sticksandbonesmods: (Default)
sticks and bones. ([personal profile] sticksandbonesmods) wrote in [community profile] sticksandbones2024-05-03 05:05 pm

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!

UPDATES
❖ None yet!

noencore: (03)

[personal profile] noencore 2024-06-19 09:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[“You must wake up.”]

[What was that? That didn’t sound like one of the fans… suddenly things start to feel weird. He looks behind him in confusion but when he turns to look at Marnie again… she’s so far away. She’s lost in the crowd. No, wait-]


No-!

[He jerks, startling himself awake in the process, tripping over himself as he tried to pivot around to reach for Marnie.]

[Unless White Lily’s grip is especially tight, he hits the floor with his entire face, massive hair making a soft thump as it follows.]


Bollocks.
ephemeralflow: (When you reach the end)

[personal profile] ephemeralflow 2024-06-19 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I never said I was nice, you know. Only that I asked nicely first.

[Yes, showing up, being unsettling, and bluntly demanding something is definitely "nicely" for her. Really, she's not entirely sure what he's even so upset over! Don't most cookies love to talk about themselves?

Timekeeper huffs, crossing her arms and tapping her chin.]


Really, is it only your looks that are interesting...! I don't have to hear it from you, I suppose. One way or another, I'll find out how you became... whatever that is. I expect the timeline would be very fun to watch!
mooninthewater: (103)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2024-06-20 12:15 am (UTC)(link)
« Oh, do you? He wouldn't be doing his job very well if he were stone, though... »

Mizuki moves the pot of food between them. « I know... comparatively for your size, this isn't going to be all that filling or anything, but I thought maybe it'd have been a while since you'd have something that's made to taste good instead of just something to eat in general.

It's comfort food, too. It'll make you feel better, I feel.
»
ephemeralflow: (No you know it must be neverending)

Arrival 2

[personal profile] ephemeralflow 2024-06-20 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
Oh my, I can't say that I have.

[Look, if Piers was willing to approach the slightly unsettling, constantly smiling steampunk woman carrying around giant scissors, then Timekeeper Cookie isn't going to be bothered by his appearance, either. It's not like she hasn't seen cookies with similar fashion, after all! Plus, she appreciates someone with hair almost as huge as her own.]

Family, I presume? And here I cannot even give you an interesting answer! That's no fun at all. Perhaps if I regain my full abilities, I'll take a peek through the timelines for you.

[The floating creature following her around moves over to peer at the card itself as she hands it back to Piers. It looks rather like someone crossed a Cosmoem and a Klink, but it only stares expressionlessly for a moment before making a grinding noise and returning to Timekeeper's side.]
soundsurfing: (For that I live)

[personal profile] soundsurfing 2024-06-20 07:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Cheesecake. Beat watches silently as the cakedog proceeds to make a mess of the sheets. ]

... there's extra sheets in the closets. An' uh... yeaaaah...

[ He scratches the back of his neck a little. ]

Yer a vampire... you eat blood. It's like. Uh. Cookie jam, but fer humans.
noencore: (35)

[personal profile] noencore 2024-06-20 07:12 am (UTC)(link)
[Honestly he has half a mind to ask her what gym she runs, based on her vibes alone. Gym leaders sure have a certain kind of ...style. She's got a lot of it.]

Aye, she's my talented little sis. I would like to not find her at all, but I won't rest until I am certain that's true.

[His eyes go to her little companion and he gives it a curious slow tilt of his head.]

Fascinatin' lookin' pokemon you got there, mate.
magicalsplashflare: (7)

[personal profile] magicalsplashflare 2024-06-20 02:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[ She'll absolutely take his hand, thank you very much. At the moment, she's in a oversized hoodie with little cat ears on the hood itself, so only her fingers poke out of the sleeves. When she holds Harque's hand, the hoodie honestly swallows both of them. At least it's cozy? ]

I'm Mamika Kirameki. Just Mamika is fine, though. [ Formalities not needed, honestly. She's just used to giving her full name, like it's the first day of high school. ] Sorry for not introducing myself sooner. I'm a little disoriented, I think...
magicalsplashflare: (4)

[personal profile] magicalsplashflare 2024-06-20 03:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, no, no, don't apologize. You're okay! I'm used to this, anyway, so I'm more than happy to help you the best I can. I'm just sorry I can't do a little more.

[ And she does put Cheesecake on the ground now, covered in whatever Pastry Residue(tm) was left behind, but she doesn't seem fussed about it. ]

"Sparkling Cookie"... [ Sounds like a Magical Girl title, honestly- ] I'm Mamika Kirameki. You can just call me Mamika. Is this little guy yours?
eidxiety: (bw. 109 @GEd__s)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-06-20 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
[Listen, Genesis!Elsword is from the same world as Opferung!Ain of course he's not shocked by this. Opferung is a freak. This Ain is also a freak but he's also trying his best okay?

Anyway, Ain doesn't pick up on Mizuki being possessive. He literally hasn't been told anything, he probably wouldn't have opened his mouth if he knew about their relationship, but all he really got from that netbook post was "Seaborn become one with someone :)" and "he was suffering so I helped him". I am an idiot he did know however he momentarily forgot about it because he has the blinders on, let him cook.]


