amorinie

[amorinie]

"Oh..?"

"Why would anyone do that..? Our names are important-- everyone deserves to be called what they wish.." despite how sad the thought made them, Cherie did their best to smile, clasping their hands together. "If you tell me, I promise I will never forget it. I will go first.. I am Cherie!"

"even here, I suppose people will refuse to use my name correctly. it's not that difficult to remember." just because he's used to it, doesn't mean he's any less annoyed.

[amorinie]

i haven't had susie in the group long enough to go on hiatus, but this is just a note that i will be away for the next two weeks! this notice also counts towards my two other characters, watanuki and cherie! i won't have my computer with me, so i'll try my best to shoot out a few replies tonight-- otherwise, they'll resume once i get home.

see y'all soon!!

[amorinie]

"'Hot local singles in your area'..?"

Cherie tilted their head at the strange text that had suddenly come through their phone, scrunching their nose in thought.

"Are those looking for love on this island too warm..? Is the climate bothering them? Perhaps I should find a nice paper fan to bring with me if I can help them match-make.. but where can I find these 'singles'..?"

[amorinie]

The moment Nier took Cherie's offer, she immediately obtained all of their attention; and although their touch was perhaps unexpected, it was not immediately rejected by the girl, so they continued to hold on to her hand. The story started off slow, steady; only the slightest hints of emotions showing through her voice, the way her chest heaved with sigh. But the more she spoke, the more they began to consume her; pulling tears from her eyes, breaking apart her words with sob, filling her with grief that broke Cherie's heart to witness.

Yet they remained silent through each and every admittance-- only making movements that they hoped would comfort Nier, even in small ways. When her voice first started to waver, their hold around her palm became less tentative; now strong, and sure, as their fingers threaded through her own. A squeeze was given, as a thumb ran over hers; an assurance that they would not be going anywhere, so long as they were needed.

And when she neared the end, as her cheeks began to be stained with tears, Cherie reached up to brush some hair out of Nier's face; their expression muted, almost placid.. yet the look in their eyes showed what they truly felt. Care, compassion, understanding.

In their words, they hoped Nier would hear those things, even if they were almost too strong to be present on their face.

"I don't believe you should accept love simply for the sake of having it.." it was hard to pick through, exactly, what Nier may have needed to hear first. Her heart was broken in so many ways-- too many for someone as loving as she was. Above all, however, was her fear to never be given the opportunity again, should she not take it from someone she did not feel the same for. "To be loved.. that is something indescribable. I have watched it very easily consume the lives of living beings of thousands of years.. but the want of it, the need, can also be destructive if you consume it in a way that is not right for you."

"Must you love your friend, just because she loves you? Does your heart feel the same way for her as it does the one who left you? What is wrong with simply loving her as a friend; enjoying your time with her, living by her side, exploring this world together? Perhaps your feelings will change someday, Nier. Perhaps hers will as well.. but that is okay. You will still always care for one another, even if it is in different ways. The mere act of that, the mere fact that you have one another in your lives-- that, in itself, is love. You are not someone who rejects it just because the way you express it is in a different way than she may have wished."

Cherie's voice was usually an airy tone-- one that matched their entire being, as someone who could float among the clouds themselves.. yet in this moment, the sound that left them was strong. Unwavering, confident almost; as if Nier's experience had been one they had witnessed time, and time again.

"Above all, you must mend your broken heart, first. If you accepted her confession now, just to fill the hole that person left.. could you truly love her in the way she desires? Would that be right? Would either of you be happy, or would you simply be lying to her, and yourself?"

Gingerly, Cherie pulled their hand away from Nier's face; reaching into the pocket of their sweater to pull out a white handkerchief. Lace embroidered the sides, while the middle was incredibly soft to the touch; using that, instead, to gently dab away the tears burning into her skin.

"It's alright to be scared.. to have this confusion consume you so. But this is not the end for you. This will not be the only time you experience the love you long for. Though friends I have met here left.. I did not get the chance to know them as well as the person you wished to confess to.. so I cannot fully understand your pain, but I see it in you. I know it is real.. just as real as the love imbedded into your very soul. That is why I know she won't be the last person to share her feelings with you, because it surrounds your very being."

