( 003 » ENSEMBLE ) party time.

[reveriemod]

» WHO? Everyone
» WHEN? July 1 to July 8
» WHERE? Entire Station
» WHAT? 168 hours of being forced to listen to cheesy music on repeat…
» WARNINGS? the mundane and slightly ridiculous becoming terrible, cheesy pop music, forced sleep deprivation, anger, loss of control, emotions, potential for stabbing, hallucinations, mania, memory loss, confusion, seizures, depression.

0 0 1 » LET’S GET THIS PARTY STARTED

It starts in the mess hall and it starts slowly. At first, it can barely be heard over the conversations that are happening but as the volume increases, it becomes apparent that music is playing. Not just any music: characters from Earth will recognise these pop hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s. They’re the kind of hits one might find on a Spotify playlist titled “Top 100 Cheesy Hits” or “Songs To Sing To In The Shower”. Power ballads. Boy bands. Girl bands. Woodstock.

Soon, the music can be heard all across the station, blasting from every speaker, audible in every room. Characters who were asleep in their quarters will be woken by the music’s volume, characters under the shower might want to start singing along (but remember, the walls might just be thin enough for the neighbours to hear) and if characters clear some chairs, there’s enough space in the bar for an impromptu dance floor.

Some characters have been working on improving the replicators, too, so while the alcohol supplies at the bar are dwindling and all but gone, the replicators are now capable of making something that’s palatable, even if it’s not quite up to scratch.

What’s the harm in having some fun? It’s just a little music, right?

( ♪ )

0 0 2 » I WANT OFF THIS RIDE

It’s just a little music, right? And it is — but it just won’t seem to stop. The first few hours may have been entertaining, at least for those who did not get woken up by the sound of decades (centuries, even) in the past, but the music keeps going long past the point of entertainment.

After two hours, the songs start repeating. After six hours, they’re still playing. After twelve? Still playing. Twenty-four? Still playing.

Sleep becomes all but impossible as the music keeps playing loudly in every room and every corridor of the station. Attempts to shut it down prove unsuccessful.

Forty-eight hours later, the music is still playing.

Characters will begin to suffer the effects of sleep deprivation, in addition to the general irritation that might come from hearing the same two hours worth of cheesy pop songs on a loop: headaches, exhaustion, tremors, irritability and confusion to begin with, followed by lapses in memory, muscle aches, malaise, violent behaviour, hallucinations or mania as cognitive effects set in, possibly also seizures and depression.

And still, the music keeps playing.

( ♪ )

0 0 3 » THERE’S SOMETHING IN THE WATER

The music and the sleep deprivation it causes are the reason for many of the symptoms people are feeling, but something is happening that goes even beyond the music, beyond the lack of sleep: something has changed about the food replicators.

The food is slowly getting better, for one, thanks to a group of individuals who’ve been working on improving them. Beyond that, however, imperceptible, the composition of the food comes with something extra -- namely heightened emotions. Whatever causes it, it’s in the water, too.

Those who are already angry feel angrier and have a harder time controlling that anger. Those who are already sad feel sadder and have a harder time not bursting into tears. Those who are already apathetic feel more apathetic and have a harder time prompting themselves to so much as move. The effect holds for all emotions, heightening them, making them harder to control or counteract. Impulses become action far more quickly than usual. Irritation at the music may become anger at the person singing along under their breath and that, in turn, may lead to someone getting stabbed with a plastic fork.

It’s nearly impossible to keep a cool head, though some people seem more affected than others.

OOC: This part of the plot is completely opt-in. Whatever characters are feeling will be heightened and strengthened and their impulse control lowered. Make sure to get ooc permission for any stabby action of comparable deeds, and keep in mind that non-con is prohibited in game.

( ♪ )

0 0 4 » AFTERMATH

After 168 hours, the music stops. Whatever was in the water and the food is gone again, meaning characters may never know it was there in the first place. After all, some of the effects of it could have been down to the sleep deprivation as well…

Still, there’s something off about the whole thing. It might seem like someone is watching them. Toying with them. But surely that’s just paranoia, right?

In the aftermath of sleep deprivation and poor impulse control, characters might want to get some sleep or try to mend those relationships that were damaged by careless words or people getting creative with the cutlery.

( ♪ )

Please remember to put warnings in subject lines if so required.

Comments

[foolishjourney]

[His face scrunches in uncharacteristic frustration, and he presses one hand against his forehead.]

I just can't exert the will to even move anymore 90% of the time.

[Normally he would just assure someone that he was okay, it was fine, but a combination of the impulsiveness welling in his chest and the fact that he just couldn't write this one off causes him to blurt it out regardless.]

I try to get up and it's like there's just... a disconnect between my brain and my body. I can't.

[reposing]

[It makes him think a little bit of Kira, how suddenly he seemed devoid of almost all motivation. Lacking their impulse control has made them all a chaotic mess; Alucard, normally stoic, has had more outbursts of anger and letting his vices get the better of him.

