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

❖ None yet!

SUBMISSIONS

QUESTIONS
INVESTIGATIONS
PAST-LIFE PLOTTING
INTEREST CHECK

(CODE)

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[Basil follows along, his feet crunching through the snow as they go. It's a decidedly uncomfortable feeling, since typically he'd be on the sidewalk if he ever had to walk to school in the snow, but he tries to ignore it for the time being.

Where he came from? Right...]

Um. I'm from...from Faraway Town. It's supposed to be s...summer, right now.

[Which explains his dress. It's nowhere CLOSE to being winter, much less snowing.]

There's...a park near my house. That's where I was before...

Can't say I've ever heard of it. [Then again, most places he knows are named after months on the calendar, or by the very obvious features in the town. Here's looking at you, "Terminal" and "Windmill Village." No one ever said the folks of No Man's Land were creative.]

But that's alright. Doesn't matter where you come from. The town takes care of you. What we'll go ahead and do is get you situated next to the fire, and then I'll go talk to the local shopkeeper to see if we can find some clothes for you.

[As Vash approaches the door, hand extending toward the knob, he stops short. Quickly he turns around and flashes a slightly nervous grin at Basil.]

Oh, right. How do you feel about dogs?

[That makes sense. It's not like he's seen anyone like Vash in their humble little town, but...at least Vash- to him- seems normal He's...a person, unlike some of the other more scary people he's seen here that leave him wondering if this is actually all just a dream or not.

Anyway, they approach the door with Basil nodding along, because warmer clothes sound like a good idea even if he doesn't plan to-]

Mm...? Dogs? You mean like Hector?

[He blurts before he realizes Vash won't know what he's talking about, then shakes his head a little.]

I like dogs. ...why?

[If Vash is at all bothered by the slip, he doesn't say anything. The awkward grin gives way to something far more genuine. He gives a nod, as if somehow, he knows just who Basil is talking about. Better to not make the poor kid self-conscious, right?]

Yeah, just like Hector. [He nods a few times.] We have a puppy, her name is Angelina. She's got a lot of energy, but she's a real sweetheart. Just didn't want you to be surprised!

[With that, Vash opens the door. Sure enough, a streak of black fur shoots out, running around in the snow in several circles, before finally recognizing a new scent in the air. She sprints toward Basil and yaps a few times, tail wagging a mile a minute.]

C'mon, hurry in! Before either of you get too cold.

[He's already pushing on inside.]

[Honestly, it's a good thing Vash gave him that warning. After the nightmare Basil has had dealing with his own mirror, which has been following him incessantly since his arrival, seeing some dark shadow shooting out of nowhere would have caused him to faint right then and there. Instead, he's a bit more prepared for it as the puppy scoots around excitedly in the snow, barking and running up to him with ice clinging to her fur.]

Aw...she's so small...heheh.

[And even someone as nervous as Basil can't help but feel a little less scared around a puppy. In fact, since she's so eager to run up to him, Basil will stoop down to carefully lift her up in his arms so he can bundle her under Vash's jacket, walking into the house after him.]

You live here, Mister?

She's real cute, huh?

[Once Basil's inside, Vash shuts the door behind him. Thankfully, there's enough light coming from the still smoldering (and gated off) embers of the fire to illuminate things. Vash quickly hurries over to the fireplace, adding a few logs as he motions Basil over.]

Yup. My boyfriend and I share this place. Miss Angelina here belongs to him, but she likes me the most I'll bet.

[This is not true at all, but don't worry about it.]

Call me Vash, by the way! That's my name, and beats being all formal with things like Mister!

Okay, Mister- um...Vash.

[Sorry, force of habit.

Basil walks a little further into the house as Vash beckons him in, carefully putting Angelina down on the floor so she can shake her fur free of the snow clumped up on it. he'll get down on his knees in front of the fire, a decent distance away from it so he isn't singing his eyebrows, but man...it's so warm he almost wants to get closer. It's a far cry from the cold outside, that's for sure.]

My name is Basil. Th-thank you...for letting me come in.

[Likewise, Vash settles by the fire, opting for hte ground rather than any seat. He knows he's going to have to march back outside soon enough, if only to gather some better clothes for Basil, but he can at least warm his fingers up for now. And also sneak in some Angelina pets as she clambers onto his lap.]

It's good to meet you, Basil. And I'm sorry you had to get dragged into all this trouble. Despite it all, the town really isn't that bad, as long as you ignore the weird stuff.

