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sticksandbones2024-08-02 09:35 am
sticksandbonesmods) wrote in sticksandbones2024-08-02 09:35 am
EVENT 015
BUY MORE CRYSTALS
COME RAIN OR EVEN MORE RAIN
Today, progress has been made in the Grove. The sun shines brightly on the cleaned-up remains of what used to be the “Burned Town”, now lovingly just called “north” for lack of a better term. At night, a small handful of stars finally shine in skies that have been empty for millennia, and birds sing loudly throughout, overjoyed now that they’ve felt the stirring of the long-dead Sky Guardian. All is peaceful. All is right with the world.
…and then there’s the sound of familiar, watery laughter from the Lake Guardian himself, having returned to the Grove for whatever reason he could possibly have, standing by the well and performing a jaunty dance on his scrawny legs. He spins around the well once, twice… and then the skies darken and the clouds swell, and suddenly it’s raining buckets, soaking you and everyone else to the bone immediately.
“It’s a gift for freeing me!!” Callan shouts joyously, unaware of the fact that gifts are usually nice things and not biblical floods. “Enjoy it!!”
Well, it seems like this will be the rest of your month. The rains don’t abate at all, but they do come with one gift that actually seems worthwhile: Any plant that stays out in the rain for long enough will suddenly spring out of the earth at gargantuan size. Enjoy your giant crops — they’re still edible! — and your flowers the size of pillows, everyone.
…and then there’s the sound of familiar, watery laughter from the Lake Guardian himself, having returned to the Grove for whatever reason he could possibly have, standing by the well and performing a jaunty dance on his scrawny legs. He spins around the well once, twice… and then the skies darken and the clouds swell, and suddenly it’s raining buckets, soaking you and everyone else to the bone immediately.
“It’s a gift for freeing me!!” Callan shouts joyously, unaware of the fact that gifts are usually nice things and not biblical floods. “Enjoy it!!”
Well, it seems like this will be the rest of your month. The rains don’t abate at all, but they do come with one gift that actually seems worthwhile: Any plant that stays out in the rain for long enough will suddenly spring out of the earth at gargantuan size. Enjoy your giant crops — they’re still edible! — and your flowers the size of pillows, everyone.
FURNITURE STRIKES BACK
If staying out in the rain isn’t exactly your thing (who could blame you, really?), you might consider heading back inside and spending some nights in. It’s been a while since everyone had a break without being exposed to water for way too long, and what better way to spend a night than curled up in bed in a nest of blankets?
As you drift off to sleep to the serene sounds of the river flooding, there’s a sudden loud bang, like someone slammed a door. You open your eyes and don’t see a thing… so back to bed you go, only to hear it again. This time, as you lurch out of bed and desperately try to figure out who the hell is slamming doors this late, you’ll see your door opening and slamming itself. Opening again, and slamming. Soon after, the windows follow, and as you rub your eyes, your bed suddenly bucks and throws you to the floor.
Cool. Phenomenal. What just happened?
Perhaps you go to the inn couch to try sleeping there, but alas, the old couch has had enough of you and will summarily flip you back onto the floor, losing its cushions in the process. If you turn your anger toward the furniture, it will — strangely — attack you right back, chasing you down on bizarrely-animated legs that furniture simply should not have. The coffee table might bite, or the cabinets might start flinging cups at you.
If you are patient, however, and if you clean the furniture off — wash the pillows, scrub that mustard stain out of the cushions, sew up a hole your dog chewed into the mattress — it will stop throwing a tantrum. Finally, you can use furniture for its intended purpose.
As you drift off to sleep to the serene sounds of the river flooding, there’s a sudden loud bang, like someone slammed a door. You open your eyes and don’t see a thing… so back to bed you go, only to hear it again. This time, as you lurch out of bed and desperately try to figure out who the hell is slamming doors this late, you’ll see your door opening and slamming itself. Opening again, and slamming. Soon after, the windows follow, and as you rub your eyes, your bed suddenly bucks and throws you to the floor.
Cool. Phenomenal. What just happened?
Perhaps you go to the inn couch to try sleeping there, but alas, the old couch has had enough of you and will summarily flip you back onto the floor, losing its cushions in the process. If you turn your anger toward the furniture, it will — strangely — attack you right back, chasing you down on bizarrely-animated legs that furniture simply should not have. The coffee table might bite, or the cabinets might start flinging cups at you.
