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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[How tragic... how sad. A man as young as him feeling trapped... it reminds her of the Witch King's spire, of that young Graf who felt much the same. They would almost certainly get along.

Her chords grow more melancholy to match the space they're in. Of course, they aren't truly there — this is merely a hallucination brought on by Wolfwood's reaction to her Arts — but if she stops the melody, the hold breaks, and then how will he heal?]

How long has it been? One year? Two, three? In a place like this, what drove you to keep going?

They are us.

[ Offhandedly answered as casually as the question was asked. They tilt their head as they observe the musician, before hopping off the roof to approach, keeping the mask down for now because it's easier. They dart around them easily, before leaning in.

Kinda getting right up into your space, sorry. ]

Hm, you don't look like any of the humans I've seen. Another Plant?

I would hope not. [They're gonna wake everyone up—] I do think I can match you on the cello, though you'll have to excuse my lack of experience with a guitar.

[Her music is gonna make Vigna hallucinate something real cool probably.]

I hardly expected a battle! Why don't you begin, and I'll match?

[Teehee, heehee. She's shorter than him and she's Going to lead, you will deal with this. She is putting So Much Confidence into the hivemind.]

Arturia Giallo. ["Girl should you be giving your whole-ass name to someone clearly Lateran?" yeah it's fine, she's not going to run and hide from every Sankta.] A pleasure.

[ Oh that's... weird. Huh. He's never met anyone who's been able to turn into a swarm of insects before. Just kitsune, like himself, and Wolfskin like Keaton. His ears perk in interest.

Just in time to get grabbed, and boy is it like being with one of the kits in the hamlet again. He winces, and maybe makes a soft hissing noise. ]

Whoa, hey, easy on the fur! I don't mind if you pet me, but at this rate you're gonna rub all the fur off my ears...

[ Just. Gently pulling away from those hands and standing up so they can't be reached again. Maybe straightening out his hair while he's at it. ]

I'm not a plant, though! I'm a kitsune. Do I look like a plant?

[ Oh dear. Did he get leaves in his fur? ]

[The question of how long goes unanswered, mostly because it's the second question that ends up coming up before the first. In the doorway stands a blue haired man, unfamiliar to Arturia but one that sets Wolfwood's blood boiling, and as he steps aside, he reveals a young silver-haired boy standing there.

And Wolfwood, in the real world, attempts to stand, only to immediately collapse to the floor, as if a great weight is forcing him back down. His knees hit the hardwood, then he falls completely flat on his chest, physically shaking as if held down despite nothing actually doing this to him.

There's a sense that Arturia will feel, of not just being trapped, but manipulated and used. But he has no choice, he has to save him, he has to save them.

It's his only reason for living.]

[ Weird hivemind kid #1 meet weird hivemind kid #2. Though, Mizuki is mostly just coming over because Zazie seems a little lost? Hi, new friend. He's going to hold your hand, hope that's okay. Yeah the same one you used to pull that bug out of your mouth. That was real gross, by the way! ]

Are you new here? Do you need help?

[Ah, yes, just like Seaborn and the other 1000 things Arturia shouldn't know about but does. Interesting.]

My race are known as "Sankta". My wings and halo aren't as luminous as some — most of us shine in bright whites and golds.

[Hers look quite a bit like stones, a quality she shares with her cousin. Their whole family was like that; black-winged Sankta who don't quite fit in with the crowd.]

All of these hearts I hear sing at the same tempo. It's similar to us Sankta — we have an emotional link between all of us.

[ Oh look their hand was taken. How weird! Not the first time someone's just grabbed their hand thinking them a child but, never just out of the blue, and especially not right after they gobbed a bug up. ]

Haha, wow! You just didn't care I did that! Used to it? Don't need help but I am new here!

[ He swings their clasped hands, amused. ]

[She sees, she sees. That little boy, so expressionless and well-meaning, and the man next to him. She's aware of when Wolfwood falls. It shakes the foot of her cello, but she doesn't stop playing to lift him up. This is his own heart he has to fight if he wants to stand again.]