[And the dangerous stuff. But he doesn't want to scare Basil with all of that, just yet.]

...it's okay. It's not your fault.

[He wraps his arms around his knees as he says this, resting his chin on his knees.]

But...do you know how I got here? I really don't remember coming to a place like this.

[Ah. Vash's face falls at that. He glances away, staring into the smoldering coals of the fire. Even he doesn't really understand the whole story. It's probably better for someone that does get it to explain.]

There are folks a lot smarter than me that can explain that part. Trust me, I'd just make a mess of it. [He rubs his palms against his thighs.] Speaking of, I can go grab some clothes for you, and once I'm back and you've gotten changed, we can go get you introduced to some of those folks.

[Hm. Basil isn't sure he believes that...Vash has been kind to him so far, so surely he must know something, right? But, he isn't going to argue. He's just thankful to be out of the snow.]

O...okay. If you're sure.

[...]

You promise you'll come back...?

[He's...admittedly afraid. He hasn't escaped Something yet, and he doubts he'll escape it here for long.]

Absolutely. I promise.

[He is definitely not thinking about every broken promise he's ever made in his life right now. Instead, he looks to Angelina and very carefully nudges her off his lap. Offended, she gives a little huff and trots to Basil instead. Her chin is rested against his knees, while those big baby blues look up soulfully at the boy.]

I'll even leave Angelina here to keep you company. And trust me when I say, her dad would give me real hell if I let her down.

[He doesn't make a move to stand just yet, though. He won't until Basil is absolutely certain of the decision.]

[Angelina being here does help, honestly. The moment she comes over and places her chin on his knees, Basil can't resist carefully picking her up and drawing her into his lap. He's careful not to lean too far forward like this, not wanting to accidentally squish her or anything.]

Okay. I...I'll be here.

[The thought of being alone, again, is scary. But it was scarier being alone outside, wasn't it? At least here, he's indoors...he's safe.

Theoretically.]

It'll be okay, I promise. And I'll be quick, too.

[With Basil's assent, Vash begins backing toward the door. The fingers of his cybernetic tighten around the knob, but they don't twist just yet. Instead, he gives Basil one last once over, trying to both read the boy and also map out his approximate size.]

If you get bored, there's a piano you can play? I don't know if you're the type but...

[He nods his head toward the small, rickety thing. It's clearly well-worn, but the efforts to keep it repaired are there as well. Beside it, there's a small table with a single red geranium planted. It, too, seems in good care.]

Just take it easy. I'll be back quick!

[He doesn't let himself hesitate any longer, instead dipping out and closing the door behind him.]

[And just like that, Vash is gone, and the house is empty. Quiet, save for the crackle of the wood in the fire. It's a comforting sound though, and the warmth is managing to stave off the chill from the snow outside. If he weren't so anxious, Basil thinks he might just be able to fall asleep here like this, especially with little Angelina curled up in his arms.

It's also lucky that while Vash is gone, Basil doesn't notice that his mirror has followed him all the way here, currently propped up on a shelf by the wall. It's reflecting the same thing as before, dark shadows that stretch away from and around Basil, as if trying to consume him, but...they're only visible behind the glass, and Basil's too busy focusing on the fire and the mire of thoughts rattling around in his brain to realize it's there.

For now, at least.]

[There are two stops Vash has to make, one longer and slightly more arduous than the other. His first goal is to dig up enough shells to be able to purchase the supplies he needs. The second is to take said shells to Heimr, exchanging them for some clothes. It takes some doing, convincing the shopkeeper of the proper size. There are lots of hand motions and superfluous descriptions. Likely, the poor man ends up with a headache not worth the currency he makes.

But hey! In the end, Vash returns, knocking on the door twice before opening it once more.]

Still in here, Basil? It's me, Vash!

[Thankfully, as long as Basil has remained still, Angelina has remained content in his lap. She does wag her tail and yap as soon as there's a knock, but she saves bounding toward the door until she sees that its Vash.]

[Not going to lie, part of Basil figured he might just finally wake up before Vash returned. Or, something would happen to change this "dream" into something else, like the floor would open up underneath him and a new scene would begin. Everything was far too...calm and safe for how his dreams usually went, after all.

Turns out, that isn't what happens at all. He hears Vash calling out at the door before he opens the door, letting Angelina tumble from his arms so she can go running over to greet him. The relief that floods him when that blonde shock of hair appears through the door is...palpable, to say the least.]

