Summer Dance Mix (open player plot)

[roundandaround]

WHO: People around Ellipsa and also Rinku
WHAT: The curse that creates a simulation game of your world is back, but it’s… significantly more harmless (except maybe for your wallet).
WHEN: July 6
WHERE: Weird mind space
WARNINGS: Some discussion of trauma/teamnesia games and what goes on in those, as well as the recent Cursed RPG, Jar of Human Poké Ball, and Lobotomy Corporation player plots.

[You were going about your day. Maybe you were hoping for something nice to happen after everything that’s been going on in town these days. It’s been a rough summer so far, after all, for some more than others.

Something grabs you, though. In the real world, you’ve fallen asleep where you stand, but from your perspective, you suddenly see a stage lit up purple and a cheering crowd.]

RAISE YOUR HANDS UP!!!
3
2
1
Let’s Go!
NEXT MEMBER IS…

[Light flashes, and you’re standing backstage. There are others standing around too, some you might recognize. On the stage, you’ll see a DJ booth with your faces on it. One of you might have an instrument, another a fancy glowstick or two, and you’ve all got microphone headsets on.

The announcer is calling you on stage.

Welcome to D4FES.]

—

[Have fun – it’s an open, lighthearted variation on the cursed-item player plot! Info is here, but basically your character is now expected to perform a DJ live, either alone or in a group (players can work that out). There are turntables on the stage that you suddenly know how to use, and characters who wish to fulfill extra roles in units while one of their threadmates DJs will also have whatever equipment they need and the knowledge to use it. Want to VJ? You’ve got a laptop ready, and mysteriously, all the art or video footage you can imagine is there to project onto the screen behind you or into your LED penlights. Want to play live music? Have an instrument!

The post will be divided into three toplevels in chronological: Free Play (where you play your first round and get used to Suddenly You’re On Stage), Gacha (backstage mingle with everyone else, where a gacha mechanic will put you in new clothes that make you feel stronger and that your threadmates can envy and/or laugh at), and Raid (go perform again with all your new skill and score high enough to break out of the simulation).

As is standard, no powers. We don’t want any accidents on stage.]

Comments

[happydreamed]

[Excellent question. What do the kids like with their music... Colors and lights, probably? Can he do those lasers that Porty had at his party, those seemed to be popular?]

[roundandaround]

[Sure can! There's a laptop in the booth for the VJ, and he can absolutely make lasers move around in patterns and colours.]

[happydreamed]

[Fantastic. Purple and pink lasers it is. Is there a fog machine too, can he do that?]

[roundandaround]

[There is now! People start turning their bracelets and penlights to the colours he's using. It seems like for this practice run, he's got access to everything he needs without having to buy it from the slot machine.]

[happydreamed]

[Fantastic!

-Oh, that song is over, he has to put on another one. What else can he sing that you can dance to... One he learned recently, sure. He puts in flashes for the a-a-a parts.]

[roundandaround]

[The crowd seems still mostly into it, even if Kantera's clearly new at this and doesn't pull off a smooth transition. The visuals are keeping them interested, as is his singing; people start to whisper, though it's hard to tell what they're saying from up here.]

[happydreamed]

[They're whispering about him. What are they saying? Is the performance not good enough for them? What else is he supposed to be doing to entertain them? Is this a game that begins harmless and then turns more and more painful for the audience to be satisfied-

Kantera's voice starts to shake, as much as he tries to keep himself from panicking.]

[roundandaround]

[The audience looks at each other, confused, and back to Kantera with concern. What's going on? Is he okay?

Someone holds up their penlight in silver and starts chanting his name. A few others follow. Hold on, it's okay. This is supposed to be fun.]

[happydreamed]

[They're cheering for him. He's not being punished for failure to perform, they're being kind to him.

Kantera takes a deep breath when the song ends, putting on another one with an instrumental intro so that he can have a moment to collect himself before singing again. His voice sounds clearer this time, a little more confident, and he experiments with the turntables to mix up the instrumental parts.]

[roundandaround]

[More and more people change their colours to cheer him on. The music and the way he's turning it around makes them wave their arms and cheer, and the lights all focus on Kantera.]

[happydreamed]

[They're having a good time. This is all it is - a fun performance with no side effects or pain.

During an instrumental, he calls out to the crowd.]

Thank you very much for coming today!

[roundandaround]

[The crowd cheers in response and waves their lights. Someone throws candy onto the stage. The screens in the back for the nosebleed section show Kantera's face.

When Kantera's set comes to an end, the audience claps. His result rolls in.]

LIVE SUCCESS
C Rank Clear!

[Kantera's clear reluctance and his breakdown in the middle of the set did lose him points, but the audience supports him, and he's got the talent and skill to go on.

Congratulations on making it through your first round, Kantera. Now it's just time to head backstage, play around until you go into the raid with the others, and then see the ending.]