JULY EVENT LOG 2.0

[recollecters]

EVENT

CRASH AND BURN The last day of the ReConvention finds con-goers crowding the convention center for last-minute panels and purchases. The halls fill with attendees bartering for wares, attending autograph sessions and showing off their cosplays. But for a select number of people, time is of the essence. Those who scanned their QR codes at the Retrospec booth will notice that their countdown clock draws closer to zero. With each second ticking closer and closer to the end, a sense of urgency settles around the crowd. But, perhaps you’re one of the ones who will carry on as if nothing is happening. Or maybe you didn’t scan your code at all. It doesn’t matter though. There’s nothing stopping the clock from its descent backwards, and as the timer strikes zero a loud, piercing roar echoes off of every wall of the convention center. I. Those who were brave enough to scan their received QR codes (and even those who didn't but received one regardless) will find that their mobile devices shock them, a quick electric burst that leaves behind a white-hot sort of pain. When you open your eyes after the initial hit, a floating treasure chest appears. While there may be multiple chests surrounding you, it seems you may only open those with your name on them. Another beam of light shines upon opening your prizes, orbs skyrocketing through the air as they circle briefly before settling around you. A surge of energy ignites within, and for some lucky few new companions and items have also been rewarded to those who played Jim's game. But…perhaps they aren't the ones you expected. Perhaps they make no sense at all. Why not give them a try? II. But seeing how the convention center continues to shake, it might be better to find out what’s up. The source of chaos can be traced back to Seto Kaiba's gaming booth as a projector in the wall releases monster after monster that pour out of the projection and come to life. Though the TV above Kaiba’s booth is shattered, the projector keeps rolling and the monsters appear while destroying the booth itself in their haste to be free. Among the rubble left behind the blue glow of the Retrospec symbol shines brightly from a side-panel of the projector. For those in the convention center, there is the option to run and hide. With the building shifting due to the onslaught of attacks, piles of drywall, cracks and crevices and more provide for good hiding spots to give you time to make a new plan. Of course, there's always the fight option. What will it take to bring these beasts down? Maybe it's best to lure them outside instead and away from civilians. III. Or perhaps that was a bad idea. Whether citizens manage to wrangle the monsters outside or not the beasts will make their way out on their own, fighting amongst themselves and chasing people through the city's streets. Even those who didn't attend the convention will find that the infestation spreads to every district of the city itself, and their QR-given items and abilities kick in. They aren't going for the kill, but they will follow any moving target including those who aren't on the Retrospec network. Though these citizens may run, hide or need rescuing, if asked they will simply remark that the city's always had a bit of a monster problem. However, now that the fight's moved outside, it's easier to see the distinct red tint to the monsters' eyes every time they blink. A monster that has to forcibly change direction will flicker for a moment, like an image buffering and loading. Even when a monster unleashes an attack, some fighters may take the full impact while others get away with minor to no damage. In those moments, it's easier to bring them to a halt. When a monster meets its demise though, something strange happens. The flickering is more rapid and faster, and the creature will dissolve into black blocks and spores that evaporate into thin air. What the hell was that? Now probably isn't the best time to ask questions. IV. The fighting rages on but with the sun still hanging in the sky it's impossible to tell what time it is. One of the monsters seems to have knocked out the nearby cell phone tower, too, taking down not only cell phone reception, but the entire Retrospec network as well. It goes on for what feels like hours with the sun beating down from above. Retrospec users battle monsters and fight to reconnect while the network errors out any time someone tries to send a message about the city under attack. It seems as though a new wave of monsters appear just as the last one dies down. It's with a sudden jolt that reception on your mobile device returns, but Retrospec appears to be in a maintenance mode where the network is still inaccessible. A quick glance at the date on your phone reveals that instead of the mere hours you thought, nearly five days have passed by and you realize the date is now August 3rd. Upon that realization everyone's devices begin to chime with several notifications and the monsters all seem to pause for one brief moment. Not long after, Retrospec members will also find themselves frozen in place no matter how hard they struggle. The spell on the monsters breaks as they swoop upon these unfortunate few, picking them up in their claws, hands or mouths. A large swirling portal opens not far away and one by one creatures dive straight through the portal with the Retrospec users. These portals may spit you out anywhere in the city, but several of them send residents to Peach Beach. Strangely, the monsters are nowhere to be found, but way out in the distance appears to be a creature, swallowing up the ocean in a swirl of waves. You can try to run out to fight it, but the moment your feet touch what used to be the ocean floor a forcefield throws you back to the sand allowing the ocean to slip away right before your eyes. The moment the last drop is drained, that monster disappears, too. What happens next? To be continued… And welcome to the wrap-up of the ReConvention! As Prompt IV says, monster attacks will continue through all five days (July 30th, 31st, August 1st, 2nd and 3rd) and the network will not be accessible to anyone in-game from now until August 3rd when a mod-posted Retrospec post goes live! Please feel free to play with the monster attacks as you wish! You can have your characters escape via glitches in the monsters, or you can fight the monsters and and your character can actually take damage for a real battle (though death is not an option at this time.) We leave that up to you! Please do not post any threads in this log or in your inboxes set for after this log just yet! We will be setting up August's event via this log and for plot purposes we ask that you refrain from doing anything prior to our Retrospec post on 8/3. Those who are in Group One or Group Two will learn more about their small-focus teams on August 3rd when your logs goes live. Please direct questions about this log to the mod comment here. Thanks!

