❧ Off-Season 3 - Whispers Out of the Ether

[luministimods]

[Someone has been in the Luministi Research Labs.

To the untrained eye, everything is still in its place despite the undetected intrusion. Not a paper has stirred. No chairs have been pushed out of their original positions in the slightest. Not even a single blade of grass in the town square has bent or crushed. Yet something has changed.

Perhaps it's a slightly different tang in the air. One check of the life support systems, however, will tell one that the oxygen mix is the same as ever. The strange objects and rooms from the old citizens are still there as well, so still and untouched as the rest of the things in the town generally are. Even the remnants of the old Neptune sundial outside the library and the stone sundial in the park have been left alone.

The intruder smiles, knowing it is only the beginning. If the test goes as planned, then perhaps...

As quietly as the intruder came, the intruder now leaves without a trace. There are several observations to be done.

No sooner does the intruder leave, a video begins to play on all CAT units that shows a rather beautiful montage of the town while a kind gentleman's voice speaks. Some will recognize the voice as belonging to Mayor Caligin.]

Hello and good morning! It gives me great pleasure to be able to greet you and welcome you to the Town of Luministi. My name is Constantine Caligin, Mayor of Luministi. I am sorry I am unable to greet you in person, but there is always something to be done here in town hall! Surely you understand.

While I have a minute though, let me give you the highlights of our great and beautiful town.

Here in Luministi, we strive to maintain the integrity of our quiet small town life while slowly bringing in new blood and new technologies. One look at our fine, eclectic town square and you will see how well we are progressing! There are many new and exciting places in town for you to explore, like our fabulous restaurants, recently renovated cinema, and our famous library. We welcome any feedback about them, from convenience to pure aestheticism. Our latest additions are identical housing developments situated in the west and east of Luministi's town borders and we hope you enjoy the accommodations! They have been built with the ideas of comfort and ease in mind.

Unfortunately, that--[there is a slight disturbance in the audio, as if the original has been altered]--will be all for today. This has just been merely a test. Soon, you will see what joys your stay in Luministi will bring you. And it will bring you plenty of joy and happiness. So much so, you will never want to leave.

Not ever again.

[And on that note, the video ends on a rather ominous shot of the town hall, and unintelligible voices begin to whisper to fill the void the video broadcast has left...]



Plot Details: Off-Season 3

Welcome to Luministi's pre-season Fourth Wall event! If you have never participated in 4th wall with us before, the portion above the cut there is an IC continuation of the story that has been in the making for the past two seasons (a summary of which can be read here if you are curious, but it's not required reading!) But unlike past events, the majority of our in-game characters are off on different journeys or are even back home in their worlds! The town itself has been pretty empty for a while, so the video that was mysteriously broadcast just then will be everyone's view of the town.

Now, for those of you new to the game, the CATs, or Communications Audiovisual Transmitters, are personalized communication devices about the size of your palm, and for this day only, visiting characters will have this device. They'll have found it randomly on their person with no idea how it even got there. From a video broadcast standpoint, you'll be able to see the the immediate surroundings of the person you're talking to. More information about the CATs can be found on the FAQ page, which also has some handy tips about how the game is run and other questions about the game that aren't answered elsewhere in the mod journal. But if you don't see your question answered anywhere, please don't be afraid to ask!

In-game time, this event lasts a day, but you can tag for however long you want!

If visiting players do app into the game when applications and reserves open on April 14th, 12:01am EST, they will be able to remember the video of the town and everyone they meet the moment they show up in the town of Luministi for real. Yeah for ready-made CR, right?

And for returning players and those still in play in off-season shenanigans, here's the link to the most recent batch of updates, especially regarding things I'll need from you guys. I think I have just about everyone, but it's here again for your convenience! And character-wise, it's up to you what your character was up to when that somewhat familiar broadcast came over the CATs. Just when you thought you were safe from the town again, huh? Alas...

This event is merely a preview of what is to come in Luministi's third and final season. All of the storylines and mysteries introduced back in June 2010 when the game first opened will be brought to a close, and how it all does will be up to everyone involved. There are choices to be made and tasks that need to be accomplished--but only if you do it. Not doing something also will result in something, but whether it's for better or worse, well... You'll just have to come along for the ride and see, won't you?

luministi formally opens May 19th, 11:59am EST. I look forward to seeing everyone here! ♥

Now, let the fourth-walling commence! Have lots of fun~

Comments

[ragebreath]

[Okay, what the fuck.

... No, seriously, what the fuck. This was not part of any sort of plan at any sort of time. This is not a stupid meteor. This is - well, looking a lot better than anything in the Veil, actually, but that's not the point.

The point is, what the fuck.]

Hello? Does this actually fucking do anything, or am I just going to be talking to nothing while trying to fool myself into thinking I haven't finally flipped my shit off the frying pan and into the hot coals of what is this bullshit.

[He could not feel more like a giant tool than he does in this moment. What is this CAT thing. What is this town. Just. What.]

[worldsapart]

[This person certainly doesn't... sound happy. Not that Xion can blame him. But she feels obligated to try to help him, since she's been involved with Luministi for so long.]

Hello. What you're holding lets you talk to the other people trapped in this realm. This isn't just a dream or something, I'm afraid. It's real.

[ragebreath]

[No. He is not happy at all. He is slowly reaching new levels of FUCK MY LIFE that he previously thought to be unattainable.]