If you are patient, however, and if you clean the furniture off — wash the pillows, scrub that mustard stain out of the cushions, sew up a hole your dog chewed into the mattress — it will stop throwing a tantrum. Finally, you can use furniture for its intended purpose.
GET (GEM)STONED
A bit of raw chaos in Aldric’s Grove is not uncommon; perhaps furniture unionizing and non-stop downpours are the least of your concerns in quite some time. After all, you’re not trapped anywhere. You aren’t underwater, you aren’t playing in some twisted life-or-death game, no one is making the passage of time here any worse than usual…
Of course, if chaos is preferable to true horror, you can always have more of it. On your bedside table or under your pillow, you’ll find a drawstring bag containing a small handful of polished gemstones. As you hold them in your palm or between your fingers and inspect them under the light, you’ll feel something within you stirring.
Perhaps you’re holding rose quartz, the gemstone that symbolizes unconditional love, and you suddenly feel empty and loveless. Perhaps it’s amethyst, the gemstone attributed to calm emotions, and yet you’re feeling the most anxious you’ve ever felt in your entire life. Whatever the gem may be, its meaning is now inverted, and you get to suffer the effects of it.
Luckily, this curse — a gift from, who else, the Fallen Sun — can be broken quite easily. Simply clutch the gemstone in your palm and perform an act that embodies its true meaning, and everything will be back to normal. You’ll be holding a mundane rock to do whatever you want with, including throw it into the forest in hopes that it hits the Fallen Sun in his big, stupid head.
Of course, if chaos is preferable to true horror, you can always have more of it. On your bedside table or under your pillow, you’ll find a drawstring bag containing a small handful of polished gemstones. As you hold them in your palm or between your fingers and inspect them under the light, you’ll feel something within you stirring.
Perhaps you’re holding rose quartz, the gemstone that symbolizes unconditional love, and you suddenly feel empty and loveless. Perhaps it’s amethyst, the gemstone attributed to calm emotions, and yet you’re feeling the most anxious you’ve ever felt in your entire life. Whatever the gem may be, its meaning is now inverted, and you get to suffer the effects of it.
Luckily, this curse — a gift from, who else, the Fallen Sun — can be broken quite easily. Simply clutch the gemstone in your palm and perform an act that embodies its true meaning, and everything will be back to normal. You’ll be holding a mundane rock to do whatever you want with, including throw it into the forest in hopes that it hits the Fallen Sun in his big, stupid head.
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
When the rains stop at the month’s end, the clear skies yet again show the stars, and it’s a beautiful sight to behold. It’s no galaxy, even with every light in the Grove off so you can see them all — but it’s special nonetheless, especially to those who have been here under an empty sky for so long. The moon itself feels like it casts joy down upon everyone, and a sense of overwhelming peace settles like a blanket over the entire settlement.
Should you visit Ydalir or Heimr at all, they will both encourage you to spend a night camping out, providing you blankets to lie out in the grass with. While it isn’t much, Ydalir has pulled an old telescope from her mirror for those of you who want to nerd out a bit. Snacks, tea, and hot chocolate will be provided to anyone staying out for the night, too. For better or for worse, you’re all here together, so why not bask in a moment of peace?
Should you visit Ydalir or Heimr at all, they will both encourage you to spend a night camping out, providing you blankets to lie out in the grass with. While it isn’t much, Ydalir has pulled an old telescope from her mirror for those of you who want to nerd out a bit. Snacks, tea, and hot chocolate will be provided to anyone staying out for the night, too. For better or for worse, you’re all here together, so why not bask in a moment of peace?
SPARK NOTES
CLICK TO EXPAND!
COME RAIN OR EVEN MORE RAIN
Callan is giving gifts as all Guardians do. His gift... is a whole tempest. Luckily, the plants will get massive from this. Enjoy your giant produce and flowers!
FURNITURE STRIKES BACK
What could go wrong if the furniture went on strike? Surely it won't toss you out of bed or buck you onto the floor or try to bite you. ...oh, well, if that's the case, you might want to give it some TLC so that it stops.
GET (GEM)STONED
The Fallen Sun's "gift" to the residents is a lovingly-customized bag of rocks. Each stone represents some kind of meaning, but that meaning will be inverted and make you feel the opposite effect from it. To break the curse, all you need to do is clutch the gemstone and perform an act that it originally embodies.
