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sticksandbones2023-12-01 09:16 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2023-12-01 09:16 am
EVENT 007
EBB AND FLOE
A WINTERFUL LIFE
cw: food scarcity
The December snows roll in heavy, and with it, the fear-monsters and little pranksters that harassed you all month disperse into black mist. Whether they were about to kill you, stalking you, or pulling your hair, as soon as the moon hits its zenith, the beasts are gone. The mists float harmlessly into the air, hopefully to never be seen again. Hopefully.
For now, you’re free. The Forest and the Creature within slumber, as the cold seeps into every corner of the confined space you reside in and beyond. No longer will the entities within the woods try to kill you just for putting a toe past the fog wall. No longer does anybody sense a lingering danger. Finally, the Grove is peaceful. You can only hope it’ll last.
Unfortunately, while no mysterious monsters are working to murder you in cold blood, nothing can be done about the river freezing over, cutting off access to fish, and nothing can be done about the General Store running out of meat. The river’s ice cannot be broken nor melted. The grasses and flowers have shrivelled under the extreme cold; the trees are twiggy and leafless. Mysteriously untouched are the gifts from the Guardians — the blackberry bush on the opposite side of the river and the apple tree on the bank near the school continue to fruit throughout the month. Remember to say “thank you” before you feast from what remains.
At the very least, the General Store has plenty of trail mix, vegetables, and crackers. It’ll be a difficult month — but so far, you’ve endured much worse. Surely a little hunger can’t kill you now?
The December snows roll in heavy, and with it, the fear-monsters and little pranksters that harassed you all month disperse into black mist. Whether they were about to kill you, stalking you, or pulling your hair, as soon as the moon hits its zenith, the beasts are gone. The mists float harmlessly into the air, hopefully to never be seen again. Hopefully.
For now, you’re free. The Forest and the Creature within slumber, as the cold seeps into every corner of the confined space you reside in and beyond. No longer will the entities within the woods try to kill you just for putting a toe past the fog wall. No longer does anybody sense a lingering danger. Finally, the Grove is peaceful. You can only hope it’ll last.
Unfortunately, while no mysterious monsters are working to murder you in cold blood, nothing can be done about the river freezing over, cutting off access to fish, and nothing can be done about the General Store running out of meat. The river’s ice cannot be broken nor melted. The grasses and flowers have shrivelled under the extreme cold; the trees are twiggy and leafless. Mysteriously untouched are the gifts from the Guardians — the blackberry bush on the opposite side of the river and the apple tree on the bank near the school continue to fruit throughout the month. Remember to say “thank you” before you feast from what remains.
At the very least, the General Store has plenty of trail mix, vegetables, and crackers. It’ll be a difficult month — but so far, you’ve endured much worse. Surely a little hunger can’t kill you now?
FREEZE THE DAY
During the day, the cold isn’t that bad. Sure, there’s a foot of snow on the ground and more keeps falling, and sure, snowball fights aren’t exactly fun anymore because your fingers get way too chilly way too quickly — but the sun still shines, and sometimes you can stand out in a sunny spot and feel a whole five degrees warmer than you were a moment ago. It’s tolerable. During the night, however, the temperatures dip well below freezing, and the air is so frigid that it dries your skin out on contact. Frostbite threatens to set in within minutes if you aren’t properly dressed.
Fires are harder to light, too, even if they’re indoors. You’ll find that, should you get one lit, it’ll go out within half an hour. None of the buildings stay warm for very long past night, and though they aren’t completely frozen-over, it’s the least bit uncomfortable for those who aren’t cold-faring to cope with. What is there to do, other than grab as many blankets as possible and make a nest or a fort, or maybe even grab a friend and leech their body heat? They don’t need that, right?
While you’re bothered by the weather, the Shopkeeper, Trader, and the two Guardians present within the Grove are entirely unaffected. Rusty, however, is merely a dog. He’ll help himself to cuddling against you whenever he can, including letting himself into your room at night and getting under the covers while you sleep. He will thank you in the mornings by leaving you a simple gift at your feet: A bone he found outside, because he loves you.
…one has to wonder how he broke in in the first place, though.
Fires are harder to light, too, even if they’re indoors. You’ll find that, should you get one lit, it’ll go out within half an hour. None of the buildings stay warm for very long past night, and though they aren’t completely frozen-over, it’s the least bit uncomfortable for those who aren’t cold-faring to cope with. What is there to do, other than grab as many blankets as possible and make a nest or a fort, or maybe even grab a friend and leech their body heat? They don’t need that, right?
While you’re bothered by the weather, the Shopkeeper, Trader, and the two Guardians present within the Grove are entirely unaffected. Rusty, however, is merely a dog. He’ll help himself to cuddling against you whenever he can, including letting himself into your room at night and getting under the covers while you sleep. He will thank you in the mornings by leaving you a simple gift at your feet: A bone he found outside, because he loves you.
…one has to wonder how he broke in in the first place, though.
