EVENT & TDM 008

[sticksandbonesmods]

LET IT GO

WAKE UP

It’s strange, how as the dawn of a new day finally arrives, coinciding with the howling winds dying out, classic, adorable snowmen seem to have popped up all over the Grove overnight. The fog wall has yet to surround the barren remains of a town that once was, but it’s visible once more in the great distance.

Not that you can see it immediately. Something covers your eyes, and you can feel something heavy and frigid wrapped all around you. As you struggle more and more, the crunch of snow echoes through your ears as you step free- and when you turn back to examine their prison, you’ll realize one of the snowmen was you.

Meanwhile, old residents will get to deal with more and more people popping out of snowmen like daisies, and must remember that this is just their life now. It’s just another day in Aldric’s Grove.

Though, maybe you ought to help them before frostbite sets in.

MIRROR, MIRROR

The quiet couldn’t last forever. You should have known that something would happen, especially with the fog beginning to make itself known again. And this time, it’s something quiet. As you wake up one morning, there is a mirror on your nightstand — it’s silver and round, able to fit comfortably in your hand and wreathed in crystalline snowflakes.

And as you look into it, your reflection twists into something still undeniably you, but… have you a temper problem? Too many lies? A sadistic sense of humor? All of your worst traits are dragged out and reflected on the mirror, and no matter what, it keeps ending up wherever you are — and whoever else looks into the mirror will see this awful, terrible you, too. All of your worst characteristics, all the things you try to hide, unable to be hidden.

Maybe you keep trying to hide it. Maybe you let it stay wherever it keeps turning up, following you like a particularly terrible walking salesman, or maybe you break it. Regardless, nothing seems to happen… for now.

WITH SHARDS OF ICE

“For now”.

Late into the night, everyone wakes up to a sudden, terrible chill. When you open your eyes, you’ll find that you aren’t in your inn room or home, but instead within a giant castle made of ice. It must be a ballroom of some sort, a grand hall glittering in the moonlight — but looking out the window shows that the world beyond the castle is but a frozen wasteland of more blizzards and nothing else. Though you’ve been granted some of your gear — weapons and some supplies, and coats if you’re lucky — you’ll find that the temperature is dropping steadily, while something approaches…

Peek out the door to the main hall and you’ll see what’s coming so noisily. An army’s worth of hallowed ice knights with all sorts of weapons are marching to the door, intent on slaying the intruders. Should they get close, they’ll attack; should they land the killing blow, you’ll instantly freeze into a solid block and shatter.

And if you broke the mirror that haunted you? On top of all of this, you can feel yourself gradually growing colder, physically and emotionally, and your magic, if you have it, takes on an icy flair that you may find difficult to control. Maybe it's your feet that start to turn to ice first — maybe it's your fingertips. But as the night goes on, you’ll steadily freeze solid, and like any fairy tale, only an act of true love could possibly save you. Good luck figuring out what that actually means. True love’s kiss? A genuine compliment? A hug? What could possibly save you from your fate?

Those of you who survive until morning, who don’t become solid statues of ice or die within the castle’s walls, will be lucky enough to witness the sun coming up through narrow windows the size of your forearm. All around you, the castle starts to melt, dripping freezing water onto your head. For as much as you try to run before you, presumably, drown terribly…

…your eyes will close, and you’ll wake up in your bed, drenched.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE FRESH SNOW

The morning after that dreadful night, things… settle, again. Aldric’s Grove is quiet, and clear sunlight glistens across the snowy plaza and radiates off of frosted trees. Even now, the apple tree and blackberry bushes are unfazed by the cold, though the fruit may taste crisper and chillier than usual. Those that died within the castle return to life, feeling colder than normal for the rest of the day, but there seems to be no lasting damage. And, everyone who participated in the castle “game” receives a mysterious gift: A wooden coin with a sigil on it, resembling a clock with backwards hands behind a shield, attached to frosted pinecones, red berries and sprigs of mistletoe. It feels warm and protective.

