They say history is bound to repeat itself, and the sentiment rings just as true tonight. Ash and embers disperse from the burning from of the Art Institute while its patrons scramble to escape through broken windows and a front door packed with too many bodies. Those who manage to breach the crowded threshold sprawl across the lawn, some dragging their wounded dates to the line of first responders clogging the street and others snapping at the opportunity to collapse into the grass and catch their breath. Paramedics and firemen rush the crowd, loading the critically injured onto gurneys and fitting others with oxygen masks.
While the crowd recollects itself on the lawn, the Fausts concern themselves with a discreet exit. A slip of paper and a nod to the police officers who swarm the scene promises a way out, and the street, while already packed shoulder to shoulder with the injured and uninjured alike, is closed off by the placement of their flashing cruisers. It’s as clean of an escape as they can manage given the circumstances, but the victories don’t end there—a rumor is leaked that the Walshes, who gave the heftiest donation of the night, were responsible for the carnage that engulfed the Art Institute. All eyes turn toward the Irish family, and the tension rises impossibly higher not just among their industry rivals, but among the citizens who suffer at “their” hands.
A deal has been made, and the night has been won for the Fausts.
The Grand Reopening of the Art Institute of Chicago Event has concluded ! You may continue or finish your threads as you see fit, but please prioritize regular threads for now.
The Fausts and the Chicago Police Department have joined forces after, uh, overcoming their differences. Not only does this mean the CPD is now considered an ally to the Fausts, but it also means we are introducing ROLES to the CPD ! You can take a look at the roles here—we could always use a few more uniforms working under the table, eh ?
Faust affiliated characters that actively participated in the event can add 40 points to their character. All other family & family affiliate characters can add 30 points if they actively participated in this event!
Summary & plot slots are under the cut!
SUMMARY
CYRUS ROUSSEAU has gone missing. ANATALYA VASILE is being hospitalized with a concussion and a broken ankle. SERAFINA EATON is in the hospital a minor head wound and a possible concussion.
PLOT SLOTS
BIRDIE MENDOZA has caught their gown in the rotating door whilst trying to make their escape, and TORI MASSARO has to decide whether they want to risk their own skin and help or chalk it up the BIRDIE MENDOZA’s bad luck.
JIN-AE ‘JJ’ RAU-BYRNE is engaged in a conversation with the bartender & JESSE VALENCIA, but that conversation is cut short when the bartender catches an unfortunate stray bullet in the face. It’s up to save themselves or help each other get shelter.
ZAKIYA AL KHATIB & OLIVER FAUST detonate the bomb underneath the elevator that traps WYATT LEON, ISABELLA FAUST, AND RAFFERTY DOYLE inside and they have to work together to get out.
NPC strikes a deal with NPC to use this opportunity to steal the most prized piece of artwork in the Art Institute. It almost goes perfectly, until they launch it out a window that’s not illuminated by flames. However, when they finally make it out to collect their prize ▬ EVELINA VASILE is holding it and also brandishing a weapon.
DIAMOND WASHINGTON who not-so-cautiously accepted a colorful pill from a stranger earlier in the night, is convinced the eyes of the painting are moving, suggesting someone may be trapped inside. NPC and NPC notice DIAMOND WASHINGTON dashing further into the flames and take it upon themselves to help, but that means they’ll have to handle the chaos of whatever DIAMOND WASHINGTON is hallucinating.
AMADEUS JUDE CASTELLANOS completely giving no fucks whatsoever picks up a glass of what they assumed was water from the bar to douse a lick of flames that got too close. The problem was it was vodka that fuels the fire, and starts to cover ZOE WASHINGTON. They can either run or stay behind, but ZOE WASHINGTON is 100% able to ID them.
