OPEN PSL ❖ paradoxium fragment.

[moes]

At some point in your day, whether you're working on a school project, have found yourself tuckered away after a long battle, or even if you're just already dead - you find yourself falling asleep, even if you may not have the normal capacity for it.

The world turns pitch black, darkness overtaking their sight.

In this world of dreams, filled with nothing but the void, all there is left is a light.

It's distant, sparkling. You can't help but want to reach out for it -

But it is simply out of reach. Too far from your outstretched hands. You try to run, to get closer... but it never does.

And eventually, a voice can be heard from the depths.

"Please," it begs. "won't you help us?"

The voice, strangely enough echoes familiarity in your ears. But you cannot seem to place the voice in your memory. You just get the sense that this is someone kind, gentle. A person you can trust.

Regardless of whether you respond to the voice, it continues.

"If you help us, we will grant your one true desire. A wish."

While many may have doubts, you get the feeling that what this voice speaks is the truth.

"There is a curse that plagues our land. We offer you a choice: to come and save our land. To help us. We are the kami that reside over this land. But fear not, child of man. We will not leave you alone in this journey. We shall make sure to protect your soul as you traverse each Fragment until our land is cleansed of the evil that befalls it.

It may be difficult.

However, we believe that you will be able to help us."

Just as you open your mouth, trying to answer back or protest -

You find yourself submerged completely into water, hearing the sound of ringing chimes as you finally open your eyes.

--

You blink awake as the sunlight hits your eyes - ending up on a stone pathway. For some strange reason, you find yourself feeling a little uncomfortable, as if you had been sleeping on solid ground for quite some time.

The chirps of the hummingbirds can be heard in the distance, loud and clear, as you find your bearings.

The weather is nice and temperate; typical for a spring morning in the city.

When you check your person, you find that most of your items have gone missing, but in its place are three mysterious things that you swear are not yours: a sleek, silver touchpad cellular phone, a striking red debit card with the symbol of a hummingbird that graces it, along with your full name that denotes that it is yours, and a key. And regardless of whether or not you have knowledge of these items, you find yourself intimately familiar with their basic workings.

Looking around, you notice soon enough that you have awoken at what seems to be a shrine. And while the building is mostly intact, it seems to be old and worn down. Dried leaves pave the entire area, too.

There also seems to be a small garden nearby, but all the plants there just seem to be withering away.

It takes a couple of minutes before someone finally arrives to greet you, but you get the feeling that leaving the shrine grounds immediately is a very bad idea.

The doors of the shrine eventually open up -

Who they see revealed depends on the person. They may be familiar face, or perhaps a stranger. But what is clear, regardless of who this person is that they seem to be wearing the typical shrine garb, that of a miko.

Eventually, they speak up:



"Welcome, everyone, to Yawara-cho.

Many of you may have questions, and I am here to answer many of those that may be plaguing you, as well as any additional ones that may come up.

I am the temporary miko here at this 'Tokimoto' shrine, and I, like many of you, am not from this world. I simply act as the mediary between all of you and the kami, so any questions you have for myself personally or the kami will go through me.

All that the kami wants is one thing: to get rid of the curse that plagues these lands, and in exchange, they will grant a single wish.

That is the gist of it. I will now open the floor to any questions."



[ OOC: Welcome, everyone to a long form PSL in the form of Paradoxium Fragment! This is a timeloop horror mystery PSL that has elements from the When they Cry series and Iwaihime, but will also loosely incorporate other series as well.

Horror elements will primarily be psychological, but body horror may be incorporated depending on the player.

In terms of moving things along, I will try to make sure that things move smoothly at least once a month. If you need to contact me for any questions/comments/concerns, please ping me either on plurk (tsundereban) or Discord (tsunderebans)! As this is an open PSL for my timeline, characters who participate may also interact with each other if they'd like, or keep things separate. I'm willing to run with things either way.

Locations can be found here for any investigative purposes. ]

Comments

[composalvation]

[There's something... familiar, about the blackness that surrounds Kanade when she first falls asleep. A strange sense of deja vu takes over her as she sees the fragment before her, echoing again as she reaches out for it... but she can't place her finger on just why. She doesn't get a chance to really stop and think about it, though - that voice calls out to her, something in her heart twisting at the familiarity. It stops Kanade from panicking, from babbling out questions, but-

"If you help us, we will grant your one true desire."

Her one desire... could this be just what she needed, to find the key to saving Mafuyu? Could she finally find that song that's eluded her for so long, now?

... She can't pass up an opportunity like this. Whatever's in store for her, she has to agree. For Mafuyu.