You go outside. It’s been some time since anyone’s seen anything from the woods, let alone something that doesn’t want them dead — so imagine one’s surprise when a small family of deer can be seen walking amongst the trees. Birds alight to the branches on rare moments, and it’s surely a sign of something, that life has begun to return to the forest despite the deep snow and deeper chill.

Never mind that one of the deer has an extra set of antlers and another has three eyes. Never mind that the birds sound like people. Never mind that the rabbits have blood on their maws.

It’s just another day in Aldric’s Grove.

SPARK NOTES

CLICK TO EXPAND!

WAKE UP

Good day, new arrivals! You are now a snowman. Hopefully people who have been here a bit longer are willing to give you a blanket or ten.

MIRROR, MIRROR

A mirror appears and starts following you around, reflecting what you think are your worst traits or worst version of yourself is. Other people can look into it and see the awful you, too. You can break it and it'll leave you alone, or you can let it stalk you all month.

WITH SHARDS OF ICE

Welcome to the ice castle! It's cold, but you have your stuff with you, and it's not unlivable. Well, until the frozen army of knights starts marching in with the intent to kill everyone inside, anyway. One lethal hit from them will make you shatter into pieces. For those of you who broke your mirrors, you'll gradually grow colder both physically & emotionally, and eventually start to freeze solid. Don't worry, though, you can be saved through the power of love.

FOOTPRINTS IN THE FRESH SNOW

Dawn rises on the Grove and the dead come back to life. Everyone who participated in the castle game receives a magical charm, though they don't know what it does so far. Animals come back to the Grove as well! ...why do they look like that?

OOC

Happy January! TDMs are game canon as a reminder, and if you'd like to plot with people for this event, head over to OOC plotting. While it is not known to player characters at this time, the charms granted as a reward for the ice castle can undo one future negative effect (i.e. a major death). They are a one-time use item. As for how characters discover this information... idk, we'll see how y'all decide to utilize those. :)

UPDATES

❖ None yet!

SUBMISSIONS

QUESTIONS
INVESTIGATIONS
PAST-LIFE PLOTTING
INTEREST CHECK

(CODE)

Comments

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ As an aside, Enciodes is going to be immediately breaking his mirror before he's really able to talk to anyone aside from the people who sleep at the lab! ]

I. I’m here dancing on the edge of the night ( Grove – Open )

[ Enciodes isn’t about to convince anyone else to break their mirrors, however. There might be some reservations in the simple fact of breaking something that’s supposed to be a reflection of themselves. It’s, like, symbolic, or something, right? Enciodes might not see it that way, but to say he doesn’t understand that much would be a drastic misunderstanding of how empathetic this big, dumb cat is.

Or just how nauseatingly grand he has to be at any given moment. Perhaps the life of a noble is truly a curse. Which is to say, if you seem conflicted with your mirror, or otherwise bothered by it, Enciodes elegantly either slides himself between you and the mirror, or slides his hands into yours and ultimately pushing it out of your hands so he can hold onto it and place it on whatever surface nearby is available. Whether or not you were holding it or not, though, he’s holding your hand and waist and spinning you around to face the direction away from the mirror.

It lasts only a brief moment, of course. He’s a gentleman, after all, so he’ll let go and give a regal bow. ] Now, that’s better, yes? An expression like that is unbefitting for you. Especially if there’s someone to help ease those worries.

II. I’m sleepwalking with my hand full of blue dice ( Ice Castle – Open )

[ The icy floors and cold environment isn’t entirely welcome, but it’s also not something Enciodes is unused to. He uses the slippery surfaces to his advantage, rather than viewing it as an obstacle, gliding through the halls and rooms in an attempt to find someone within the expanse of ice.

