ARRIVAL LOG 005

[larkers]

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: Night of August 23 (through to August 30th)
WHAT: The fifth arrival
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Coercion and loss of autonomy. Further notes at end of log.

> ARRIVAL LOG #005

Awareness comes to you in blurred snatches, cloudy fragments of sound and light, color, sensation. Hazy and difficult to grasp on to, but slowly aligning into focus. A series of regular, rhythmic beeps. A medicinal, astringent smell. The sensation of movement, a low hum and accompanying vibration under you. Your eyes are heavy, hard to keep open, but in the glimpses between slow, dark blinks you see four people in black body armor seated opposite you, as well as a man in dark gray scrubs. You realize there are others next to you. All of you in white scrubs, hair recently cut but at various stages of growth, restrained by straps across your chests, arms, feet, holding you to the bench under you. To your left, an armored interior door, two more people visible, the movement of dark streets and neon windows passing through a windshield. You try to open your mouth to speak, but it's as if your tongue is coated in tar, and you manage nothing more than an empty parting of lips. The vehicle stops. The guard opposite you stands and comes to unbuckle you from the bench, helping you to your feet. Your limbs feel wooden and heavy, slow to move. One guard opens the back of the vehicle: beyond it, a chamber only dimly lit by strips of light along the floor. The nurse moves to stand at the back of the vehicle, checking each passenger over one by one just before they're helped out of the vehicle, quick and methodical. She doesn't climb out after you, moving to sit as the last passenger is unloaded. The guards keep their heads down. Their actions are quick, firm, but not entirely unkind. Under your feet, you can feel the thrum of heavy bass vibrating through the floor. You see nearby that there is another bus, another load of passengers being helped out, lined up much like you are. Once you're all in place, the guards move down the line, pulling dark hoods over each passenger's head. Your arm is lifted, placed on the shoulder of the passenger in front of you in line. "Hold on," says one of the guards. "Stay quiet. Keep moving until I say stop." There is no will in you to fight the orders. How far you walk is hard to determine. Counting steps is difficult, and any concept of time passing stretches between the sound of footfalls and breathing - soon overshadowed by the music. Growing louder, closer, the heavy bassline begins to reverberate through the air around you, amplified by the acoustics of the place. Melody and vocals become audible, the chatter of a crowd. Finally, you stop, and the hoods are pulled off, following down the line as the guards walk back. You turn to look after them, but they quickly disappear into the darkness of the tunnel behind you. The door in front of you swings open, the full weight of the music washing out. A tall woman with sharp, geometric patterns of ink tattooed across her skin smiles at you with sharp teeth, glowing luminescent in the UV lighting above her. "First timers?" she asks, but doesn't wait for an answer. "Don't worry, those costumes are great. Come on, come in." As you move to comply, she takes each of your hands, stamping a twisting design on the back, shining bright in the UV light. "Welcome," she says, as she ushers you out of the lobby and into the noise and crowd beyond. "To the Insomniacs' Ball." ◉ Though entirely capable of independent action and thought, new characters will find themselves completely, unquestioningly compliant to any verbal statement which could be taken as a command or request.