PARTING IS SUCH SLEET SORROW
Midway through the month, the snowfall begins to pick up. While the Grove hasn’t quite hit blizzard territory yet, the snow is consistent and unending, especially late at night. On occasion, mixed in with the delicate snowflakes, are tiny golden lights. Should they go untouched and unobstructed, they’ll simply fade away when they flutter to the ground. But should you, say, catch one on your tongue with the other flakes, or have one brush your hand, or purposely try to grab one?
It will float through you, into you, and your mind will be transported elsewhere. To the past, as you were when you were here originally. It is a vision of your past life, of memories long lost, of a “you” that isn’t “you” as you are now. Whether the golden light has you spectating as if you’re seeing yourself on a television screen, or acting the part of the old “you”, that matters little to the vision the golden light wanted to show you. It will end when it wants to end, you see. You could get an hour of a memory, or a single minute, or three whole days. It might have even dragged in another with you, someone nearby who was hit with a ball of light themselves or happened to pass by.
For those of you who have avoided this fate, you get to bear witness to those that are affected — they’re standing stone-still wherever they last touched the golden lights, eyes closed, as if asleep while standing up. You can try to rouse them, but they won’t wake until they’ve fully experienced the memory being shown to them. The best thing to do might be to drag them inside so they aren’t icicles when they come back to reality.
It will float through you, into you, and your mind will be transported elsewhere. To the past, as you were when you were here originally. It is a vision of your past life, of memories long lost, of a “you” that isn’t “you” as you are now. Whether the golden light has you spectating as if you’re seeing yourself on a television screen, or acting the part of the old “you”, that matters little to the vision the golden light wanted to show you. It will end when it wants to end, you see. You could get an hour of a memory, or a single minute, or three whole days. It might have even dragged in another with you, someone nearby who was hit with a ball of light themselves or happened to pass by.
For those of you who have avoided this fate, you get to bear witness to those that are affected — they’re standing stone-still wherever they last touched the golden lights, eyes closed, as if asleep while standing up. You can try to rouse them, but they won’t wake until they’ve fully experienced the memory being shown to them. The best thing to do might be to drag them inside so they aren’t icicles when they come back to reality.
SPARK NOTES
CLICK TO EXPAND!
A WINTERFUL LIFE
The Forest has gone to sleep for the month. Unfortunately, the river is frozen, and it's hard to come across much food, save for what grows upon the Guardians' gift plants by the river. Luckily, the General Store seems to have some sparser amounts of food throughout the month.
FREEZE THE DAY
It's cold outside! Below freezing, actually! And for some reason, heat indoors just doesn't stick. Luckily you can cuddle with friends, in your own nest of blankets, or with Rusty, who is somehow breaking into everybody's bedrooms even if you've locked all your doors and windows. Hello, hi, he loves you and he is cold.
PARTING IS SUCH SLEET SORROW
Golden lights fall amidst the snowflakes. If you come into contact with one, you'll close your eyes and dream of your past life within the Grove. You might even unwillingly pull someone else in with you.
OOC
Y'all how is it already December. If you'd like to plot with people for this event, head over to OOC plotting. Reminder that AC for the month of December is check-in only, which means that if you're not feelin' it you can simply put in a "hi I still go here" comment and exit for the rest of the month. It's the holiday season, after all, so we don't expect you to give up family time for our silly little game. Regular AC will resume in January, and that will also be when our next TDM occurs. Happy holidays!
UPDATES
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no subject
...
Wordlessly, Wolfwood suddenly shoulders into Vash's space. He grabs for his arm, which on the side he's on currently is Vash's good arm, and throws it over his own shoulders. Even if Vash tries to jerk away, Wolfwood keeps a tight grip on the sleeve of his jacket until he's hefted him into place.
Only then will he continue forward.]
Yeah. Maybe. No more dangerous than the desert.
[It's just rose hounds in exchange for giant worms. No big deal.]
no subject
Less to complain about later to him later, Vash supposes.]
We were just unprepared. Know what we're lookin' for now.
[Still, they need to be far more prepared before they go hurtling into their next attempt at escape. They had expected fog and foreboding woods, but certainly not what that meant. Hounds made of thorns and trees made of memory hadn't come anywhere near Vash's mind when he'd mapped this out.
Research. A clear plan. And well-prepared supplies. All things that Vash never dabbled in.]
Think we're goin' the right way?
[He tries to squint through the murk, to find their old footprints. This has to be the way, right? If the Fog had come from the opposite direction, then surely that meant they were being corralled back toward civilization.]
no subject
[Forward, away from where they just came. This forest feels wrong, things don't feel real and time doesn't seem like it's passing as it should, so he doesn't know what to expect at this point. At least by now his wounds have healed over thanks to the drugs, and beyond being sore and lethargic from it all, he's in better shape in Vash. Good enough shape to practically carry him over his shoulders, reminding himself that this is Vash The Stampede, the guy who seems to be miraculously unkillable.
He'll be fine. He has to be.]
Just focus on walking.
[Honestly, he's amazed Vash is even still conscious. That's the kind of stubborn will he has, he supposes.]
no subject
Eventually, through the trees, they might think they see civilization. Buildings. Lots of snow. They'll hear the sounds of people chatting way, way in the distance, and maybe...
