[EVENT] Memory Tapes

[vrdr_mods]

On the morning of November 21st, denizens in the Velvet Room will awake to a message on their phones or by their bedsides in an envelope. Perhaps even on their computer screens.

Greetings! If you've received this message, then you've been selected as a participant in a new activity to strengthen bonds within this community.

In order to facilitate connections with your fellow residents, we advise you to watch this video. Watch it and return the tape to its rightful owner. If you lacked the means to watch VHS tapes before, we have provided you with the necessary equipment.

Failure to do so may put your own memories at risk. Do not be selfish, lest you find yourself struggling to recall crucial moments of your life. You have no way of knowing which memories have been shared, so ask yourself if it is worth the risk to selfishly hoard another's secrets.

They will soon find a VHS tape, with a case that gives off a soft, blue glow to symbolize its importance. If they lack a TV or VCR, they will find one in their living space.

What they do is up to them, but they should heed the warning, if they value their own memories.


[For links to characters' memories, please see this post in the OOC comm. Have fun!]

Comments

[vampirethief]

That wouldn't surprise me. Nothing seems permanent here, plus it feels like something they would do to try to throw us off.

[rosemaudite]

As 'bonding activities' go, this does seem a bit extreme.

[Especially since Haru has a pretty good idea of what would be shown to others from her own memories.]

[vampirethief]

And feels kinda desperate. As if they are losing patience with us.

[He would say he almost expects the Velvet Room to force them in 'get along shirts' or handcuffed together, but he doesn't want to give them ideas.]

[rosemaudite]

They shouldn't have packed the place with half Goro by volume, then, nor with half the rest of us coming from a similar position. All told, Igor's lucky there haven't been more murder attempts.

[vampirethief]

I do still wonder why there's so many Akechis and so many of me/Akiras. Hell, I'm not sure why I was brought here as I'm fine and not any need of healing.

[Well there is the fact that, aside from Sumire, he'll have to leave the girls behind, as well as all his other confidants, which does make him quite sad. Also some bitterness at his friends refusing to wake up at first (plus some jealousy in that they got to be human again while under Maruki's spell). But in that case, he's already forgiven everyone.

But other than that, he's fully accepted his vampire nature and appearance.]

[rosemaudite]

I doubt it's all about healing. And if it is, again, this is precisely the wrong cocktail of people to achieve it.

[vampirethief]

I agree. There's gotta be something else that they aren't telling us.

[It would be easier if they just came out and say it, but that's never how the Velvet Room works.]

[herewardbound]

The tape was accepted. "Well, I'm glad I could inject some levity into your lives." He sighed, rubbing his face.

"It's not even like I wanted the title. But Dad fucking insisted, he was all 'you're as much my child as Via is, and if my worthless father says as much as a word-' how do you look a man in the eye when he's ready to go to war with the entire aristocracy for you and tell him you're fine with what you have, honestly."

[herewardbound]

"Why are you apologizing when it isn't your fault?"

He took the tape, gently. "Anything I'd be ashamed of is either common knowledge, or something I can deal with."

[gorobo]

Falcon is already there, holding on to a tape, and looking... less than happy about the whole situation. When he spots Drake, his expression tightens, but he approaches, regardless.

"Drake," he says, in lieu of a greeting, "let us make the exchange, then."

His voice is terse. He is not happy about this.

[gorobo]

I suspected as much before, but his tape confirmed it. He can use pictures to take over bodies. I believe this place blocks his abilities to an extent, but somehow, he uses pictures of people to manipulate them, their memories, and travel through time.

Extra scenario: Evil Babey Tape

[gorobo]

To the Ken Amada whom I just watched forcibly draw a woman's Shadow to the surface to force her to confess her secrets, and then induce apathy syndrome in her: I have your tape. I am waiting in Mementos. If you don't come, I will find you, and that is a promise. Your cult can't help you here.

And don't you fucking dare touch Raven. I'll make you regret it.

[gorobo]

I'm letting nature take its course, for the most part. I'll be keeping an eye on some plants, but the ones I wish to keep over the winter should be capable of withstanding it. Others will regrow in spring, and vegetables can be replanted. Thank you for the offer.

[And- oh. That memory...]

I see. Can you please deliver it? Or I could come to you, if you prefer.

[He wants- he needs to see this. This memory, he- mom...]

[lostgemini]

"You have my full permission to do so," Kou grumbles. It could be funny, even, to watch the surprise on Ren's face as a random girl punches him.

The more pressing issue, though...

He sighs. "Please don't go spreading it," he mutters, "I'd rather just... not have people know it." He doesn't know if he could stand it if all these fake Goro's started calling him by name- when only Goro had the permission before. And Ren, briefly, but- well, fuck Ren.

