[center] [color=A9A9A9]........................................................................................................................... Schoolgirls disappear and adults don’t bat an eye. A grim reaper stalks skylines, severing blossoms before they wither. Monsters steal memories and skin, deceiving and seducing their way to their next prey. Two men twist hearts for their own ends, their paths parallel and opposing. Bleak graylight scours the night clean of dreams. Pale starlight burns the shadows from the day. And somewhere, nowhere, the Lostman watches and waits. For another lamb to answer. For another lamb to desire. ...........................................................................................................................[/color] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_lap6dzSUc][img]https://i.imgur.com/JAUihJD.png[/img][/url][color=A9A9A9]...........................................................................................................................[/color][/center][indent][indent][indent] [color=A9A9A9] The metropolis of Tenoroshi exists under a veneer of calm, a monochrome cityscape indistinguishable from so many others. Monorails curve eloquently around towers of glass and steel, while convenience stores sprout like weeds every three blocks. School-bound children share the same streets as wage slaves and punk rockers, a human melting pot created by a too-small world, while warehouses and amusement parks stand empty, relics of a brighter past abandoned by an untrusting present. No one forgets though. The smokestacks of the crematorium inhales and exhales day in and day out. A holy man stands watch over the graveyard, ringing a bell to help the dead pass on. Streetside memorials emerge as splashes of color upon the pavement, whether it be for those lost by accident, lost by malice, or simply lost. Grayscale is the world of eight hundred thousand people, no matter how bright the neon lights of the red-light district, how vibrant the beats of the downtown core. This indifference and numbness though, is what keeps this microcosm of a world functioning. Beneath the grayscale veneer of Tenoroshi is a world that no ordinary person would want to comprehend. Grisly murders go uninvestigated and unreported, dying with the memories of the victims. Buildings vanish overnight, leaving nothing but empty, overgrown lots. The mayor of the town never appears in person, but continues to win elections, over and over again. Rumors and superstitions cross the airwaves constantly, as television hosts invite psychologists and hacks to make sense of the incomprehensible. But no consensus is ever reached, and the legends only grow. Of the Firefly that metes out infernal retribution, bearing a burning hand, a burning heart. Of the Ghost of the Electronic Matrix, the second dimension fairy that scatters itself into the void of the unseen spectrum. Of Harmoney, the true overseers of the human race, the ones who pull the strings without ever revealing their faces. All things that no ordinary person would want to comprehend, all things that no ordinary person would want to face, to explore. But for those that do delve beneath the grayscale veneer of the metropolis that doesn’t care, they would undoubtedly be lead to a certain tale. The story of the Lostman, the messianic figure that would grant the faithful the power to change the world or the power to change themselves, but never both. And never for any price, nor to achieve any particular goal. The most famous enigma of all, the most obscure of them all, the most debated, the most misunderstood. [center]They are the key and lock to the underbelly of Tenoroshi. They are the root of every impossible incident. They are the beholder of all. The asker of one. What would you change? The world or yourself?[/center] [/color][/indent][/indent][/indent][center][color=A9A9A9]...........................................................................................................................[/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7Pz5832xzs][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZpXyLav.png[/img][/url][color=A9A9A9]...........................................................................................................................[/color][/center] [indent][indent][indent] [hider=Lostman] ??? [/hider][hider=Harmoney] ??? [/hider][hider=Firefly] ??? [/hider][hider=Ghost] ??? [/hider][hider=Angel Fix] ??? [/hider][hider=The Collectors] ??? [/hider] [/indent][/indent][/indent] [center][color=A9A9A9]...........................................................................................................................[/color][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGAwbLBCtlc][img]https://i.imgur.com/qTVzZHa.png[/img][/url][color=A9A9A9]...........................................................................................................................[/color][/center] [indent][indent][indent][hider=Central District] [b]Tamagakahara[/b] - An apartment complex on paper, though it would be more accurate to call it an apartment district. 