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veritati2021-07-06 04:54 pm
falsitates) wrote in veritati2021-07-06 04:54 pm
july event.
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.
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.True to its message, three new tasks appear under the missions module.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY.
SOLAMEN MISERIS SOCIOS HABUISSE DOLORIS
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].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.
CHOOSE A USER.
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.
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
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. ]
no subject
except he doesn't. unfortunately. no, he just catches what's thrown up at him easily, and he shifts to a comfortable position on the branch so he can get to work tying this up without falling. ]
Hm. Because I'm the most convenient person to ask, or because you'd simply like to hear it from me, directly?
[ ha ha
he can be absolutely shameless right back. in the dead of night hanging swings from trees, yes. ]
Consider it a day celebrating the beginnings of the country as you see it now. My personal thoughts on the day don't extend far beyond an excuse to have a little bit of fun, but that isn't to say that's a bad thing. I'm sure Western Country has something similar that you can compare it to?
[ ... and, with only the smallest pause: ]
The way you say Google is terribly amusing, by the way; like a kitten that's learned to adjust. Another thing that I wouldn't categorize as bad.
[ ohhh knock him down from this tree right now, you hot boomer ]
no subject
he's not even going to reply to johannes' first question. the answer should be clear enough. if not, well. that's for him to find out :)
at the second question however, he drops his smile for a moment as he mulls over it. it's true that western country has its share of festivals, some of them mundane and most of them over-the-top, but: ]
I do wonder. I was born right at the time when things were starting to change in Western Country. If there was ever a Fourth of July, I would've been too preoccupied with something else.
[ honestly im just gonna leave this part vague in case coly slaps us with a event like this in the future,
he doesn't sound too somber about it though, as he tests the stability of the swing by taking a seat on it and looking up to johannes eye to eye. ]
But that is also why I had thoroughly enjoyed myself at the festival. You learn something new amidst all the merriment, much like a kitten learning to adjust like you said.
[ and because i cannot resist, he brings up a hand to his face, curling it like a paw. ] Meow.
[ please kill him (me) ]
/2
and, like, maybe johannes considers it one too. maybe that stupid fucking meow is the straw that breaks the camel's back, and he'll finally leave forever and save the both of us from having to type this stuff ever again. but, no, it's not. no.
that pensive lull only makes way for the most natural sounding-- ]
Meow!
[ --in response. despite how fucking unnatural it is, coming from him. ]
no subject
and he sure just lets that hang in the air like it didn't come from him, his gaze still locked on shylock's for that small, small moment. ]
Excuse me.
[ moving on. like that was an involuntary, tiny sneeze and not a weird echo of a compulsion that he's internally fascinated by.
ahaha. perhaps he, too, is adjusting. ]
That must have been a very turbulent time to come into existence. Though I'm glad Vitae was a wonderful and sufficient introduction to those kinds of celebrations. Perhaps you can take it back with you, should you go back to Western Country.
[ given the swing hasn't collapsed from shylock sitting on it, johannes is going to assume that his role up here on the tree is done. just as nimbly as he made his way up, he's going to climb on down.
he's not the kind of cat to get stuck in a tree, it seems-- ]
no subject
not hilarious enough to make shylock laugh out laugh, but the corner of his mouth quirks up in a smile anyway. oh, to have a cutie weirdo meow back at you under the moonlight. romance is alive, yadda yadda.
at the mention of returning to western country though, shylock has to look up at the tiny ass moon above the foliage. it's so radiant, even like this... ]
Oh, I will. My fellow companions from the West would love an idea of a festival celebrating the foundation of our country. In fact, we might actually need one more than ever, in order to remember what was once lost in my homeland.
[ since, you know. his bestie hecked up the ecosystem and more. but that's just how it is if you wanna kickstart the industrial revolution, i guess.
he watches johannes clamber down the tree, and makes some more space on the swing for him to sit on. should be snug enough for the both of them. ]
no subject
johannes does take that silent invitation as offered, sitting beside shylock with little complaint. there's no glance upwards to see how the swing takes that extra weight, because it's fine; rather, he joins shylock in glancing at the moon, the heels of his feet rocking them back and forth just the slightest.
one of those small, playful little actions that doesn't quite match with his otherwise gentlemanly behavior. like climbing trees, or... meowing. in general.
and honestly, the fact that shylock found that something to smile about is another amusing point in his favor. i am tired. ]
That's a more sobering take. We tend to celebrate what we've gained, rather than pause over what we've inevitably given up in the process. Not to say that we don't have our moments.
