Game Update: May I 2377

[nashiramods]

Weather & Recap ⭐︎ By Daylight ⭐︎ By Starlight
🎶 Recommended Listening: Smile.dk - Future Girls ♪
may i 2377
EPISODE 1: Flash Fashion? Couture Craze in Chalra City!
May 1 - May 9

Weather: Chalra City is enjoying a balmy and sunny late spring with some light rain here and there. The inland breeze from the nearby beaches brings a cool touch and the promise of summer, and flowering forsythia adds splashes of bright yellow to many parts of the city. The highs for the month average around 72°F/22°C, with lows around 50°F/10°C.

Recap: Episode 0: Nova Knights, Awaken!
At some point in the latter half of April, you awakened to your destiny as a Nova Knight, and last week, you and your fellow Nova Knights assembled for the first time. With Nautis's help, you're here to fight for a common cause — saving the Earth from the Abyss, the evil entity that destroyed your home planet in a past life. Whether or not you've revealed your true identity to any of your fellow Nova Knights, though...

Nautis has asked that you all lay low for a bit while she analyzes some data to try and pinpoint the enemy's next move. In the meantime, you can still keep an eye out for the occasional low-level monster terrorizing innocent bystanders, but maybe you're taking this opportunity just to let it all sink in. Maybe it doesn't even feel real yet, despite the big battle last week. After all, finding out that you have a special destiny because you're a reincarnated space alien can be a lot to take in.

BY DAYLIGHT
⭐︎ The new school year is underway at the Everwave Academy for Distinguished Youths, and after a month, students and faculty alike have settled back into the familiar school day rhythm. There's a new teacher in the art department, Shelly Lustre, whose highly critical approach has already made him a polarizing figure among students.

⭐︎ Chalra City is always changing with the times, and fashion is no exception! The new hot thing is in and it is Dan Flashes, a high-end boutique that recently opened in the downtown shopping district. Shoppers are turning out in droves to snatch up their latest pieces, especially their signature line of shirts with a variety of elaborate patterns despite the designer prices, which seem...to be based on how complicated the patterns are...? Huh?? Their items are, uh, pretty unique, but maybe the exclusivity is the main draw. Surely no one would actually buy these because they think they look it looks good, let alone wear them, right?

And yet the craze has taken hold of the city! Even if you can’t afford to shell out $800 for a shirt that looks like a screensaver threw up on an upholstered bus seat, you can still show your brand loyalty by wearing one of their signature pins. They’re practically giving them away, and it seems like just about everyone is wearing one these days. If you want to be in right now, Dan Flashes branded pins are all the rage in pop couture.

BY STARLIGHT
Hideout: Part of the Nova Knights package is the secret hideout beneath Lucky Stars Arcade, made of the remnants of a part of the Nashira that crash landed on Earth hundreds of years before Chalra City's founding. Right now all that's accessible is the console room that houses Nautis's core and the briefing room, which serves as a kind of lounge, but aside from shelves built into the walls, the only furniture there is an ancient table bolted to the floor, and anything that hasn't been recently touched is covered in a thick coat of dust. Who knows what you might find in there?

Still, if you want to just hang with your fellow Knights while in supernova (you know, in case you're concealing your identity), this is the place to be! All of the Nova Knights have been granted the power to warp themselves to the hideout while in supernova, but there's also the secret entrance behind the Bleat Fighter 3 cabinet that can be accessed by inputting a special button combo.

Intel: As Nautis mentioned in Episode 0, much of the data she needs to track the enemy's movements still needs to be decrypted from her databanks. She's getting some funky readings, and while she doesn't know exactly what they mean yet, it could be trouble...but soon she might have some information about those behind the arcade kerfuffle — the Harbingers of the Abyss!

⭐︎
Welcome to the grand opening for Stars of the Nashira! 🎊 Feel free to post your own logs, or you can use this as an open log for first half of the month. If you have any questions about the game update, you can drop them in the comment thread below.

Comments

QUESTIONS

[nashiramods]

[NPC] Maomao

[wood_sorrel]

Maomao can be found around various parts of the Everwave Academy campus, but especially the library, chemistry lab, and school garden. She's also working at Luomen's pharmacy after school most days. She wouldn't be caught dead shopping at Dan Flashes (as if she has the money), but she might have a few errands to run for her father in the shopping district.

Re: [NPC] Maomao

[theriflespiral]

"Mycology and botany, per usual, then..." Natalia, too, is habitually in the library.

She's got her own crazy interests and has zero room to judge. In this case, she's actually brought in some higher-order geometry texts and current mathematics research from Iacon. Don't ask how she got it, and she'll tell you no lies.

Still, she likes sitting next to Maomao. It's quiet, most of the time, and she doesn't want much else out of an immediate after-school activity. Athletics, martial arts, and parkour can be handled by starlight. Maomao herself also acts as a shield from people who saw her initial test scores and immediately saw an isolated, bullyable tutor.

