july event.

[falsitates]

JULY 4 ~ 15, 2021

July starts off busy.

With Independence Day approaching, city residents have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming Sunday celebrations. Vitae has always been enthusiastic about the Fourth of July and has made it a city-wide celebration every year. Although it's warned that another heatwave will sweep through the city for the first two weeks of July, everyone still works hard to ensure that they have another memorial holiday.

It's time to unwind.

  MISSION BOARD

Bzzz. Bzzz.

It's your phone. It feels like a brick of ice when you pick it up, providing welcome relief from the heat. It shuts down completely, as usual, until new white words on a black background appear.

NEW MISSIONS HAVE BEEN ADDED.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY.
SOLAMEN MISERIS SOCIOS HABUISSE DOLORIS

True to its message, three new tasks appear under the missions module.

  FOURTH OF JULY

Despite the oppressive heat, it almost seems like everyone has gone out for the day. Many people hold barbeques or picnics in their backyards or parks, while others bars and restaurants offer day-long specials, such as free drinks or sides with meals. For those without cash or a barbeque of their own, the church provides free burgers and hotdogs to anyone who stops by their parking lot. Juice and pop are given as drinks, but occasionally, when no one is looking, the volunteer pulls out a bottle of beer from the very bottom of the ice-filled cooler. She gives a wink and puts her finger to her lips. Shhhh.


The beach also has its own free barbeque, though there is no hidden surprise of alcohol to be found. Only food and-- wait, a beach?

It first appeared in the early hours of the morning. A section of the forest has vanished at the city's very edge on the south side. In its place. a large beach is found. Although the waters stretch out as far as the eye can see, Vitae has always been a landlocked city. Where did it come from? Residents claim it's always been there, that the city built an urban beach years ago, before quickly changing the subject. It's Independence Day, man! What does it matter? Let's just have a good time!

Although packed, the beach provides enough room for everyone to find a spot and relax. The water is nice and cool and flocked with screaming kids as they splash each other. Apart from the beach's incredibly strange appearance and the concerning questions it raises, everything appears to be at peace.

Later that night, elaborate fireworks are launched in front of the city hall. Many people also light their own and with a fireworks vendor at every corner, there appears to be no end in sight. The sounds of explosions reverberate throughout the entire night and many people stay up to continue partying, celebrating as if this is the city's final Fourth of July.

  DECISION TIME

The following two weeks are quiet, everyone using up all of their energy for the Fourth of July. The city returns to normal and users of the app are left in peace.

Until the 15th.

YOU HAVE SELECTED [ALLY/BETRAY].
CHOOSE A USER.

A list appear below the message. It contains the names and photos of every person on the app. Until you select one, your phone will be unusable.

Towards the end of the day, if you still have not chosen, it stays stuck to your hand and begins to slowly overheat with an ominous timer counting down from ten minutes. It will not be able to be removed, no matter how much force you use. It will only finally let go after you have chosen a name. A new message will appear after you've made your choice.

YOU HAVE SELECTED [NAME].
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ANSWER.
PLEASE WAIT PATIENTLY UNTIL THE NEXT UPDATE.

Comments

[silentends]

About that it's...complicated. She's here, but it's not easy for me to explain.

[ It's good that Judai's good with animals because Fluffball looks very happy to have a new friend. He likes those head pats. ]

Niko is actually my half sister. The circumstances around us aren't typical. Do you have any siblings?

[ehero]

[ Oh, that sounds like a topic that he shouldn't press or dig into. After three long and hard years, he has finally learned tact. ]

No, I was an only child. It wasn't too lonely. I got to play with the other kids often.

[silentends]

[ Judai having tact and not asking more...thank you.]

Oh yeah? It sounds like you were in good company and Fluffball already thinks you're a close friend.

[ He's happy for the dog because Fluffball finally calmed down and he looks pleased.]

What's weird is that my sis used to have the app but now she doesn't remember anything about it. Have any thoughts on that?

[ehero]

[ Judai was good friends with an alligator. He can handle dogs just fine. Along with the heat pats, there's a lot of scratching behind the ears and face scrunching. As he does this, he looks up at Nier. ]

She forgot everything?

