Event - Lullaby

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Lullaby

➥ For You Never Shut Your Eye

(cw: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, supernaturally-induced sleep disorders/somniloquy, needles/injections)

The line between waking and sleep is beginning to blur. People will find themselves sleeping far too much, but it never feels like enough. The music is growing more prevalent and persistent throughout town. The effect is still weaker within the building, but as October wears on, more and more people are affected and ADI staff are more intent than ever to find the source and also figure out how to block the effects. Characters will find themselves conscripted (between Halloween Party preparations) into assisting with building or testing anti-music and sleep devices along or with helping to try to track down the source of the music.

For those helping to build and test devices, there is an R&D lab in the basement levels of ADI that will be available. Devices native staff have been able to devise include:

• Headphones that play different frequencies to try to cancel out the sound of the singing.
  
• An armband that periodically stabs a small needle into the arm with a small dosage of adrenaline.
  
• Headbands set to a constant low vibration.

The efficacy of all of these devices is… questionable, but perhaps others may have their own expertise to lend to the efforts, attempting something on a broader scale than just personal protection devices.

For those helping to track the source of the music, finding it seems to be impossible, but there is a definite pattern that characters will note as the days pass. The epicenters of the music are moving, migrating out of the graveyards and converging on ADI Headquarters. As this goes on, the building will become less and less of a safe haven, the music penetrating its walls and affecting the staff there more heavily. You might find yourself having to help a neighbor who's fallen asleep while working. Or you might not even be able to fully tell they've fallen asleep as they sleepwalk and talk almost like they're actually still conscious. Even those who have never been prone to sleepwalking and talking may find themselves affected and… far more open with what they say when in the unguarded state of semi-unconsciousness.

➥ Till the Sun Is In the Sky

(cw: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, thanatophobia, character death, death by poisoning, blood, choking, emetophobia, death by crushing)

By the 25th, some people may find waking up to be a challenge in and of itself. But they do manage to wake up. Seemingly. Perhaps the day is much like any other, heading to ADI or out around the city, grabbing coffee and- something is wrong. Something is very wrong. That cup of coffee you just drank had tasted a little different than usual. A touch of almond to it? It hits you that your throat is burning, bile and blood rising up and choking you as you hack and gasp and vomit. Your legs grow weak, you're losing control of everything, falling, dying.

And then you wake up.

Just a nightmare. Just a bizarre and horrible nightmare. You head out and… is this home? You're home! Or maybe… wait, this doesn't seem right. Have you gone somewhere else? Some things might be familiar, memories intertwined and mixing with fantastical elements, some your own, some not. You notice people you recognize, ones who might be as confused as you are. This isn't where they should be and they remember dying, too. Or seeing you die or someone else. It doesn't make sense, but somehow, they remember they had a dream they shared last night. And then something falls from above and nearly crushes you or your partner. Or maybe it does crush them, and you're suddenly looking at a dead body as the world and this nightmare that feels so very real becomes more and more hostile. Maybe something falls on you.

And then you 'wake up.'

➥ When the Blazing Sun Is Gone

(cw: supernaturally-induced sleep/fatigue, thanatophobia, character death, body horror, detailed description of painful physical transformation, description of the loss and regrowth of teeth, violence, mental status alterations, temporary power-loss, spiders)

Even with people dropping left and right thanks to the odd sleep effect taking hold, ADI staff are hellbent that their Halloween party will not be completely ruined. And on the 28th (a little before the actual holiday), everyone wakes up. Or… seems to. For those trapped in dreams, it will seem very much that they've woken up, the music has stopped, and they can actually carry on. For a few days, it even seems like things are normal. The party on the 31st is a blow-out bash. The entire first floor of ADI HQ has been transformed with decorations. The canteen is serving festive food and has set up a dance floor with holiday-appropriate music playing. Some of the offices feature additional activities, including party games like bobbing for apples in a trough that's been brought in, a guess this gross food booth, and more general party games. For a quieter time, there are also areas set up with board games and card games to play. And for some extra fun spooks a mini-haunted maze has been set up with faux spiders and webs, along with other goofy-looking monster creatures.

It's around 9 PM when the music and lights suddenly cut out. There's nothing for several seconds. Then, a voice begins to sing, filling the halls of ADI. It's a young girl's voice.

"Bye-bye, bye-bye,
Quickly you will die,
On the morning will be frost,
And you’ll go to the graveyard, the graveyard.