AUDREY ROUSSEAU was in the restroom when the explosion occurred, and a large chunk of the balcony has blocked the door. Smoke is filtering through the cracks in the threshold, and AUDREY ROUSSEAUcalls frantically for help. EZEKIEL “ZEKE” HALLIDAY hears their cries and opts to help, but the flames are moving closer by the second, and the smoke is getting heavier. EZEKIEL “ZEKE” HALLIDAYhas to move fast or they will suffer the same fate as AUDREY ROUSSEAU .
ABRAHAM SWEETWINE helps others to safety using a nearby window, but another explosion leaves them burned and trapped under a large piece of the ceiling. JULIA FAUST bolts to their aid and carries ABRAHAM SWEETWINE to safety. Once outside in the lawn, JULIA FAUST must keep ABRAHAM SWEETWINE awake long enough for medical personnel to arrive.
SERAFINA EATON is able to convince WIKIMAK CLARKE to assist in rescuing the artwork from the chaotic flames. However, after they’re injured in the process SERAFINA EATON realizes the artwork they’re trying to save is falsified. Almost as if the original artwork had been swapped.
ANYA VOLKOVA uses the opportunity to pickpocket abandoned purses scattered around the main hall. They find a loaded pistol in MARKIE “PAIGE” KRAVTSOV ’s purse right as MARKIE “PAIGE” KRAVTSOV comes to collect it and whatever else ANYA VOLKOVA has taken. It’s up to ANYA VOLKOVA to figure out whether or not a purse is worth killing over, but be warned—the flames are moving fast.
TARON LYNCH is outside enjoying a cigarette when the explosion rocks the foundation of the Art Institute, and the law enforcement immediately think they’re a suspect along with IAN LOCKE that had ducked out for a breath of fresh air. They’re taken into custody for questioning.
JAMESON ROBERTS ( WALSH ) narrowly escapes to the lawn, but CONRAD ODAIR( FAUST ) is only a pace behind with a weapon in hand. CONRAD ODAIR fires and barely misses JAMESON ROBERTS, who realizes if they don’t retaliate, there’s no getting out of the art museum alive.
+ open, event pt. 2 || location: gallery, post explosion || @crimsonstarters
hand waving in front of her face to push the stink of smoke away, evelina coughed in annoyance, holding a useless painting over her head to catch any stray flakes of drywall as they cascaded down. bombings were too dramatic for her liking; evelina enjoyed the stalk of her pray and the surprise of her kill. clearing out rooms and rooms felt superfluous; in her mind, it was more fun to pick them off one at a time, using the party as a distraction to end whoever she wanted whenever the opportunity struck. everybody loved a good murder mystery, after all.
stepping over a severed limb, cautious of the spread of blood on her shoes, evelina meandered toward the back corridor, humming under her breath. she coughed again, sensing a presence behind her. dagger sheathed inside the corseted bodice of her dress, evelina rested her hand over it, lifting her chin. “there is no exit. go play somewhere else.”
There are some minor hitches in the night, but overall things are going a bit too good. It makes some question the time, and they’re surprised when they glance down their watches to find it well past curfew. Mysteriously the absence of law enforcement starts to swell the senses filling some with guilt and others with an overabundance of suspicion. At first it’s almost as if time freezes, like you’re trapped in one of the paintings on the wall. White noise has dissolved, but you can feel the quake under your feet. The distorted mouths of the company around you, as the shift in environment explodes. Flames rain down like hellfire from the second floor, unable to shake the horrific silence you can see the rubble of foundation start to join with the fire.
Fight or flight kicked in for the residents in the art museum. Some of them taking the artwork to save over their dead bodies, and some use this opportune moment to finally begin open hunting season on those that harvested their organs. There seems to be some mix up at the door of the entrance. One group helping people get out, and the other hindering. The ringing in your ear stops enough for you to hear the invisible gunfire that started to rock over the roar of flames.
PART II will run until Wednesday May 5th 10PM EST. Plot slots can be found underneath the cut!
We’re going to allow each person to choose two plot slots for two characters max .If there are any leftovers, we’ll let members know when they can sign up for thirds.