Fortunately, now, the only thing he wants is to make sure Minato is okay.]

There's something besides the music that's affecting us. I daresay our efforts with the replicators may have been in vain.

Where do you need me to take you, Minato?

[foolishjourney]

Too bad, because it was finally starting to taste okay.

[It's his attempt at a joke, but his heart wasn't really particularly in it. He was either feeling too much or too little at any given time these days, and at the moment, it was starting to go from too little into too much, because he's not used to being the one being helped and it's making him feel a little emotional in ways he doesn't understand. His voice chokes up jut a tad for a moment as he responds, the tiniest bit shaky:]

My-- my room, I guess. Deck 5, room 16.

[Which he may or may not recognize as being next to Kira, which makes sense when Minato had said he had a very disruptive neighbor.]

[reposing]

[Gently, he squeezes Minato arm as a sign of affection. He does stop when he hears the room number.

Ah. Yes, he definitely knows that. Thinking about Kira makes him stiffen slightly, remembering too well their last encounter.]

...Are you certain? You may not really receive much in the way of comfort. Due to your neighbor.

[foolishjourney]

[For once, Minato wasn't really minding the contact? He kind of was craving it, actually, which was something he usually tended to never humor, in favor of having his personal space to maintain a feeling of aloofness and distance. He kind of even leans into Alucard a little, sighing to himself. Why was he like this? Normally he'd nip these thoughts in the bud, but he couldn't help his mind wandering -- he was terrible at letting people in, that's why. If he gets too close, he's too vulnerable. Too vulnerable, and he'd have to acknowledge his feelings, and that was too much.]

I don't know where else I'd go.

[reposing]

You may rest in my room, if you wish. So long as you don't mind a coffin next to the bed.

[He doesn't think to question the closeness. Instead, Alucard makes the decision: he will take care of Minato and protect him in his room. As a bonus feature, neither one of them really have to deal with Kira at the moment.]

[foolishjourney]

...Alright. That works for me.

[He didn't really want to be alone right now, so that was fine by him. He kind of hated himself a little for being so needy, but. Y'know. Things were fucked up right now from all sides, and he was just gonna have to deal with it. Even if being vulnerable was utterly terrifying, his desires were overpowering his senses.

...This was a lot of introspection he was having to the backdrop of Backstreet Boys blaring from the speakers.]

[reposing]

So long as you are not uncomfortable.

[it could be worse, you could be making out with someone to "who let the dogs out"

Alucard proceeds to the sixth level, not minding the weight of Minato in his arms. It was as if the younger man was nothing more than a feather to him. Calmly, he proceeds down the hall once they reach the sixth level, and he opens his room, number 24.

Almost immediately in their faces is a bat, squeaking at them.]

Charlotte. This is Minato. You do not need to be afraid of him.

[The bat looks skeptical, but immediately buries herself into Alucard's hair. he sighs, stepping into the room.

As one can expect, he keeps it tidy as possible. Next to the bed is indeed a giant wooden coffin with elegant carvings. On a table is an odd cord no longer than perhaps a garden snake, as well as the paper clue he'd discovered sometime ago.

Gently, he lays Minato down to the bed.]

Do you need me to fetch you anything?

[foolishjourney]

[Thanks Reverie, for providing the inappropriate backtrack to their lives no one asked for.

Minato just rests his head against the other man with his eyes closed for the duration of the trip to Alucard's room, only wrenching them back open once they'd arrived. Normally having something fly straight up into his face would probably make him recoil and startle a bit, but instead he just gives Charlotte a tired look, and a small attempt at a reassuring smile to garner a sense of trust. It didn't really work out very well, but he tried! Kind of. He's too exhausted emotionally (well, and physically) to really pay much attention to the room around him, instead just curling up immediately upon being placed on the bed in a tired heap.]

No, it's alright. Thank you.

[He was hydrated and everything, and while he hadn't eaten, he wasn't feeling particularly up to it right now, which is part of the reason he'd ended up just slumping to the floor and laying down in a pile of uselessness right outside the mess hall. It was a miracle he'd even made it that far, but he'd had a momentary swing from a low to a... well, high wasn't the right thing to say, so much as "slightly less depressed" was.]

...I do have one request. If it's not too much trouble.

[reposing]

[For a moment, he glances down at Minato, wishing he could do more. But he has the full instinct to be present, to protect, and do anything to make sure no harm comes to him right now.

Alucard kneels down by the bed, reaching over to brush back some of Minato's hair.]

It isn't. Name your request, and I will have it done.

[foolishjourney]

Can you sit with me for a while?

[It's a simple request, but given how much trouble he went through to constantly be a pillar of strength for the past year, to the point he'd even do things like get up and go to school the day after witnessing one of his friends die, it was a lot for him to ask for comfort from someone else. Normally it'd be out of the question, but the emotions welling in his chest were demanding it.]

[reposing]

[It's not a request he'd expected. It surprises him a moment, then Alucard smiles warmly down to him.]

Of course.