Grandfather will come there, too,
And he will bring the coffin.
Grandmother will come along,
Her tears, they will not soften.
Mama sings the prayer song, then,
And falls down on her knees.
Daddy takes you to the grave,
No one can hear his pleas.

Bye-bye, bye-bye,
Quickly you will die,
On the morning will be frost,
And you’ll go to the graveyard, the graveyard.

As the last notes of the song fade away, all hell breaks loose. Those who had been wearing particular sorts of costumes, ones that are more monstrous in nature, may find themselves transforming, growing, twisting, shifting. It's not a clean change, but a violent, agonizing one that cracks bones, tears and reshapes muscles and tendons, pushes out teeth to make room for new ones. Those transformed will find themselves compelled to chase, to hunt, to kill anyone they can get their claws, teeth, or other appendages on.

For those who stay themselves, it's not just their transformed friends who pose a danger, but the decorations they've set up, as well. Those fake giant spiders and webs? They're no longer fake. Neither are any of the other demonic little creatures. The goal of everything in ADI and even outside for those who manage to make it out the doors, is to remind you how very, very mortal you are. Those typically possessed of fantastic abilities will find that they have been sapped away. There's no calling on magic or innate abilities. You are mortal and you are going to die like everything mortal does.

In the chaos, characters will catch glimpses of a young girl flitting amongst the chaos, seeming unperturbed by it all. Trying to catch up to her or speak to her is fruitless, but she's there, and she's humming that song from before.

➥ When He Nothing Shines Upon

(cw: supernaturally-induced fatigue/malaise, thanatophobia)

Those who are killed at the party will find themselves waking up wherever they actually fell asleep a few hours or even days ago. If your character was one of the lucky few who somehow managed to escape the effect, you'll notice people waking up all over ADI HQ and elsewhere. There are no signs of damage on the bodies, but those who died in the dreams will find themselves feeling incredibly weak and generally ill for several hours to several days after the experience.

The music has actually stopped, and this time, it would seem you've actually woken up. Depending on how long you were passed out for, that may be a more unpleasant experience for some than others. There's a message posted from a random ADI employee's phone a few days later to the network:

Mr. S was right. This was fun! I'll have to come back next year to play with you. - Ava, the Lullaby Girl

P.S. Sorry for stealing your phone, horsegirl67. But I wanted to say, hi. C:

Unfortunately, there are no further messages and attempts to respond to the message will receive no reply for now.

But... fortunately…? All of the Halloween preparations are still up, and there's a festive party to attend if anyone actually feels keen on trying it in real life. Pam Ruan, the main organizer is bloody-minded about it now and will have her God damn Halloween party, but those who work themselves up to attend out of festive spirit or morbid curiosity will find it a distinctly muted affair that breaks early in the evening.

Happy Halloween, Gloucester!

➥ Mod Notes

• GENERAL - Players are welcome to play NPCs for themselves when they are needed in a thread. If you need more information on general behavior for these types of NPCs, please feel free to ask! In general, the information provided in the prompt should be sufficient and you're welcome to make up any details beyond that for your specific scene. The Lullaby Girl (Ava) can be seen throughout character dreams, but they will not be able to interact with her during this event. They will either wake up or simply find that the physics of the dream are warped and she cannot be reached or there's a sheet of glass between her and the character or whatnot.
  
  
• FOR YOU NEVER SHUT YOUR EYE (15-24 October) - Characters are welcome to develop their own devices for attempting to stop the music. Characters will have modern day technology available to them along with a few slightly more advanced electronics and tools. Please do not go too out there. This isn't Tony Stark's array of tools and the like. But characters can create additional devices to test within reason. Some of them may be more or less effective, but with how sporadic the effect is, it might be difficult to tell what's actually working or not. There can also be negative side-effects from devices, if you'd like to play those out. Characters with the appropriate magical charge may also attempt to supernaturally block the music, but this will not be condoned or facilitated by ADI. Characters searching for the source of the music will not be able to find it, just discover that it is moving. For characters who are sleep-talking, they may find themselves unusually honest. They may or may not recall conversations with other characters and all that they told them.
  
  
• TILL THE SUN IS IN THE SKY (25-27 October) - Characters will experience repeated nightmares of dying in a shared dreamscape. They will remember every time that they die in the dreams. Feel free to get as creative and gruesome with this as you would like. These are dreams and fantastical situations that might not actually happen (e.g., a robot showing up and shooting a laser through your character) may occur. Players are welcome to introduce elements of their memories into the nightmares and mix those memories around between characters who might wind up in a dream together. Please ensure all top-levels are appropriately tagged for any and all content warnings. Add content warnings as you go along, if needed. Dying in the dreams will trigger the sense of waking up. This can be a fake wake-up or characters might actually wake for a short while and find others passed out around them.
  