I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW
Finally, the rains clear up, and Heimr and Ydalir are encouraging everyone to stare at the night sky. It's beautiful with those few stars in it, isn't it?
OOC
How is it already August?? We don't know either. OOC Plotting Lives Here if you'd like to plot anything out! If you need rocks randomly assigned to you for the gemstone portion, head there and drop us a comment, we will give you rocks.
UPDATES
❖ None yet!
SUBMISSIONS
no subject
Ezell—
[He calls after, weakly at that, but Ezell is already gone. Out the doors and into the storm. It leaves Flamebringer to his own devices, to make a choice that he's not sure that he can make. Does he chase after and try to comfort him? Like this, when he can't get it together long enough to even string a sentence together? Or does he sit here and wallow and leave Ezell alone?
Logically the answer might be "let him cool off". Might, because Flamebringer has never abided by the rules of logic even once in his life. Whatever this is, he has got to get rid of it. He has to chase Ezell down and choke out an apology and kick his own ass for making him cry.
He has to.
But he thinks to himself that right now, he almost doesn't feel like it. Thinks that the fact that he doesn't feel like it is bullshit, curses those damn rocks, and hauls his ass off of the couch. First, he has to get rid of the stones. Maybe that's the solution and he'll feel better, and then he can sort out the kiss and be fine after that. Maybe maybe maybe. This and that. He's hauling ass up those stairs, leaving his wet coat and the towel on the couch for now, and running into his room and grabbing the cloth bag they're in.
He's going to chuck these into the woods, he decides, and maybe he'll hit that stupid bastard in the face on the way. Back downstairs he goes, then, feeling his motivation to do this slip by the moment.
But he thinks of Ezell. His sad face, his tears, and he grits his teeth and runs back out into the storm. Just before he gets to the edge of the forest, though, he spots the familiar glow of wings and a halo in the distance, and pivots on his heel to run after him.]
EZELL!
[Flamebringer doesn't know if his voice can be heard over the storm. His brain tells him of course he can't hear you, you idiot, go back inside and go to bed, but he digs his mental heels in. No, no, he's not making Ezell cry any longer. He will kick his own ass if he has to, dammit.
So he charges through the storm after him, stupid fucking rocks be damned, they can stay in his back pocket for right now. And as soon as he reaches the Sankta, he spins him around, plants his hands on Ezell's tear-soaked cheeks, and returns the kiss tenfold.]
no subject
He doesn't hear his name through the storm, though he's also just lost in his own thoughts. How had he fallen for this stupid Sarkaz who's first impression was being threatened by him? How had he gone through such an array of emotions in such a short time? How... is he going to deal with this when they go back home? He wanted Flamebringer to meet Cecelia. He wanted to try and talk to Federico about dropping his charges. He wanted to take more naps with Flamebringer and learn about his garden on the landship. He wanted to make Flamebringer breakfast and make sure he'd been taking his meds...
Fuck. His meds. He'd have to go give them to him here, too? That's-
Before he's able to spiral on that train, he's being spun, blinking haphazardly at Flamebringer and opening his mouth to ask him why he followed or tell him that he really needed to stay inside from the rain or
............
Ezell's pretty sure his tears don't stop, even when his kiss is finally being returned, but he hopes it's hard to tell because of the rain. It's... not the best kiss in the world, considering they are both currently drenched and emotional, but all the same, Ezell visibly relaxes. After a moment, his eyes shut, and he lets all his anxieties and frets melt away into the kiss. ]
no subject
He doesn't do that, though. For all his no-romance bullshit he's been mentally on about for the last ten minutes, he's actually not straight-up suffocating Ezell with his tongue or trying to poke holes in his lips with fangs. There's a layer of sweetness to it. An apology.
And through all of it, the vice grip of apathy and exhaustion is starting to slip away. Maybe he's not totally out of the woods yet, but at least the way that he stopped caring is starting to leave him. He feels somewhat like himself again, no longer bogged down with this need to sleep until the world stops and rot away on the inn sofa. Somehow, the kiss is a fast-acting painkiller.
Flamebringer doesn't question it. He barely remembers to give both of them air in the end. He's only breaking the kiss after his lungs scream for air, holding Ezell's hips so tightly he thinks he might hurt him by accident. The rain falls into his eyes and flattens his bangs right against his face; he can barely see, but that's fine. He doesn't need to see.