He hates having to trust someone he doesn't know. Hates having this weakness exposed- hates this whole bullshit. Why couldn't they just leave him alone.

He doesn't even understand why she's offering that. He certainly wouldn't, were he in her place- but who knows.

"I don't understand you at all," he sighs, leaning back and crossing his arms. "How can I even trust you're telling me something real? That you aren't holding me for a fool?"

[gorobo]

Falcon sputters a bit at that, but quickly recovers.

"I don't know. It just-" he makes a gesture with his hand, "-feels wrong. A Palace is one thing, but this is... I don't like it."

TW: extreme self-harm mentioned. mentions of sexual assault.

[linkclickakira]

The moment Akira sees that ping on the network, he immediately deletes his post and is already rushing to the velvet room. The shitshow that is this place also ensures that any and all replies just exist independently outside of the deleted thread so he knows that he's about to be tracked down soon enough.

Falcon.

Falcon got his last laugh. He should have known. A fucking child trapped in a bot's body- why the hell should he be surprised by these turn of events. No- a child would have probably been more responsible than whatever the hell is going on in that bitch tin can's head. No. Its not like he could take revenge on Falcon and use his tape in some way to pull him down- he's not low like him and he doesn't know whether him biting back like that wouldn't just drag him down the same pit that he used.

If it takes a nuclear bomb to put that shithead down he will do it. He will do it.Just you wait, Gorobo.

Fucking Falcon.

But right now.

He is at his lowest.

The tape had already been punctured through the box and ripped apart from its packaging, now sitting in a casette player offered by the white haired attendant who went by the name Elizabeth.

The whole world was pulled into a standstill. The interrogation room. The cuffs. The blindfold. Shido. Fucking Shido who first brought down the veil that posed as his innocence to puncturing through whatever had left him normal. Pure. His breath collapsed, fingers digging into his chest as he watched the horror that he had tried to push away ever since that day had occured. Now he festered within his body like a parasite- itching within his skin like that day when he took over Wakaba's body.

And this.

This was what Falcon was willing to reveal to the whole world by leaving the tape at a place everyone knew.

"Good on you for coming to collect the tape immediately. Obviously we wouldn't have meddled if someone else took your tape but- the contents in it were quite gruesome."

Wordlessly he looks up at Elizabeth- lips parting as his insides grew mush. He could still taste his own thumb in his mouth as tears bloomed in his eyes.

Then he did something he never thought he would do.

He rushes towards Igor.

Before the velvet attendant could do anything, he's already around the desk and he's fallen to his knees.

"Please."

He bangs his head on the floor as his lips part as if his heart has just been ripped out. "Please. Igor. Sir. Master, please."

If this gets out...

"Please let me go home."

"Please."

He even manages to reach so close to Igor's feet he could even have tried killing him.

"Please. You already took most of my vision. Please send me home, sir. Igor. Please."

"They will kill me. They will blindfold me. Please."

A wretched cry collapsed from his lips. "PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU!"

[fogboundcrow]

It has to be one of the other Kens. Another one arrived recently.

The Ken I know would never do such a thing.

[minipancake]

He wouldn't. Also, he's talked about his powers, and he never mentioned such things. He's not interested in Shadows and apathy syndrome at all.

[[locked, to Raven.]]

Logically, we must assume it's the new one. We know it's not our Ken. The other Ken is like the one I know back home. Plus, if he was malevolent, we'd know it by now.

That just leaves the new one.

locked to wagtail

[fogboundcrow]

It's a shame. I had encountered the new Ken on Halloween and he seemed ordinary at a glance.

He asked a great deal of questions, but that in itself isn't malicious.

[minipancake]

Yet, again, nothing malicious has happened yet, has it? Nothing that would raise alarm, or suggest ill intent.

Crow would know.

[fogboundcrow]

It seems like this entire experiment has only caused more distress.

I believe I have one of yours, by the way.

[fogboundcrow]

We could always ask him.

Then again, I suspect he's fully aware of this conversation.

[fogboundcrow]

Indeed. I had already told you about the Midnight Channel, if memory serves.

That day, I'd go on to share recordings of Yu and the others flying out of a TV in Junes.

We had our own investigation, separate from the others, and only really joined forces after Yukiko-san's rescue.

still locked to Raven

[minipancake]

Well, Crow-san? What do you think?

[Wait for it...]

[fogboundcrow]

[Another one of his tapes? Please, please don't be something embarrassing...]

I believe I have something of yours as well. I suppose that at least makes for an easy exchange.

Though I can only pray that my memory wasn't anything too... revealing.