jigokulogs | June 2022 Event

June 2022 Event

1. SWIMSUIT TROUBLES (1 POINT)

As the city goes through its daily motions, the heat bears down harder and harder while bringing out some increasingly overheated behavior from the local population. Summer is here and the natives are flocking to the shopping district: both as a respite from the scorching temperatures and to stock up on the needed supplies to beat the heat.

That means one noticeable problem: the bathing suits left on the racks aren’t the most fashionable at this point! Suits are scarce and what is left over are the skimpy, the oddly-patterned, a size too small, or all of the above. Then again, you are probably just feeling lucky you aren’t in the Shuten Clan, who have been provided their own precious supply of freshly laundered tiger stripe bikinis. And nothing else.

You may be able to borrow around within your own faction, where the pickings might not be so slim, but are still unlikely to match your personal style. Better hope you ran out to buy something nice when the Daitengu first announced the party.

2. BEACH GAMES (1 POINT)

The indoor beach facility that the Alliance has provided is extraordinary. It’s massive! It seems to extend to the size of an entire soccer field. With the combinations of Kappa tech and Tengu magic, the experience has been made as close to a natural one as anyone could ask for. The heat of the beach feels true to the real world, the sand is white and pure, and the waves rolling in and out are just like the mortal realm. Even the palm trees and beach scrub seem entirely authentic. The vibe is immaculate.

Each faction has their own area set up for meeting and mingling but everyone is welcome to let loose and interact among all the groups.

SHUTEN CLAN

The Shuten Clan has set up their beach fort with food and drinks. The drinks on offer are a particularly strong Oni beer and a few spirits (especially sake). These drinks have been mixed so that anyone who imbibes them will feel a heightened sense of competition and the need to prove themselves!

There are plenty of opportunities to show off:
Learning surfing with a few knowledgeable Oni.
Volleyball matches.
Shoulder chicken tournaments.
Beer pong.
Drinking contests that never seem to stop.
And friendly scuffles with some of the Shuten who are feeling more rowdy than usual.
In particular, the volleyball matches appear to be the Shuten Clan’s sport of choice. They’re taking these matches deathly serious. With all powers allowed in play, the game is truly deadly with how powerful, how fast, and how fierce those spikes and volleys are. Hold nothing back and leave it all in the ring!

Toraguma himself is here in his tiger striped best! He’s observing the games and taking note of which Shutens do well and which ones shame the clan with their defeat. He’ll give out rewards to those he thinks are exemplifying the pride of the clan. Don’t worry though, if you’re not up to snuff you won’t be punished; except with Toraguma’s obvious disappointment.

TAMAMO CLAN

The Tamamo Clan doesn't disappoint either. Their tiki bar is set up with a far greater variety in stock than the Shutens. Every drink seems to be made to that Lost Soul’s exact tastes. Watch out, this may compel you to pound them back more quickly than normal. The drinks will make you feel much closer to those around you — either in camaraderie, or something more intimate. The Tamamos have arranged a number of floats, inner tubes, and water wings lounging in the water. Enjoy your time together!

When you aren’t relaxing, the Tamamo Clan has also arranged huge buckets of water balloons and have filled their water guns. The instructions are clear: whether sniping from afar or going in on a full assault, go nuts. Especially against the Shutens. Lady Tenkohime herself has a high-caliber, sniper-grade water rifle with her at her lounge chair. She will occasionally pick some unlucky soul to fire off devastating rounds against. She is not soaking them in just water, of course. This is the Tamamo clan’s patented ‘perfume’, which inspires the most amorous feelings.

Finally, the Tamamo have also inspired a spicy wet t-shirt contest. It’s essentially a sexy beauty contest, but given the variety of bodies and hidden ‘talents’ tucked away under everyone’s clothes, it should prove interesting! Tenkohime has described the simple rules:
One must wear the provided white shirt and only that shirt.
The crowd will soak them down.
And the crowd will judge how well they pull it off.

