❧ Just Breathe

[luministimods]

[For days, the zombie invasion of the Luministi town and spacestation has gone on, but through various means, there have been less and less zombies appearing by the day. And now, only a few remain, stubbornly shambling after their prey--

--or rather they were. With a bright, blinding flash of light, their bodies instantly change. No longer are they dead and decaying, but are that of full-fledged living beings with absolutely no desire for brains or flesh of the living. In fact, while they take a moment to blink and look around to see where they are, these townspeople merely shrug and continue on with their business like they did months ago. For them, it's back to their normal routine, and if asked, they won't even remember being a zombie. No one does. Even those who were killed during the fighting are back, right as rain.

But something else has changed.

Something big, yet the sound was so soft and heard by none. A door has been opened...

And from the surprise left in the town square, it seems other metaphorical doors have been opened as well, a fact that the sender of a text message to all of the CATs, is very well aware of:]

Enjoy this respite from chaos while you can.

[The moment that text is sent, anyone still injured will be blinded once again--but will find all wounds have been healed.]


Plot Details: Just Breathe

Welcome to Luministi's 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!) Unlike past events, the town is not only fully populated with people who will just talk about mundane things about Luministi, but the pathway to the spacestation via the Mayor's House has been opened. How long that will remain open is anyone's guess, but for now, take advantage of it!

Also, visitors have a choice of physically appearing in the town square or communicating from their own world via the CAT.

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 they will be able to remember visiting the town (or viewing it in a video feed), as well as everyone they met, the moment they show up in the town of Luministi for real. Yeah for ready-made CR, right?

And for current players, consider this a plot break! I'll have the game's next proper plot update for you guys tomorrow, so enjoy the breather while you can!

This event is the last one the game will hold, unfortunately, as Luminsti is in its 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?

Apps for luministi formally close July 28th, 11:59pm EST. I look forward to seeing everyone here! ♥

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

Comments

[manicurious]

I didn't know if I ever would be! Agent Washington said that I'd become a monster like the townspeople did unless he and Mister McCrimmon finished me off in a way that would thoroughly destroy my body, and I was so hurt that I couldn't have survived anyway, and...

I know I should just try to push it to the back of my mind since it's over, but it still scares me for some reason.

Ah, shortly after I came back the passage between the laboratories and the Mayor's residence finally opened up, but I don't know how or why.

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie gapes at him, mouth hanging open. after a moment, she chokes out:] You were killed!?

[nobody explained zombies to Sophie...]

[manicurious]

Yes! Even though I came back somehow, and I'm incredibly grateful for that, it's so disturbing to recall...

[fortune_sought]

[she sputters] I'm...I'm so sorry, Mr Ichijou. I had no idea...

[it takes her a moment, but she swallows hard, trying to recover herself] But...I'm glad to hear you're no longer trapped. [it's a bit of a weak statement, as she can't get over what he just said happened to him]

[manicurious]

[He wipes his tears again, but it's still kind of a useless effort.]

I'm glad for that, too. I'm truly grateful to be able to see everyone in person, but it's just - these thoughts keep sneaking up on me, and then they make me feel sick which makes me think about them even more.

[fortune_sought]

[she's still shaken, but she says, as firmly as she can manage:] Then you must find something to distract yourself from them. [thoughtfully] Would you like to come to my townhome? Perhaps we could have tea?

[manicurious]

I suppose you're right. I've been having a nice time talking with all of these new people who've appeared all of a sudden, but a more soothing diversion might be what I really need. A warm drink might at least make me feel better physically.

Are you really alright with me visiting for a while?

[fortune_sought]

[she's surprised by the question] Why, of course! I'm at the Malt Shop at the moment, but I could meet you there soon?

[manicurious]

I just wanted to double check. I'm certain that everyone has better things to do than to deal with trying to soothe my sorry traumatized self.

[He pushes himself to his feet and pauses to think for a moment.]

You live on the west end of town, right?

[fortune_sought]

[sharply] Mr Ichijou, I've no idea what makes you say that! And yes, I do live on the west end--B2. I'll see you there shortly.

[manicurious]

I might be able to explain it when I get there. See you.