550 units in 31 buildings, fully operational facilities such as a gym, an Olympic pool, a golf range, and much more. All of it is guarded by one of the country's leading security contractors. Like its namesake, the complex houses many of Japan's modern deities. Real estate moguls, executives, politicians, socialites... fallen celebrities. It is truly a castle in the clouds. Miyane's unit takes up the entire floor of the third building. The furnishing is sparse, desolate even, the only places looking lived in being the kitchen and Miyane's bedroom. Funnily enough, the largest room in the unit is never opened. If one were to peek inside, they would find a space consciously darkened by drawn curtains. Cables thrown haphazardly across the carpeted floor, strange padding on the walls. Instruments and microphones leaned against the back wall. The whole room is covered in a thick layer of dust, except for noticeable spot on the piano stool. The keyboard itself remains closed. [b]KonKon Karaoke[/b] - A hole in the wall. Discreet. Uncomfortably sticky. Solid walls, at least. Microphones work fine too, so the joint serves its intended purpose well enough. Miyane's go-to place to blow off some steam cos singers gotta sing, right? No, there's nothing wrong with her in-house studio, karaoke places just... have a better atmosphere. When the owner of the business barely raised an eyebrow at the idol's first booking, she knew this was the one. She's been a regular ever since, her song selections usually indulging in heart-rending ballads and the Lustro songs the company always deemed too 'hardcore' to give to the girl groups. Drinks and snacks can be ordered via the static-y booth phones. Rather subpar offerings, except for the coffee which boasts rather sumptuous notes. A very luxurious bean brand, permanently stocked after a month of Miyane's persistent nagging. [b]Tegami Oka[/b] - One of the many convenience stores that litters the landscape of Tenoroshi, though it's located near the eastern portion of downtown, which is nearby the red light district. It's located on the path Marc takes to the monorail that leads to an area near his school... he really could have a better commute there and back. While it has customers coming and going, same for most stores, this is where Rin works. This usually gives him more than one reason to loiter about in the back until Rin is off hours. [/hider][hider=Eastern District] [b]Tenoroshi Dock[/b] - The filming location for the hideout scenes in Daehyun's upcoming blockbuster. Though its feature in the movie is sure to bring in future revenue, the area has long been a tourist attraction in its own right. Past the maze of shipping containers and notable fish market, Warehouse 14 stands as the dockyard's shining jewel. The structure was uncovered at the turn of the millennium. Instruments of torture, drug paraphernalia, documents explicitly recording the illegal shipments that came in. The warehouse had been a major Yakuza den during the Showa Period, abandoned for some reason or another. Despite the local police stripping the place clean, it is still a must-see for crime-history enthusiasts including the likes of Father Crime's screenwriter, though there has been a recent rise in public disputes between the filming crew and dock workers over interference in each other's work. [b]Niimura Street[/b] - A winding, tight street filled with both residences and small shops selling wildly varying merchandise. A very "hole-in-the-wall" type location, and one that is often visited by "punks" such as herself, though they keep to themselves near the bike rack. As no bikes have been reported stolen in years, the delinquents are left alone by police, though some unfamiliar with the area may pass by worried that they're up to no good. Mana used to go by this place more often, especially during high school, but has since taken to only occasionally catching up with the locals. Sometimes she sells cigarettes to minors there at a higher price than she bought them herself. [b]Suihei Elementary School[/b] - The grade school where Tsurushi currently teaches. It's one of the many grade schools that can be found in the metropolis that is Tenoroshi, and while it's not the best one around, it has a nostalgic feel to it since it was where Tsurushi first attended school back in the day. It has a total of 7 classrooms, one for each grade, and comes with a playground where children can play during recess. The playground is small however, with several swings, a couple slides and a sandbox. [/hider][hider=Northeastern District] [/hider][hider=Northern District] [b]Kokina Obu Resort[/b] - Zaketa and Tsurushi live in this hotel, which takes pride in its cleanliness and affordability. They also offer free breakfasts to anyone who's hungry, which both girls take on every opportunity they can get. About the messiest part of the entire hotel is the room where Zaketa and Tsurushi stay, and that's only because of the former's lifestyle. Between Tsurushi's salary and the donations Zaketa receives from her subscribers (among other payments she gets from her job), the two girls seem to be quite capable of paying for their room with money to spare for shopping. The only real complaint is that the rooms aren't big enough. [b]Teru Tiger Traceur Gym[/b] - Located on the north side of the city in front of a rather gorgeous park that is home to many Japanese spring flowers. The location is visited by many types of people, to the point where one wouldn't even bat an eye at a lean old man or a much younger individual. Outside of the standard parkour gym