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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
But he's trying. He doesn't want to seem rude??? He's always been told he's so polite, so why would he start being a brat now? What did he say? Something about being a failure for being unable to bridge that trench of gap between humanity and Seaborn and being the fault of civilizations still succumbing to the scourge to this day? Oh, no? That's in his head? Okay, what about that bubbling, angry shrieking that tells Mizuki that he could get rid of this discomfort he feels if he just consumes? Consumes and devours and eat and… oh, no, not that either?
…
Headphones? He touches his ears for a moment, confused. ]
I'm… not wearing any…? [ Yes, Mizuki, he knows that. ]
no subject
Still, Gnosis is not entirely unsympathetic. The lack of headphones is a bit... rude, he'll say; it's gauche to blast your music out in public spaces. It isn't Mizuki's fault if he's overwhelmed, though, and Gnosis has the awareness to see when someone is that.]
That type of music isn't conducive to relaxing, [he supplies, crossing his arms.] I assume you're trying to drown out the yammering voices in everyone's ears.
no subject
…
Ears? In their ears? Is that where it is? Mizuki unconsciously reaches his pinky finger into his ear like he could just pluck the thoughts out, just like that. It wouldn't be so bad, he thinks. He wants this new voice to go away. The old one was manageable. This is torture. This is loud. It's so noisy. Uncomfortable. Makes him… hungry. Hunger. So hungry. He hasn't eaten in days. Weeks. Years. You ate this morning. You're okay. But if you ate, you'd feel better. Eat the evil, it'll be rid of this world. But where does it stem from? Does he need to eat himself to make it stop? He doesn't know, doesn't know, doesn't know.
Ah- he… should… say something? What did Gnosis say again? Relaxing. Music. Voices. It's coming back to him. He hand twitches a bit, realizing Gnosis is just a bit too far for him to feasibly reach out for his. That's why he has tentacles, though, for the things his arms can't reach. …Oh, but, he can't. Don't do that. Mizuki, you know they'll be mad. You promised to keep them hidden. But you want to feel close to… something, don't you?
If Gnosis feels like there are shadows closing in on him, don't worry about it. Mizuki manages to not act on it, at least. ]
… Sorry. I might have something else, if you have a suggestion.
no subject
You might find it easier to relax if you play something more orchestral. Classical music, or jazz. If you don't have anything like that, you can borrow my phone.
[It's not like there's anything too incriminating in there, as Gnosis tends to delete evidence regularly... like maybe there are some weird messages from Enciodes in there but that's fine that happens. His wallpaper is literally the default wallpaper. He's boring.]
no subject
No, that's okay. I think I have… an Animal Crossing playlist…
[ That's relaxing! He doesn't know if it is going to work to keep his mind at ease, but he would much rather suffer with two battling eldritch abominations in his brain than upset a friend with his music.
This does have the bonus of his thoughts suddenly very loudly reminding him that he needs to go hunt down the money tree in Animal Crossing— he doesn't have internet connection so turnip prices are gonna have to be a thing of the past! He can work with that, though. He has all the villagers he wants!
You won't live up to all the expectations placed on your shoulders because you're too much of an anxious wreck all the time—-
You know who thinks he's cool? Cherry. Cherry thinks he's cool. That dog is so rad. ]
… Are you having problems with, um… the… up here [ He gestures to his head. ] noise?
no subject
...I am, yes. It's quite unseasonable, is it not? It's difficult to turn my attention to any research like this.
[Not that he, er, has much going on. He'd be embarrassed by his lack of things to do if there were anything to be doing.
Talking out in the hall is counterproductive, though. Gnosis huffs a breath through his nose, then turns to go into his room.]
You may as well come in. The floor is dirty.
[thats your excuse bro]
no subject
Oh- thank you, Mr. Gnosis. I don't mind a mess. I'm sure my room is not the epitome of cleanliness or anything. [ This is a lie. His room is actually very clean, but the one back at Rhodes Island is… well, not messy, it's neat, but it's also just very Full Of Stuff. Mostly cords. And stuffed animals. And figurines. And video games— ]
Would you like me to tidy up a bit? It's the least I can do for offering your company.
no subject
He is trying so hard to connect dots where there might not be any to connect other than "some fucking weird asshole left stalker photos in our bedrooms like a serial killer would". Maybe he should get fingerprints off of these— okay okay. Mizuki. Focus.]
No, it's quite alright. As you can see, I'm buried in work, so I'd prefer everything to stay exactly where it is.
no subject
[ He's worried!!! But only because he's also very upset with the voices, so he can relate at least a little bit. ]
no subject
[Gnosis Edelweiss has never been alright in his life, and he is very very good at shutting all that down and turning it off. The forest won't shut up, so it makes it hard to disconnect... but he will obsess, thank you, because he has nothing else to do if he's not.]
I've dealt with more pressing situations than this. Right now, what little I can tangibly research with my limited equipment is what matters.
[or
wild idea
take a break—]
no subject
[ Surprisingly, Mizuki is not being sarcastic here. He sounds genuinely impressed. ]
You truly are something else, Mr. Gnosis… I continue to be unsurprised you're working with Rhodes Island now with that expertise you have. However, with all that said, while I have no doubt you can do it, not taking some time for yourself to reflect and relax, it may end up causing more harm than good. If you need me to take over anything while you rest, I would be more than happy to do so. [ Despite not really "being as smart" as Gnosis, as Mizuki would put it. He doesn't think about that right now, though. With all the noise going on around his noggin at the moment, it's a miracle his sentences are coherent. ]