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sticksandbones2024-02-01 10:46 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2024-02-01 10:46 am
Entry tags:
EVENT 009
RULER OF MY HEART
HOW SWEET IT IS
As time ticks on in that strange, wobbly way it does in this place — where the nights feel like they last days, and the days feel like they’re only a few hours long — the fog, ever so gradually, rolls back in, until it’s that oppressive black wall it normally is. It means no more trips into the greater forest for the time being, though the surrounding ring of treeline around the Grove and the burned town to the north remains readily accessible.
The woods, now awake and alert, sends its regards with the occasional roar of a beast in the far distance, and the occasional biblically-accurate deer wandering into the Grove proper to nibble on grasses starting to spring up through the snow. Speaking of things springing up through the snow, there are some new trees near the riverbank, sporting perfectly normal lemons that are growing perfectly normal eyeballs. It’s fine, they’re edible, although they don’t seem to be native. Hmm.
All is peaceful thus far, until you open your dresser drawer. Suddenly, a little creature flies out at you, or cries out angrily because you woke it up. Perhaps, that creature climbs on you instead, shuffling into your pocket to snuggle up. Or, maybe you lay down for a nap, and your pillow feels just a touch lumpier than normal, and when you move your head, something squeals at you. No matter where you find them, even if they’re being a nuisance and eating your shoelaces, these creatures are harmless: they’re merely cold, and you, a Warm Thing, will now be their space heater.
The woods, now awake and alert, sends its regards with the occasional roar of a beast in the far distance, and the occasional biblically-accurate deer wandering into the Grove proper to nibble on grasses starting to spring up through the snow. Speaking of things springing up through the snow, there are some new trees near the riverbank, sporting perfectly normal lemons that are growing perfectly normal eyeballs. It’s fine, they’re edible, although they don’t seem to be native. Hmm.
All is peaceful thus far, until you open your dresser drawer. Suddenly, a little creature flies out at you, or cries out angrily because you woke it up. Perhaps, that creature climbs on you instead, shuffling into your pocket to snuggle up. Or, maybe you lay down for a nap, and your pillow feels just a touch lumpier than normal, and when you move your head, something squeals at you. No matter where you find them, even if they’re being a nuisance and eating your shoelaces, these creatures are harmless: they’re merely cold, and you, a Warm Thing, will now be their space heater.
I REALLY LIKE YOU
One of Ydalir’s secret passions is cooking. You would not know this, because she doesn’t have the ability to eat, but that doesn’t mean she lost the ability to cook. A holiday is coming, you see, and it’s tradition for everyone to partake in cute chocolates and have candlelit dinners! (She will not be providing the dinners, that’s on you.)
What feels like early on in the month, Ydalir will approach everybody with a box of chocolates customized for each person with their favourite flavours. For those of you who don’t eat human food, don’t worry: These are safe for consumption for vampires and robots alike.
Like with most things here, though, things are not as they seem. Eating one of these chocolates suddenly makes you feel very, very cuddly, like suddenly you wouldn’t care who you snuggled up to right now so long as you were comfortable. With the candy in your system, you feel affectionate to anyone who you come across, even if you may not have liked them previously.
As it turns out, mixing magic with cooking makes a potion. Ydalir swears up and down she didn’t mean it, but enjoy your cuddle-chocolates anyway!
What feels like early on in the month, Ydalir will approach everybody with a box of chocolates customized for each person with their favourite flavours. For those of you who don’t eat human food, don’t worry: These are safe for consumption for vampires and robots alike.
Like with most things here, though, things are not as they seem. Eating one of these chocolates suddenly makes you feel very, very cuddly, like suddenly you wouldn’t care who you snuggled up to right now so long as you were comfortable. With the candy in your system, you feel affectionate to anyone who you come across, even if you may not have liked them previously.
As it turns out, mixing magic with cooking makes a potion. Ydalir swears up and down she didn’t mean it, but enjoy your cuddle-chocolates anyway!
LET’S STAY TOGETHER
Sometimes, when you touch another person, your mind goes elsewhere. This isn’t a result of the chocolates, but rather some other force at work. If you see two people asleep somewhere — the ground, the couch, the kitchen counter — it’s best to leave them where they are, unless you want to risk passing out with them and seeing what they see. They’ll wake up in a little while.
