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EVENT

Inverted
The city of Recollé...this feels familiar, doesn't it? Everything about your precious city seems to be calm albeit weird, but that's normal for these parts. Is this just how life is now? Or should you be preparing for something else...?

I.

Hopping through dreams seems to be old hat by now. Have any of you experienced a good night sleep this last month? It seems as though it's inevitable to avoid falling into someone else's dreams, but at least the waking hours are safe...

...until the 5th of August. Though you may be awake and able to carry out your every day lives, Retrospec users will soon find that their surroundings will warp around them to reflect dreams they've been experiencing or memories of places they're familiar with. Hallucinations of these places will be solid enough to encompass you and those around you. People from your dreams and memories will exist and actively encourage you to chase after them, digging deeper to understand who you truly are.

Some of you may find it a step further and discover yourself stuck in someone else's memories swapped out for your own, their hallucinations enclosing you and leaving you trapped in a place unfamiliar.

The entire city may disappear right before your eyes as you roam the new landscape of these memories. Objects can be taken from the scene of the dream and pulled back into reality as a catalyst to break the hallucination. Monsters from the scene can be slain or a user can be coerced into forcing themselves to break the illusion themselves by rejecting what they're seeing. The possibilities are endless and mostly harmless.

After all, several of you have experienced this before, haven't you? While the fog from last October isn't infiltrating the city, your hallucinations are as they spread far and wide, even going so far as to notify NPCs of certain changes around them.

Good luck explaining that one.

II.

Dreamshares and hallucinations are quite cumbersome, aren't they? Manageable though they may be, they're nothing but a mild annoyance at this point and it may feel as though you're making some progress in avoiding them.

However, for several users, falling asleep and waking up may have some rather drastic results.

Upon awakening, you may find yourself somewhere you aren't familiar. You might be in someone else's bed, or perhaps you're in an entirely different district than you fell asleep in. Something feels off about yourself and you'll wake up with a slight headache and dizzying sensation. It will pass within the hour, at least.

It's only when you start to look closer that you realize something is incredibly wrong. These hands don't belong to you, nor do these clothes or these walls. Your mind is the same and you remember everything as it should be, but your body belongs to another. You may recognize the person whose body you now inhabit, or perhaps you're incredibly unlucky and you've been swapped with a stranger.

Get out there and find your match, Retrospecters. Swapping back won't be as simple as you may hope. It seems that the ability to swap back to normal is unique to every set of citizens and can range from talking things out, bodily colliding with one another, falling asleep and hoping it fixes itself or other circumstances.

The longer you find yourself in the body of someone else, however, the more you'll find yourself taking on their mannerisms or obtaining their regained memories for yourself. You may even start to believe you are that person now. Careful not to lose yourselves.

III.
Never fear! Despite the bodyswapping that seems to be going on, Retrospec will still recognize users as themselves. Posting to the network will still attach the correct name to the correct users even if they're wearing someone else's face. The trouble, it seems, is that Retrospec itself is starting to fall apart.

Some posts may appear twice due to errors in accepting new posts. Messages will be sent to people you don't mean to send them to, and in some cases your entire name field may be changed to a name you don't recognize. Messages will appear scrambled on occasion, and most importantly while you're posting you may receive strange messages as well.

Small, descriptive blurbs about yourself will appear in your mailbox detailing information about yourself, places you've gone, items you've received and notations about unique properties and abilities you may have. Pictures of you from your current location will be mailed to yourself, and one of two words will appear.

For those who have been on the app for over a year, they will receive: Alpha.
Anyone who has been on the app for less than a year will receive: Beta.

What does that mean? That's a great question. Perhaps you should ask one another.

IV.
So really, you might come to realize that a good solution to escape all of this ridiculousness is to hightail it out of the city and head for one of the four surrounding regions. Nobody needs to stay in Recollé. It's summer vacation! School doesn't start until September and if things don't improve in the city it might be easier to process what's happening outside.

