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sticks and bones. ([personal profile] sticksandbonesmods) wrote in [community profile] sticksandbones2024-11-01 09:27 am
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EVENT 018

LIKE BRANCHES ON A TREE
A WINTER WONDERLAND
For a brief time, the world seems brighter; the sun pokes through the clouds more, and the gloomy atmosphere of the constant overcast days lessens ever so slightly. The sky seems bigger, brighter… but, it is the end of autumn as we know it and with the change of leaves comes bitter frost. The change is practically overnight — one morning grants pretty frosted windows and pleasantly crunchy leaves underfoot, and the next the world is being softly blanketed in snow.

Heimr stands at the window of the General Store, and every time he sees someone not dressed for the weather, he immediately calls them in. No one leaves without a proper pair of winter shoes and a coat, and the more you try to decline, the more he adds. Hats. Scarves. Gloves. Snow pants. Just make it easy on the both of you. Although, if you do feel you need that for the weather, he’ll oblige … And at least everything is nice to look at alongside being high quality.

Those with the bone ring may hear childish giggling as they leave, see the flick of a fox tail out of the corner of their eyes — but Plum is content to stay in the shadows still.

Winter frost and the falling snow seem to spread everywhere — Callan’s lake already has ice forming a thin shell on top while Terho’s cabin is blanketed in white. The river water is crisp and clear as ever, but the cold is bone deep and the Guardian tires from it already. Even the beach seems washed over with the cold.

Winter is here, and the cutting chill already tells you one thing: this won’t be an easy one.
WHISPERS IN THE WOODS
As the weather worsens, the forest and fog seem to open in sprawling paths. Some are inviting, a warm feeling in the air and even plant life poking through the snow still, an early spring! Some are alluring, wind beckoning and urging you forward. Come home, it says. Come home.

Even if you know it’s a bad idea, others might not — will you really let Mamika wander into the woods alone? Not that it’s truly her. The forest isn’t above tricks to get what it wants, and will lure you down these paths with illusions and mirages, the sounds of voices you know and love calling for you, for help, for anything and anyone — and maybe that is a trick, but can you really risk it?

Regardless, once you’re on the path, there’s no going back. It leads to a dead end and the fog closes around you. You’re trapped, alone in the woods, and all eyes are on you.
A DIFFERENT “ME”
… But only for a few hours. After that, you’re free to go, unharmed and unscathed. It’s just that… are you really you? Your clothes are different. Your memories too. Maybe now you remember making a different choice at a major crossroad. Maybe you didn’t save them. Maybe you did. Maybe everything went wildly wrong, and maybe it actually went right. But you’re different now, despite remembering your life in the abandoned Grove and all the people here clearly.

As you wander back off the path into town, you know this is right. You’ve been trapped here for however long with the people here, and maybe you no longer love them like this, but you know them, know yourself, and know what’s happened.

You’re just from a different walk of life, now.
SPARK NOTES
CLICK TO EXPAND!
A WINTER WONDERLAND
Winter has come, and during the light snowstorms, Heimr is lovingly forcing everyone into winter clothing. The more you say no, the more clothing you get. Be warm or else!

WHISPERS IN THE WOODS
Mysterious pathways open up in the woods. Should you go into them as they tempt you with murmurs and whispers, you'll be trapped for a few hours by a fog wall you can't pass through.

A DIFFERENT “ME”
But don't worry, you'll come out fine in the end - just with a few memories, or maybe even your physical body, changed entirely. Everyone will still recognize you as "you", and you'll still recognize the others... but maybe you know something has changed. Or maybe you don't.

OOC
Everyone thank Aspen for this month's player plot! Enjoy playing your AUs (or not) and get ready for winter. OOC Plotting Lives Here if you'd like to plot anything out!

UPDATES
❖ None yet!

submittome: (pic#17323536)

[personal profile] submittome 2024-11-08 01:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ It's shockingly unusual for Affogato to hear the humming, as he steps back in to the main shelter, wiping snow off his fur and setting his gathered ingredients down. Seeing Cacao calm and relaxed is nothing new, he's watched his King calligraphy, after all.

But this is different. It's softer. Sweeter.