You’ll notice that some of these plots are public, so feel free to have your character react to them/ notice them even if they aren’t happening directly to your character. However, if something feels like it happened privately to another character, please check in with their Mun to see if it’s okay for your character to know.
To be clear: these are not the only things that happen to your character during this plot drop and you are more than welcome to cook up your own trouble.
To sign up for a plot slot message the main! You can start doing that as soon as right now! You may start the threads as soon as you’d like. Keep in mind that you can only message the main plot slots choices for your characters alone.
Also, if you’re going to have your character be injured during the phase of part II message the main ( just so we can include it in the conclusion summary)! Your character can still be injured, but we thought it would be cool to include characters in the summary.
PLOT SLOTS
CHARACTER A notices sparks flicker out from behind a painting. Their knee jerk reaction kicks in and they run into CHARACTER B when the painting lights on fire..
CHARACTER C ( FAUST AFF ) triggers one of the distraction bombs, but they didn’t count on CHARACTER D being injured in the aftermath.
BIRDIE MENDOZA has caught their gown in the rotating door whilst trying to make their escape, and TORI MASSARO has to decide whether they want to risk their own skin and help or chalk it up the BIRDIE MENDOZA’s bad luck.
JIN-AE ‘JJ’ RAU-BYRNE is engaged in a conversation with the bartender & JESSE VALENCIA, but that conversation is cut short when the bartender catches an unfortunate stray bullet in the face. It’s up to save themselves or help each other get shelter.
CHARACTER I, CHARACTER J and CHARACTER K have their own mission for tonight, and this chaos offers the perfect opportunity. Who knows how they made it in with box cutters, but CHARACTER I, CHARACTER J and CHARACTER K leave their marks across canvases all the way down the main hall. The flames are closing in fast, though, so don’t dawdle for too long.
CHARACTER L ( FAUST AFF ) & CHARACTER M both are the first people to arrive at the doors of the Art Institute after the chaos starts. One with the goal to keep people in, and the other to keep people out.
ZAKIYA AL KHATIB & OLIVER FAUST detonate the bomb underneath the elevator that traps WYATT LEON, ISABELLA FAUST, AND RAFFERTY DOYLE inside and they have to work together to get out.
CHARACTER R strikes a deal with CHARACTER S to use this opportunity to steal the most prized piece of artwork in the Art Institute. It almost goes perfectly, until they launch it out a window that’s not illuminated by flames. However, when they finally make it out to collect their prize ▬ EVELINA VASILE is holding it and also brandishing a weapon.
DIAMOND WASHINGTON who not-so-cautiously accepted a colorful pill from a stranger earlier in the night, is convinced the eyes of the painting are moving, suggesting someone may be trapped inside. CHARACTER V and CHARACTER W notice DIAMOND WASHINGTON dashing further into the flames and take it upon themselves to help, but that means they’ll have to handle the chaos of whatever DIAMOND WASHINGTON is hallucinating.
AMADEUS JUDE CASTELLANOS completely giving no fucks whatsoever picks up a glass of what they assumed was water from the bar to douse a lick of flames that got too close. The problem was it was vodka that fuels the fire, and starts to cover ZOE WASHINGTON. They can either run or stay behind, but ZOE WASHINGTON is 100% able to ID them.
AUDREY ROUSSEAU was in the restroom when the explosion occurred, and a large chunk of the balcony has blocked the door. Smoke is filtering through the cracks in the threshold, and AUDREY ROUSSEAU calls frantically for help. EZEKIEL “ZEKE” HALLIDAY hears their cries and opts to help, but the flames are moving closer by the second, and the smoke is getting heavier. EZEKIEL “ZEKE” HALLIDAY has to move fast or they will suffer the same fate as AUDREY ROUSSEAU .
CHARACTER B1 starts to exchange gunfire with CHARACTER C1 up the staircase towards the roof. One of the stray bullets hits another small bomb that causes the staircase to falter.
