sticksandbones | EVENT & TDM 012

EVENT & TDM 012

IT'S GONNA BE MAY

WAKE UP

You open your eyes, and with a jolt, find yourself within the clearing of a miniscule town surrounded by trees and thick, black fog. Despite the ominous backdrop, nature seems to be thriving — it’s a pleasantly chill spring day, as far as anyone can tell, and everything is vibrant and blooming… even some of the animals. At some point, a friendly old dog with red fur approaches, carrying a basket in his jaws. Inside are blackberries and apples other fruits. Did he find this himself? Or did someone give them to him to bring to new arrivals? Regardless, he very clearly hopes that you’ll share.

A giant golden brown turtle sits by a tent, napping in the sunlight. Two statues sit in the courtyard by an old well — a haloed woman marked as the Goddess of the Sun, Beiwe, and a gentle woman looking adoringly at her counterpart, marked as the Goddess of the Moon, Ourania. If you pay your respects, the air feels gentle and warm in the day, and like a fresh cool breeze at night.

As you explore more, perhaps the bloomed animals will approach — a mossy squirrel, or a frog who happens to also be a lilypad. It’s charming, almost. Whimsical and kind.

Shame that the wall of fog looms ever on, watching. Waiting.

SHINING, SHIMMERING, SPLENDID

cw: hallucinations, compulsions, near-death experiences

For a while, spring seems gentle, almost. Peaceful. The previous month may have been full of jokes, but things are actually safe. Of course, that can’t last forever. Every night, a purple, shimmering mist floods the town. It does not breach the doors and windows, even if left open, but looking at it is… enticing.

Should you give in, the mist is cool and gentle, swaying around you like smoke. The longer you stay in, the more your eyes feel blissfully heavy. Soon, you find yourself surrounded by loved ones, in a place that brings you joy — a childhood home, a vacation spot, some place warm and safe and dear to your heart. Everyone is playing and having so much fun. Join them! Join them!

Of course, by the time you do jump into the fun, you’ll find yourself awakened with a start, just about to fall into danger. Perhaps you climbed a tree and were about to leap to the ground from too high up. Or maybe you stuck your head in the river and your lungs were about to empty. Regardless, the happy dream shatters with imminent danger, and perhaps you’d better hope that someone else is nearby to help you. … Especially since with each night you give in, the more enticing the mist is the next night.

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

At some point, the mist is forcibly dissipated and instead the moon shines brightly, almost like a spotlight. Investigation will reveal an absurdly large capybara that seems more like a vehicle than an animal, even with the jasmine flowers hanging off of it, siting down with the ‘door’ accessible to anyone willing to climb in.

“Come with me, and I will bring you to a night of festivities.” is all that it says when asked. And it knows that you will — you’re all curious as kittens, after all. Once the last person takes a fuzzy seat within the capybara, it slowly stands up and begins walking through the woods, and for the first time, everything seems peaceful. Normal, even. Why, there’s not even a monster or misshapen, grabby tree! Just a moonlit forest, and fireflies in the distance.

Eventually it brings you to a small but beautiful cabin, crouching down to let everyone out again. Outside is a layer of marble surrounded by pillars decorated with sheer fabrics and an abundance of lilies and calendula, jasmine and marigolds, hydrangeas and gladiolus. A buffet table has also been spread out, and within the cabin are changing rooms with a multitude of ornate gowns and suits, alongside sitting rooms and other potential necessities — though you get the feeling that you should still be on your best behavior here.

Gentle music plays from an unknown source. The capybara is resting, until it’s time to leave come sunrise. For one night, everything is at peace. You may as well enjoy it, and dance to your heart’s content.

SPARK NOTES

CLICK TO EXPAND!

WAKE UP

Welcome to Aldric's Grove! The fog wall is a little creepy, but worry not: A dog has brought you a snack, and the plant-bearing wildlife are pretty friendly. If you've been here for a while, no worry: You, too, are getting a basket of treats from the dog.

SHINING, SHIMMERING, SPLENDID

A purple mist fills the Grove at night, and stepping into it makes you experience a euphoric dream... shortly before you wake up because you nearly walked into death. Be careful, because the mists are addicting, and you may not have an easy time avoiding their temptation the following nights.

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

For one night, the mists clear up and peace settles over the forest. A giant capybara gleefully takes everyone to the site of a grand dance, where the clothing and food are all free, and the music swells with joy. Dance your hearts out until dawn breaks, and then the capybara will take you back home.

OOC

Happy May! This is a reminder that TDMs are game canon. Enjoy your dreams, enjoy your prom night, enjoy the capybara. OOC Plotting Lives Here if you'd like to plot anything out!

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[ He doesn't know what an Ancient is, but if you called him it he'd probably pout and say that he's "only 22, that's not that old". But he is here for relaxing, especially if that means more cuddles. He moves his tentacles that had been around Affogato's arms back to hiding. There's a bit of slimy residue left behind, but nothing that's too distracting immediately.

Mizuki ends up squeezing his arms around him now instead. ]

You're welcome. If none of these work, I'm happy to get something else, too.

[Squinting.......

