[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

[linkclickakira]

Akira lets out a soft laugh, the challenge gleaming in his eyes as he watches Akechi line up his shot. "No pressure, detective. All eyes are on you," he teases, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed.

When Akechi just barely nails the triple 20, Akira gives a slow, exaggerated clap. "Bravo," he says with a smirk. "Guess I underestimated you. I'll have to try harder next round."

The two fall into an easy rhythm, tossing quips and trading playful jabs as they continue their game. The room fills with the soft hum of the dart machine and the occasional clink of darts hitting the board. Despite the casual air, there’s a tension just beneath the surface—an undercurrent of something unsaid between them.

As the second round winds down, Akira narrows his eyes at the board, calculating his final shot. He steps forward, holding his last dart, and lines it up carefully. A moment of silence falls over them, broken only by the faint buzz of the machine. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the dart soars through the air and lands perfectly on a triple 20.

The machine lets out a loud, celebratory cheer, lights flashing in vibrant colors as it declares him the winner. Akira grins triumphantly, turning to Akechi with a mock bow.

But as the cheer fades, Akira’s demeanor shifts. He studies Akechi for a long moment, the tension from before settling between them again.

"Hey," Akira says finally, his voice quieter now. "Do you want to try it?"

"My powers," Akira clarifies, his gaze steady. "The whole... time thing. Do you want to see what it's like?"

[mirrorkechi]

It’s a nice rhythm, a back and fourth, dare he say it Akechi might even be having fun.
He understands the rivalry now, the back and fourth, to have someone to match wits with, to challenge and be challenged by in turn.
He’s a little glad his Futaba isn’t here to witness this because she would give him shit for it for weeks if she knew.
But soon enough the game ends, and he gives a nod, that was fun, genuinely fun. He gives a light applaud in congratulations. But then akira’s demeanor shifts, and Akechi focuses up.
…… huh?

“…you’re asking if I want to time travel?” That’s… he puts a hand to his chin, genuinely considering the offer. To say he isn’t curious about his powers would be a downright lie, he can only glean so much from a memory tape and word of mouth, to truly understand something you have to experience it.
But on the other hand there’s a lot of things he still doesn’t know.
It’s an act of trust isn’t it? Or something like that, he looks back at Kira, taking him in.
He better choose his words carefully.

“…this isn’t a no, while I am certainly curious what your powers are like I… admittedly it’s been eventful, would a rain check be alright?” He turns to face Kira more fully now, this is something he has been considering during their game, might as well make the offer official.
“Besides, I wouldn’t be against meeting up with you again, your perspective on things is certainly enlightening.” That’s one way to describe it, but knowledge of a future, even if it’s not exactly like his, it’s something he would like to hear more of.
Even if the shape would only vaguely line up with his own.
But he’s sure Kira would likely also be getting something from their continued interactions, he’d be an idiot to assume any information given would be from the ‘goodness of his heart’
But, a voice that sounds an awful lot like Robin Hood suggests, perhaps he needs a friend?
And perhaps Akechi could use one too… or another as Robin Hopd definitely points out now.
Well, might as well make the offer.
“We could swap numbers if it’d be more convenient for you.”
The ball is in Kira’s court, he did his part.

[linkclickakira]

Kira watches him carefully, reading his reactions as he crosses his arms to his chest and watches the Akechi be...remarkably calm about his proposal. "A rain check?" He continues evenly, as if he weren't snickering from the inside at how this Akechi reminded him of the detective at the talk show.

"Are you saying my existence is your little cheat code?" He continues teasingly as he goes for his phone. “It’s fine, I’m not offended. It’s true, after all. Though,” he adds, tilting his head as if in thought, “this cheat code’s more for a... spinoff than part of the main game. The dev notes are there, but you won’t find the specific features.”

He chuckles to himself at the metaphor, his mind wandering briefly to the absurdity of all the timelines he’s been through. Even now, standing here in a dartboard-lit café with a version of Goro Akechi who wasn’t trying to kill him—it almost feels normal.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he opens the IM app, scrolling to bring up his contact details before pausing. Instead of handing it over, he pulls the phone back slightly, meeting Akechi’s gaze with a sharp, knowing look.

“One condition,” Kira says, his tone light but carrying an unmistakable weight. “I want to know everything about this Metaverse. Personas, how you salvage it with Shido, palaces- all that jazz. I’ve been around long enough to know that knowledge like that is priceless. I’m... scouting other sources, sure, but if there’s even a sliver of viable information in what you know? I want it.”

[mirrorkechi]

Well, Kira took that better than he expected. Akechi politely chuckles but shrugs.
“Ah, yes that’s true, but I’d rather plan with partial information than zero.” At least Kira seems aware of that, no point with false pretense then, probably for the better. He pulls out his own phone as well, pulling up his contact information, and then Kira pauses and sets his own conditions.
Fair enough, Mockingbird didn’t expect any freebies here. He only thinks a moment before responding with a steady nod.

“Deal, I’m more than happy to share what information I know. It’s only fair to exchange information, right?” Certainly more than he would be with someone like Shido, and for the stuff he isn’t certain off he can always ask Hannei to look into it, he knows how determined she can be.
But then the world pauses, then something he should be used to by now happens again-

I am thou… vow… rebellion… Blasted Oak arcana…

And Akechi blinks and fights to bite back any look of confusion, what the fuuuuuck- here?? Now??? He thought he’d be immune to the brain tarot thing here!! And what the fuck is a Blasted Oak?!
For the love of all that is good and holy he better get an answer to that here if he’s going to be stuck here son of a fucking-
He offers Kira his phone, trying to play it like nothing was wrong and he wasn’t about to start drilling his persona for answers they can’t or won’t give AGAIN.

[linkclickakira]

Kira tilted his head slightly as he watched Akechi’s face shift for a split second—an almost imperceptible twitch of confusion and frustration before the detective schooled his expression back into a neutral, composed mask. The slip was so brief that anyone else might have missed it entirely, but Kira caught it. He always did.

Sliding his phone back into his pocket, Kira crossed his arms and shifted his weight, raising an eyebrow with an amused smirk.

“You good there?” he teased, voice light but laced with curiosity. “I mean, I’m not gonna pry—yet—but you looked like you just tasted some particularly awful coffee.”

Akechi’s response was a practiced, polite chuckle, but Kira wasn’t buying it. There was a flash of something beneath that polished exterior, like gears grinding together just out of sync. It was enough to pique Kira’s interest even more.

But...that can wait.

"I need to return some other people's tapes as well. This whole thing is a mess and I want to get it over with as soon as I can."

"Let's get out of here."

[mirrorkechi]

Oh of course Kira noticed oh son of a-
“Oh no I’m fine, it’s just a headache has apparently followed me here” he shakes his head, “I suppose I can tell you later, not that it’d be interesting, I’m still unsure what it means” which is a little ominous out of context.
But he doesn’t know the context either and Robin Hood and Loki are being incredibly UNHELPFUL!!

But that’s a future problem it can wait.
“Of course, I’m unsure if anyone does have a tape belonging to me but I should keep an eye out” oh god he’s going to be on the receiving end of this bullshit isn’t he?
Fuck this friendship prison.
But yes indeed, let’s go he nods and goes to grab his attaché case.
“Well, regardless of circumstances it was nice to talk with you.” And play darts, it was fun.