".. but perhaps, for now.. you should shower yourself with that love, before choosing to do so with someone else. You are deserving of it just as much as the people you long to share it with."

"Hurt? I guess so... But this kind of thing has happened to me a lot, so maybe I've become used to it, in a way. Now that I think about it, I'm not a very lucky person... So many people in this city that I knew and cared about have left, but I'm still here..." She presses a hand to her chest and sighs again. "Perhaps it's selfish, but I can't help but wish they were still here, sometimes."

Around them, the city moves on, unheeding. At times, Nier has wondered about the NPCs that inhabit Spirale- Do they have lives like she does? Do they have hopes, dreams, fears, loves? When they go home to sleep, do they stare up at the ceiling and wonder of what could have been? Do they fear for their lives? Do they live? Sometimes, it feels as if Nier is simply drifting from day to day.

Her ears flutter and a slight pink tints her pale cheeks as Cherie's hand finds hers, but she doesn't pull away. "I... I'd like that. The girl who confessed to me, she's my closest friend here, but obviously I can't really talk with her about it... And there's someone else I could talk to, but her experience with these kinds of things is limited..."

Another sigh, like each breath might finally lift the weight from her chest. "There was... something that happened, it was all rather emotional. But while we were coming down from that, she told me she loved me. And I... I didn't know how to react, but I knew I didn't feel the same way. But..."

Her face twists- first a frown, then her brow furrows, and then her eyes widen. "I-I just wanted love and acceptance for so long, and when someone was willing to give it, I didn't know what to do! I told her I had feelings for someone else, and I did and I still do, but then he left so it didn't matter! Should I have taken it? What if I can never get it again?!"

Tears begin to stream down her cheeks, fat droplets that splash onto the concrete below. "I-I don't want to be someone who rejects the love of others, but... A-and what if my feelings change later, but she's moved on? It's not fair... I don't know what to do..."

[amorinie]

"Oh..? I see.."

Their response felt.. strange, to Cherie. They only meant their words as a comfort, an assurance that Chara's special treasure truly was just that. But it seemed.. they already knew that. They did not need Cherie's words, they only wanted the cupid to know that it wasn't real gold.

And simply put, they could not understand why.

Was it strange for them to comment on it at all..? Did it upset Chara? It was true that Cherie was still getting used to the fact that they could approach anyone without restriction here, so perhaps they had overstepped a boundary of some kind.. almost evident in the way of the child's sudden body language, as if they wanted nothing more than to retreat into themselves and hide from their view. Even the mention of missing their knife.. was Cherie.. scaring Chara..? Did they feel unsafe around them?

Nervously, Cherie's fingers intertwined at their chest; the cheerful look on their face quickly replaced with a worried frown.

"It's nice to meet you, Chara.. um.."

".. I'm sorry.. have I done something to make you uncomfortable?"

“— yes. I am well aware that the sentimental value of a gift of this caliber far outweighs any monetary value assigned to it. I hold more importance to it than it simply being an expensive gift. I was simply letting you know it is not … pure gold.”

So it doesn’t get stolen out from under them. But Chara leaves that tidbit out. It’s of no use to antagonize someone with unnecessary information.

Cautious as always, around strangers.

“This is the only belonging of mine that crossed over. My knife was replaced with a wooden one.” And that irks them to no end. How are they supposed to protect themself? The child bites down on their bottom lip, shying back, shoulders stiffening as they make themself small. They twist at their sweater sleeve, hesitant, before answering again.

“… my name is Chara Dreemurr.”

[amorinie]

describe your character using shitty(?) negative ebay reviews

[amorinie]

His response immediately made Cherie feel as though they were already soaring; eyes sparkling with wonder as they smiled, pulling their shoulders together and tilting their head. Yes, they had been worried that asking him such a thing would be a bother, but it seemed that it hadn't been in the least; and their relief clearly flowing through their body language. Though.. that was not something they had thought ahead enough on-- where, exactly, would they go?

"I am not sure.. I've only been in this world for a couple of months; I can't imagine I've been everywhere yet. Maybe, if you have a favourite place.. would you show it to me?"

