EMBER 2.0 - A Social App for Lost Souls! [July Substory]

[enterthe]

UPDATE 7.17.2022
EMBER 2.1 (OVERFLOW)

⬦ ⬦ ⬦
The EMBER Application icon flashes alive on the homescreen of all the Lost Soul devices across Jigoku-cho. Not a surprise if your character has been using it since launch, but perhaps unsettling to newbies or those who deleted it previously. It pops open on it's own, welcoming the user and telling them that all Lost Souls need to update to the newest version!

It doesn't specify by whose order, or if it actually is mandatory, but why think too hard about it? A lengthy and extremely technically worded Terms of Service appears, even if it's been gone through before, it has some updates. Again, why scroll up to read all that? There's a large ACCEPT button front and center! (There doesn't seem to be a Decline button. Closing out of the App is the only way to not agree... Might want to just delete the App to be safe.)

Accepting moves users forward to App Permissions! A Helpful Window says "Accept All and your profile will be quickly updated or auto-generated for you! Great for speeding set up along! (Recommended)". If that doesn't sway, then each Permission question can be prompted individually. The subsequent windows ask for a variety of totally standard and absolutely above board access prompts. Location Data, Photo/Video Access, etc etc etc- Yes or No! REMINDER: The app will function better if all access is granted!

It doesn't seem to matter what is pressed- all, some, or nothing- the App moves forward for users regardless.
Have fun connecting with your fellow Lost Souls!
⬦ ⬦ ⬦
WELCOME to EMBER 2.0
A Social Network for Lost Souls!
⬦ ⬦ ⬦

EXAMPLE PROFILE

YDRIS (Immortal) SUTOKU ALLIANCE ☆☆☆☆☆ Creator

✓       ✕ FUCK | FIGHT

STAR RANK
For "who even knows why" reasons, users on Ember now have ☆'s denoting... something. The only clarity is that they come with a Title besides them. These are not, as it might first seem, faction star rankings. They're just something new! The example profile has the highest rank to be found, 5 stars and the title of Creator.

Everybody else gets between 1 and 4 stars with what seems like an algorithmically generated title. These could be anything from ☆ Stink Man up to more illustrious ☆☆☆☆ Faction Hero.

(These cannot be edited or changed ICly by a character and are fully an OOC choice of rank and title! Characters who know Ydris will find themselves with more curated titles, though not necessarily nicer ones.)

Higher star ranks seem to be weighted in favor of getting Green Checkmarks via the algorithm. Hmm.

SWIPE ¹

Swipe Left or Right, accepting the green or red... proposals? Is that what they are? The App immediately starts a Live Chat between the two parties, complete with recommendations for either highly rated Love Hotels or... discreet alleyways with nearby emergency clinics. (These might get presented to the wrong matches from time to time, coding is hard).

ALGORITHM
Stalling on the profile for more than a few seconds results in a loading graphic of a little dancing fire. **Calculating!** it says;

Ding! The In App Algorithm has decided for you! How convenient. The person whose profile was being looked at automatically gets sent a FUCK ✓ or FIGHT ✕, complete with that same live chat initiation mentioned above.

Rarely, there's a third option, essentially an algorithm fail state called CHILL, which still initiates the live chat. That means the system didn't find either of the other two options appropriate. Bummer. It generates completely random suggestions on where to meet, doesn't the DMV sounds like a great place to hang?

¹ [ DISCLAIMER: At the insistence of one Kim Kitsuragi, there is a link to an additional Terms and Conditions document for which the tl;dr is to "All Ember users engaging in matters of passion and/or violence are encouraged to practice such activities in a manner which remains safe, sane, and consensual.
Any injuries resulting from following through on an EMBER suggestion are not the responsibility of the application. ]

NEW FEATURES - JULY
So, what is in the Update to EMBER? Plenty! And much of it unseen to Lost Souls. Ydris has spent most of their time creating a splinter branch of the app denoted as "EMBER Premium" and it is for Celestials only. It is a pay to access service with a delightful little thing called microtransactions. Seems those Dragon Coins from answering Profile Questions do have some purpose! While Lost Souls cannot interact with the Celestials via the app, the Celestials have some functionality, namely they can donate Dragon Coins to their favorite Lost Souls.

Dragon Coins can be cashed out through the app for a small cash bonus- some extra spending money, nothing too crazy. By what rate compared to what they're being purchases at is unclear... Oh well. It's a little extra pay! Why not side hustle from your phone? There's even a leader board!

How does one become one of the favored souls, anyways-?