SUTOKU CLAN

The Sutoku Clan has been given free reign on a fleet of jet skis and paddle boats; perfect for two. There are boogie boards and larger inner tubes ready to be attached to different jet skis. Just be careful, ok?

A large snack bar has been provided with cheerful yokai behind the counter ready and willing to serve up your heart’s desire. There are some strange candies towards the end of the bar, they taste a bit funny but once you eat one you’re compelled to have a few more. These sweets will give you the power to breathe underwater. What is the meaning of this power? Well, you’re in the Alliance, after all, you figure out what’s under the waves.

Sutoku games include things like kan jam and frisbees, but Sutoku Souls are also very much encouraged to participate in the Shuten Clan’s volleyball tournament. Much to Toraguma’s frustration, the Alliance has planted a Tengu referee who seems to really favor the Alliance players over his own. Use your powers liberally.

The Daitengu is in attendance with sunscreen marks on their mask, for some reason. They’re being a total busybody, as usual. They’re really taking the time to chat up Tenkohime and Toraguma, even if the two want to rip each other’s throats out. Could a resolution to the turf war be on the way? One can only hope!

ENMA DEPARTMENT

The Enma is instructing the members of the Department to volunteer (aka voluntold) for lifeguard duty. The shifts are short — it is ultimately a party — and participation will net you both free food and drink from any of the vendors, as well as license to let loose for the rest of the party! The fare provided by the Enma vendors is pretty staid, but it does fill you with the odd need to run down the beach shallows in slow motion. Not sure what that’s about.

There is one further task that is expected of the Enma Department: suikawari. It is a big deal and to be taken seriously! This is the Enma’s favorite beach activity and the only diversion that he cares about. Your guess is as good as anyone’s, but it’s probably because the game resembles a form of execution. Regardless! Every officer is expected to do at least one round of the game as a form of initiation to the Department itself. Captain Shiki hosts the game in the absence of the Enma. Someone should tell her to chill out with that whistle, though.

3. BONFIRE (1 POINT)

As the hosts of the event, the Sutoku Alliance has set up a massive bonfire as the sun begins to set and stars light up the magical sky. There’s a romantic feeling in the air. Things seem as chill as they ever could be, there are no Haniwa in sight! Things feel peaceful for the first time in a while.

A final happy hour is declared, with free libations for everyone to close out the night. It’s time to finish this party in style. For anyone particularly watchful, they may spy the extraordinary sight of Toraguma and Tenkohime together. Off in the shadows while the party rages on, they are sitting together and watching the waves roll in. What could they be discussing? It will remain a mystery, getting any closer to them would be a deadly mistake.

The evening closes without any major incidents. Nothing seems like it could spoil the mood. It almost feels too good to be true.

4. AND THEN... (2 POINTS)

As all the party goers change back into their clothes and exit the facility, there is a rumble of thunder over Jigokucho. The stars are quickly swallowed by a darkening sky and the ground shakes. A minor earthquake? That’s not unheard of but the sky above is looking threatening. Evil. Darkness washes out over the entire city, none of its many bright lights able to cut through. Something is wrong. Something is happening.

A warm rain begins to fall, spattering across you and your surroundings. It becomes quickly apparent that you are not doused with water, but with blood.

The silence is shattered suddenly when a scream cuts across the whole of Jigokucho. An accursed miasma pours out from every direction. Then you see them: the Haniwa. They are everywhere, gazing from every direction, pressing in. Something has gone terribly wrong.

Captain Shiki is the first to act. She makes a call to Kaigo no Bou, but what she hears is enough to freeze her in her tracks.

The containment center deep beneath the tower where the Haniwa were being stored has been compromised. All of the cursed energy that was stored there has leaked out into the city from below. The guards below are dead. No one is answering their radio. It is not just the containment center that has been compromised, but all of Kaigo no Bou.

Captain Shiki struggles to remain calm as she gives out orders. Her entire command structure has been decimated, but she has to keep these people safe. She urges everyone to seek shelter, immediately. Everyone needs to partner up and stick together.

