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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QUESTIONS
INVESTIGATIONS
TDM NPC CONTACT
PAST-LIFE PLOTTING

(CODE)

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[[ooc note: hi hello. Virtuosa (Arturia) is a Helluva Lot so I am forewarning for some stuff. specifically she has the ability to "read people's hearts" which is a funny way of saying she is almost, but not quite, a mindreader. she can and will try to read your heart and can and will try to draw your emotions out with music. this can be quite traumatic sometimes (the person whose emotions are drawn out will hallucinate slightly, and she will also be able to see what they see, but no one else can). if you Don't want this to happen just lmk in your post somewhere and she'll be grouchy because she can't read your character's heart, but leave it at that (after some pestering).]]

I. Wake Up

[There is a woman walking around with a cello. She doesn't remember how she got here, but she takes it — judging by the shift in the environment — that this must be another part of Kargereich, the shifting void in which the Witch King made his home. Somewhere in some part of Leithanien she has yet to see. All of this is to say: Arturia is eerily calm as she follows after Rusty, who is darting back and forth to bring her various fruits, enthusiastic that she's keeping up.]

What a sweet little thing you are, [she croons, sing-song,] and who do you belong to, hm?

[By now, she's taken the basket from him, and he's just filling it of his own accord. Obviously, he doesn't provide her an answer verbally, but she already knows it: He belongs to whoever's soul is crying out in the mansion. This is where she strays toward, setting the basket near the fence as she stares up at it. This may just be where you find her, too, in the midst of playing a song that seems to breathe life into even the soil.

If you approach, she looks up and flashes a smile.]

II. Shining, Shimmering

[Arturia can't say she's too happy about something else producing dreams in the people that are here, herself included, nor can she say she's thrilled that they're so dangerous. To that end, tonight, she's made it a personal mission of hers to pull as many people from the mists as possible — either trying to lure them with her music, or simply grabbing onto their wrists and dragging them indoors. She does not laud herself as a hero, merely someone with her own interests and compassions, but you can think she's heroic for saving you if you want.

As soon as you're seated back in the inn, or the nearest safe building — the therapy office, your house, even the General Store if that's what it takes — she looks pleased. Sympathetic, even, as she takes a seat across from you and gestures to her cello leaning against the nearby wall.]

Fitful, dangerous dreams are made only to bother and harm you. Is your heart feeling full or empty after, I wonder?

III. Prom

[These types of events are definitely her scene. She's dressed up, of course, but Arturia tends to be on the dressy side anyway; one might not notice she's changed much if they've met her prior. She's more than happy to dance with you, though, and to put her cello aside for a single second to do just that. To that end, her question of:]

May I have this dance?

[—is also met with a kiss directly to the back of your hand. Gender roles be damned.

Her steps are light and fluttery, and she's very much classically trained. If you know how to waltz, tango, or salsa, she's your girl. If you want to do something goofy, though, she's going to struggle to follow. She gets the gist of it, but it's a lot less graceful, even if she is laughing and having fun with it all the same]

IV. Wildcard

[hit me up you know i'm good for it]

Hear you there. I can't say the Great Raihan enjoys the cold all that much. [Even saying it aloud reminds him to pull his jacket that much tighter around himself.]

Gotta say I'm not too familiar with -

[Okay, hang on. Give him a second here... It's not entirely normal for people to just pull bugs out of nowhere and -]

Uhh... All of that. [A nod to all of the bugs.] You some type of bugcatcher then?

i. WAKE UP

[ Well! Color them surprised! Waking up in a new world is all interesting and such, but really sort of lonely. And they can't even blame the Twins, because this doesn't seem to be their world at all. Unless it is, and they somehow all got wiped out.

Welp, time to explore!

If you're lucky you will catch Zazie just wandering around, investigating everything. Digging in the dirt, pulling on plants and trees, lifting a frightened squealing animal, or covered in bugs. New plant? New animal? New you? Hello they're in your face, pulling on your hair, your clothes, lifting your hand up.

If you're unlucky you might catch them opening their mouth, sticking their fingers in, and pulling out a long slimy looking insect they ponder, then drop to the earth. Where it wiggles it's way in. If they catch your eye, they cheekily raise a finger to their mouth. Shh. You saw nothing. ]

ii. SHINING, SHIMMERING, SPLENDID

[ The haze doesn't seem to affect them at all. Maybe because of the worms they've already dropped into the ground, that are busy digging their way deep, eating what they find so they can begin to grow and get stronger. Or maybe the flying ones, keeping their sight above the smoke. Either way! It has been funny watching the humans of the place wander around in a daze at night.