[wood_sorrel]

Maomao doesn't mind Natalia hanging around as long as she's quiet. Maomao might have some feelings about having the social qualities of a citronella candle if it negatively impacted her in any way, but it doesn't, so she doesn't.

Her only response to Natalia's comment is a bland noise of acknowledgment. She sneaks a glance at Natalia's books, though, and her eyebrows go up.

If you're checking out those kinds of books...do you even need to be at this school?

With the grades Maomao assumes she must have, surely she could test early into some kind of college program. Maomao hears they do that sort of thing. But then again, it's none of her business, and her attention quickly reverts to her own book, a thick reference text on flora from a far-off land, common there but rarely seen here in Atlace. Her eyes are completely fixed on the hand-drawn illustrations, her usual blank look transformed to one of rapturous interest.

[parillegal]

Toward the evening when the sun is setting, Maya passes Maomao in her dash back to the hide out with some supplies. So what Maomao most likely sees is a familiar Verdigris House girl darting past with a cheap broom, who stops a few paces ahead of Maomao in a wide-legged stance, turns around suddenly, and—

"Hey! It's Maomao!"

— puts her hands together as if in prayer (around the broom, of course) and bows in greeting.

[wood_sorrel]

Hey, it's a sudden obstacle in the fucking road!! Maomao, her nose in a book borrowed from Everwave's ever-so-fancy school library, is absolutely not listening and doesn't notice Maya until she's all but walked into her, dropping her book. Her head most helpfully collides with Maya's with a resounding thonk, and Maomao grimaces as she staggers back, one hand to her head.

"It's Maya," she says, far less enthusiastically as she gathers her book from the ground, dusting it off. She cocks an eyebrow at the broom. "Grams got you doing chores around the house today?"

[archivalquality]

I. A Piece of History [By Starlight]

Shortly after they had been summoned to Nautis’ base of operations, Nova Zenith could be found meticulously dusting the two rooms with the care and attention one would give a historic artifact. Mostly because that was precisely what it was. The advanced technology may be beyond him, but the fact these two areas of the ship had been preserved in such good condition was nothing short of miraculous as far as the historian was concerned. If the other areas were in half as good shape as the briefing room, perhaps there were other relics that would give them a better idea of Hassalahn culture.

Already a very private person, Optimus had taken Nautis' warning to hide their identities to heart, maintaining his disguise despite the outlandish costume/uniform he found himself in. He had expected it to be cumbersome, moving around in metal armor with a long cape, but there was something about it that felt familiar in a way he didn't have to think about. The mask was also a nice assurance that it would be more difficult for others to recognize him.

However, it did make for quite the juxtaposition with the mundanity of his fastidious cleaning.

II. Perplexing Patterns [By Daylight]

The thing about teaching at a school for distinguished youths where “distinguished” is more synonymous with affluent is that it is almost impossible to ignore current trends. Optimus may not be keyed in to what’s fashionable, but when many of the parents start sporting some truly garish designs one tends to take notice. He wished he could claim to have misheard the price of the shirts when it came up in conversation, because it was, frankly, absurd.

When a small pile of pins appeared on the table in the faculty lounge, Optimus found himself picking one up out of curiosity, inspecting it with a frown as he tried to determine what the appeal was.

III. Wildcard

[Optimus can generally be found around Everwave Academy, notably the library, guidance office, or faculty lounge. Students he would be tutoring or meeting with for career/behavior advice would have set meeting times for 1-on-1s. Nova Zenith may be encountered at headquarters trying to get more information out of Nautis (with limited success probably).]

ii

[fibrillate]

Having been called in for the role today, as far as anyone else is aware, Hope walks into the faculty lounge with six Dan Flashes pins stuck to the lanyard of their ID badge. (Together, they almost look like they form some big abstract picture or maybe spell out some ciphered word, but despite a bunch of puzzling, Hope hadn't been able to figure it out. It's probably just pareidolia.) All they know is that they generally make it much harder for Hope to sneak around, which is why they're on something related to work and not something they wear normally.

"Optimus," they say by way of greeting as they approach the table, and then they finally see that much bigger pile of pins right there and they laugh. "Are those all yours? I didn't take you for someone who followed trends that closely. Or someone who wanted to look like he spilled neon spaghetti on his shirt."

[archivalquality]

"No," he answered flatly, eventually placing the pin back with the others. "I believe someone left them here for others who are interested."

He glanced down at Hope's lanyard. "It would appear you have taken a liking to them."

That was certainly quite the collection they have gathered so far.

1!

[theriflespiral]

Neos was not necessarily one to treat things with overwhelming respect, but even she could feel the genuine history of the place. In fact, she'd been trying to look into the archives of Iacon University on her own time, seeing if she couldn't find records of when the Nashira crash-landed near Chalra City.

