apocalypsehowcomm | Event

Event - Lullaby

Lullaby

➥ For You Never Shut Your Eye

Photo of a small grassy area within an urban environment. Two men are passed out across the grass and sidewalk. There is a purple gradient filter over the photo.
(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

A caucasian woman is lying on the floor, eyes closed. The room is dark around her with a spotlight shining on her. A secondary image of the woman, semi-transparent and wrapped in white clothes floats just above the woman on the floor. There is a purple gradient filter over the photo.
(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

Three sheet ghost halloween decorations stand in a line. There is a purple gradient filter over the photo.
(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

A caucasian woman has just woken up and stares grumpily at her phone. There is a purple gradient filter over the photo.
(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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I wouldn't be on duty tonight anyway even if I was an officer, but Our Father in Heaven's watchful eyes are an eternal constant. Or would I be mistaken about that? A proper Father should know, right?

[As if anyone here is a proper churchie by any measure and/or definition,]

Geez. Are you bragging? What part of not remembering your dreams consists of an inconvenience? Sleep should be a time of rest, and any recollection made during that period can only distract from the peace it's supposed to provide. It's a good thing if you don't remember, and there's no need to think any harder about it either.

[Taking a bite out of the second slice of sandwich she swiped before he pushed away the plate, now...

...munch, munch, swallow...]

And what will you do, if I end up falling asleep right here?

[kind of like how things already were when he first found her? Nah, totally not the same, nope...!]

Oh, very mature~! You just can't resist the urge to get those petty jabs in, can you?! I JUST explained you arrested me, on-duty or not, so maybe you ought to check that little attitude of yours, Officer Sister, if that's even your real name...!

[ ....it isn't??? ]

You know what...? You know what? I hope you do nod off so I can go right ahead and find a permanent marker and draw you a very attractive and dignified mustache~! Permanent marker, Ciel!! It's Halloween, so maybe I'll give you some cobwebs on your forehead or something, too~!! How about THAT?!

[ yes, truly the most fearsome threat, one to inspire fear into the hearts of the innocent everywhere. truly. ]

And I'm simply stating the truth. You sure get awfully worked up a lot on an awfully very little... Are you sure being a priest is the right calling for you, mister Nightroad?

[...]

I suppose nothing would be stopping you...

[And thoughtfully, she takes another sip from her mug while barely giving him a glance,]

Now you're questioning my life's work...? Ciel, is there no end to your cruelty? Is it wise to be needling at your coworkers this way, Officer...? That seems counter-productive to forming healthy working relationships, if you ask me.

[ as if either of them would know a single thing about that--

he's ~dramatically~ slumping face into a hand... yet, this melodrama doesn't stop him from shoving half an entire sandwich in his piehole. so this next bit is said around a mouthful of egg sammy: ]

...Your apathetic act is making me tired. Weary. Exhausted. Taking the very years from my life. Is that what you're after? Heartless. It's heartless. See if I offer to make you Sleepytime ever again, Ciel.

You seem plenty healthy to me. How about you think of this as me helping you stay sharp and enduring of the awaiting trials that are yet to come? As preemptive preparation for future psychologically taxing events Gloucester will be subjected to, it certainly didn't sound like we've heard the last of that little girl.

[...just gonna lean slightly back so that she's outside of egg sammy spit range;]

That would be for the best, yes. Sleepytime should be drunk before going to bed, right? So if I was to have it again, I would very much prefer it to be within the quiet comfort of my own apartment room late at night. I don't think I'm ready to invite you over for a sleepover at this juncture, and it would be very creepy of you if you were to ask first. So let's just have tea over sweets next time during the day instead, how about Chai since we both agreed it's delicious?

--CREEPY?!

[ his indignation?? knows no end in Ciel's presence, it seems!! crumbs splutter from his mouth (ah, wise, putting herself beyond the Blast Radius) as he nearly spills his tea for the umpteenth time to gesture in over-eager fluster, ]

Oh! OH, fine then~! You know what? I don't care! I'm going to let your pitiful attempts to rile me up roll right off my back like water from a duck!! Please. I am SO far beyond these petty insults that it's really quite pathetic you feel the need to stoop so low. As if I'd ever invite YOU to a sleepover. Hah! Hah.

[ b-but... sleepovers are fun......

he is now pushing a crumb around on the table and gone into full Grown Ass Man Pouting Mode, sulking petulantly. yes, clearly so ~unbothered,~ as you can see, ]

Maybe I'll simply take my tea alone, hm? Maybe I won't feel the need to go out of my way to share with you, next time. Maybe. Hmph.