  
• WHEN THE BLAZING SUN IS GONE (28-31 October) - Again, this will be a shared dreamscape where characters will be under the illusion (at first) that all has returned to normal. For those who investigate, everything seems to be real, nothing too off, excepting the night of the Halloween party. Once the Lullaby Girl finishes her song, characters who are dressed in costumes that depict animals or other monstrous creatures may find themselves transformed into their costumes. Transformed characters may gain powers for the duration of this prompt/event related to their monstrous forms without mod approval. Go wild, kill your friends and neighbors, and generally trash everything around you. The decorations that come to life will be attempting to murder all characters, transformed or not. If characters escape into the city, they will find all of the festive decorations out there have come to life and want to kill them, as well. Death is unavoidable for this particular prompt, but it can be something swift and painless or something drawn out and horrible at player discretion. It is the only way to actually wake a character fully. Players also have the option of keeping their characters awake. They will not experience the shared dreamscape and will just be stuck with a lot of unconscious people around them for the duration of this portion of the event.
  
  
• WHEN HE NOTHING SHINES UPON (31 October) - Ava, the Lullaby Girl, cannot be contacted or immediately located, but she will be available in future plots for interactions with characters. There is no immediate information regarding who Mr. S. is. Players may have the general sleep/death malaise last for a minimum of two hours and a maximum of three days. Regular medications for the flu can ameliorate some of the symptoms, but they will ultimately clear up on their own. Characters may wake up in whatever state players would like. Feel free to play out the effects of them having been slumped in a corridor for three days without food or water. It's going to be a bad time all around. Those who attend the real Halloween party will be thanked profusely by Pam and showered with candy. At least they'll get a few HR brownie points?

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Comments

When The Nothing Shines Upon

[forethinking]

Ren's seen jager on the aftermath, and truly, he doesn't think he looks too good. Ren doesn't, either, but he'll be damned if Sephora didn't blow some life back into his weary features. In his red dress, he approaches the man, a hand on his shoulder with a small smile on his face. It does seem like Jager is in a better mood than he has been when Ren watched him around ADI, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

"How're you holding up?"

[bloodalwaystells]

It's been a rough few days for everyone, and Jaeger is doing his best. On the bright side, there seems to be an unspoken agreement between all of them, a quiet consideration for recovery. It makes the entire group engagement so much easier, even if it's not the liveliest gathering.

Jaeger looks a little surprised to be approached, but offers a tentative smile, and a small nod. He's seen Ren around, even though they haven't formally been introduced.

"I'm holding up," he confirms, fingers closed lightly around his cup of cider. "I wasn't sure I'd come tonight, but I think it was a good idea. To check in with people." To do something other than sit alone and dwell on the past few nights, skating the edge of unwanted, unwelcome sleep.

He studies Ren for a moment, taking a second to come up with something more to say. "That red is very striking on you."

[forethinking]

It matters very little to Ren whether this is a long-time acquaintance or someone he just now came to meet. It's someone who's experienced the madness that they've gone through, and well, doesn't look his best, Ren can imagine. There's worry in the way his eyes gaze the man, hoping for his soon recovery - for everyone's, truly.

Ren himself truly believes that union makes strength, and even if Ren himself feels less festive as he usually would, it's important to be there, even if he feels like all the energy in his body has been drained without care.

"You'll feel 100% soon."

Or so he hoped.

At the compliment, Ren manages a more uplifted smile. It feels nice, doesn't it? He put effort here.

"Thanks. Didn't want the wig to go to waste."

And he doesn't want to see that cop uniform for a while.

[bloodalwaystells]

"I'm doing my best to work on it, I promise."

The sentiment is surprisingly welcome, and Jaeger indicates the seat across from him if Ren wants to join him for a bit. It's still strange, talking to people so casually, but it's been two months now. There's been progress, slow but noticeable. The big, solemn man smiles a little more than he used to, doesn't jump quite as much at shadows. Does his work swiftly and professionally, and seems almost at ease with that.

Jager plucks lightly at the cuff of his long black overcoat, a bit fondly. "I found the coat in a thrift shop, I didn't want to see it go to waste and it will be good for winter." A pause. "I thought skipping the mask would be better, though."