Especially if you’re someone who’s having trouble with the ice! Get ready for one who Snow Leopard offering his hand out. ] I can offer a hand, if you’d like. Or I could carry you, if you’d prefer. We could share my coat that way while we look for the others.

III. One Hail Mary for the hole in my heart ( Ice Castle – Open )

[ It’s not as if Enciodes doesn’t get cold. But he’s not stupid or reckless enough to go standing out in a blizzard, so it’s not like he experiences the feeling all that often. He’s built for winters. He’s lived in snow for a vast majority of his life. He’s navigated mountain peaks and has the clothing to stave out any chill he might get.

And yet… he is cold. He is incredibly chill to the point he is shivering. This isn’t something that he’s experienced in a very long time, and he feels like this should be a major worry for him. Yet only the ghost of concern sits in his mind. If apathy is yet the absence of emotion, then perhaps that’s what this is. Freezing and apathetic. How funny. Two things Enciodes wasn’t sure he could ever be.

He’s curled on one of the frozen chairs in a room, curled up with his tail around himself. Tenzin perches itself on the back, harboring all of the concern for Enciodes that his master currently seems to be unable to. If there are friendly footsteps nearby, Tenzin lets out his falcon-like cries to get your attention. Hi, hello, please help his cat, he isn’t doing okay, and Tenzin doesn’t know what’s wrong. ]

IV. I’m outside waiting for your love on the boulevard ( Closed to Gnosis )

[ For as much as the falcon appreciates other’s helping, he knows his master, and he knows the Liberi who takes care of him as essentially “second master”. Thus, he does fly off at some point away from Enciodes to seek him out through the endless expanse of the castle. When he eventually spots Gnosis, he’ll fly around him a few times to get his attention and then make his way off to where he’d left their Feline companion.

He knows Gnosis won’t be able to keep up with the fast flier, so he does take the occasional break to loop back around, though Tenzin is clearly tired of the iced over furniture to land on. His feeties colded :(

Regardless, when they get back to Enciodes, there’s shattered ice all over the ground, and broken weapons and slashes all across the ice around him. Judging by the unsheathed sword-cane in Enciodes’ hand, it’s not too hard to put together what scene may have just transpired. However, looking just a little closer will show the smattering of shimmering crystals that have gathered across a majority of his hand, with light brushing of the same crystalline appearance over his jawline and the tips of his hair, making it look even more white than usual.

He doesn’t even acknowledge Gnosis is in the room, or when Tenzin lands on his shoulder. ]

V. Now I see the bright light, body's getting cold ( Wildcard )Y’all know the drill.

III

[sesa]

[It's by this point that Sesa isn't doing much better. He's feeling the same effects as Enciodes, only he's barely managing to force his way through it solely because he's just assuming this feeling is normal for him in the cold. He's weak, far weaker than he ever realized, and simply cannot bear the chill. Whatever! Just another shortcoming he has to overcome.

But to see someone like Enciodes curled up and shivering is another thing entirely. It's sobering imagery, to the point where he's able to forget his own woes for the time being as he hurries into the room, ignoring the pain in his legs as he tromps over the ice to the tune of Tenzin's frantic cries.]

Mr. Silverash- are you alright!?

it's for ME

[succiduous]

[However he and Enciodes got separated is a mystery. They fell asleep next to each other, so waking up in separate fucking wings of this goddamn hell castle has Gnosis both frustrated and concerned in equal measure. There's no way to reach Enciodes by any means except hunting him down, clearly. Gnosis imagines that his husband has similar thoughts on the matter, and that they've passed each other a million times, but it's better than standing still.

Standing still means freezing to death, after all. Gnosis is someone who is cold naturally, and therefore doesn't get cold easily, but he understands the inherent risks still. Enciodes... merely has the blood of a Kjeragi man under his belt. He is not Gnosis, who has ice flowing in his veins.

Or so Gnosis thinks, anyway. Tenzin finds him and Gnosis follows, dread creeping into his stomach. The dread becomes rooted deep within his heart the second he sees the state of Enciodes, half-icicle and, to Gnosis's eyes, dying slowly.