It makes that little snake inside his heart curl a little and bite. ]


I must say, My Liege, this suits you.
winterfrosting: (48)

[personal profile] winterfrosting 2024-11-08 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
Hm?

[he stops humming, looking up]

How so?
submittome: (pic#17323535)

[personal profile] submittome 2024-11-08 02:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ He settles himself down and begins crushing ingredients into tiny bowls. ]

There is an aura of peace around you I have not seen before. Not even upon your return from that Beast who threatened the Kingdom have you exuded such calm.
winterfrosting: (45)

[personal profile] winterfrosting 2024-11-12 10:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[His brow furrows for a moment... he supposes it's not so strange- he came to talk to Affogato soon after he returned to the Grove. But still, something is itching his brain.

But it doesn't seem to be a bad thing]


I suppose my time as a young parent was before you came to the Citadel, wasn't it?
submittome: (Mortal kings are ruling castles)

[personal profile] submittome 2024-11-15 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
[ It should itch at his brain. When did Affogato see Cacao return home? Pinches of ingredients go into a bigger bowl, which he then grinds vigorously as well, sleeves rolled up and pinned out of the way. ]

It was~ I was but a crumb of a Cookie myself during that period, and Dark Choco Cookie was already gone when I finally won my way into the walls. [ Tooth and nail, and seeping sinking poisons. ] But if this is what you were like with him, it is no small wonder tales of you at that time still wandered the halls amongst the servants.
Edited 2024-11-15 01:13 (UTC)
winterfrosting: (61)

[personal profile] winterfrosting 2024-11-15 01:14 am (UTC)(link)
Wait- the servants spoke of me?

[Cacao of COURSE they did]
submittome: (And I'm every one of them)

[personal profile] submittome 2024-11-15 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
[ The soft constant chk-chk-chk of the pestle and mortar pauses as Affogato turns an elegantly done eye (yes, even out here) to Cacao. He looks both fond and amused. ]

My Liege, every servant speaks of their Majesty behind closed doors. Their woes, their praises, things they dare not say to faces. Do not worry your fussy little heart, however, they were all pleasant. The oldest of your Matron Maids enjoyed telling of the expression on your face when you thought no one could see, as you watched young Dark Choco Cookie at his practice. She positively clucked with glee to do so!
winterfrosting: (12)

[personal profile] winterfrosting 2024-11-15 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
...I... I see.

[He blushes, looking back down at the eggs. He wonders how much of his fussiness now is traced to back then. These eggs aren't his children. They don't come from his dough. They are a duty- one he took on willingly, and ones he already feels a deep affection for.

Still, he wonders if maybe he's projecting, just a little. He wonders if even just a few months ago he would have been able to even consider the possibility]


Hearing about that time... it must seem strange to you. How it all went wrong.
submittome: (pic#17154851)

[personal profile] submittome 2024-11-15 01:36 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh that's cute. Affogato hmm's a little laugh before returning to grinding things into fine powder, the scent slowly leaking into the air. Soft, calming. Faint yet, it won't really begin to take hold until lit, and not one this Cacao will recognize sadly. But his Other might have, down a different road of time.

His amusement tampers a little as he thinks about the conflict that was spoken to him between Cacao and Choco. From the servants and from Cacao himself later. After the battle. ]


Hm. It is not my spot to pick at such things, yet after knowing what I have learned. Strange? No, my King. Sad.
winterfrosting: (60)

[personal profile] winterfrosting 2024-11-15 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
... do not be soft handed with me now, Affogato. It is sadness borne from my own failings and cruelty.
submittome: (Headed to the guillotine)

[personal profile] submittome 2024-11-15 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah~ You want the vipers bite! Always a stickler for punishment, his Majesty is!

[ Powder sifted slowly into another container, then he begins to mix ash. If Cacao wants bite, however- ]

Yes, you were cruel. A fool blinded by his own desires, his own wants, never stopping to consider others. Paranoia wrapped Pride, who could not see beyond the reach of his own arm, to see what his sword was biting in to. Yet... I must forgive this cruelty, as I have done before, for I understand where it comes from. It was not cruelty for cruelties sake.