sticksandbones | EVENT & TDM 008

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EVENT & TDM 008

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

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Who said I like all dark and dour colors?

[Wolfwood is briefly interrupted from being sarcastic to instead make a face, excuse you?

...anyway, not the point, don't let him distract you that's what he's best at-]

Never mind. Blondie. What's got you all twisted up?

[Vash just looks at him. Head to toe. Look at yourself, buddy.]

Who said I'm upset about anything?

[Can't they just focus on this? Please? His shoulders slump. He knows the second he opens his mouth, Wolfwood will grow irritated. They've never seen eye to eye on this, and Vash knows better than to believe that they will.]

C'mon... I don't want to argue with you today, Nick.

Vash. For once, I ain't tryin' to argue.

[He steps away from the wall as he says that, pushing his hands into his pockets. Now that he comes out from underneath the shade, it feels slightly less cold in the sun. But only just.]

I'm just asking.

[He didn't even say the word "upset". That was Vash's addition.]

[The exhale Vash lets out is sharp and through gritted teeth. He didn't expect Nick to understand, simply because he wouldn't make the same leaps of logic as the Independent would. This right now isn't a fight. But it just as likely would be if he didn't shut his mouth.

But fine. If Nick wanted the truth, he'll get it. Vash won't look at him, opting instead to hide in his jacket, but he'll hand it over all the same.]

I'm trying to figure out if I want more ammo.

[That's about what he expected Vash to say. It's hard to imagine anything different, with the way he'd been obsessively checking his gun just then. And he knows Vash well enough to know what is holding him back.

Vash isn't wrong. Wolfwood thinks the fact he's hesitating at all is extremely stupid. Like...why not? Going without ammo would be putting yourself at a disadvantage, if not outright suicide. Yet, for someone as staunchly pacifistic as Vash, it makes perfect sense.]

...well? Do you?

I do. [He tries to sound firm, but it fails.] And I don't.

[Despite the rocky start, things have been peaceful. He knows it won't last forever, that this isn't some fairy tale for them. But he desperately wants to believe it is. He wants nothing more than to lay down his gun for the first time in a century.]

Someone has to keep the grove safe, right?

I know you don't.

[Vash, out of all people, would rather do anything but.]

But if you didn't, and then it turned out you needed 'em...you'd regret it.

[He can see it now. Vash would be kicking himself for the rest of his life if a conflict broke out and he didn't have ammo in his gun. Even just one bullet...

Wolfwood angles his head down for a moment, exhaling smoke.]

I know you. I know you don't want to have to think about using it. But having it as insurance is more valuable than if you didn't.

[He brings a hand up, touching the breast pocket of his suit where his vials are hidden underneath.]

I know. Trust me.

[Wolfwood is right. When Vash closes his eyes, he can vividly see a scene before him that churns his stomach. Someone he cares about, any resident of the grove, really, desperate for help. A clean shot — not fatal, just enough to incapacitate — would be all that was necessary to save them.

And without the bullets to make sure it happened, he'd hate himself for the rest of his life.

His mind is already made up, when he thinks about it. But it doesn't mean that letting go of the fantasy is any easier. He's already gotten used to idyllic, if cold, mornings spent wrapped up with Wolfwood. Somehow, it feels like giving back into the violence that has defined his life is also giving up on that fantasy.

It's just a little hard to swallow.]

I'll be out in a second. Will you wait for me?

[Vash's entire goal in life is to achieve world peace. Even if that means starting with a place as small as this one Grove, then so be it. He gets that. And maybe it's more than a little hard to believe that, with the small victories they've had in recent days, things could get worse again.

But they can. And they will. That isn't the pessimist in Wolfwood talking, either.

Sometimes, it sucks having to be the voice of reason. Especially now when he and Vash have gotten closer to being on the same page, even if they're still only in the same book.]

Yeah. I'll be right here.

[He's got to finish his cigarette, after all.]

[Some part of him wishes that Wolfwood would offer an assurance otherwise. Vash knows he isn't the type, though. Trying to force his square peg to fit into Vash's round hole would never work. The best they can do is accommodate for one another without trying to break themselves in twain.

