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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INVESTIGATIONS
TDM NPC CONTACT
PAST-LIFE PLOTTING

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I. Serving Coffee

[Passenger likes to grow his own coffee beans, a little-known thing about him. He doesn't make most things about him public knowledge (he's sort of quiet like that, you know how it is), and he doesn't even say "yes hello I grew the coffee beans in this drink I'm handing you right now". He just... hands you a cup of coffee, wherever you are. Here you go.]

Will you tell me how it tastes?

[Not even a "hello" not even a "hi how are you do you like coffee", he's just straight up handing you coffee, and if you don't like coffee too bad he expects you to drink it anyway.]

II. Serving Looks
a) for everyone

[Passenger makes sure to be dressed up in something distinctly Sargonian in make for this event. He doesn't typically dance; when the others he used to spend his time around would, he would always bow out of it, seeing minimal point to the celebrations. Even at Rhodes island, he'd much rather wallflower during any parties they had, which were usually held with some frequency.

This event is something he'd preferably wallflower at, too, stand out of the way and eat his fill at the snack table and bail... but it looks like bailing early isn't possible, so he reasons he may as well extend the offer to dance to anyone lacking a partner at the time. Thus does he sweep over to you on light footsteps and offer a hand, palm flat toward the sky.]

May I have this dance?

b) closed to Sesa

Hold still.

[Luckily, this place has dressing rooms, or this would be slightly weird to do. Elliot has acquired the means to do henna tattoos, and this is something he brought with them so they could go to the dance floor in style. While it'll take about an hour for him to do both of them, they have literally all night to dance, so Elliot doesn't feel too pressed for time here. It's likely the party won't officially start until everyone else is drunk anyway. That's how that works.

Anyway, Sesa is shirtless and Elliot is drawing on his back right now. Even though he's probably? going to be wearing a shirt, he's getting henna done, who cares if it's covered. This is for Elliot to look at when they get home, too.

They can go dance when he's done. Which theoretically will be soon? Who knows.]

III. Serving... Wildcards??

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

[ The fact that he was actually looking for Passenger briefly escapes him when he's suddenly just handed a cup of... coffee? He looks amusedly down at it, enjoying the thick scent as it curls against his nose. ]

I am quite the wrong person to ask, I am afraid. Dark Cacao is much more versed in the flavors of coffee.

[ Still, he lifts the cup to his mouth and takes a delicate sip, mindful of the heat coming from it. He hums softly as he ponders the taste. This Cookie is particularly fond of sweets but he must admit-]

It is quite delicious!

I'll make a point in visiting, then. For now, I'm grateful that it tastes good. I used to hand-tend my own beans in Sargon some years ago; what I have now are enchanted by the Shopkeeper to grow faster, and I had wondered if the enchantment would change the taste at all.

[It seems good so far, though! Wonderful.]

Hmm, if it has, I cannot tell! The flavor is rich and smooth to my tongue.

[ Hm... he is sure Cacao would appreciate some coffee... ]

I do not suppose I can request some beans in exchange for some vegetables or fruit? Or even flowers for tea, if that is your desire!

I would be willing to accept such a trade. Right now, they're housed within the greenhouse — though I've been considering asking the Shopkeeper for a cafe. The beans are growing faster than I can go through them, and we have a key lack of sweets here.

[Not that the bar isn't good enough, it absolutely is... but bar food tends to be on the heartier side, obviously. It's a different ballgame.]

Aha, if it is sweets you desire, I most certainly can help with that! Though I do believe Fel is a much better baker than I.

[ Listen, when you're a King, people tend to do all that for you. As much as you wish they wouldn't. He sips the coffee again, tail wiggling. It needs some vanilla. ]

My strawberries are in bloom, but I believe I needs ask Ydalir for something in which to speed up the others. Once that is done, I shall be able to offer raspberries, grapes, and gooseberries as well.

[ Small talk, as he builds up to traumatize the poor man. ]

[Passenger has no idea that Pure Vanilla is Plotting Something. He thinks they're simply having a nice conversation.]

Are either of you familiar with Sargonian-style desserts — baklava, kanafeh, layali lubnan? You seem particularly close to her, which is why I ask you. That is what I would plan to sell for a small sum of shells.

[Hmm...]

With strawberries, I could make mahalabiya. [Thinking out loud...] Naturally, if you provided extra ingredients, I could promise you would be the first to taste them without the attached business fee.

Baklava is something I am familiar with, but I am afraid I do not know the others. I will ask Fel if she knows them herself! May I ask what Mahalabiya is?