For those who venture to those regions though they'll notice a distinct difference in them from their usual presence. Magatus is still covered in sand instead of snow, and for anyone who enters Bosuma they'll notice that the flowers are beginning to blacken and wither. The water levels around Pesgare are below average as fish begin to struggle to find new places to live, and the temperature in Respatrum has dropped to an unusually chilly 80 degrees fahrenheit.

While natives of Magatus don't seem to be alarmed, the other three regions will be distressed and uncertain of how to change what's happening around them. They will mention that there have been signs of this coming for some time now but that it's unlike anything that's normal for the region.

More importantly, however, they'll pause when they look at you and they'll be hesitant to continue. It seems they'll be more distracted by bright blue Retrospec symbol tattooed on the side of your neck, glowing even through any fabrics you may be wearing. The symbol will disappear and fade once users return to Recollé, but should they venture out again the mark will return with a vengeance.

BONUS.
On the evening of the 5th, every single user will receive an unmarked, unlabeled package addressed to them. Should they choose to open this package they will find several puzzle pieces in monochromatic colors.

As users begin to put together the puzzle, they'll notice that some pieces are missing. These pieces can be found scattered around the city in locations they usually frequent, but the full picture remains blurred no matter how much of the puzzle they complete. It's only when you find the last puzzle piece and slip it into place that the picture comes into focus.

The colors are muted but the image is clear. A backside view of yourself is clearly outlined in the light from the door, but there's a message printed at the bottom of each puzzle in the same Retrospec blue.

"Turn him to any cause of policy, the Gordian Knot of it he will unloose, familiar as his garter."

Welcome to

recolle's August event!

As notated, this is the first event log! The effects of this log will only go until the night of 8/16. After this time, a new log for dream dives and further information and other things in the month will go up on 8/17!

Please note: dream dives have not started yet! They will not be icly in effect until 8/17.

For Prompt I, any items taken from the hallucinations should be small-scale items if they are canon-based. If they're AU-based, please keep them at a reasonable size. Characters should be able to carry items themselves in order to retrieve them from the dream.

As a reminder, if you are planning to keep changes to your AU at the end of this month, please leave us a comment here!

Finally, any questions you have regarding this event may be directed to the mod comment here. Be sure to review the mods' question thread on the plotting post for important information as well!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I know that! But Mika -- !!

[Yuu instinctively stumbles when Mika moves, when he loses hold of the other's hand and his eyes widen in panic. In fear. Of course he understands how Mika too might not want to just stand back and watch this. Dream or not. Whether this might have consequences down the line.

But that doesn't stop Yuu cursing as he stumbles after Mika, panicked as he sees the familiar group of children.]

Quick!!

[Desperation is a funny thing. Mika knows that it will likely not end well, but given that the memory of their deaths is so fresh in his mind it is impossible for him to simply stand by and let it happen again.]

[The children freeze in their tracks, not sure how to react to the sudden burst of sound and speed. Ferid hasn't even moved from his spot yet, hsn't even revealed himself to them. Mika doesn't want him to do it either.]

[Fear and adrenaline choking him, he goes straight for one of the girls. Long hair, braid. He can't remember her name but the way Ferid murders her is enough for him to know that he needs to get her out of here fast. Mika attempts to grab the dream figure that looks so much like Akane. He's prepared to flee, hoping desperately that Yuu will follow suit.]

[Yuu gathers a couple of the other children as best he can, taking advantage of their pausing at the noise and speed around them. The youngest boy and the girl with the glasses. He apologizes and urges the others to hurry and follow them, as he makes to try follow Mika before Ferid could move and stop them.

It's only once the two start to try flee with the children that the vampire steps in. Suddenly seeming to appear from where he was near the steps to being right in front of them.]

[Mika doesn't remember what kind of person Ferid is. If he did, perhaps he would have responded differently. Instead he clings Akane tighter to his chest, as if to protect her from the threat that won't let them leave. She clings to him, confused and scared at the same time.]