They'll see what looks to be something glowing green, like two orbs of light, through the trees, and a massive hulking shape that might be some kind of animal the size of a building.
So. Yeah. They're walking the right direction.
no subject
But eventually, his head does lift. He sees the looming figures and while he can't be sure that they're not tricks of his mind, he still nods to them anyway.]
Wolfwood. [Opening his mouth is a herculean effort. And for it, his head thunks back down onto Wolfwood's shoulder.] Think we made it.
no subject
But he doesn't stop, to his credit. They can't trust going in another direction at this point, even if this place is potentially trying to trick them. They just have to keep going, and face whatever that might be head on.
Meanwhile, Wolfwood can tell Vash is fading. And for a moment, he wonders what to do. He can barely walk. He briefly considers just lifting him up in his arms wholesale, but...]
Yeah. We're almost there. C'mon. You can walk a few more steps, yeah?
no subject
Sure, Wolfwood. I can.
[Unfortunately, it would seem he cannot. Perhaps his foot twists in the snow, or perhaps even snags on a branch beneath it. It's hard to say what ultimately pushes him over the edge, but in that moment he loses the ability to keep himself upright. The only reason he doesn't fall face first in the snow is the fact that Wolfwood has such a tight grip on him.]
Shit. [His words are mumbled and slurred. His body dangles from where it's presently suspended, half draped over Wolfwood. He tries to look down at the ground, to find his footing, but his vision is fading fast.
Well. So much for no apologies. It's all he can think to say as consciousness rapidly leaves him.]
'm sorry.
no subject
Needle-noggin. Hey.
[But by this point, Vash isn't going to be answering him. Wolfwood grits his teeth, pulling a bit harder on Vash's coat to keep him from slipping entirely into the snow before realizing that he's going to have to carry this asshole the rest of the way.
Okay.
On his knees now with a very-limp Vash in his arms, he carefully maneuvers Vash's arm out from over his shoulders, brows furrowed as he tries to figure out the easiest way to do this. His gun is currently abandoned on the ground right now, and he's realizing the usual fireman's carry isn't going to work if he wants to get the Punisher out of the woods too. He curses, again, shaking his head as he eventually just...gathers him up by scooping his arms underneath Vash's back, lifting him up in a bridal carry instead. He's lucky he's very lithe and lightweight which means not only can he carry Vash, but he can very awkwardly finagle the Punisher up until he can balance it on his shoulder, having to really weirdly prop it up against his head. He's almost carrying Vash one handed since he has to support the thing, but somehow. Somehow, don't worry about the physics, he continues the trek on towards town with both in tow.]
no subject
If nothing else, at least he's alive? Alive and bleeding on Wolfwood a bit, but not as much as before? It's the little things.] ]
no subject
They're not hostile, but they also won't blame you if you're on edge. The littler stone creature, upon seeing the state you're both in, immediately opens his wings and flits off toward the clinic, presumably to go wrangle Add. The moose, well...
"May I help you?"
She's speaking Old Norse, but the translation comes across clearly in your minds anyway.
no subject
Wolfwood grits his teeth even harder, feeling an unwelcome rush across his skin and down his spine, but he doesn't let Vash's face pressed into his neck deter him from his course. He just keeps plodding forward through the snow, his shoes completely soaked and wet, his and Vash's clothing blood drenched.
They both look like a fucking mess, so it's no wonder Zahliya leaves to get help. Meanwhile, Wolfwood is focused on the moose, who the very sight of fills him with trepidation. He IS willing and ready to blast it's head off if it makes a move (uh), but then he hears a voice, and he realizes.
It speaks. The moose is speaking to him. Okay.]
...that depends. Are you gonna let me back in town, or are you like those things back there?
[In reference to the rose hounds im so sorry hes being racist Vash isn't awake to control him]
no subject
"I am Moder, the Forest's Guardian. The things in the woods are no longer mine, but they belong to the false-deity within. For now, I and the Gargoyle guard this Grove, that it may prosper. He has gone to get your village's doctor.
May I help you?"
no subject
Wolfwood heaves a sigh. He's so fucking tired.
So tired that he nearly fumbles and drops the Punisher at Moder's hooves. Instead, he manages to drop it broad-side down into the snow so it stands up there, slightly askew. At least this way he can carry Vash properly in both arms.]
Yeah. Carry this, but don't touch the middle part or the ends. It's a gun.
[And if Moder turns the gun on him, well. At that point he's not sure he cares anymore if the talking moose is going to shoot him-]
no subject
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"Bring him. Your doctor should be able to see to both of you. I shall remain outside and guard this device for as long as is required of me."
The clinic door is already open, luckily, and as they get closer they can hear Zahliya yelling to Add like "THEY ARE HEAVILY INJURED IF YOU DO NOT FIX THEM I WILL STEAL YOUR HAT". I'm not going to drag Lavvy into this thread kicking and screaming but here, go get your healing, fetch!
Moder cannot fit into the clinic, so she will sit down outside of it with a gun, I guess.