( 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

Hajime Hinata | OTA!

[hopefragment]

002.

[Enjoying a nice meal? Maybe trying to block out the music by eating something from home?

A loud bang cuts through the music for a second as Hajime's forehead hits the table, splattering his plate of rice. He'd been nodding off for the last twenty minutes, struggling to put food in his mouth, when his body apparently just gave up.]

...Huh?

[Of course, slamming your head full-force into a tabletop is a surefire way to wake yourself up, leaving Hajime blinking, blearily bemused and thoroughly lost as to why there's rice sticking to his hair. And... potentially you, if you were unfortunate enough to be sitting nearby. The rice explosion wasn't exactly subtle.]

What... what happened?

003a.

Dammit... What do you want from us?!

[There's something wild in Hajime's eyes as he turns in a circle, staring straight up at the ceiling as if to address whatever force or forces is keeping the music on. His hands are balled into tight fists, and like everyone else, he's exhausted. He's so mind-numbingly tired that he's stumbling over his own feet. He makes one more tight circle before one of his feet catches the other, and he trips, flying forward and slamming his forehead right into the wall. There's a guttural yell of frustration and pain as he lurches back, overbalances the other way, and falls to the deck below.]

What the fuck are you studying?! I'm just a normal person, why did you involve me in this?!

[Beneath the audible anger and frustration, it almost sounds like he wants to cry. Controlling his emotions is so hard right now, it's frankly embarrassing.]

003b.

[For once, Hajime isn't yelling. He's almost eerily calm as he regards one of the airlocks. There's a suit nearby, but he hasn't put it on yet.]

Maybe... inside the suit, it'll be quiet? Isn't everything supposed to be quiet in space?

[He's absolutely talking to himself; he doesn't know there's anyone else around.]

I could use my boots to stick to the outside of the station and... just take a quick nap. That has to be the answer, right?

[It's REALLY NOT.]

Wildcard!
[ooc: Hajime will be wandering around the station in various shades of confused disorientation and angry resentment. All around a miserable time. Feel free to hit up his inbox, tag me with your own prompt, or hit me for plotting @jade#9297 or jaderhade!]

003a, rip us

[mapsio]

[Now, normally. Haru would have come to Hinata's aid. She would have stooped down to help him back up. She would have given him all the comforting words he needed to hear. But right now? Nah, nada. None of that comes.

What does come? A sharp statement, completely unlike her.]

I don't know what is worse, your yelling or the music.

[She's bordering on migraine stage, the music is already invading and getting personal with her eardrums. The last thing she needed was some fool shouting at the ceiling like it was going to fix anything.]

RIP...

[hopefragment]

[He flinches, sitting up straight quickly enough that he almost hits his head on the wall behind him. That it's Haru scolding him somehow hurts worse than if it were someone he didn't know well, and he tries to choke back a defensive snarl.

It doesn't work.]

I just want to be heard--

[Over the music, but even he knows that's stupid. Of course if they're being monitored, they can hear them over the music. Probably right through his communicator.

But he's tired, and his head was already aching even before he rammed it into the wall, and now his chest hurts, too, and he doesn't know why.]

Whatever. I don't owe you an explanation.

[mapsio]

I don't care for an explanation, Hajime-san. I care that you're shouting.

[She only raises her voice a little, past the point of numbness is where she is at right now. She's angry with no one but Hinata there for her to take it out on. She's holding her head in her hands.]

Yelling won't get you, me, or the rest of this station anywhere!

003a

[wingstosee]

[ venus has had about enough of all of this.

she's tired. she's so tired, and jupiter needs some space so she can't just collapse in a bed with her, and the caffeine's stopped having any real impact but she just keeps drinking it anyway because it's the only option she's got?? and now hinata's yelling, and headbutting the wall of the mess hall, and venus doesn't even stop to think before she speaks. ]

Maybe they're studying you because you're normal? [ a thin smile. ] Like. What's the word. A control group?