Yes. Did I stutter?

[...nom (that was the last of her sandwiches at least, for better or worse),

...

......

.........]

Not even if I bring with me cookies? Peanut butter, butterscotch, or double chocolate?

[ ...

she's sniffed him out. sussed his weakness. she's found his vulnerable parts and honed right on in like a merciless predator-- ]

O-oh, actually... peanut butter sounds lovely~!

[ sitting prim and proper as he takes a slow sip from his cup of tea, now, as if they've been doing nothing but discussing pleasantries all evening!! yes, quite, ]

I am quite fond of double chocolate, though. Double chocolate peanut butter...? A-ah, I'm already salivating!

Hehe~ [Was he even trying... (no)]

Be honest. Do you really have preferences, or do you just love all sweets equally? Is there any you'd rather avoid at all, actually?

[ 'NO', no, she's right, he was not, ]

Oh~! Well. I'm partial to sweet things in general, you're right! Sugar and I have something of a harmonious relationship... [ looking fondly, like a proud father discussing a prodigal child's accomplishments, ] I wouldn't say there's very much I wouldn't eat, if that's what you mean! I do quite like savory things too, for your information-- but the only sweet I can think of I actively dislike is that black licorice nonsense. Disgusting! Awful. Putrid. Ugh, nauseating.

[ he says while shoving another half of egg sammy in his gob, ]

What about you, Ciel...? I know you quite like curry and spice, but is there a food you'd definitely wrinkle your nose at?

You don't say! [wow she had no idea, it's not like he went out of his way to be ridiculous over sweets since day 1 when they met, 🤔] Oh, I forgot about licorice, now that you mentioned it. I don't mind the taste personally, but it's hard to think of it as part of the sweets family, isn't it? It's so different in every way, more like a cousin thrice removed, maybe?

[Sips... not much left of her tea now, alas.]

Me? Ah, well... I'd rather avoid raw meat if possible, I suppose. Rare steak seems popular in America, but at least you can order them well done too?

[Looking vaguely sheepish as if it's something to be embarrassed about... It's not TOO weird for a girl to not like raw ~~and bloody~~ meat, right?]

Really! You don't mind the taste of black licorice?! It's so groooss!

[ making a BLECH face, which just seems strange with a mouthful of food..... whatever, the illusion this man had manners is long gone, and he isn't about to pretend to start now! ]

Oh, but... raw meat? Yes, I suppose that is a cultural thing too, isn't it? Just one of the many oddities of life in America! [ her being seemingly sheepish on this point is

kind of cute?? though he can't precisely figure out... why, exactly...

--ah, his tea is all but finished too, isn't it? how on earth did that happen?? hm, 🤔 does this mean he's going to have to figure out how to chivy her into bed, soon? it may, it just may... ]

I wouldn't eat it every day, of course. But sometimes you just find yourself craving weird things, you know? Don't worry, I don't go out of my way to buy them. I just don't mind when I find some mixed in a more elaborate dessert, for example, for one reason or another.

["Illusion" implies there was an Attempt to appear otherwise, once upon a time. Did he really even bother with that much tbh? the answer is NO, because anyone who tries eating someone else's food clearly never cared for "manners" to begin with,]

Ahaha, yes... [good thing he doesn't seem to know wagyu beef sashimi is totally a great delicacy even in Japan and isn't calling her out on that huh... "Cultural", yes, let's go with that,] I don't think I'm a picky eater though, otherwise!

[That said, she brings her mug up to drain the last of its content. The sammich platter is empty now too, isn't it? Late night snack time is coming to an end, it would seem...!]

[ well!! seeing how the time for snacks and tea is concluding, Abel will similarly drain his mug before rising to his feet and collecting the various dishware on the table for washing-- hers included, along with the sammy plate, ]

Not being a picky eater is something of a life skill, they say~! I know there are those who will regale you with endless lecture about how having a refined palate is more sophisticated, but in my mind, being able to enjoy a meal regardless what's on the menu is a much better asset. Wouldn't you agree, Officer Sister?

[ cheerily and without letting her think twice about it, he's going to start heading with these for the sink and start washing up!! since the cafeteria is so quiet and empty, it really won't be hard to converse without raising one's voice much even if she were to stay seated...!! no need to move if she's enjoying the calming affects of Chamomile Sleepytime, ]

[wow, making himself useful cleaning up...! Wonder if that's why he still hasn't been fired from the canteen staff yet? 🤔]

I don't know many picky eaters myself personally, but I do concur. There's just absolutely nothing wrong with having preferences, some food you can simply eat every day for the rest of your life, you know what I mean?

