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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!

eidxiety: (bw. 098 @mildew_omo)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-05-28 03:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Vash name one Elrian you've met so far that's been okay—]

No, I miss my friends. [Oh okay we're just dropping that on a complete stranger with a smile, I see,] Haha, but I'll be okay. I do like the food, though. They had a lot of little cakes like this at the snacks table.

[So like, if cheesecake bites won't last between these two (they will not) they can absolutely go back that way and stuff their faces.]

...how come you usually don't have stuff like this?
oleaeuropaea: (Comes Flooding In)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-05-29 08:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[Okay rude. Fair, but rude. God they're about on par with the No Man's Land folk, huh?]

I get it. I miss my friends too. [He only had like... four back home, and two of them he was very hesitant to consider as much. That doesn't mean he doesn't miss them, even if he knows it's better that they're not here.]

The food is good. And a nice distraction, if nothing else! [He definitely knows a thing or two about distracting himself with food.]

Honestly? Because it's just as likely to be a trap as it is to be enjoyable. [His turn to be blunt.] The Forest likes to play tricks. And it doesn't like when we're not paying attention to it. So the more we take away, the more likely it is to lash out.
eidxiety: (bw. 138 @gwari___)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-05-30 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[...munch munch. Record scratch noise.]

Maybe this isn't the fault of the forest? [He looks off into the distance, like he might see the trees moving as he plows through the cheesecake bites. There's a frown briefly on his lips before his usual smile overtakes it as he turns back to Vash.] I don't sense anything hostile out there, so I think something "nice" did this, like the cute rat bus! [it's a capybara,] Of course, maybe that means when we get back, it'll be mad that we left our purgatory, haha.

[Why do you append "haha" onto the most ominous shit.]

Mm... I can help if something bad happens, though.
oleaeuropaea: (Whoa I'm in love With)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-02 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
This night? Probably not. There are good forces at play too.

[The "but" hangs silently within the air. He follows Ain's gaze, holding his cheesecake bite within his hand but not yet moving to take another bite. His stomach churns uneasily even as he thinks about what might linger in the trees, ever watching.]

That doesn't mean something can't interrupt. That the Forest can't track us down again. [He taps his foot against the ground, lower hands fiddling with one another.]

You won't meet a soul that won't be willing to help but. It's not fair that they have to do it.
eidxiety: (c. 040)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-06-02 05:06 am (UTC)(link)
[Astutely:] Mr. Bug seems a bit nervous. It's okay, I still don't sense anything hostile out there. There seems to be... two presences watching, but they feel nice.

[Ain does not elaborate on why he senses God here, he says it like it's completely normal and moves on, swivelling his gaze back to Vash.]

Everyone I've met so far has been courageous. It reminds me of my friends back home in a way. [...] Are you willing to help too, Mr. Bug?
oleaeuropaea: (Repeating "There's nothing left")

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-02 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
Mr. Bug? C'mon, my name is Vash! Vash. Vash the Stampede if you really wanna get formal. [Hold on, wait a second.] Two presences?

[He looks skyward. He has a suspicion as to who they might be, but he doesn't press. The alternative is learning that it's someone more distasteful.]

But... yeah. I'm willing to help. [He jabs his thumb toward his chest.] It's what I do best!
eidxiety: (bw. 037)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-06-02 05:18 am (UTC)(link)
[Rocking back on his heels, teeheeing.]

Mr. Bug is a bug. [Thanks.] Like how Mr. Jellyfish is a jellyfish, and Mr. Priest is a priest, and Mr. Sheep is a sheep. You can keep up, can't you?

[No, what is this—]

Unless you have any other traits... haha, I don't usually switch my nicknames for people, but maybe I can make an exception?
oleaeuropaea: (When will this End?)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-02 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
Plant!

[Bro why did you just blurt that out.]

You can call me Mr. Plant! That's way more accurate, trust me!
eidxiety: (c. 128)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-06-02 05:33 am (UTC)(link)
[Looks quizzically at Vash for a second. Tilts his head...]

But I don't see any leaves on you?
oleaeuropaea: (That's Why We)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-02 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
Not like that!!

[He huffs.]

It's just. What I am. Okay?
eidxiety: (c. 179 @GEd__s)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-06-02 05:40 am (UTC)(link)
Haha, okay. Mr. Plant, then.

[Pops another cheesecake bite into his mouth.]

Is it too invasive to ask if you photosynthesize?

[vash sweetie I'm so sorry, he literally thinks you're an actual honest to god flower or something now.]
oleaeuropaea: (But I Still Drown)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-02 08:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Wh - ? No! It's not like that!

[That's his brother, duh.]

Just. I eat and drink like normal. Like you would. See!

[He "steals" another cheesecake bite.]
eidxiety: (bw. 060)

[personal profile] eidxiety 2024-06-02 10:09 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hilariously Ain doesn't require food sort of like Nai because Angel, but he certainly acts like he does. It sells the human bit. Also he just likes it.]

Ooh! You're a carnivorous Mr. Plant! [Pauses. Thinks.] Or, I guess, an omnivorous Mr. Plant?
oleaeuropaea: (I am Frozen)

[personal profile] oleaeuropaea 2024-06-04 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
I - [He squints at Ain.]

You know what. That... That works. That's me. An omnivorous Mr. Plant.

[And just to prove as much... he gives a little bow.]