WEEK 0 MINGLE

[probe]

POPULATION: 37

Good morning, starshines. It is another beautiful day here on the base and it’s the start of a new week!

After the events of the day before and the meet and greet provided by four new Avatars, you may find yourself wondering how you can get in touch with them again. Fear not. One look at your handy dandy cell phone will reveal eight new contacts added to your directory. Feel free to shoot them a message. You may be surprised.

But before you get too far, perhaps it’s worth checking out the base once more. Those locked rooms from the days before have been unlocked, free for exploration. In addition, should occupants visit the central elevator they will find the elevator in working order (and flame-free) and that a new floor has opened. Take a look, familiarize yourself, and make yourself comfortable. Life on the base is a happy place.

And speaking of happiness…it’s funny. For the rest of the week, all who reside on the base will be inflicted with little feelings of hope and happiness, a belief that they can manifest almost anything. This week, all will discover that any mundane thing they hope for will be at their disposal...though do be careful. Those small wishes may come to fruition in ways you don't expect. For example, wishing for a year's supply of sushi may net you one astronomically large sushi roll. An eyeshadow palette may provide you with samples of actual colored eyelids. And a punching bag could be mistaken for a bag full of confetti instead.

May all your hopes and dreams come true, everyone.

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Comments

[kokytos]

I didn't say that.

But I can't deny I've dealt with them plenty.

[commedia]

...

You've dealt with demons? Which ones?

[kokytos]

[ You're so concerning. Unfortunately Steven plays head to head. ]

Of all kinds.

The very literal ones, like what you think you'd see in Biblical illustrations, straight from hell.
The ones that appear innocuous on the outside but hide their nature like wolves in sheep's skin.
The intangible ones that reside in the core of all humanity.

Are you thinking of a specific example?

[commedia]

That's quite a number. One would wonder if your profession is cursed, for having to deal with so many of those...

[And a shake of the head.]

Demons also come in various guises as far as I am aware. Most aren't even proper demons, but what humanity refers them to. And of course, there are the ones that look ever so human, but aren't...hm. Perhaps they're the most dangerous of all? Who knows.

[kokytos]

Oh, it's definitely cursed. [ THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO SUGARCOATING IT, HIS LIFE SUCKS. ] But it all comes in a day's work, if it means saving good lives.

But at its core, it doesn't matter what you are. You could be a demon and still genial -- you could be very human and be rotten to the core.

I've learned that well over my life.

[commedia]

...

[Douman leans onto their hand, appraising Steven for a long, good moment.]

A refreshing outlook. Of course, things can't be so black and white. Tell me...what job requires blood and ice magic?

[Yeah, they did some reading on those profiles.]

[kokytos]

[ ...

God damn it, those stupid profiles. Which stupid bozo wrote up his? ]

So you're one of the people who actually studied those profiles, unlike a majority.
Would you let it go if I summarized it as vampire hunting and trying to keep the city from falling apart into itself?

[commedia]

I like to do reading in my spare time, ahaha!

[Look at this grin.]

But...yes, yes. Vampire hunting? You do realize one is less likely to let such things pass by when they're intriguing to begin with? For one thing, vampires aren't typically problems in any regular city.

[kokytos]

[ He can match easygoing conversation tit for tat, even if it does ever so subtly have that vibe under it. Steven shrugs. ]

I suppose I can't blame you -- it's good to make a habit out of reading.

Is it really fair grounds to tell me that as if vampires are such an odd problem though, when I believe you yourself had some unusual, supernatural-related abilities? [ He will not address "jingling". Or Hedonism EX for that matter even though that one really really stood out. ]

[commedia]

I do have such abilities. I am an onmyouji, after all. This was part of my official duties. You, on the other hand...you're no onmyouji or sorcerer, are you?

[yeah just ignore Hedonism EX, thanks]

[kokytos]

[ Crystal you put it there we can't all collectively ignore it forever most of all you ]

I'm sorry to say that I'm not very familiar with what an "onmyouji" is -- though I think I can make an assumption based on "sorcerer".

And the answer is no, I'm no sorcerer or wizard -- just a human at the base, with some special abilities.

[commedia]

[JUST IGNORE IT THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!]

Its similar to a sorcerer. So, just a human...the abilities came through training or other means, then?

[kokytos]

I guess you could call it a form of training.

[ It's a long story I (Lowe) wish I could tell but I CAN'T ]

Our blood is infused with the self-same abilities that the vampires themselves use -- I suppose it's akin to the saying, "fight fire with fire"?

[commedia]

The same abilities?

[But wait....ice? Blood makes sense, but...?]

Is there some risk involved? Being like them to fight them must have its dangers.

[kokytos]

The biggest danger is being the only ones capable of fighting them. Just us, no allies -- since blood breeds can turn normal humans into their thralls. Not a great outlook when a single one of them could easily overpower an entire army force on its lonesome, right?

[commedia]

That certainly sounds like a threat to behold. One against many, and the one can prevail...

[How terrible to think about.]

Surely they can't make an army of people like you to combat these creatures?

[kokytos]

Haha, no. There's just a handful of people like us, globally, sure, but it's not an easy everyday thing that happens. [ He doesn't elabourate. Blame Nightow. ]

This questioning has been awfully me-centric though, hasn't it? I feel like I know awfully little about you.

[commedia]

[nightow your LORE]

Me? Mmmmmmm? Well, ask away, ask away! I may be a bit of a coward, but shy? Well, maybe a bit of that, too. But I will answer!

[kokytos]

Really, you'd call yourself a coward? You don't have to answer what you don't want to -- I can't force you, after all.

What does an onmyouji do?

[commedia]

I am not one to present myself as something I'm not...

[A light shrug.]

Ah, yes. An onmyouji is one well educated in the art on onmyoudo. We have mastery over the five elements, and several work specially for the Heian government by their order. We can so such things as tell fortunes, exorcise evil spirits, and elucidate the mysteries of the world.

[kokytos]

[ Hmm, he's in thought. What a funny little job occupation. ]

I see, it sounds like you do a lot of work -- elements, government work, exorcism. It sounds like the work of a missionary to an extent, minus the mastery of the elements, and presumably less recruiting.

How did you come by such a job -- born into it?

[commedia]

Not at all.

[They sip at their tea.]

It wasn't like I was born into much...I hailed from Harima province, a small village. There are onmyouji who had far more at their disposal, and I...well, I simply worked as hard as I could, and developed my abilities to be the best they could be.

[kokytos]

So your abilities... they were things you could pick up and develop? Interesting.

Where I come from, while normal humans can end up crossing into the supernatural, it doesn't happen organically. Always by interference.

[commedia]

So something has to push you, hm? Like vampires pushing you all to develop ways to fight them.

But yes. These abilities were something I wasn't gifted.

[Unlike. Some people.]

[kokytos]

[ Do I sense some salt there, Douman. ]

Right. Whether it's given by a literal god, or developed through magical experimentation, or it was through a mechanical augmentation... Though in my experience, I've learned that granting sudden power to those who didn't have it before very often results in those powers being applied terribly.

[ Hum. ] But to be able to develop them from young and make them your own, and with a wide skillset like that -- impressive. I'm sure you put a lot of hard work into it.