Comments

[scythegun]

[For what it's worth he's given you his bag which only has one gun in it?? Does that help any...]

You're welcome but whatever happened was because of that monster, wasn't it?

[That... is what happened, right...?]

[manufactured]

[It does, honestly...

He's kind of quiet for a moment at that, but it's not the same sort of silence from before, where he'd more or less locked up; this is likely a bit more familiar, the sort of thing that happens while he's trying to choose an answer to a question he doesn't particularly like.]

I'd assume so. Something happened in my head as soon as it touched me. Intrusive thoughts, I suppose you would call them - they were extremely negative, some of them things I've thought before, some of them things I've had said to me. Vague memories of things I haven't thought about in some time and are best forgotten.

I couldn't stop it, and there didn't seem to be much point in trying. My mistake, I suppose.

[It's a little disjointed, but at least it's an explanation; his tone is even, at least, and he's clearly trying to keep himself as calm as possible. He's succeeding, for the most part.]

[scythegun]

[So that's what happened. That doesn't explain why Wesker dropped the gun though—

Oh. Ohhhhhh. Jaeger stops for a moment when the realization sinks in, but he's quick to catch up with Wesker afterwards. He doesn't know what to say about any of this and it's probably obvious, but he can't just leave it there...]

...I'm sorry. That you had to go through that, I mean. I don't think I could have done anything to stop that monster.

[manufactured]

[He notices when Jaeger stops; he doesn't go too far before Jaeger's caught up.]

You saw what happened. The bullets went right through it.

[Again, his tone is even. Almost dismissive in nature, really; it is what it is.

Whether he's actually feeling it or not is another story, but he prefers things being presented this way, at least.]

I don't fault you for it, at any rate. I'll be fine. As you said, I don't let things trouble me for very long.

[scythegun]

Still, I can see how difficult that would be. I'm sorry I couldn't do more to help.

[He's not sure what he could have done differently even if he knew the whole situation, but it feels like there should have been something that would have helped. He shakes his head once that's out there, though; he's not going to dwell on it.]

Being home will help, I'm sure. We won't have to worry about other monsters there!

[manufactured]

We shouldn't, at least.

[The dogs will do what they're required to do, he's sure.

That said, though, he pauses for a moment before continuing.]

You were fine, by the way. With regards to what you did.

[scythegun]

...I'm glad.

[Not about the lack of monsters, but that he could help.]

If there's anything else I can do you'll let me know, won't you?

[manufactured]

[...]

Don't let it concern you too much.

[That's not an answer.]

[scythegun]

That's not an answer, you know.

[Jaeger sighs but doesn't pursue it further.]

[manufactured]

[...Why are you like this...]

I don't need to be taken care of or fussed over like this. I'll be fine.

[scythegun]

I know you don't need it, but it's remarkably hard for me to stop!

[he doesn't know why he's like this okay]

[manufactured]

[He pauses for a moment at that, adjusting the bag and looking at Jaeger for a moment, though his expression is about as difficult to read as ever.]

You've already made it clear that you're going to be here if I need anything from you. That you're going to do what you can.

That's enough for me. You don't have to do anything else.

[Now come on.]

[scythegun]

[Jaeger pauses when Wesker does, trying to get a read on that expression, but Wesker speaks before he can manage it.]

...Very well, then.

[He follows and for a moment he's quiet before speaking up again.]

I'm pleased to hear it.

[Thanks for answering the question.]

[manufactured]

...Of course.

[The response is a little awkward, but he is trying; he just doesn't seem to know what to do with that.]

[scythegun]

[Sometimes you don't have to do anything with it, it's fine!!]

How much further is it to your place?

[We've been lucky not to run into any more monsters so far, but he's not going to voice that.]

[manufactured]

...You should know that as well as I do by now.

[Given how often you come over and all. It's far lighter than his responses have been for the past while, though, so at least there's that.]

[scythegun]

I don't usually make the journey on foot, you know! It feels like it takes forever to walk there!

[But he's not really complaining; he doesn't really mind the walk.]

[manufactured]

It seems far longer given the situation - today has been tiring. If things were a bit less hectic it would pass more quickly.

[...]

I don't usually walk into town from there, but sometimes I will. It depends on how much I want to prolong not having to interact with anyone; it's a good way to clear my head.

[scythegun]

Really? I suppose that would be a good way to clear your head. I'm not surprised to hear that you use it as a means of putting off interacting with people, though!

[The teasing is light, though.]

[manufactured]

Am I that plain about disliking it?

[He knows, in some ways, that he is - at the same time, fucking really.]

[scythegun]

Well, given where you live I'd say it's a bit obvious, ja? Most people wouldn't have walls like that!

[manufactured]

I'm a private person that prefers being undisturbed.

[...wesker.]

That said, surely it isn't to half the extent that most people seem to believe, given that several seem surprised that I go outside at all.

[scythegun]

I might be biased because I can convince you to go out with me, but you don't seem like a total shut-in!

[thanks, jaeger]

[manufactured]

...Appreciated, Jaeger.

[jesus christ.]

It really has been a while since we've done that properly, hasn't it.

[scythegun]

[you're welcome!!!]

It has been! It seems like every time we end up drinking it's because we're talking about something depressing. We'll have to fix that!

[...]

Assuming this thing with the monsters is only temporary, that is. I don't exactly want to go out drinking if there's a risk of running into any of these things.