And for reasons only they understand, either boredom or just to push the pot to see what happens, they won't hesitate to step in front of someone they see about to maybe enter the forest, or leap from a building, their mask on and the wings fluttering to keep them in the air. ]

Oh no no no! You don't want to go that way! That will end with you going splat! You should turn around!

iii. DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY

[ Of COURSE they climb the weird furry thing to take them to new territory! It lets them drop more worms into the ground, and observe the weird humans. These ones are far different than the ones on Nomans. They don't look like they've suffered (well, some do, haha they see those pinched expressions they know what those mean), like their lives depend on exploiting the ecosystem. No plants, no wasteland, no strife.

They're kind of boring.

You may find the weird kid? lounging somewhere or perched somewhere, but mostly what you will find is a lot of weird looking bugs. They seem to be observing, but they will land and crawl on food, or land and crawl on you. Or hover unnervingly close, dragonfly wings like buzzing, and stare. ]

Edited 2024-06-16 21:54 (UTC)

[Wolfwood is just off the heels of a waking nightmare which involved watching Hopeland burn to the ground, so needless to say he is not going to be walking headfirst into the mist any time soon. Be that as it may though, he'd ended up wandering pretty far from the house during that whole situation, so it only stands to reason he has to walk back.

And that's when he hears Zazie before he sees them, and it sets his already racing heard to pounding. He does not have the Punisher (it's back at the house due to aforementioned sleepwalking), but he does have his pistol at his hip, which his hand immediately goes to without him drawing it.

It could be another hallucination. He could be dreaming again.

The fact he doesn't know fucks him up more than the alternative.]

Where are you, Bug?

Awww, we're not even on first name basis anymore?

[ They have no reason to fear Wolfwood, not even here, so they sort of swarm in out of sky, forming from insects as normal and landing in front of him. Look, they didn't even put their mask on! ]

Wow, Punisher. You look like shit! Miss me?

Edited 2024-06-16 22:09 (UTC)

[Wolfwood has had the worst day. Genuinely, he's planning on going back home and going straight to bed because fuck everything he just witnessed and went through, actually.

Until he comes inside, dragging himself, to find a strange woman just. Sitting, on the couch? Angelina is standing a few feet away from her wagging her tail like :D and generally not being a good guard dog whatsoever.]

...who the hell are you?

[AND WHY DID YOU DO NOTHING ANGELINA THIS IS A STRANGER]

Oh, you refer to yourself in the third person! Weird! Usually only egomaniacs do that!

[ S... sorry, Raihan. Zazie has no mouth filter. And who says they pulled bugs out of nowhere! They just called! You're not squeamish, are you, Raihan? As the "kid" holds out the bugs. Look, they're all blinking at you. In sync. Eerie. ]

Something like that. Less catcher.

[Literally pouting...]

The mists make it dangerous outside, so I let myself in. [Why are you being mean to her :( she is obviously so small :( ] Arturia Giallo. A pleasure.

[Pets your dog.]

Tch. Like a bad habit.

[Great. Great!! He hates this, thanks. All Zazie has ever represented to him is a reminder that he's being watched. His every move, controlled. And here he was just beginning to think that just maybe he'd gotten away from all of that, here.

Fat chance.]

When did you show up?

Yaknow this is a house, right. Like my personal house? That you broke into?

[Angelina...is wagging her tail faster and trying to lick Arturia's fingers. Mlem mlem hi she loves you.]

[Draws herself doing this next to Raihan's "selfie"]

Really? I had no idea...

[It is... VERY difficult to tell if she's serious or not. She knows it's a house, obviously, but beyond that? She is purposely being difficult. When you grow up in a house with Federico Giallo you know exactly what "difficult" looks like these two are peas in a chaotic little pod.]

I hope you don't mind a guest for the time being, then. I fear the purple mist outside makes it rather dangerous for all of us. I'll be out before you know it, once there's an opening for such.

[For as much of an asshole as Wolfwood can be, he's not the kind of asshole to kick a defenseless woman out especially when he knows how dangerous the mist is, having just been through being affected by it. So he just...sighs, heavily, and shakes his head as he just barely drags himself over to the couch to sit down.]

Fine. Just until the mist goes away.

[Which could honestly be days though we just don't know anymore, but he knows that any alternative won't work. Vash especially would probably be pissed at him if he kicked her out, so.]