As the world around her comes back into focus, Kanade barely acknowledges the ache in her body; after all, that's kind of a normal thing for her, with how often she passes out at her desk. Instead, she focuses on looking first one way, then the other, trying to spot any other people around.]

... Hello? Is there anyone else here...?


[Later, though, Kanade is there when the miko reveals themselves. It takes a moment for her to understand what they're saying, though, because the familiarity hits her in a far harsher way than the voice from the void space earlier did.]

You...

[livefreely]

[And to the surprise of Kanade it's a face of someone that she doesn't recognize. But the way she smiles back at the other girl seems almost familiar -- like she's mimicking the movements of someone else that she may be familiar with.]

It's a me! [Her voice is much lighter than it had been just seconds ago, cheery and upbeat instead of being usually serious.] I didn't scare you with all that weird miko talk, did I? I've never actually been a miko before, so I wanted to try playing the part like how you'd see it in the movies!

[GIRL.]

How'd I do? Did I surprise you? Oh... that thing about questions is still open, though!

[composalvation]

[... Huh. She thought...

... Maybe it's just the deja vu again. But no, it doesn't feel like that. It's definitely familiarity, not the feeling of something she forgot that she should be remembering. Hm...]

That was certainly a mysterious introduction, so... I think you pulled that off rather well.

[She means it!]

Um, I guess my main question is... how are we supposed to help? I can't really do anything other than compose...

[livefreely]

Yippee!

[Iori's smile broadens more, clapping her hands together as she shifts gears, sounding a little more serious.]

I don't actually know too much since I can't leave this place, but... just get to know the place a little more, first. Since you all are from another world, you might notice some things that the natives cannot.

If the kami brought you here knowing your skills...perhaps composing something might help the land recover, or counter the curse.

[mariownette]

[There's one voice that rings out from behind her, one that's been quite present ever since she moved in with the composer.]

Kanade...?

[...She's still a little stiff from waking up on the ground, herself; having come here at the behest of that voice, for an opportunity to finally find something of herself... it almost feels like a needle into her heart, seeing Kanade here. Had she been called here with a wish that she wanted fulfilled too...? And if so... had she really gotten so desperate to find that song? If nothing else, they were here together now, but... she couldn't ignore that feeling in the back of her head. No matter how little she understood of herself, some things still felt wrong enough that she couldn't simply put it aside. And if Kanade could potentially get entangled in them...

...it makes her uneasy.]

[composalvation]

... Mafuyu?

[... No, that can't be right. Mafuyu can't be here - she shouldn't be here. If any of them is gonna be sticking their necks out in some crazy world-on-the-line mess like this, it should be Kanade, right? Kanade who was always planning to sacrifice herself for others in one way or another. It makes sense for her to be here... not Mafuyu or any of the others.]

You... why are you here, too?

[mariownette]

...I was called out to in a dream. They promised... I'd be able to find myself. Or even a little bit...

[...she isn't sure that wish is actually reachable, yet, even if it reads like it's true. But if anything can get her there... if Kanade's song draws her out of that darkness... maybe this wish being fulfilled will help her remember who she was.]

[likememore]

[Ena wakes up slowly, groggy and groaning softly, unsure of how or where she fell asleep in the first place. She came back from night classes, then she started working on something for a video... she remembers Amia's voice in her ears complaining about something or other, K's soft concern, Yuki's less-soft not-exactly-concern but she's trying... where is this, though? It'd be one thing if she'd fallen asleep at her desk, but this place...

She remembers something... talking to her, while she was out, maybe? Someone nice that she feels like she should know, but she couldn't tell who for the life of her? Something needing her, her specifically? Something she wanted? A... a wish? Her heart's desire... what the hell does she even desire? To be a better artist, sure, but is that worth burning a wish on? She doesn't want to surpass her father that way. Then what else? Money? Fame? Her circle...? Actually? Maybe that might be better? But then, who to use it on...? Hmm. Well, they're not asking her for it now, she can. Think on it. Until then, she can figure out what she can do about a curse. With. Kami protecting her soul.......

...what is she getting herself into?

Her immediate first thought, as she pushes herself to her feet and dusts herself off, is to grab her phone to hear her friends' voices for reassurance, but. That's not in her purse. She doesn't have her purse or anything that was in it, save her school ID. Just... a shiny new phone that definitely won't run Nightcord. Uh-oh. If kami brought her somewhere else, is this a different... what did they call it, a Fragment, with the Audible Capital Letter and all? She's cut off from Niigo then?]

Okay, this sucks a lot more than I gave it credit for...

