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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
[ He lets out a cry of surprise and pain (mostly pain) as he relinquishes the laptop, scooting back and likely would have fallen if he weren't already seated upon the dirt floor, one hand behind to steady himself, the other over his chest like it's enough to stop the thundering of his heart. ]
I- I'm not— I didn't...!
[ He wasn't!! Doesn't stop his face from turning red or his throat from closing up, though. ]
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[ BB's words fall from her lips so quickly, carrying a hint of blasphemy in their audacious delivery. ]
Do you KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS!??!?!
no subject
no subject
THAT MEANS I GET TO TAKE LEWD PHOTOS OF YOU NOW ~!!
[ Is what she chimes in to say, but then turns around to notice him cowering on the floor. Without skipping a beat. BB begins taking pictures of him, just like this. As if him being frightened and scared are exactly the lewd photos she was looking for. ]
Ka-wa-ii!!! Look at the little face you are making - that is so lewd! So scared!!! AHAHAHA!!!!! [ You have a annoying BB taking pictures of you Aki, not caring for your personal space or mental state for that matter. ]
no subject
[ That's not a strong enough word for what he's feeling, which is a mix of terror and mortification, with a dash of hopelessness sprinkled on top as he cowers away from the spotlight as if it would burn him. ]
Please stop! I didn't- I just- I couldn't help it! I'm sorry!
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Truly after a womans heart - I WONT blame you, this time. Only because it must have been so appetizing for someone like you to get your grimy hands on it. BB is so beautiful after all. [ She playfully smiles toward the other, and taps at her lips. ] Are you getting off the floor or are you into crawling around on all fours begging for my mercy?
no subject
Um... [ He would crawl on all fours begging for mercy if that's what it took, but seeing as she's rescinded her blame already, he hopes it wouldn't come to that and gets up on his own instead, taking a moment to stand and wait for his jelly legs to solidify before attempting to walk/run away. ]
BB... [ strange name for someone to name their laptop, but okay. ] really is beautiful, though. I couldn't believe my eyes at first.
1/2
!!!!
2/2
Right? Right? BB has the BEST name, even though I am never going to tell anyone what it stands for!!! A girl has to keep her secrets right?
[ BB beams very merrily, thinking the other was talking about her. Not the laptop...... ]
Did you get settled in? Are you all comfortable from your entrance - welcome back by the way! I am sure everyone here missed you.
no subject
[ That's going to haunt him now, trying to think of what names there are with the initials BB. Beast Boy. Mm, he'll give it more thought— later, though, because something else requires more brain power right now. ]
I- huh? "Welcome back"? How many years have I been gone?
[ It's usually a handful, he thinks, sometimes stretching centuries, depending on the timeline. But the longer he's been gone, the less people would remember him, let alone miss him. ]
no subject
[ She has no idea, but knows he is returning after some time. ]
Not me~!!!
[ BB Plops on the couch her tentacles threw in from the shadows earlier before and opens up her laptop beginning to type away freely. ]
So? What are your grand plans for your stay here this time?
no subject
Akki was thinking more of getting out of the forest, but since BB sits herself own on the couch, he'll just... stand awkwardly next to the armrest and try not to get too close or he'll be accused of peeking at the screen again. ]
Try to stay alive for longer than a day...
[ His track record can only get better, probably. ]
Finish cleaning up the inn... find dog food... Unless somebody's already cleared those objectives?
[ Bad thing about being gone for a while means all the easy side quests have already been completed, and he's not ready to tackle the big bad. ...Big Bad. BB. He'll stick that in the "maybe" pile. ]
no subject
[ BB seems to interject as if talking about someone, though this apparent someone is no one in particular really. ]
You have a good... [ She stops typing, mulling over logistics in her mind. Actually processing some power to come up with an establish guess, ] Give yourself a month before you end up dying - but if you notice yourself not doing anything plot important. You might, end up dying sooner.
[ BB goes back to typing humming to herself. Big Bad, is a good choice actually. ]
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Are you sure...? Nameless npcs have a higher casualty rate, it's the ones who follow the plot who are put in danger more often. [ Like him and that moose, except he lost and died(?) instead of sticking around to watch the rest of them triumph.
He lets out a groan/sigh. Finding dog food has been pushed up the priority list; surely something like that has to be a key item. At the very least, he might get an easter egg out of feeding the dog, that happens sometimes too. ]
One plot important task per month doesn't sound too bad... Have you already finished yours?
[ Side glance to where BB is lounging on a couch in the middle of an evil forest, typing away on her laptop without a care in the world. He wishes he were her. ]
shuts my eyes
[ The laptop on her lap, shuts promptly again... Then she tosses it into a shadow, and instead of a noise being heard. It simply disappears into it. ]
You think too small,
Se-n-pa-i ~~ ♡!
[ She jumps on both her feet. ]
BB will help you because you are so tragic and lost without her. After all, I already started helping you get on your feet again.
Dont you want to know what you actually saw on the laptop?
no subject
[ He thinks he knows, but confirmation will only bring grief and guilt. On the other hand, if he wants to clear his name and not worried about being stabbed to death in the middle of his sleep, he really has no other choice, does he? ]
It... looked like a chat log.
[ His gaze lowers from BB's face, occasionally flicking back up but ultimately it's dragged down again by the weight of an overly guilty conscience. ]
Like one I had before with someone. But I don't— ... You aren't... [ glance up. down. ] We haven't met before, have we? Sorry.
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Though she does, as is her way.
However. In this moment, she is interested. For all her antics being thrown at him - he answers honestly. So. She answers back. Honestly.
A reward, for what she thinks is picking the right dialogue. ]
No. But I have the luxury of knowing things about you, so I set up a little theatric moment to get under your skin. It seems to have scared you - don't worry. That laptop from before? It's nothing. [ "Remember: Everything Characters say is made up!" - character.ai ] I just used it as a way to fuck with you.
What do you think? How did I do? Was BB terrifying and cute~?
no subject
Past experience doesn't stop it from being wildly uncomfortable, though. ]
Y-yeah... That really freaked me out. But why did you—
[ He breaks off, shaking his head. The answer to that question is obvious, so he amends it. ]
How did you do that? Can. Can you make the laptop reappear?
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Do you want to know? [ _dont say yes ] Do you want to know how I did it? [ _dont say yes ] I coooooooouuulld show you, [ _dont say yes ]but my powers are limited here due to the owners of this place. As long as you are okay with me sharing my secrets, [ _dont say yes ] I guess I could.