[hopefragment]

[It's true but she shouldn't say it.

Hajime shoves himself to his feet with a glare.]

You think I haven't thought of that already? That they just picked me at random so they could study all of you?

[You is a snarl, his hands clenching into tight fists at his sides.]

[wingstosee]

Not really? I mean, I thought you said all of us were normal too.

[ if she minds him getting angry at her, she's not showing it. she just sort of keeps watching him from her seat, taking a leisurely sip of coffee. ]

We're not, you know, super geniuses or anything. Except maybe Erika? Or Dr. Asuka. But they're the only ones that would go to that school you were talking about. [ she drums her fingers on the desk - hesitant, off-sync with the music above her. if hinata looks, it might be clear that her hand's shaking. ] Nobody here's good enough for you, probably. Haha.

[ it's hard to tell what she's actually trying to say - whether she's regretful or angry or just sad. but she's sure not hesitating when she says it. ]

002

[foolishjourney]

[Minato had been blearily staring at the plate of food he'd made for himself for about an hour now, unable to exert the additional effort of putting his fork to his mouth to actually eat it. His experience as time went on had turned into a constant struggle of going from 0 to 100 and back real quick, so when he wasn't feeling too much, he was feeling nothing at all, and unable to move half the time. "Nothing at all" was the name of the game right now, and he's in the middle of sighing in defeat and moving to prop his elbow against the table to rest his head against his hand when there's a SLAM, jolting him back upwards and making him look around, startled.]

Huh?

[Oh. It's Hinata. And it looks like he'd just taken a face plant right into his dinner.]

...You fell asleep, I think.

[hopefragment]

Oh... did I?

[Hm. Rice everywhere? Check. Exhaustion? Check. Bruise on his forehead...? He gingerly presses his fingers against it, wincing. The bruise isn't visible yet, but it'll be there.]

...

[He should clean up the rice. He even makes a half-hearted effort to shove it aside, just so he can pillow his head in his arms.]

If they'd just turn the music off for five minutes, I bet I could fall asleep for real.

[foolishjourney]

I don't think whoever's responsible is planning on giving us a break any time soon.

[Minato copies Hinata, though he keeps his gaze on the other boy.]

This is pure torture.

003b

[reposing]

[Flatly:] That's a terrible idea.

[Alas, behind Hajime, Alucard is sulking about, which probably means he seems to pop out of no where.

Alucard looks cross, angrier than usual; he is ready to basically keep Hajime from doing anything stupid and desperate.]

There's too much danger in that choice. I understand your frustration, but it isn't an option.

[hopefragment]

[This is a fantastic idea what are you talking about?? Throw him out the airlock, sink or s-sink...]

It's just the same as when the gravity went out.

[Hajime points, as if that might somehow make his argument more convincing. It's a weak argument, but he has evidence to support it!]

And... if I can tuck myself in against one of the, um, outside parts, I won't get hit by anything.

[Probably.]

[reposing]

You cannot guarantee that, Hajime. You could be hurt at best. Or killed.

I know it has been difficult. But you cannot afford to endanger yourself.

If you are desperate for rest, then... there may be another option I can offer you. It is not perfect, but it's significantly better than going outside.

003a.

[luciformis]

[ Empathy was never Ryo Asuka's forte.

While he could contextualize the emotional states of others and identify what it was they were feeling based on bodily cues and general inferences, he found himself simply not caring for most anyone at all in his typical state. Considering that this is perhaps the fourth day, which surpasses his usual sleepless binges by a solid twenty-four hours, he isn't feeling quite as patient as he pretends to usually be. More, he finds he feels even less inclined to make an attempt at typical social graces.