What those who get dragged into their own minds see depends on the person, and what lies within their heart. These “heartspaces” are made up of core memories to the participants — important locations, emotional states given form, meaningful items, or anything else, really. When in contact with another person, these heartspaces will combine into one, perfectly interactable and wanderable at your leisure. Touching objects within these spaces will play a core memory before your eyes, or even change the scenery a bit, depending on whose heart it is you’re messing with.
Perhaps now is a good time for bonding and learning about one another, in the comfort and privacy of your own minds. After all, you won’t exit the heartspaces for quite a bit.
What those who get dragged into their own minds see depends on the person, and what lies within their heart. These “heartspaces” are made up of core memories to the participants — important locations, emotional states given form, meaningful items, or anything else, really. When in contact with another person, these heartspaces will combine into one, perfectly interactable and wanderable at your leisure. Touching objects within these spaces will play a core memory before your eyes, or even change the scenery a bit, depending on whose heart it is you’re messing with.
Perhaps now is a good time for bonding and learning about one another, in the comfort and privacy of your own minds. After all, you won’t exit the heartspaces for quite a bit.
PAIN IN MY HEART
…just try not to break anything while you're there.
It might be an accident. Maybe you walk backwards into a table containing a framed photograph, and that photo falls and the glass breaks, the picture inside the frame ruined. Maybe you broke that cheaply-made but still-important toy while fiddling with it. Or, perhaps, it wasn’t an accident at all: You broke that thing on purpose, you punched through that wall, you set that fire.
Whatever broke the thing in question doesn’t matter in the end. What matters is that the memory associated with it begins to fade away like smoke on the wind. Fixing the broken object will bring that memory back, but failing to fix it before you wake up from the dream will have that memory gone forever.
Although, there are some pretty bad memories out there… if the memory broken was terrible, or if the item in question showed someone a dark secret you didn’t want them to know… shouldn’t it stay gone?
It might be an accident. Maybe you walk backwards into a table containing a framed photograph, and that photo falls and the glass breaks, the picture inside the frame ruined. Maybe you broke that cheaply-made but still-important toy while fiddling with it. Or, perhaps, it wasn’t an accident at all: You broke that thing on purpose, you punched through that wall, you set that fire.
Whatever broke the thing in question doesn’t matter in the end. What matters is that the memory associated with it begins to fade away like smoke on the wind. Fixing the broken object will bring that memory back, but failing to fix it before you wake up from the dream will have that memory gone forever.
Although, there are some pretty bad memories out there… if the memory broken was terrible, or if the item in question showed someone a dark secret you didn’t want them to know… shouldn’t it stay gone?
SPARK NOTES
CLICK TO EXPAND!
HOW SWEET IT IS
The fog is back. The creatures are clinging to you because they're cold. The eyeball lemons are, uh... lemon...y. Enjoy your completely normal slice of nature.
I REALLY LIKE YOU
Ydalir has made everybody chocolates! They're delicious and induce feelings of affection and a deep need to cuddle others. Surely this won't go terribly awry. Also, she's very sorry.
LET’S STAY TOGETHER
Sometimes, touching someone else takes you to a combined mental space made up of the important things to you and the person you touched. You can touch things within the space to play memories, or explore the environment together. Outside, you're just asleep on the floor somewhere probably, so hopefully no one trips over you.
PAIN IN MY HEART
Be careful in the heartspaces. Anything you break will take a relevant memory with it. If you can find a way to repair it, the memory will come back. Although, sometimes memories need to stay gone, don't they? Maybe leaving it broken is okay?
OOC
Happy February! The mod team will not apologise for the amount of pink in this event log. If you'd like to plot with people for this event, head over to OOC plotting. We will allow you to make up various plantanimal creatures for this event, they don't have to be like the images linked as examples. Have fun, enjoy creatures, they're here to stay. Reminder this month will have Heimrquest, so if you want to sign up, please do so on the OOC plotting post.
UPDATES
❖ None yet!
