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

[breweries]

network; u/n: shylock bennett

I trust that we've all seen the missions that are provided on the app, yes? As I'm not from around here I had to do a little research of what Australia is, but I'd like to hear from the populace themselves regarding that quaint little country. What is Australia famous or infamous for, and are they worth destroying?

Or, if you are not comfortable with talking about mindless destruction, I could use some input on what smartphone I should buy. Although, I'm not in any rush in abandoning this outdated little gadget right away - it's easy to use and is quite cute in its own way, to be honest.

church

[ shylock... doesn't exactly know what churches are for; riquet from central country came from one and it was hella shady so shylock kinda assumes that all churches are just sus in their own way? the fact that he's been offered a can of beer discreetly only proves it. ]

Ahaha, why thank you. [ and of course he's going to pop it open right there in plain sight, potentially attracting a bit of attention for that. he looks at anyone who he catches staring and calls their attention too with a serene smile. ] Care to join me?

[ clink clink, bitches ]

fireworks

[ shylock has seen his share of festivities back in his world, especially in western country, but the buzz in the air during this certain festival is nothing else. people in this particular country sure knows how to liven it up, he thinks. ]

It's as though this is the last ever party this town will ever have... It's a little bittersweet, in its own way.

[ don't mind him, he's just musing to himself as he's hanging outside the bar to watch the fireworks in the sky. god, what he would do for a cigarette right now. ]

Church

[tsunotarou]

[Shylock is absolutely right about churches, but you shouldn't be drinking there, buddy.]

Sure.

[Malleus nods, and walks over to where the man is, and stares.]

you shouldn't drink in public.

Re: Church

[breweries]

Oh my, I shouldn't? I doubt it'd be any different if I were holding a can of juice instead.

[ the girl who offered him the drink hurriedly shakes her head and points behind them, where a priest is walking around surveying the scene. uh oh. ]

[tsunotarou]

Well, juice doesn't contain alcohol, so anyone can drink it.

[He looks, curious as to what the girl is pointing to and sighs.]

I think we're about to get some trouble.

[breweries]

[ shylock also turns to look, his smile furtive. ]

Hm? Does Father want to have a good time as well?

[ he's kidding. probably. the priest is coming closer, in any case. ]

Come. Let's walk out of his sight.

[ powerwalk, that is. malleus is his accomplice now, so he'd better pick up the pace :) ]

network

[ehero]

what
no we cant destroy australia

[breweries]

The person who made the mission thinks otherwise. I do wonder how they would accomplish that in the first place... Maybe they'd had a terrible experience there?

[ehero]

dont they have a lot of animals
maybe something happened

[breweries]

And what kind of animals does Australia have, for instance?

[ he's not from this world at all and is too technologically impaired to google it, help ]

fireworks

[tothemetal]

Think they do fireworks for Memorial Day too, dude! You got at least one more go before it gets cold 'nd shit.

[it's a far less philosophical answer than the observations that spurred it, but without outside context there isn't much hope for anything deeper from a guy as enormous as Styx. his smile is sincere in its warmth, however, almost threatening to melt away the half-popsicle in his hand with its heat. don't worry, Shylock, you'll get to see the fireworks again.]

[breweries]

[ well, that's fair. he doesn't mind his thoughts getting interjected - he needs to get his mind off it anyway. ]

That's another holiday to look forward to, then.

[ he returns styx's smile with one of his own to mask the fact that he has no idea what memorial day is, oops ]

I don't mind the overuse of fireworks during festivals, but lighting up the sky with them during this hot weather is making me think that the sun has gone up early. [ it's so HOT and he's positively sweating. just going to fish out a foldable fan he'd purchased just this morning. ]

[tothemetal]

[does anyone really know the purpose of Memorial Day now? it's just been reduced to barbecues and fireworks, at least for people as simple-minded as the big guy next to Shylock.]

You think so? Kinda feel like that's what makes it so fun, you know? Don't get to feel that kinda heat every day unless you're under stage lights or some shit!

[it was absolutely sweltering with the lingering smoke from the display still floating around them all, but that was exactly what Styx found thrilling about the festivities. you could make a lightshow out of anything, but only fireworks got you that boom crash kind of action! he laughs, the rumbling sound almost as deep as one of the crackers that had gone off earlier.]

[breweries]

[ he laughs. this guy's enthusiasm sure is contagious. he likes that. ]

Well, you definitely are not wrong. The summer heat this morning was unrelenting, I have to admit.

[ too hot. the climate in western country is pretty mild, so he can't say he's used to this blazing weather. some random teenagers are distributing sparklers around, one of which running towards the two and handing them a couple. ]

Oh? This is cute. [ he wags one at sticks. ] Do you have a light?

mission wildcard me up cap'n

[cislunar]

[ why don't they have magic so they don't have to go through the effort of Effort. not that johannes minds carting around-- rather, driving around his newfound roommate and their supplies to the edges of vitae for their task. the dusk is quieter in comparison to the festivities a few days before... which honestly makes this whole thing sketchier.

but, it's fine. they're westerners, some at (a distant) heart and some legitimately, so the sense of someone watching through the darkness of the trees is probably easy enough to handle. and, for johannes, it's second, third, fourth to the beautiful view of the sky; even the barrier can't quite obstruct the clear beauty of the moon.

he truly can't help giving that a small glance, even as he unloads their newfound, simple children from the trunk...

it's the swings. though knowing them who knows what else is in the trunk ]

There we are. It's a fine night to give our fine friends back their toys, isn't it?

