since he recovers almost immediately.]

I do suppose you have yet to spend time with me. The boy you knew before is no longer here.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's expression is unreadable. ]

I rather liked that boy.

[shadowblends]

How unfortunate that he's gone.

[kurt, on the other, is unreservedly delighted and almost whimsical when he chuckles.] I think he liked you, too.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's eyes narrow. ]

It is unfortunate. More than you know.

[shadowblends]

Very ominous of you. More unfortunate for whom, though, I wonder.

[dothelokimotion]

Do you wish to test that?

[shadowblends]

Are you threatening me?

[dothelokimotion]

Threaten?

[ Loki laughs at that, clear as day. ]

What kind of God needs threats?

[shadowblends]

A small one, I'd suppose. [a silly idea. it makes him chuckle, too, just thinking about it.]

But that's not you at all, is it?

[dothelokimotion]

And what is me?

[shadowblends]

You get whatever you want— no extra steps necessary. Just reach out and take it.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki shrugs, nonchalant. ]

Well. Obviously. Why would I behave otherwise?

[shadowblends]

[kurt smirks, despite the fact he's biting his lower lip.]

Some gods are excessively benevolent. They prefer things being given rather than getting their hands dirty.

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki snorts lightly. ]

I have never heard of any such god.

[shadowblends]

[he joins in the slight laughter, although his sounds a bit more snide.]

The god I foolishly believed in before was supposed to possess qualities like that.

[dothelokimotion]

Oh?

[ Sounds fake. ]

Not a real God then.