"Yes, they are..! I miss the skies from home, but the ones here are just as beautiful." As they relaxed once more, Cherie outstretched their wings; giving them a gentle beat as they began to rise back up into the air. They wanted to give the dragon as much room as he needed to move, after all; hanging up past the tallest of the trees above. "I'd be happy to show you my favourite place, too, if you'd like.. my name is Cherie. Thank you for agreeing to spend some time with me."

since the day he'd found that he'd fallen asleep and then awakened in a place that wasn't golden ward, malchior had felt far more comfortable allowing himself to stretch his wings and fly. it wasn't out of place to see a dragon soaring the skies. and when he required rest, he always landed in the same forest clearing- sometimes, he would lay down there and rest- but today, someone was watching. some sort of entity of ... well, they had a soothing presence, and perhaps that's what he needed. it's been quite some time since i've had company in the sky, they say, and he smiles- as much as a dragon can smile.

i do not often get offers like this, he says, and i do not have anywhere else to be. it's true in many ways. having yet to really try to bond with the people he lived with, lacking the company of anyone familiar, where would malchior have to be? his job required him to learn and then to archive, and it brought him all over the city, in no particular pattern. where shall we fly to?

how long had he gone without company like this? before rorek, long before, malchior had been one of many fire drakes. they were rather solitary creatures, guarding their treasures, but hadn't there been a time where magic surrounded all things? where dragons didn't have to be so reclusive? yes, that was the last time he soared with other dragons. when he was with rorek, he had allowed the archmage to simply learn whatever it was that he wished- while malchior took mortal form and lied to the kingdom. decades had passed before he was able to stretch his wings, and then ... it had been a lonely thousand years. the skies here are vast and beautiful, don't you think?

[amorinie]

an adorable 90's outfit style comm of cherie, done by amy!! please check out her vgen!! i love the shape of cherie's wings, and their entire outfit so much!! ♡

[amorinie]

"Oh.."

Nier's response, almost instantly, seemed to make Cherie physically deflate; their lips parting in quiet surprise as their smile disappeared without a trace. Immediate sadness pooled in their eyes, but they refrained from reaching out to her yet; hands clasped still in front of their chest, despite that the grip around them had loosened ever so slightly.

Not only was she unable to share her feelings, but.. Nier's beloved person was gone. Taken from this world without warning, just in the same way everyone was brought. The thought.. it was enough to terrify Cherie, briefly; wondering if they, too, would one day lose the cherished friends they had made here..

But this conversation was not about them. It was about Nier, and her pain. Cherie listened on, silent as she explained then the confusing feelings that surfaced from the words of a friend. Even if those feelings were usually something warm, and comforting.. they could understand why the girl would feel so lost upon hearing them.

"I'm so sorry, Nier.. you worked so hard on something beautiful for that person. The bouquet, yes.. but the decision you made to share your feelings with them, too. Your hurt must run so deeply.."

Almost hesitantly, the cupid reached out; taking just one of Nier's hands into their own. Their fingers lingered against her loosely, as if asking if their touch was alright; giving her the chance to pull away if it was too much.

"I do realize that we have not spent much time together, but.. if it would ease you to talk about this confession.. I would be happy to listen. To navigate such a thing is not always easy.. but even if you wish to move on, you are not alone through these times. I will support you in anyway that you may need."

Cherie is nice. Nier won't hold it against them that they're curious about how her confession went, but it feels like this is the third time she's had to have this conversation with someone. Why had she told so many people? Why had that excitement, that nervousness, dissolve away into disappointment and heartbreak so suddenly? Why her? Why?

Nier's small smile quickly melts away into a downcast expression. "I-its fine, it's good to see you again too..." she says, words half-mumbled.

"Um I've been... okay, I guess. The person I wanted to confess to, I went to their home on Valentine's day, and they... they weren't there anymore. So nothing happened." The girl gives a short sigh and a shrug, not wishing to dwell on it any more than she already has. She has no further tears to shed on the topic.

"Ah, but before that, one of my friends confessed they had feelings for me, and... Normally, I'd be excited to hear something like that, but instead I feel... I-I don't really know how to describe it. I'm sure everything will be fine, but it's just a lot to deal with right now..."

[amorinie]

Briefly, Cherie seemed almost taken aback by Hawks' action; the feeling of his arm around their shoulders unfamiliar, but.. comforting. They looked up at him, as the warmth of his body eased against theirs.. and they smiled so gently, that perhaps he wouldn't notice.