None of the faction leaders present arguments and they enforce this ruling with their Souls. They direct everyone to make their way back to their home base. Shuten to the Arena, Tamamo to Mizukume, and Sutoku to Konoha. There, their faction leaders can protect them.

As for the Enma officers: they are on rescue duty. You will be heading out into the city to rescue as many people as possible from the nightmarish effects of the cursed energy on the city. Captain Shiki will act as their point of command at the indoor beach.

Good luck, everyone.

5. IN THE CURSED NIGHT (2 POINTS)

A rain of blood is sprinkling all around you. It pings off sign posts and garbage bins, it splatters wetly onto the concrete and your face. The scent is pungent and thick; spoiling. It is soaking in to your hair, your clothes, your skin. It is driving you mad: your pulse spinning, breathing short.

There are noises in the impenetrable darkness. Fox feet on the pavement, crow wings shifting on a perch, a stranger's cruel laughter. The dark energy that has swallowed you is bemused by your smallness, is lurking at the edges and waiting for the moment to strike. Hold tight to your fellows, lest in the darkness another hand be placed in yours. Do you know who you walk with? What you walk with?

The Haniwa are watching you from every surface; crowded together as one with their empty eye sockets and open mouths. Their dark eyes turn to follow where you go as you stumble through your nightmares and your delusions. They breathe in your suffering on the air.

Beware the onibi, they will lead you astray.
Beware the grasping hands in the trees.
Beware the whispers in the distance.
Beware the slope to the river.
Beware. Beware.

Welcome to the June event!

Art by astrono77153462
Special shoutout to vandalisto for coming up with the meat of this event; the beach party. They approached us with this as a player plot, and it was good enough that we made it into the full event for the month. Excellent work, Vandal!
If you have any questions about event content, please ask them here!
If your character participated in the volleyball games, see here! If they participated in the wet t-shirt contest, see here!
If you have questions about the game itself, please check out the premise, FAQ, and rules pages.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Kim!?

[ In the haze of the night and the bloody rain, Cloud certainly didn't expect to have a car come in and ram the manifestations-as-Whispers. He watches the semi-corporeal spectres go flying off into the darkness, the Kineema's headlamps the most light he's seen most of the evening. Until Kim shouted, he was relatively sure it was a monster. ]

[ That said, Cloud is not a man who hesitates at orders. As soon as Kim says to jump in, he swings the parasol at one last spectre, turning around and climbing into the car, yanking the door shut. ]

I'm in! [ He's not buckled yet, but who has the time for that? He'll get it while they move. ] Go!

I'm going!

[ Kim doesn't wait before he slams down on the accelerator again, mindful of the spectres reforming in front of his very eyes. He doesn't give them the chance; instead, he blazes right through them and races straight ahead. ]

What are those things? Even that didn't get them!

[ He glances up at the rearview mirror, clenching his teeth as he realizes that they've begun to give chase. From the way they drift forwards, it looks like they shouldn't be moving quickly, but it's akin to watching unmoving scenery during a particularly boring route; their stillness is deceptive, but they're heading towards them incredibly quickly. Goosebumps prickle up on his forearms, exposed by the sleeves of his jacket rolled up to the elbow, but he ignores that eerie, forboding feeling.

Shit. This is going to take some creative driving if they want to lose them. ]

They're - Whispers. Or they're meant to look like them, anyway! I'll explain later!

[ He's holding on for dear life, but he's certainly not unaccustomed to bumpy rides - though usually, he's the one in the driver's seat. ]

These aren't the real things, so they shouldn't be too tough - we should be able to outrun most of them-

[ He's looking behind Kim. Ugh. He's not a guy with a ranged weapon, usually, and he's kicking himself for it now. They're gaining fast. Thankfully, the Whispers he knows only really know how to jostle thinks with their semi-substantial mass. So it's easy to see they're trying to swoop down and jostle the Kineema off the road. ]

[ Unfortunately for both Kim and Cloud, this means this ride is going to get bumpier before it mellows out. ]

Edited 2022-06-22 15:32 (UTC)

I'll do my best! These roads really aren't meant for a high-speed chase.