[ He's incredibly delighted to hear of different sweets they haven't yet come across on Earthbread. He wishes to try them all. Maybe he can convince Cacao to try some as well, if he has coffee with him. ]

Of course, I would be delighted to help in whatever way I may! Simply tell me what goes into it, and I shall see what I can procure! My vegetables currently growing are sweet potatoes, carrots, beetroot, and parsnips. The flowers currently in bloom are Hibiscus, Rose, and Lemon Grass. I would gladly offer any to you! I do ask for one thing in exchange, however.

Mahalabiya is a type of milk pudding.

[Real simple, don't know why he didn't put it that way in the first place, but hey.]

I'll send you a list of the recipes I'd like to offer later on. I haven't come up with anything coherent. [Hums.] What is it you'd like in exchange?

Oh! That sounds delightful! Please, I would be most eager to try some!

[ You have activated his sweet tooth card.

He nods gently to the list of recipes, eager to aid and try his hand at a few taste tests.

Then his joy fades a little, for what he is about to do. ]

Your forgiveness.

[ Quickly, so Passenger doesn't have time to really react, Pure Vanilla reaches up with his hand to quickly and aggressively drag his palm against the stone on Passengers forehead. Using enough pressure to deliberately cutting himself on it. Then he will fuss softly and clean up any blood he may have left on the man. ]

I'm sorry...

[You know. Passenger has lived through a lot in his life. From having his professor assassinated, to detonating an Originium bomb part just to make sure it didn't fall into the hands of people who would use it for evil, to being enslaved, to taking revenge on those slavers and the Lord Ameer that killed his professor in the first place by spending twenty years of his life on some convoluted revenge plot. It's a lot to cram into 37 years of life, and yet, in those 37 years...

He has never had someone purposely infect themself by using him as a conduit. That sort of thing doesn't happen on Rhodes Island, or on Terra, not unless the person is suicidal or part of some death cult.

There's blood trickling down his forehead, which Pure Vanilla winds up cleaning off, but on the second pass, Elliot snatches the wrist of his now-Infected hand and stares at the wound with an expression bordering on enraged. Were Passenger more outwardly emotional, his facial expressions might actually reach that threshold.]

What would compel you to do that? [He asks, voice sharp as the crystal on his forehead.] Do you have any idea what you've done?

[Passenger infected himself long ago with that Originium bomb part... and Doctor Kal'tsit, his saviour and most resented person, had said those same words to him. Oh how the tables turn.]

[ His wrist being grabbed isn't shocking, and Pure Vanilla doesn't try to pull it back. Instead he lets the other hold it and stare at the wound, the trickle of blood already slowing due to Vanilla's healing. He sighs softly to the scolding, managing to look contrite, his ears back and flopped down. ]

I do. That is why I asked for your forgiveness. But I cannot ask someone to undergo the experiments I must perform to cure it. I do not know what they will entail, or how painful they will be. And I fear if I had asked, you would have declined.

[ Why Passenger? Well, he was the one he encountered first, and maybe a little bit of Gnosis blame there for telling him Passenger doesn't have much longer. If it's unique, perhaps Passengers infection will help him cure the other faster. ]

You need not worry, my friend. I will cure it, it is only a matter of time.

[ If he even caught it... his Souljam might have prevented the infection. It's a good thing he plans on breaking it. ]

I am truly sorry I sprung it on you.

You're either insane or suicidal, and at this moment, I'm leaning toward it being both.

[His scorn is from caring, even though it doesn't sound that way. If Passenger didn't care, he would've simply looked at Pure Vanilla and shrugged and said "have fun with your rock cancer". His grip on the healer's wrist is firm as he watches the blood flow stop.

It is, in his mind, too late. If his Souljam stopped it, Passenger wouldn't know; Oripathy infects open wounds on first contact, and in his mind, there's nothing that could get in the way of it.]

Not even the most talented medics of our time have yet found a cure for Oripathy, and they, too, are Infected. I do not have much longer to live — I would have consented to experimental treatment without the need for self-sacrifice.

[He was going to add "we should wrap the wound", but it seems like it's closing on its own. Reluctantly, Pure Vanilla's hand is given back to him, and Passenger only breathes out a brief, frustrated sigh.]

[ He will let Passenger continue to scold him, his expression softening into a gentle look of understand. He understands Passenger is mostly emotionless due to the Oripathy, so for all this ire to be here.

He gets it, and he understands, and he's touched. That there's enough care there to be angry about it.

The only hardening of his expression is Passenger saying he would have consented. ]

No.