Oh I just got here. Lovely little planet you found yourselves on.

[ They stretch their arms up into the air, then tuck them behind their head as they walk closer. ]

Seems peaceful! Quiet! Not a lot of humans around huh? From the sounds of it, they already screwed this one up once.

[ They stop near Wolfwood, then lean back to look up at him better, grinning. ]

So where's the others, or did little Punisher find himself all alone again?

[Yes she's definitely defenseless. She has never survived the void or defeated Collapsals or been a wanted criminal or caused her own mother to commit suicide or—

That said, when Wolfwood takes a seat next to her, her attention is on him. It's almost uncanny, but she keeps it polite at the same time. He's not a piece of meat! He's a man! A man with emotions, whose heart sings an interesting melody. Hmm...]

I thank you. May I have your name? I'd loathe to not know the identity of the man who kindly agreed to let me shelter in his home.

[ Vigna is very alarmed about all the things that are happening, if she's being honest. She'd run into some weird critters outside and she's pretty sure this isn't the land ship and also there are some weird shadowy people that are actually kinda cool to talk with and then the weird mist outside that she's trying to investigate, but shit's whack. Despite her confusion, though, it doesn't stop her from being able to soak in her surroundings when she's yoinked back away from the inn. Namely, the obviously Sankta woman, and then also the cello. She's, like, half expecting a racial slur to be thrown her way, honestly, so color her surprised when there's an offer of music.

She's so damn excited, actually. Maybe fuck the mist, that can wait. ]

Are you offering to play?? [ !!! ] Yo, hold on, my axe is upstairs, but maybe we could play together. You don't mind waiting here for a sec, do ya?

Edited 2024-06-16 22:37 (UTC)

[Do you know what’s wild? Flygon drags someone frightfully familiar over to Raihan.]

[He’s dressed… well. He’s dressed up as much as expected of someone like Piers who has probably spent the day having 18 conniption fits.]

Oh, for Arceus’ sake.

[No, no, Arturia would never say a slur! It's just everything else that's wrong with her, that's all!

She's almost not expecting the excitement. Most people she's yoinked from the mists have been pissed off or tired or miserable. Ah, well, this is fine too.]

Oh, please, take your time.

[Run along little Sarkaz, she'll be here waiting.]

[ Arturia likely only approached Ezell to begin with because he doesn't catch himself from just staring at her. Both because she's Sankta in a place where that's rare, but also... she looks familiar. He can't quite put his finger on it. His brain is definitely buffering as she kisses his hand and he has to give her the most unsure look he's made in some time. ]

...I suppose. [ Well, whatever the case, even if he does recognize her, keeping her busy certainly is in his best interest until he can figure her out, right? ]

[pings your hivemind pings your hivemind pings your hivemind—

He feels unsure. She feels confident, conversely.]

Come now, I don't bite! [She bites.] May I get a name?

[Are they waltzing? Because she's going to lead if they waltz, good luck Ezell.]

[ It's the song that calls to them, vibrations echoing in the air, that set their nervous systems twitching. It's good, and far better than the squawk boxes the humans on their planet, with the chipping and chirping static that crawls through them annoyingly. So Zazie sets themself down on the roof of the clinic and perches there, head resting in their hand. Slowly bugs begin to drift over as well, a few of them belonging to them, and a few they've connected with to expand their network.

Soon she'll notice she has a plethora of... random bugs crawling around the fence near her, some even making their way up the cello to feel the vibrations directly. ]

[Don't mind him doing a double take. And then a triple take, just for good measure. There have been a lot of faces around here, but not any that he's been familiar with up until this point.

Which means there's only one thing to do.]

Cresselia's tits! Guess they'll let anyone into this bloody dive, eh?

[Don't worry, he's grinning the whole time. And for his efforts, Flygon gets some nice little scritches to the top of his head.]

hell. tellin' me that even this book is haunted
... the fuck is that even supposed to be.

[In cute, but neat handwriting with lots of little loops:]

Boo~! I'm watching you!

Yeah, and?

[He won't deny having an ego. Maybe not the maniac part but look! It's not polite to correct strangers. And speaking of strange....

Blink blink]

Yer a bug? You takin' the piss?

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EVENT & TDM 012

Virtuosa | Arknights | New Character/Current Player

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Zazie the Beast | Trigun Stampede | Current Player (cw: bugs, lots of them, in mouths)

ii | Time for WW to be angry (this is not new)

:( aw wolfwood that hurts their entire feeling

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small cw for suicide ment

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Prom.

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