[Mika takes a deep breath. He has to do something drastic. Anything to keep the vampire from attacking them and killing them like he does in his memories.]

Let them go! Take me instead.

Wh -- Mika, no!

[Okay so he doesn't recall Mika saying that before when they were younger. But it still strikes an uncomfortable chill in him all the same. He can't lose Mika. He can't go through that again. Knowing Mika would do it and Ferid wouldn't think twice about it and probably then still tormenting the kids anyway. He couldn't -- wouldn't let that happen again.

Which is why he then moves to step between Mika and the vampire, glaring up at Ferid defiantly, even without a weapon on him, with his arms full of the kids that he sets back down and pushes behind him.]

[Mika should have expected his friend not to sit idly by, because it simply wouldn't be in Yuichiro's nature to do such a thing. He is still quite shocked by the turn of even, as if his brain simply shut down the idea that Yuichiro would try to put himself in harm's way. The thought fills him with enough fear that he wants to pull Yuichiro back. If he wasn't already carrying Akane, he would've.

Yuichiro may not see the horrified look on Mika's face, but he may hear the loud gasp behind him. Ferid seems to be amused by it all, slowly strolling towards the dark haired teen.]

Yuu-chan, don't!

I am not letting this happen again, Mika!

[Yuu retorts in response to defying Mika telling him to get away. He can't. He couldn't stand back and let this happen again, a second time. Couldn't let that happen to Mika again. Probably, this was suicidal, impulsive and risky, reckless to try stand against a noble vampire like this. Probably it wouldn't really be able to change anything or stop Ferid. But even so. If it gave the others even a slightest chance, he had to try something.]

[Mika is horrified, and in his shock Akane slides out of the embrace and goes to hold the smaller children. He can't stop her - for some reason he's drawn to stand by Yuichiro's side. It feels appropriate that they'd face this horror together, even if he can't remember why.]

[But before the tall vampire is close enough, a chilly wind hits their backs. It's too quiet. Something is wrong. Mika looks over his shoulder.]

Wh -- ?

[That wind has Yuu turning to glance behind too. Not that Ferid needs much if any chance to approach, to move faster than the two could follow given his vampire speed. But Yuu does take his gaze from the noble for too long. Not that long, but long enough to end up losing track of Ferid all the same.]

What was that?

[The wind is enough to make them both nervously look in the other direction, and when Mika looks back to where Ferid stood. He's not standing there anymore. Mika feels like the air is stolen out of his lungs.]

No...

No! No!

[Not again. Yuu shifts to try move to protect the others. But of course he's not quick enough in comparison to Ferid. To the vampire's speed. He doesn't make it in time to stop Ferid from attacking the other children. Which is why he ends up tripping and falling to his knees in upset and in his haste to try stop this.]

[Mika's memory of this event is so scattered and confusing that seeing it happening, right in front of him, is so shocking and terrible that it freezes him in place. He can't even raise his voice to beg the vampire to stop even though he's screaming on the inside.]

[When Yuichiro staggers and falls it seems to break the spell that Mika is under, causing him to run over to his side to help him up. The floor is bloodied and the room is quiet as he does so, aside from their ragged breathing.]

Yuu-chan...

He can't. Not again.....

[Yuu gets back to his feet with Mika's help. Though he's up on his feet again, Yuu tenses, pausing at the blood that's gotten on his hands from when he fell to the floor. It has him blinking at it almost confusedly for a moment before he stiffens, biting his lip to keep from wanting to scream and break entirely.]

Why? Why did he--

[The scent of blood makes Mika want to retch. He holds it in, stoically holding onto Yuichiro as if he is a lifeline.]

[He only remembers the children in pieces, but the memories are so full of love that he feels the loss as keenly as the first time. Mika looks away from the blood on the floor, trying to look away and focus on Yuichiro to keep himself from crying. It doesn't work. The tears fall down his face, but he hardly notice them. Mika feels like a part of himself dies with them, even though he's physically fine.]