Normally, he does not allow himself loud displays of emotion. Today, though, there's no chance he could ever control himself.]

Enciodes—!

[He skids across the icy floors and falls to his knees, putting his hands on Enciodes' face. Shaking him, brushing his thumbs over his cheeks...]

Enciodes, look at me. Hey...

["Hey". "You'd better not be dead."]

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ Enciodes… is just going through the motions at this point. He hears Gnosis, but he only tilts his head enough so that his eyes can look at his. It kind of… hurts to move. He lifts up his hand to put on Gnosis, but puts it back down when he realizes his fingers were frozen over the cane. He can't put the sword down anymore, and he's not really interested in stabbing someone that isn't those knights. Certainly not his husband. Though… he can't say there's really that care he knows should be there for Gnosis. Someone who means the world to him, someone who he loves, someone who Enciodes spent 3 whole months writing vows for because he wanted them to be literally perfect, and still ended up stammering stupidly at the wedding in Victoria because he was just so enchanted by him…

Enciodes doesn't feel anything at all. But he knows that he should feel something. He knows that he was important to him. He has to muster something up for that, surely… ]

Hey. [ When did his voice get this raspy? ] It's secure here for right now. I dispatched the knights here and in the surrounding two rooms. You can rest here a moment… [ That's not what he's worried about, Enciodes… ]

[succiduous]

[No, that most certainly is not what he's worried about. Gnosis takes his coat off without wasting another second, standing to drape it over Enciodes' shoulders.]

That isn't what I'm referring to, and you know it. [Buttoning his coat around Enciodes... Maybe the fur will help him stave it off for a while. Gnosis will be fine in the meantime.] I need to find a way to warm you. Wear that for now. I may have something in my bag...

[He does not. Nothing that he thinks can make a spark, anyway. Gnosis is useless here as far as Arts go, and the panic is starting to become obvious.]

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ His husband is concerned about him, and he knows this much. Truly, he does. He knows why he's worried, too. The frozen bits are getting worse, even as Gnosis puts a second coat on him. And being somewhere between attempting to say "thank you" or attempting to say "I don't think it'll work, you should stay warm," he realizes that neither of these things would help, and, furthermore, that no matter how hard Enciodes tries, he can't bring himself to care. He's trying, but everything quite literally just feels numb.

But Enciodes at least knows what he would say in a situation like this. And, at the very least, he's always been very good at pretending to be something he isn't. ] Gnosis, calm down. Deep breaths. You know everything is going to turn out alright. If you become too frantic, you may lower that guard of yours.

[succiduous]

Enciodes—

[His tone is sharp. Scathing, almost, and he half expects Enciodes' ears to flatten back against his head. Gnosis raises his voice very rarely; perhaps the most he's ever done it is when they were pretending to be divorced five years ago. He realises immediately that he's snapped, breathes out a heavy sigh between clenched teeth, and turns back to his bag.]

I don't want to hear you telling me to "calm down" when you're turning into a statue. Save your strength and focus on staying conscious.

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ His ears do flick at the sound, mostly reflexively as he wasn’t expecting Gnosis to be that loud. Then he turns to his bag again, to look for something to help. It’s likely Gnosis will find a lighter. It’s likely he’ll get frustrated that there’s nothing to burn here. It’s likely he’ll offer to burn his bag to keep Enciodes warm. It’s likely he’ll give up when it’s not enough and hold him so that he can help stifle that shivering.

In this instance, and this instance alone, Enciodes is glad his heart his frozen over, so he does not have to deal with that ache knowing this is hurting Gnosis.

