june event.

[falsitates]

JUNE 15, 2021

The heatwave has passed and the weather has never been better. The city is full of life once again, and the streets are busy as people return outdoors to enjoy what summer has to offer. Everything appears to have returned back to normal.

For everyone, but you.

The newcomers are given an envelope that is either addressed to their current residence or placed in their belongings. There is no return address, and inside is a New York state government-issued ID. It appears to be authentic. The residents, on the other hand, receive a similar envelope, but with a SIM card. There are no other notes.

Are these your rewards?

  MISSION BOARD

Your phone vibrates.

It doesn't stop until you pick it up and when you do, it's cold. The buttons do nothing as it shuts down, unresponsive to whatever actions that you take. Then, much like last time, white lettering on a black backdrop appears.

WELCOME TO WEEK THREE.
A NEW MODULE HAS BEEN UNLOCKED.
YOU MAY CHOOSE TO IGNORE IT.
OR YOU MAY CHOOSE TO USE IT.
AUDENTES FORTUNA IUVAT

A new section has been added to the app. It reads as 'missions'. There are currently three tasks available right now.

  BEGINNINGS OF A FOREST

The barrier continues to grow in size. Vitae's outskirts are gradually, but surely, expanding, and in its new area is a sea of trees. There has never been a forest surrounding the city, yet one is unmistakably forming. It's small, extending outside for less than a quarter-mile, and asides from its sudden appearance, there's nothing unusual about it. Only trees, the barrier, and the nagging feeling that someone is watching you.

Nobody in the city seems to notice. When questioned, they claim that the forest has always been there. In fact, the city was created in the heart of a forest, and it has remained that way since its inception. None of them are aware of the fact that these trees were never there until now.

It's as though the forest has always been there.

  DECISION TIME

By the end of the day, your phone vibrates again. A new message appears.

ALLY?
BETRAY?

One of the two choices must be selected. Otherwise, you won't be able to use your phone.

Make your choice.

Comments

[rightminded]

[ It takes a second to sink in, but it does.

They've never seen quite eye to eye before. Never figuratively, of course, except maybe almost for a breath of an instant, and not even then--but, no, this time he's thinking literally. He'd always been the taller of them two. But it hits him all at once that they're at even eye level when that's never been true before,

and it can only be true now if Akira is older,

and all at once he is hit with a nausea so powerful it takes all his willpower not to move, not to quail, but he still goes pale. That tell he can't control, and he looks away, his hair forming only half a curtain, only half-hiding his face. ]

A detective never rests. Certainly not when there's a mystery afoot. Certainly you can't have failed to notice.

[chemex]

[Akechi has always been pointedly difficult to read, but Akira has always been excellent at reading people. The blanch to his already pale skin doesn't go unnoticed, and Akira makes a point of stepping closer, not letting him remove him from his line of sight. It puts him almost close enough to touch, but he's smarter than that.]

Are you suggesting I know something you don't, Akechi? [He does, he thinks. He thinks maybe he knows quite a few things Akechi doesn't, but he can't say for certain.]

[rightminded]

[ Akechi's hyperawareness of their presence in a public space is the only thing that spares Akira a much different response. Akechi's eyes lid slightly, and he sighs shortly. ]

I'm suggesting that you've always been irritatingly perceptive, and that we're clearly not in Tokyo.

[ and that only an idiot would have missed the shit on their phones and surely akira isn't an idiot.

he's calling akira an idiot. ]

[chemex]

[Guilty as charged. His lips pull into a familiar grin, and he drops his magazine back in its slot, slipping his hands in his pockets.]

We're not in Kansas anymore, Toto. Coffee for your thoughts?

[rightminded]

[ There's a pause.

After a moment, Akechi returns his newspaper to the rack, too. ]

I suppose that sounds like a fair trade. Though I have one condition.

[chemex]

[He hasn't moved out of where he'd positioned himself directly in Akechi's personal space, though he had taken to surveying the rest of the convenience store. He turns his head back toward him, though not fully, and lets his eyebrows obscure themselves further beneath his wild shock of unkempt hair.]

I don't have another cognitive double for you to shoot at point blank, unfortunately.

1/2

[rightminded]

Really?

[rightminded]

[ hisses quietly, the sudden fury rolling off him in waves; akira's blasé humor clearly touched the wrong nerve. ]

Feel free to make more off-color jokes in public, you buffoon. If you're actually interested in talking, then perhaps we should actually move this conversation elsewhere, before you continue to run your mouth.