equipment, they have an obstacle course set up inside, with the owners altering the course every one or two months. Funny enough, this was one of the first activities Marc's mom introduced him to when coming to this city and still does it to this very day... though it is rather far out, so it does take a while for Marc to travel there. [/hider][hider=Northwestern District] [b]MeruMeru Konbini[/b] - A convenience store located at the crossroads of a major street that leads from the outer third of Tenoroshi to downtown. Being so close to so many other convenience stores, their common customers are those living right above the store, and those who don't want to waste time at mom and pop stores where their particular favorite meal brand may or may not be sold. As far as business goes, things are steady, with booms during the mornings when commuters are headed by or out. This is where Mana works part time. [/hider][hider=Western District] [b]Shiomi Hill Park[/b] - A small playground built alongside a winding hill road that leads out of Tenoroshi. It is equipped with a jungle gym and four swings, as well as a sandpit carefully maintained by an elderly lady who lives nearby, and enjoys sitting in the park. Since there are no schools nearby, and the majority of residents are older, the playground doesn't see too much use besides the occasional grandchildren coming around. The edge of the playground overlooks the hillside edge. A great view of Tenoroshi. [b]Tengu's Villa[/b] - A rather old apartment complex that has seen better days when compared to the contemporaries surrounding it. While Marc has never been inside it, from the looks of it, looks orderly, antiqued like a shrine, which contrasting against the less maintained exterior. Based on who lives around here, Marc assumes that its mostly older folk, which he wouldn't be exactly wrong about. Granted, the main reason he comes to this particular venue is because of not only how tall it is, but the view when overlooking Tenoroshi. Usually Marc gets to the top by utilizing the fire escape on the side, though he doesn't visit it as much as he could like. [/hider][hider=Southwestern District] [b]Love S Us[/b] - A night club at the bottom end of town, deep into the red light district. It is also the headquarters of a company that uses what is referred to as "high-price call girls", sending them towards male clients who usually pay anywhere from ¥15000-30000 per hour for them, all for some quality time. Zaketa and Tsurushi both worked under the employ of the night club's owner (at exactly the same time, ironically enough), and both had to endure their fair share of hardships, but had different reasons for accepting the job, with Tsurushi not being capable of doing anything else at the time and Zaketa having the perfect dream in her head of being paid to be treated like a princess... which of course was far from what happened. Outside the entrance to the Love S Us building itself is a single bouncer who is there to restrict access to the club, particularly from high schoolers. [b]Sakura Mansion[/b] - Located 5 minutes away from the redlight district, the Sakura Mansion is a 6 story apartment complex. Known for the peculiar situations of those who live in it and their strict code of not asking any questions, it's perfect for the people who dislike any intruding eyes. Each room is only 6 tatami mats, there's no baths, and you have to use public washrooms located on each floor. Marina lives on the third floor, alongside an unused futon, a corkboard filled with notes, and a small meat freezer. [b]Ishikawa Gym[/b] - While located about half an hour's walk away from the Sakura Mansion, it's only about 15 minutes away if you use the maze of alleyways that separate the two. The Ishikawa Gym is a run-down place with the best equipment from fifteen years ago. Despite its dire straits, it's known for being filled with the best martial arts practitioners outside of specialized dojos. Most people interested in kickboxing end up visiting Ishikawa Gym and being repulsed. Still, most local tournaments are hosted inside of it. The owner ignores Marina's antics due to the amount of clout and revenue she brings in to the gym. [/hider][hider=Southern District] [b]Tenoroshi North Park[/b] - Despite being called Tenoroshi North Park, it's not actually in the north. Located about an hour's walk south from the Sakura Mansion, it's notorious for being a hangout for misfits, skaters, punks, and general troublemakers. With a small amount of grass, a substandard playground, and an elaborate setup of concrete and plywood that form an adhoc skate park, Tenoroshi North Park is where the ephemeral youth go to be themselves. Graffiti and simple grey paint wage war over each wall, ramp, and path for weekly dominance. Yasuo usually chills in the park with his skateboarding gang. [b]Galaxy[/b] - One of the first live houses built in Tenoroshi, Galaxy enjoys a strong reputation as a badass place for amateur punk rock. Home to bands such as Green Daughter, The Quartermasters, and Firestarter, it draws in plenty of crowds during the weekend afternoons and is usually booked at least two months ahead of time. The aesthetic of the building is futuristic, with neon lights and jet black walls painting a striking image inside. [/hider][hider=Southeastern District] [/hider][/indent][/indent][/indent]