When he opens his mouth, there’s a small crack that signifies that ice made its way to Enciodes’ jaw. He doesn’t have a lot of time to speak. He has to get out his thoughts rather quickly, then. It’s almost nice that he doesn’t feel much of anything, then, else he might say a lot more in an emotional outburst. ]

But it’s because I am turning that I’m saying it. I want you to find a way out of here, and to stay safe, and not get distracted and caught by these ice soldiers. Gnosis… take Tenzin with you. Get moving. Keep warm. If there’s anyone to make it out safely, it’s you. And when you find the exit… will you wait for me?

[succiduous]

[Gnosis finds a lighter, because of course he does, but he certainly doesn't find kindling. Technically, processed Originium burns, but opening up his Arts unit right now and rendering it unusable is likely to cause more harm than good, both in the fact that he'll be left otherwise defenseless and the fact that it's more likely to explode. Desperation makes him consider using his own tailfeathers as kindling, but they'll hardly burn as well as hay or sticks or anything else.

He fidgets with that lighter in his hands, not lighting the flame, but rather regretting that he doesn't have Reed's fire burning in his chest or Fiammetta's ability to carpet-bomb an entire area with flames, because that, at least, would keep them warm. That would be something, better than the nothing they have now. Why, when he needs to be the one thing keeping Enciodes warm, is he the polar opposite?

Gnosis sets his jaw. The lighter goes back amidst his usual batch of supplies. He has an emergency blanket, he has a lighter, he has various tools, but none of these are going to help. When he stands, it's clear he's clinging to the last threads of his composure, each snapping one by one the longer Gnosis realises he can do nothing.]

I am not— [his voice cracks the moment his hands fall to Enciodes' shoulders, squeezing them, noting just how rigid they are under the layers,] leaving you behind. We— we don't do that, Enciodes. Not anymore. You're— [his eyes fall shut, and he presses their foreheads together.] You're going to be fine, do you hear me?

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ He finds it much too hard to open his mouth anymore — breathing burns, as the air is much to hot for his throat, and perhaps Gnosis will see the icy patterns that slowly crawls along his skin poking up from under his collar. It's maybe hard to tell just how much of him has frozen over, considering he is quite bundled up, but maybe it's not hard to figure out, since Enciodes isn't making a lot of effort to move at all.

He does manage to raise his arm, though. The one that isn't frozen around his cane. It's not easy, and it doesn't bend beyond the shoulder, but he hopes that the hand he presses against Gnosis' chest, over his heart, is enough to get his words across. He knows he made maybe promises to Gnosis, and all of which in some capacity let him know that he'd never leave his side. That he'd always be there. Right now, though, he doesn't think he should keep that promise. For as much as his feelings might be numb, Gnosis is here. Gnosis is feeling perhaps more than they have in a while.

The smoke that comes out of his mouth in little wheeze is probably meant to be something comforting, or something realistic, or something else. Maybe "Please go." Maybe "You need to take care of yourself." Maybe "I'm sorry." Maybe "I love you." Maybe it's not important that Gnosis knows. Maybe the only thing Enciodes wants Gnosis to know is that he's going to hold his hand over Gnosis' heart with their heads pressed together and hopes he gets its meaning.

I am your heart, forevermore. ]

[succiduous]

[Gnosis feels his heart jump into his throat. No, no no, you can't just toss their wedding vows at him. Not the hand on the heart, the same one which Gnosis held over his chest when they stood in that quiet Victorian chapel and squeezed so tightly that the metal of Enciodes' ring bit into his skin.

I am your heart, forevermore, he had said.
And I am your soul, from now until well beyond the pyre of our final resting places, Gnosis had replied.

...Goddess, no, anything but that hand on his chest. Enciodes' "goodbye" while Gnosis desperately clings to the few scraps of life he has left, as if it's his job to decide when Enciodes carries on in this world, like he's the arbiter of fate that he wants to be. Like he can control anything.

No, Gnosis, you've never had control. Not a day in your life have you ever had the control you so desperately try to seize.]