> THE INSOMNIACS' BALL

The message from El comes the same as previous: insistent, not waiting for any active attempt to open it. Scrolling within your vision as if being written while you're reading it. I'm not saying bus #5 got past me, but our favorite mysterious human traffickers have gone seriously sneaky this time around. And I'm not saying I can't help you get to where you need to be, but I can't. This one needs legwork, because you're going to have to land invites to the Insomniacs' Ball. The Insomniacs' Ball is an open secret. A New Amsterdam urban myth, disbelieved by many and desired for by even more. A week long party held every year as the working schedule changes, as the city struggles between the oppressive heat and the shifting of sleep cycles. Whether you'd prefer to be asleep at night or day, the ball doesn't care - a rolling, 24/7 event that continues until it disappears, as quickly as it arrived. Its location is a secret. Existence frowned upon, possibly even shut down by the authorities - dancing until you fall down is hardly advisable while water rationing is in place. Yet every year the rumors spin again, the whispers, clues and tastes and photos shared on social media which vanish before anyone can really be sure what they saw. Whoever puts the ball together is as good at keeping their head down as Morningstar - and most likely greases more wheels, rather than trying to be a wrench in the machine. Either way, all El can do is point you to the same paths anyone else hungry for an invite is taking. THE PUZZLE Emerging on social media like proverbial white rabbits, clues in the form of bizarre symbols, phrases or riddles have appeared, hidden in images or tucked in VR simulations. Solving them isn't for the impatient. Some take more work than others, a knowledge of numbers or pattern recognition, or ancient cultural references. The answers come as new clues, pointing to locations in the city, to other VR simulations, to figures waiting in cafes or particular enemies in your favorite VR video game. A treasure hunt for the modern age, as each step is completed the participants are whittled down, but for anyone who reaches the end, the prize of an invite to one of the most mysterious pieces of New Amsterdam life is worth all of the work to get there. THE DARE The challenges start small. Stand up and sing in a crowded restaurant. Take a selfie at the UNA's front door. Eat a live scorpion. Soon it escalates, taking even the most jaded of adrenaline junkies on a rollercoaster of illegal and death-defying stunts. Joyriding a notorious gangster's hoverbike. Climbing a construction beam between two of the tallest buildings in the city. Standing in central square and declaring yourself to be a Morningstar operative. The risks climb higher and higher, and for some the stakes are too much. Others hold their nerve, eyes set firmly on the goal, the victory of holding an invite in their hands. THE BOON And then there are those who make no effort at all. Passed to them by the hands of lady luck, their invites arrive in their pockets, slid under their doorframes or hidden under a glass at work. Bartenders open up crates of stock and find a wedge of them tucked in amongst the packaging; bike couriers arrive at delivery destinations only to find a parcel waiting there for them. Whether targeted or purely a matter of chance, many attendants at the Insomniacs' Ball will have had the opportunity simply fall in their lap - and some may not recognize what they've received at all. However you've managed to get your hands on an invite, the directions on the back are the same - leading you deep down into the city's underground, past some of the darker corners and into some even darker ones. A rusted, disused door to an abandoned maintenance area wouldn't look like the place, but the intricate geometric design painted silvery and barely visible across the surface matches the invite you hold, and you know you've found the entrance to wonderland. Behind the door, lies a twisting network of tunnels and rooms built into natural caves, ultimately abandoned by the city when its insides proved too difficult to navigate. Now, for a short time, it's home to a carnival of revelry. Strobing neon lights illuminate snatches and glimpses of the crowd, glowing in pools of UV: a dense mass of people from all over the city, young and old, music and dancing flowing from chamber to chamber, clashing and mixing between. Extravagant, outrageous costumes mingle with simple streetwear, or with no-wear at all. People hand out masks, drinks, substances which it may not be advisable to consume. Sealed bottles of water seem to appear from nowhere, passed among the people, their source and seeming escape from the rationing in the city far above going unquestioned. Smaller chambers offer some respite for those who need to take a minute, catch their breath, or want a quiet corner to talk with a new friend. Other chambers contain more hedonistic displays, with most participants always willing to accept another into their number. No one seems to be in any rush - there's roughly a week to soak in all the delights, and you can even come and go as you please, the UV pattern now stamped on your hand allowing access back through the various doors, if you can find your way back to one. But you're here for a different purpose, and whether it took you hours or days to find your way here, you know that the party will end eventually - and anything more unusual which may be hiding inside will be revealed. ◉ The Insomniacs' Ball and the related methods of gaining an invite will last for one week, from August 23-30. New characters can be retrieved at any time during this, or can find their own way out and be discovered on the streets - just please be advised that they will not be able to survive in New Amsterdam without first spending time in the Morningstar safehouse and having their ID set up. ◉ We will not be dictating set pieces of the ARG puzzle or challenges - these are left to player discretion as to what your character would have realistically managed to solve or complete! ◉ The invite themselves are business card sized pieces of metal with an intricate geometric patterns etched on one side, and an address on the other. The address leads to a quick series of clues and locations which will take characters to the door as described. ◉ The same geometric design will be present throughout the ball, worn by some of the guests and doorpeople, and even carved into the walls of some of the caves. ◉ While in the ball, there will be rumors and whispers circulating about the owner of the ball being in attendance, and that particularly impressive guests may earn some special reward - or just guarantee an invite again next year.

