❧ The Cold of Night Will Fall

[luministimods]

[Things in town have been quite peaceful even after the end of all the festivities. Unfortunately now, a video begins to play on everyone's CATs that will destroy that illusion. As soon as this footage begins to play, memories of their false time in Luministi quickly fade, their original memories fighting to take precedence in each person's mind.

The footage appears to be from a security camera in the maintenance area of the spacestation. A pair of feet stick out in the frame of the footage for a good couple of minutes, ragged breathing and distant moaning the only things that can be heard--but then a figure appears and immediately collapses to his knees. Some people may know this young man as Nathan, but for those who don't, well, they're in for a bit of a surprise. He looks like he's been through hell. His dark suit is tattered, skin sweaty, and if anyone's looking closely, there's a bit of blood that begins trickling out of his ears and nose as he slowly moves towards the body.

When Nathan speaks, he sounds weak and exhausted, his voice thick with emotion.] I'm sorry I'm so late. You shouldn't have been left alone, not when--

[A haggard voice belonging to Proctor can be heard and gets increasingly angry as he speaks.] S...shut up. You got me into...into this. I was going to get out of this entire mess but you--[he breaks off, deep and thick coughs racking his lungs for a good, long moment before he speaks again, though his voice sounds incredibly strained and weakened.] And you know I can't come back like they can. We both know it was only a matter of time before he got me. [Suddenly, Proctor starts to chuckle but that faint laughter dissolves into coughing again.]

I can find a way if you just let me!

Just do me one thing.

No, I'm going to get you out of--

--Just get that little bastard Resarci. Make him...make him suffer. And get the other...

[Proctor's voice trails off and Nathan moves off-screen, but still can be heard and somewhat seen as he's shaking the body before him.] No...no! You can't leave! Not yet... [There's a long moment of silence as Nathan sits back, coming back into view, and just clutches his head. His body flickers in and out as he rests there. Finally, he struggles to his feet, using the wall to brace himself. He almost starts to walk away, but stops, pulls his CAT out of his pocket, and aims it at Proctor's body.] I can't do much else, but at least this will keep your body safe until the others find you. And I will stop him. [His gaze turns to the security camera, his expression suddenly filled with rage.] Do you hear me? I will stop you.

[Nathan clutches at the wall as he limps away, heading towards a computer terminal. What he does is unknown--or is it? He's at the controls for a few minutes before he cries out and flickers out of existence for good this time. Perhaps people do know what he's done. The date on the video corresponds with the day the zombies went away, but exactly is he responsible for? What else has he done that he wasn't able to communicate to the others? Some things have changed, but...what?]


Plot Details: The Cold of Night Will Fall

And so...we bid Proctor farewell. He endured, somehow, while the zombies were around but ultimately succumbed to his wounds. Nathan, a mysterious young man who helped the citizens greatly last season, has finally returned as well, but despite many attempts to reach him, he still hasn't been contactable. His current state might lend some hints to why he hasn't been around, or perhaps they only keep adding to the pile of questions people might have about him...

As of right now, everyone's false memories have, indeed, gone away. Hopefully things...haven't gotten too awkward for anyone. Or maybe they have. Have fun dealing with the fallout!

But in addition to that, the townspeople are still, well, their normal ignorant selves (so no change there, surprise), and all of the various objects and locations that came in with people during Old Familiar Things plot are still around with voices (but minus the euphoria-inducing effects). I'm leaving it up to you guys whether you'd like the NPC townspeople to remember your Luministi AU selves or not. Their memories have always been pretty sketchy... Also? People can come and go from the town into the spacestation via the Mayor's mansion as freely as they please now! Awesome stuff, huh? You'll need the freedom to move around now because...

There is something that people need to find. It's been out in the open all this time and I've occasionally made mention of it myself--as have others, unwittingly. It is your task to find out what that is and discover it ICly too. Or, of course, you can just stumble upon it accidentally while avoiding people if you happened to have done something extremely embarrassing during your time as a true citizen of Luministi. (Don't worry, embarrassing things happen all the time. Just be glad the Luministi Program fans weren't able to see it happen!) Or you can just shut yourself away in your townhome if you really can't face anyone, but I don't recommend everyone do that. There is something important that needs to be found, after all...

And by the way, has it started to feel cold to anyone else? Both the town and the spacestation feel colder these days, and it isn't quite as sunny in town anymore. Odd.

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One more quick note of business before I turn things over for questions and the like. Tomorrow (the 23rd of July), I'll be putting up the second Activity Check post for this season in the OOC comm! Those who just joined the game within the past couple weeks are exempt, as are those who are on hiatus. Otherwise, the standard AC requirements are a-go for this round! Everything between the last AC check and now will count for this month's stuff. I'll reiterate this now, however: if you're worried about not having enough for this month's AC, please poke me about it and I'll work with you. I'd rather keep you in the game than leave you worried about AC things.

I'll update this post with the link to the AC once it's up tomorrow~

Also, this is a reminder that apps and reserves will close on July 28th! So if you know anyone who wants to get into the game, encourage them like crazy to get them in before the 28th expires! It...saddens me to think that this is the last time ever that applications and reserves will be open for the game. It feels so final, but...it really is. All things must end sometime...

And on that somber note, that should be it! As always, if you have any questions or anything, please don't be afraid to ask!

Enjoy, everyone! ♥

EDIT: To make this a bit easier, the thing that has to be found doesn't necessarily mean your character has to go on a scavenger hunt to find. Think like your character: you've just learned that the passageway out of town is open. What would you do? (Granted, you don't have to do anything at all. That's your choice.)

If you have an idea of what it might be, you can indicate it as such in your entry or tag. I plan on following up on it with the mod account once it is found. Poke me here or through my other means of contact to make sure I see it. I don't care how specific or vague it is. I can give you a hot-warm-cool-cold reading depending. I'll be looking out for things regardless, but that will be an easier way.

EDIT 2: The "thing" has been found!!! If you're not involved directly with the thread, don't worry; you'll be hearing about it soon enough~ ♥

Comments

[manicurious]

As if something silly like seeing Nathan bleeding out of several orifices and disappearing would deter Ichijou from at least trying to get a hold of him one more time.

And it looks like it's finally time for him to stop wussing out and finally actually try to get into lab 3. Ohohoho.

[champions_legend]

Oh dear. Leaf isn't going to react well to seeing all that. Pokemon hurt? Is somewhat ok. People hurt? Not ok.

though now I am tempted to app in Vexen sob. he's more useful in finding things than Leaf.

[desertdaggers]

Hopefully things...haven't gotten too awkward for anyone.

fffff hahahaha

also wow yes that's unsettling if there was any doubt that whoever that guy is is a git…

question

[champions_legend]

Will any heat from the rapidash's flames keep the cold at bay or will leaf be forced to rug up even with that??