Yes, they had made physical contact with their friends here-- but Cherie hadn't been on the receiving end before.. and it was a wonderful reminder that they could be seen here, by everyone.

"Coff.. ee?" Eventually, their brow furrowed for a moment, as if deep in thought; a finger raising to tap at their chin-- but before long, the realization came to them. "Yes, I know that one..! I've seen many humans rush to buy it in the morning-- does it provide you with greater sustenance than other drinks..?"

"Mm, well.. I enjoyed the cake I had on my birthday.. but I have not eaten anything else since, so I'm not sure.." They look a glance at the stalls that they began to pass, perking up slightly when they noticed plates of white, pink and green snacks being put out for display. "Oh..! Those are very cute.. would they be good to try?"

｢𓆄｣ "Busy?" Well, it has been true he's been more active on the streets due to recent circumstances! But, he also welcomed breaks. They tended to be brief in nature, so it couldn't hurt. "Nah! Not busy, don't worry about it!"

"While I was in the area, I was thinking about grabbing an iced coffee!" He threw his arm around the cupid in a friendly manner, pulling them close, "Have you found anything you really like yet? Or are you still trying to figure that out?"

[amorinie]

"Fool's.. gold?"

They tilted their head some at the admission, but through the child's words, Cherie could put together that they meant it wasn't real. It seemed they were thinking on something for a moment before shaking their head ever so slightly, their smile remaining in place.

"I don't think that matters.. it's still yours, and is important. That makes it worth more than anything."

A token of someone's love in physical form. It made their heart soar just looking at it; the materials, nor the price, ever mattered when feelings were given out. At least, that's what they thought.

"I know not everyone here was able to keep their belongings, so I am glad this one followed you. I hope you're reunited with the one who gave it to you soon."

They stood up, then; gently grasping the sides of their skirt as they gave the child a small curtsey.

"My name is Cherie. Thank you for sharing something so lovely with me. What's your name?"

Why do adults always insist on kneeling down when talking to them?

It’s coddling. It’s patronizing. It sets Chara on edge, honestly.

They’ve done a fairly good job, if they do say so themself, at not losing their cool in this place. There are so many humans, and they’re all so much bigger than Chara is — it’s a terrifying prospect. They know they’re lucky to have found even three people worth trusting in this personal little hell of theirs.

Still. They smile at this person, corners of their mouth pinned up. They have to play things safe… still, their fingers move to touch against the locket.

protective .

“In a manner of speaking, yes.”

Technically, the locket is buried under the patch of flowers that had blossomed where Chara had initially fell. Frisk had insisted on it, after everything. To go wherever chara’s soul went.

“It is fools gold, though; we did not have true gold where I am from.”

[amorinie]

In an instant, the world Cherie had come to adore so dearly had changed-- in a way that was so unexpected, so gut-wrenching, that they were simply at a loss for what to do.

Hundreds, if not thousands of afflicted beings-- ones who were once humans-- came pouring from the severed sectors of the island as the barrier that kept them there shattered into a million pieces. Dark red clouds, akin to a virus, or some sort of plague, ravaged anything it could touch; killing the beautiful life which sprung from the ground, and turning it into something not unlike a monster. Panic surged across this once beautiful, peaceful place-- and in the midst of it all, Cherie regained the abilities they had been lost without for months, as if to combat it all.

But with them came the voices of all those who were afflicted. Crying out in pain, in hunger, in confusion-- all at once entering their mind, muddling their thoughts and feelings with their own.

It was excruciating. Part of them wanted to scream out themselves, and cry with them; but it felt as though no one would hear them. Tears streamed down their face for what felt like hours, as they held themselves tighter, and tighter, to keep their heart from being torn apart. They could not stop this alone. Could anyone? What were they supposed to do? How was life supposed to flourish, when death was so incredibly imminent?

They didn't know. Cherie, child of the God of Love, was at a complete and utter loss. Their powers would prove fruitless here. Nothing could break through these suffering souls, and perhaps no amount of love could bring them back to who they once were..

But there were still so many on the island that weren't like this. The friends they had made. The people who remembered their name, who called out to them in the streets. The mere thought of them, alone, would have to be enough to push them out of the dread they were so close to drowning in.