Haha... sure, I don't mind. Um...

[...hm...]

I'll start with how we met.

[And then he launches into that exact story. It's not... much, really. It's just happenstance, where he happened upon Elsword and Aisha and Rena and joined up with them, but still. Meeting someone for the first time is a good memory.]
Edited (i stoopit) 2024-06-20 15:57 (UTC)
mooninthewater: (439)

[personal profile] mooninthewater 2024-06-20 04:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Mizuki shuts his eyes as he listens. Elsword isn't... well, truly part of him like the hivemind is. He can't "speak" to Elsword like he can We Many, but he can still attempt to convey what emotions he believes Elsword is feeling. It's a bit like his relationship to the Arbor, honestly. Something dead and gone, but there's still just that... feeling.

Eventually, he puts his head against Ain's side. ]


I'm glad you were able to find such good friends, Mister Ain. And the way you talk about it... really makes it sound like you all became a family.
heartspeaker: (004)

[personal profile] heartspeaker 2024-06-20 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
I understand, [she says, and she holds the card close to her chest for a brief moment before tucking it into the pocket of her top.] I have a precious younger cousin. We grew up together — I've even called him my brother from time to time. Family is one of the most important things in the world to many people. If I see her, I'll come find you.

[Thinks...]

Would you tell me about her? Would it soothe the ache?
heartspeaker: (014)

[personal profile] heartspeaker 2024-06-20 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh, the creature speaks! Wonderful.]

Do you like it? It's inspired by you. I've never seen something quite this magnificent before.
ephemeralflow: (To understand you resemble a fool)

[personal profile] ephemeralflow 2024-06-20 10:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[In another universe, she probably would be the most obnoxiously thematic gym leader, too. Or the head of a time travel themed Team. It could go either way, really.]

I see, your icings do indeed match! Or, you humans only call it hair, correct?

[Her smile never wavers, though she does tilt her head to the side curiously at his last comment.]

Continuum Cog is certainly one of a kind. Hm, although, what is a "pokemon?"
heartspeaker: (015)

[personal profile] heartspeaker 2024-06-20 11:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Pouts :( at :( him :( ]

You're a principled man, Ezell. Alright... in that case, tell me how Laterano has been lately. I haven't been back in many years. Does Pagus Stevonus still have that gelato shop next to the hospital?
ghostharasser: Art by me! (208)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2024-06-21 12:52 am (UTC)(link)
[He sits on that thoughtfully, thinking about everything he's learned so far.]

Yeah, I think so. This might just be my experience having lived in a few different worlds, but just from the feeling I get from the forest. There's something pretty nasty about it, and it seeps off the fog like a miasma of dark feelings. I'm sort of sensitive to that stuff so, it's hard to ignore.

[He looks out at the festivities.]

Calms like this are important to take advantage of. Enjoy the happiness now, so you can brace for when the storm hits.
lilyberation: (041)

[personal profile] lilyberation 2024-06-21 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
( oH-- there... there he goes. right on his face...

she'll help him up in a second but her main goal is to close that window and then seal it shut for good measure- which is why she raises her lily staff and. oh. okay. there are now small but sturdy vines holding it shut.

after this she crouches beside him to help- )


I'm sorry. You were going to jump out the window... That mist causes a hallucination to lure people into precarious situations.
ghostharasser: (241)

[personal profile] ghostharasser 2024-06-21 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
[MAYBE. WHAT ARE YOU A COP.]

Oh man, another cookie. A time traveling cookie? The Cookie universe sounds crazy interesting, actually.

[But okay. Now that he went and ran his mouth he may as well give her what she wants.]

So, the timeline here seems to be a situation of reincarnation magic gone cuckoo, with the implication our souls all originated here. That's pretty interesting when considering in order for that to be true, mine would have had to cross several dimensions and timelines before coming back here. Really makes you wonder about the strength of that magic.
heartspeaker: (008)

[personal profile] heartspeaker 2024-06-21 04:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Interesting... she had expected basic instincts from the hoard overall, of course, but not the capacity to question. To ask, to wonder. They know of love, loss, and pain. It fascinates her, and if they can hear her on their frequency, they'll know it.

She wants to explain. Human emotions are complicated, and she is infinitely sympathetic to every beating heart, even the little ones that simply ask why.

Arturia presses her bow to the strings and plays a different tune. One that tries to tell a story of friendship born through strife, of love blooming from a loss. As tragic as it is, these are the things that bring humans together, as much as tearing them apart. She won't pretend to know why they are the way that they are, but to her, that's what makes life interesting.]
heartspeaker: (004)

[personal profile] heartspeaker 2024-06-21 05:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[Actually technically he's being played like a cello—

That jail cell is what holds him back. In the end, everything stems back there. But there is hope in his heart, love for the people he's met and befriended, love for the orphanage and the world around him despite the cruelty. That is what she chooses to latch onto as the tempo changes. It's a song of beauty and love, one of hope. It isn't sorrowful, it doesn't aim to draw out what lies on the surface, but rather what's underneath. She'd like to see him ascend from darkness. The ending he chooses is up to him; if his ascension is his own death, as it was her mother's, then that is fine, too.

