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

[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.̷ ]

[abandonme]

[ Getting to witness Rachels maniac post murder laughter is at least a level four friendship perk. She'll keep it inside till then. ]

Hm. I don't know... I could surely find a newspaper.

[ She can hear the smirk, but her own is also audible. Is that a challenge, sir? ]

An opportunity, I do like that sound of that.

[ Yes he's oversharing, and yes he's leaning into that protagonist talk that Rachel finds pretty unbearable. But...even if her hearts cold and untouched by motivating speeches, its his determination to change destiny that she can admire. Those who won't accept fate are beyond scorn. ]

What fate would you weave for yourself, now that you've lost everything?

1/2

[nagano]

Bring it on. I've got a spray bottle.

[ No, he will not elaborate on that. ]

2/2

[nagano]

[ There's a brief pause, followed by a very emphatic: ]

A fate where I take it all back. Nothing more, nothing less.

[abandonme]

[ Unseen, Rachel writes A). Get a newspaper. on her to do list.

For later. ]

To get it "all"? That's some expansive greed, Kaito. You'll have to devour this whole underworld to be satisfied, I'd reckon.

[ Her tone is neither negative nor reproachful. In fact, beyond the girls facile flat polite speech, it does sound like she would very much like to see him try. A warm emotion, a shred of empathy-

Crushing that...well that would be...

Hm. No. She'll think about rivals later. Right now they're all at the same starting line, and there's no need to get ahead of herself. ]

aaaaaa I THOUGHT I REPLIED TO THIS LAST NIGHT

[nagano]

[ He scoffs, not really wanting to correct her. "All" he wants is one thing: to go home. ]

Well, y'know. Opportunity waits for no one. If I don't try to get it all now, there might be nothing left for me to take AT all.

...Though between you and me, I'd settle for some better kitchen supplies.

lmaaaoooo thats always a killer

[abandonme]

I'm not disagreeing with you. In fact, I very much agree. The only fate you can rely on is the type you seize with your hands.

[ A quiet sigh. Unseen, Rachel waves a hand idly with exasperation. This guy and cooking. She shouldn't be worried about competing! If they were in the Tower together, could she bribe him out of all his points just by pointing him at a home goods store? ]

Did your little...soul house... thing not come with a kitchen?

[nagano]

[ Don't put this man in the Tower. Have you not already seen a glimpse of his protagonist vibes? Those are completely subconscious! He'll take over a side story!!! ]

It did, yeah. But, y'know. You can never have too many. Especially if there are unique utensils and tools brought in from other worlds...

[ So he's a hoarder, got it. ]

[abandonme]

Your soul's gonna get full. What will you do then?

[ He could be like an invasive species. Maybe he and Bam can compete for protagonist resources like randomly pulling off wins in a tournament arc or acquiring a harem of extremely competent warrior women. They can destroy each other. Then Rachel can just become the heroine of the story by default.

It's honestly a perfect plan with no flaws as long as they don't go befriending eachother. ]

I think I saw someone wielding a giant spoon on the second floor on the tower. Not sure they made it past there...

[ So there's one giant mysterious utensil from her world? ]

[nagano]

I dunno. Maybe I'll break down the stuff I'm not too attached to into raw materials. Or something like that. I admittedly only did a quick pass on books regarding soulforging in the library.

[ Alas, friendship is inevitable... whether Kaito wants it or not. Quit while you're ahead and just backstab him now, Rachel.

Wait, what? ]

My immediate curiosity about this giant spoon aside, you just mentioned a tower. Is that a landmark around here, or something from your homeworld?

[abandonme]

Don't do that.

[ Idiotic protagonist types really just be throwing their souls away.

Anyway! She has to wait for the right moment! You can't rush the backstab! ]

No, this isn't the tower. You'd know if you were there, everything is structured like a test. We'd hear everyone talking about how to get one level up.

The tower I'm from is quite magical, like a fairy tale. What you desire exists at the top. Climb it, and you will receive everything.

[nagano]

[ To create, one must first destroy.

...Probably. ]

Huh. That's... interesting. Wish-granting stories do well to attract seekers. I imagine this tower isn't very forgiving to those who don't pass these 'tests.'

[abandonme]

The seekers are the entire world.

[ To cryptically leave it at that. ]

No, it isn't. Personally if you asked me, I'd say giving up on ascending that tower was worse then death.

i don't know what compelled me to make that a text dialogue i was probably still in a fever dream

[nagano]

Geez. Sounds pretty cutthroat. And you were one of those seekers, huh?

It must take a hell of a lot to survive the climb and the competition.