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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[I mean. It's a little bit helpful? Harque is looking at the statues like ? ?? ? from across the way. He's never heard of these Gods before.]

Yes. I only just arrived. [And he has a gaping fucking wound in his back from when he, y'know, died. It's fine.] I suppose I could eat something. I haven't tried since I died.

[You know, because he's been dead (and he's still assuming this is the afterlife).]

[ Look, if they can have dragons and cookies and ?? Whatever Vash is, Mizuki’s not gonna think anything weird about lethal flesh wounds. Obviously it’s just more of an excuse to feed Harque. ]

Oh good! [ “Died”… Is Harque a zombie, then?? He doesn’t have brains for him to eat, but… maybe meat is enough! ] Hold on, I carry some cold stuff on me, just in case. [ In case someone gets corrupted on the spot, and Mizuki can shove a fork with tentacles in their mouth, obviously, and not emergency rations. That would be silly.

He holds out a very unappetizing looking sandwich and almost looks like it’s squirming as you hold onto it. He seems so proud of himself, though. ]

Try this!

[...oh no.

Harque is a bit (a lot) of a foodie, and presentation is sort of Everything to him, and the way the sandwich squirms is um. It's, it's um. It's...

Well, he masks his disgust easily enough, and it would be very rude to say no thank you that looks gross, so he just takes the sandwich and takes a tentative nibble. Suffice it to say, he is very surprised when it tastes one hundred times better than it looks.]

Thank you. [Okay, it's still... wiggly, but he'll eat it.] My name is Harque Ebalon. May I have your name?

[ Mizuki seems very excited for him to give it a try. He doesn't usually serve food cold -- he wonders if it matters considering he's prepared everything perfectly? He's so good at pulling out the flavors and vitality in any meat dish, but... it's important that he caters to everyone's tastes! ]

Oh! My apologies, where are my manners... I'm Mizuki! I'm from a place called Terra -- you'll meet a lot of other people here that might not be from your own world. It might be a little jarring at first, but you'll have time to adjust to stuff like that.

Oh! Is that how the afterlife works, then? You said it wasn't "Heaven"...

[And then, very sadly:]

Am I in Hell? Is it because I failed my family?

[ :( :( :( :( ]

...Oh! Um... I think I might've messed up when explaining stuff... Sorry, I'm not too smart about stuff like this...

[ Shuffles nervously. This is why they need a welcoming pamphlet or something so Mizuki doesn't just make a fool of himself. ]

You're... umm, not in the afterlife at all. It's just a different world and things are a little messed up here, that's all. I didn't mean to make you upset, you're okay, Mister Harque. Things here can seem a little hellish sometimes, maybe, but that's just because there's evil in the forest. You're mostly safe here!

[Somehow "there's evil in the forest" doesn't make him feel BETTER??? But at least he's not in Hell??]

Oh... um... then I will not go into the forest.

[ :) ]

Ehehe, that’s a good idea~. Oh! But if you do wanna go, you just need to bring a friend! And some— well. Some other stuff I won’t get into, but if you bring a friend who isn’t new to this place than you should be pretty prepared because I think… most people know what to bring by now?

…

You should just stay with us until you go out there. Someone smarter can totally show you around!! Mister Silverash keeps a good record, I think. Miss Fel and Miss Nene know a good portion, too.

Oh, I'm not much of a fighter... at all, actually. I think I'll stay where it's safe.

[lol. lmao, even.]

I'll speak to them if I encounter them here, though. Thank you for your help.

[And now they can both beam at each other like ^^ with the power of the fucking SUN]

Oh really? In that case, I'll protect you, Mister Harque. I... I've been kinda bad at protecting the people I care about here, I'd like a second chance at it. That's normally such a strong suit of mine, after all...

[ I think you mean the power of the moon. Anyway, yes, beaming is happening, and Mizuki is now holding Harque's hand. ]

It's really no problem. We're all stuck here together, so it's only right we help each other out.

[Harque has never held a hand before—]

Oh, I'm sure you must do a wonderful job at making others feel safe. I'm sorry to hear that you've had a difficult time doing so, but that is the case for all knights, isn't it? You all struggle, but that's part of life.

[ Well, he'll get used to it with Mizuki around. He'll literally hold anyone's hand, he's just like this! ]

...Ehe. I'm not a knight, Mister. Just a mercenary, that's all. But, ahh, I'm glad you say that! There's a lot of people here who wanna protect the town. This place is sorta a second home to some people. And we're working hard to figure out how to get home, too...

A mercenary, then. Although that implies you do it for coin, I still believe you do good, and that you do your best. Don't worry, my friend, I believe in you.

[Harque uh, doesn't really have need to go home considering... he will just Be Dead if he does. So. Thumbs up!]

I think it was just a title they gave me ‘cause nothin’ else fit, but the money certainly helps. [ A nod to himself. He hasn’t been poor for a long time, at least. ] You’re very kind in saying so, though, Mister Harque. If you believe in me, though, does that mean you’re my friend?

If you are, I think this is the fastest I’ve ever made a friend!

We can be friends. I've never had a friend before! How exciting!

[Harque,

are you okay]

[ That's very alarming, and definitely should having Mizuki be like "buddy, what the fuck," but all he does instead is smile and say: ] Oh!!! That means I'm basically you're best friend by default, right~?

[ He's got the spirit, okay?? ]

I can show you all sorts of fun things! Do you like video games? We can play Bomberman together!

Certainly! You can be my best friend, I've never had one of those either.

[HARQUE,]

But I'm afraid I don't know what a "video" game is, nor Bomberman. I do know what a game is, though I haven't played many.

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!

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.

...! [ Oh, a rare day that people say stuff like that to Mizuki. "Yeah, we share stuff, 'cause we're friends." What a fun thought. ] We could build a fort, too! [ Look at him, all excited, hanging off of Harque's arm now to drag him to the therapy building. ] And make it a sleepover. The lobby is real comfy, I promise~

A fort! I used to build those with Noah when we were sneaking away from our parents.

[harque that is not normal]

We used to prop it up with pillows and chairs and I would read to him until he fell asleep. How delightful!

Oh yeah?? This one's gonna be real big, so I'm glad you already got experience, ehe. I asked Mister Heimr to put lots of cozy stuff in the lobby so we can do stuff like that. I sleep on the piles of stuffed animals a lot...

[ Mizuki would call him out on it, but he's not entirely sure he should? There's a lot going on here. Maybe it was a playful kind of sneaking...? ]

Oh, do you like to read? I've got some novellas and stuff, if you'd like! You've got a very soothing voice, Mister Harque, I wouldn't mind listening to you read.

Do I? I'm glad you think so. I don't mind reading to you. Books are all I know. Noah was rather fond of history texts and encyclopaedias — not quite what a boy his age would normally be reading, but he's hungry for knowledge.

[Probably because of how they were raised but y'know.]

I don't read many fiction tales, but I wouldn't mind, if you have anything I can read to you.

Mmh… I don’t have any history books or anything like that. The only nonfiction I have are psychology books, so I’m not sure they’ll be very exciting…

[ Mizuki is shuffling Harque into the therapy building lobby now. The struggle of wanting to continue holding his hand and needing to let go to start building the fort… sigh ]

And if you don’t want to, I’m certainly not going to make you. We could just play video games in the fort for a while. Though, that said, I do have some visual novels I could show you, too!

[That's okay, they can hold hands IN the fort after it's built. Harque will shuffle about to help build it, at least.]

Visual novels...? Are those akin to picture books?

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