And so, they took flight. Pure white, feathered wings, beat across the darkened sky; looking for someone, anyone, who they could help. In the midst of the darkness, one person finally stuck out to them; someone who was being chased, and had nowhere else to run. Without hesitation, the cupid swooped down from the sky; extending out their hand in an act of complete and utter desperation.

"... hurry!"

"Grab my hand..! Please!"

I'll save you. I must.

[amorinie]

"What is that?" Two of the Stars sat huddled over two of the many computer monitors set up within their abode. It had been a few days since it had appeared, prompting the city's defense systems to seal away half of the branches. One screen showed an impossibly long chain of code, while the other flickered through various images from within the quarantined areas.

The Mistwood's trees had been dyed crimson, affecting the lighting. When the screen showed the Sky-Strewn Islands, you could see what looked like bodies walking over the edge of the floating isles. "A gift. Likely from the ones who infiltrated through a backdoor at the beginning of the year."

"Bloody hell. Are those bodies? Is it affecting all of the life in the simulation? Even the plant life? What sort of virus is this?" A glance at the coding was all they needed to identify the cause. "Its glitching the data? Altering its behaviour... Like zombies? How long will the system be able to suppress it? Long enough for us to counteract it, I'd hope?"

"Not zombies, fortunately. Their behaviour is similar, but... Perhaps disconnect Ofiuco from the network for the time being? They've been banging on the barrier for 26 hours. I don't think it'll hold for long with that much data crashing into it. Actually, never mind. It already collapsed. Maybe activate the emergency protocols."

Cracks could be seen forming in the barrier on the second monitor. It didn't take long for it to shatter, unleashing hundreds upon thousands of bodies that crashed into the city. Anything that was living that they crashed into became infected with a virus and moved to attack anything that hadn't been infected.

But while the Isolans from other worlds would be attacked, they couldn't be infected. So killing them would have to do instead.

"Erm. Slight issue?"

"What?"

"It has infected the emergency systems. We only have one charge."

"[CENSORED]. That's not good."

WHAT THE HECK IS HAPPENING!?

Zombies! ...Kind of! A virus has spread among the NPC people, animals, and even the plant life. While the characters won't know what the Stars are officially referring to them as, they have been simply codenamed "The Glitched". Anything "living" they come into contact with will become Glitched itself, with the exclusion of the player characters.

That said, The Glitched will see the player characters as prey nonetheless and will try to kill them instead. There is also a glitching effect visible over them to indicate their status. Lets go over the types of Glitched in more detail:

GLITCHED NPCS Your standard "zombies". They were the NPCs that lived among the player characters this whole time. They resemble traditional zombies in many ways. They shamble, they moan and groan, and their movements can be unsettling. But they aren't decaying at least! They will attack in ways similar to zombies, running at you in hoards, thrashing, and biting if needed. Whatever it takes to kill their targets. That said, they're generally slow.

GLITCHED CREATURES Animals and monsters are also affected (not including character pets). They've become much more ravenous, including those that would normally avoid people altogether. If you've ever been terrified of the prospect of zombie squirrels crawling in through your vents to get you, well... Depending on the animal or monster, they might be faster and / or more dangerous than a regular Glitched.

GLITCHED PLANTLIFE While not as outwards dangerous, infected plant life affects the environment. Any infected plants will glow crimson red and, once enough plant life in a contained area even the sky will begin to glow an ominous red. A phenomenon that will spread north as the virus spreads.

EVENT MECHANICS

ABILITY DRAIN

At the beginning of the event, every characters will be uncapped entirely since the Stars activated the emergency systems. However, these systems have lost power since. As a result, every usage of a character's powers will cause all of their abilities to weaken regardless of the one used, little by little, until their powers disappear entirely. This means that the characters will need to be smart about using them once they realize. This also applies to weapons, and their durability will degrade after each fight until they're liable to break. While we won't be policing this, we ask that you don't ignore this mechanic completely.

NO RESPAWNING

The respawn system is part of the emergency systems, so for the duration of this event your character will not be able to respawn. If they die, they will remain dead until the conclusion of the event! If you go this route, they will exist as something kin to a ghost that cannot interact with the living world, but will be able to interact with other ghosts. If your character is still alive and has the power to see and hear ghosts, though? You'll still be able to interact with them!