> THE SAFEHOUSE

Access to the safehouse is a hatch hidden behind stacks of empty storage shelves in the back of an abandoned supermarket in an outer district of the city. The immediate area is similarly abandoned, empty stores, flanked by several blocks of dive bars and clubs which cater to more niche tastes. A place where people can come and go unseen, or, if seen, not spoken of. A dark haired woman called Gaby is ready to greet the new arrivals and get them settled in, brusque and no-nonsense – she'll be open for in depth questions later, but will advise everyone to ask the people who brought them in for the beginning bits of information. ◉ The safe house is a large open space, filled with rows of basic cots set up to sleep a large amount of people. Basic, but outfitted with everything necessary for daily life. A few doors lead to back rooms for storage, medical care and a large communal bathroom, and past the long rows of cots there is a communal kitchen, fully stocked, and an eating area. Privacy is at a minimum. ◉ New characters will be asked to pick their beds, and provided with a change of (second-hand, mismatched and somewhat threadbare) clothes and basic toiletries. ◉ While there were previously also NPC occupants of the safehouse, natives to New Amsterdam, these people have now been moved on to somewhere safer. A few of their belongings remain, discarded or accidentally abandoned. ◉ Gaby will make it clear to all new arrivals that if they have any requests or queries, they should contact her or El. ◉ The drugs making new characters compliant will remain in their systems for a few hours after their being dropped off by the guards before finally beginning to fade. They will be gone entirely after a night's rest. In the meantime, they may want to be careful of what others say to them. ◉ New characters will be given rudimentary access to the network on arrival in the safehouse, but will not have their ID set up yet. They will be able to make posts and replies, but their messages will be anonymous and they do not have inboxes yet. ◉ New characters will not be allowed to leave the safehouse until FOUR DAYS AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL AT THE SAFEHOUSE. These 4 days are for them to adjust, learn about the world they've arrived in from their fellows, and for El to speak with them and work on setting up their IDs.

> FINAL OOC NOTES

Welcome to Meadowlark, newbies! You're now free to post to the network and logs comms. To reiterate, your characters will have no IDs or inboxes, nor be allowed out of the safehouse until they have been there for four days. At that point it's expected they'll have gotten a good idea of their new situation from their fellow characters, and will have discussed their background and job potentials with El in order for their false IDs to be set up. If you have any questions or ideas about how you'd like to get your character involved in the world, or if they'd like to join Morningstar, please head over to the plot engagement post and drop us a comment! For questions specific to this log, there is a thread below. Please check out our December calendar rundown for a look at things happening this month. As a reminder, AC this month will be a check-in only. AC will be posted on December 20 and close on December 27. If you do not reply to AC, you will be considered idled and dropped from the game. We will not post a warning list.

> NAVIGATION

Comments

[reneger]

( if he's being honest: jason doesn't like touching for the sake of making just him feel good. it's uncomfortable, he much prefers it the other way around. having loki--pull that here isn't a great idea for numerous reasons but specifically that particular reveal: if the attention gets focused in on jason, he won't handle it well. )

Almost? You saying you've done better? ( an opening to start telling jason all abut it. a great way to switch topics. messy makeouts are an artform they're perfecting, but-- )

[selfimage]

[ they're a precarious place for any sort of reveal of any kind—personal or more general.

the vibration comes through in the stone and against his back. the party rages on behind him, its goers lost in time that they'll eventually have to emerge. neither Loki nor Jason are afforded that luxury.

there's a little tilt of his head as he considers him for a moment. this could go down the wrong road, but he's already feeling a little reckless, so why not? ]

Hm—[ a sour little snort. ]—A New Years Eve party. You know, new starts? It's sort of one of my things.

[ kind of like his birthday, only not his birthday. ]

[reneger]

Mm, is it? ( an easy shift of hips follows jason's words, moving to lead loki deeper into the caves. more curiosity than anything else, they are already down here, why not take a bit of time to explore? between the both of them, jason is fairly sure they could handle themselves had anything come up. )

Couldn't say the same, honestly.

