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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
Ah, is that so? Err... is there anything else you might know, like a name or...?
[He doesn't know what to ask, really, because he can't help but notice the way those ears keep twitching. What is seriously going on?]
... Actually, can I ask you something else?
no subject
[ why would he care about the name of a place he doesn't feel like he'll be staying in? no, once he gets his bearings and figures out a way back home, the last thing he's going to care about is ol' whats-its-name.
another tail wiggle and kaden hums curiously. ]
Sure! I can answer anything you'd like. [ he grins. ] Can't say the answer will be helpful, though.
no subject
It makes him stay.]
I've never seen ears like that before. Is that common here?
[Should he consider he was kidnapped by a youkai? He's too old to be a child, and fairytales were something he long stopped believing in. He'll be in real trouble if those are real.]
no subject
[ kaden quietly scuffs the floor of the inn with his heel, looking from side-to-side. his tail swishes behind him again as he returns his gaze back to nikaidou. a question like that means something and he's not afraid to point it out: ]
Why? You wouldn't find a better set of ears than mine. I bet you're curious how they feel too, huh?
[ leaning forward, he tries to look as cute as possible, smile on his face as innocent as he can make it. ]
no subject
He hesitates, looking less curious and more do I have to do this?, uncertain about whether or not he should humor him.]
Do you... just offer your ears to anyone?
[He asks instead, delaying it.]
no subject
[ maybe he just has a good feeling about nikaido? after all, it's very obvious to kaden that this boy is a human. a human unfamiliar with the majesty of his kind, how precious and soft their fur is... otherwise he would've probably went right for his ears and tail. right? it makes sense to him. he could be a very good liar too, but...
humans are pretty bad at hiding what they truly want. there's always some kind of glimmer of deceit. some kind of tone in their voice.
and all he gets from nikaido is apprehension. hehe. ]
Once in a lifetime offer! Just for you!
no subject
[Ugh, does he just humor him? He still look human though, so petting him is weird. Then again, if he doesn't pet him, will he pester him to do so? He seems like he'd be very persistent.
Hmmmmm...
He lifts his hand up. For now. Give him time.]
no subject
as long as kaden doesn't get offended, after all.
another wiggle of those ears and the kitsune hums. ]
No catch. A kitsune doesn't lie.
[ is that a lie tho... ]
no subject
[His fingers twitch as he tries not to flinch back, almost backing out of the idea. He looks too expectant, and it reminds him of a certain guy with highlights who always looks like he's the cat that got some milk when he finds Nikaidou's weaknesses.
Ugh.
He reaches out and pets his hair... awkwardly. It's fine. He just has to do this quick.]
... How's this?
no subject
Hehe, is this your first time petting anything?
[ the corners of his eyes crinkle as he smiles lopsidedly. ]
It's okay if it isn't! Just wanna know, that's all~
no subject
[He says quickly, drawing his hand back as soon as he thinks he's done the minimum amount of acceptable petting for Kaden. He did it. Now he has to be sure not to do it again.]
... Especially not people with... ears like that.
[He adds as an afterthought, trying to word it carefully. He doesn't know if he'll take offense to him calling his ears an animal's pair of ears.]
Is that all you wanted from me?
no subject
That's okay. I don't usually ask for it. It's not like other kitsune do it to each other either. But I figured it might've comforted you a little.
[ he's doing it out of the kindness of his heart. ]
Mhm! That's all. I answered your questions the best I could and you did something for me in return! But if you ever want anything else, you can come get me. Okay?
no subject
Why would you think that?
[He... ignores the rest of his statement for now. Sorry.]
no subject
[ his tail moves one way, then the other. ]
It doesn't matter what you are: panic is panic. And that's dangerous too.
no subject
[Even if he was, he would never admit it.]
You'll end up making an enemy of some 'humans' if you say things like that. I take it you do not consider yourself one?
no subject
Nope! [ a beat, then: ] Well, most humans. If you were a bad one, I think it'd be pretty easy to tell.
[ he grins. ]
no subject
He stares at him, suspicious, but then again he doubts he's at least planning on harming him. Unless he thought he was harmless because he's a regular person.]
What would give it away? Humans are capable of fooling others very well, after all.