[ just a more human thing, maybe. he, personally, would rather look forward as well. to what is, what will be; rather than what has been. ]
What is it that you wish to look back on?
no subject
all hail shylock's questionable tastes in men. or company, in general. we're all bugfuck insane here.
he's silent for a moment, letting the distant chirping of crikets and the soft whistles of the wind fill in for him. ]
I'd say... the days before my old friend made things a little complicated for us, and for our country as a whole. But I do like what we currently have in the present, so it isn't as though I miss what we had terribly or anything sappy like that.
[ not at all. imagine being a complete sap for murr fucking hart. he'd eat your heart (ha) alive, and shylock knows it. ]
But that's not the bedtime story you'd be interested in, dear Johannes. It wouldn't be as exciting as the stories you've penned. [ he smiles. ] Perhaps some other time, I can come up with something less... personal.
no subject
[ regardless of how not sappy everything is. johannes keeps the tone of his observations casual, keeping the light rock of the swing going without pause. there was always that odd feeling whenever shylock spoke of some things; a feeling he can't quite grasp, and it's that and his general interest in the man beside him that keeps him here.
that, too, isn't a sappy feeling... it just is. by digging into it, maybe he'd be able to figure out why it "is". ]
In personal things that are contradictory, like thinking back on something, yet similarly enjoying the replacement that took it from you. Or generally revealing, like how you mention this old friend of yours again. In the end, even my own stories are built up only due to the experiences of the people in them, fictional as they are. So don't try to come up with something less intimate, Shylock. That's what would disappoint me.
no subject
I figure that you couldn't resist finding out about this mysterious friend I keep bringing up. I don't blame you, however. He's a rather... intriguing fellow.
[ boy ]
In that case, let me rtell you the story of a highly curious man, with catlike eyes sparkling like jewels and an intellect as wide as the skies above. He has many a career and accomplishments on his belt, but he is best known as a philosopher around those parts of Western Country. We've been together for many, many years.
Unfortunately, one night is not enough to tell you his achievements. But to sum it up, he had invented a series of contraptions that put our kind in danger ever since. He's charming in every sense of the word, but ideas like that makes him utterly revolting nonetheless. [ and yet he continues to smile like it's normal for him to gossip about his bestie like that ] He's also a wildly eccentric individual who loves something that is impossible to attain, and that became his downfall.
[ he looks at johannes, eyeing him as if he's trying to take a peek at this human's soul. ]
Geniuses like that do not know their limits until it is too late, so I pray that you do not become like him, dear Johannes. Something to keep in mind when you decide to take this as inspiration for your next piece.
no subject
Hm.
[ yes, that's it. hm. one short, pleasant hum in response to shylock's in-depth, intimate explanation. the way he meets shylock's gaze is much the same -- distant, thoughtful. a glance like murr's... as if observing the stars.
there's that odd mix within himself again. the slow pull of nostalgia, the intrigue of novelty. this time he does stop rocking the swing, the turning gears in his mind serving as enough stimulation for his restless self.
there's much to unpack there. little questions he wants to ask... frayed strings he wants to pull apart and dismantle. ]
I wonder. I simply cannot judge an Icarus... Ah. That's a story of a man with wings of wax who, despite the warnings of his father, flew too close to the sun; it melted his wings and he plummeted to his death, in case you were unaware. Rather than a cautionary tale, I take that as the inevitable end for those with passion, curiosity and yearning.
[ SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS?
also he's not dead? ]
Your words sound like an epitaph, but you speak as if he's still there. Do you mourn your mysterious friend, dear Shylock? Or...?
no subject
but no, he supposes that his sexiness would want people to ask him all sorts of things. really can't blame them for that.
he holds his gaze at johannes for a rather long while, lips stretching into a knowing smile. ]
I didn't say he was dead, did I?
[ shylock: i got murr at home
murr at home: ]
Though I suppose I do miss him a little. I can only hope he knows how to care of himself while I'm currently away. [ his poor furniture will be covered in bitemarks and scratches by the time he returns... sigh. ] I didn't think there is a story like that in this world. However the difference is that my friend was able to survive the ordeal, but whether he'd like to try his folly one more time is up in the air.
[ haha.
not if shylock can help it. ]