SUBMISSIONS
no subject
It isn't just a fact of letting Vash talk about her. He wants to hear what it was like for himself.
Things she regretted...yeah. Wolfwood can still see her behind his eyes when he blinks. He imagines that's how it was for Rem, too, every time she looked at the boys as she raised them, imagining the same thing could happen to them if the others on the ship knew.
Wolfwood had been trying to keep his gaze angled straight ahead out of respect for the moment, but...he can't help but look over at Vash out of the corner of his eye, brows slightly furrowed.]
A new path, huh...
[He sighs, looking away and back up towards the ceiling of the dome, presented with that same split sky.]
Not a bad way to look at things. Means that even a screw-up can change.
[Like him.]
no subject
[His laugh is strained, but no less warm. He thinks of her face, exasperated as she chased after him and Nai for hours on end. In only a year, she had given them more love than Vash ever knew what to deal with. It shouldn't have at all been surprising to know that he still bore those wounds.]
We wanted her to come with us, when the Big Fall happened. But she insisted on staying behind. [His voice catches.] So many more people probably wouldn't have made it, if she hadn't done everything she could to make sure the ships landed safely. That emergency crews were woken up.
She fought until the very end for humanity. [He lifts his hand, the one of flesh, and places it over his heart.] So I want to keep doing the same. For her.
no subject
It would be the last time either Vash or Nai saw her alive. Wolfwood wishes he could say he didn't know what that was like.
He exhales heavily through his nose, looking up into the boughs of the tree now. It feels as fabricated as he knows it to be, given the illusion he'd already accidentally broken when he came in here, yet he knows it probably gives Vash comfort all the same.]
...yaknow. I think, if she could see you now, and know what you've done, she'd be proud of you. Sure, it ain't perfect, but you've been trying. More than most of us are capable of.
[And he has Nai to fight against. Trying to clash with the forces of another Independent, one with vastly stronger powers at their immediate disposal...it's no wonder Vash keeps coming up short. No wonder he's leaving destroyed cities in his wake, taking the blame for what his brother has been doing.
no subject
[He has his doubts. People had suffered because of him. Jeneora Rock was evidence enough of that. And even beyond that, there was the fact that he hadn't been there for his brother. Surely her hope had been to keep the family together, yet from minute one Vash had ran.
She had no way of knowing, of course, what Nai had done. Or maybe she had an inkling — she'd always been smart, and it wasn't like an entire fleet to suddenly lose control. Even still, she would have wanted them to support each other, right?]
I just have to keep trying. For as long as it takes.
[Until he and Nai can be together again. Until the world feels just that little bit more peaceful. Until he can be certain that she would be happy with the world around them.]
Been talking about myself too much though, don't you think. This place... isn't just me.
no subject
It doesn't take long for Vash to turn things around on him though, and Wolfwood...immediately looks nervous. Or maybe anxious? Perhaps some combination of the two as he glances away, yet the flickers of the courtyard just outside the dome are hard to ignore. Vash may not have seen Hopeland before for himself, but it's easy to assume.
That, and...Vash is unfortunately intimately familiar with what a bloodied medical facility would look like.]
There really ain't much to tell.
[He rumbles, looking down at the grass now.]
no subject
You grew up there, right? [He's keeping his focus on the lighter side. They both knew what the other parts had done. And while there would probably be a time to talk about that aspect, they could work their way up to it, right?]
Even if it isn't real, how does it feel to be back?
no subject
Wolfwood brings his knees to his chest, tracing the outline of the building far off in the distance in his mind's eye.]
Really...weird.
[Surreal is another word he could use. It's like, he knows it's not real. He knows this is an illusion, or a dream, or whatever...but it feels more real than that. It's far more real than something he could dream up, after all.]
...yeah. It...it's my home.
[Not it was. It is. It still is, even if he was forced to give it up.]
I obviously didn't know what was going on while I was there. But whether I did or not, I never really thought about somebody comin' along to adopt me, or whatever. I never really could imagine myself anywhere else.
I think I could've spent my whole life there.
no subject
[Maybe not all of it. Vash doesn't know what it was like in Hopeland, but he's heard horrors of orphan children struggling and starving. Even if Wolfwood talks about it with no small amount of affection, it doesn't mean it was perfect. And what Vash wants for him is only the perfection.]