[ gotta confirm that he heard right ]

[silentends]

Uh, yeah. She forgot everything including the fact I'm not supposed to look like this.

[ Nier seems crushed by that fact in particular. ]

This body isn't even mine. Would you believe me if I said that?

[ehero]

[ ?????????? ]

What do you mean?

[silentends]

I mean that literally. The body I'm using now belonged to someone else before. The guy who had it last time was some kind of murderer I think.

[ That's a lot to unpack, woops. ]

Maybe you'll see my mugshot on a criminal record.

[ehero]

Seriously?

[ y i k e s ]

And you haven't changed back since?

[silentends]

Nope, I've been stuck like this ever since last month.

[ Yeah big yikes ]

Listen I don't want to scare people because of the way I look. Tell me if I'm freaking you out.

[ehero]

[ He shakes his head. The pets have slowed down as he starts to think. ]

No, I'm used to this kind of stuff. Hmmm, maybe it's some kind of possession? Maybe you're in someone else's body and your own body is somewhere else.

[silentends]

Possession? That might be it. You could be right I just don't have any proof.

[ It also makes sense when Judai puts it that way. ]

Hate to admit it but being this way isn't all that bad. I'm a lot stronger now than I was before.

Have you felt any changes since you've been here?

[ehero]

I wasn't able to sense or summon spirits at first, but it came back after a few days.

[ plus dumb protag powers of jumping from high places and landing fine and jumping ridiculous distances, but he didn't try any of that so he's fine. ]

Maybe you should put up missing posters with your old face?

[silentends]

That's right you can talk to ghosts. I wonder why these things are happening.

[ Nier still thinks that Judai talks to the spirits of dead people and haunted horsemen of the past. ]

Okay, I can't do that. You need to attach a name to these photos and as far as anyone else is concerned I'm still attending college and work.

Nobody would believe it.

[ehero]

[ judai to nier ]

Huh? Really? What if you say that if you don't know your-- uh --that guy's name?

[silentends]

That's not going to work, sorry. We're in America.
Things are never simple with this city.

[ America crime rates aren't looking so hot. Nier has so many concerns. ]

Not to mention it's dangerous outside so it's better to stay out of public view.

[ehero]

Man, America's so weird.

[ He scratches the back of his head. Sorry, Fluffball, patting time is over. He stands back up and stretches. ]

Well, I guess that means we just have to look for your body ourselves.

[silentends]

It really is.

[ Fluffball just runs back to Nier for hugs and cuddles. ]

I would have appreciated your help but I don't want you getting in danger over it. Are you sure?

[ehero]

Yeah, we can't just leave you like this. You gotta get back to your normal body so your doesn't have to worry.

[ And here's Judai's classic wink. WINK ]

[silentends]

Huh? Really? Thanks.

[ The fucking wink I can't believe this ]

Let me know if there's anything you need help with. I'm being serious.

[ehero]

[ jun is telling him right now how he seems flirty half the time....... the wink doesn't help ]

Sure! I got one thing that you can help me with.

[silentends]

[ honestly yeah the winks are like flirting sometimes buddy. ]

What would that be? Tell me what you need and I'll see what I can do.

[ehero]

[ NOT TO HIM!!!!!!!!! ]

Give me your leftovers when you're down with them.

[ another fucking wink ]

[silentends]

That's all you needed? Sure. I think we had some grilled cheese left overs this time.

[ He hopes that would be appetizing enough. ]

Are you eating okay?

[ehero]

[ it won't be because judai eats like a pig, but he'll take it anyway. ]

Yeah, with the work at Yuya's teahouse, I get enough to eat. I really miss Japanese food, though.

[ it's just not the sameeeeeee :'( none of these are authentic ]

[silentends]

Japanese food might be tougher to find down here. It's easier to get fast food or something.

[ Nier isn't a fan of fast food because he falls under the 'we have food at home' portion of the McDonald's triangle. ]

The stuff they sell at the convenience store isn't half bad.