Surely it was a noteworthy event? If it was in one of the denser parts of the city, that meant that in the past it might have been a lesser urban area-- and that alone indicated that plenty of people would have seen it, if only to complain about the disaster relief?

Regardless, as she looked over microfiche of ancient journals and letters, she spared a glance to Nova Zenith. "Do you have a good idea of when she might have fallen, yet?"

[archivalquality]

Zenith looked up, turning away from his work so she had his attention.

"All I know is that it would have occurred well before this area was populated, which aligns with the information Nautis was able to share. There are no known references to such an event, and while many ancient relics have been unearthed here, none of those sites revealed any debris that would match the Nashira."

He was well-versed on the history of the city, and neither any academic studies or information he had from Dr. Ryon shed any light on the mystery of the ship's crash landing.

"Without proper equipment it is impossible to determine an exact time frame; and that is assuming the material the ship is constructed from can even be analyzed with the same methods as objects originating from our own planet."

Mutsumi Wakaba | Nova Mortis

[avemortis]

a. everwave garden
Mutsumi mostly keeps to herself in class, but after school, she can often be found in the vast school garden (more of a small arboretum, really) tending to a trellis of cucumber plants. They're maturing, but haven't flowered just yet, the leaves along the vine a vibrant green. Drops of water from the watering can gleam in the afternoon sunlight as they roll down the leaves, gathering at the tips before falling to the ground. Mutsumi watches the trickle of the water with a blank expression, and it's hard to tell if she's entranced or just really zoned out.

b. wildcard
[ hmu if you want to thread with nova mortis and/or backthread anything from episode 0! ]

c. awakening (closed to brnine)
It's sunny out and she doesn't have ballet class, so today Mutsumi is in the school garden, tending to the cucumber plants. She takes her time watering them, listening to the birds and the wind in the trees, but she doesn't look like she's particularly enjoying herself. Still, she doesn’t leave until the watering can is empty and the water has begun to drip onto the ground below.

Some of the other students have neglected to completely put away the equipment they were using. Mutsumi, carrying the watering can in one hand and a few gardening tools under her other arm, finds her path briefly obstructed by a passing butterfly; her gaze following as it flutters up and away, she doesn’t see that the garden hose lies in a tangled pile just underfoot.

a

[fibrillate]

Local substitute teacher Ms. Carassia, now no longer on the clock and simply Hope, makes their way into the garden whenever their mood strikes them. Right now, it's pleasant enough outside, and they've been spending too much time cooped up. (If they had a therapist, they'd assume she would say something about going outside more often anyway.) They're still dressed a little more nicely, as though they're about to teach, but they don't seem to mind the risk of getting these clothes dirty.

They walk up behind Mutsumi and smile, and when they speak they just hope not to startle the young girl. "It's pretty, right? Watching the way the water moves. Are you having fun?" they ask, grinning a little.

[avemortis]

And yet, Mutsumi is startled -- but only a little, in the same way a single drop stirs a still pond. Mutsumi blinks, looking up at Hope, then her gaze drops back down to the shining leaves and she nods. Yes, she is having fun. This is what Mutsumi having fun looks like. Probably?

Kalim Al-Asim ☀️ Nova Sunbeam

[istandwithmycancelledwife]

I. BY DAYLIGHT: Dan Flashes

Outside the store, Kalim is experiencing buyer's remorse. Lifting the overpriced shirt out of its glossy carrier bag, he frowns at it contemplatively.



"Man, I dunno about this shirt," he sighs. "It seemed really exciting at first, but actually, it just kind of gives me a headache to look at...?" He kind of jumps when he realises someone else is positioned to eavesdrop, though, and changes tack quickly: "Ah, it's not THAT bad, though! I mean–! The pattern is really fun!"


II. BY DAYLIGHT: Lucky Stars Arcade

Going to the arcade is new for Kalim, because Jamil has, for his own reasons, generally dissuaded him from checking it out in the time since he's moved to the city. But now he has a secret hideout to go to that's hidden underneath the Lucky Stars Arcade, how could he NOT check it out? All the lights and sounds are so inviting, and while Kalim has never been much of a gamer™ and isn't really interested in most of the games that involve moving a little guy around, the ones that involve moving yourself around have captured his attention.



Which is to say, he’s getting really into DDR (Disco Disco Renaissance, obviously), and in the first couple of weeks of May he can be found pretty often at Lucky Stars after school, doing his best on one of the DDR machines and generally managing, like...okay. Decent. He has good reflexes and good rhythm, but no matter how many times he tries he can't quite nail it. 



Regardless, if someone stops to watch – or if someone he knows is passing by – he gives them as bright a smile as ever when he spots them between tracks. 



"Hey!" He pushes damp hair back from his forehead. "Have you played this before? It's super fun but this song is so tough, every time it gets to the bridge I always miss a ton of notes...!"




