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

[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?

[morient]

[ WHY YES IT IS! ]

I like to play Cat Collector, and also Cookie Kingdom. They're very relaxing.

I've not heard of a Western Country, sorry. I'm from this world, though I suppose that puts me in one of the minority for the people on this network.

[breweries]

Cat Collector, you say...

[ he already took care of his own personalized catboy back home, so, ]

Oh? Are there more people like me who were displaced in this world, then? That's an interesting development.

[morient]

It's a cute game to pass the time.

[ He sends Shylock the link. ]

Yeah, there are quite a few people who came here from other worlds. Do you have a place to stay?

[breweries]

[ opens link and wtf these are so cute... consider this his first download. wao. ]

Thankfully, a fellow user of this app has taken me home, much like a stray cat. Given how there are only a select number of people are on AVA, you might have already met my benefactor, Johannes Kreisler.

[morient]

[ Glad Shylock likes Cat Collector. It's one of his favourite games ]

Mr Kreisler is pretty nice. I'm glad you got a place to bunk at.

[breweries]

It's only a temporary arrangement, however. I can't keep relying on his good graces for too long.

Now then, could you tell me more about the other players of this game who were also displaced? Were they also human?

[morient]

I think so. Some have magical powers. Though, some of the native people have also gotten magical powers since the app appeared.

[breweries]

[ blinkblink ]

You mean the ones who live here originally such as you? Are they not human, in this case?

[morient]

No, we're all human without any supernatural abilities.

I gained healing magic afterward, though.

[breweries]

[ hm. ]

And you would still call yourself a human after that?

[morient]

I'm not sure.

[ It's a honest admission. Noah knows that he's not going to be fully human now that he's crystallized. But what would that make him now? ]

[breweries]

Well, there's no rush. But there will come a time where you'll have to make a decision of whether you are human or not. Although no one's stopping you from identifying as both...

[ it'd still complicate things, in his opinion. ]

[morient]

[ That's ominous................. ]

Does it matter though?

I mean, I'm just me. Even though I'm a bit different...

[breweries]

If you say so.

[ cryptic ass. ]

Regardless, I must thank you for your suggestions. Is it all right if I name a cat after you in this game as a thank-you?

[morient]

[ Noah doesn't need more than one crisis... not today. ]

I'd be honoured. Thank you.