[breweries]

[ stopppp it's not like they got a dead body in the drunk - though that says a lot about the two of them, doesn't it. johannes may had correctly surmised that they should hang swings for this mission, but shylock had mused that they should also add other toys just to cover all their bases. so here they are, lugging a trunk in what's left of the forest, with the moonlight guiding the way. ​]

Normally children shouldn't be up this late to play, but in this case it should be all right so long as there's supervision.

[ just a couple of mature adults here, with one of them fishing out a couple of tiny plushies out of the trunk to hang them on the branches like a christmas tree. ]

But it is a fine night indeed. After the town had littered the sky with fireworks a few days ago, it's a relief to see the moon is looking as bright as ever.

[ not to mention non-threatening, since it's soooo tiny compared to the fuckin great calamity they'd have to deal at home. even so, he catches sight of johannes looking up at the moon with interest, reminding him of a certain someone once more. sooo uncanny. ]

[cislunar]

[ a dead body would be the least weird thing, tbh. poor souls walking in this area at night going to be terrified by abandoned swings and toys hanging from the trees. you're welcome, everyone.

but as distracted as he might seem from glancing at the moon, he shifts easily from it to their task, and to shylock's words. his gaze is on the various branches around them and their corresponding heights, some part of him still lingering on the sky above indirectly.

as he looks above at a sturdy looking branch on a seemingly climbable tree; a branch not too far off the ground, yet far enough that it's still mildly unreachable-- ]

Of course.

[ --and yes, i say climbable because this fucking idiot really is going to attempt to get a grip on the tree and scale it as he talks. casually. really gonna scale it in all his dressed-in-nice-clothes glory. ]

I always find it brighter after a particularly boisterous night, actually. Not that I don't find enjoyment in fireworks... I quite like those. There's simply something to be said about a brilliant light that doesn't fade away in a burst of color. A beauty that remains through calmness or chaos, whether we are solemn or celebratory.

[ which reminds him! ]

... Did you enjoy your Fourth of July? I never got to ask about the time you spent away.

[ that would be a much more normal question if it wasn't following weirdo word vomit so casually, and if it wasn't paired with him succeeding in climbing this fcking tree. ]

[breweries]

[ wow, look at him go. shylock would've just sped things up with magic if he could help it, but watching johannes clamber up the tree himself has made him think that he would've taken such mundane work for granted. and he doesn't mind the normal question that followed after all that poetic waxing either, so...

you know, don't worry about it. rather, johannes should worry about not falling down from the tree. heads up, shylock's going to toss him the rope that made up their makeshift swing, along with a simple piece of plank. ​]

I had a wonderful time. That was my first festival upon coming here, and needless to say it did not disappoint. And I hear that the upcoming Memorial Day will be just as festive, so I'll be looking forward to it.

[ maybe it's called Memorial Days because it's gonna be memorable?? maybe. either way he's so impressed. who knew there are so many kinds of fireworks? murr's gonna eat his heart out when he finds out all about it. ]

Although, I never did understand what this Fourth of July entails. I'd ask for your input, but I've already asked so much of you in so little time. Perhaps I shall "Google" these things instead? [ see? he's learning! ] But I much prefer asking you about it - I'd get more personal answers that way.

[ stopppp this is. the weirdest time and place to be flirting, but shylock is never not shameless no matter where he goes. ]

[morient]

please don't destroy australia

do you like to play phone games or just use your phone to send messages?

[breweries]

Just the latter. A certain someone has told me the wonders of Facebook and I'd like to see it for myself. [ why facebook, of all sites... ] Although I won't say no to other useful, modern features that an average smartphone would provide.

And do not fret, I have no plans of destroying a country. Even if I have the power to do so, I do not seem to have any access to them at them moment.

[morient]

[morient]

I could recommend a Samsung Galaxy then? It's a bit on the lower price range and it runs a few games.

Are you not from here?

[breweries]

[ is... is that a maymay ]

I will look into it, then. I'd love some game recommendations if you have them as well. It's been very humdrum since I arrived here...

But yes, that answers your question. I am from Western Country, which I presume doesn't mean anything to you?

network; not me showing up five days late with starbucks

[chemex]

so most of what i know about australia is that apparently all the wildlife is enormous and wants to kill you
but i'm not sure that's grounds for total annihilation.
that's some pretty sincere villainy at work.

it's aight we can backtag to the ends of the world o7

[breweries]

Oh, you'd be surprised. Certain people back home who possess unsurmountable power wouldn't need a reason to wreck havoc without a care in the world. Still, you have to wonder why they'd need our opinions in the first place, assuming that they're just as powerful as we presumed.

tmw you forget to change the subject line

[chemex]

maybe they crave chaos and violence and want to see us incite it?
i'm personally no stranger to power preferring to dictate peons to do the dirty work.