[2iq FATTYDINGDONGs,

that is, don't think she didn't notice how he ended up taking her dishes too, hmm... Is he really just being a good employee, or is there more to it?

...

She'll not fight it, this time. There wasn't much dishes, just a couple mugs and plates, and besides, she IS undeniably tired. So... how about just let a comfortable silence settle, instead? They don't ALWAYS have to be trading idiotic banter at all times in each other's presence, right?]

[ Abel may very well have been chivvied to dish duty after he was found partaking of more food than he was helping to prepare or serve, that may be a thing that's happened,

...either way, he is cheerily whistling as he works back here, which means that the endless prattling has, at least momentarily... slowed to a stop.

surely this is just a man being carried away with a familiar task, mm? you know, getting in the dish grove. nothing calculated about it, haha. definitely isn't letting her soak in the quiet peacefulness of the moment and let Sleepiness take hold so that she will be better prepared for the looming threat of

BEDTIME... ]

[Stray dog...

And over at the table, Ciel is just resting her eyes. Yep! Keeping them close to... Conserve energy, it's a very normal thing ordinary people do all the time. Kind of like a power saving mode for humans, yeah? Sit still where you are and lean into your chair more than you were planning to, and keeping your eyes shut. Some may call the act relaxing, with the lull of running water in the backdrop and a little whistled tune by someone in good spirits.

It's gotten quite late... Not late enough to make meeting the curfew dicey, but definitely an hour where most people who aren't busy with things would be inside their homes by now. Not a bad idea to get back and turn in soon, hm...?]

[ ...so.

she knows how to do it, after all. RELAX. he really had been worried for a while, there...

does she hear it when he's finally done settling everything away where it belongs and has finished tidying up...? maybe she picks up on his footsteps drawing closer to the table? even if she doesn't, she'll probably feel his hand gently resting upon her shoulder; Abel is leaning over a bit to give her a warm, if softer sort of smile. ]

Ciel...? It's getting quite late, hm? Would you let me walk you back to the apartments...?

[of course she does, doesn't everyone? how is anyone supposed to live if they don't know how to sit back and manage their own stress once in a while?

...

Yes, yes she stirs. She was only resting her eyes, nothing more! There is a faint stiffening of her frame when his hand lands, but she doesn't ESCAPE this time, only sits up straighter and raises her head. She's not turning around to face him either, however.]

It has gotten quite late, yes. ...But what's that supposed to mean? Don't we both live in the same area?

[Please. She's an Adult™, she doesn't need to be walked home! If things were to be rephrased, however...]

[ don't worry, don't worry-- his PAW isn't lingering very long, especially when he notices her stiffen; he's withdrawing it, just wanted to make sure he didn't startle her by his voice suddenly APPEARING at her shoulder... if she was, you know. deep in ""relaxation,""

Abel is huffing as he straightens, nudging at his glasses and giving a dismissive wave of his hand, ]

Well~! Of course we do, so we're headed in the same direction! Do you have a problem with that...? Surely you're not about to call me creepy again for asking if you're coming, too...! I really will cry. Cry~!

[Nothing personel, she's not overreacting anytime he's touched her tonight because of Issues or anything,]

...Hm. I don't know, but the way you said that didn't quite sound right to me. Maybe it's the wording you used?

[She looks thoughtful as she muses, but does drag to her feet before pushing the chair back under the table. Gotta keep things neat and tidy...]

We could take the bus instead of walking the entire way too, if we can catch one coming soon. But yes, I don't mind the company.

[ right, right... bus! right, Abel is nodding obligingly at the suggestion, waiting for Ciel to be finished tidying up before gesturing for the doorway. and tucking away his petulance, just like that: ]

That's right~! The bus sounds like a good idea; we don't want to get back too late for curfew, after all.

[ that or it's simply less arduous a task when the general feeling of Tired persists...! ]

You all set, Ciel?

[not much to do other than push in the chair, they inhaled the sandwiches leaving nary a crumb behind (minus w/e Abel spewed out during his chewing tho, as a creature devoid of any spec of manners or grace) and already took care of the tidying up earlier. So!

She's following along, but slowly as she's busy fishing out her phone to check the bus schedule. Modern day conveniences...]

Yes, but what about you? You could probably take some of those leftovers home, there was a lot of food left.

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