After only a second more of hesitation, he steps inside. This, at least, is a quick enough conversation. Somehow Heimr always seems to have what they need, after all. It doesn't make the cartridges passed over weigh any less, but at least they're purchased.

He doesn't have to argue with himself any longer.

Eventually he steps out once more, 17 more bullets weighing him down. It isn't a lot, but Vash has worked with less on worse occasions. It's three full rounds, at least. And when he turns to smile at Wolfwood, it almost seems to look real.

Almost.]

All done. Wasn't so bad, really.

[By the time Vash comes back outside, Wolfwood is no longer smoking. He's still waiting for him though, just like he'd promised. No longer leaning against the wall, but merely standing there near the door, shifting his weight from one foot to the other in the snow.

He tilts his head a bit to one side, then wordlessly offers Vash a lollipop from one of his pockets.]

Yaknow, they used to give us candy at the orphanage when we did our chores.

[Gestures to him with the lollipop, meaningfully. Vash has earned it for taking his medicine, it would seem.]

[Maybe he should feel patronized at what Wolfwood says to him. It feels like a mockery of his own hang-ups, and the scowl he wears shows just what he thinks. Nevertheless, he accepts the lollipop. He even takes the wrapping off and puts it in his mouth.

Even if he doesn't like it, he's mostly certain that Wolfwood means well. It's how he's offered comfort before, at least. Granted, that had been toward a child, but beggars can't be choosers. It's something, at least.]

Guess I've been a good boy today. [He speaks without humor, but he does try to laugh. It doesn't work, but at least he tries.]

[Being condescending or patronizing, this time, is not actually his intention. He genuinely means to try to cheer Vash up, and that's the better way to do it than to offer hollow platitudes...even if that's what Vash clearly would have preferred.

For what it's worth, he can tell that the attempt fell on its face, just a little. Okay, yeah, this is clearly getting to Vash more than he originally thought.]

...here. Why don't we walk for a bit. It's not a blizzard out, for once. Almost nice.

[Though Vash wants to argue, he presses his mouth into a thin line. He can see, at least, that Nick is trying to help. It might not be working, but that's probably Vash's own stubbornness more than anything, right?]

Sure... [He crowds in closer.] Lead the way.

Edited 2024-01-06 05:48 (UTC)

[Alright, so. Wolfwood...may be dating Vash now, and that's maybe changed things between them, but that doesn't mean he's still any good at relationship stuff. Or talking about your problems...or feelings, or any of that. Vash would be better off having Mizuki or Elsword to talk to. Or, hell, even Ydalir. Not him. He's just bound to fuck it up and say something wrong.

But. He's also his boyfriend now. He has a responsibility to try.

...that, and he just wants to.

So he'll lead Vash on away from the shop, heading towards one side of the Grove. It's the edge that's away from where they live in particular, namely because they're always so far off that this part of the settlement doesn't get traversed as much. He will be going towards the outskirts though, both to give them some privacy, and to have it be some sort of an excuse like they were out here patrolling for the tiger guy. And for a while, he keeps silent. Hard to say whether it's because he's giving Vash some space, or because he has no idea what to even say to him.]

I'm...guessin' having your brother show up shook things up a little.

[That tenuous peace. Right?]

[The fact that Wolfwood seems to be trying at all serves as a salve for the irritation that had been brewing beneath his skin. Any fight that had been brewing within him had swiftly begun to diminish, leaving him feeling nothing more than worn out and ragged. An exhale is managed as Wolfwood speaks, and though it quavers at the edges, at least the anger was gone with it.]

Among other things. [It's the snowmen. The sudden shift. Everything feels wrong somehow, but not in a way he can legitimately place.] Felt like I woke up this morning splashed with cold water. Colder water than usual, even.

[He doesn't appreciate the wakeup call. Who would.]

[...why does he get the feeling Vash doesn't quite mean that literally?

Wolfwood thinks back to how his morning went. How he found that mirror, and then it found him. Then, he made sure it would never find him again.

His shoulders hunch a little as they walk, focusing his gaze forward.]