ONLYFANS CELESTIALS

-MORE PHOTOS: Simple enough, the Celestials are very visual! They're more likely to donate if a Lost Soul has appealing photos on their profile.

-PLAYLISTS: Some curious Celestials like to see what music tastes are had among the Lost Souls. List a few songs you character is fond of or just selected at random to fill the missing profile element for a Dragon Coin bonus.

-QUEST NOTIFICATION: Some Celestials like to be a little more involved, so they spend to create a Quest. These can be sent to individual Souls or picked up from a virtual Bulletin Board. They are experiences or tasks to do around town and document! The app provides a location map should it require going to a certain place. These are largely benign requests such as "Take a photo drinking the new boba tea at this shop!" or "Share a story about your homeworld" or "Post video performing your favorite karaoke number!" Sometimes, they are requests to do good deeds or participate in local volunteer efforts.

Very occasionally, they are more saucy requests for lewd photos. Those requests cannot be sent to individuals! The Celestials get what they get when asking for those on the bulletin board!

Whether it's a rare moment of Ydris' coding filtering correctly or just the Celestials having collectively better judgement than those in Hell; no illegal, harassing, nor dangerous requests can be posted.

-LEADER BOARD: OOC OPT IN/OUT here to have your character added to/kept off of the HEAVENLY HOTNESS LEADERBOARD. This will be a purely RNG'd list of characters the Celestial's favor most. It will be updated every 1-2 weeks for the next (2) months, as I have time! Watch the rise and fall as a variety of results play out.

The Current Leader Board is linked here!

-PRIVATE PROFILE: Don't want the attention of these strange beings? Profiles can be set to Private! This doesn't actually block off from other Lost Souls, but it's an easy way to opt-out of any of this funny business. The cost is "all Dragon Coins" currently on account. If you're not playing, they why bother with those?

(Due to some obtuse design choices, it might be difficult to find this option... Your character would be forgiven for not even realizing it's there!)

PROFILE HTML
(Use squared Image for best profile template fit!)
<center><table style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 2;"><tr><td width="260" align="center"><img src="IMG URL HERE" style="width: 245px; border-radius: 15px; border: 1px solid #7F7F7F; box-shadow: #8D8D8D 1px 1px 1px;"><br /><b><big><big>CHARACTER NAME (CHARACTER AGE)</big></big></b><br> CHARACTER FACTION ☆ to ☆☆☆☆ CUSTOM TITLE <br><tr><td><center><span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#2EB82E;">✓</span>       <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span></div> </center></td></tr></td></tr></table></center>
FUCK ✓ / FIGHT ✕ / CHILL O HTML
✓ <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#2EB82E;">✓</span> ✕ <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#CC0000;">✕</span> O <span style="font-family: times; font-size:40px; color:#0000FF;">O</span>

-EMBER is a separate app on a character's phone which functions using the main network.
-This is fully canon to the game! Threads on this post or using the prompts above for Log Posts of your own both count as a SUBSTORY thread. Per mods, these can be used for rewards!
-Post a profile below, engage with other Lost Souls or Only Celestials prompts, and/or tag around to other characters using the SWIPE, ALGORITHM, or just start a chat! Blame as much as you like on Ydris' at times shoddy programing! Have fun!
-FOR CHARACTERS NEW TO THE GAME please post a link to your TL in the New Users header below! This is so new people aren't so easily lost in the shuffle. Keep in mind this post is active from July to end of August, the next EMBER goes up in September!
-Feel free to repost the Profile HTML provided for IC inboxes if you like, but please do not take these out of this post and make individual EMBER profiles on the Network, as that would clutter up the main network very fast.
-Check out Ydris' OPT-IN if you want them to have access to your character's information through this app. This is NOT required to play around with this. The ToS basically just applies normal network rules to this post, messages are public unless explicitly marked [private] in the header. (Ydris will not have access to Private Messages unless the player Opts-In!)

Comments

shuten-douji 👹 shuten clan 👹

[osake]

ASSASSIN (1000~?) SHUTEN ☆ AS CIVILIZED AS A WILD ANIMAL

✓       ✕ ONLY CELESTIALS image one. two. three.

[socute]

✕

might as well post a nude with all the skin youre showing

[osake]

✕

[ where the "x" means "looks rather edible". uh oh. ]

i didn't think we had ones who were quite so shy on here...

what's wrong, honey? is my outfit getting you all riled up?