So, instead, he watches as Hajime hollers pointlessly up toward the metaphorical station rafters. If it was as many of them speculated, there wasn't a point in trying to appeal to scientific inquiry when the rules of explicit consent were discarded for unknown experiments. ]

Randomization, [ he says, after a long moment. He's bundled up in the white of his coat, the hood pulled up over his head. He looks comfortable, despite the ongoing musical crisis. His tone sounds crisp and cool, steady. The only thing that gives away any sort of fatigue is the fact he's relying heavily on the wall beside him to keep himself propped up. ] For valid results, every individual should have unique characteristics. [ He pauses, blinking heavily once or twice before continuing. ] Data provided by similar participant pools won't represent the target population.

[ Sorry, Hajime. He isn't here to comfort anyone usually. Never mind at the moment. ]

[hopefragment]

What?

[Hajime has his head in his hands already, thoughts chugging far too slowly through his brain. And that pisses him off, too, because he needs another thing to piss him off. He's not stupid, but right now, words longer than two or three syllables are too complicated.

He groans and grips his hair with both hands.]

There's nothing "unique" about me. Being ordinary isn't a talent. What the hell is the "target population" supposed to mean when there's so many extraordinary people here?

[luciformis]

[ Ryo operates differently from most individuals. Complicated statements or straightforward answers are all he's ever really given in the public eye. Social media adored him, though he couldn't say quite the same for it. It was just a necessary tool in the end. ]

Personal statements are subjective, [ he says, his hands dip into the pockets of his coat. He looks unruffled by Hajime's tone, as if he's accustomed to it. ] Unless asked, examiners aren't interested in what you say you can and can't do. They want to see it objectively. [ It's just factual. It pours from his lips like a recitation, as if he's explained this before and again. He cants his head, minutely. ] If the station took only "extraordinary" individuals, their data would be skewed.

[ It just makes sense. ]

As for their "target population," it's speculative. [ Humans? Humanoids? All ranges and shapes of humanoids, perhaps. ] It's difficult to say what they're after without more information.

wildcard

[ryuji]

Lemme borrow your gun

[hopefragment]

what for?

[ryuji]

Im gonna try something

002 1/2

[gundamned]

[It's not as if a super natural being like Gundam relies on being able to sleep like normal, pitiful human beings do. However, the selection of songs is particularly... irritating. And grating. And uh... mmm.

Bad...]

You collapsed into your rice.

2/2

[gundamned]

[Wait.] --h-heinous rice of... stomach inducing despair...!!

[Better??]

[hopefragment]

I understood you the first time.

[WHY does this guy keep sitting with him?? Can't he tell Hajime isn't his best friend? Right now, Hajime's patience for this guy's weird conversational quirks is at an all-time low, and without even bothering to wipe the rice from his face, he's just slumping back down to the table again.]

Maybe I can just put rice in my ears until I can't hear anything anymore....

003b.

[iustitia]

[what]

What?

[Terezi stops trudging around the station in a daze and turn to sniff at him at the sound of his voice. For the first time she notices the space suit close by.

She is, understandably, distracted by the feeling that bugs are crawling under her skin to the tune of "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey, but even she can put together two and two. This isn't just idle musing. This is a serious consideration.]

No. No, I don't think that's the answer at all. I think that's an even worse answer.

[hopefragment]

Is it?

[He can't help but sound a little resentful that he's been foiled a second time by his plans to just go spacewalking. Hajime turns and slumps against the wall, rubbing his forehead with one hand.]

I mean... I don't know what else to do. Can people die from lack of sleep? I have to try something! I really don't want to go out there, but I don't...

[He looks to her beseechingly, forgetting that she can't, uh, actually see his expression. Please, tell him what to do.]

[iustitia]

[It takes her tired, slowass brain a few seconds to put together the fact that he's looking to her for advice, and in the interim, in this exhausted haze, she sort of just stares at him.

(Or. Well. Faces his general direction.)]

You're not going to die. Okay? We're going to get through this.

[She manages to sound a lot more confident than she's feeling, which is that she's fucking dying. But once upon a time, she was going to take leadership of Red Team and lead them all to victory. She knows a thing or two about faking it.]

I know it's a tempting idea. But it's also a really dangerous one! Sure, you might get some sleep, but you might also get killed.