[ That one word carries with it the very reason he was the Leader of their little band of merry Adventurers. That shows for years he was a King. It's firm and final, with a power behind it that says not to argue. When his hand is finally released, he sighs gently and lets it fall, leaning on his Staff a little. ]

I am over two-thousand years of age, my friend. I have learned far more than I have any right to have learned. I will discover a cure. For you, for Phantom, for anyone else who has the infection coursing through their veins. And magic can be temperamental. Painful. I will never ask anyone but myself to go through it.

[ He reaches out with his uninfected hand and gently brushes some of Passengers hair from his face, tucks it behind his ear. A Grandfatherly touch. Soft and caring. ]

You will have many more years, my friend, I promise you.

(no subject)

forwander - 2024-05-13 22:44 (UTC) - Expand

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purevanillacookie - 2024-05-13 23:13 (UTC) - Expand

[Sesa has never had henna applied before. He's always been intrigued about getting tattoos, but never went through with it because often getting something like that done is difficult for scaled races like draco and vouivre. It's never been a huge priority either way, but this will give him a non-permanent chance to experience that first hand. He doesn't seem to mind that it's taking a while either way, sitting there patiently as Elliot works, his tail having found and curled itself coyly around one of Elliot's legs. Hi.]

How is it looking so far?

[Hi. :)]

It looks as lovely as the canvas himself. [Gag. Elliot is now kissing Sesa's shoulder, the opposite one from which he works obviously. Those scales on his spine do Things to his pigeon brain.] I'm almost finished with your back.

[Part of him is surprised his hands are this stable; they usually shake when he's trying to do something delicate, product more of his Oripathy than anything, but hey. Tonight's a good night to have stable hands and no neurological problems caused by rock cancer being too close to his brain.

There are a few more looping designs Passenger draws with the tip of the applicator before stopping... and then he shuffles slightly to the left of Sesa and starts drawing on his wrist and hand instead.

We are doing art.]

[Sesa turns his head just a little so he can watch as he begins to work on his hand. This way, he can actually see as he works.]

You're very good at it. I've never been one to dress traditionally, but I am happy to make an exception in this case.

[Especially when that means he and Elliot are going to walk out onto the dance floor SERVING.]

It all looks rather fetching on you. I understand not dressing traditionally, of course, but you are the most stunning man I've laid eyes on.

[Get a fucking room!!]

Besides, I do rather prefer the look of you in an open shirt. [okay stop do not do this in the fucking dressing room.]

[Hey now technically they HAVE a room, it's just the dressing room. It's theirs In This Moment, it counts.]

Is that so? Should I wear my coat less? And my other traditional dressings?

[There is nothing traditional about the toilet paper you wrap your arms with, what are you talking about.]

Only if you seek my eyes on you constantly. Not that they aren't... but it would be a different sort of gaze.

[Good lord.]

On the other hand, I do cherish these rare moments of you being less clothed than usual. In that regard, I enjoy you how you are.

[Kisses Sesa's cheek... okay, your henna is done, let that dry for a little bit.]

[With his henna complete, Sesa will sit back a little and admire what part of it he's able to see on his arm, careful not to touch it or brush up against anything, less he end up smearing it.]

Thank you. You did an incredible job. I don't doubt I'm going to be turning heads at this party! Wouldn't you agree?

[Fret not, it'll dry quickly and then the dried ink can be rubbed off, and there will be a stain on skin and scale for the next two weeks. Which means Elliot will be even Worse (romantic) for the next two weeks, get ready—]

My love, if you didn't turn heads, I would question the tastes of the other residents of the Grove.

[Please though, Sesa is going to be peacocking the entire time. Like yes, he knows he's sexy, thank you please compliment his pretty scales more.]

You flatter me.

[He takes Elliot's hand, and- like the gross romantic he is- brings it to his lips so he can press a kiss to his knuckles. He'll keep holding that hand too long after they've finished, giving it a small squeeze.]

Shall we head out there?

[Elliot makes that telltale happy pigeon coo in the back of his throat at this, infinitely charmed by the display. Before they head out, he'll thread their fingers together.]

We shall.

[And out they go! To a whole-ass party where people are already dancing and clearing out the snacks. Elliot will lead Sesa toward the floor first, flipping their hands around now so that Sesa's fingers are in his palm.]

May I have this dance, my love?

You may.

[Before they start, since Elliot stole his hand, Sesa will take advantage of that so he can pull Elliot's hand towards himself for a kiss. Get your hand smooched, idiot.

Then he'll settle into position, resting his other hand on Elliot's hip.]

Though, I should warn you...formal dancing is not my strong suit. Unless you are interested in me teaching you DDR...

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EVENT & TDM 012

Passenger | Arknights | Current Player

coffee

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cws: mentions of child slavery and suicide

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B

stumbles in 3 days late with starbucks

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