[He removes his boots first, but he does push himself to sitting on the bed next to Minato.]

I have to say, between your music and what this station has decided for us to listen to, I would prefer yours. Though I suppose that's easy enough to say considering what we've been forced to listen to for the past several days.

[foolishjourney]

Anything would sound bad if you had to listen to it constantly at loud volumes.

[In a moment of impulsiveness, Minato shuffles around to rest his head on Alucard's leg.]

But I agree, my taste is vastly superior.

[He cracks the smallest smile.]

[reposing]

[The contact on his leg is actually not... terrible. Especially if it makes Minato more comfortable. Alucard relaxes and lightly rests his hand on Minato's shoulder.]

I suppose you have a point, but I think I would still prefer your selection.

[And it's honestly worth it, even to see him smile a little.]

If you'd like, I could be a wolf right now.

[foolishjourney]

I can show you some more sometime. When things are less hectic.

[Well, unless Alucard wanted to listen to Minato's music in one ear, and Cher's "Believe" in the other. Entirely up to him.

He contemplates the offer for a moment. That would be significantly more fluffy and comfortable for laying, but...]

Can you still talk?

[Not that he needed to have the constant attention and whatnot that talking entailed, but at the same time, today? Yeah. Kind of a little bit more than usual.]

[reposing]

I would like that. It would be much calmer.

[And it would be nice to have company with someone who could stand to look at him after this madness is done. At the moment, Alucard isn't feeling particularly confident in his standing with others considering what he's said and done thus far.]

No, unfortunately. I am self-aware, but I have no way to speak.

[foolishjourney]

This way is fine, then.

[He was pretty comfortable, and Alucard's voice was weirdly soothing?? He didn't want to force him to talk if he didn't want to, though... he had no idea how Alucard was feeling from all of this drama, maybe he just wanted to quietly sit. Normally that'd be just as much Minato's jam, but he was just, ugh, feeling so needy in between feeling absolutely nothing at all.]

Sorry. I'm not usually like this.

[reposing]

[A dry laugh escapes Alucard, and he shakes his head slowly, fingers smoothing over Minato's hair.]

You owe me no apology.

To be honest, it is... pleasant to be wanted. A rare occasion, it seems.

[foolishjourney]

I'm usually the one on your end.

[He admits, appreciating Alucard's touch despite himself. He was the Leader, the stoic one, the one that always had an ear to listen with and a shoulder to cry on — the one that stayed strong no matter what the situation, a pillar for the team and those who befriended him... but right now, he just felt helpless and vulnerable. Feelings he'd rarely ever entertain if he could help it. It causes him to shudder very gently, the pain in his chest making it feel like his heart would just burst out. It was like... everything he'd been repressing all this time was fighting to spill out, when he wasn't just shutting everything out completely.]

I really appreciate it. You're good company.

[reposing]

There are few that wish the company of a vampire.

[There's a difference between being a savior because one is forced to as opposed to being slotted as a leader for a group, being needed personally. A soldier is faceless, known for action, little for his kindness.

If he can be gentle now, then he will not refuse it.]

And you as well. Despite the music this station has chosen, you are quiet to be around. With so many who are loud, it is a relief, truthfully.

[foolishjourney]

A shame. They're missing out.

[His eyes fall closed and he wiggles just a little bit, getting more comfortable. If it weren't for the loud, blaring music, he was comfortable enough where he was, here in Alucard's presence, that he might've just plain fallen asleep.]

I'm glad I can be of at least some service in this state.

[Minato opens his eyes again and adjusts himself so he could look up at Alucard, the relaxing tones of Spice Girl's "Wannabe" too loud for him to be in a position of drifting off for too long.]

...What was it like, where you're from? If you don't mind me asking.

[reposing]

I'm flattered you think so.

[For a moment, he smiles, not minding the little wiggling. He waits, letting Minato get comfortable before he pets back his hair again.

The question gives him pause, then Alucard slowly exhales.]

There are many sides of Wallachia, both beautiful and wretched.

It has a rich history, and the world full of potential. Like any place, there are people who believe in the best of each other, trying to learn how to be better either through science or magic. hen there are people ugly within who act based on lies, superstition, power, or fear who are eager to blame others for the trouble in their lives. To assume the worst.

There are other creatures of the night not unlike me: more vampires, demons, goblins, and so on. Most of them answer to one being, the most powerful vampire of them all.

[foolishjourney]

[It certainly seemed as though Alucard had a lot of strong feelings about where he was from, in more ways than one. Minato was much the same... hm.]

Is it Dracula?

[It's asked so quickly, without hesitation, that it seems as though Minato was probably trying to make a joke.]

[reposing]

[There is a pause, then Alucard raises his brow to Minato.]

Yes.

[For him, it's no joke.]

My father, in fact. Vlad Dracula Ţepeş.

[foolishjourney]

Oh, I see.

[There's a slight hint of surprise to Minato's features — he hadn't expected his guess to be right. He was just trying to make a small funny about the most popular literary vampire there was...]

What's he like?