[socute]

[ hope shuten likes fish. ]

no, because i'm not one of those horny losers who'd get themselves off to that pic you posted

[osake]

my, don't you have something of a foul mouth on you

i don't mind seeing you up close and personal ... if it's a fight you really want

[socute]

all im doing is telling the truth, sorry not sorry

but rly theres no reason to fight you

i dont fight animals.

[ said the fish, who constantly fights the cat. ]

[osake]

you'll hurt my maidenly feelings with that talk

you're really not as cute as your face might suggest. shouldn't a girl your age know how to act like a lady...?

[socute]

shows what you know, i'm adorable
and i'm more of a lady than someone showing off all that skin

text / un; Berserker

[bananaoni]

✓

[I mean... should this really be a surprise? Also, she's probably hiding in a room with the door locked.]

[osake]

[ ibaraki ...

shuten glances in the direction of said locked door, pauses ... but decides to leave it be. for now. ]

oh? where did you go all of a sudden, ibaraki?

[bananaoni]

[Please go easy on her Shuten! Even if she'll say it's the most obvious thing in the world and play it off.

For a little bit.]

I've stepped out for a bit

[No, she's currently hiding in the bedroom, trying not to reveal her blush. SHE DID IT!!!! She sent a green checkmark Shuten's way....

She rolls around on the bed like some schoolgirl.]

Are you still home?

[osake]

mmm ... no

[ a lie. and then, one of these: ]

✓

[bananaoni]

!!!

[What? Is that? GASP!]

EEEHHHHH!?

[No, she had to keep it down, but Shuten said she wasn't home but... but...! There's another, very audible squeal of delight, barely muffled by a pillow.

Cue more rolling around. A reply, she has to reply!!! What a wonderful "app".]

....

[What to say, what to say? What could she say that would still let her remain cool and stoic?]

You mean it, Shuten? You wish to... very well! Though it's a shame neither of us are home, I might be almost back right now.

[But why wait~?]

[osake]

[ ah, there it is. the second eruption of sound she wanted to hear, on cue. ibaraki is always so reliable. ]

my, what a coincidence, i'm also nearly back...

[ lmao why are they doing this

she is, in fact, still in the main room, after all, lazing around on several zabuton. the eagerness in ibaraki's written text is unsurprising, but ... they really are just going to get right down to it, aren't they? ]

[bananaoni]

[Ibaraki was having fun like this, even if it's incredibly embarrassing to her maidenly heart!]

You are??

[She is? The fiery oni sits up right, eyes staring at the screen, then the door, then screen again. Swallows hard]

Should I... prepare something special for you? In case I'm actually able to return before you?

[Naturally, in case she actually "gets back before her". Try not to embarrass her too much, Shuten! She's very clearly doing her best here and more than eager to make things fun for the wife.]

[breweries]

✓

Civilized indeed.

[osake]

my! are you teasing me, dear? that's not very nice...

[breweries]

Fufu, pardon my insolence. You looked like you quite enjoying yourself in your photo, is all.

text / un; Archer

[21towin]

[Billy hesitates when he sees this one. He hesitates a moment more, he knows when to use caution and toss it to the wind. Then-]

O

No alcohol.

text. un: daiginjyo.

[osake]

hm? no alcohol? i hope you meant for yourself, dearie

[21towin]

I'd say for both of us, but something tells me that you still wouldn't abstain.

Are you familiar with the Tamamo bars at all?

[osake]

you do know who i am, don't you? it's in my name

if i abstained, i simply wouldn't be me

[ and isn't that the line to sum up the entire incident of her life and death. ]

just one or two~

why, offering to show me around? ♡

[21towin]

I do, it would be hard for me to not know of you. It's why I said no alcohol.

[There's nothing more dangerous than a bored oni- except, maybe, one that's been imbibing. And based on what he knows of her, she might be the type to be more trouble with drink in her belly.]

May as well give you a sample just this once. Can't really think of a better way to catch up with you.

[At the very least he can try and get used to being around her. Even with his instincts saying potential trouble follows.]

[osake]

oh, how wonderful! there is a gentleman underneath that pout, isn't there?

[ like the way that he helped her when she lost her sight — distant, aloof, but helpful regardless. ]

fufu, not to worry, sweetie. as long as you have that shiny weapon of yours at your hip, i won't try anything too dangerous ... not yet, anyway

[21towin]

Sometimes, a person needs to express caution when extending good will towards others.

[He can't help it; she might be a sort of coworker. But she's also Shuten, and he's seen and heard enough of her to know to be just a tad cautious.

Blame his outlaw instincts.]

It's that "...not yet..." that I'm most worried about. Where and when might I call on you?