Enciodes— [he starts, his voice catching in his throat, a pitched sound on the verge of a breakdown,] Enciodes Silverash, look at me. Look—

[Gnosis only sees his reflection in those dead eyes, the ice creeping further toward them with every breath he takes. This isn't how this was supposed to go. This isn't how it should end.]

I just got you back, [he whispers, closing his eyes against the sting of tears,] and I refuse to lose you again, Enciodes. You promised—

["You promised to stay with me, you promised to protect me, you promised you weren't going anywhere..." The words die in Gnosis' throat before he can bring them forth, cut by a choked-off sob. Were he not holding a frozen hand over his chest, he'd collapse to his knees, but Gnosis fears first and foremost that moving will make that fragile limb snap off.

He ducks his head down and places one final kiss against Enciodes' frozen lips.]

You promised, [he repeats, defeated, suddenly feeling eight years old again.] You promised...

II

[amethystic]

( she hates that she's struggling. she's always prided herself on her grace and acrobatic ability and now, despite having managed to explore hidden passages, she's struggling. the cold leaves her legs trembling despite her long, thick skirt and with her arm.... well. the balance she prided herself on so is shot.

it's with great reluctance that she sighs after catching herself from falling and cracking her head on the floor behind her. )

... Sorry. I'm still adjusting.

[diplomaticimmewnity]

No need for an apology. I don't think there's a soul here that would blame you for not being immediately adjusted to any of this. [ The missing arm, or the ice castle. It works in both cases.

Regardless, Enciodes removes the fur coat from himself to drape it around Felicity instead. She doesn't seem the type to accept being carried, but he will offer out his arm for her to hold onto if she feels like she's just going to continue to slip an slide… ]

[amethystic]

Yeah, no, I'm from a beach city, my folks were from a tropical climate, I'm not mixing well with this.

( honestly, she would accept it from someone she knew better- being carried, that is. but silverash is making the wise call, despite her slight favoritism for him on behalf of being gnosis's favorite person. she brings the coat a bit closer and...

look, her default shoes are all heels. this fucking castle is a nightmare. she's holding on, yes, even if it limits what she can do severely. )

Thank you.

i

[oleaeuropaea]

[Vash has carried that strange, horrid mirror with him everywhere since he found there would be no ridding himself of it. It weighs heavy in his pocket, impossible to forget. And so from time to time, he does indeed take it out, staring into that unseeing creature's eyes.

And suddenly it's gone. There's a hand in his, and he's spun around. With the world rapidly rotating, it takes a second to focus his gaze, and another second for his instincts to kick in. By the time he bristles up, ready to cause a problem, Silverash is already letting him go.]

H-Hey! What's the big idea, buddy!

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ Enciodes adjusts himself to stand upright, only looking down on Vash in the sense that he's just a couple inches taller, but otherwise there's a look of genuine apology and concern behind that calm smile. ]

Excuse my forwardness, I just noticed you were quite taken with whatever animosity the forest sought to burden you with. No need to go into a distressed daze while we're trying to figure out what tricks it's trying to pull, hm?

[oleaeuropaea]

[Well, the apology is clear enough in both his gaze and his words, at least. Though Vash briefly squints, it's only to take in his appearance. Has he seen this man before? He's been a little busy getting his own shit together the past few days, so it's hard to say if he recognizes him.

But he hasn't met a bad soul in the Grove so far. He doubts that would start now.]

Right, right... [He rubs at his arm.] Guessin' I'm not the only one that woke up with a little gift this morning, then?

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ "Hasn't met a bad soul in the Grove," thinks the man who would easily apologize for a serial killer. At least Enciodes isn't this, and does genuinely care about the people here. Hence his milelong tangent in the notebook about trying to better the Grove. ] Unfortunately, Gnosis and I woke to their presence as well, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear that everyone had. That said, I do not take kindly to being mocked so openly by something that shows far too much cowardice than to just face us on its own.