He's confident now in his assessment that the empty spot in his bed isn't just for someone meant to be a one-night stand, that's for damn sure.]
no subject
He was so worried. He was so, so worried. He had finally realized what his own feelings here for Flamebringer were, and the thought that maybe he wouldn't get that Flamebringer back ever again...
He's still crying when Flamebringer pulls away, panting and whimpering just a bit because crying is a whole ordeal, man. ]
I-... [ You idiot. He was so worried. Why couldn't you do this before?? ] I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
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Stop. Just stop apologising. [Squishes Ezell's cheeks in his hands.] It's fine, I'm fucking fine. It was those stupid rocks.
[He is going to pick Ezell up like luggage, romantic, and haul him back to the inn because—]
You're going to catch a cold.
[Flamebringer he is a grown-ass man he can handle five minutes in the rain.]
no subject
He doesn't say anything until their indoors, even if Flamebringer insists on hoisting him again. He'll just wait until he can only hear the rain against the roof before he tries to talk again. ]
No, I'm... I'm apologizing because... I shouldn't have done that, it was so stupid.
[ He takes in a deep breath. ]
It scared me to think that you weren't going to... That you were going to be like that for forever? It scared me because... I realized that, the other night, the way you held me... I liked that. I wanted to do that again with you. I want to take you home to meet Cecelia. I want to do... all these stupid little things with you. I didn't realize it until I thought you weren't going to get these feelings back, but...
I think I've fallen for you, Flamebringer.
no subject
Of course, for some reason, Ezell's confession completely blows him out of the water so hard he almost walks into a trash can about it, stumbling briefly and wheeling around like huh.]
I thought I scared the fuck out of you? [Genuine question. Like yeah, he thinks he wants Ezell with him all the time, he's sure there's some sort of heart attack happening when Ezell looks at him, but also? Also.] I'm not saying no. I've never had... anything like that. A relationship. I have one-night stands and dip after. Nothing romantic.
[Feelings are hard. He's visibly struggling with words now, face red and tail lashing, looking off at a nearby wall because he might blow up if he looks at Ezell directly.]
...do you trust me to actually treat you well? Knowing how I am?
no subject
Ezell notices the trash can, at least, so he's real quick to stop Flamebringer and just... hold his hands. ]
I was. And I think... briefly, in the dream we met in, that was reinforced, but... You're a idiot if you think that I haven't noticed how much you care about me? And the way you kissed me just now - of course I trust you to treat me well. If "knowing how you are" is based on everything you've done for me while we're here, then you'll be the best fucking boyfriend?? I've never had someone so concerned about me, or kiss me like if they didn't, I'd be leaving them, or-- or try so hard to make me happy??
You've already been treating me well.
no subject
I mean. [And his face is getting redder by the second, because feelings are hard and words are hard. What is love supposed to be about anyway? Is this it? Is it something else?] I don't... mind.
[Oh buddy you could try a little harder.]
I don't— I'm not a wordsmith, you're cute, let's go dry off.
[Please feel his emotions and feel how flustered he is about you and how much he wants you and let him die in peace.]
no subject
Ezell doesn't seem to care, though. He's pretty sure the next time he really goes back to Laterano, it'll be to convince the people there that they need to let people inside beyond just the uninfected, beyond just Liberi and Sankta, beyond just the "holy". Ezell is not holy. Ezell is just some guy. Everyone else deserves a place in paradise as much, if not more than him.
He thinks this of Flamebringer, too. Maybe if he weren't in such hostile, hellish places, he'd be in a much better shape. He wouldn't be trying to die young. He wouldn't be so vicious when he doesn't have to be. Ezell takes a step beside Flamebringer and presses his hands against the wall, leaving his arms on either side of Flamebringer to keep him pinned. ]
Don't... do that. Not now, please, I know this isn't easy to talk about or anything, but I really do need you to talk to me. Tell me if this is something you don't want, or if you're unsure and need time to think. I know I've pointed things out before that probably mean the opposite is true, but I need you to say it to me. Because I'd get it if you didn't. I'm not anything special.
1/3
2/3
3/3
You're asking a lot from someone who's never done this. I'm not an emotional person, I barely register what's going on half the time. I...
[Am taking a deep breath, because he's not sure how to articulate "I'll kill for you and die for you and also hold you gently and brag about you but is that love or is that just I think you're cute". This man has never experienced this feeling, okay, it's an unknown force to him.]