( jason has tried. worked for new beginnings. a fresh start. but it always boils down to rage with him. sometimes he may play at letting shit go but he never, ever forgets. every wrong ever committed towards him is ingrained into his head, a reminder of all the bullshit he's gone through. every face? never forgotten. )

But I did try it once. ( the last time, asking bruce to let him have a chance. the one thing he wanted in the world enough to hold himself back and jason todd fucked it all up. ah, well. it's over now. nothing he can do about it. )

[selfimage]

[ Loki sways beside him, hands still behind his back like he's absolutely not hiding anything, figuratively or literally. the depth of the cavern doesn't rattle him, nor does their steady pace away from the flashing lights and milling bodies of the party. the caves had been a point of curiosity for him, the city seemed to go down as much as it went up, cramming a multitude of the population in a vertical containment of space.

if it wasn't so artificial, it would have reminded him of Asgard. ]

Did you? I never said that I quite got the hang of it. It always seems like something follows me, usually of my own making. [ there's a slightly bitter tinge to his voice, like he was somehow his own worst enemy. he was. ] I'm beginning to feel like there's no way to cast it away, not entirely.

Hm—do you think if we go far enough, we'll find a Balrog?

[reneger]

There isn't. ( no matter how hard someone tries to bury their past, it never fades away. new starts don't exist, because there's always something to hold them back. a bad memory. a comrade from the past. jason doesn't follow up on that, it's--opening a whole other can of bullshit neither of them really needs to get into, right? loki doesn't want the long and weary story of what makes jason todd the most pathetic, worthless motherfucker on this side of new amsterdam.

instead he keeps pace with loki, snorts at the balrog comment before he's raising a hand to rest his forearm against loki's own, leans into him. )

Didn't realize you were a huge nerd, too. ( further down, but not far enough for the thrum of the music to dissipate. ) That your scene? Hobbits and Sauron?

[selfimage]

[ there isn't.

as much as he strived for it as much as he tried to escape it as many times as he ran from it—his past always, always came back. the crime that conceived his existence, and the sacrifices that he made to get where he was, shrouded in secrets and guilt. it never felt good, and he could never get away from it.

they bump arms a little, Jason leans, and it brings him back. ]

I'm not a nerd. [ get with it, Jason. ] But I do happen to like Midgardian novels, especially when they're so heavily influenced on my own mixed mythologies.

[ see; he's a nerd. both of his references contained Norse references: A Song of Ice and Fire and Lord of the Rings. ]

[reneger]

You are. ( discussing what makes someone a nerd is so much easier than like. getting into deep and personal discussions over what it takes to change. one can't erase the past, it'll follow you until the day you kick it--or after, in jason's case. mistakes can't be undone, they can only--be painted over, cautiously. and even then, it doesn't hide it from those who remember. jason is proof of that. so he focuses in on how fucking nerdy loki is instead. ) But it's cool. I'm into nerds.

( see: barbara gordon, professional nerd and ass kicker. )

And there's nothing wrong with being into novels about dragons and pretty elves.

( with his hand raising up, fingers grabbing onto a lock of loki's hair to tug on it gently. ) Even if you are a chaos god yourself.

[selfimage]

[ is this bullying?? is he being bullied? it's like Jason's making up for all the times that Loki pushed him around. there's a moment where his glittered expression doesn't really seem how to scrunch. in a very, very rare moment, Loki doesn't seem to know quite how to approach this. soft bullying generally doesn't come around with "and I'm into that" when it comes to him, and it leaves him at a loss of how to deal. ]

Well—I ... [ hm! ] There was much to catch up on when I took residence in the mortal realms. Former incarnations weren't very ... ah—interested, I suppose. Which is certainly a shame. There are so many novels of questionable taste! [ ok, so maybe he's nerding out a little.

this is a far better distraction than talking about how he constantly messes up his life and that of other incarnations. ]

[reneger]

See? Nerd. ( but it's said soft, and jason's dropping his hand back down, turning his attention to focus in on the cavern walls. looking around them, lips pursing to whistle soft as if there's. something actually fucking interesting down here (there's not). )

With all the entrances up top leading down here, I wonder if there's some that lead into more. . places of interest.

