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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.
Hanasaki Kensuke || Trickster || TDM
[Eyes glazed over the polaroid. He was just a kid... Where would they have gotten this? Despite his highly publicized father, Hanasaki's face was not something you could simply find on the internet without some digging, especially as a kid. Moreover, there was a weird feeling about this photo... He didn't remember posing for it, but yet it looked familiar. Like a word on the tip of his tongue that he just can't grasp.
The whole situation of being stuck here as well left his head... fuzzy.
Like things were not real.
Like he was too calm.
Why was he so calm? His head leaned back against the wall outside the inn as he slide down to the dirt below. His fingers traced on the metal shield-shaped necklace of his. It was basically a smart computer, but it lacked wifi and his team was not close enough to even try walkie-talkie mode. For now, it was simply a glorified camera with an expensive holo-projected screen.
What even was this place? He couldn't make heads or tails of things at face value. But his body felt mechanical, he couldn't quite get the fuel to investigate. If only he could have a jumpstart, maybe he could finally put to work the detective skills he worked so hard to build.]
II. It's Alright (Just a Casualty)
[He had come in to explore, already knowing ahead of time that the path would close behind him when he did so. Still, it was surprising to see it happen. To feel as his world was in constant shift and fluid change. Hanasaki couldn't help but feel disorientated like he spun on a chair and stood up. Still, this was nothing. The feeling of being a little lost actually got him a little excited. He could feel a little anxiety creep up in his chest, but he actually liked it. He knew this would be easy.
After wandering for a bit, things felt.... heavy. Breath hitched. Chest twisted as every bad idea, every wrong turn, came back to work linger on his back. As if it mocked him. He winced with almost physical pain. His misplaced anger on his friends, so many moments he couldn't help but ask why. Why did he do that?
'You damn monster.' Why did he say that back then?
He took a deep breath and kneeled, clenching his chest. He counted to ten, breathing with each number as single tears formed in his eyes. He tried so hard to hide it, but it felt like he was always going to be a crybaby.
Just like now, he felt a presence upon him. So with one big, sharp breath, he stood up again. The droplets still in his eyes, he smiled and looked around.]
III. You're Alright (Found You)
[It wasn't long after entering that Hanasaki found someone ahead. Maybe it was the forest, taunting them by letting them see each other vulnerable. Maybe it was from pity,
probably not. He was just about to get excited about the new surroundings when he found them. Now worry slightly crept onto him as he found the other. Like something was wrong.With a boyish smile, and an overly friendly attitude, Hanasaki gently put a hand on their shoulder. He decided to deflect the heavy atmosphere, and pretend nothing was wrong.]
Hey! Do you think trees feeling like they move counts as odd weather?...
IV. I'll Take Care of You
[Eyes glanced around the displays. The bonfire particularly caught his eye. He loved how fires danced and sparked, as if threatening to get closer and closer to you. A smile crept onto his face and he sat near it, leaning in. He chuckled just a little too loud to himself as he talked to no one in particular.]
"It's too bad we don't have smores. I feel like after being here for a bit, we could all use something sweet!"
[ WILDCARD ]
I'm Mark. If you wanna do something different, go ahead! My plurk is
IV!
Yeah, that would've been nice. The Shopkeeper usually has stuff he can sell us, but he's dancing right now.
[Elsword's eyes are glued to the shadowy figures of the aforementioned Shopkeeper and Trader, twirling each other about in a dance to the music that's coming from fucking nowhere. He doesn't know how to unpack that. Just throw the whole suitcase out.]
This is the first bonfire we've ever had, though. Maybe next time...
iii
That's a joke.
( is it though? she's still not sure what the things in the forest are. the childish pettiness certainly suits the fae, but it's also dumb as rocks, which only some fae are.
not that she'll ever say that out loud, especially in a haunted-ass forest. she actually rather likes living. )
I. WAKE UP
[ She teases, coming out of no where in particular. However standing right before him, leaning over just a bit as he is seemingly lost within his own thoughts. BB seems to disregard what boundaries are and is leant over with her whole chest out. She looks rather hip with her yellow outfit, as if she is ready for what the summer time excitements bring. ]