[ Or meant for his vehicle at all. The streets of Jigoku-cho are largely meant for small motorbikes, rickshaws, and pedestrians, not Kim's behemoth of a vehicle. But if he has faith in anything, it's his own driving skills and his propensity to go faster than anyone would consider to be wise. He never thought it would actually come in handy. While he's been in a few high-speed chases, they were always something that existed in his fantasies rather than in real life.

Admittedly, he had always fantasized about chasing after some dastardly criminal, not running away from eerily deadly spirits, but beggars can't be choosers. ]

Put on a seatbelt! [ He snaps at Cloud, though with more urgency than heat, too worked up to temper his tone. The wheels screech with abandon against the pavement as he turns a sharp corner, winding his way through the merchants district. ] And -- do you know how to use a gun?

[ They can outrun them, but having someone shooting at them can only help, he thinks. ]

[ Cloud is yanking on the seatbelt as he responds. ] SOLDIERs get mandatory rifle training! [ So that is to say, yes. ]

[ He swings into the seat from the force of the swerve, but if Cloud is gonna comment on Kim's driving - either positively or negatively - he's going to save it until after they're out of the heat of the moment. The Whispers nimbly follow around the corner - but they did have to stop for a brief moment, meaning Kim pulls away slight enough that they're no longer trying to play bumper cars with the Kineema. ]

If you've got a gun, I'll try to take a shot! They aren't invincible!

Take it! More ammunition is in the glovebox -- use what you need.

[ Kim hurriedly reaches into the holster underneath his arm and shoves a firearm - Andromache's, far superior to his own - into Cloud's lap. He can always get more supplies once they're back in a safehouse, any stinginess on the part of their clan having long since vanished in the face of a real crisis. For now, the most important thing is to get to safety. ]

Just be careful. Try not to shoot my car.

[ The rear is larger than the front; if Cloud's not careful, it would be all too easy to shoot the engine, at which point -- well, the danger is probably the bigger problem in that situation, but unfortunately even in the heat of things, Kim isn't thinking clearly enough not to acknowledge this. He just doesn't want his poor baby to be hurt any more than necessary.

Task done, he sets his attention more firmly on the road, the vehicle positively wailing as Kim puts his history of reckless driving to the test, pushing the Kineema harder and faster than he would normally dare in city streets. There's little suspension to be had; it's a hectic, bumpy ride, and to many, the fear of crashing would be greater than the fear of the beasts that dog them. But if Kim feels any of that fear, it certainly doesn't show on his face. He just looks deathly focused, brow furrowed and grip tight, the grimace on his face nearing a grin. ]

Wasn't planning on it!

[ He grabs the gun - it's been a while since he's used one - but he has. He remembers that clearly enough. The bumping and jostling of the Kineema doesn't help, but he's able to aim out the window steadily enough. There's a sharp crack of gunfire and the shot whizzes by one of the Whispers - though, thankfully, also well clear of the rear of the Kineema. ]

Shit-

[ The motion is rote. Pull back, reload, aim. The next shot hits one of the Whispers dead-on. These aren't -real- Whispers, not truly, so it does go spiralling back and into the darkness as they pull away. The remainder of them continue to swarm forward - though between the gunfire and Kim's driving, they're having a hard time keeping pace. ]

There! Got one! Should be able to pick them off before we get back to the shelter!

[ It's a regular high-stakes car chase, and Cloud's aim definitely shows off the fruits of his training - not every shot lands, but given the circumstances, he's got a pretty good eye. ]

Edited 2022-07-07 20:52 (UTC)

Okay! Keep at it!

[ Unfortunately, those horrible Whispers aren't the only problem that they have. The streets are infested with all manner of monsters crawling about, and the streets ahead of them are no exception; at the last minute, Kim sees a looming creature in front of them - a really big dog? - and faced with his breakneck speed, there's no time to safely stop. The car jerks and shudders and he hits the creature with a resounding thump, and he can barely make out a yelled, ] Shit, hold on!