[chemex]

[He can't help it, Akechi, he has permanent shitpost syndrome. He rolls his eyes and extracts one hand from his pockets in favor of looping his arm through Akechi's and aiming to drag him forward down the aisle and out of the convenience store. For some inane reason, the smile on his face is nothing but fond.]

Right, because anyone but us would understand what that meant, absolutely. Let inside jokes stay inside, buddy.

[rightminded]

[ Meanwhile Akechi has swallowed his tongue and is speechless because Akira is touching him and he doesn't really know how to process any of what's happening.

"Buddy"?

Eventually he plants his feet and yanks his arm out of Akira's, looking at him like he's got six heads, but at least they're outside of the convenience store. He looks nothing but totally baffled, and doesn't seem to know what to say for once. ]

[chemex]

Too much? Sorry, I wanted to make sure anybody trying to understand the inside joke was under the impression we were friends.

[He'd like to be in that "anybody", but that's beside the point.] You wanna just walk until we find someplace, or should I let you sleuth us a coffee shop?

1/2

[rightminded]

... I ...

[rightminded]

Don't. I don't understand. I've never understood the least thing about you, but this, this attitude, I understand the least.

You're awfully cheerful for a man interacting with the walking dead.

[chemex]

[He didn't really want to start this conversation on the street, but he supposes it's better than in a convenience store. His hands go back into his pockets and he scuffs his shoe against the sidewalk.]

Is it so wrong to be glad to see someone alive?

[rightminded]

Yes! I can't begin to express how utterly wrong it is for you to act as if we're friends of any kind once we're out of the eye and earshot of anyone who might pry! Have you lost your mind?! Or perhaps forgotten what I died for?

[ He wants to say he should have stayed dead, but it wars with the part of him that wishes he'd lived, and the nausea comes back. ]

[chemex]

[He stands straighter, making use of the fact that he's on eye-level with Akechi for the first time in their short existence in each other's lives. His tone lacks any of its previous humor.]

I had to basically watch it happen twice, so no, I can't say I've forgotten.

[rightminded]

What on Earth...

Twice?

[chemex]

[He inhales slowly, closes his eyes, and sighs, turning to take a few steps away, pausing only to look over his shoulder expectantly.]

Are you coming or not? [He isn't planning to elaborate just yet. Just knowing that it confused Akechi threw him, a little. He needed to figure out what else was different.]

[rightminded]

[ Akechi stands there for what feels to him like an eternity, but what is in reality but a few seconds.

Then, wordlessly, he steps up by Akira's side, pulling up a list of nearby cafes on his phone. ]

[chemex]

[He doesn't bother hiding the way his shoulders relax and his spine curves into his signature slouch. He's quiet enough about the sigh that escapes him, but there's no real point in trying to be stealthy about being relieved. He said it, didn't he? He was glad to see Akechi alive.]

[Even if he's pretty sure the guy is never going to get why.]

[He stays quiet, letting the silence be as companionable as it can be, focusing on the sidewalk between their feet. The contrast between their shoes. Akechi, still in his uniform, shoes polished and nearly mirror-shined, Akira in dingy sneakers that were likely worlds more comfortable. He sort of had to wonder if Akechi had ever worn comfortable shoes in his life.]

[rightminded]

[ Akechi notices. He sees it all, the slouch, the sigh, the look on his face.

All of it makes his spine itch.

Somewhat dryly: ]

I don't suppose you have American currency on you?

[chemex]

[He frowns, digging both hands into his pockets and turning them out, idly. Frown deepening, he swings his bag forward on his shoulder and rifles through it, and for a moment it almost seems like he's looking for some like he thinks he might have some, but--] ...nada. Okay, so maybe raincheck on coffee. Currency exchange first?

[rightminded]

That might be wise.

[ There may be the most tired wisp of dry humor there, but that's it. It's exhausted, but almost barely there. ]

I have no money, myself. I did not arrive with my wallet, or any of my things.

[ For ... reasons. ]

[chemex]

[He takes a moment to rifle through his bag again, extracting a simple black leather wallet and grinning.]

No worries, I've got you. [Did someone say Sugar Daddy?]

[rightminded]

[ .... gives him a look that doesn’t have a lot in it but a faint undercurrent of complete and total revulsion, but mostly he almost looks bored. ]

You never change, do you.

[ Nevertheless, Akira will shortly receive a message on his phone. It’s a map pin of the nearest currency exchange. ]