[But there's nothing for it, so she explores a little bit. She registers the shrine, thinks to come back to it, and then starts to walk away... and then feels a chill shoot straight down her spine, and immediately spins on her heel, grimacing, returning to the space where she came to, looking around.]

Way, way more than I gave it credit for. Hey, what's going on?

[She doesn't journey far in her initial attempt to explore the shrine, partly because she's really hoping someone finds her and explains something? That means when the shrine opens to reveal a miko, she's close enough to hear it and turn. She listens to the explanation with one ear, but she shivers. Actual shrine maiden with actual knowledge of the situation means this probably isn't just a prank. Which means she needs to pay attention and be careful, especially without support. Ena keeps her mouth shut for a long moment, staring at the miko with a neutral if slightly worried expression, before shaking her head.]

I'm not exactly a cursebreaker... I don't know how much help I'm going to be. What am I supposed to do, even?

[livefreely]

Whatever feels right, honestly.

[The shrine maiden answers, chipper and in a way that seems a bit more casual compared to moments prior.

Her expression is reminiscent of that of an idol -- bright, but not blindingly so.]

My first suggestion is to get to know the place first, really.

[likememore]

[...hmm. This girl's got a bit of a mood switch. Like a certain someone else she knows. But this mode reminds her of yet someone else... for now, though, the brighter personality is enough to back her walls off a little bit.]

Whatever feels right will probably be something you'll be able to hear from here. [She can't help it drawling in sarcasm a little, although she sighs softly.] But it's... worth a shot, I guess. Um. Let's see...

[Ena rifles through her pockets, thankful she was still wearing a skirt with them last night... uh, this morning? She quickly comes back with two more items: a debit card and a key.]

Oh good, I was wondering what I was going to do about dinner. I'll have to figure out where the key goes... and if someone's going to be expecting me at school... and figure out a change of clothes... I guess it's better than not having anything, though. [She pauses, before looking back to the miko.] What if I don't figure anything out about the curse? If I had forever to look, there wouldn't be something crazy like a wish on the line.

[livefreely]

Did they bring you here for your chords of steel...?

[The miko muses aloud, a light teasing tone in her voice.]

I can cook for everyone since I'm basically stuck here all day; the shrine grounds have a good stock of stuff for the whole two months.

[composalvation]

[It might be unsurprising, for Ena to see a familiar frail-looking white haired girl in this world, slightly hunched over and examining the dying garden. If there's anyone that might be tempted by such a wish, it would be Kanade; Kanade, whose sole purpose for living now is to write a song that can save Mafuyu. Kanade, who's already thrown so much of herself into the dust in pursuit of that goal. Too kind and selfless for her own good, Kanade could never pass up on helping someone who asks for it. So of course she's here.

And of course Ena is loud enough that Kanade's head perks up at her grumbling, turning towards her in surprise.]

E-Ena-?!

[likememore]

[It is unsurprising, in a way; surprising to see someone else she knows here in this place so far removed from her - their Shibuya, but if it would be anyone, it'd be Kanade, who gives and gives and gives of herself, and who has someone she would do... rather a lot to help. Maybe something dangerous.

But maybe that's why Ena's here, as the voice registers consciously and her eyes widen. If Kanade pushes herself too hard, Ena can reach out and grab her by the collar of her tracksuit before she drives herself over the edge.]

Kanade!? What are you- I mean, I'm glad to see you, but why are you here?

[composalvation]

[Bold of you to assume she can be stopped just by being dragged off, Ena-]

I heard a voice. It was asking for help. [It promised a wish...] It didn't feel like a dream... it felt like when I first heard Miku's voice calling out to me. I couldn't just ignore it.

Exploring

[mariownette]

Ah... Ena. [The lack of affect in her voice... well. Given how long they've known each other, it can't really hide her relief that there's one more from the group that's here. Especially in the way her shoulders relax and the tension leaves her fairly quickly.] I just got here, myself.

[She's already marked off a few places on the map in her hands to look at, at least.]

[likememore]

[Ena hasn't thought far enough ahead to actually do something like look at a map in detail. That would require a map app she doesn't have on the smartphone she isn't holding. (Would a paper map occur to her? Eventually. Hopefully.) So she's just looking around at what she can see from here, and what's in the shrine complex, when a soft, dull voice she was absolutely not expecting comes from behind her. She starts and spins.]

Haa? Mafuyu!? What- [she stops herself from the stupid question, and amends-] They grabbed you too? I mean... yeah, but still. [A pause.] N-not. Not that I'm not glad to see you, though.

[She stopped herself from blurting out, If any of us needs a wish, it's you, but she's still thinking it.]