( like maeda's place of occupation. since they were intending on targeting her--there's a possibility these could be useful, isn't there? his head tilts back, side-eyes loki with the biggest, stupidest fucking grin on his face. )

[selfimage]

[ ugh!

Jason drops his arm and Loki turns to blow a half-raspberry at him, drawing his eyebrows together and sticking out his tongue. then, he puts a hand on his hip. ]

It just so happens that I've been looking. The system extends further down, some unexplored, others dangerous. [ he gestures back toward the parties. ] People could get lost easily.

And then ... there are those that extend into the ground made useful by this cities' corporations.

[ he drops the tidbit like it's a cherry on top of a milkshake. ]

[reneger]

( if they weren't still in a mildly occupied area jason'd be sticking his gross fingers all over that tongue, just to show loki what he gets for sticking it out in the first place. as it is, he huffs out a laugh, smiles. )

So it does move into corporations' territories.

( which is what he'd wanted to know. there's a pause in his step, winking to loki with his own tongue sticking out. )

Knew I could count on you, Lo.

[selfimage]

[ if it's one thing to be said about Loki, he certainly likes to gather the most unusual resources that he can muster. he thinks like a thief: where he could disappear if need be after he caused disaster, or if he needed to hide something that he managed to get his thieving hands on. (apparently the proprietor of the party thought the same.) ]

Of course it does, it seems like they can't keep their hands out of anything, really. They're in the business of doing business rather than anything useful.

[ he waves a dark nailed hand. ]

As far as what goes where and just how they're monitored, well ... that may take a tad more digging. Pulsar's shouldn't be so difficult to land, of course. The others may take a big more finesse.

[reneger]

You know what I'm interested in. ( maeda. giles bell. he hasn't been chasing it down as hard as he could be as of late, but there have been some other things to deal with in the meantime: loki, dick, kara and kate. his own current lack of housing after the warehouse had been compromised, raising up funds to find something other than loki's couch eventually. he doesn't mind it per se, but chances are high if they spend too much time on each others' tails they'll get exhausted of it sooner rather than later.

it's not a risk jason feels like taking just yet. they're far enough away to be out of sight, long as no one follows them in deeper. so jason takes initiative, shifts to wrap an arm around loki's waist and turns into him, gives a mischievous look to match the other's own. )

Feel like taking down some businessmen with me? Sounds like we could make a great date night out of it.

[selfimage]

[ it could be Maeda and Giles Bell, but things get bigger. Jason is focused, but there's some far deeper and sinister going on here. one action to another reaction, and another; this city is full of cries and prayers that are muffled to him. they can't be answered.

well, not the old fashioned way, at least. ]

I thought you'd never ask. [ Loki turns with him and resting a gloved hand on his bicep. it's rare that Jason initiates, so Loki encourages him—he leans in just a touch, as if they're sharing a secret. ] We'll have to be sneaky.

[reneger]

( he's focused in on what he wants, right now. who he wants to take down, the monsters in his own closet. the ones jason wants to get rid of, and while it'll get bigger, of course it will. he's spoken to gaby, she's given him helpful tips.

he's more focused on what he wants right now, which is revenge. loki leans in and jason presses in closer, rests his forehead against the other's own. lets eyes drift close for a moment, but keeps the toothy grin. )

I've gotta admit: sneaky isn't my forte.

[selfimage]

[ Loki can't blame him, it's not like he doesn't to see Maeda go down after what happened. Jason will get revenge, and Maeda won't be able to hurt people anymore. it may take longer than it would normally to do it, but it'll be done, eventually, and in all satisfaction.

the bridges of their noses brush and Loki steps in until there's hardly a gap between them. their breath mingles with the sour taste of alcohol, and it's more pleasant and not. Jason's buzz is nice, and Loki settles into it with a wash of his own lingering elation from dancing. ]

That's why you have me. What's a dirty thief worth, otherwise?

[reneger]

( jason starts it to be a shit but loki presses in closer, erases the space between them. he feels loki's breath against lips, lets his own part on another soft laugh. with loki there isn't even the underlying anger at the moment, just--the soft buzz from alcohol, a gentleness jason doesn't usually carry around on his shoulders. )

I could think of a few things, if you really wanna know. ( jason's a dirty thief, just. you know. a different kind: loud and obnoxious, loves to fucking leave fire raining behind him. ) I can follow directions alright when I feel like it.