I was the same way. Those early days only lasted a year, but back then... All I could think about was how I wanted to spend the rest of my life like that. [They had this much in common.]
Maybe, though... We can hope for that future? One day you can go back, once we've put it all to rest?
no subject
[Haha. Sound familiar, Vash?]
The last thing I wanna do it put those kids in danger. Even leaving wasn't enough for me to keep it safe.
[They just narrowly avoided total disaster. He still doesn't get what the goal was, because had he lost Hopeland...he would have had nothing left to live for. Nothing to fight for.
If it was supposed to motivate him, it was a shitty fucking plan.]
Even in a world where everything's normal again...I dunno if there's a place for me there. Not when I'm like this.
no subject
[He can sense something there. He might not understand it, but there's something eating at Wolfwood's mind. He tries to study his face, as if it might avail some sort of answers. When that fails, he looks skyward, as if their shifting landscape might somehow spell it out.
When nothing happens, his attention turns back to Wolfwood. His hand shifts outward, crossing the distance between them and laying palm up. It's an offer if Wolfwood wants it, but Vash won't be the one to push.]
I think... anyone would be happy to have you as part of their home. Especially your family.
no subject
[His voice is a bit strained as he says it, still staring ahead instead of looking over at the Independent. At least Vash won't have to wonder for much longer what exactly he means, because he deigns to clarify in a softer tone.]
...I'm not the little Nico they knew anymore. They wouldn't even recognize me.
[If he'd never been taken in by the Eye, he would be more around 18 right now, if that. It's been six years, yet Wolfwood's aged so rapidly it may as well have been ten, or fifteen.
Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Vash reaching out for him with his hand. There's a long moment of hesitation before Wolfwood lets one of his own drop from his lap, but instead of taking Vash's entire hand to hold, he merely loosely tangles their pinky and ring fingers together.]
no subject
People grow up and change. That's normal. Maybe the way you grew up wasn't normal but... [He angles his head to offer a smile. It's not bright. It's not confident. There's doubt lingering at the edges, but it's still meant to not just be assuring, but adoring.]
I still see so much good in your eyes, Nick. And in the things that you do. You might not be who you were, but you're still a man they can feel proud of. I know I am.
no subject
Vash's words are like a brand that sears into his very heart. It makes his breath catch and his chest seize, and for a good few moments he has no idea what to say. His skin still feels the touch of Vash's fingertips, even if his own touch was brief, and he finds himself wishing that it had lasted for longer.
Why does he do this to himself? Why is he like this...?
A funny sound strangles itself lowly in the back of his throat, barely audible. He's so self sabotaging that he instantly finds that he wonders if Vash even believes what he's telling him, or if he's just saying it to make him feel better. It could go either way, he thinks, but...
There is no doubting the love there. The fondness that makes Wolfwood weak at the knees.
After what feels like an age, Wolfwood edges a little bit closer. Then, he puts his head on Vash's shoulder, pulling his legs all the way to his chest.]
That's...kindof all I ever wanted.
no subject
Vash could never do that to him.]
Which part? To be accepted as you are? [He tilts his head downward, kissing the crown of Wolfwood's head. He inhales, reveling in how real Wolfwood feels. In how real it all feels, despite being little more than a shared dream.] Or to not be afraid of going home?
Which part?
no subject
Vash kisses him, and it just makes Wolfwood sink into his side all the more. He's glad that they're the only ones here.
Or, well. They seem to be. He's been seeing her out of the corner of his eye for a while now, as if watching over them. He doesn't bring it up though, choosing to focus on Vash instead.]
...the first part. But I guess...both, too.
no subject
I love you, along with that everything comes with you. [His ties to the eye, the orphanage he's bound to protect, and the best friend he'd fought so ardently for — these are all things Vash accepts into himself as well.]
The other half might be harder, but we'll get there. Together, Nick. I'll always be at your side.
no subject
…dunno how I managed to get lucky enough to land you of all people, yaknow.