I'm here...!

Hi, baby girl! I wasn't gone that long, was I?

[He may or may not have used an extra shell or two to buy her a few treats. He holds one out to her, before meandering over to Basil. The second is dropped inconspicuously into his lap, followed by a very playful grin. He turns before Angelina can really get curious, heading over toward the bedroom to lay out his bundle of clothes.]

You can change in here whenever you're ready!

[Once it's all laid out, Vash ambles back into the main room. He sits down in front of the fire once more, shaking off the stray snowflakes.]

Door closes and everything!

[Basil picks up the treat as Vash drops it for him, holding it between his fingers as he watches Vash move into the bedroom. It takes Angelina all of a second to inhale the first treat, and then she's sniffing around for more...only to immediately bolt over to Basil and realize he has the goods. Give.

He can't help but smile, gently offering it to her, to which she takes it from him while somehow managing to get his fingers all slobbery.

After that, Basil will slowly get up from the floor, his joints no longer frozen now that he's rested in front of the fire for a while. Though he could immediately retreat to go change...he ends up hesitating, watching Vash for a moment longer.]

You're...being so nice to me.

Huh?

[Vash turns, brows lifted faintly. It's not such a surprising question, not given where he's come from. People aren't likely to be nice just out of the kindness of their hearts. Handing over resources to someone else was just as likely to put you in danger as it was to help someone else.

But then, that had never been Vash's way. He scratches at the back of his neck, before giving a limp shrug as his hand drops.]

Isn't that the way it's supposed to be? We take care of the people that need it while we can, and they do the same for you? [He shrugs.] It's how I feel about it, at least. And most of the folks in this town feel the same.

[It's a strange thing for Basil to ask, in contrast, when Vash has no reason to not be nice. But...it's hard for Basil to accept it when he's received so much of a hard time from people in the last couple years. It makes genuine kindness feel like there has to be some sort of catch, at times. Like there's something he's missing.

Isn't that the way it's supposed to be?

Basil fidgets with the bottom edge of his sweatervest, nodding a little.]

...I wish it were like that everywhere. ...but you're right. It is.

[...]

T...thank you, Mr. Vash.

[Something somber creeps its way over Vash's expression. Oh, he understands that sentiment far too well. He tries to smile through it, but it's obvious that his heart isn't in it. It feels wrong for a child to know how Vash felt. No one deserved that, but certainly not someone so young and innocent.]

I do too. [He admits this much quietly, reluctantly. He doesn't like showing even such a small modicum of weakness, but he allows it just this once.]

And hey, no need to thank me, Basil. I'm just putting the good I want to see in the world out there.

[He nods to the pile of clothing.]

Get changed, and then I'll show you to the real nicest guy in the grove. How about that?

Okay. I think...I'm already talking to him, though.

[And before Vash can protest, Basil will scurry off to change into the clothing given to him by Heimr. It is much warmer than what he had previously, thankfully. Long pants, long sleeves, and a coat that fits him just right. Even with it still snowing outside, this should help in keeping him warm when they head back out.

He returns after a moment, fiddling with the flower hairpin above his ear to make sure it didn't fall out while he was tugging his shirt over his head.]

Does it look okay?

[Predictably, Vash's jaw drops, before tightening once more as a protest forms on his lips. He doesn't get the chance to vocalize it before Basil is out of sight. He opts for grumbling to himself, then turns to Angelina with an expression that can only say "can you believe this?" The dog only cocks her head in confusion.

By the time Basil returns, Vash has taken a seat on the edge of the couch. He stands up the moment his head pops out, then gives the young man a quick once over. After clicking his tongue thoughtfully, he gives an approving nod.]

You look nice and cozy. [He reaches down and gently nudges one of Basil's hands, helping him adjust the pin, before pulling back.]

You ready to head out? We'll stop by the general store, and then we can get you squared away with a room at the Inn.

[Sorry Vash! Not his fault you set yourself up for that one-

Basil appreciates the help, smiling sheepishly as Vash helps him get the pin adjusted. Once he's situated and smoothing the wrinkles out of his coat just for something to do with his hands, he'll nod. He only just got used to the warm of the house, but a little snow never hurt anybody, especially now that he's prepared.]

Mm! I'm ready. Is Angelina okay here by herself...?

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EVENT & TDM 008

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