npc || amun [ @ hierarchy ]

[nightnpcs]

( ping ping ping. or, y'know, whatever your phone chime is. the face of a man who looks like he's never smiled once in his entire life appears on your screen. you may have seen him before, while you were busy surviving a storm or battling reapers. no matter. you might as well bask in his impromptu company now, because his appearances are few, and his indulgences even fewer. )

Allow me to make this clear. For those of you who wonder still: I am the Hierarchy. You do not come to us; we summon, invite, and hire. Order is of the utmost importance if you wish to survive, and time is of the essence. Do not waste mine.

( behind him, movement. if you squint, you may notice strands of greying hair near the door, though the person it belongs to remains off-screen. )

Your personal troubles are your own. If you expected us to hold your hand, do think again; there are far greater affairs to attend to, so do yourselves a favor, and look for soulmates. We've prepared an application for you, easily accessible from your device's home page. Should you need additional information, perhaps it's time for you to practice self-reliance.

I will not be answering questions.

( and the feed cuts, abruptly, without greetings or a name. )

ooc note

► Amun will not be responding, though you're absolutely welcome to react, comment and discuss amongst yourselves on this post! Other NPCs might show up!
► This is, more or less, Tinder for Soulmates o/ You'll find the permanent post (aka phone application) right HERE! If you're interested, simply fill out the form and comment on the post, and bam. Browse, swipe left or swipe right, and have fun! This is not mandatory.
► Forms and replies should be posted ICly (yes, even if it's located in the OOC comm -- you may choose one (1) thread for october's AC) .
► Another character may post in your character's stead. Additionally, feel free to have their Shadow influence their blurb!
► The application offers all the information your character needs to know! To recap: All that's required for another Restless to become your Soulmate is for them to enter your home, touch your Tethers upon invitation, and from then on, a piece of their soul will merge with yours, fortifying your Self. As a literal extension of your being, they'll easily gain access to your thoughts if you let them (or if you're careless), they'll experience your pains, fears, and joys on weaker levels, and their voice, touch and overall vicinity can become great soothing weapons against your Shadow. However. If two characters already share a powerful bond and one incidentally touches the other's Tethers, it's an accidental done deal. You may thank Naruto's player for this.
► You may have multiple Soulmates!
► If you have questions regarding the app, redirect them here!

Comments

audio, un: retort

[nagano]

...I could have gone my entire life not having to know about this.

audio ↪ un: starwatcher

[abandonme]

Didn't you?

[ You can basically hear the :) We! Died! ]

You didn't miss the memo from the reaper, right? If you got knocked on the head, you should talk to the miss doctor who hates romance but loves working for free.

[nagano]

[ Siiiiigh. ]

Right. My entire un-life.

[ He's so tired. ]

[abandonme]

There you go!

[ Nagano might faintly hear the sound of someone clapping. ]

Cheer up. Is having a soulmate so terrible?

[nagano]

[ He claps back. ]

No, in the traditional sense. As for what it means here... That has yet to be seen.

[abandonme]

Right, but its the only clue we have...

[ It's hard to keep the trepidation out of her voice. Rachel thought about it, and figured if she dallied waiting to be suspicious about it, some unknown consequence might appear. Back in the tower, higher authoritys handing out rules could usually be trusted to keep their word.

She doesn't want to be naive, but Rachel really isn't clever enough to think of any alternatives. ]

So are...you not going to look?

[nagano]

[ A mild thumping in the back of his head disrupts his thoughts. He sighs again, quietly this time.

If the cards weren't laid out for him like they are now, perhaps he'd be a bit more trusting off the bat. As it is... ]

—I'm going to wait and see. I don't think this is a complete scam, but I want to do a little exploring first and get a better feel for my surroundings.

That guy spun a convincing tale that he's the only authority who we can rely on, but I don't think it's going to kill me again to see if there's more information to find.

[abandonme]

Be careful, sir. I don't think you're wrong to be cautious, but he did warn us time was short.

