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

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 :) ]

[tsunotarou]

[Malleus blinks before realizing what's happening and trotting up to catch up with the man.]

You absolutely know what you're doing is wrong.

[breweries]

I don't know about that. I'm a stranger to this world's customs, after all.

[ just going to make a turn here, towards the side of the church where there shouldn't be a lot of people around so that shylock can pause to take a sip of his alcohol. ]

But I suppose that priests here are also strict about this, aren't they.

[tsunotarou]

Wait... You're not from here?

[The man with the pointy elf ears shouldn't really be surprised, yet here he is. He goes after the man, easily keeping his pace.]

There's very strict rules about alcohol, so you better drink that faster.

[breweries]

Oh, not at all. I'm not even human in the least and you don't seem to be one either, unless you're already born with those ears.

[ don't think he didn't notice those. hang on, let him drain this can of beer to the last drop. ]

[tsunotarou]

You're not human? [Malleus frowns.] I'm human. These just... Appeared.

[breweries]

Not at all. I am a wizard. I do not have my magic with me at the moment, but that doesn't make me any less of one.

[ a thoughtful hum as he walks closer to malleus to take a much closer look. ]

And I suppose that growing pointy ears is a part of puberty, then?

[tsunotarou]

...A wizard? They're real?

[He pouts, how dare this weird man insult him?]

I don't know where they came from, ok? No need to be rude.

[breweries]

Fufu, I apologize. I didn't mean to come off that way. In all honesty, I find them quite adorable.

[ shylock's weird tastes strike again. ]

But yes, they're absolutely real. You're looking at one right now.

[tsunotarou]

A-adorable?!

[How is pointy ears adorable?]

I want to see you use magic one day.

[breweries]

[ they've always been cute??? open your eyes to the truth. ]

Once I've gotten them back, you'll be one of the first to know.

[tsunotarou]

Thank you. I've never seen any magic in person.

[breweries]

Then I'll do my best to show you a spectacle you won't soon forget.

[ winks. he looks over malleus's shoulder to find the priest in sight, oop ]

But for now, how about we make ourselves disappear?

[ by running. it's boring, he knows. ]