ARRIVAL LOG 016

[larkers]

WHO: Everyone
WHERE: New Amsterdam
WHEN: February 7 - 14
WHAT: The sixteenth arrival
NOTES OR WARNINGS: Coercion, loss of autonomy, sexual content. Further notes at end of log.

> ARRIVAL LOG #016

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. Your eyes are heavy, hard to keep open, but in the glimpses between slow, dark blinks you see two people in front of you: one dressed in a thick set of armor, while the other wears medical garb. Out the windshield in front, there are many tall buildings—all reaching up beyond a normal city skyline, all entirely too close to the vehicle itself.

You realize there are many others on the bus with you (and is there another bus in the adjacent lane, caught briefly in flashes through the windshield?), and that all of you are wearing strange pointed masks and elaborate outfits. Everyone's hair has been recently cut, but at different stages of growth, and you're all held in place by a simple seatbelt. However, thanks to the IV dripping into your arm, it seems that there's no real need for more intense restraints than that. 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 lowers from its height and comes to a stop inside of an alley, with tall brick walls surrounding it. Before either individual in the front moves, one begins to speak. It's the one in armor—she shifts and begins her spiel: "You have very specific steps you need to follow. First: don't look for cops. Don't do anything that would get you arrested. Looking for them will get you arrested. That means murder, theft, or even assuming you won't be spotted doing either of these. You will. Oh, you will. Second: wait for some pals to show up. Ask them to prove you have the glow. And then go with them. For now, there's a ball for you to enjoy, and you'll need to stay put until help comes and finds you." Her hand reaches to push the door open. The nurse joins her, reaching out to pull out the catheter, covering it with a quick bandage.

The guard begins to guide you out after that. Your limbs feel wooden and heavy, slow to move. There is music and raised voices in the distance, the sounds of some kind of merrymaking. More than that, you see there's another bus that's also stopped to let people out, and they're all dressed the same as you. The nurse checks your vital signs, murmuring for you to stay put. All of these actions are quick and firm, but not entirely unkind.

After the nurse is done, he nods toward the guard and heads back to the driver's side. The guard joins him. The engine powers up again—soundless against the partying off in the distance—and then it's gone.

You're left alone in an alley in a mysterious city with a lot of futuristic appearances. More than that, it appears that you're in a nice part of town. Once you leave the alley, you'll see clean, wide streets and sleek buildings. There are other people in masks and costumes, and all of them are headed to one place: a large, ornate mansion which takes up a much larger footprint than any of the skyscrapers around you. It seems that you've been dropped off in the middle of a formal ball, but the good news is that the masks you're all wearing should allow you to blend in until the promised help arrives.

◉ 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 – and that includes the lengthy message passed on from the mysterious patron.

> MASQUERADE BALL

The message from El comes the same as usual: insistent, not waiting for any active attempt to open it. Scrolling within your vision as if being written while you're reading it.

Well, I've got no clue what happened, but we've got the largest group since the very first one on our hands. They've been forced to mingle with the rest of the party-goers at the big Carnival masquerade ball, but they're all wearing the same type of masks. Basically? They look like fancy plague doctors. Make sure you round them all up.

No word is given about a certain lost AI or what might have happened to him; apparently El either doesn't have any information on that, or isn't interested in sharing it.

The Displaced will need to move in full force to collect the large group of newcomers, and that means going to the nice part of town to attend the masquerade ball. As mentioned, it's in a rare and unique location: once a mansion that belonged to an extremely well-off family, the building is now reserved primarily for special events.

Getting into the party will at least require getting a mask, if not a full outfit. Thankfully, masks are sold at stalls and carts outside of the venue. Despite the fact that the party has affluence written all over it, everyone in the city is allowed to attend. The mixing of the different classes is part of the tradition. With everyone wearing a mask, the idea is that someone's background no longer matters … even if it's only for a night.