[ Someone like Rachel, without an ounce of charm in her, already knows she'll be behind in a competition like this. Better to get started early... ]

I hope someone finds out how you actually become soulmates soon. I'm sure that will put many of our fears to rest if we can speak to people who have done it.

[nagano]

We'll see how short it is. I'm used to this kind of urgency, for better or worse.

[ It's not that he isn't worried about himself, and more that he'll simply make things work as he goes along. No matter what comes his way, he'll adapt.

Or so he pushes himself to believe. ]

It probably won't be me. Or maybe it will. There's no telling what'll happen.

Y'know what? I think I'll make a post on that app. I wasn't going to, but maybe it can be an opportunity to network with other like-minded people who aren't quite ready to jump on the 'Soulmate' train just yet.

I'm Kaito, by the way. Still getting settled, but I'm gonna prioritize making sure I've got food on my plate whenever I need to eat. I cook a lot, so if you ever need a bite you can get in touch with me.

[abandonme]

Don't say things that will make me worry about you! It's nice meeting you, Kaito. I'm Rachel.

[ Should she be glad he's making a post? It's strange for her not to respond to his statement, but Rachel can't think of what she wants to say. It's weird to think her idle worries might have convinced him of anything she wasn't intending. If there are consequences to not having a soulmate by a certain time, at least he'll be prepared?

Rachel puts the thought out of her mind. Nobody here is an ally yet, so it shouldn't matter at all what Kaito does. ]

I'm probably not as good at cooking as you, but I like boardgames and exploring, and one day I want to see the stars.

[nagano]

Don't worry about me until you're fully settled in. From the sound of it, we're all still getting our bearings.

[ Yes, it's a reprimand, and yes, it's spoken so matter-of-factly. But he's not mad, he's just being a mom™.

'Sides, he still has no idea if she'll be someone he trusts in any capacity. He doesn't know if he'll be trusting anyone in any meaningful way. Not yet. ]

That remains to be seen. Some home cooks could put industry titans out of a job if they wanted. Either way...

There's an entire hellscape to explore here. I don't think you'll be wanting for adventure... Or life-threatening risks. But maybe I'm just speaking the obvious, and you've already taken that into consideration.

[abandonme]

Then don't say concerning things to people you've just met!

[The only respond to a scolding to to scold back. Don't reprimand her, she doesn't even actually care, probably! Yeah, that's right, she doesn't care! Go die!

She's also not actually mad. In fact its maybe a little flattering he cares? Or is pretending to. ]

I do have eyes and I'm not interested in the "life threatening risk". I liked exploring, you know. Caves, the woods. Nothing dangerous. Or nothing that should have been dangerous.

[ Finding amnesiac boys alone in a cave had not been a good call..but she doesn't want to think about Bam right now, or ever again. She'll start laughing and that will really weird Kaito out. ]

[nagano]

[ Laugh anyway. His tolerance for weird was already through the roof to begin with. Now they're! Dead! :D!

In any case, her initial response gets an amused snort out of him. Can she hear the smirk that's about to lace his words? ]

I'll say what I want, thanks. What are you going to do, roll up a newspaper and come for my ass?

—Don't speak in past tense. Dead or alive, we're still here. Talking like we're history is only going to fuel the notion that we've got nothing left.

This place is a hellscape, sure, but it's also an opportunity. For what, I don't know... But I'm not going to sit on my hands and reminisce. I'm going to find a way to make it here.

[ Is that oversharing? Is he being idealistic? Is the voice in his head losing it in a laughing fit right now?

Who knows?