...you too, huh.

[Truthfully, the mirror has been the furthest thing from his mind, and for good reason. The last thing he wants is to think about that. Whatever monstrosity existed in that reflection, it wasn't him. It couldn't be.

Now that Wolfwood says it though, even if he hadn't mentioned it by name, his mind wanders. He grimaces outwardly.]

Yeah. [He glances toward the sky, as if he might find the mirror there, too. As if it wasn't currently weighing down a pocket.] Something is about to happen, Nick. I can feel it. And I don't think I'm ready.

[Absently, he reaches for his hand. Any sort of connection.]

Thought I'd have a little more time with you, is all.

[Oh.

Wolfwood notices, of course. Even if he wasn't looking, he'd probably feel Vash's fingertips vying to grip onto his. It makes him conscious of the fact that while they've held hands before, it's never been under a more casual context. Only when they kissed, or were having sex before. Maybe that's why it feels so meaningful now, the way he reaches for and takes Vash's hand to hold.

He gives his hand a light squeeze, staying close as their boots crunch through the snow.]

We've never had enough time. Not back home...not here.

[That just isn't the way things are, for them. They don't get peace. At least, not for long.]

But you know I ain't goin' anywhere. Whatever happens.

[His thumb brushes absently over Vash's knuckles.]

We'll deal with it just like we do everything else.

I wanted it to be different, here.

[Maybe not forever. They had things to do back home. For Vash, they might have become less pressing now that Nai wasn't around to spread terror. Wolfwood was different. Whatever he was involved with might have been tied to Nai, but he's certain that it would continue to live on, even beyond its leader.

They'd need to get back to the orphanage one day.

But not yet. Not so soon.]

You promise me, Nick? [He turns his head, the faintest glimmer of hope within his eyes. He knows the weight of a promise, and just how easily something like this could be broken. That didn't keep him from wanting to believe, though.]

[Wolfwood hates making promises of any kind, for the precise reason that they can and will be broken. I wanted it to be different, here, Vash says, and Wolfwood gets it. He really does. But he's resigned himself to the notion that no matter where they are, be it on this planet or another, trouble will follow. Peace...at least for the time being, doesn't exist for people like them.

As much as they'd wish it did.

He sees when Vash looks over, responding in kind by glancing at him sidelong. With their hands still joined, he moves to instead thread their fingers together.]

...yeah. I promise. But only for you.

[His hand tightens around Wolfwood's, just that little bit more. He knows that promises don't come easy for him. It makes the significance just that more prominent. He's accommodated for Vash in so many ways, and though he still isn't convinced that he's deserving, he appreciates the effort nonetheless.]

That's all I need.

[And since they're tucked just that little bit away, he doesn't hesitate to lift Wolfwood's hand up to his. He presses a kiss to the back, gentle and fleeting, before lowering them both once more.]

No matter what happens, we'll get through it. Together.

[God, Vash. You're lucky Wolfwood has it so bad for you.

The kiss to his knuckles causes Wolfwood to fluster almost immediately, prompting him to look elsewhere as if Vash isn't going to notice the fact his ears have turned a vibrant red. ]

...yeah. And you'd better stick with me, got it? None of your usual self-sacrificing bullshit.

[Thankfully, at least, Vash is too busy focusing on gently thumbing over the back of his knuckles. It's a soft little touch, the tactile sensation allowing him to lock in on something beyond his toiling thoughts.]

Nah, none of that. You'd just kick my ass if I tried. I know better.

[Hahahaha]

[HAHAHA...]

Damn straight.

[And Wolfwood falls silent after saying that, for a time. It's not snowing heavily like it's been, at least, but that doesn't mean it isn't still as cold as hell. Harder to mind it, though, when Vash's hand is keeping his warm.]

And...whatever feeling you've got right now, about something about to happen? You could just be overthinking it.

[He knows, of course, that this is likely untrue...considering. But he wants to think that it's still possible, and if he's able to convince Vash of it too, then what's the harm in giving him something to be hopeful for?]

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I deleted this notif accidentally leaps out the window

chi hates me specifically

NOOOO

:((((

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