[ The body of the beast rolls onto the front of the vehicle and obstructs the window, leaving Kim with no choice but to slam on the brakes, tires screeching and the tendons of his arms standing out as the car whips 'round in circles, productively smashing into the Whispers that had gained some ground, eventually only coming to a stop after the Kineema has a moment of balancing precariously on its two rightmost wheels. ]

Did I just kill a dog?!

[ The force of inertia finally makes the beast roll off the car, at which point Kim realizes with no small amount of relief that that was not, in fact, a dog. He slams on the gas again, muttering darkly to himself. ]

If you don't have your seatbelt on yet: put it on. And -- what do those things do when they catch up to you, exactly?

[ Cloud feels his stomach turn end-over-end as the Kineema spins - a little green around the gills as a sudden ghost of a memory of nausea rises to the surface. He pushes it down, at least for the moment, but there's a beat before he responds, back to loading the gun. ]

Don't know what that thing was, but it wasn't a dog.

Anyway, I'm buckled! The Whispers - they can drag you off, they can hurt you. Any number of things, but these aren't real whispers -

[ Crack. Another shot that lands dead on, and another Whisper seems to fall away into darkness. ]

- And they're not as strong as them. And they're not- they don't have the same motivation.

[ Whatever that's supposed to mean, Cloud doesn't feel it's in his best interests to elaborate. ]

If we can get to the garage, we should be fine! There's not that many left!

The Whispers?

[ Shitty name. A whisper should be calm, gentle, sedate. These things are horrible. And, clearly, Cloud knows precisely what they are and what they can do, which means that they're from his world. ]

Wonderful. Even the demons here are multicultural, [ he mutters bitterly to himself as he pumps on the gas again, whizzing their way through the city streets and towards Sutoku territory again, back to the garage that's housing all of the clan's few vehicles in this mess. He intends to ask what they're about once they've come to a safe place, but until then, he needs to keep all of his attention on the road (and probably needs to do less grumbling about the sheer variety of monsters that have been hurled at them).

Finally, the garage comes within view and the Kineema sails towards it. He glances behind them, nervous about them following them and potentially exposing the entire safehouse to the Whispers, exorcist wards or no. ]

Okay, okay. [ He really should not be speeding into the garage at top speed. This is an accident waiting to happen. ] Hold, on, this isn't going to be a smooth stop!

Got it!

[ Cloud is feeling more than a little queasy, unexpectedly, as the Kineema bobs and weaves through the streets, the garage coming into sight. The sharp rapport of the gun in Cloud's hands as he fires steady shots. Miss, miss, hit- that Whisper careens off into an alley, seemingly dissolving away into smoke as they can't keep up. ]

[ Cloud pops off one more shot - the Whisper it hits spinning as if grazed instead of hit dead-on, but they're too close now, so he pulls himself in and grabs at his seatbelt to make sure he won't go careening off. He glances at Kim, and his eyes are serious - and definitely trusting. Though maybe a little paler than usual. ]

Alright, I'm in! Do it!

On it!

[ Kim bowls their way into the garage, praying that the TipTop gods are in their favour and that it won't be full of other cars for them to smash into. Whether they do or not is not his concern; as much as he adores his Kineema and would mourn its loss, it's far more important to get him and Cloud back into the cradle of Sutoku's safehaven. They skid their way into the garage and Kim slams on the brakes to keep them from crashing straight into the wall, tendons in his forearms straining as he yanks the steering levers in opposite directions, sending the Kineema screeching into a series of donuts, its black as tar tires leaving unsightly skidmarks against the clean concrete floor. It seems, momentarily, that they may tip over entirely, and crash to the floor, the world spinning wildly around them, but eventually they come to a shuddering, unsteady stop, the suspension whining and protesting as the carriage bounces, as though shivering from overexertion.

Overcome with a sense of accomplishment, the adrenaline pumping so abundantly through his veins that he's nearly shaking with it, Kim lets out a cry of: ] Whoo!