F̴u̶c̶k̶i̸n̵g̸ ̴s̶o̸f̸t̷i̶e̴.̵ ̵C̵a̵n̸'̷t̷ ̴w̷a̵i̷t̴ ̵t̵o̷ ̸f̵o̶r̵ ̶t̴h̷i̶s̷ ̷t̵o̴ ̶b̸a̸c̷k̸f̸i̸r̵e̶ ̴o̴n̴ ̴y̶o̷u̷ ̷l̸i̷k̸e̸ ̷e̶v̶e̵r̸y̶t̷h̵i̶n̴g̴ ̵e̷l̴s̴e̶.̷ ]

audio, un: songbird

[windsongs]

Right? Who looks at a dating app and goes "hey this is a great idea, let me bring it to the afterlife to torture people there too"?

[nagano]

Someone who knows how far above the rest of us they are. Piece of shit.

Well, at least you've got a better username for approaching folks.

[windsongs]

You said it! I won't, since I'm not convinced he isn't gonna listen in eventually. Not here anyway.

And hey, just because I'm dead doesn't mean I'm not looking for work. A girl's gotta know how to market herself in this economy.

[ What economy are you talking about here, Hibiki? ]

[nagano]

Being helpful and being annoying as fuck aren't mutually exclusive.

[ A beat. He snorts. ]

Do you even know what economy you're marketing yourself for? And on a less snarky note, what are your plans? Do you have any?

[windsongs]

I mean, clearly the ghost market? Or I guess Restless here? Music's pretty good for a restless soul, you know?

[ Hibiki, that was terrible and you know it. She hums quietly in thought. ]

I mean, they probably want us staying put and waiting for this guy to grace us with his presence again... but honestly, I kind of want to see what's out here. I've never been good at sitting still. [ A beat, with a grin that's apparent over voice. ] Plus, that guy's kind of a dick, so why would I do what he wants me to do if he's just going to be like that no matter what?

1/2

[nagano]

That was horrible. You should be ashamed of yourself.

2/2

[nagano]

[ Retort's retort is followed by a small laugh that picks up over the mic.

...He hasn't laughed since he woke up.

P̷̛͓͚͗̇̏ã̸͈͌ṯ̷̩̜̔̈̃̚ͅh̵͕̼́ͅe̴̬̻̭͐́t̴̲̗̻̆̏͊ḯ̶̡̂̂c̸̤͆͑̽͑.̶͔̥̺̫͆

Shut up. ]

Food's good comfort, too.

Anyway, it sounds like we're in agreement here. I haven't decided if I'm going to go off and look for clues on my own or try to find like-minded folks to travel with. There's safety in numbers, sure, but...

Well, some of us are a bit more paranoid than others, and some of us just prefer not to expose ourselves.

[windsongs]

I should, buuuut I'm not.

[ And Hibiki will let that hang there for a moment, as she mulls over what she wants to say next. ]

A healthy helping of paranoia is good, especially right now since there's a lot we don't know yet. But I don't see the harm in teaming up with somebody who is also trying to dig for clues. If you're worried about finding someone to trust to tag along... Ask me anything you want, I'll answer truthfully. [ A beat. ] Oh, my name's Hibiki by the way. Probably important to have that first.

[nagano]

[ There's a lengthier pause before his reply arrives. ]

Kaito. I only need to know one thing.

Will you stab me in the back if it seems convenient?

[windsongs]

Kaito-san, then. Nice to meet you, I just wish the circumstances were better.

No, I won't; that isn't the kind of person I am. I'm more of the "kick the ass of anyone who tries that on anyone" type. Mind if I ask you the same question?

[nagano]

[ L̶̛͓̝̰̜̋̚ḯ̶͓͎͉̚͜ą̵͈̦͝r̵͚͎̽̾.̵̧̠̖̫̅̈͘. ]

Mm.

I will not.

Our answers are irrelevant anyway—at least, right now.

We're inevitably going to piss someone or something off. If we're going to work together, you'll need to be prepared to fight. Perhaps that goes without saying. Perhaps not.

[windsongs]

Good, glad we're on the same page then.

I can hold my own, you don't need to worry about me. I'm not sure what all transfers over between the living and the not, but if it's like where I'm from, I should still be fine in theory.