...We have to get you out of here.

Where?

[Where would they go? How would they get through past Ferid? It's only that Mika holds to him so tightly that Yuu stays on his feet, feeling physically ill from the sight, the smell of the coppery tang of blood. The feel and taste of it at his tongue from biting his lip a little hard.]

[Mika can't see very clearly because of the tears, but he moves forward. There is a cool wind that's coming from a spot ahead of them, and he desperately hopes that it will take them out. Out of this nightmare.]

[As they stagger forward, the scene shifts vaguely. Ferid seems to disappear for a moment, flickering in and out like an old movie.]

[He forces himself to bury the sorrow, his face white from the exertion and shock. Mika simply pulls him along, focusing on staying up on his feet even though he wants to collapse.]

I don't know. Just hang on.

[Yuu's feet were only moving to keep him upright and one step at a time due to pure instinct in Mika's leading them. Pulling Yuu along the way he was. He's not sure if the wind is something to be relieved about or stay away from, given it was difficult, if not impossible, to follow Ferid's movements with the vampire's speed. But he manages to keep going, to keep trying to stagger with Mika to figure some way out.

He almost trips at the stairs but manages to get back up with Mika helping, holding to him.]

[This time they're together. It doesn't take away the pain Mika feels as they both struggle upwards towards the exit, but there is enough comfort in knowing that Yuichiro will survive. He has to.]

[Why hasn't the vampire come after them? Mika doesn't know and he's terrified because of it. But still, the stairs as solid beneath his feet. All they can do is leave as quickly as they can.]

[He sobs quietly as the winter air hits them both, before managing to find control of himself.]

[It was always going to be Yuu surviving. Or at least, maintaining his humanity. Unlike Mika. But Yuu still hasn't revealed that to the other. And probably it was a good thing that Yuu himself didn't see it. Had obviously fled before that actually happened, or else that scene might have played out in the bloody foyer now behind them.

When the chill of the winter air hits, Yuu shivers, glancing around almost confusedly at the landscape of the city in front of them from the hill they were atop. He can't help but to shiver, to lean against Mika more in the chill.]

[Once Mika is certain that Ferid won't follow them out into the world, he turns to fully to his friend and envelopes him in a hug. It's true that he doesn't remember this part of their life. Perhaps he would have been calmer if he had any time to prepare himself for it.]

[He pulls him close, shivering with him. The world without their family is cold and dark. Mika doesn't even notice the pin pricked stars in the sky.]

Do you know the way?

I think so. More or less.

[Or at least. He trusts that the dream does. In getting him back home. Wherever 'home' was here, in Japan, with the military and all. Still, he blinks at the hug, weakly returning it with one arm as best he can. Mika was here. He was safe. Even if a dream, that was what mattered. Even if it hurt, seeing Ferid slaughter the other kids like that all over again.]

[Mika doesn't object. He's too busy running the scene through his mind, feeling sick and sad about seeing their family on the floor.]

[It still feels like a terrible nightmare. Surely this isn't how everything ended. Mika clings to Yuu, shuddering because of the cold.]

...Is this what happened?

It...I ran. Yeah.

[Had obviously bumped into Guren to be taken in by him after. At some point after that. He's....not sure he wants to say he had apparently assumed Mika was dead for years, from what he recalls on his conversation with Guren.]

[Mika takes a moment to wipe his face, so the tear marks doesn't freeze. They've already made his face cold. Looking to the side, he brushes his free hand against Yuu's face too, for the same reason.]

[They both need a safe place to calm down and process what's happened. A winter landscape just won't do.]

What do we do now?

I guess.....head to that city I lived in?

[To where he trained and went to that school. Where Guren lived with him. Where he had gone without Mika, apparently. It seemed the best option. The only one. The safe place he knew of amid everything else with this Japan.]