[She'll probably be there before him, as she's closer and he's moving a bit sluggishly. Really, he looks like he'd be ready to curl up and go to sleep at any moment. All these feelings are just too much.]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie gives the CAT a look, but she heads back to her townhome as promised. when Ichijou arrives, she already has the kettle on and a plate of teacakes ready on the living room table] Mr Ichijou, please have a seat. [she gestures toward the sofa. she would have made the offer out of politeness, but as it is, he really looks like he needs to sit down]

[manicurious]

[He obliges, sitting down gently with a sigh. The fact that the townhomes are all rather similar makes him feel even more comfortable than he ordinarily would. He'd love to stretch out and nap on her couch, but instead he just sits on the very edge and crosses his legs, staring down the tea cakes. The sight of the little snacks sends his empty stomach into action, making it growl and gurgle quietly.]

Thank you so much again, for being willing to hear me out, for your hospitality, for everything, really. I feel like I should've brought a gift.

If you hadn't invited me here for a rest, I probably wouldn't have stopped trying to talk to as many people as possible until I was too tired to move. I've got so much going on in my head that I just want to pour all of it out somehow so that I can enjoy life fearlessly for a little while.

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie's townhome is very neat, though also homey in that she has various knickknacks decorating the surfaces, and she's added her own accent pillows and other items to the furniture that was provided. there is also a pot of orchids in the window]

It's no trouble. [Sophie sits across from him as she waits for the water to boil] Do start pouring it out, if you'd like. [she pauses] I'm...not sure I entirely understand all of what has happened, but I really am extremely sorry to hear about your...ordeal.

[and she sincerely hopes that nothing like that happened to anyone else either]

[manicurious]

I don't completely understand what happened, and I was the one that it happened to. But I can attempt to explain what I know of it.

The creatures that the townspeople turned into are something that I've heard of before, but to both myself and Agent Washington they were always just something in stories. They're called "Zombies," and the cause of their condition varies depending on who's telling the story: some say that it's a parasite or virus, others say magic, and others say it's the act of an angry god or a force of nature.

Whatever the cause is, the rest of the story remains fairly consistent: The people afflicted are essentially dead, they're driven only by a strange hunger for the flesh of people who are still alive, anyone who is bitten by one will gradually become one, and the only way to eliminate them is to destroy the brain.

Those last two items are why after I had been attacked, I didn't bother requesting medical attention and asked Agent Washington to just kill me instead.

And that's where...

[Here come the tears.]

I'm so conflicted! I was killed, and yet I've never felt so grateful for anything in my entire life! And Jamie, he was there too, and he kept his hand on my shoulder, I could feel it right up to the point when I couldn't feel anything at all.

I've never felt so cared for. To me it felt more like love than a moral obligation or a common courtesy, and yet when I spoke with him just before coming here he acted like it was nothing!

Is my perception really that abnormal?

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie gasps at his description of the creatures. she remembers seeing what happened to Natsuo, and suddenly it all makes perfect, horrifying sense. she stares for a moment, shocked into silence as Ichijou continues his tale. when he finally stops and asks her a question, she doesn't know what to say] I...I... I'm afraid I really...didn't know about those creatures.

But... [she pauses, trying to collect herself and gather her own thoughts after that shock] Mr Ichijou, that sounds like friendship. Do you not have friends like that back home?

[manicurious]

Well, possibly...

It still counts if they were being paid to be that way, right?

[fortune_sought]

[she blinks, confused by the question] You mean...paid to be your friends?

[manicurious]

W-well, not explicitly. I had a bodyguard who always seemed very concerned about my happiness and well-being.

[fortune_sought]

[she frowns, saddened by this whole conversation]

Well, if he's worried about your happiness as well as your physical well-being, then that sounds like friendship as well. Don't you think?

[manicurious]

[His expression starts off somewhat blank, but slowly transitions to something more fearful. His eyes dart about and he even turns to look behind himself at some point, as if expecting someone else to be watching him.]

I don't know.

The Chairman wouldn't approve of that...

[fortune_sought]

[that's confusing--and unsettling] Wouldn't approve of...friendship?

[manicurious]

Yes! He already suspected that I was too emotional and weak-hearted. If I had the kinds of feelings toward some people that I have now, he would've put me through more of his rituals.

I would have lost my mind. I'm absolutely certain of that.

[fortune_sought]

[she is absolutely taken aback by that and stares, speechless. she's starting to understand why Ichijou wishes to stay in Luministi. after a moment's pause as she tries to collect herself, she says:] Then...I'm glad you're here, Mr Ichijou. No one should have to live without friendship.

[manicurious]

That wasn't really a concern at the time. The Chairman was a living nightmare--

[He winces as if expecting to be struck for a few seconds.]

-- But I thought that he was the only one who would give me a chance of survival in the world. I think he may have targeted me - preyed upon me, to be honest - in the first place specifically because I didn't have friends.