III. BY STARLIGHT: blowing up the nova knights group chat again

wow this still all feels so crazy!

i cant believe its actually real

have any of you guys told anyone???
i know nautis said not to but theres some people its way too hard to keep it secret from right XD

II

[theriflespiral]

Unsurprising that Natalia has taken to the arcade.

A bit surprising that she's splitting her attention between a pinball machine, Royal Fighting 2375, and DDR...

Until you realize that these are all games that allow for extension of play-- whether by good arrangement and ball handling, letting others waste their quarters, or winning perfect rounds.

And Natalia, doing things perfectly? Is hardly a surprise at this point isn't it?

In truth, while she's waiting, she's also checking out the environs for signs of their struggle but a few nights prior. Any clue she can glean about the enemy is important.

She stares at the song in question. "... I think I can do this one, yes. Would you like me to demonstrate?"

[istandwithmycancelledwife]

Kalim looks delighted. "Yeah! Do you wanna play it together?"

He seems to have immediately forgotten that specifically she's offering to demonstrate so he can see how she does what he can't manage.

i

[avemortis]

Mutsumi usually passes through the shopping district on her route home, but she's actually been standing here long enough to have watched Kalim buy the shirt and then leave the store, witnessing his buyer's remorse in realtime.

Her brows knit, and she looks down at the shirt and back up at Kalim, as if to say, it's OK dude you don't have to pretend to be nice about it to me.

[istandwithmycancelledwife]

Kalim grins sheepishly.

"I wanna like it, you know?" He holds it out for Mutsumi's inspection. "I dunno, what do you think?"

iii

[fibrillate]

:?
It's been pretty easy for me to keep things secret...
But maybe I just have a lot of experience!
After all, my life outside of the Nova Knights isn't something I want too many people to know about either
...And I don't have many people to tell, on top of that

wildcard. awakening time

[snizier]

Jamil does not generally like going to the movie theater. Scratch that: he generally does not like going to the movie theater with Kalim, because a crowded, noisy indoor building is the worst place to have to babysit someone as distractible, easily-overstimulated, and unfortunately valuable as That Guy.

Unfortunately, sometimes a guy just really wants to go see the movies with his bestie.

"You should have at least booked a private showing," Jamil mutters. He can't relax with Kalim just out in public like this, but outwardly he's just as calm as ever. "There's no need to be out in the throngs like this. It's a security risk."

Maya Fey - Nova Glimmer

[parillegal]

By Starlight:

Maya doesn't go to the academy— not except to drop off and pick up her 'baby sisters' (neither of whom are her blood sisters at all), so she hasn't been quite so available to the others outside of the hideout. When she does get herself to the arcade it's after both her jobs are finished— cleaning at the Kurain house, and dancing a shorter shift at the Verdigris.

That's why, in the hideout, Maya is clad in the underrobes of her dance outfit tied up around her legs as if girded for battle, her hair tied up, and a scarf tied around her face, and has climbed up a few of the shelves built into the walls to dust them down with a rag.

When anyone comes in, she regards;

"Sorry! I'll have this done in juuuuust a minute!"

As she reaches precariously over to swipe off dust from the top shelf.

She just can't let it be so nasty in here!


WILDCARD:

[Maya can also be found right outside the Academy before and after school, in the shopping district from time to time during the day running errands for the family, and dancing at the Verdigris house in either early or late evening depending on the shift.]

Re: Maya Fey - Nova Glimmer

[theriflespiral]

Oh no. You've got to be kidding. That's incredibly dangerous. Neos quietly steps behind Maya-- who is this? Why is she dusting the shelves? What's going on here?

Well, regardless, Neos is going to support this. Person.

Quite literally, as she is now carefully holding Maya up by the waist rather than risk the entirety of the Nashira's shelf housing coming down on them both.

[istandwithmycancelledwife]

The sheer improbability of seeing someone he knows in the secret superhero hideout means it takes Kalim – as Nova Sunbeam, of course – a moment to recognise Maya. When he does, he has to slap his hands over his mouth to avoid blurting out her name. It's a really near thing.

"H...Hey!" he manages instead. "What're you doing here? You're not a Nova Knight, right–?"

[fibrillate]

Pandora can usually be heard before they're seen thanks to those chunky purple-and-black boots that came with their outfit. They don't hate them, but it does make it hard to sneak around, so they've mostly given up on that idea. What they haven't given up on is the extra couple inches those boots provide them, bringing them to an impressive five foot five.

Which is all to say that they walk into the same room that this mysterious person is in and the hair on the back of their neck bristles. (It would be a lot cooler if the treads on those boots didn't jutter loudly against the floor when they slide their foot back into a more ready stance.)

"Can I help you?" she asks the person climbing their shelves like a spider monkey.