[It’s weird to say this, but he often feels a bit out of his league with Vash. Vash is no ordinary human- he isn’t human at all besides- yet for all of his power and long life, he has a bigger heart than most actual humans do. That’s what really puts him a cut above the rest, Wolfwood thinks.
And that’s why he feels so fiercely in his heart that he would do anything to protect him. To protect that smile. Even if it means changing his own worldview to achieve that protection in a way that wouldn’t upset him.]
And it goes both ways. You’re stuck with me, now.
no subject
And Vash will do anything to secure that.]
Stuck. [He laughs, but it's a gentle sound. He shifts his whole body, wrapping first around Wolfwood, then using all of his strength to easily pull the man into his lap. He's kept cradled there within Vash's arms as he beams down at him.]
You think I wanna be anywhere else? [He nuzzles into Wolfwood's hair once more.] I'm glad you found me. I'm glad it was you.
no subject
He does not mind being here. In fact, he can’t think of anywhere else he’d rather be, letting his head rest against Vash’s chest before eventually looping his arms around his waist, squeezing him back.]
And I’m glad you’ve put up with me this long.
[He’s silent for a moment, the tree still visible out of the corner of his eye. He knows how much it means to Vash, now. How much this whole place means to him.]
We can stay as long as you want. While it’s all…calm like this, anyway.
no subject
But he also doesn't mind being the stronger one. He knows that for every correct assumption he's made about Wolfwood, there are countless more stories of pain and suffering on his part. No matter how many years they might spend together, there'd always be more for Vash to understand. Thus, it only made sense that he'd be the one to protect Wolfwood while he grappled with these things.]
We don't have to. Should probably be trying to find a way out before things take a turn, right?
[He doesn't move, though. Not yet.]
no subject
So he sits there and holds Vash, and lets Vash hold him in return, resting his head against his collarbone.]
If they were gonna take even more of a turn, I feel like they maybe woulda’ by now.
[Not like he doesn’t know Hopeland is still out there, beyond the walls. He swears he can sometimes hear the other children at play past the distant bells.
Actually, he gets the sense that leaving this place will be what forces them into seeing even more of it.]
no subject
[He wants to hope Wolfwood is right. This space can't last forever, but surrounded by the flowers as he is, he can't help but be at ease. He feels closer to her than he has in years, and the idea of letting go of that almost makes his stomach turn.]
But isn't it just hiding away? Have to face reality at some point.
[And maybe, the longer he sits here, the more he feels he doesn't deserve it. He hasn't lived a life worthy of earning a second of this paradise. He's let other down, let them get hurt and -]
We should go.
no subject
Not real. And who's to say that it can't get worse? That what they're seeing won't stay as peaceful as it seems? He hasn't yet forgotten the image of Tesla. He's not sure he ever will.
He draws back just enough to look up at Vash, pausing long enough to brush his lips against the side of his temple. Only then will he carefully pull himself from Vash's embrace, helping the other to his feet by the hand.]
...Yeah. guess we'd better.
[Wolfwood looks back to the far side of the dome, his gaze narrowing at the outline of Hopeland in the distance.]
It was nice to see. For a bit, anyway.
no subject
For now, he hefts himself up to his feet. Like Wolfwood, he stares toward the distant church. His hand seeks out his partner's, giving it a squeeze as he shuffles a bit closer. The proximity makes Vash's aching chest feel just that little bit better; if he's lucky, Wolfwood will feel the same.]
We'll see it again soon. For real.
[If Wolfwood was a good person, one worth saving, then surely he deserved to go home. That's what Vash chooses to believe, anyway.]
no subject
[To a Hopeland that they aren’t racing towards in an out of control landship. To one where the children are safe, finally, no longer trapped beneath Chapel’s thumb. But as long as he’s alive, they’ll be safe.
He’ll keep praying for that safety. Not for himself, but for them.
There’s nothing else for either of them here other than tainted memories. So, hand-in-hand with Vash, he’ll start for the exit. He has to hope they don’t see the more unsavory parts of both of their pasts, be it the tragedy of Vash’s lost sister, or the experiments that made Wolfwood who he is today.
And if they do? Well. They have each other. They’ll get through it, just like everything else.]