Wolfwood sighs, heavily. It seems Dipper's efforts have finally paid off, because it looks like he's going to relent.]

Alright, fine. Let's go get her before Miss Melanie sees you were foolin' around. Ya'll better be glad it's me helpin' out, she wouldn't let you off so nicely.

[The moment Dachie stops playing and starts barking at Unci is when Angelina realizes oh shit there's another animal up there.

She, too, will bark at Unci. Bark bark bark!! How did you get up there! You can't be up on the curtains bark bark bark!!!!

The curtains, meanwhile...well, they're holding Unci's weight for now. Whether that will last is anyone's guess, especially not when Angelina is barking at her from below.]

[He's never been this long with his titties covered up, someone help him.

That much he can ignore well enough for now at least, letting Vash step ahead of him in lieu of getting to the table faster. He raises a brow but takes the cake anyway, knowing it's going to be cloyingly sweet long before he takes a bite. Vash will enjoy it, and that's what matters.

...yea, no, it's even sweeter than he imagined.]

Sure. Yaknow sometimes I wonder where you got that sweet tooth of yours from. Were donuts just all you ate on the road?

It's kinda like a book, but you can visually see what's going on and you can control the outcome. Sorta. Bomberman is less of a story focused game, though, and mostly just for fun party stuff. It's probably better I show you instead of trying to talk about it, though!

Wh - ? No! It's not like that!

[That's his brother, duh.]

Just. I eat and drink like normal. Like you would. See!

[He "steals" another cheesecake bite.]

[Vash is already shaking his head. He looks amused, like this is the most ridiculous question Wolfwood could have asked him]

Naw, not just donuts!

[He says this before shoving three cakes into his mouth at once. At least he has the decency to not try to talk while he's doing his best impression of a squirrel. Just let him gnaw on these for a bit, swallow, and then - ]

I had pizza, too!

Oooh right. And pizza, my bad.

[He rolls his eyes good naturedly, actually eating a little less like he thinks somebody's going to take it from him if he doesn't eat it fast enough. Not to say he's any less messy with it, but hey. He knew he was a slob, sue him.]

Yaknow you're lucky you're not human, I dunno if my body coulda' survived that.

[But Wolfwood pizza covers at LEAST three of the major food groups therefore-]

Hm! You may thank the most terrifying Cookie in existence for that. Calliope Cookie was the teacher of the Kings, and she was not afraid to whack your legs with her cane if you disappointed her.

[ His smile is wide and sweet to the memory, and he aims it at Vash in return to the fondness in the others voice. He folds his fingers in with the others more intimately, squeezing his hand lightly as they move.

And sighs gently, his smile softening again. ]

It's true. Bigger affairs mean your citizens are there, neighboring Kingdoms, tribes, villages. As much as you would like to escape and simply spend time with those dearest to your heart, you must remain.... aloof. Ready to act as your duty dictates. It becomes lonely.

[ Which is why he's adoring this. Small one on one moments with the people he loves. And his expression shows it, the look he gives Vash speaking volumes. ]

[Hilariously Ain doesn't require food sort of like Nai because Angel, but he certainly acts like he does. It sells the human bit. Also he just likes it.]

Ooh! You're a carnivorous Mr. Plant! [Pauses. Thinks.] Or, I guess, an omnivorous Mr. Plant?

[It sounds cheesy, but the gargoyle loves cheese. Come on now.]

I hope so, even though you aren't looking at me. Tell me, am I so radiant it blinds you, therefore you must look away?

[Scooches in front of Luca's eyes hey lol]

[And Gnosis spins, of course, with what one can only describe as the grace of a crane (which is to say, none, worsened by the fact that he's intoxicated).]

"Least graceful", he says... [Yes have you seen cranes] At least I have you to remind me of my place.

[Rolling his eyes (loving, romantic).]

I think, perhaps, your perceptions are skewed. I sense bias.

There are two people here who have informed me of how Sargon tends to be. That, and I do my reading.

[Passenger voice hey Gnosis do you wanna hear about how Sargon sucks for the 100th time today no too bad]

Their system of government is multiple systems of government depending on which leader controls which territory at the time. It's a large country, but the power imbalance disinterests me.

[Not helped by the fact that Passenger fucking killed one of those guys but Gnosis isn't mentioning that.]

She is literally a skin moose yes.

"That space is frozen in time, Child of Snow. Intervention such as you stepping upon the soil creates further sinkholes, yes, but there is a reason the place has not rotted nor regrown. Magic of time and space lies outside of my capabilities as a Guardian. Though I do not know the true cause of the time anomaly there, I can say that it is likely yet another "feature" of this area. That is... time does not pass correctly no matter what here, as I am sure you have noticed. Pockets where it passes differently are frequent enough."

Such as the fact that the three-day journey to the lake and cliffside, at least without Sinann's help to go a bit faster, feels like you've been gone for maybe three hours. Time does not work here.

"Should we plant a tree in that space, it may not grow. I can force nature to reclaim what was lost in that area, but I would suggest looking into a solution for the time-bubble first."

Callan splashing around in the water like this is a lot of questions. Mizuki is entertaining enough to him right now to answer — he seems a lot more muted and demure, suddenly, a stark contrast from how he was doing his usual backflips and screaming earlier.