[mariownette]

They didn't really give me a choice.

[Not that any of them had one, from the look of it. Mafuyu hasn't spoken with too many others yet, but that dream... it still bothers her. The way she was pushed under water without so much as a chance to affirm such a choice...

It reminded her why she needed to run away in the first place.]

I found Kanade, too. It looks like Mizuki's the only one that hasn't arrived...

[Not that they're any less in over their heads, trying to solve a problem this severe, but... it's probably for the better. Mafuyu, of course, wouldn't say no to her helping.

She'd also rather it didn't pull her in as well.]

cw: vague mentions of parental death.

[deathseeing]

[This dream is very different from what Minazuki Satsuki is used to seeing.

Dreams about death and dying, outcries of people calling her, over and over again a liar, and then there's also the occasional times she'd recall how her mother died...

But this? This is different. And just as she's about to babble off some questions in the dream, she finds herself waking up with a start. This isn't her home. And while she could probably adjust in any other normal circumstance, she just finds herself with wide eyes, opening her mouth almost automatically:]

Why is there so many...?

[Later, after reeling in her shellshocked expression, she's already off and running--if something awful's really going to happen in this world, then she has to do something about it. There's no way she'll let anyone die in front of her eyes, after all!

Hence why she can be alternatively found at the library in the Northern District as well as the mall in the Central District--she seems to be using her newfound debit card to buy a bunch of supplies: first aid kits, over the counter medicines and even a fire extinguisher. Maybe several. If she spots you and recognizes you from arrival, you might hear her babbling,]

Here, take this and this and this. [Sorry now, you're getting a bunch of the stuff she's bought.] You never know when an accident might happen!

[composalvation]

[Ah, a vaguely familiar face. Kanade remembers seeing a nervous girl like this when she first arrived, but she'd been too focused on speaking with the miko, and with Mafuyu and Ena. A look of concern flits across Kanade's face as she sees how nervous the other girl still looks, but-]

O-Oh! Um, hello, what-

[Oh, well! Okay, there are a few things being shoved into her arms, it's fine. General supplies are good to have in a new home.

... But then Satsuki shoves the fire extinguisher in her hands.]

W-Wait!

[... And Kanade immediately goes toppling to the floor from the sudden weight, letting out a pathetic wheeze as she falls right on top of the extinguisher.]

Auuugh....

[deathseeing]

Ack--

[Seeing Kanade topple over when she gets the fire extinguisher and topples over is enough to cause her to panic a little bit as she scrambles to pick it up from how she's fallen over.]

Sorry about that... [She's still alive, she doesn't see any corpses, either current or premonitory.] Are you okay?

[composalvation]

F-Fine... I just never realized how heavy these are.

[It's not really... that heavy...]

But um... why are you giving something like this out?

[mariownette]

[...it's hazy. Her eyes feel too heavy. Everything still feels murky even as she's waking from her dream. But she can't ever forget that promise, or the voice that spoke it to her.

"I'll help you find yourself."

It feels like she shouldn't -- why would anyone, much less gods, ever need the help of someone so... hollow? So empty? But something within that emptiness sparks to life, desperate to stop things from getting worse, and between that and the possibility of finally finding what she's missing...

She can't even answer before she's plunged into that darkness again, and she awakes on the cold floor of the temple. Her first instinct is to find Kanade -- if she was ever left alone... she wouldn't know what she'd do. But there may be others she could run into along the way, so she'll stop to wave at them, voice even and somewhat lively.]

Excuse me!

[...of course, she does have to go over to the shrine eventually to speak with the miko taking care of it. Surely there has to be something they know that will help her figure things out; coming closer to that wish just happens to be a happy bonus, compared to being able to protect a world in desperate need of it. Even if she doesn't have any sort of strength, nor is she sure she has anything of value to them in the first place...

She still has to try.

...but wait. Why does it feel like there's...?]

Hello? Is anyone there?

[Why does it feel like she's being watched?]

[livefreely]

Yahooo~!

[That, my friends, is the sound of the miko waving at Mafuyu with eyes that are way too bright and gleeful.]

[mariownette]

[That... was not a greeting she was expecting from a miko, but--]

Y--Yahoo...?

[...at least she doesn't look like a ghost, but still-]

[livefreely]

You could have put a little more oomph to it, but that response is good enough for now. Hi! I didn't introduce myself in that spiel, but I'm Nagase Iori. What's your name?

[Definitely not a ghost. She isn't see-through, after all. There's something about the way Iori presents herself that bright, but in that idol sort of way where it isn't overbearingly so--just enough that it's difficult to shift your attention elsewhere.]