He tilts his head, then, an apologetic look on his face. "And I don't think I've gotten your name, though I know I've seen you around at orientations. I'm Andrew Jaeger. Investigations."

[forethinking]

All Ren does is to offer his pinky, a black stiletto nail sticking out as to make a promise as the man has said, all after Ren has taken a seat. In comparison to the other man, Ren looks so much younger, so small, and yet, he doesn't feel intimidated at all. He's got a good vibe to him thus far.

Ren nods, noticing how much care goes into touching the cuff. Maybe it's special to him in some way, it certainly doesn't go unnoticed.

"I'm Ren. Canteen and Equipment."

What can the boy say. He loves working.

[bloodalwaystells]

To his credit, Jaeger tries not to use his size as a weapon unless he needs to. This is friendly company, so he stays relaxed, amiable.

It's easier with the soft vibe that Ren puts off. It's not a guarantee that the young man is harmless, but it helps. He accepts the offered pinky-promise with amusement, brief but sincere in the gesture.

He knows how important these sorts of things are.

"Nice to meet you. I haven't spent quite so much time with Equipment yet, but I should now that I'm getting used to the particular work we're doing here." A small tug at the corner of his mouth, just barely a smile. "I've thought about going into Security or perhaps Research as well, but they only allow you to work so many hours a week here."

[forethinking]

Absolutely not harmless. Even without the glasses watering down the intensity of his gaze, Ren does move graciously, delicately enough to be mistaken for someone who wouldn't stand up that easily - when he's exactly the opposite. Here, there is no criminal record to hold him back and make people uncomfortable in his presence, and yet, old habits die hard.

"Unfortunately so. At least we have the missions, if you went on any."

[bloodalwaystells]

The most dangerous people are sometimes the ones that appear the most fragile, but for the moment Jaeger isn't reading anything into the young man before him but genuine concern.

Seeing enemies around every corner is exhausting and wears on what sanity Jaeger has left. He can only jump at shadows for so long before something has to change, and he's working on it, slowly but surely.

"I've gone on almost every one since I've gotten here," Jaeger admits with a small shake of his head. "I am starting to learn Dogtown very well, and just how disturbing a place it is." A rueful smile follows. "I've always been very dedicated to my job, and this work isn't so different from what I did before. Investigations and security, I mean. I suppose that helps."

Sadly, the psychic attacks are par for the course, too.

[forethinking]

"What did you work with before?"

Ren can't do anything but listen. He can't stop the shadows from creeping, nor the events that happen when they least expect it. The most that he can do is to damage control while they happen, and deal with the aftermath. Everyone else first, he can work it out with himself later.

[bloodalwaystells]

Distraction is not a bad thing, especially at a time like this. It's the main reason taht Jaeger even came to this event, and having something else to talk about? That's...good. That's something. There's more shadows and sharp edges there, but it's not all bad. Jaeger is good at his job and takes pride in that.

"I worked for a private security firm, acquiring and protecting art objects and other valuables for personal collections. Often magically oriented, which is a highly specialized field in my world." The corner of his mouth twitches. "So I'm used to strange and dangerous things, I suppose. Sometimes, clients had to be protected from their own belongings, to give you an idea. Things that weren't exactly 'as advertised'."

[forethinking]

"Oh, so you do have experience. Shouldn't be that different."

Ren, on the other hand, does not to that extent. Heisting and combat are his best skills, and so far, only one has been gotten some use out of. Curiosity, however, does get him to come a little closer, bringing stiletto nails to his lips before he points.

"What were the most interesting?"

[bloodalwaystells]

"It's similar in a lot of ways, including the fieldwork. Though I'm working in less familiar territory here, it's still close enough to be comfortable and I'm glad to have it."

Granted, he hadn't parted company with Palisade under the best circumstances, but for a long time, he had been good at his job and genuinely enjoyed it.

"The most interesting? Hm. Some of the items we handled required a lot of research and information-gathering. I've always had a good eye for that, putting the pieces together like a puzzle and really understanding what we were working with. The story all the details told." He presses his index finger to his chin as he considers. His own nails are short and neat, trimmed so as not to get in the way of things. Very practical.

"I also appreciated the jobs where I got to travel. Even if I was working, I still got to see other places, and that was a nice benefit."

He chuckles drily. "Not so much here, I suppose. But the stories are there, even if they're the scary sort. There's a way that things fit together."