The party is all about decadence, so there's workers handing out snacks and hors d'oeuvres around every corner. Of course, most of the action takes place in a large ballroom where there's live music being played, tables full of more food lining the walls, and a dance floor where people can waltz, tango, foxtrot, and more (depending on the music currently being played).

Among all of the dancing, the current Displaced will need to try and pick out the distinctive plague doctor masks from the crowd, and find a quiet corner to explain things. Thankfully, the building is expansive with plenty of other rooms to duck into as needed. Eventually, all of the newcomers will be escorted back to the safehouse. (More on that below!)

> CARNIVALENTINE'S

The masquerade ball is hardly the only part of Carnival that Displaced both old and new can enjoy if they choose. While Carnival was once a religious holiday that took place before Lent and was all about indulging before having to give something up, it's entirely secular now and more about celebrating the end of winter and oncoming of spring. Or… really, it's just an excuse for people to let loose, have fun, and be decadent. It seems that there aren't many of those.

◉ There are street parades pretty much every day and throughout the night. The thing about Carnival is that it runs twenty-four hours a day, which is great if you want to party and not-so-great if there are people being loud near your apartment into the wee hours of the morning. The parades are mainly organized by City Hall's events committee, and they will take on volunteers to help with getting the floats set up and the dancers outfitted, for anyone who's interested. For parades that happen after dark, some of the float designs are a bit racy. (Feel free to use your imagination here!)
◉ Other than parades, there are street parties everywhere. It doesn't matter what part of the city that you're in, you'll be bound to run into one. Alcohol flows freely, there's live music to be had, and plenty of party-goers will wear elaborate costumes here too. On top of that is all the street food, with stalls found on every corner selling all kinds of treats. Fancy donuts and pancakes are plentiful, and there's more meat options available than usual if you take care to look through all the stalls. This is another remnant of original Carnival traditions, which involved eating the remaining meat stores before they spoiled.
◉ Despite the constant partying, some people will still need to attend their regular jobs during the days-long festival. However, wearing costumes and masks to work during this time is socially acceptable and even encouraged! Displaced might want to consider participating if only to blend in.

At the same time as Carnival, New Amsterdam is also in full swing with celebrating Valentine's. Rather than being contained to one day, this holiday now may as well take up the first half of February. There's decorations everywhere and store promotions encouraging people to buy, buy, buy for their special someone, whether it's carob desserts (chocolate is still hard to come by, and expensive!) or jewelry.

◉ On top of that, there is also a special sort of promotion that's been set up to commemorate Valentine's Day, and that's speed dating. Much like everything else that has to do with this holiday, it's very commercial and essentially a means to shove (digital, implant-interfacing) advertisements at anyone who participates, but it might still be fun, right? There are stations set up all around the city, primarily in commercial districts, and anyone who decides to check it out (or gets dragged in off the street by an excited, likely underpaid person working the event) will be drawn into a large room with small tables scattered all around. Light snacks are also served, but soon enough they'll be seated across from someone and given a list (also digital!) of suggested questions for their speed-date:

◈ Do you have any nicknames?
◈ How do you usually spend your weekends?
◈ Where did you grow up?
◈ If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
◈ If you were stranded on an island, what are the 3 things that you would want to have with you?
◈ What is your least favorite household chore?
◈ What was your favorite subject in school?
◈ If you had people coming over for a meal, what would you cook?
◈ What is your biggest fear?
◈ Do you have any hidden talents?

Date or not, it might be a good way to get to know someone a little better!

◉ Many stores are also selling bouquets which you could order and send to a loved one to show how much you care! While flowers are a bit more expensive, you could try for a new kind of bouquet that's a little more unique. Thanks to the fact that plant life has been inexplicably growing all throughout the city, businesses are selling bouquets made out of these green plants, arranged to look as artful as possible (but maybe not quite as eye-catching as the flowers). Still, it might be a nice gesture…?