[ A bold thing to say, considering the things the entity has shown capable of, but Enciodes will stand by it all the same. ]

Thus, mine lays uselessly broken in the waste bin. Though, I don't fault anyone who opts for them to stay in tact. If it were so easy to just break it like that and not have it be an issue... leads me to believe there's something more to it.

[oleaeuropaea]

[He... probably wouldn't forgive a serial killer! He just wouldn't condemn them himself, you know! There's a difference, he swears!!]

I don't know if it's better or worse that everyone seems to be dealing with this. [He breathes out a sigh.] From what I hear, that's pretty standard forest stuff. That and chasing you through the woods and tormenting you.

[But hey! He's new here! Maybe there's some Forest-isms that he doesn't get yet.]

You think it's worth breaking them? I'd be worried that the forest is trying to pry but... [If he breaks it, will he ever find answers? The thought stays his hand.]

i. — hope this is alright!

[bloodyopus]

[ What's his business, honestly? It's irritating, and even if the mirror was also irritating — at the moment, the other operator's behaviour annoys Phantom more than whatever the mirror could do, or even the VOICE in his head. ]

...It's none of your business. [ He bristled, practically at everything - both the friendly 'intervention' and the equally overly friendly words that follows - and tries to swat operator SilverAsh's hand away. Much like a smaller cat in the presence of a larger one. ] And I know what's best for myself, thank you. I also do not have such a person.

[ No one. Except for one, perhaps, but he had not seen neither hide nor hair of the Perro. That being said, he took a step back and vanished into his shadows, appearing some distance away from the other operator — putting some safe distance between them. ]

...Leave me alone. [ Phantom added after a moment, thoughtfully, sullenly. Mostly the latter, really. ] The Doctor isn't here. So is Miss Christine.

It’s perfect! Sorry for the delay/short reply — soft hiatus while I’m moving!

[diplomaticimmewnity]

[ Oh how immediately hostile? He isn’t surprised by the reaction — he’d be a fool to not expect some backlash to something so… well, audacious. This is fine, too. So long as he’s being grumpy towards him and not the mirror, Enciodes still considers that a win.

But he won’t pursue him more than this. Not only is it not his place too, but he knows when he’s bound to make things worse. Something he’s had to learn a long time ago, realistically. ]

I understand the instinct to hiss at people when you’re in a foreign, confusing place, but it’s far from productive, I’d think. Are you sure you’re doing alright?

No problem! Also kind of slow due to busy day/tiring week.

[bloodyopus]

[ If it was actually a deliberate distraction, then it had worked — Phantom had temporarily forgotten about the silver mirror and its siren song as well as the pesky VOICE in his mind. The latter was already present without the mirror, and it wasn't the same mysterious voice that had asked him if he'd like to play before whisking him away into the Grove, the one that they have all heard at some point before all of this...madness.

In any case, he seemed to have forgotten about it, at least temporarily. Although on the downside: he's kind of...sulking. Well, just a littttle bit. It's not that he had a particular problem with being touched - be it with strangers or the very few people he trusted (which was nearly nonexistent) - or have any issue with the other operator in particular (since they did not even know each other all that well)...it was simply that he was wary.

He didn't want to accidentally hurt him, after all. Regardless of whether or not the larger Feline could defend himself, and irrespective of the presence of a suppressor around his throat (no matter how imperfect) — Phantom was painfully aware that he was a man trapped between his nightmares of the past and the present waking moment, often unable to distinguish not only one from the other, but also what his mind (including the 'VOICE') was telling him from reality.

...He was more than conscious that he was a dangerous man. And it was better if anyone didn't try to touch him or get too close to him, gentlemanly bearing and noble intentions or no. He seemed to visibly relax when Silverash did not pursue him — just a little bit. ]

...Who's hissing at anyone? [ He retorted, albeit monotonely so, looking vaguely like a child who got scolded by his father. ] I am merely telling you to keep your paws off me, operator Silverash. It would be the polite thing to do.