[ And then he remembers himself, that he has a passenger in his vehicle, that they are in the midst of a drastic crisis, that it is unseemly for a middle-aged officer of the law to break out into whoops as though he's some decrepit TipTop racer, and he gets ahold of himself. ]

Khm. [ He glances over at Cloud, willing for the man to simply forget what he's seen. Suddenly prim again, he straightens out his jacket. ] That... went surprisingly well, I think. You all right?

[ As they powerslide into the safehouse garage - the remaining Whispers bouncing off the field of protective wards others had put in place, scattering off into the dark of the night, Cloud can feel the telltale signs of nausea painfully make themselves known. Fighting down that instinctive response takes him the majority of the time it takes for the Kineema to come to its final destination, and when it settles, Cloud's hand is on the dashboard to steady himself and catch his breath. It definitely doesn't help he probably reeks of the coppery smell of blood... but he's had worse. ]

[ And honestly, all that nausea vanishes when Kim lets out a cry of victory. Cloud can't help but let out two sharp barks of laughter. The man might look a little pale for an hour or so after, but the stunts did not invert Cloud's guts, and they're alive, so that's a solid win. ]

Thanks to you. Didn't take you for the kind of guy with that sort of nerve behind the wheel, Kim. No offense. Hell of a save.

[ Uh oh, Kim. There's a problem. Not only is Cloud actively remarking on your driving, it's... appreciative? In no small part impressed, even. He gives a nod and a small smile Kim's way as he finds himself steadying, and even handing back the gun properly, no finger on the trigger, grip up. ]

Ah -- thank you, [ Kim says, embarrassed but pleased, the dimness of the parking garage obscuring the faint glow of his ears as he accepts the firearm back. It's not often that he gets complimented on his driving acumen (it's not at all, in fact; he is much more liable to get a stern, are you trying to fucking kill us, Kitsuaragi?), and he finds that it's rather welcome. ] No offense taken. I'm not usually as reckless as that, but when circumstances dictate some tricky driving, I'm not about to go the speed limit.

[ Which they do go as Kim slowly drives his poor Kineema to its rightful parking spot, looking a little worse for wear after the trials he had put it through. He can't help but pat the dashboard as one would pat a trusty steed, with more affection than he shows most human beings, glad down to his bones that it has managed to withstand the journey. You've done well, he seems to say, and the quiet rumble of the machine as it powers down seems to be uttering very much the same. ]

C'mon, let's get into the shelter for a while, [ he says, glancing down at his watch. ] And maybe you can explain to me what those things were. I've never seen anything like it in my life.

You did what you needed to do. And you did it well. No complaints here.

[ With the Kineema parked and winding down, Cloud managed to slip out of the machine easily. He manages to fight down any jelly legs he might have had earlier — why was it he was fine driving but not- ]

I guess I do owe you an explanation, huh?

[ Whatever. Not the time. He stuffs his hands in his pockets as he starts to walk toward the shelter with Kim. ]

Whispers. They were... a problem, back before we got here. I don't exactly understand them, but...

Basically, they exist to set things on 'the right course'. Any deviation we might have taken, they were there to either stop us or... correct it.

[ How comfortable on you on discussing the concepts of predetermination, Kim? ]

Edited 2022-08-16 02:31 (UTC)

[ By this point, Kim feels as though he's learned quite a bit about the world that Aerith and Cloud inhabit. He knows about the basis of their religion and Aerith's place in it, in the dungeon Aerith had grown up in as run by Shinra, knows about Cloud's own sordid past as a SOLDIER (and his apparent, though yet undisclosed, memory problems), of the disparate class structure that had forced ordinary people down to a place where they could no longer see the sun, of Shinra's monopoly over what seems to be the entire country's monopoly. When it comes to the homes of others, Kim arguably knows most about theirs. He has, as a result, become accustomed to discussing matters of their home.

Horrible little ghosts that terrorize people when they divert from fate? That's new. He pauses, brow slightly furrowed. ]

To correct it, [ he echoes slowly. ] Do they work for someone? [ Shinra, perhaps? ]

[ He thinks about how best to word this, before shaking his head. ]

No. They've... helped them before, but I don't think Shinra is any more aware of them than your average person. They're— invisible to the naked eye, typically.