You love him, [to the boy,] and you despise the other one. At the end of the road is a light, bright and shining, one which you cannot reach as you are now. The chains that shackle you... do you truly intend to let them keep you down?

[She plays a dramatic, loud sting on the cello, one that shakes the entire instrument.]

Will you shake them off and fight? Do you have the will to do so?

Oh? Am I supposed to see you like something else? [ A huge sigh. ] I guess I did watch you run back into the city to rescue that woman. You humans are still very weird. Deliver your new friend, rescue another. What made one life worth more than the other?

[ Do you really want them to go away, Wolfwood? Sorry, they're not. In fact they seem to be skipping around him now, idly kicking a rock back and forth.

Definitely picked up mannerisms from Elendira. Plus without their large network of thoughts, the hivemind is smaller and more tightly contained. It's quiet. :( ]

Never heard of "Sankta". Is this your planet?

[ Especially when she mentions she can hear them. That makes Zazie land on their feet, the wings tucked into the mask, and the mask sliding up and off and- gone. Wherever it goes. Into their hair. Into them. ]

Oh you can hear us? Very few can. Sorry if we're intruding, we were brought here against our will.

[ Aw. Hey! They were touching that! A few bits of fur that linger on their fingers gets investigated. Then they pop them into their mouth. Hm, fuzzy. Not very tasty. Oh, keratin! They can process this. It'll get broken down and become them. ]

I've never seen a kitsune. Or fur. Only humans and Plants. Big case letter, there. But I shouldn't be surprised, I'm not on my planet anymore.

[ No leaves, but you do have a bug, Zazie picking it off the other to investigate it. It's a small four legged beetle, and they let it take off. Tiny! ]

Ah- [ Ah... Now he's realizing. This is the person Federico had warned about?? Ezell doesn't seem afraid, at least, but there's a lot of worry being put into their emotional link. Not intentionally, but he's never the sort to start anything violent without reason. And even then, he never truly harms anyone.

He should keep an eye on her, then...? While she's here...???? Hm... ] I see. I've heard a lot of things about you, Ms. Arturia. You have quite the reputation.

[Wolfwood is still on the floor, trembling, as Arturia asks him this. It's hard to say whether he hears her exact words, or he's just getting the sense of what she's saying to him...either way, it's resonating. He grinds out through gritted teeth, his voice strangled with emotion.]

I do. I do. But if I...

[If he does...

There's a flash of a memory. The Sand Steamer, careening towards the orphanage, as Wolfwood tries to pull the breaks- red-hot with his bear hands- to stop it.]

[He would love it if they did, actually, but whatever.

Not inclined to lead Zazie to his house, he decides to divert course and start walking down river away from it, at least until they eventually get bored and wander elsewhere. If they're here...it's not super likely they'll leave any time soon.]

I'm just one man. I ain't gonna be able to save the whole world.

[So like, as much as he'd like to save everyone...he isn't Vash. He's a realist, not an optimist.]

But that don't mean I can't try when the opportunity is there.

My planet is Terra. Sankta are but one of many races that can be found there.

[She's very patient as she explains, but she's still playing a melody. While Zazie's little bug friends are resonating with her song, she tries to play one back, to read the emotions in the ten thousand heart beats. Especially those from the main body themself.]

It's no intrusion. I'm particularly sensitive to the melodies that a heart plays, that's all. If you have anything to say with yours, my cello and I are a willing, captive audience. You need only listen and let me in.

[Ope! There it is! Ezell doesn't have to open his heart to her much thanks to their natural link, but without it, she would've caught onto that pang anyway. He seems guarded nonetheless, heart-wise.]

I do, don't I? From Laterano to Leithanien...

[They twirl across the dance floor. If he lets her, she'll dip him.]

Do you work for the Notarial Hall, Ezell Pastore?

Hm? Should I care? I wouldn't say I'm used to it, but there's all sorts of folk here that do stuff I'm not used to.