[ If he was just a bit meaner, he would have added, 'or don't you have manners in Kjerag?' but even if such a snide remark has ever crossed his mind, Lucian would have kept it to himself. ]

...I'm fine. Thank you for your concern. [ A small pause transpired, and he glanced at the other man. Curiosity wins out at the end. ] Did you break yours?

[diplomaticimmewnity]

You're quite right, but given the circumstances, I assumed a pardon was in order for my more hands-on approach. It won't happen again, however. [ Probably. Enciodes is a bit of a show-off, and being a noble means he not only usually gets away with stuff like this, but it's rather encouraged. Still, though, he doesn't want to come off as rude to a coworker like that… something to work on, then.

It's also within his best interest to not go making enemies within the Grove. Most of the people here are friendly enough, but it would be foolish to assume everyone is going to get along with the overly charismatic diplomat here. Especially when whatever power he held no longer mattered here.

But for however bad Enciodes might feel about being so forward, he's never found saying "sorry" easy. ]

…I did. Were it just a mirror that spouted insults my way, I would've been perfectly content going on with my day, but I don't take too kindly to things that intend to manipulate me. It was… a rash action, admittedly.

[bloodyopus]

...As long as it won't happen again. [ He grudgingly accepted the other's offered olive branch, even if it was a paltry attempt of apology. A poor excuse at one, honestly. But...Phantom doesn't want to make mountains out of molehills, and he definitely did not want to alienate a coworker, especially in this...strange, eerie place.

And even if he personally didn't care all that much, The Doctor would have. Of course, they weren't here, and...neither were Miss Christine, as he had mentioned. Perhaps this, too, contributes to the fact that the shorter Feline seemed much crankier than usual, despite his otherwise stoic expression.

...In a manner of speaking, Silverash's descriptor of 'the instinct to hiss at people when you’re in a foreign, confusing place' was, of course, accurate. It did hit a nerve. Although obviously, Phantom would never want to admit it. ]

Breaking a mirror would bring you seven years of bad luck, or so the commonly-known Victorian superstition goes. [ He pauses, finding a wall to lean on, the shadows shifting comfortably underneath his feet. Then he crosses his arms in front of his chest. ] In addition to being rash, indeed. But...does it reappear? Or has it simply vanished after you smashed it? I assume that it was the latter, since I do not see yours, but this assumption might be wrong.

[ Politely, he will leave out the question on how exactly did the other operator's mirror tries to manipulate him. For himself...well, it was obvious. Faint singing could be heard from the direction of his mirror, although Phantom still pointedly refused to even go so far as to glance in its direction, as if it was a boogeyman came to life and he was naught but a small child. The VOICE in his mind opines, gleefully so in its signature sadistic manner: THIS IS WHY YOU ARE A COWARD, LUCIAN. ]

...Does this sort of thing happens often in this place?

[diplomaticimmewnity]

I'm familiar with that much — I'm sure it goes especially well with that of an obviously cursed mirror bestowed on me from a malicious entity. It has not reappeared, though, no. The mirror was left on my desk and, as far as I'm aware, stayed there, broken. I intended to study it some beforehand, but it truly didn't seem different from a normal mirror afterwards, and… [ Sigh. ] Perhaps I'm less than keen on admitting my own pride got the best of me, but it presents the opportunity of finding out what the consequences are. If there are any at all, of course.

[ One can only hope there aren't any, but based on the things Gnosis had explained about this place, he highly doubts it. And speaking of, perhaps he should've done a better job at explaining things from the get go. After all, he hadn't been here for much longer than the other Feline. Gnosis, on the other hand… ]

On firsthand accounts, I wouldn't actually know. However, I have been told about events much worse than this one. Think something along the lines of a Feranmut with incomprehensible manipulation of reality with the mindset of a sadistic toddler and you'd be caught up to speed, I believe.