Honestly... this part sounds pretty crazy, even to me. But apparently what could be called the 'will of the planet' knows how things are... supposed to go. And if it deviates too strongly, the Whispers interfere.

[ He's not meeting Kim's eye, and it's clear that what Cloud's talking about is a little beyond even Cloud to explain in detail. Honestly, it might be the adrenaline that makes him feel like Kim won't call him crazy right now. ]

They've saved Aerith before, but they also made sure that... something that couldn't be undone happened, even as we were poised to stop it.

[ It's still hard— to talk about what happened to Sector 7. ]

You mean... fate?

[ Kim frowns. He's never particularly liked the idea of fate. Free will, the power of self-actualization, is the only thing that most people have in the world. The idea that there's a way that it's supposed to go is not only too supra-natural for his liking, but it also makes life seem deeply, hopelessly pointless. Either you're important enough for fate to intervene, deeming all of your life without any sense of control, or you're meaningless enough that it doesn't bother. Neither are particularly nice thoughts. ]

How do you know it's that sort of thing and not just a separate faction with their own agenda?

[ Kim's internal monologue is preaching to the choir, that's for sure. Cloud isn't a fan of the idea that what he's doing is set in stone. The idea that the Whispers really did govern fate — especially when he considers their involvement in what happened to Sector 7 — doesn't do wonders for trying to get his stomach to settle. ]

Guess I really can't. Not really, anyway. [ But Aerith believes it's more than that. And if she believes it, well. He's not going to dismiss it out of hand. ] But that's the going theory right now. Truth be told, we still don't really have a good idea what they're doing.

[ He cuts himself off, sort of looking away, quietly. ]

I get it. It's not exactly an easy conversation to have.

[ Kim's lips twist in ordinary skepticism. He does not mean to dismiss such thoughts out of hand - especially when he's been proven wrong, time and time again - but this specific instance simply seems wrong.

But who's to say? It doesn't exist where he's from. So it has little to do with him. ]

It's not that. It's native to your world -- which means whatever its interests are, whether you think it fate or something else, has to do with you. [ The corner of his mouth twitches. ] Even if fate were real, I doubt it would have much to do with me.

[ Someone like Cloud, though, having thoroughly defected from some sort of antagonizing capitalist evil straight out of Harry's most unhinged communist theories, roped into being the bodyguard of none other than a holy figure that he would have once been tasked with securing, and joining the revolution -- that's the sort of person that fate applies to. Not workaholic binoclards with receding hairlines and dwindling hopes that he'll ever get a Wirral game going again. ]

Do they always act like that? Chasing after you like that. It seemed less as though they were guiding you and more as though they wanted to kill you.

[ Cloud slows for about a half-step as he considers Kim's question. He shakes his head. ]

...No. The Whispers I know of wouldn't have acted like that. It's— probably just... the curse, using the image of them as something it can reach out with. That's not to say they haven't attacked us before, but...

[ It's the only answer he can think of. The Haniwa were able to reproduce Nibelheim, after all. It stands to reason they might be able to pluck other things out of their heads to use. ]

I... can't imagine they'd be here. They would have shown themselves before now. It'd be too much of a coincidence.

So they don't normally indiscriminately attack you.

[ Which lends credence to Cloud's theory that they're figments of destiny; Kim is heavily skepitical of this theory, but Cloud is a sensible enough fellow, and he has to believe that this theory has some basis in reality, no matter how dubious. Simply attacking people has very little to do with it, he thinks. ]

That sounds about right. The things I've seen here... [ He shakes his head. ] It's being drawn from people's memories, somehow. They mimic what we remember, but they're not at all carbon copies. I would assume that they are less powerful than they typically are as well.

[ That's been the trend. Good thing, too. If destiny is real in Cloud's world, Kim still doesn't want anything to do with it. ]

When did they attack you before?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

June 2022 Event

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