...I know I want you. I do know that much. Anything else, I'm going to be pretty fucking bad at, and you're going to have to accept it. I've never done relationships that weren't one-night stands, and I've never gone on a date, and I don't read romance books. Okay?
[He's going to claim to be the least-romantic person even though he has done nothing but be touchy with Ezell ever since they stopped arguing so much.]
no subject
I'm... sorry. I'm not trying to ask a lot of you, but I don't... I don't think I want this to be a casual thing. [ He squeezes Flamebringer's hands. ] And it scares me to think that maybe that's all you'd want? Which I'd understand, but...
[ He pauses, but only so he can release one of his hands and reach for the uninfected side of Flamebringer's hand to brush his thumb against his cheek. ]
I want you, too. I want to take you on a first date. I want to wake up with you there in the morning. I want to make sure your taking care of yourself. I want to be able to kiss you before a mission and come back to nap with you after.
no subject
[He knows how he is. He knows he should take his medicine, and probably not be getting into as many fights as he does. He doesn't care about any of that despite it; there's a difference between being self-aware and caring, and being self-aware and not giving a single fuck about what happens to you despite it. Flamebringer obviously falls into the latter category.
He is also extremely aware that he's the worst pick of bachelors. This does not deter him from curling his tail around Ezell's thigh at all.]
We'll give it a shot. If you decide you hate me by the end of it, I won't be mad.
no subject
[ He'll pull Flamebringer down with him as he slides down the wall so they can both sit on the floor instead because 1) it's not comfortable to keep standing like this, and 2) he can make Flamebringer stop pinning him and simply coax him into his lap. You know, normal. ]
I won't hate you, but I'd get it if you hated me. I haven't exactly been good boyfriend material to you at all.
no subject
Stop. I care about your ass. At least listen to me when I say that much.
[........kisses Ezell's cheek.]
In fact, I care about your ass so much that I'm pretty sure I weigh too much to be sitting on your lap on the floor like this. Your legs are gonna fall asleep.
no subject
...I'm sorry, though, I know we should go get dry, I just... I'm afraid that if we move or you go somewhere, then you- you'll like disappear, or it'll be revealed this isn't real, or that this is just another dream o-or...
no subject
I'm not going anywhere. You didn't dream this up. I don't chase a guy through the rain unless I'm serious, okay?
[...]
I didn't mean to make you cry like that. I knew I was acting fucking weird, and I hated every second of it, even though I couldn't snap out of it. I was about to throw those stupid rocks into the woods to get rid of them until I saw you out in the rain. If I wasn't fucked up when it first happened... [He huffs and shakes his head.] I don't know, I would've had my tongue down your throat immediately.
[Ezell dump this man.]
no subject
I don't think I would've kissed you like that if I... [ Beat. ] If you didn't... If I thought I wasn't ever gonna have the Flamebringer I know back. I didn't realize I had these feelings until I had the chilling thought that I might've lost you.
I know you said you don't want this to be a casual thing either, but I also would really rather we take this easy. Maybe not that "slow," but... I wanna feel things out a little, you know?
[ Maybe's he's asking too much. Maybe he's setting up stupid, unreasonable boundaries. Maybe... maybe maybe maybe... but it's not sitting right with what Flamebringer said. "Had my tongue down your throat immediately." ]
And I know you said you're not good with this stuff, but I don't really think I am, either. So, maybe... together we can learn?
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Yeah? We are taking it easy. [He is not getting it also.] But sure. We can learn.
But can we seriously get off of the floor right now and dry off while we do that? My clothes are sticking to me in places they shouldn't be.
no subject
[ AKA he's still got depression rocks and needs to sit here and stew in his self-pity and wonder if this is okay or if he's made a huge mistake or if Flamebringer really likes him in the way that Ezell needs or- ]
no subject
Yeah, okay.
[He'll wander around for a few minutes, then, and come back when he finds towels. Fun fact: They are near the pool area, because that is where towels would ordinarily go. Also there is a ghost in there doing laundry weird how that fucking works.
He comes back with towels, looks at Ezell... scoops him up and walks off with him, sets him On A Bench in the locker room area, and then starts drying his hair off for him.
The boyfriend thing is going well. Maybe.]
no subject
Ezell's expectations, however, are shattered when he's being hoisted. ]
Wh- H-hey! [ Can't you see he was busy brooding?! ] I-I said I needed a minute, you know?!
no subject
[The flu is! Going around!! Haven't you heard!!]
(no subject)