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sticksandbones2023-08-04 10:59 am
- !event,
- !tdm,
- arknights: gnosis,
- arknights: mizuki,
- arknights: shalem,
- baldur's gate iii: astarion ancunín,
- elsword: elsword,
- fate: bb,
- handead anthem: gara ukai,
- i'm the grim reaper: brook,
- jujutsu kaisen: toge inumaki,
- original: caoimhe ailbhe,
- original: felicity morais,
- original: rennuid tathviel
Event & TDM 003
You open your eyes.
It feels like you’ve been here before, like you’re finally home. Today, the sun shines brightly, brilliantly, on the open forest clearing making up Aldric’s Grove. Vines wrap around old buildings, overgrowth covers ruins of what once were homes and shops, and weeds poke up through the cracks of foundations. Before you stands an inn, a well, and one hundred beautiful flowers peppered throughout the clearing. Be not fooled by their beauty, wanderer; should you stray too close, the flowers are happy to bite.
Fret not, however; should you seek escape from the carnivorous foliage, the inn is plenty safe from attacks. Perhaps you ought to get acquainted with others like you, lounging in the lobby with nowhere to go. Perhaps you should find yourself a room, a place to stay. After all, room and board is completely free of charge! Should you dig through the bedside table of your new room, you’ll find only one thing within: A Polaroid photograph of yourself from years ago. You were younger, then — or, if age doesn’t define you, you were different. Still, you remember posing for this photograph… don’t you?
If the photo is too much for you, a trip to the river might offer respite. The oppressive fog wrapping around the grove and obscuring much of the distant forest some miles out won’t let you wander too far. Luckily, there’s a stretch of river perfect for a round of fishing, playing in, or simply relaxing by. Mushrooms grow along the banks and on the trees, but remember to say “thank you” to the forest if you take them. You wouldn’t like the consequences otherwise.
cw: madness, hallucinations
You might have had luck avoiding the gnashing fangs of the flowers thus far, but they begin to get restless and aggressive the longer they go without feeding. They can’t quite uproot themselves and chase you down, but they will stretch their stalks as far as they can, unfurl their petals and try to wrap sharp leaves around your legs and anything else within reach. If you aren’t careful, their fangs will pierce your flesh, and they will drink from you until they drain you dry. Shout for help if they latch on. Surely someone will come to your aid.
…just try not to look at them much. The flowers take passive abilities of anyone they feed from, and that means they possess powers of their own. Stare for a moment too long, and you’ll begin to see your nightmares brought to life, feel a crawling down your back like one million insect feet, a grappling at your ankles as something tries to drag you under the metaphorical tides. Black tendrils sweep over your eyes, they grip the facades of buildings, they tear your friends to shreds and eat them whole. Focus. Focus on that voice telling you to snap out of it, on the people around you waving their hands in front of your eyes. It isn’t real. Blink, shake your head, and clear your thoughts.
Or don’t. “Give in,” a sultry voice murmurs, “Let me consume you.”
cw: auditory hallucinations, animal butchery
From the fenced-off, locked-up manor to the northwest of the Grove, a spill of magic begins to leak out from boarded-up windows. It’s gradual at first before it suddenly bursts, and that’s when everything starts to go haywire. The Manor’s heart aches, friend. Something in that house is oh-so-miserable with no way out… and it intends to make you feel its pain.
Every regret you’ve ever had — every word left unspoken, every lie you’ve told, everything you believe you’ve done wrong — those feelings are brought to the surface and magnified. No matter where you look, what you do, or how much you try to distract yourself, those emotions will always bubble to the surface.
You might think wandering into the forest will help you flee from yourself for a time, but as soon as you cross the threshold, the path back to the clearing closes behind you in a rustle of leaves. The only way out is forward, it seems, but the forest won’t play fair. The path will shift unexpectedly, blocking your route, forcing you to backtrack, but never quite allowing escape. All the while, voices fill your mind, chasing after you no matter where you go. They are the murmurs of those you have wronged, the murmurs of a conscience slighted.
Seeking out a companion in the labyrinth will quell them, for a time. Should your heart weigh too heavy, confessing to your labyrinth-partner what you’re grappling with will absolve you of your guilt and leave you feeling clear-headed enough to escape. At that point, the forest, too, seems content to let you solve the maze without interference.
Should you escape fairly, without harming the labyrinth, you’ll be rewarded: A freshly-hunted game animal from your homeland is dropped at your feet just as you step back into the clearing. Enjoy it, for you will not have the opportunity to get another. The forest only allows one round per person.
The residents of Aldric’s Grove have had a rough time here, but not everything has to be bad. On the night of the new moon, the Shopkeeper leaves his store for the night, and alongside the Trader — who normally sits outside the inn by her stall and her giant turtle — he constructs a bonfire some distance from the carnivorous plants. Nearby to it are tables with a feast set upon them, free for everyone to enjoy. There’s music playing from… somewhere. Don’t think about it too hard. The wispy, sentient shadows that comprise the Shopkeeper and Trader are happy to dance with you, too, if you ask.