◉ So there's Carnival, there's Valentine's -- what about some unholy mixture of both? That's where Carnivalentine's comes in. This new, different sort of "holiday" is contained to the Red Light District, meaning that it's meant for people eighteen and over. Information about it can be found online, however, for anyone who's curious to read up on things before going in person. Pretty much every club in this district will have nightly parties where people are out in their fetish wear, whether that's bondage gear or a leash and collar. This holiday is all about celebrating sexual openness, after all! Some clubs have private rooms set aside for people to rent out if they please, whether with their partner or a sex worker (or both, if that's what you're into!). Keep in mind that sex work is legal in New Amsterdam, so everything is above code. Some clubs will even have a room on one of their floors that's been set up for a full-blown orgy. Again, this information could be researched online for any Displaced who are DTF. And for anyone looking to spice things up in the comfort of their own homes, many of the sex shops are having major sales on sex toys and other parephenelia. Have fun!

> SAFEHOUSE

Located under an abandoned hover-bike garage, access to the safehouse is a hatch in the floor beside a rusted set of metal shelves that used to hold tools and supplies. The immediate area is similarly abandoned: full of rundown and dilapidated warehouses and forgotten businesses, where numerous people squat in hopes of having some stability because they can't afford a place themselves. Gaby will be around, ready to greet as many of the new arrivals as she can and get them settled in. Brusque and no-nonsense, she'll be open to questions, but will advise the newcomers to ask the people who brought them in for the beginning bits of information. Newbies can also contact El through zeir inbox, if needed.

The safehouse is a large space with multiple rooms for storage, with the largest of the rooms 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.

◉ There is a mini-bar set up in the kitchen. The quality of the alcohol inside is akin to what someone might get from the well at a bar, but it's well-stocked. There is also a box of sweet candy hearts with little inscriptions on them. Unlike today, these candies are rather flavorful and even give someone a little bit of their needed vitamins. No, they aren't literal vitamins, but they are good for you! Thank Gaby for the thoughtfulness—she definitely set them up at one point.

◉ Gaby will make it clear to all new arrivals that if they have any requests or queries, they should contact her or El. Either she or El will explain that they've been given a modest stipend of credits to help them get by until they can find a job. This will be enough to cover their living expenses for about a month while they hang out in the safehouse, if they're careful with budgeting.

◉ The drugs making new characters compliant will remain in their systems for a few hours after their arrival at the safehouse 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. They will also be unable to access the world's internet until their ID is set up.

◉ New characters will not be allowed to leave the safehouse until FEBRUARY 11 (DECEMBER 21). 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.

◉ New characters cannot leave the safehouse once inside because the door won't open to them. The door (it's really more of a hatch) will unlock once their ID is made. If your character wants to make a break for it, they'll have to get through experienced members of the Displaced and a rather stubborn hatch, and they won't get far: lacking an ID means no doors will open and they'll be quickly noticed by the police.

> FINAL OOC NOTES

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 FEBRUARY 11 (DECEMBER 21). 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, 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 well as some additional notes from the mods.

As a reminder, December is a check-in only month for activity, so have fun without having to concern yourself with meeting any comment counts!

> NAVIGATION

Comments

4.

[doesitanyway]

My thi-- oh.

[ Trevor's well on his way to plastered, but he catches on and is about to answer with great disdain, until the stranger pauses and asks him something else abruptly. Something that he doesn't understand, which... what else is new? His expression falls into something chagrined because he gets to have another conversation like this. Great. Wonderful. What an enjoyable time he's having, only understanding about half of what anyone says to him. ]

Sorry, you'll have to explain what a cop is first. I'm fairly certain I'm not one, as I've never heard the term.

[snipedt]

[ Tim follows that shift in his expression, mildly nonplussed by its appearance until he keeps talking, and then it clicks. Right, not everybody is from where he's from. Well, allow Tim to instruct you, Trevor. He clears his throat. ]

Cops do... law. They enforce the law. Sometimes badly. Mostly badly, actually. I would say ninety percent badly.