However he feels liberated is what she cares about.

The notes resemble sunlight shining on him, on the people he cares for. They're warm but fleeting, impermanent as life itself, yet there's a message underneath them: There's a way to be free. He needs to only seek it out.]
heartspeaker: (005)

[personal profile] heartspeaker 2024-06-21 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[It's definitely a duet. Worry not, Arturia can keep up. She's been playing since she was a child.]

You're talented for someone so young, [says a 27-year-old woman who is legally still young like hello,] I must say.

[Also she is Yelling over the instrumentals here.]
oleaeuropaea: (With Our Sentencing)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-21 07:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, at least there's one good thing that's come from Zazie's poor connection to humanity. They don't know shit or fuck about human emotion, and can't exactly tell when someone's faking it.]

Yeah, yeah. You've been listening to Nick too much, I think.

[Vash tilts his head at the question. His lips press into a thin little line. He has no reason to doubt them, but that doesn't make the question any less interesting.]

We were trying to stop the Sand Steamer. I went to the Plant Room to try and help out.
ephemeralflow: (No you know it must be neverending)

[personal profile] ephemeralflow 2024-06-21 09:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[Please, she's ABOVE the cookie time cops! because she runs them]

Correct! My universe has its interesting moments, certainly, though not half as interesting as what I'm discovering here.

[Timekeeper laces her fingers - hey, fingers are great actually, she's not upset about her new form at all - and rests her chin on them, smile widening as she listens and considers this first tidbit.]

Is that so? You are correct, that would have to be powerful magic indeed. I've not heard of any quite like that, before - although, I am hardly a mage, merely a chronokinetic. [Says one of the most terrifyingly powerful cookies probably ever, but shhh, Dipper doesn't need to know that.] I can say that I've not noticed any timeline discrepancies that may indicate the souls of some cookies do not belong, though I don't believe that's something we normally look for to begin with. Hmmm! Individual timelines scattering to the dimensional winds would certainly begin to explain the tangled knots time is in here!

[Note to self: if she manages to return to the TBD before whatever is going on here is resolved, ask Time Registry to comb some very specific records...

Timekeeper straightens, her eye practically glimmering with intrigue, and gestures at Dipper.]


And what about these several dimensions and timelines of yours? What does that knot look like? I must know!
bugbrained: (pic#17247312)

[personal profile] bugbrained 2024-06-22 11:37 am (UTC)(link)
Huh, you too? The Punisher said the same thing.

[ That makes them pause, thoughtfully staring at the ground, conferring amongst themselves. Well, whatever, clearly didn't happen after JuLai if this Vash had no JuLai to happen yet. So technically no need to mention JuLai.

On the other hand, the misery it might cause the other might be hilarious. Finally they glance back up to Vash, curious. They do want to learn more about humans, and maybe 120ish years around psychos isn't the best way to do it.

Time to bully the good guys! ]


Hey, I have a question! What would you do if you had information about the future that might impact someone preeetty drastically. Would you tell them?
bugbrained: (pic#17247312)

[personal profile] bugbrained 2024-06-22 11:53 am (UTC)(link)
Huh so, do it because it's fun?

[ There's a lot of things Zazie finds fun. Probably not the best things considering who their influence has been this entire time but! They find it fun! Maybe that applies to the bad guys too, the ones who blow up towns because they were slighted by a lady. They do it because it's fun for them.

They get that!

The people here being kind and ambitious makes them pause, thoughtful. Do they find it fun to be so? No, kindness can hurt, Zazie has seen that. Who finds pain fun? If they're not causing it, that is. They roll - still holding Mizuki's hand - to sprawl on their side, their free hand propping their head up. ]


It really doesn't make sense. But I guess I'm interested too. Knives was "kind", I guess. Respectful, at any rate. He understood Us. Too bad he turned out to be a liar. I don't know the other's well enough. We haven't spent time with them. But!

[ And they grin. ]

You'll help with that, right?
bugbrained: (pic#17248827)

[personal profile] bugbrained 2024-06-22 12:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Her fascination fascinates them in return. They're around her now, Zazie not needing a human form while communicating like this. A bunch of dragonfly like creatures that buzz on her, swarm around her, envelope her.

They listen as she sings to them through her instrument, as she tries to explain the complexities of human emotion. How everything is tied together. They don't understand, and her message is fragmented for them. How can love come from loss? Why do humans experience loss? It's evolutionary disadvantageous to feel grief. If they mourned every time a piece of their network died, they would never get anywhere.

Fear, they understand. Fear keeps them away from something that would kill them. A bug fearing the vulture over head, to stay out of it's talons. Anger, they understand, though less in the 'this made us mad' and more in the 'asserting boundaries'.

Her power doesn't invoke in them the same imagery it might in others; they are intelligent, they are a network, but they don't think the way a human does. But it does make them question further. Which is good! Questioning is how one learns! ]

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