The fact that people know about Terho doesn't seem to bother him as much as it would. The other Guardians have the tendency to gossip, as far as Callan is concerned. They spent a month yelling at him and telling him to come to God or whatever last time they were here.

He answers in order. The water idly sloshes under his form.

"I don't need reassurance.

I don't know what 'anxiety' is, but I didn't like when he was gone. Humans took him from me each and every time.

'Sorting' your emotions sounds like a fool's endeavour. They're emotions, you experience them, and what comes of that is what comes of that.

Humans would consider my actions "outbursts". I prefer to think of it as living.

Define "bad habits". Humans didn't like that I ate them, but I hardly consider that a bad habit. Your morality and mine are different.

I have no difficulty trusting anybody.

Sure, I love me. I think I'm a catch."

Seeing an example would help me to know what you are speaking of, yes. I wouldn't mind sharing these things with you, my friend.

Really out here wishing he had his clipboard right about now. For the most part, Mizuki just nods along.

« Oh, "bad habits" would be things that are considered detrimental to one's health. For example, staying in your room all day and forgetting to eat, or spending all your money on gacha games. » Mizuki- « Or like, a ton of other examples, really. Not eating people, though. Lotta people get mad at me for that, too, so I think it's just normal.

But most of that sounds good! You're getting a lot of points in emotional independency, then. » Therapy: The Video Game. « But, um, if I may ask then... do you think maybe your corruption may have exacerbated the grief you're feeling? The forest plays games with us like making us feel each other's pain and stuff, maybe it's doing something like that to you? 'Cause, y'know, time's supposed to ease a broken heart, but it might be making you feel it fresh for a while. »

He puts a couple things in the pot, along with one of his tentacles, giving it a little stir as it bubbles to make sure it doesn't bubble over. « And, also, may I ask why you keep saying we're so different? Do you often use such isolating phrases when you talk to people? »

...Someone lit their house on fire?

[wait hold up]

"The end of a dimension"? Are you alright?

Yeah. It was a housefire party.

[That next question does make him realize he should give a little context.]

Yeah, I’m fine! This was a few years ago. So I was trapped in this kind of nightmare realm for a while. Eventually it started to break down and fall apart. We didn’t really know what would happen once it did, we just knew we were moving on to somewhere else, so Eddie was like “Okay lets burn it all down” in a sort of cathartic but unhinged way of starting fresh, and lit his house on fire.

We were all tossing stuff into the fire too, you know, to let go of the past. There was also a lot of expired alcohol. And fireworks.

Edited 2024-06-03 23:37 (UTC)

Hey! You never know! It coulda done you some good! [He reaches over and pinches at Wolfwood's waist.] You might be all muscle, but you're not very broad! Imagine what an even bigger chest could have done for you!

[He falls silent, eyes closing as he dreams of a Wolfwood with wide shoulders, a snatched waist, and even bigger tits. Too bad that could never happen.]

Thankfully, I love you as you are.

[Even if he is distracted by the image in his mind.]

I - [He squints at Ain.]

You know what. That... That works. That's me. An omnivorous Mr. Plant.

[And just to prove as much... he gives a little bow.]

[Vash's eyes go wide with horror. Predictably, he stumbles in his movements, and just barely catches himself. Unfortunately, that means that, in his panic to make sure that Pure Vanilla likewise doesn't stumbel his arms wrap snuggly around his waist to keep him secure.]

Sorry, sorry. Just - [He shakes his head and... quickly steps back. He only just seems to realize how close they'd been, and still might be processing the feeling of PV being flush against him. Wow.] That sounds pretty scary!

[Thankfully, he doesn't stray from his partner for long. He comes back, settling back into position with little more than a throat clear.]

I know it's probably cold comfort, bein' so far from home but... at least you can open up a little again here, right?

I - Did not

[He glances this way and that before... finally losing his cool. His hands reach out, gripping Zahliya by the cheeks and holding him in place. There is a very firm glance fixed upon him. He is... trying so hard here.]

And I am not blinded, for no one would be so cruel as to deny me the sight of your beauty for the rest of my days.

[There, that's enough rizz. He's pulling his hands back and fussing with his sleeves now, thank you.]

[Wolfwood snorts as he reaches across the table for a glass of punch, which is thankfully blessedly tart to combat all of the sweets they're consuming.]

Is "broad" your way of kindly sayin' I coulda' been chubbier than I am now?

[If Tristamp loved me, anyway-

If his tone is any indication though, he wouldn't have cared either way. Would have maybe helped him to survive better, if he was.]

[ Oh good, the tentacles being removed makes him happier, though now he's slimy and kind of cold where they were. Going to have to scrub that off. He'll take the arm squeeze instead, settling his own around Mizuki. His hand pets over the jellyfishes hair gently, like one would pet a cat. ]

They will work fine, I simply desire to relax.

[ It's been a long weird day, after all. And uh, by relax he means it, he closes his eyes and lounges like he has no cares in the world. Feet up, snuggling his new little pet.

If he falls asleep, no he fucking doesn't. ]

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EVENT & TDM 012

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this will keep happening i apologise-

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