ABRAHAM SWEETWINE helps others to safety using a nearby window, but another explosion leaves them burned and trapped under a large piece of the ceiling. JULIA FAUST bolts to their aid and carries ABRAHAM SWEETWINE to safety. Once outside in the lawn, JULIA FAUST must keep ABRAHAM SWEETWINE awake long enough for medical personnel to arrive.
SERAFINA EATON is able to convince WIKIMAK CLARKE to assist in rescuing the artwork from the chaotic flames. However, after they’re injured in the process SERAFINA EATON realizes the artwork they’re trying to save is falsified. Almost as if the original artwork had been swapped.
ANYA VOLKOVA uses the opportunity to pickpocket abandoned purses scattered around the main hall. They find a loaded pistol in MARKIE “PAIGE” KRAVTSOV ’s purse right as MARKIE “PAIGE” KRAVTSOV comes to collect it and whatever else ANYA VOLKOVA has taken. It’s up to ANYA VOLKOVA to figure out whether or not a purse is worth killing over, but be warned—the flames are moving fast.
AUBREE DAMIANI is trampled by a crowd that beelines to the exit. CHARACTER K1 is the only one to stop and help them up off the ground & carry them.
TARON LYNCH is outside enjoying a cigarette when the explosion rocks the foundation of the Art Institute, and the law enforcement immediately think they’re a suspect along with IAN LOCKE that had ducked out for a breath of fresh air. They’re taken into custody for questioning.
CHARACTER N1 and CHARACTER O1 make it to the lawn of the Art Institute just as CHARACTER O1 collapses from smoke inhalation. CHARACTER N1 finds CHARACTER P1 to help carry CHARACTER O1 to first responders.
JAMESON ROBERTS ( WALSH ) narrowly escapes to the lawn, but CONRAD ODAIR( FAUST ) is only a pace behind with a weapon in hand. CONRAD ODAIR fires and barely misses JAMESON ROBERTS, who realizes if they don’t retaliate, there’s no getting out of the art museum alive.
+open || the art institute of chicago || @crimsonstarters
once upon a time, abraham wished someone would appreciate his art the way these people did, but those days had long since faded. his art was worn with pride, etched into his skin with ink and blood in lines and shades of black and gray. rolling his shoulders, the walsh stood before a painting, it’s swirls of black, yellow, white and scarlet thick against the canvas. the lines were so thick, they cast shadows on the wall beneath it, the track lighting forcing the jagged valleys of the painting to appear deeper than they were. it was purposeful in it’s anger; there was torture in the painting, but total grip of control. glancing at the little accompanying card, he tilted his head, dark streaks of black falling in his vibrant gaze. “damn, this is oil?” he muttered under his breath. “bet this fuckin’ thing took at least a month to dry.”
GOD KNOWS WHY HE'D CHOSEN this particular painting to idle at, wasting away precious seconds of his time examining the ghastly art piece. of course, stefano knew that art was subjective—merely a matter of what conjured up certain emotions within a person. but, right now, all the old couple with the pitchfork were making him feel was unsettled. there's a faint crease along his forehead and he's wearing a frown that he's sure is visible from the other side of the room. it takes him a moment but when a shadowed figure ghosts in his peripheral, he finds himself unable to suppress the thoughts orbiting his brain. “ it's just so ... grim, isn't it? ” he poses the question to his newfound companion, green-flecked eyes still glued to the painting. “ i mean, sure, it's impressive in its own right but, there's just something so fucking creepy about it. ” it's then that stefano turns his attention toward the other. “ you ever saw the halloween parody of it? nothing disturbed my childhood like it. ”
“Is my mind just playing tricks on me again, or is this bitch actually smirking at me? Staring at me like she knows all my dirty little secrets?” she muttered aloud, her dark hazel eyes narrowed suspiciously at the painting before her, feeling oddly unnerved by the all-knowing look on the painted woman’s face as she stared right back at her. The two of them having what seemed like a very intense staring contest, although it was a contest that Diamond would inevitably lose. “I don’t like it, it’s fucking creepy.”
