sticksandbones | 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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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?

Sort of! Except instead of just pictures and text, you can occasionally make choices, too. So it’s kinda like a pick your own adventure book, if your world had those.

[ There’s enough pillows and stuffed animals here to make a very impressive fort, at least. Depending on the amount of effort they’re willing to put in, but Mizuki seems to be very intent on making it big and cozy. ]

We do have those, and I did enjoy reading them to Noah.

[Are you kidding Harque is putting in Max Effort here.]

He got frustrated when the answer he picked didn't lead to the desired outcome, but he's only five, so I'm not surprised. Young minds.

[harque you are 18 what do you mean "young minds" you are a young mind]

EVENT & TDM 012

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