Enjoy your night, friends. You’ve made it to the end of the month, and you deserve a break.
CLICK TO EXPAND!
❖ Several patches of the murderous flowers seem to have been electrocuted, lit on fire or cut.
no subject
They’re good boots, wonderfully stitched and meticulously maintained, but he has been wearing them a bit thin with all the travel. Even so, that doesn’t make the sudden appearance of a hole somewhere in the structural integrity any less devastating.]
Well, I suppose I should count myself lucky you came along when you did; I would have been lost without you. [It sounds sincere, but given the circumstances he’s not exactly about to balk in the face of charming this guy to get him what he wants. Especially not with the way his throat seizes painfully at the first proper scent of the other man’s blood.
Gods, he could go for some red right now. Wine tasted of nothing to him these days, but at least it gave him something to drink.]
Do you specialize in spear fishing yourself, little hero?
no subject
Well, kind of fishing anyway, as in Elsword is reaching for the tackle box and putting a worm on the line.]
I just like fishing. [He says, with a shrug.] It's a big pastime back home. If you're out here because you're hungry, I can get you something pretty easily.
[He makes sure that Astarion, erm, stands back for a second, unless he wants to get snagged by a fishing hook. It's only when said hook is in the water, worm and all, that Elsword speaks up again.]
I'm Elsword. Are you new?
no subject
[Even if his name was a bit of an odd one. Granted, he’d heard a lot worse.] I would so very much appreciate the assistance, I have something of a… Unique palate. So much so that I’ve yet to dine upon a proper meal in what appears to have been days, unfortunately.
[He shifts his weight to lean mostly on one leg, letting his wrist rest atop the pommel of his dagger as he watches the water near the hook’s destination. Definitely easier than what he had been trying to do.]
no subject
If you're hungry, my house is down the bank a bit. There's food in the fridge. I don't want you to starve.
...
Are you okay? Are you... uh... Presbyterian?
[...pescatarian, honey.]
no subject
[There’s a brief beat of silence before he registers the question Elsword is trying to ask, and then he can’t help but bark out a soft laugh in return.]
Ah— no, actually. I wouldn’t even consider fish among my favorites, if I’m being honest. Mostly I just prefer… Fresher meat, so to speak.
[He’s really really bad at pretending not to be a vampire.]
But I’m alright, don’t you worry. A mite on the worst side of starvation, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.
no subject
Okay. I'll catch you something soon, then.
[He says everything with a flat tone, but he's not emotionless on purpose! Kind of. Anyway, it isn't long until the line does get a tug, and Elsword is quick to expertly reel in a bigass catfish. Probably one of those Astarion couldn't actually catch earlier, one that was undoubtedly swimming around his ankles like :D? wondering what this strange stick in the water was about.
Said catfish plops up onto the bank with a wet thump. Elsword picks it up and unhooks the bobber from its lip, holding it out to Astarion.]
How fresh do you want it? [Is this fresh enough, it's wiggling]
no subject
However, that was then. This is now, and as he is currently a free man… The way that catfish is staring at him while wriggling and writhing its grotesque, wet little body around in mid-air is perhaps the single most unappetizing sight he’s seen in quite some time.]
Oh! Yes, wonderful, wonderful. That will do… Quite nicely! [His voice seems to suggest the opposite, actually, and for a moment he hesitates to take the fish. It’s slimy and slippery, and he’s not quite sure where to even begin to approach grabbing it in order to avoid letting it skedaddle its way back into the water.
A firm grip around the body should do it, yes?
Gingerly, he accepts the offered fish, fighting back the urge to grimace at the slick scales that squish lightly against his fingers when carefully squeezed within his grip.]
You… Really are quite good at this! I’m rather impressed. [How in the world is he supposed to… He can’t just turn around and bite it here; carrying it with him back to the Inn might be the safest option.]
no subject
Thanks. That's probably because I do it so often. I can show you how when you're not starving to death, too. It's actually pretty relaxing.
[The line is baited again and the bobber plonked into the river.]
Do you need help cooking it? Or... no, you said you liked things really fresh... catfish sushi? The Shopkeeper has rice, I think.
no subject
At least a needle doesn’t gape at him for air.
None of this is said out loud, of course. No, instead Elsword gets a small, tight lipped smile in return.]
Darling, I would like nothing more. I’ll be sure to keep your offer in mind when sorting out my schedule.
[He’s holding the fish like as far away from him as he possibly can without compromising his grip on it.]
I should be able to manage quite fine on my own from this point onwards, don’t you worry. Thank you so very much for your tutelage.
no subject
Uh— yeah, sure. If you ever need something, I'm usually around. Just follow the halo's glow, heh.
[What a strange man... strange sushi-loving man........]