MODIFIERS

The ones who installed the virus in the first place also installed a modifier system. Every encounter with ten or more Glitched will trigger a modifier wheel to spin on the phones of every player character nearby and will all land on a single modified that may affect the Glitched or the characters themselves depending. A new modifier will be rolled every hour, replacing the current one. You can find a list of what the effects do here, as well as the wheel to spin before each thread here! You're not required to use the wheel, but we do recommend it especially if you're doing multiple threads! Characters will be able to check their phones at any time to see which modifier is active.

GLITCHED TERRITORY

At the beginning of the event, the southern branches already be completely dyed crimson and is rampant with the Glitched. They've broken through the barrier and are now entering the city en masse. Throughout the event, they will move farther and farther north, leaving your characters with a choice. Will they hunker down in the city to try and ride out this storm, or will they flee to the branches across the water? Unfortunately, eventually nowhere will be safe.

FAQ

When does the event officially end? The official end time is 11:59:59PM EST on Friday, April 18th! You won't be able to make any new minis, opens, or starters after that point!

What are the requirements for participation? All you need is one IC post within the event scenario!

What if we're not very good with horror elements? While the Glitched take a lot of cues from the zombie genre and you could portray them to be as physically bloodied and ravaged as you'd like, because they aren't technically undead, you could portray them without less or no emphasis on what might make them visually disturbing if you need to!

Can we kill the Glitched? What will happen to the NPCs that are killed this way? You can! They'll respawn as if nothing happened at the end of the event, but the characters themselves won't know this. This will surely bring about a moral dilemma for some, especially those that know specific NPCs personally.

If my character is killed, can I write a thread with them set before that death? Of course! As long as it's set chronologically before they died, it's fine!

Will my character have any way to defend themselves if they have no powers? Yes! Characters that are powerless can access an app in their phone that will allow them to assume their avatar from the Fantasia Interspace simulation! Even if you weren't in the group during this event, you can create this avatar by picked a player race and spells!

I have another question! Feel free to ask through the masterlist! We'll answer it as soon as we're able to! We ask that you do not ask event questions in the server for this event, just so everyone is able to see the answers if they have the same questions!

[amorinie]

"Your locket.. it looks very well loved."

It was not the first thing about the child that had grabbed Cherie's attention, but it was what they chose to speak on; hands placed upon their knees as they crouched some, to meet them at the same height. The lightest dusting of a smile pulled on the corner of their mouth, tucking a strand of hair behind their ear to best keep their gaze met with the other's.

"Someone very important must have given that to you.. perhaps someone from the world you came from..?"

  –  ( ♡*; @charadrxxmxrr )

[amorinie]

They could not be sure how long it was that they'd stopped to watch him-- heart filled eyes filled with wonder at every step the dragon took took, at every grand movement he made with his wings. Their own were also present at their back; folded for now as they stood atop a tree, as if waiting for the right moment to say something.. anything, really.

...

Would he be displeased with the desire that had taken over them the moment he came into view..? Well, there was only one way to find out..

"Excuse me.."

They descended from their perch, gently; taking no time at all for bare feet to rest upon the grass below them. They craned their neck back to take him in, tilting their head ever so slightly.

".. it's been quite some time since I've had company in the sky.. if you have nowhere else to be, would you care to join me?"

  –  ( ♡*; @grymfared )

[amorinie]

"Oh! Nier..!"

The seasons had changed since their last run-in with the girl, so Cherie felt immediate relief upon seeing her again; taking gentle strides to eventually bridge the distance between them. Though their meetings had been brief, they were some the cupid had not stopped thinking about since; their smile crinkling the corners of their eyes as they pulled their hands close to their chest.

"It's so wonderful to see you again.. I'm so sorry that it's been so long. Have you been well? Ah.. were you able to give the bouquet you made to the person you wanted to speak to?"

  –  ( ♡*; @deathreversed )

[amorinie]

"Are you sure this is alright, Hawks..? I don't wish to keep you if you're busy.."

Since learning about what they could and couldn't eat, Cherie's newfound friend had made it a point to take them down to one of Spirale's most popular places to dine. The Startrail was littered with different food stalls and vendors, wonderful smells wafting to the cupid's nose and warming their soul.

"I'm not quite sure where we should even start.. is there something you would like to try?"

  –  ( ♡*; @wingherc )