[selfimage]

Whatever you do after the sneaking is your own decision.

[ but with that, there's anticipation. Loki wants to know what he'll do with it. there's a little twist of a smile at the corners of his lips and a soft hum that vibrates between them. their lips brush when he speaks, but he doesn't move to fill the space, not yet. there's a pleasant tension that lingers. ]

But I do want to see what it is.

[reneger]

You do, huh.

( soft, curious. he wonders what loki expects him to do with it. what reactions he anticipates from jason todd. how far he expects him to go, what lengths loki imagines he'll push himself to. but the mouth against his own is enough to distract him from turning that thought down a bad path. ignites that fluttery, warm feeling jason's semi-placed but definitely does not want to acknowledge.

having a crush is awkward. )

Guess we'll just have to get there and find out what I do.

[selfimage]

[ there isn't much expectation aside from he knows that Jason will do something. he's a catalyst, he makes a show of it, and he almost broke apart their fledging friendship for it. much like Markus, Loki wants to know where it will go. sure, Jason needs a few resources, maybe something grease the gears, but he has it in him.

maybe the whole thing will get messed up, but Loki has confidence that they can wiggle out of almost anything. ]

You'll have to make it good. [ a tease and a hum that vibrates against his lips. ]

[reneger]

Don't I always?

( the tension gets thicker, anticipation rising as they just keep. what. teasing each other? leaning in close enough for the connection but not enough for anything else. jason won't be the first to break. they're close enough to (try) and hide the blue glow, he doesn't give a shit if anyone catches them this close.

well. he does. but no one is looking for him right now. and he's smiling, idly rubbing a thumb against the curve of loki's hip. ) Unless there's something you wanna share 'bout my. . talents.

( purposefully lewd in the way he words it even if jason doesn't fucking mean it like that at all. )

[selfimage]

[ the suspense rises with the desire, a brush of the lips here, a feeling of the other's breath across a cheek, and Loki drinks it all up. somewhere behind them, the cave still vibrates with music where it clashes together in the caverns. Jason's heady buzz rubs off just a little, and Loki's bright eyes become half-lidded beneath dark lashes. ]

Now that you mention it ... you could use some finesse when you're using that mouth of yours.

[ it comes out breathy and teasing, and very obviously bait. Loki's hand traces down his waist and finds a belt loop to hook a dark nailed finger in. ]

[reneger]

Oh? ( loki's so close. purposefully teasing him, pushing his buttons. testing limits, and jason is so fucking close to leaning in that extra bit of distance. pressing his lips to the other's own, shoving his tongue down his throat right here.

but he doesn't. he lets it linger instead. waits. focuses dull blue eyes on bright green, amusement shining through bright as he shifts legs to widen his stance a little. give loki just that much more. )

Why don't you tell me then, Lo. What I can do to improve my finesse. If we're gonna be partners in crime, I'd better make sure I can satisfy you.

( this is such a stupid game but fuck if jason doesn't love it anyway. )

[selfimage]

[ there's not much in his expression that changes, even when the little thrill of challenge leaps from his belly to just below his ribs. Loki is emotional, and he's decent at harnessing it on occasion, and this would be one of them. he doesn't even seem to care that Jason shares it with him, because he looks like he has complete control over the situation.

he cocks his hip into Jason's hand. ]

Well, if you're going to ask me, I'd say that the best means of refinement is practice. [ his voice drops, sultry only for the space between them. ] Jason ...

[reneger]

( loki's voice lowers, he says jason's name and that's all it takes for him to give in. to lose. he leans forward the little bit of space separating them and shoves his lips against the other's own in a rough, but slow kiss. tightens the grip he has on loki's waist and holds him close, holds in tight.

it feels good, like this. loki was baiting him, jason didn't rise into anything that wasn't asked for. his free hand raises up, fingers tangling into black strands at the base of the other's neck as jason pulls him in closer, pulls him deeper into the kiss. huffs a laugh against lips. )