( 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

( first few hours )

[possidetur]

This is a party?

( her voice sounds amused though vanessa is genuinely curious. she's been to many parties, some livelier than others, though nothing quite like this. there's always music, often dancing, but with a different feel in the room. she's used to calm and elegance rather than loud and... chaotic )

What else usually happens?

[donkeyballs]

Depends on who's throwin' it.

[ He shot her a grin. ]

Now, if this was Mars, we'd be bustin' out the buffet table, but in the Belt it's all booze and dancin' till you pass out.

[possidetur]

It sounds like they're both particularly lively affairs.

( dorian's party had perhaps been one of the livelier events that she'd attended though that was dorian's style. although vanessa herself had made mr lyle's one to talk about. unintentionally )

[donkeyballs]

More than Earth, I take it. Think there's somethin' to be said for people livin' in harsh conditions wantin' to relax, a bit.

[He gestured around them. ] Just about wantin' to feel alive, right?

[possidetur]

They likely do.

( that wasn't something vanessa knew too much about given her upbringing and lifestyle. she'd worked with people who had nothing, whom were dying, but it was different again )

I've seen different varieties of party depending on the occasion. Some are more for mingling, others are rather lavish affairs.

[donkeyballs]

And what exactly would you describe as lavish?

[ It's an honest, curious question, and he's smiling when he asks. ]

If they ain't 'lively'?

[possidetur]

A different style of 'lively', perhaps.

( dorian's party had certainly been eventful but also a lot tamer in some respects than this )

Though there is music you're able to appreciate it more. There's often dancing, opportunities to talk.

( and then vanessa leans in with a hushed voice as if what she's about to say is a secret )

Sometimes there'll something... fantastical.

[donkeyballs]

[ He arches an eyebrow, clearly amused, and leans in conspiratorially. ]

And what exactly would you call 'fantastical'?

[possidetur]

Communing with the spirits.

( she floats the idea as if it's bullshit but a) vanessa has already spoken about hearing spirits with alex, and b) she absolutely stole the show from the hired medium and freaked everyone out )

[donkeyballs]

[ He does give her a bit of an 'oh really' look, but she had mentioned it before, and... well. He'd been bitten by a vampire, since. So. His idea of the realm of 'possible' was very different now. ]

Alright, so how's that work, exactly. They just come over and have a drink?

[possidetur]

( she gives him a look as if to say he's being ridiculous )

You need someone who is sensitive to their energy.

( a medium, like vanessa. she could speak to and hear spirits without channelling them but for others to hear their words it was a little different )

For someone else to hear them they need to use a body.

( not unlike possession, particularly depending on the spirit, but vanessa would make the distinction that it was not the same. she'd know )

[donkeyballs]

A body. [ He looks sceptical, but amused. ]

Like, a dead one?

[possidetur]

( though vanessa frowns she looks amused )

A living one. A conduit, if you will, to be able to communicate. Have you ever heard of spiritualists?

[donkeyballs]

Uh - can't say I exactly have, but.

I'm guessin' you mean like bein' possessed. I've heard some of the stories.

[possidetur]

It's similar, if not as long-lasting.

( her words are a little uneasy, the topic close enough that, if alex chose to ask, vanessa wouldn't be able to deny how much she knows )

Depending on the spirit the interactions can be particularly interesting.

[donkeyballs]

[ Honestly, he looks completely out of his depth, but he keeps on. ]

... So what happens, exactly? You call out and they just kinda - come on in? What do they do?

[possidetur]

They speak. Some allow for conversation, perhaps a deceased loved one. Others... are less friendly.

( like the last spirit that had 'inhabited' vanessa )

[donkeyballs]

Oh.

[ The smile disappears a little. ]

That doesn't sound too bad, actually. Gettin' to talk to someone who's passed, I mean. But uh - what do you mean by 'less friendly'?

[possidetur]

There have been many people in the world. Not all are so kind.

( surely he's met some less than pleasant people in his life )

[donkeyballs]

... Yeah, I've met my fair share of assholes, don't worry. But they can't actually hurt you, right?

Make you do anythin' you don't want to do?

[possidetur]

( for a few seconds vanessa says nothing, wrestling with her knowledge. then she smiles, misdirecting: )

I should think you wouldn't have to worry about such a thing.

( she couldn't feel any sense of that sort of power from him )

[donkeyballs]

[ Well, that was as clear a deflection as he'd ever seen. ]

I ain't worried about me, Darlin', I'm worried about you.

[possidetur]

( ah. what a kind man )

They can.

( be glad she's sparing you the details. she's glad that she doesn't know them all )

Though I would have to commune with one first.

( seeing them was a different experience to channelling them )

[donkeyballs]

And you can choose to do that, right?

It ain't like you have to?

[ There's a pause, and then, a little incredulous: ]

And this is what ya'll would do at a party?

[possidetur]

Not all parties. Though most who would perform such a thing at a party have no real skill.

( it was the wonder of it, the chance of it. the thrill. they knew it was fake and believed anyway )

But it is a choice.