Yeah, I already have one of those things. It's called a husktop and it's not in my damn hands at the moment. Thanks to whoever gave me the welcome device, I'm sure it'll serve greatly as something to repeatedly bash my head into until I have reached a level of dumb required to comprehend this bullshit.

[... But, okay, maybe he should be nice to the person giving him info. Okay. Breathing now.]

Alright, here's the deal. About five minutes ago, I was flying out on a meteor in space. Now I'm not. Is there an explanation for that? Preferably one that doesn't translate into "bluh bluh nonsensical shenanigans for stupid grubs?"

[worldsapart]

[... well. um. he's frustrated. she's just going to let his ranting go and move on, because what even is she supposed to say to that]

I'm afraid... We don't know how this is happening. We've been searching for the people responsible, but... [she sighs.] The people we're looking for have the power to bring back people who shouldn't even exist any more, so they're really good at hiding.

But we're pretty sure they're doing it for money.

[ragebreath]

[... What.]

Isn't that always how it is? People doing stupid things for stupid reasons and everyone else getting kicked in the ass for it?

[Although that info about bringing back people who shouldn't exist? He's not touching it, but he's definitely remembering that note.]

So, let me get this straight. We're getting thrown into some random place for money? ... What, are they expecting us to pay them for getting pulled here?

[worldsapart]

[Xion shakes her head.]

No. The people who were originally in charge were trying to find a way to bring back the dead. But it's changed hands since then, and the new people filmed the things that happen in the village as some kind of... show. [She shrugs.] At least, they used to. That project has been over for a while now... There's still some kind of company in charge, but we don't know much about them.

[another pause. then, a little pleadingly,] I'm sorry I can't tell you more.

[ragebreath]

It's better than nothing. Thanks.

[Yes, he's furious, but he appreciates the cooperation. He doesn't get it too often.]

So we find the company and knock them around a bit until they decide to be so kind as to show us the door out. That'd sound simple enough if anything about life enjoyed making some damn sense.

There's really no hints, clues, gigantic invisible arrows saying "go here, morons," nothing?

[worldsapart]

Well, there are some people who are on our side. They want to help us, and they've pointed us in directions to look. Currently, there are two groups of us who are out searching...

We're not at the town right now, but we could be before too long, if you want to come along.

I -- I mean -- Assuming everyone else doesn't mind...! It's not my ship, so...

[ragebreath]

The more heads, the better. If meeting up in town means getting the fuck out of here faster instead of sitting on my ass watching the grass grow as if it was the most miraculous thing since grub sauce? Then count me in.

[worldsapart]

You should know...

The town is actually located on a space station.

[ragebreath]

[... Going from a meteor to a space station. He doesn't know if that actually helps at all.]

What the fuck. Who actually decides that a space station is a good place for a town.

[He almost can't wrap his head around that.]

[worldsapart]

Well, it's because the town was an experiment! So they just... put it in... a space station...

...

Okay, I don't really get it, either.

[ragebreath]

... Alright, I'm going to assume we're both the not stupid ones for not understanding this shit. What, can experiments and science and really fucking bad ideas only happen at space stations? Are they somehow inconspicuous and convenient? Because, it might just be me, but a space station sort of seems like a place for, I don't know, space-related things to happen. But hey! What do I know. Maybe that's too much like common sense for my poor think pan to handle.

[worldsapart]

I don't know much about space stations. I'd never even heard of them before we found out about it.

[ragebreath]

... Do you just not care about space wherever you're from? I mean, it's not like there's much there outside a whole bunch of bright lights and nothing, but apparently it's maaaagical for some people.

[He doesn't give a shit. He's sort of done with this whole space thing.]

[worldsapart]

It... just never had anything to do with what I was doing then.

[ragebreath]

... I guess that makes enough sense. Most people don't have to deal with that nonsense.

[worldsapart]

I knew about other worlds, and I'd been to them, but we kind of skipped the whole "space" part.

[fireflyheir]

Looks like it's two-way! That's pretty neat. Not that it wasn't two-way before, more or less, but… [leaning forward, and peering at Karkat, before slowly breaking into a grin]

…hey, I think this is the first time I've seen you! Awesome.

[ragebreath]

[Oh, he knows that face. He knows that face way too well.]

Egbert! How in the everloving fuck did you get one of these stupid devices? ... And why are you using that to talk to me when we were doing just fucking wonderfully without it?

[fireflyheir]

It just… turned up, pretty much. [shrug! and as far as he's concerned, that answers both questions. …also he sent his computer off with Liv Tyler wh…oops but he hasn't realised that yet.]

…are you made we're talking face to face now?

[ragebreath]

Face to face generally implies that two individuals are standing directly in front of each other.

Guess what we're not doing!

[fireflyheir]

[rolls his eyes geeeeeeeez you're picky] Fine, fine, screen to screen or whatever. [opens his mouth to start saying something, and then pauses, changes his mind] …so you're all okay right now, right? [seeing as Karkat isn't panicking right now or anything like that]

[ragebreath]

I'm staring at you through this thing I'm not supposed to have, waiting for you to stop wasting time and actually do what you're supposed to. Yes, we're all doing just wonderful, thanks for asking.

[fireflyheir]

I don't think there's anything I'm supposed to be doing right now? I sent the Tumor off to Rose, so…

Okay. Good. [He leans back a little, hood curling around a little and settling.] Just… I wouldn't want anything to happen to you guys, you know. Even if you have been pains in the ass.