[ Mizuki's also liable to do weird things. He's often getting very odd responses to things he says and believes are totally normal. So, uh, clearly there's just some things he doesn't understand, and he's decided that's fine, and that he doesn't need to. He'll gladly keep his hands swaying with Zazie's. How fun~! He doesn't usually get to meet too many people who are this delightful. ]

That's understandable! It's nice to meet you, anyway. I'm Mizuki! I've been here for a bit, so if you have any questions, you can just let me know.

[ Oh, well, that. Well. Okay. His fur is being eaten. That's weird, but okay. ]

Well, I don't think I've ever met a plant with a big case letter. Just the kind of plants you can eat. Unless you can eat those? You can't eat me, by the way.

[ Since, you know, this kid has already tried eating his fur. ]

[This poor boy is so complex. So many horrible things happen to him, continue to happen, and will probably keep happening. That's life, but she wonders if there's a way out. One that isn't so punishing on innocent lives, and the man who may influence them.

She plays in a minor key, though the tempo increases with the dramatics of the memory. A Sand Steamer about to take hundreds of lives, the will to pump the brakes and stop it before it can. Billowing sand, a shout to stop, a plea to a God who isn't listening...]

Those small souls keep you tethered. They know that, and thus you are a captured butterfly in a spider's web. Hopeless, waiting to be devoured.

[Some horse-hairs on her bow snap with the force of her playing. One, two, but that's alright. It was bound to happen, and it isn't stopping her from playing.]

You need to snap the web holding you and break free. Who's to say your captors won't turn around and hurt that which you love even if you do their bidding? Shackled as you are... do they expect you to retaliate against them?

[ Hm? Is this Terra? Isn't Terra Earth? Ah, they don't really understand, it's not like Knives sat them down and told them everything. And truthfully they don't quite care. Hm, they can hear the music shifting, and they're thoughtful for a moment. ]

Oh, you want to become one of us? Then maybe you should listen!

[ The buzzing changes, and if she does indeed listen, she can hear the high pitched noise underneath it. The hive network. It's quieter, small here, they just arrived after all and there's been no conduit for the ones here before. So there's weakness in certain parts, uncertainty from the native insects that crawl and fly and swim. They resonate but it's an alien resonation yet.

She could join them, if she played the right chord. They try showing her the vibration she needs to play, if she wants in. It'll be less a melody, but not discordant. There's a method to the maddening hum. ]

Most humans find it disturbing, but I guess you're not a human, huh? You're not one of the bugs here, either. A Plant?

[ Their hand is cool. Could be a Water Plant but there's something super off. Bugs buzz around them, a few landing on them, sorry about the smalls walking along you, Mizuki, as Zazie learns. ]

Oh super, nice to meet you too! They call me Zazie, and call us "Worms". We're really more like bugs, mind you. They just call us worms in the ground and bugs in the air.

Aw, that sounds like quitter talk, I'm sure we can eat you just fine.

[ THAT sounds ominous but he doesn't make a move to try, yet. They're getting their fill of the environment, learning to process the greenery and the rich soil, the moisture on the surface. Left over animal bones. ]

Plants are as alien to me as you are, I can't really tell you about them. Just that some are stuck in bulbs, and some are independent, and some really like to play at being human.

[The music swells, and so does the turbulence in Wolfwood's heart. The last thing he remembers is just barely stopping the landship, so he lacks the context of what will most certainly be yet to come...which means his mind starts making up scenarios- worries, fears- that echo off Arturia's words.

Vash, being successfully captured by Knives. Livio, shooting himself to be freed of the Eye's control over him. And Wolfwood himself, forced to endure the torture of making sure none of the cult members defect, making sure that this fucked-up organization keeps running so that one day, Knives will successfully destroy it all.

And it will be his fault. He will have helped in this, all to save the orphanage and those few he has left.

Wolfwood's forehead presses against the rug on the floor as he sucks in a pained breath, tears coursing hotly down his cheeks. He's sobbing, now, even as a fantasy briefly dances across his vision, of him simply entering the facility and killing each and every person inside. Conrad, Legato, even Knives himself, an impossibility on top of an impossibility, but what sweet, sweet revenge would something like that be?]

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EVENT & TDM 012

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time for fwens!

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cw: suicide ment